When I told Jeremy what picture I put in my last post, he wanted to make sure that you all knew that he was dancing like that for the benefit of the kids! It was rather entertaining at the time, but it was just as entertaining to watch Jeremy squirm last night when I told him what was on the blog and the comment that Melissa left!!!
Now, either no one is reading this blog or no one really pays attention to it. So I guess I will just spell things out for everyone and see what the response is then....
Preston & Cambree are going to have a little brother or sister!!! It was very unexpected and quite a shock to Jeremy & I. We found out right before the New Year and it took us about a month to get used to the idea and wrap our brains around the idea of our family changing. We finally just had to decide that what was done was done and that we couldn't change it, so we might as well get happy about it. So we did! We told the kids one evening after I had been to the doctor and they were very excited. Of course Preston wants a brother and Cambree wants a sister...someone is obviously going to be disappointed, but I think they will love the baby no matter what it is.
I am due August 24th...which seems like forever from now and all I can think about is being really pregnant during the "HOT" summer months. I know I am not the first woman to every go through such a thing, but the thought of it is enough to wear me out! My other worry is having this new baby right around the time school will be starting again. Preston will start kindergarten next year and Cambree will most likely be heading to am preschool....and I definitely don't want to miss the first day of school. And I know there is going to be a lot of schedule changes at our house and I just keep wondering how I am going to handle it all.
Megan let me borrow a doppler that she had from her two girls and last night we finally managed to hear our babies heartbeat. It was really exciting for the kids and I wanted nothing more than to have a picture of the kids gathered around me listening to their babies heart. But of course American Idol was on last night and there is no bothering Jeremy when that show is on, so I don't have a photograph to document that moment, but it will stay with me for quite awhile. There is something special about hearing that heartbeat and knowing that something is taking shape inside of you! And there is something very special about seeing the love the kids have for their baby, even though they have yet to meet him or her yet!
1/30/09
1/27/09
Same Old thing!
It feels like ages since I have posted an actual post about our lives! We have been busy this month just keeping up with the day to day! After we got back from our trip to Miami, I have been busy with Middle School basketball, finishing up the year and having our league tournament. With the conclusion of this, it means that I have a little bit of a break, before we jump into try-outs in March. I have had a lot of fun this year and just hope that next year I have another awesome group of girls. I have also had doctors appointments, photo sessions, and countless days of nausea (which means nothing has been done!).
Upcoming in our lives is a trip to Tulsa to see Walking with Dinosaurs this Saturday. Preston doesn't know about it yet...it is a mystery trip! It should be fun for all of us! We had one previous mystery trip and he about drove me nuts until he figured out we were going to the zoo. I don't think he will figure this one out though. I can't wait to journal it and take some pics.
I also have Crop-A-Ganza coming up Feb 6-8! This is an annual trip that I take with Melissa and we go and get caught up on our scrapbooks. It is a total blast and we talk non-stop. So far I have 28 pages planned including 133 photos! I can't believe I narrowed it down from the 881 I had to have printed just to get up-to-date from August 08! However that 28 page count doesn't include Christmas of this year, which I am considering doing mini albums for each of the kids. We will have to see how that plan goes!
I am trying to think of a photo that I could add here for some interest, but sadly, I haven't been too good with the camera around here lately! So here is a funny photo from an after-dinner jam session to the Eagles "Get Over It" which is our theme song!
1/18/09
More kids comments
This comment actually comes from a friend of mine, but I got such a kick out of it I asked her if I could share it here and she said sure!
Last night ...
Ashlind: Mom, you know that combine I got from Santa?
Me: Yeah.
Ashlind: Well, it says 'made in china.' Not the north pole.
Me: Okay.
Ashlind: Well, what do you have to say about that?
Me: Santa can't make all the toys. He has to buy some.
Ashlind: How? Someone would recognize him in the store with that bigwhite beard.
Me: Well that's why he has helpers who do the shopping.
Ashlind: Like who?
Me: Just people. I don't really know very many of them.
Ashlind: I know two of them, but I can't tell you
Last night ...
Ashlind: Mom, you know that combine I got from Santa?
Me: Yeah.
Ashlind: Well, it says 'made in china.' Not the north pole.
Me: Okay.
Ashlind: Well, what do you have to say about that?
Me: Santa can't make all the toys. He has to buy some.
Ashlind: How? Someone would recognize him in the store with that bigwhite beard.
Me: Well that's why he has helpers who do the shopping.
Ashlind: Like who?
Me: Just people. I don't really know very many of them.
