how's your summer?

Happy Summer friends...

I'll blog soon.

I promise.

hat, hat, hat

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RED HAT, BLUE HAT.

splendid Summer

Summer time CAN be a magical time. It can also be a time of stress and running around. I try every summer to enjoy every single minute, to cherish the moments I have with my kids not in school. Some days it’s harder than others.

This Summer Kid4 and I are adopting a very good idea from Meg at the Whatever blog. I love her blog by the way!

Kid4 and I wrote a big summer list of things we want to do. She is certain we will do all of them and I hope we can! She loves the feeling of putting a check mark in the box next to an activity!

So far we have made snow cones, eaten ice cream, visited Lane Packing Company, swam at Bat Girls and rode the little kiddy rides at the mall (she was too big, poor kid)

We are having a lovely summer and looking forward to playing in the sprinkler, eating lots of snow cones, making cupcakes, visiting at least one zoo, going on a little road trip and MUCH MUCH MORE!

Happy summer sweet friends!

Love,

Kid4 and me!

besties

Best friends are the most wonderful things in the whole world. I have one, my kids all have one, I hope you have one too! We love our kids best friends like they are our own!

AHHHHH... the summer job!

"...Workin 9 to 5

What a way to make a livin

Barely gettin by

Its all takin

And no givin

They just use your mind

And they never give you credit

Its enough to drive you

Crazy if you let it..."

Hi... I'm so and so and you are...?

Have you ever truly met yourself…? Like Hello I’m _________, let’s get to know you/me better. Do you ever truly know yourself? Is it possible to know yourself? Do the people that claim to know themselves just think they know?

I’m realizing, late in life I might add, that there are about 3 jillion layers to me and I barely know any of them. I’m good with about the first ten layers, after that I’m a mystery to myself. I’m wondering now if it’s my fault that I don’t know myself better, should I have done things different?

Is it possible to know yourself while you’re raising kids and trying to help them with their own identities? I was going along worrying about kids and not even thinking of myself when they were little and as time slipped by so did I. I can’t really tell you when it happened; in fact, I doubt I ever had a really good grasp on who I was.

There may be an age when that happens for most people, college? The first few years of marriage without kids I suppose? Who knows, I certainly don’t. I am finding myself struggling to hold my head above water and I’m not even sure I can help myself anymore. I’m not even sure I ever could! I think lots of people who knew me forever ago would say they knew it would happen. I think they would say “this is what happens when you get married and have kids so young, I knew it would happen to you too”.

I guess I’m no exception and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that I so badly wanted to BE the exception. I so badly wanted to look back and say “I told you I could do it” but I can’t and I’m struggling and I guess they were right.

This new layer that I am discovering is so new to me. I am the kind of girl who does change instantly and happy with it as long and I have control over it. I don’t do long term slow change well. As my children are starting to be adults, preparing to leave and making their own decisions I find myself scared….. of myself! What will Kid4 and I do all alone together? (Don’t panic, Mr. B will be at work) You see my whole life has gone like this.

• Get up feed the kids
• talk to them
• make sure they’re happy for school
• wish them well
• take them to school
• go home get another kid ready
• make her breakfast
• dress her
• take her to school
• go home
• clean up the aftermath of the morning
• run errands
• start dinner
• pick up the kids
• take them to their afterschool activities
• finish dinner
• clean up dinner
• get the kids cleaned up
• read stories
• put them to bed
• put them to bed again
• clean up again
• KIDS KIDS KIDS

what will I do when I am only cooking for 3? I don’t even think I can cook for 3. I will have to feed other people, neighbors perhaps?

WHY am I panicking about this so early? I still have two years…. But do you know how fast 2 years can go? Two years can be gone in the blink of an eye…

IM TRYING NOT TO BLINK!

a lovely day

My mother in law is so sweet. We always have such a nice time together. She took us to the BEST BBQ place ever (sorry bodacious)! Isn't she the cutest? She's so photogenic!

Bella had a nice time shopping. Her favorite store was the pet store of course!

