The first week...

It's FRIDAY... and I officially failed my first week of kindergarten. I couldn't find Ant's name tag with his bus number on it this morning and needless to say he wasn't exactly happy about it, the conversation went a bit like this :(
"Anthony where is your name tag?"
"I don't know"
"We need to find your name tag"
"I know!"
"Don't worry Anthony you have the other tag on your bookbag with your bus number on it, so you will be fine."
"Mom you don't know where my name tag is? But mom I can't go to school without my name tag... Oh there's my bus love you mom bye"

And to answer all of the inquiries about how I was able to let Anthony get on the bus this past Monday... It wasn't easy but he was SO EXCITED and rearing to go and that it made for a smooth transition. It also helped that our neighbor has a son in 5th grade that rides the bus with Anthony so I always felt like there was going to be someone else there looking out for him. And another blessing in disguise, Anthony's teacher and I took birthing classes together 6 years ago and her oldest daughter is also starting kindergarten this year. So I felt like I was leaving him in the hands of another parent and not just some teacher. Oh and did I mention that he was EXCITED!?! LOL



First day of school he is up before the alarm at 6:45am... This routine continues for the first three days. Yesterday he woke up closer to 7 BUT today it was 7:30 before the little bugger rolled his behind outta bed. He was/is still excited to get on the bus and go to school but I think the week of all day kindergarten is definately taking its toll... xFingerscrossedx he will sleep in late tomorrow ;)



I got the paper yesterday to sign up to be a room parent/classroom volunteer and eagerly filled it out and made sure to send it back today (its not due until the 8th of September) so needless to say I'm a little bit excited about that myself.

Lexi has decided that she is ready to go to school and ride a bus like Anthony, fortunately for me because of her late birthday I get 2 more years at home with her before that can happen :) She will return to their preschool at the end of September, 3 days a week. One morning I will volunteer, one day I will work and she will stay in the daycare until David gets off work and the 3rd morning I'll find something else productive to do (maybe clean or maybe sit on the front porch with the neighbor and drink coffee lol)

I am looking forward to spending the long weekend with family and just taking it easy. We plan to have a little get together on Sunday and make burgers and have cake for Lexi's 4th birthday but other than that no real plans!

P.S. We went and took family pics last night at Picture People and I hope to have them posted soon :)

First day of Kindergarten...

As if it hasn't already been plastered all over AIM, Facebook & Myspace...

Anthony is in Kindergarten!!!

I know they say time flies and day by day I have watched my little ones grow up but the reality that my baby isn't really a baby really hit me... HARD! My lil man will be 6 in December... and yet I remember my pregnancy like it was yesterday... I can't believe that he is old enough to be in school! We went to kindergarten orientation last Friday and found out that we actually know Anthony's teacher... Her and I took birthing class together 6 years ago!!! She has a daughter that is starting kindergarten this year as well. This gives me such peace of mind and has really helped me "let go." I can't wait to become a room parent and volunteer at the school, we even signed up for the PTA last week!

Yesterday was his first official day and he was SO excited. David took off work to help with the send off and I was surprised at how well I did (I only shed a few tears) Alexis on the otherhand, cried for 15 minutes after he got on the bus :(

"Mommy, I want my Anthony. Hurry up and get the car, lets go get him"

:(

We received a call just after 11 last night to let us know that Pop Pop had passed away... He will be missed by all...

Please keep David's family in your prayers during this time...

Where has summer gone? and Thank You :)

The past three months have been a crazy busy and trying time for our family and I just want to publicly thank everyone that has continued to support us...

It began when David's grandmother fell and broke her hip Memorial Day weekend. The kids and I enjoyed spending time during those weeks with Grandma "Bonnie" throughout her hospitalization and stint in rehab for physical therapy. Ultimately at the ripe young age of 86 (almost 87) she went home to be with her Lord and Savior on June 14th (Flag Day... Those of you that know her realize the significance of this) Then of course began the task of organizing and packing up her apartment... WHEW! that is all I have to say on that subject...

Then came my series of trips to Baton Rouge (some planned, some not so planned)... After initially leaving on July 6th, I finally returned home for good on August 3rd but didn't begin my vacation until August 8th... This might be enough for the average family but not for us... Oh did I mention that David broke his collarbone while I was out of town (ON MY BIRTHDAY)...

So begins our attempt at a vacation this past week... CAMPING with the Greens :) but instead began the cross country journey to Iowa (?!?) We received a phone call on Tuesday morning that David's 91 year old grandfather wasn't doing well and was being hospitalized so I immediately booked him a one way ticket to the Quad Cities. The cross country journey was left up to myself, the kids and thankfully David's cousin Jess who helped out with driving. When all was said and done we left my house at 11pm Tuesday night. We drove all night, got about half a hours sleep each but arrived at the hospital at noon on Wednesday. The prognosis was grim (pneumonia, congestive heart failure & his kidneys had begun to shut down) but atleast we got there!
Thankfully "Big" Pop Pop had two great days on Thursday and Friday and got to enjoy time with two of his great grandkids, amongst the many others that were there :) Despite his dementia, surrounded by his family there were moments when he seemed a bit more sure of himself. They got the pneumonia under control and discharged him on Friday back to the nursing home. Yesterday wasn't such a good day but they are keeping him comfortable until his time comes... and while we are saddened at the thought of losing him we know that he has worked hard for the past 91 years and are comforted by his successes in life... We are thankful for the time spent with family this past week and the many pics that were taken... Memories!!!

So for those of you that don't know David's Pop Pop I would like to share a few Poppy-isms :) To all the family reading my blog please feel free to comment and add as many more as you would like as you all have known him alot longer than me...

*I'd say... "Hey there handsome" and he'd always reply with ... "Well hello there beautiful!"

*How you feeling?.... "I feel with my hands"

*How are you doing?.... "Anyone I can!"

*Then of course began the "negotiating" to eat his lunch... I'll take a bite for a kiss :)

David will be adding more as they come to him...
*If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle em with bullshit!
*The more you learn, the more you earn.


So once again we are home... we left Davenport at 5pm yesterday and arrived in our driveway at 6:05 this morning! So thank you to everyone for your prayers, support and understanding during the past few months. We haven't been as readily available to you as you might have liked but definitely feel that we were where we needed to be doing what we needed to do. Thanks to our friends & family for taking care of the dogs, getting the mail, watching my kids, cutting my grass... for just being you!!!

PS. We think Casey is pregnant..... PUPPIES!?!

LOVE IT :)

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand.

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me."
"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Food for Thought...

Why is it that the ones who choose to walk away... seem to have the hardest time letting go?

Ironic...

It just amazes me how things eventually come full circle...

So true!

"Happiness is not a destination but a journey"