Ashlind: I know two of them, but I can't tell you
1/14/09
Quick kid friendly meal
Here is another can't miss easy dinner for the kids Quick Fix Beef Burrito Skillet. We tried it tonight for the first time and we had 4 clean plates. Jeremy can't eat beans, so ours was beanless, but still just as tasty. I topped mine with lettuce and sour cream and it was just like a soft taco. It got me to wondering if you could do something like this with enchiladas....hum? Maybe an experiment in the kitchen coming soon!
1/13/09
Back from Miami!
Well we made it back home and while I was glad to get back home to my "normal" redneck life, I do miss the incredible weather and the sandy beaches! There's not a lot to say about Miami other than we definitely were not in Kansas anymore. We stood out like sore thumbs...not because we look like hicks (okay, maybe a little) but because we where Caucasian and spoke English. Now I don't think if myself as a biased person, but EVERYWHERE we went we had to ask people to repeat themselves because we couldn't understand them. It was a little bit frustrating and a little bit entertaining at the same time. When we would order a meal we never knew exactly what we would get back from the kitchen. Jeremy had a really hard time translating, so it quickly became my job to interrupt him before he said something to offend anyone.
The game was fun. It was an incredibly loud stadium and a very nice one. OU has nice facilities, but this pro stadium was NICE! We arrived a couple of hours early to take things in and walk around the stadium. We also wanted to make sure that we had a relatively easy time parking, which we did. The first half of the game was very exciting and fun, but those of you who watched it know that the second half pretty much stunk! The OU fans were out numbered about 10:1, so that wasn't so much fun either. And it was amazing how many OU fans had sold their tickets to Gator fans, obviously to make a profit. I think that is WRONG!!! I can understand someone wanting to sell their tickets and make some money, but at least sell them to someone supporting your team! Okay enough ranting and raving.
Friday we slept in and then went to the Miami Seaquarium. The first thing we did there was watch this Dolphin show and I immediately felt guilty for being there without my kids. I knew they would have loved this place. Especially Preston. We spent a couple hours there ( a good portion of it in the gift shop trying to find just the right thing to bring home to the kids....who by the way, have totally ignored them since we so proudly gave them to the kids! ARGH!) Anyways, after that we tried to go to this mansion, but it was closing in 10 minutes, so we ended up doing that on Saturday morning before we left for the airport. That's the other thing about Miami, things open late and close early! So instead we went to the Bayside Martketplace and walked along the shore and got to see dolphins swimming in the ocean. They of course weren't doing the high-flying tricks of their peers at the Seaquarium, but it was cool to see them in their natural element. They are very graceful and magical to watch. After walking for a bit we decided to have an early dinner and chose "The Knife". And while it smelled and looked good, well it was interesting, let's just put it that way. There was a language barrier again and Jeremy swears that he ate brain! It was a buffet style restaurant ( we found out after we were already in and had drinks...argh again!) Anyways, you go back to the grill to get your "meat." Jeremy want first and came back with some interesting looking concoctions. I asked what this strange looking things was and he said they told him it was some sort of bread. I took one look at it and said, "That is not bread." He started pulling it apart and it was very spongy in texture and it really did look like a slice of brain on his plate. I made the comment that it looked like brain and that sealed the deal...that's what it became.
When we went back for a second round that particular thing that he ate was on the grill next to the intestines and blood sausage, which made it even more convincing that it might actually be brain! Jeremy also decided that he was going to try the blood sausage because he had seen the guy on Bizarre Foods do it. Now you have to understand that Jeremy really wants to be a dangerous eater, but when it comes down to it, he is really just a meat and potatoes kind of guy! And if you know me at all you know that I don't do strange foods. I like to stick to things that are familiar and that I know I will like. And I also have a good gag reflex, which Jeremy seemed to think was funny. He kept talking about the blood sausage and describing how it looked when he put his fork in it (just typing this is making me gag). Okay enough.....you will have to ask him for the rest of the story! The kids thought that was the best story from our trip and wanted to know why I didn't take a picture of it!
The other interesting part of our trip occurred later while we were strolling through the marketplace after dinner. While I was in a store browsing a man approached Jeremy and told him that he had just gotten here from Georgia and was starting a new job and 4 black guys had jumped him yesterday and took $400 from him. He couldn't understand a word anybody down there was saying and could Jeremy spare a few dollars so he could get a meal? Jeremy of course told him we had just spent the last of ours on our own dinner. What makes this so interesting is that we then followed the guy around and watched him try this with other people. Okay, Jeremy watched and I took in the interesting ware of Miami. When the evening was over, he had managed to get money from one man....probably just to get him to leave. Jeremy even wanted to track him down and ask him how well that really worked for him. I think Jeremy was seriously considering quitting his bank job and becoming a bum if it paid better!