My mom and Bella have so much fun together! I was afraid Bella wouldn't enjoy shopping but she really enjoyed just being with my mom.

Bella picked out shoes for my mom to try on! Do you love these?

the highlight of my trip

I begged my mom to give me highlights.

She did and ... I have a tender head.

Thanks mom, I love it!

OH' brother

forever ago

this summer

last summer

Bat Girl and I are having a lovely time in New Mexico. We are boy-free, sleeping in and having Starbucks... well I am, she doesn't drink coffee.

Tuesday we went to Albuquerque to visit my brother. We had such a nice time hanging around with him, he doesn't mind shopping and hanging out with us, he doesn't mind our loud laughs and tacky jokes. One of my favorite things about my brother is that he enjoys good food and a tacky joke!

I have thousands of memories of my brother and I playing for hours outside, inside and everywhere. My brother always had the best imagination and on long trip he would do funny voices and tell me long elaborate stories about how he used to be a girl but he kissed his elbow and turned into a boy... I actually believed him! We built forts and rode bikes, he built me a dirt bike with a purple tire and taught me how to make skid marks on the road.

I've always been thankful to have a big brother and I love him dearly!

once upon a time....

Once upon a time there was a little girl who dreamed of being a mom. When she went to school she used to draw picture after picture of her with a little line of kids standing next to her. When everyone else was talking about being a doctor and a teacher she was dreaming of diapering her babies and baking pies. She dreamed of waking up in the morning to chubby smiling faces and babies galore. She dreamed of making scrumptious homemade bread while her little babies napped. She dreamed of having a little farm house with grass and trees as far as she could see. She dreamed of quiet and simple and simply happy days while her children played outdoors.

This very different little girl really never fit in with other children. While they were skipping and singing she was dreaming of her life as a momma. While they were growing into teens and picking out the latest fashions she was secretly dressing her dolls still wondering if her babies would have blue eyes. While the other girls were combining their names with their latest boyfriends she was writing the names of her babies and trying different middle names to hear how they sounded together. While everyone else around her was growing and changing she was daydreaming and wishing for a family.

One day, she got her family. When her first son was born she looked into his eyes and it was love at first sight. She new this is who she had been waiting for her whole life. She wanted more and more kids. When her daughter was born she was smitten by pink and adored her rosy checked angel. Soon enough another son was wrapped up in her arms.

She spent her days dressing babies, changing diapers, playing dress up, picking up toys and cleaning up messes, she was in heaven but there was something missing…

One early early morning that missing piece was born, another daughter, more pink, more dolls and fancy tea parties, more sweet rosy cheeks, more little girl hugs and giggling. The more the merrier.

My Dear babies,

“I’ll love you forever,

I’ll like you for always,

as long as I’m living my babies you’ll be. "

-Mom

my favorite people

I have always been a Daddy's girl, I absolutely love my Dad, he's the greatest. There are a million memories I could share about my Dad but my favorite one is when we were moving across the country from Arkansas to Oregon I rode with my Dad in the U-haul. Im sure it comes as no surprise that I talked non stop and my mom seriously would have gone mad if she had to listen to me all the way across the country.

ANYWAY.... I thought I lost my doll somewhere on that trip and so I used the doll clothes I had brought for my doll and dressed his thermos up instead and used "her" as a baby doll. I loved it, I dressed "her" and fed "her" and wrapped "her" up, I had the time of a lifetime with the thermos. "She" was always warm and smelled like coffee!

(I was a weird and creative kid)

My Dad did the sweetest things for me growing up. When I was away at my Grandparents he always sent me letters about my dolls. he would say "your dollies really miss you", I loved to thin about my Dad talking to my dolls. When we travelled he would let me take whatever I wanted and I loved it!

I could tell my Dad anything growing up and I did. He listened to me chatter on and on during my lifetime, story after story and to this day I trust my dad more than anyone.

Just look at my little goosey loving up on my Daddy! Aren't they the cutest?

