When I Grow Up...

It has been Red Ribbon Week at Maryn's school. Which basically means it's the week where they tell kids to stay away from drugs and build goals for themselves and their futures. On Tuesday the kids were supposed to dress up as what they want to be when they grow up. If you know Maryn, you already know what that is, a veterinarian of course! I was so excited for her to get to dress up as a vet, since she is ALWAYS talking about it, that I did something a little crazy. Folks, I sewed. Just so you know, I don't sew. I've made my kids baby blankets and some little pillows, but that's about the extent of my forays into the world of sewing. But after pricing doctor's jackets online and feeling they were ridiculously overpriced and in a moment of over ambition I went a grabbed an old white sheet out of the linen closet, a tape measure and Maryn and started cutting away. The end result, a coat that actually resembled what I wanted it to! Miracles do happen! In the picture it looks bunched up on one side because of how she was holding Princess Pup, but it really was straight, I promise! She makes a pretty cute, little vet don't you think?! I hope Maryn is never afraid to work hard for the things she wants in life, whether that's being a vet or anything else. I sure do love that kid and am so proud of her.

Blast From The Past

This trip was magic to me. Everything was just right, the mood, the light, the air. We went out for my sister-in-law, Kristen's wedding and it was such a beautiful backdrop for those memories to be made and kept forever. I remember Maryn running around on the grass and me thinking that I had never seen her more beautiful than in that moment, caught up in her imagination and basking in late afternoon light.

The day after the wedding was spent at the beach, absorbing the beauty of the California Coastline. I remember sinking my toes into the warm sand and watching the wind caress the curls at the nape of Brynna's little baby neck. I remember walking her into the water and her excitement at the rush of water over her toes. Our escape to California is one that I will never forget. I think back and there I am again, happy, warm and content.

Pretty Dang Cute

This morning Lauryn slept in BIG time! I was up at 6:00 with Maryn, so unfortunately I did not get to do the same. But Lauryn did not get up until 9:45!! Can you believe it?! I kept checking on her to make sure she was okay and she just kept right on sleeping! Finally at a quarter to ten I peeked in on her and she was still snoozing away, but I saw what was keeping her so content...She discovered her thumb! As soon as I took this picture she woke up!

Who wouldn't want to greet that little face every morning?! Man, I love my job!

Give Me A Smile!

My tradition with all my girls has been to go and have their pictures taken every 3 months for the first year of their life to capture them at each little stage, since they just grow so darn fast. These are some of the pictures from Lulu's first photo session. I just love that little bug, crazy cowlicks and all!

A Blast From The Past

Before I started my blog last year I had a little website on babysites.com that I posted pictures and stories on for a few months. Since this blog is basically our family journal, eventually my goal is to blurb it into a book for us to have forever. I didn't want to miss out on those little blasts from our past from the babysite, so every now and then I'll post some of those goodies on here. Enjoy the stroll down memory lane!

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BRYNNA!!!

Date: 2/10/2007

Well today turned out being nothing like I thought it would! Justin had gone out to Chick-fil-A to get us some breakfast. I was thinking I'd have an nice, easygoing Saturday morning. Well, little Miss Brynna had other ideas I guess. Justin and I had just sat down to eat when Brynna comes walking up and she has something all over her p.j. bottoms. My first thought was "Oh no, she had a blowout!" But as she got closer I noticed she actually smelled good, really good. That's when I got worried! I ran upstairs to the playroom and discovered she had dumped triple concentrated laundry detergent all over the carpet. I tried wiping it up but it just kept foaming and foaming. I knew this was trouble! Justin ran upstairs to help me. Brynna kept getting in the way, so I put her in her room. Justin realized we were getting no where fast with the little Spot Lifter machine we have. So he ran out to Home Depot to rent a carpet shampooer.

While he was gone I walked by Brynna's door and smelled a horrible odor! I thought "Wow, that must be one killer diaper." I only wish a stinky bottom was all I had to clean up. Brynna had taken her diaper off and smeared poop all over her room! On the bed, on her toys, on her rocking chair, all over the carpet and then she stomped through it leaving poopy footprints all over the room. I didn't know whether to laugh or yell. She had just destroyed another room 20 minutes earlier! How could she possibly have struck twice?! So I gave her a bath and sent her downstairs while I tried to clean up the bomb in her room. Her and Maryn decided it would be a good idea to spill water all over the kitchen floor and then sit on Dad's laptop and giggle about it. Justin, who by this time had returned home, was on the verge of "selling these kids to the gypsies" as my Mom used to always threaten.

