Metro Kiwanis Sportsplex

Watching Dad

He's Back...

Our slimy, hoppity little friend is back.



I love having a boy... especially when he comes inside with frogs in his pockets, has holes in all of his pants, and is covered in mud from head to toe. He melts my heart.

Being a Grownup Stinks

Between my three jobs (yes I have acquired ANOTHER job out of sheer necessity) I have worked over 75 hours in the last week. I am exhausted. Sean has been working his million jobs too, so I've had the kids while working the majority of the time. It's rather discouraging to work so hard and never quite have enough. Sometimes I just want to run away and be a gypsy family that lives on the beach...barefoot, carefree, and perfectly content scavenging the earth for food and bathing in the waves. Who am I kidding?? I need my purell, my blistering hot showers, and my trashy reality tv!!
Being a grown up stinks sometimes... especially tonight as I just got home from one job and am about to start another, the kids are still awake and it's almost 11, we had doughnuts for dinner, the house is trashed, I didn't have time to go to the gym, and the kids playing in the sprinklers had to substitute for a bath, but I'm grateful for my jobs, the kind and generous people I work for, and that I have a family that makes all of my efforts worthwhile.

Bridgestreet

Fun in Random Places

I downloaded the pictures off of my phone for the first time in SEVERAL months.
They're totally random, and of pretty poor quality, but they are definitely moments that made me smile.

Bridgestreet....





The view from my Aunt's lake house. One of the best, most relaxing, and completely comfortable days I've had in a loooong time.




Parkway Place mall has a new kids play area. Maddi loved it, and I loved the science theme. :)



I love that these two play together!



They just finished building a new jail in Huntsville, and I took the kids on a tour (before the inmates moved in). I know it's kind of an odd field trip, but I thought it was important for the kids to understand how we are kept safe, all of the effort that goes into protecting us, and to gain a greater understanding of some of the freedoms we take for granted.



Drew, Maddi, and Great-Grandma. I miss grandma and grandpa every single day that I don't see them, and it makes me so happy to see Maddi all snuggled up to her. :)

Dance

I love that the arts give us the ability to express our emotions when words simply won't suffice.
If you've ever desperately ached to 'fix' someone that you love, you will LOVE this dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3mvOGEj738

KidVenture

We've found a new hang out. It's an indoor playground, and it's absolutely perfect for these hot, muggy summer months.

My list of loves:

Love their hours 9-5, so it's perfect for an afternoon between jobs or when the kids want to play but I'm afraid they'll die of heat stroke outside.

They have cold drinks and snacks you can buy or you can bring your own lunch and eat at their picnic tables, mini kids tables, and even use their neat little highchairs.

It is super clean! They sanitize all of the toys and equipment every two hours, and the floors, tables, chairs, bathrooms, and even highchairs were clean and didn't have that grimy, I've-been-touched-by-a-million-sticky-toddler-fingers feel.

The have someone monitoring the kids at all times to help keep them safe.

They have computers with Internet for mommys to use, and activities planned (princess tea parties, crafts, mommy manicures, etc.) on special days.

They have a gated area for tiny tots.

They have monthly passes or you can just pay as you go.

It's nice and cool, and they have comfy rockers and benches scattered around for moms to relax while they kid watch.

My Dislike list:

It has a funky antibacterial + rubber smell

The person monitoring the kids is a little over bearing.

And here is the little lady after her long day of fun :)


Here's a link if you're interested:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Huntsville-AL/KidVenture/124282844879?ref=ts&__a=13&v=wall

Point Mallard

Randomness

I'm suppose to be at the beach right now, but because of a huge, long, and rather awkward series of events, I just drove around with a luggage packed car, two excited kids, and a monster headache and never saw the shoreline. That officially makes this the worst weekend ever.

I fell asleep last night trying to think of a way I could go back to school. I miss it. I miss learning; I miss the feeling of accomplishment, and I hate that nagging feeling of something not being completed.

I woke up to the most beautiful face I've ever seen. My sweet little princess, snuggled up to me, mouth wide open, and snoring like her daddy... reminding me I'm exactly where I'm suppose to be and doing the most important job in the world. School will come, but until then I will live and love this moment.

My parents blocked my number from my sister's phone. I know. Ridiculous, right? Apparently I'm a bad influence so I'm not allowed to talk to them. Same thing happened when Mikey was a teenager and we're best of buds now, so I'm not worried about our friendship. My sissys know I love them. I just hate that I can't experience life with them. That I'm stuck stealing moments with them in the hallways at church. I hate that they can't come to me when school is hard or boys are complicated. I hate that I can't help influence them for good when they experience peer pressure and teenage drama, but my love remains the same for them.... even at a distance.

I go to the gym at least every other day, but I'M NOT LOSING ANY WEIGHT!!! I am SO frustrated. I just have those last seven pounds of extra chin and belly flab that I neeeeeed to get rid of, and it just won't budge. How much time has to pass before I sound foolish calling it 'baby weight'... 18 months is still reasonable right?

Sean and I took the kids to the doctor this week for their well check ups. Our pediatrician is kind of quirky, but we've really formed a trusting relationship with him. We've even seen him out at lunch when he walked over to our table and asked us how our kids were, by name! Wow.. I'm easily side-tracked. Anyway... on the way home, Sean said, "It's sure nice to have healthy kids." I stopped mid-thought and soaked in his beautiful gratitude. I had been so wrapped up in how much they weigh, what percentile they are in, if they'd met their milestones, worried about asthma and migraines, what shots are next, etc. that I hadn't taken the time to be thankful that I had paraded two healthy, intelligent, happy kids into a doctors office filled with sick children. I am so blessed.

I had a bit of a health scare a while ago. I'm not comfortable sharing all of the terrifying details, but I do feel a burden to encourage all of my lady friends to know themselves, know their bodies, and to not be afraid to go for help when you recognize a change in yourself. Here's a link on how to preform a self breast exam. Don't be bashful ladies... check it out and make sure you're doing it right :)

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-self-exam.aspx

Fireworks of Freedom

Corn on the Cob

The little lady discovered corn on the cob. She LOVES corn, but it took her a while to decide she actually wanted to put the effort into getting it off of the cob.



I love summertime.... well, not necessarily the hot, humid summer heat, but definitely the fresh produce and the yummy smell of fresh veggies on the grill.





MmMmMm... summertime :)

An Eight Year Old

Well I'm a little late posting, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY EIGHT YEAR OLD!! I can't believe my baby boy is eight! It seems like just yesterday I was cradling him in my arms, and now he's almost as tall as me!

At age eight, Drew:
is 4 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 59 pounds
loves being outside, riding his bike, jumping on the trampoline, running through sprinklers, & playing with neighborhood friends
loves playing guitar hero and racing games
is kind, compassionate, easy going, and always willing to help
loves music, instruments, and making up songs on the piano
he loves popsicles and hates green beans

I am so blessed to have Drew as a son and even more blessed to truly know him as a friend. I enjoy spending each day with him, learning, growing, and experiencing life with him. Happy birthday babe.