Gosh, I can't believe I let a little over a month go by without updating the blog, but then again, I guess I can believe it. I will go ahead before I begin and let you know, this summer is going to be rough on me. When my kids are home 24/7, the blog just does not happen that easily. I know, I know, I should be able to concentrate and answer every questions my children have, get them snacks or just plain hear the whining. I will try to update at least once a month, but I will try more than that, but no promises.
So, lets get back to the actual update...
Let me see, last time I updated was May 14th, what has happened since then? What has not happened since then! I am not going to lie, I totally had to look back at my calendar at what all has gone on since then, that is my life for now on or until my kids are out of my house.
Carter kept me busy, well, he always does. He is officially a Kindergarten graduate! Ms. Wilson is a saint and she survived teach Carter for the year! We can not thank her enough, she is amazing and a true blessing to our family. The last week of school was nuts! He has parties, outside day, graduation day, and then out of the blue, a normal day of school (or as normal as you can get, when you have already taken your school supplies home for the year).
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| Carter and Ms. Wilson |
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| Carter's Kindergarten Class |
Natalie is now (drum roll, please...) 27lbs! Though she can still wear an 18 month skirt, the girl has no hiney. We had her first ballet recital ever! Yes, I cried and so did she, because she did not want me to fix her hair. I did call my mom and apologize for all those years I did ballet and the Nutcracker and fought her while she did my hair and make up. I deserved everything Natalie brought. However, she did not fight me the day of the recital on her make up, but to be honest, I did not put that much on her, because I am still terrible at putting on make up (I never got the trait).
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| Natalie and her Ballet Buddy, Parker Baskett |
She was so pretty and did she a beautiful job! Here are a few pictures... No, we did not record it, because they would not let us, but I did order a video, so if I ever figure out how to put it online, I will show you all. That being said, I have about 8 videos of my kids doing different things, that I have never put on the blog. Either they are still on my phone or they are still on the video camera (it still has Christmas from 4 years ago, if that says anything).
We also had a tornado in there as well. Crazy, I know! We had been watching so much of the aftermath of the Oklahoma tornado, that our weather teams here in Amarillo were prepared and did an amazing job. I have to say, I have lived in Amarillo almost my entire life minus of few years during college. I have been in several tornado warnings and seen a few myself. This was the first time I actual took cover. I think Oklahoma had everyone on edge. I even listened to the weather man and took Natalie's medication in the closet with me. We were over prepared. Luckily, no one in Amarillo was hurt, but we had hail. So, we have not seen much of Larry lately. He has been working overtime helping everyone with roofs and fixing their homes and business.
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| Natalie asleep in the closet during the tornado and hail warning |
I feel like is should be the middle of summer and quit honestly, it almost is. But since, Carter did not get out of school until June 7, it really isn't. We did have VBS last week at our church. Both kids were able to participate this year and I even helped out. I was wiped out everyday, that I made Natalie nap, just so I could nap.
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| Morgan Berry and Natalie at VBS |
Other than that, we have been running around from one thing to the next enjoying summer, kind of. No, our life is hopefully going to slow down at some point in the near future. Natalie has an upcoming appointment soon in Dallas for a check up. I am looking forward to that. I always love hearing that everything is going good, not that I suspect anything, but it is always nice to have the medical okay as well.
Last weekend, Carter and I ran the Color Run here in Amarillo. The run had to be one of the funnest things I have done lately and to be running, you want something fun. Carter did awesome! He ran over 2 of the 3.1 miles. He finally at the end had enough, only because he opened his mouth on the last color we ran through...really bad idea. Luckily, Larry was right at the finish line with a bottle of water. The run in not the only thing, that after party is where the craziness happens. We actually finished the run, not too bad looking, but after we left the Color Party, we are covered. I would like to encourage all of you, if you can and get a change to run or walk a Color Run, DO IT and bring your kiddos too! It is a blast. I can not wait until next year. I will push Natalie in a stroller next year and Larry said he would even do it to, which totally blows my mind, because he does not run EVER.
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| Before the Color Run |
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| After the Color Run |
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| Our Running Buddies, Emmy and Reid Watkins |
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| Color Party |
Gosh, I was about to update photos and realized, I forgot one of the funnest things that has happened...I went on vacation with my husband no kids! How I forgot that, not sure, but I guess that sums up my life.
Larry and I and another good couple friend of ours, Andy and Mindy Hawkins, went to Colorado Springs as an early 10 year anniversary trip for both of us. It was a fast trip, but a much needed one. We got there on Thursday late afternoon and decided it would be a great idea to go see Seven Falls. If you have not ever heard of this, it is 7 different water falls. The falls are really beautiful, but to get to the top, there are stairs; a lot of them (128 and 200+). I was a little sore the next day, more from walking down then walking up. I was a bit freaked out, thinking I might miss a step and it would not be pretty.
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| Larry and I |
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| The stairs go all the way up |
The next day, we went fly fishing. Mindy and I had a great guide, Paul. The boys have given us grief, because we actually learned a lot about the area from Paul. What else do you do when you are in the car with a guy you just met for an a hour drive there and then with him another four plus hours on the river.
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| My second fish |
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| Mindy Hawkins and I |
I forgot how nice is was to be in total silence in nature. Fly Fishing had to be the best! After about 2 hours or so, I just looked up an realized no one was screaming, "MOM" or fighting with each other, in fact, there was no talking at all; just me and the river and it was amazing!
Larry's mom kept the kids while we were gone...Thank you, Jo Anne!
Natalie also had an appointment last week in Dallas followed by our family vacation to Galveston and NASA. I will post more about the next week, because I have a ton of pictures for that post. But, I will not leave you hanging on Natalie's appointment. She had a great appointment! Dr. Zellers said that is not a lot we can do at the moment unless was see changes in her personality or daily activity, so we do not go back for a year! There is a chance that we will need a heart cath in a year, but a year will tell us, so no worries until then. Dr. Forbess left a little hole in her fontan to help with pressures, that hole sometimes closes on its own, but sometimes does not. Dr. Zellers like to give it a year and a half to close on its own, before he goes in through heart cath, so that is what we are waiting on.
Now, several have asked if this is it for Natalie. The answer is no. Her heart defect is never over and never fully healed. She may always need something in the future, but only time will tell us what and when. For now, we wait...story of my life, but we like to take things one day at a time and not worry about the future.
I pray this update finds everyone doing good. I pray you all have a blessed summer and I will be updating again in July.
I am off to go get Carter from Tae Kwon Do and Strawberry Shortcake is about over, so there goes my alone time for the day.