Luckily, my in-laws, Phil and Jody, rescued me and came and took the kids to bake sugar cookies at their house while I cleaned up the messes. Jody said she knew it wasn't funny right now. But her and Phil had a good chuckle on the drive over, remembering 'those days' when they were raising their six little rugrats! And I guess there's a silver lining to every unexpected disaster. Without the last four and a half hours of me shampooing every floor in my house, my carpets otherwise wouldn't be so clean!

Fall Favorites

Every October you'll find the Young Crew making the drive through crisp, mountain air up to Burt's Pumpkin Farm up in Ellijay, Georgia. It was a tradition started well before we even had children. But admittedly it is much more fun since the girls have joined the scene!

They held still just long enough to snap a picture and then they were off again!

So much to take in and explore!

"Mom, will you PLEASE stop taking my picture!"
The day was full of smiles and memories.We completed the trip with a stop by Hillcrest Orchards to load up on freshly picked apples, apple pie, apple bread and apple cider for some yummy, warm wassail. It really was an awesome day enjoyed with family and friends. We hope you can get out and enjoy this beautiful season too!

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!

Wonder of Wonders!

For all of you who know my folks, you may be happy to know that my mom posted again on her blog! Wahoo! I thought she had given up, after a short attempt, on the whole blogging thing. Her last post was done in February, so I don't know why I would think that she was done with it. (Wink, wink.) Way to get back in the game Mom! Your nerdy, blog-lovin' daughter is so proud!

Next on my list to convert over to the nerdy side... Jody and Tracy! Watch out ladies, I'll get you eventually!

Good things come in pairs!

Today is my Dad's special day!

HAPPY 54th BIRTHDAY POPS!!!

I love you so much!

Happy 50th Birthday

to my beautiful Mom!

I love you more than you'll ever know Momma!

Generational Wonderings

Some nights the bedtime routine just doesn't work as well as others. Tonight we read stories and had plenty of snuggles and conversation. So I thought they'd be good to go to sleep. But as soon as I turned off the light and left the room... click, the light went right back on, the books came out and the conversations started. Since it's only 8:30 and the weekend, I thought I'd go ahead and let them read for a bit. I loved doing that when I was little too. I'd fall asleep with my glasses on and wake up with the lights in my eyes, my books collapsed around me and my glasses smashed into the side of my head. But oh, sweet, wonderful books! They were worth it! The only difference with my kids is, I didn't talk at night, since I didn't have a sister to share a room with. But Maryn and Brynna do. So I sat down at my computer which is in the next room over from theirs and was listening to them talk. Maryn said to Brynna, "You know Brynna, I just was wondering about Grandma McLean, oh, haha, I mean my GREAT Grandma McLean!" Then she asked "Do you know any stories about her? Mom told me some, but I just can't remember now."

At this point I asked her what she was wondering about and Maryn asked if I would come back in and tell me about her. So I went and got the photo album out and showed them pictures of Great Grandma and Grandpa McLean and told them a few little stories. Which they loved. They know Nana says that my hands look just like hers. They know that Grandma McLean was a nurse when she was younger. They know that she lives in Arizona and she still lives in the same house I used to visit when I was a little girl. They know Grandma McLean got a Gameboy for her birthday one year and LOVED to play it. (They thought that was pretty funny!)

The last time I saw my grandparents was nine and a half years ago at my wedding. It breaks my heart that none on my kids are able to be near any of their great-grandparents. Maryn has always been sensitive to the preceding generations. When Grandma and Grandpa Gibson (Justin's grandparents) lived here, she loved to visit and feed the horses with Grandpa. I remember one Sunday when she was about 18 months old, Grandpa Gibson was feeling sad and low and Maryn sensed it and went up and wrapped her arms around his neck and just quietly hugged him. It warms my heart when she'll randomly tell me she wants to write Nana Mary a letter or like tonight wants to hear stories about Great Grandma McLean.

I can't imagine a better gift than to have a book full of things to tell my children about their family roots. Anything from silly stories or facts to handwriting and pictures. I know who I am today is a direct result of generations that went before me. My children have a wonderful heritage and I hope as they grow, they will continue to wonder and seek the fulfillment of that connection.