P.S. my real doll had fallen behind my seat and my dad found her when we got to Oregon.

happy camping

These big ol' boys went off to camp today. Look how big our babies are!!!

and we're OUTTA here...

I know you won't be shocked to know that Bat Girl and I have hit the road on a very long road trip. Let me assure you of these things-

1. Bat Girl will ask me "Are we there yet" as a joke at least once before we hit Atlanta.

2. Bat Girl will ask me "Are we there yet" NOT as a joke at least 10 times before we arrive.

3. We will eat at cracker barrel because it's what we do.

4. We will leave something at Cracker barrel because it's what we do.

5. We will laugh ourselves sick and I am crossing my fingers...... errr..... legs that I don't wet my pants. (she's really funny)

6. I WILL throw something out the window because the kids are fighting about it, lets cross our fingers it won't be expensive like an Ipod.

7. I will say "I miss Chick Fil A" too many times to count once we are out of Chick Fil A country

8. I will get tired and grouchy

9. Bat Girl will get tired and grouchy and even though I will be driving, she won't take a nap.

10. once it gets dark, I will get nervous once I see a deer and honk.

11. Bat Girl will tell me how the deer can't hear a horn and smack me.

12. I'll keep honking

13. We will have a wonderful time.

14. I will yell in the car, I won't be able to help it.

15. Bat Girl will shout out "Beazer" to make me laugh.

16. We will make up names for ourselves when we get tired (last time we did stripper names)

17. at some point we will take one too many bites of something sugary and be sick.

18. She will crack and have a soda

19. I will just crack.

20. We will have the vacation of a lifetime because we always do.

OH THE STORIES I WILL HAVE TO TELL!!!!

neverapart

Counterpart-

1. A person or thing that closely resembles another

2. A copy; duplicate

3. One of two parts that fit, completes, or complements one another.

4. Bat girl and me.

Well she did it, she turned 6, had 2 parties and the sign is STILL up....

We had pink and purple cupcakes with pastel sugar on top and birthday cake ice cream and happy meals before that.

And now we have a 6 year old on our hands.... oh' 6, losing teeth, knowing it all, starting first grade.... oh' my! AND she says she is interested in taking "EYE QWON DOO" now that she's 6!

DRIVING Mr. and Miss Crazy

Half of my kids are driving and it’s scaring me to death! Mr. B., the dear, takes them driving as much as he can and I can’t even watch them back out of the driveway! I almost cry out in terror thinking of them on the road.

There are more issues than you think when it comes to your kids driving. People so easily say “let them go”, “they have to learn sometime”, “don’t be so overprotective”… etc.

I can barely stand the thought of something happening to them or to someone else because they are driving. How will your child feel if they hit someone? How will they ever get that image out of their minds?

Remember my nephew was hit by a car and killed and I feel sad for the young girl that hit him when I think of her. She was only 19, and I can’t imagine how she has been able to drive again or stop thinking about him laying there in front of her truck

When they drive away I can’t help but to think about someone hitting them, getting THAT call, finding out that they will never come home or they have hit someone else that will never go home.

I know, I know, I’m a worrywart! I don’t try to be, I wish I could be more carefree and like yeah, sure go ahead and drive, I’m not worried at all… instead I’m like a Chihuahua on crack and am wringing my sweaty paws when they get out on the open road!

I need a vacation!

swimming party at Tia's with the big kids

Dear little girl,

Today you turned six and for the life of me all day long I couldn’t stop watching you. When I asked you if you thought you had gotten a little taller you laughed because you know you have! When I teased you about staying 5 you giggled and reassured me that God planned for you to grow up.

I loved this whole day, even the busyness of making cupcakes, wrapping presents, cleaning up messes and wondering all day if you would love what we got for you! I didn’t mind the chaos or running to the store because I forgot candles. I felt like I was in a fog all day trying to shake it off but it doesn’t seem real that you could be six already.

Wasn’t it just yesterday that you were a teeny tiny baby settled into my arms sleeping and warm? Wasn’t it just yesterday that we we’re pushing you in a stroller picking up your pacifier for the 15^th time? Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were tickled because of the way you smiled and giggled?

