With a Girl Thrown In

I am the proud mother of two rambunctious, wild and crazy boys. The aunt of 4 nephews and the baby sister to two older brothers. I was a tomboy growing up who would rather put on football pads than any type of dress.  I can throw a perfect spiral and kick a field goal with the best of them. Now I ask myself and the rest of the world "what am I going to do with this precious baby girl?" I have never mastered perfect pigtails, let alone a french braid.  It took me and my husband 15 minutes just to get her into her tights for her Halloween costume.
There are things that I know I can't do well that should be a mom requirement. Like preparing Christmas dinner for the entire family or doing a french braid. But I can teach her how to kick a soccer ball into a new that is guarded by a goalie or to climb a tree so high that the neighborhood boys are in shock. I can teach her how to fight and to fight for what she believes in. I can teach her to be brave and face the adventures life gives you head on.
God has given me this precious little baby girl that I must mold into a little lady and quickly.  I see many tears in her future from her brothers. But I know that just like mine are now, once they get older they will protect her with everything they have in them. And that's the great thing about growing up with boys.

Here in the real world

Alright so I like to think of myself as a realist.  I believe that things happen for a reason. I may not understand it when they happen but God has a plan and this is how it is supossed to work out. When I was working people called me a walking, talking Hallmark card because when somebody had some news about thier grandma falling and breaking a hip they always looked to me to tell them the truth. In this case it would be "well it's all down hill from here".   I see things clearly, normally, and I like to think that I rationalize things with a clear head. When something bad happens I hope for the best but I know that it may not work out that way.
This morning at 2am while Allie decided to keep me awake until 4am I understood how babies get shaken baby syndrone. I remember thinking this with each of my kids. No I have never shaken any of my babies. I have learned to control myself and my feelings and if I do get the feeling that I am about to lose it then I walk away.  I hear all the time "how could a parent do that to their child?!"  It's not hard.  All it takes is a tired parent and a cranky baby.  I guess because Jay and I both know how easy it is to do we both pay attention to each other and realize when the other is about to lose it and we step in to give the other one a break.
I also understand how someone can leave a child in a car. This has been one of my fears. I have many times driven past the babysitters (when I was working) or completely zoned out while in the car. Again all it takes is a tired parent.  I am also always freaking out when I don't have one of them with me. Like during the Christmas season we will go shopping without the kids and someone will ask us where they are and it takes my breath away for a second when I don't instantly remember where I left them. Did I forget them? Where are they? Then I remember that I left them with the babysitter and sigh in relief. I don't know why I do this. I have never left one of them somewhere or in a car. Maybe it's because we hear so much about it now a day.

So these are the ramblings of a tired worn out mama who is going off of a few hours of sleep. Big night tonight. The Haunted Trail starts and Jay will be working all night on it so I will home alone with the kiddies. Guess I should work on getting a nap while I can. TTYL

An Apple a Day...Keeps the Doctor Away

These past two weeks have been crazy busy and expensive for us. I have been nickeled and dimed to death!!  Allie spent her first night away from home last weekend. I missed her so much and couldn't wait to get my hands on her again. She stayed with my mom on Saturday night. Kylie and Landon went to Jay's moms for the night so we only had Chase with us. He ended up passing out around 6pm so we had the night to ourselves. And you know what we did, hehehe. We went to sleep. OMG we are getting so OLD! Um huh I know what you were thinking. Get your mind out of the gutter!
Fall is definetly here now. We just made it through the fair. How many times can you go to the fair with your child's class to see the animals and the same stupid shows before you get to file for permanent insanity? Plus we had to go twice this year. But I did manage to eat my weight in caramel apples.  Let me ask you this...does an apple a day still keep the doctor away, even if it is covered with caramel and sprinkles?  Food for thought.

The boys had thier first dentist appointment. Landon did GREAT. Chase did not. I didn't have to hold him down like I thought I was going to have to but he did scream the whole time.
Kylie tested for her yellow belt. She ended up with her yellow stripe though. Which is good but she needs more practice at certain things before she can get her yellow. She has her first tournament next Saturday. I think she is excited about it. I hope she does well!

The fire trucks went to Landon's school and next week they go to Chase's. With my boys that is the higlight of the year for them. They love a fire truck and when daddy brings his then they get special attention.
Landon had his 2nd field trip to a pumpkin patch. Jay and I both went with him for that one. We had a ball. They did a corn maze and had a hayride. Jay and I began thinking about moving to a farm and making it like this one. It was really fun and I think the kids would love to live on a farm.

Today Landon had his first football game. He did well for his first game. I really hope that he likes it because next year he can play tackle football.

Jay has been working nearly nonstop on the haunted trail for the fire department. It's their main fund raiser of the year and he loves to do it. It's better than the fire princess pagent though. I really hated doing the fire princess pagent. With a passion.
So now we are sitting around the house. The boys are fighting because that's what they do, all the time! Allie is in her playpen because she pooped all over her swing and her new ECU cheerleader outfit. Jay is out working on the trail. We are about to leave to go to my dad's for dinner.

Busy Week Ahead

Monday, Monday, Monday is here and another week is upon us. This week is super busy. For half the week I am helping out at the school with the bookfair. Landon had his second football practice and I must say that he sucks!  I love him to death but that boy cannot play football. Maybe he is just too young for such a complicated game. But we see how this season goes. Saturday morning is his first game.  He is so cute in his uniform though.  He doesn't have pads because it's flag but he is still cute and he is one of the smallest ones on the team. Wednesday Jay and I have a meeting together. So I'm hoping it will go by fast because we will be together. Thursday is the volunteer meeting at Tommy's Road and Friday Landon has another field trip to go too.
Speaking of field trips...I have been nickeled and dimed to death this last month. Everything from field trips to book fair to county fair. Then we have pictures and football and karate fees.  If it's not one thing it's another. Kylie has a field trip coming up that cost $46!!! They are going to the NC mountains so it will be a cool trip but $46!!! OMG!! 

Finally...he gets it!

My husband, God love him, has thought for a long time that all I do while he was working was sit around the house and play with the kids. But just the other day the words that every stay-at-home mom waits to hear, "I don't know how you do it all"; and "you will never be able to go back to work with all you do".  Alas!! He finally gets it! It has just taken him a month and a half of being on his sabbatical.