Okay, enough boring stories....here are some pictures .
Ballgame
cool bike in South Beach ( I almost missed the bus admiring this!)
The SharkHunter in the Bay outside our hotel
really dark picture at Vizcaya (the mansion)
Vizcaya
lots of interesting architecture
The game was fun. It was an incredibly loud stadium and a very nice one. OU has nice facilities, but this pro stadium was NICE! We arrived a couple of hours early to take things in and walk around the stadium. We also wanted to make sure that we had a relatively easy time parking, which we did. The first half of the game was very exciting and fun, but those of you who watched it know that the second half pretty much stunk! The OU fans were out numbered about 10:1, so that wasn't so much fun either. And it was amazing how many OU fans had sold their tickets to Gator fans, obviously to make a profit. I think that is WRONG!!! I can understand someone wanting to sell their tickets and make some money, but at least sell them to someone supporting your team! Okay enough ranting and raving.
Friday we slept in and then went to the Miami Seaquarium. The first thing we did there was watch this Dolphin show and I immediately felt guilty for being there without my kids. I knew they would have loved this place. Especially Preston. We spent a couple hours there ( a good portion of it in the gift shop trying to find just the right thing to bring home to the kids....who by the way, have totally ignored them since we so proudly gave them to the kids! ARGH!) Anyways, after that we tried to go to this mansion, but it was closing in 10 minutes, so we ended up doing that on Saturday morning before we left for the airport. That's the other thing about Miami, things open late and close early! So instead we went to the Bayside Martketplace and walked along the shore and got to see dolphins swimming in the ocean. They of course weren't doing the high-flying tricks of their peers at the Seaquarium, but it was cool to see them in their natural element. They are very graceful and magical to watch. After walking for a bit we decided to have an early dinner and chose "The Knife". And while it smelled and looked good, well it was interesting, let's just put it that way. There was a language barrier again and Jeremy swears that he ate brain! It was a buffet style restaurant ( we found out after we were already in and had drinks...argh again!) Anyways, you go back to the grill to get your "meat." Jeremy want first and came back with some interesting looking concoctions. I asked what this strange looking things was and he said they told him it was some sort of bread. I took one look at it and said, "That is not bread." He started pulling it apart and it was very spongy in texture and it really did look like a slice of brain on his plate. I made the comment that it looked like brain and that sealed the deal...that's what it became.
When we went back for a second round that particular thing that he ate was on the grill next to the intestines and blood sausage, which made it even more convincing that it might actually be brain! Jeremy also decided that he was going to try the blood sausage because he had seen the guy on Bizarre Foods do it. Now you have to understand that Jeremy really wants to be a dangerous eater, but when it comes down to it, he is really just a meat and potatoes kind of guy! And if you know me at all you know that I don't do strange foods. I like to stick to things that are familiar and that I know I will like. And I also have a good gag reflex, which Jeremy seemed to think was funny. He kept talking about the blood sausage and describing how it looked when he put his fork in it (just typing this is making me gag). Okay enough.....you will have to ask him for the rest of the story! The kids thought that was the best story from our trip and wanted to know why I didn't take a picture of it!
The other interesting part of our trip occurred later while we were strolling through the marketplace after dinner. While I was in a store browsing a man approached Jeremy and told him that he had just gotten here from Georgia and was starting a new job and 4 black guys had jumped him yesterday and took $400 from him. He couldn't understand a word anybody down there was saying and could Jeremy spare a few dollars so he could get a meal? Jeremy of course told him we had just spent the last of ours on our own dinner. What makes this so interesting is that we then followed the guy around and watched him try this with other people. Okay, Jeremy watched and I took in the interesting ware of Miami. When the evening was over, he had managed to get money from one man....probably just to get him to leave. Jeremy even wanted to track him down and ask him how well that really worked for him. I think Jeremy was seriously considering quitting his bank job and becoming a bum if it paid better!
Okay, enough boring stories....here are some pictures .
bird at the Seaquarium
Dolphin Show
Ballgame
cool bike in South Beach ( I almost missed the bus admiring this!)
The SharkHunter in the Bay outside our hotel
really dark picture at Vizcaya (the mansion)
Vizcaya
lots of interesting architecture
1/6/09
Happy Birthday Little Bro!
Happy 26th Birthday Russ! I may not even come up to your shoulders anymore, but face it, you will always be my little brother! HA HA!
This year
Hope you have a great day Russ!
Last year
This year
Hope you have a great day Russ!
1/5/09
New Year!