It doesn’t seem possible but it happened. Your sleeping now and here I am editing your SIX year old birthday pictures! I don’t know how the years slipped by little darling but I hope I don’t forget to keep a close eye on you this year so I don’t miss a single amazing moment of year six.

I love you goosey.

Mom

Happy Birthday to you darling six year old

*her first minute*

*her first birthday*

*her second birthday*

*her third birthday*

*her fourth birthday*

*her fifth birthday*

My Dear Dear Sweet and Sassy six year old,

I literally CANNOT believe that you turn 6 today. When I look back at these 6 years I can’t believe how the time has flown and I wish I could slow down the minutes we have together.

I keep looking at you this summer and wanting to make this the summer of a lifetime, doing all the things that a 6 year old could ever dream of because next summer you won’t be 6 anymore. Everyday I look at you I want to bottle up your energy and answer each question but instead sometimes you make me tired and I want you to be quieter, don’t worry that’s just the tired mom in me.

It’s funny how when I stop and look at your beautiful face and hear your little 6 year old voice I want to grab you up and hold you till the end of time never letting you, never letting you grow another inch.

When you started kindergarten this year I promised you I wouldn’t leave the parking lot and I actually stayed at first, I couldn’t bear to leave you either. When you walked down that long hall to your classroom, when you cried I cried a hundred times harder when I got to the car. I cried for a month, you cried for 2 weeks. I missed you so much more than I could ever express but I knew Kindergarten would be good for you and you loved it.

Little tiny baby girl, you are a light in my life, you made us whole as a family and we’re all sure you hung the moon. Your beauty takes my breath away, I am so much more thankful for you than I ever thought possible. I am so much more in love with you than I ever thought possible.

I love that you have learned to read and write us notes. Just yesterday Kid1 pulled a note out of his pocket saying how loved he is and sweet too, he grinned as he read it. You always know how to brighten a persons day.

Dear dear baby girl, I love you to the ends of the earth, as high as the highest mountain, as deep as the deepest ocean and forever you’ll be my little baby girl.

Every ounce of love,

mommy

p.s. were having her party this weekend so I'll post a pic of her 6th birthday then.

1-100, 1-50, 50-100 but better yet 25-75

I was trying to explain something to Mr. B yesterday and as I was going along chatting away I thought I had a really great analogy….

I was trying to explain how he goes too far one way and I go too far the other and we’re not meeting in the middle enough. My analogy went like this-

We NEVER meet in the middle and this is a big problem for us. It’s like you are 1-50 and I’m 50-100, 1-50 being from very conservative to not so conservative and 50-100 being from not so liberal to very liberal. As parents we should be making decisions mostly in the 25 to 75 ranges. Instead you say 1-10, I say 90-100 and it’s simply not working.

This has been a problem for a very long time and I think it’s my own fault. He tends to lean towards NO so I feel like I have to say YES. If we would have answered in the 25-75 ranges, we may have evened out more…. But here we are he’s going one way and I’m going another

Mr. B. and I have said to many people that one of the most important things in a child’s life is consistency. BE CONSISTANT we always say, but it’s easier said than done. We know it’s best, but we struggle to do it. He wants to say no and I want to say yes but the truth is he doesn’t really want to say no and I don’t really want to say yes, we want to do the right thing and neither one of us know if it’s no or yes so we just say our normal reply because it’s easiest and takes less thought.

We’re parenting out of fear. Lets face it parenting is terrifying. We are scared to death that we’re going to make a mistake. I say yes because I am afraid I’ll shelter them too much and they will go wild when they leave home. He says no because then he doesn’t have to be responsible for the outcome. We’re both too scared to step back and take another look before we answer.

This parenting thing is a real trick and I wish I knew the answer. Is it yes, or is it no?

P.S. turns out my analogy was a little more confusing and made more sense in my head… it was a little like THIS analogy I made about marriage.