Words on Wednesday

Well, it is a bitterly cold day here. It is in the teens, but feels like 3 degrees. I wouldn't know firsthand because I will not be venturing out the door today. I am happily camped out by the fireplace contemplating the things in the house that need cleaned but having no desire to actually clean those things.

Yesterday, our Tuesday morning Bible study started again at church.

Ever since the brochure with the new studies came in the mail, I knew I felt God leading me in a different direction than normal. ALL of the studies are always wonderful and I usually choose a study based on what my friends are doing. I love good friend fellowship.

This time, I felt that I wasn't supposed to be in those studies. They are generally studies by well-known Bible study authors and usually have a lot of book work with them.

I always enjoy them and learn a lot, but lately, I have felt the need to be even more intentional with my time, home, and relationships. I felt that digging in directly to scripture was where I needed to be. 

The study we are starting is on the book of Ephesians and I am so excited to get started! The study leader and the ladies in the study are so great! I look forward to getting to know ladies that I don't know very well!

I am also doing the #365daysofTruth through the She Reads Truth app. This will definitely help me to finally read through the Bible in a year. It has each day listed, you can mark it as read when completed, and it posts your total Bible progress. I really need that accountability.

After Bible study, I asked one of my new friends to lunch and we had such a great time visiting!

B Boy failed his eye exam at school for the 2nd year in a row, so he had an eye exam yesterday afternoon. His eyes are perfect so we are not exactly sure what is causing him to fail each time :-(

 I had a meeting with one of my school PTO's yesterday evening and the ladies in leadership there are such a joy! I love when good people take on roles like that!

I was feeling a little nostalgic this morning looking at baby pictures of the kiddos.

It seems like a lifetime ago! They grow up too fast!

A big ole crying mess

I remember a day when the kiddos were very little and I thought, it is 3 more years until B Boy goes to school.  That seemed like FOREVER to me.  

And here we are, the end of kindergarten.

I'll be honest.  I'm a crying mess. 

Last year, I still had a preschooler that was coming to kindergarten.

Watching him graduate preK was hard, but oh, this is SO much harder.

After the volunteer breakfast this morning, I got to go to the Mother's Day program that his class had for the mommas.

Everything was good and fine through the songs.  I was happy.  The singing was sweet.

Then.

Then they showed the end of the year slideshow.

And this is what happened. 

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And please don't get me started on the fact that C Girl will be a 2nd grader next year.

2nd Grade????!!!

It just seems so old! And it goes too fast!

They are just not babies anymore.

I'm holding on to just a few words that they still say incorrectly.

I just can't bear to correct them.

They'll figure it out eventually right?!

 these little guys are SUCH good buddies. I pray he always has wonderful friends.

 And his teacher.  Oh, how I will miss her.  She was C's kindergarten teacher as well.  I've been around her weekly for 2 years!  It just won't be the same!

 And I LOVE that our new art teacher this year was a mister.  The kids all ADORE him.  He's been a great addition to our school.

 Oh my sweet boy, I love you too.

(excuse me while I go cry in the corner. NOTHING beats a writing like that.)

 Please, oh please, still look at me like that when you are 25.

And yes, as a matter of fact, I AM 50 lbs!!!

These things kill me.

And I really die when he says I'm pretty as a diamond. 

Ladies, this boy is definitely going to be a keeper.

Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!

#tbt Throwback Thursday {2008}

Two Graduates

I now have two graduates. Le sigh.

I have more pictures to catch up on for the blog, but today it will not happen.

I'm tired of being busy!

We are having a SUPER relaxing Memorial Day weekend and I hope you do as well!

It's SUMMER!!!!

 First and Last Day of Preschool

What the parenting books don't tell you about

I have something that has been weighing on me deeply for awhile now.

I have always been pretty confident at this parenting gig.

Not like, ooh look at me! I have it all together! More like, I think I've got this.

Since my kiddos are Irish twins, everything we have dealt with has been back to back. And it's been great.

The hubby and I loved looking at the developmental milestone charts to make sure our kids were "on target."  And it was nice to have a "guide" of sorts.

However, around the time that kids start school, things start to change.  They are more independent.  As a parent, you are not reading books or milestone charts anymore.

At least, I'm not.

It's not only about physical and emotional needs anymore.  There is so much outside influence and morals to deal with now.