2009 approached in a fury and look at us now, already 5 days into it! I mentioned in an earlier post that instead of having any "resolutions" I was going to make little goals and set aside one month to work on each. While thinking about the 12 mini goals I wanted to achieve this year, I came across this post on Ali Edwards site that is about choosing "one word" to focus on throughout the coming year. So on top of my monthly goals I will be working on patience as well. PATIENCE. That's my word for 2009. Patience with myself, with my spouse, with my children, with my co-workers, with my family, with strangers....in every aspect of my life try to have patience! I guess for me it's about realizing that things don't always have to get done right when I want them to or even the way that I want them to, but just getting them done should be good enough. I don't have to raise my voice at my kids, I choose to (wow, that's tough to admit!). There is an endless list of ways that I know I need to be more patient and as the year goes on maybe I will share a little with you about how I am doing! (But please don't ask me, because I don't want to have to be that accountable!!)
So, what's on my list? I know you are desperate to know and see how it compares to your own list...I will share mine, if you will share yours! I don't have 12 goals down on paper yet, but I have a few....
* Create more
* pray often
* go to bed early, get up early - train myself to do this!
* get moving
* book 40 photo sessions (okay this is really a year long goal, but it's important to me)
* slow down and let the kids help with more stuff....don't do it just because I can do it faster
It's hard to decide where to start, which goal will be the best to start with, which one will help me the most throughout the coming year. I think I am going to start with get moving and getting up early....I think these two are going to go hand in hand for me. We will see how it goes!
I have rambled on enough and I am sure you are sick and tired of my philosophy, so instead I will bore you with details of our upcoming trip to Miami! Jeremy and I are leaving on Wednesday (in 48 hours we will be in the air!) and on Thursday will be taking in probably a little of the beach and then the OU vs. Florida National Championship game. Friday, hopefully more beach and the art deco district (Jeremy will LOVE this! Okay not really, but I think there are going to be some great photo opps there!) Saturday, sleep in, hot breakfast and return home. It's a short trip, not nearly long enough, but I know I will be ready to get back home to the comforts of Kansas. You know, like the bitter cold and the raging wind! And I will be missing the kids as well.
I will post about our trip when we return, but don't expect anything between now and then. I am going to be busy packing and catching up on laundry...not sure which order those will be in yet! Have a terrific first week of 2009!
So, what's on my list? I know you are desperate to know and see how it compares to your own list...I will share mine, if you will share yours! I don't have 12 goals down on paper yet, but I have a few....
* Create more
* pray often
* go to bed early, get up early - train myself to do this!
* get moving
* book 40 photo sessions (okay this is really a year long goal, but it's important to me)
* slow down and let the kids help with more stuff....don't do it just because I can do it faster
It's hard to decide where to start, which goal will be the best to start with, which one will help me the most throughout the coming year. I think I am going to start with get moving and getting up early....I think these two are going to go hand in hand for me. We will see how it goes!
I have rambled on enough and I am sure you are sick and tired of my philosophy, so instead I will bore you with details of our upcoming trip to Miami! Jeremy and I are leaving on Wednesday (in 48 hours we will be in the air!) and on Thursday will be taking in probably a little of the beach and then the OU vs. Florida National Championship game. Friday, hopefully more beach and the art deco district (Jeremy will LOVE this! Okay not really, but I think there are going to be some great photo opps there!) Saturday, sleep in, hot breakfast and return home. It's a short trip, not nearly long enough, but I know I will be ready to get back home to the comforts of Kansas. You know, like the bitter cold and the raging wind! And I will be missing the kids as well.
I will post about our trip when we return, but don't expect anything between now and then. I am going to be busy packing and catching up on laundry...not sure which order those will be in yet! Have a terrific first week of 2009!
Christmas Re-cap
I know we are going on Christmas being two weeks ago, but I have the greatest comments from my children and I want to share them with you. Before I do, let me just tell you that this year had to have been the BEST Christmas that I can remember! Seeing the magic through the eyes of your own children is the most incredible thing! The kids were both big enough to understand what was going on, but not too old that they don't believe anymore. If it were up to me, I would never let them stop believing in the wonder of Christmas. (However, I would shorten Christmas break by about 3 days....any other moms ready to get back to the routine?)
So now on with the stories...
Preston was up early christmas morning (2:45 a.m.) with a tummy ache because all he had eaten the night before for supper was sugar cookies at the ranch (I didn't find this out until 2:45 a.m.!!!!). After getting some clean jammies on he wanted to know if Santa had come yet. So we went to the living room to check the cookies and milk we had left on the coffee table. Preston saw the empty plate and exclaimed, "He has been here!" Turning he saw the presents and said, "He brought us presents. How much longer till morning?" "A few hours, " I replied. "I better get back to bed then," he said as he scurried to his room! The fact that he was up with a tummy ache and I had a mess to clean up was completely overshadowed by the awe and amazement my little 5 year old had that early morning. He couldn't believe Santa had already been there...and he was just as eager to get back to bed and finish his rest so he could see what was in all those presents Santa had left.
