A New Year of School

Before school started, I was so excited. I tried to get the kids all excited, and they were until...
1. Lauren Kate realized that she had to go everyday, all day.
2. Gibson realized no one (family) would be with him.

My heart has been breaking over the past 4 and 1/2 weeks for Lauren Kate. She has been crying at night saying "it's too many days" or "do I have to go again?" She doesn't really say that she does not like it when she is there, she just says it is too much. And is it? It is causing great turmoil within me because she doesn't HAVE to go this year. It is only pre-K. It is totally voluntary. But if I pull her out, then that is it. No more school for the year. There are 40 kids on the waiting list. And besides, if she were just 1 and 1/2 months older, she would be in kindergarten, and she would have to go.
So my solution is to be involved and reevaluate later. I have gone to breakfast with her. I have volunteered in the classroom. My mom went to lunch with her, and then read stories to the class, and Larry tries to pick her up whenever he can. He even takes her to the coffee shop with him while he works, before they come home. I made her bedtime 7:30, and now all I can do it pray.

Gibson on the other hand, is very apprehensive going into class, but I think in the long run he will be fine. He just takes a little while to warm up. He was not thrilled on his first day, and clung to Larry's neck. It was actually pretty cute. He even said that he didn't want to go to school, he wanted to stay home and cuddle mommy. I kinda wanted him to stay home and cuddle me too.

Mother's Day 2009

I just can not be anymore blessed on this Mother's Day! Larry did a fantastic job making me feel so special. Decorations, cake and gifts are just a few of the things he and the kids did. Not to mention I have a great relationship with my mother who is my best friend, and I have three awesome kids.



I LOVE being a mother. It is really tough, don't get me wrong, but as I blew out my cake candle I actually wished for one more child. Shhh, don't tell Larry.



One day I am going to have to tackle my kids so that I can kiss them and hold them and smell them. Even now, it is a rare moment that they let me truly cuddle them. Last night, Gibson came in my room in the middle of the night after having a bad dream and he climbed right on top of me. As I felt his little cold legs against my big (hehe) warm legs, I had a memory of cuddling with my mom when I was a child. I remember she felt so warm and safe. I used to LOVE sleeping with her at night. She usually let me. Larry and I tend to tell them to get back in their own bed. Last night was a good reminder to enjoy it while I can. Lauren Kate still loves to cuddle. She is constantly holding Gracy's hand. I could inhale my kids if it was physically possible.



Love them, love them, love them. As Larry says, "They are so yummy!"

Different Experience All Together

Gracy is 4 months old! The doctor told us to go ahead and start baby food. So we brought out the camera and the video camera. That was about the only similarity to the first time Lauren Kate and Gibson had their food. Next came the noise and interfering and opinions from the siblings. Not to mention that they were practically IN the high chair with her.

People say, I am not sure why they are so different when "we raised them the same". There is nothing further from the truth! Although we still teach the same principles, kiss and cuddle, take the pictures etc., Gracy is growing up in a totally different atmosphere than her siblings. For example, as an infant Lauren Kate watched Baby Einstein, Gibson watched Barney (because of Lauren), and Gracy watches Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

I trust that the Lord has a great plan for all of their lives and He knows the exact birth order of our children, correlating to their perfect personalities. I trust that He had a reason for putting our boy between two girls. Is this a good time to mention that Gibson told his preschool teacher at church on Sunday that he had a baby brother? When she asked him his name, Gibson replied, "Spider man"!

Picnic In Our Backyard

We don't have a backyard in our home, but we do make the best of it. A few days ago we had a McDonalds picnic on the porch and today they played in the garage. We have to pull the car out to make room. It is just a constant reminder that they do not know any different. They had a blast. When we moved here, Lauren Kate was not even two and Gibson was 4 months old. Gracy is officially a city girl by birth. I do take them to parks nearby at least 3 times a week, so don't shed a tear for them. Shed it for me... ha.

Bad Dream

Last night I had a dream that Larry loaded Lauren Kate and Gibson into the Camry and then we got onto Marta to go where we needed to go. He thought I was going to drive them home and I thought he was going to drive them home. Somehow in our selfishness to do something alone together, we forgot about the kids! Gracy seemed to be missing from this dream. I was trying to call the preschool (where we left them in the parking lot), when it hit me that they just might die from the heat if I can't get to them. I started panicking and desperately trying to call. My new touch screen phone was not cooperating. I woke up sweating and almost crying and quickly went to check on my kids.

As I was thinking about my dream today, I realized that it is linked to our upcoming cruise to the Bahamas. I am feeling very nervous and selfish about leaving the kids behind. Especially Gracy whom I feel needs me and only me so desperately right now. She needs me to nurse, to cuddle and to comfort. So it sounds ridiculous to say that I am sacrificing to go on a cruise, but that is exactly how I feel. I know that it is vitally important that Larry and I get time away together alone, and more importantly that I give my husband priority. I don't want to lose my marriage in the process of raising kids.

So I am just going to pray. Pray that my kids will have fun with Grandma while I am gone. Pray that my mom will survive, and pray that Larry and I will have a fun relaxing time together!

Easter 2009

I did a few little things for the kiddo's for Easter. Made them Easter baskets, got them new outfits, and read them the Easter story. Not to mention that Nicole and I stuffed 250 Easter eggs for the hunt at church tomorrow. But the most fun by far was dying Easter eggs as a family. Gracy just hung out but she seemed to enjoy herself. I am so thankful that Jesus is alive and gives us something to celebrate every day!

"Don't Panic"

My dear sweet husband sent me to get my toes done for Easter. Isn't he the greatest? When I called him to tell him I was on my way home, he said.... "Don't Panic". Long pause. "I did the laundry!" Whoo Hoo Hallelujah! I was WAY behind on progressing the wash. That is another blog later. I have decided that the don't panic comment comes from the fact that Larry doing laundry is a rare and fascinating event. He needed to make it dramatic and exciting. I of course made a big deal of it and gave him much praise. After all I am very thankful. What kind of wife do you think I am?

So I am not sure of the details of how this all went down, but when it was my turn to complete the never ending chore, I opened my dryer to find BLACK CRAYONS on all of my whites! He had prior confessed to washing some clothes with the crayons, but he reassured me that he found them all and that they had not gotten on any of the clothes. Somehow one of those cheeky little boogers must have snuck into the dryer.

So next time Larry tells me he is doing laundry, I will have to remind myself....

DON'T PANIC!