One day you wake up and think, what am I doing?!

Am I raising them right?

They are growing up too quick!

My heart hurts!

Why did the books not say how bad it would hurt to see them get bigger?!

I am at the point of having a 5 1/2 and a 6 1/2 year old.  They are big kids now. I won't have another baby. No matter how many photos and videos I have, they still grow up.

I know I have savored the days. I know I enjoyed the absolute most out of them growing up.

Some days, it physically hurts my heart.

Not to mention that everyone I know has babies, toddlers or preschoolers.  I feel like the only person I know who has big kids only.

I now understand why older mothers have so much to say about their kids and what their kids did and how much they miss it.

I'm going to be one of those mothers.

So, have some patience with me and those mothers.  We are not trying to be pushy or give advice, we just really miss our babies being babies.

Braces & Breakdowns

I'm almost spent from this week. 

You saw how Monday went. 

Tuesday is my busy day of the week and this Tuesday had two more events added to it, so I was gone most of the day and nothing at home got accomplished. 

Well, I take that back. We were there to eat and sleep and make it messier, so stuff got accomplished, but not cleaning up! 

Wednesday was a big day. It was formal registration for kindergarten for B boy. 

I'm already more emotional about things than I was last year with C girl. 

With her, I knew that I was going to be doing this again. But now with him, I know this will be the last time.

 :::heart constrictions::: 

I also made a big decision yesterday. After 7 years of using a pre-paid cell phone, I got my very own phone again! 

People are always shocked when I say, I don't have a cell. Well, now I do, so I have joined the 21st century :-) haha. 

I'm not out of the loop. I'm always on Tim's iPhone or my iPad, so basically this only makes it easier for me to call people while I'm out and about. That was the reason for the decision. 

I used to ALWAYS be at home. But now, that I am always running here and there, it makes sense to need a mobile phone. 

The phone I ended up choosing was an Android phone. 

This is a big deal because I am an Apple product snob. I LOVE iPhones, iPods, and iPads. I haven't joined the Mac train yet though. 

I literally had a breakdown last night because this phone is SO different from what I know. I so wanted to go take it back today!!! BUT, I have learned a LOT about it today and I'm happy to say that I'm feeling much better today about my new phone :-)

I had to get up at the butt crack this morning and be out the door by 7 to head down south for my appointment with my orthodontist. 

I am NOT a morning person so it was crazy around here trying to get out the door on time. 

We had been on the track of getting my braces off soon. I was *supposed* to get my impressions done for my retainer today. 

However, things did not go as planned. One of my teeth had moved from position. 

SOOO, I am back in full wire and full chain on top. 

WAHHHHHHH!!!! So disappointing! 

It will be at least 3 months before they even think about doing impressions. 

I just passed the 4 year anny of wearing these things, so this was not welcome news.

And now that I have stuff back on my teeth, I am in agony! 

It is so painful, my mouth was really used to not having pressure on it!

I'm also way hormonal and emotional.

I'm hoping for a very happy Friday, Saturday & Sunday!

We have entered a whole new phase & {Ballet}

Every stage in the kids' lives has seemed normal and familiar to me thus far. 


I have been the caregiver, making decisions and taking care of physical, emotional and mental needs. 


With them being 1 year apart, the landscape of life has stayed very familiar.  


But now. 


Now we have entered a whole new ball game.  


The stubborn, strong-willed girl of mine has been changing.  She is now 6 and oh-so-much more sensitive than ever before. She is so impressionable now.  Her life is changing and she is dealing with all this change, all of this "growing up."


Now, not only am I meeting the needs that I previously was, but I'm working to build her character.  Now, I'm not saying that I haven't always been doing this, because I have.  However, it seems that at this stage in her life, it is really beginning to take on a permanent development.  


She is becoming independent and has the option to make some of her own decisions now(things having to do with school and activities and how she feels). 


She is learning and interacting with people on her own.  She has her own friends and it is a separate part of her life away from me.  


She is beginning the stage that will ultimately end with her one day leaving the nest.

She has chosen ballet lessons now.  She is so beautiful in her leotard and skirt.  It's so amazing looking forward to what this child is going to accomplish.

Can you PLEASE stop growing up!!!

Her- I was just singing in class and it popped out!!!