Just thinking...

I guess you could say that I am in one of "those" moods. One where you aren't happy or sad, just coming to a bunch of realizations that we have a hard time holding onto. My children are growing. More and more each day, they get smarter, funnier and continue to develop personalities. Just the other day, Ashtyn decided to play "Super Hero ~ UNDERWEAR GIRL"...yes, she was wearing it on her head.


And Lily, she decided that the best microphone for karaoke was the dogs tail. Hysterical!

So much has happened lately that I have really started to look closely and analyze my life. My relationship with my children and husband. I am so lucky. No, not lucky, BLESSED. Rick has been so good to me over the years. Yes, everyone has rough times but it was always getting better. He's kept his promises to me and we are doing well. My children, they are happy healthy kids. (Now, I am kindly leaving out the attitude of the 13 year old ....or the tantrums of the two year old...) But they are good kids. Trent has started mowing the lawn now and he's really proud of that. I'm blessed that all of my children love me the way that they do. I have the ability to stay at home and raise my children myself. It's truly amazing. I pray that our relationships only grow stronger. I know that we live in a tough time, our economy is crap, violence is as high as ever and drug use is everywhere. Yet, perhaps with the right love and guidance, we can teach our children where to find the narrow path to success and happiness...that, is MY goal in life. To help them pursue theirs.

SO EXCITED! I know, it's silly.

Ok, so I am SO excited about this one. I have joined a Message Board on the Cricut website. In doing this I have found a group of people who love scrapbooking as much as I do. Some of them even more-so! While clicking around I found that they also get together and form Secret Sister groups. Sending one gift package per month to their "sister" of scrappin' goodies. I'm so excited. I joined, it didn't take much thought. And hopefully tonight I will know who my "sister" is. It's only 5 months long (Now until December) and I think it's going to be good fun! If only the world were like this...just random gifts for people. I think it would be a better place!

Thoughts of a mother....

I wrote this on April 17, 2007. It is something that I thought of as I was dealing with Ashtyn growing up and losing her teeth. I could write more, but just read and you'll see what I mean.

As I sit here, at my desk, eating left-over birthday cake (that we all know I DON"T NEED), I'm forced to look over the past year. My Lily, my baby, has hit the first of many milestones that we will celebrate with a number. She is one. First, I have to thank God for every day that I have had with her since I first found out that I was pregnant, even telling Rick that we were going to be parents again was funny. I just have a nack for breaking news! From there it was to be expected, kind of. I got big, really big, then, I just got bigger, unusually so. (trust me, the pics are hilarious) And numerous trips to the hospital in false labor then to deliver my child with my own hands, breathtaking, amazing. A big girl at 8lbs. 10oz, she took my heart and never looked back. My flower, now one and talking, learning to walk. Figuring out simple problems, to watch the gears turn in her mind is nothing short of amazing. So many firsts run together in a blur, before you know it, they are independant and wanting to do things on their own, they don't need you. And as sad as it is, it makes me happy, she's learing, strong, brave. Trying things that at one point were mommy's job, now I can do it, I'm the big girl. Ashtyn has shown me how to live through this change, or maybe just that I can live through it. It's still difficult to watch her do things, knowing that just a short time ago it was, "Mommy, can you button my shirt please!". Now it's "ok, mom, I got it, can we go?" thoes extra minutes that you have while buttoning this, or making sure that this is tied, it's really precious "us" time, and can be easily overlooked. I know that my senseless ramblings are just that, ramblings. But perhaps I will someday be able to tell my children to hold onto the little moments with their young. Yet before that, I remind myself to hold them. For when kindergarten starts, it's a whole new world of space and independance, and I will have to prepare myself for that!

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Just a quick update...

Ashtyn informed me (at 10:00 last night) that she has yet ANOTHER loose tooth....the last one she lost was her bottom left center...this tooth, top right...Lord help me!

It's a bit overwhelming....

Wow, this past week has been just nuts. Sunday the 21st, Ashtyn lost her first tooth. It had become more and more loose the days leading up to the big event from her constantly fidgeting with it. Around noon, while riding her bike Ashtyn bit down hard while bracing for a fall (she has already mastered no training wheels), and caused the wiggly member to bleed and become far more unstable. After clearing tears and rinsing with cold water, she was warned that it may come out the next day and to just leave it be for awhile. Roughly two hours later, she comes to me and says (mouth full of blood) "Mom, it came out!" Thrust her hand up to me and there it was, proof that my baby was growing up. We cleaned her up and sent her to play and show off her new milestone ~ while I cried. That night, the tooth fairy left her $5 for the first tooth... and the tooth fairy cried. Monday night....Lily made the transition to "big girl bed" the toddler bed that looks like a VW Bug. She made the change so easily that now I don't even have to fight her to take a nap, she just loves it. We made it through the week with little change to life. Friday Lily had her first movie theater date. Jackie and I took Lily and Graham (2 weeks age difference) to see WALL*E. Cute movie! Today, Saturday has also hit me rough. Today is my brother, Scotty's birthday. He's 17. This man is one of the most amazing people I have ever had the blessing to know. And what makes me far more lucky is that he's my brother. There is a bond that will never be broken. I'm so blessed. He is just a great person, adorable, smart, funny, talented. Well rounded 'All American' boy. I'm so proud of him. And I miss him to pieces! And to top off my week, I got a new Cricut Cartridge, Stretch Your Imagination. It's WAY adorable! I hope this post wasn't too boring, perhaps I will be able to spice it up a bit more next time.

I guess I'm blog-a-riffic?

Well, here I am. Finally moving onto the more "mature" version of internet posting. I once vowed never to become a "blogger", but thanks to Ari...here I am. Let me start by saying that my posts will never be as glorious as hers. She uses fancy words like "ramekin of dip" I will tell you now, my word would be "tub". But if you can handle the ramblings of a mother....mother of 5 to be exact...Stop by any time and see what's new.