Jump ahead a "few" hours to about 5:30 and Preston shows up at my bedside again with the big question "How much longer till morning?" Thinking I could wisely put him off until about 7:00 I said, "When the sun comes up." (The problem with this was that the sun stayed behind the clouds most of the morning and we played this scene over and over again in our bed until I finally relented and got up!)
But before I caved, Cambree Jane made her way into our room and climbed into bed to snuggle. Now the four of us were all laying there warm and cozy and my two darling children had a conversation that I will never forget .
P - "Cambree, St. Nicholas came last night! Santa Came!"
C - "He did? Did he bring presents?"
P - "Yes, a BUNCH!!!"
C - "Did you hear him?"
P - "No, I was asleep."
This is the moment when I cave and decide what the heck....let's get up and see what's in all those presents!
Cambree races to the living room and exclaims.."Look Mom, Presents!!!"
As soon as I got my camera I let them get into their stockings. Preston found a matchbox airplane in his and while he was hugging it tight to his chest, he said, "Somebody loves me!"
Cambree found new Princess panties in her stocking and she remarked, "OOOH, Fancy!"
I am sure there are a million other little things they said throughout the day and the season that were equally as cute or magical, but I simply wasn't aware enough to catch them. My absolute favorite memory is the coversation they had while snuggled in between Jeremy and I early that Christmas morning!
I know that Christmas is about so much more than presents and Santa, but when you are 2 & 5 there doesn't seem to be much else. What a great way to celebrate the birth of our Savior, giving presents to one another. Perhaps the tradition started when the Wise Men brought their gifts and a mother with small children saw the opportunity to teach her children as well as create some magic for them. Whatever the reason for the way we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I am glad we do and I am certain that I will remember this Christmas for as long as I live!
So now on with the stories...
Preston was up early christmas morning (2:45 a.m.) with a tummy ache because all he had eaten the night before for supper was sugar cookies at the ranch (I didn't find this out until 2:45 a.m.!!!!). After getting some clean jammies on he wanted to know if Santa had come yet. So we went to the living room to check the cookies and milk we had left on the coffee table. Preston saw the empty plate and exclaimed, "He has been here!" Turning he saw the presents and said, "He brought us presents. How much longer till morning?" "A few hours, " I replied. "I better get back to bed then," he said as he scurried to his room! The fact that he was up with a tummy ache and I had a mess to clean up was completely overshadowed by the awe and amazement my little 5 year old had that early morning. He couldn't believe Santa had already been there...and he was just as eager to get back to bed and finish his rest so he could see what was in all those presents Santa had left.
Jump ahead a "few" hours to about 5:30 and Preston shows up at my bedside again with the big question "How much longer till morning?" Thinking I could wisely put him off until about 7:00 I said, "When the sun comes up." (The problem with this was that the sun stayed behind the clouds most of the morning and we played this scene over and over again in our bed until I finally relented and got up!)
But before I caved, Cambree Jane made her way into our room and climbed into bed to snuggle. Now the four of us were all laying there warm and cozy and my two darling children had a conversation that I will never forget .
P - "Cambree, St. Nicholas came last night! Santa Came!"
C - "He did? Did he bring presents?"
P - "Yes, a BUNCH!!!"
C - "Did you hear him?"
P - "No, I was asleep."
This is the moment when I cave and decide what the heck....let's get up and see what's in all those presents!
Cambree races to the living room and exclaims.."Look Mom, Presents!!!"
As soon as I got my camera I let them get into their stockings. Preston found a matchbox airplane in his and while he was hugging it tight to his chest, he said, "Somebody loves me!"
Cambree found new Princess panties in her stocking and she remarked, "OOOH, Fancy!"
I am sure there are a million other little things they said throughout the day and the season that were equally as cute or magical, but I simply wasn't aware enough to catch them. My absolute favorite memory is the coversation they had while snuggled in between Jeremy and I early that Christmas morning!
I know that Christmas is about so much more than presents and Santa, but when you are 2 & 5 there doesn't seem to be much else. What a great way to celebrate the birth of our Savior, giving presents to one another. Perhaps the tradition started when the Wise Men brought their gifts and a mother with small children saw the opportunity to teach her children as well as create some magic for them. Whatever the reason for the way we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I am glad we do and I am certain that I will remember this Christmas for as long as I live!
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