Spoiled

Peace

If you would have happened by a moment ago, you would have found me soaking in silence and feeling amazement. I was making my nightly rounds, kissing little, sleeping heads, lingering and watching them sleep. Turning off lights and locking doors... but then instead of locking, I opened the last one and stepped outside into the cool, still night. Enjoying the feel of the air on my bare arms, neck and face I layed down on the driveway and turned my face to the moon. I marveled at it and the stars twinkling across that big, black night. As I layed there looking up, I felt a warm tear make it's way down my cheek. Not because I was sad or overwhelmed or even afraid... but because I was at peace. Total and complete peace. My gratitude and joy was so full, I could not hold it back.

In a world with so much turmoil, I've never felt so far away from it within the walls of my own home. Life is crazy, kids scream, dishes build up, schedules are full... but it is my oasis. I know that everything I have, as simple and wonderful as it may be, is because of Him. As I looked out into that big, black sky tonight, instead of feeling small, I felt as if peace itself was filtering down through those moonbeams. I know I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, what more can any of us ask for?

My Maryn

I am so grateful for my Maryn. It has just been amazing to Justin and I to watch how fast she is growing up. We went up to her school to have lunch with her a couple weeks ago and we kept getting stopped by different teachers telling us what a sweet, helpful girl she is. Can I just tell you how much that made my heart just want to burst?! She is an amazing big sister, even if she tires of it at times. (She told me a few days ago "Mom, I'm tired of being the big sister, Brynna never helps me pick up!") However Brynna did tell me after school yesterday "Mom, I just love Maryn." I know she appreciates her big sister's friendship, love, patience and example. Even though Lauryn can't yet say it, we know she loves her big sis in a big way too. No matter how cranky, Maryn can almost always get a smile out of her little Lulu.

Lately it seems, more than ever, I have been so grateful to be a mother. My children amaze me in ways I never thought possible. While motherhood is hard, unceasing work, it is the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced. I truly am so grateful to the Lord for blessing and entrusting Justin and I with our greatest treasure, our children.

Tag!

Kathleen tagged me!

1. Both of my pointer fingers do not point straight. It's like they bend at the knuckle and point off in opposite directions. It's weird and I've never even broke them!

2. I wore headgear in middle school to help correct my overbite. As if I wasn't nerdy enough without it!

3. The sight of red meat that is still red or pink makes me want to puke. The cow must be fully cooked in my book.

4. The only time I've ever been outside the U.S. was to Nogales, Mexico for a day trip while visiting my grandparents in Arizona when I was about 14. Let's just say I hope to see prettier parts of the world abroad someday.

5. In the 5th grade I really wished my name was Ashley. I thought it was so beautiful and Sarah was just so common....and Ashley isn't? I've already established I was a weird kid.

6. I used to be painfully shy. Hard to believe for those who know me now. The thought of talking to a stranger would make me want to crawl under a rock and die.

7. Much to my chagrin, I am the equivalent of the Horticultural Grim Reaper. There is only one little angel plant on my t.v. cabinet that I've kept alive for 3 years. It's only because if you throw a little water on it once a month, it does just dandy. So, if anyone out there wants to rub their green thumb on me, I'd appreciate it.

Random tagging now...hmmm... I just looked at the clock and have to run and get Brynnie from Preschool. So if you're feeling so inclined to be tagged - DO IT!

Vote Your Conscience

This video was put together by members of the Catholic church and is really powerful. I believe now is the time for people in religious communities to stop emphasizing their differences and to start standing shoulder to shoulder for what we all hold dear.

Thank you Kathleen for sharing!

Faith

When you come to the end

Of all the light that you know

And are about to step off into the dark of the unknown,

Faith is knowing that one of two things will happen-

There will be something solid for you to stand on, or

You will be taught to fly.

My New Favorito

My friend Erin, who is a total kick in the pants, and I share something in common that most adult women do not. It's our mutual love of funny kids books. In fact Justin made fun of me the last time we were in Borders together. While he was perusing all the boring, old adult books, the kiddie section was calling my name, even though the kids weren't with me. Maybe I'm just a simpleton, but the truth is, they're just so stinkin' funny! This one is definitely no exception. Erin had mentioned on her blog awhile back how much she loved it. She has never led me wrong in the past, with the likes of Junie B. Jones and such. So when the good, ol' Scholastic Book flyer came home with Maryn from Kindergarten I had to get it! If you haven't read it, get your hands on a copy. Ees muy, muy funny!