Thankful Sunday

There is more than just a feeling of fall in the air. There are in your face signs that summer is being escorted out. Acorns are dropping like bombs in my backyard, leaves are beginning to turn, and that smell, that beautiful smell of fall is in the air.

This week has me feeling a bit melancholy, it's the last week before Olivia's thirteenth birthday.I just look at her and I am overcome with so many emotions.

Poor kid, it's tough to have a mom who gets weepy over everything.

But I'm thankful this week too!

I'm thankful my friend Melinda who is always thinking of others, she picked up this adorable dress for me, from Old Navy. Oh, and why Old Navy?? Because our Mall is OPENED!!! In case you missed my post about that. hahaha! The best part is that it fits! YAY!

Thankful, oh so very thankful our school is doing well. Enrollment is up! I don't know what I'd do without our school.

Thankful for this crazy boy! And thankful Sophia helped that tooth out! I cannot do teeth. Grosses me out! Don't even want to see it wiggle.


Thankful Miss Em is doing well in PT. We are moving her session out of the house and in to the playground! She is going to love it! We pretty much confirmed she was ready for bigger and better things when I caught her climbing the ladder to the pool. Only a parent of a child with special needs can have that overwhelming feeling of pride and fear all at once, when you see your kid just go for it. it's "Yay she can climb a ladder... OMGoodness it's the pool!" Gotta love it.

And I'm thankful Emmie's lovely nose isn't sporting anymore yucky snot. Her sinus infection hit the road. And she is back to normal! Ha! What am I saying, she's back to her crazy self! No one in this family is normal!

Have a lovely and Blessed Sunday!!!!

Vote For Andrea!

OK, just in case I'm not the only one who lives in a cave and hasn't heard, here's the news. People Magazine is having a contest. It's the Readers Choice Hero. Andrea from Reece's Rainbow is one of the contestants! There's 10K up for grabs and she needs to win it! Click here to vote!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Why?

Because she let us!



* hair created by Sophia

Me Time Tuesday: Not So Easy

It's not so easy to find or make time for yourself is it? Did anyone try? Well, I did. I thought about it every day. I felt that Scarlett O' Hara syndrome, coming to the surface. I found myself saying, "tomorrow, I'm too busy today, or " Wow the days over already"
Hey, I'm new at this, there are bound to be bumps along the way. No biggie.

But I did manage to find some time for me this week.

On Sunday morning, before I posted my Thankful Sunday, before anyone was awake, before church, before everything, I bundled up (it was cool here) and took my coffee out to the deck for some quiet me time. Sitting on silence ,watching the sun rise, listening for Jesus. That's not happening to often in my house. It was lovely.

And yesterday we went down to Little Compton, RI. My favorite place in RI by far! We went there last year on Labor day too and I think this may become a tradition. Who said me time had to be spent alone? Make your own rules!
I had a blast. Here are some pics of our day.




one happy girl!
sweet feet
The place where we always stop for ice cream has some entertainment as you can see.






Last week three people participated in the Me Time Tuesday post. Thank you!!! I was really surprised because I came up with this idea until Monday, that's pretty short notice. Now that you have had a week to try it out, who up for it? Come on share your ideas, it's fun!

Thankful Sunday

What a beautiful but chilly morning it is. Definitely a hint of fall in the air.

Today I am thankful for answered prayers. I've been praying for some special people and so many good things have been happening. A wonderful family is right at this moment bringing their son home! He is meeting his forever family. If you have a moment jump over and congratulate Stacy and her family. It's been a journey but God is good and all is going well.

I'm Thankful for a prayer that I received, well sort of bumped into on FB. It was posted by Andrew's teacher. WHO I LOVE!! It's in my sidebar.

I'm thankful for waking up early this morning. The alarm clock went off at 5:30 and although I didn't need to get up that early today I couldn't go back to sleep. Which is just fine because I got to watch the sun come up through the trees and the sky get bluer and bluer. it's one of those incredible mornings, I'm glad I didn't sleep through.

Thankful I got to see Andrew enjoy his day yesterday.

And thankful Miss Em is feeling better. She had a nasty sinus infection. After five days on antibiotics I am finally seeing an improvement. Poor kid, I used to get sinus infections every spring and fall. Since she was born I haven't had one. I sure didn't want to pass those on to her!

And most importantly, I am thankful that I am able to recognize Gods hand in my life. So much has been going on. I know I've mentioned in the past that our finances were not good, they still are not. But Jesus is making Himself so present in our lives, that there is comfort. Yes, I still stress over the bills, but there is a calmness that's here that wasn't before. There is a voice that is whispering, "look, look what is happening, I am with you".

I'm wishing you all a morning as beautiful as mine! Enjoy!

Andrew's Day

Oh Thomas we love you! That's Thomas the Tank Engine! Every year since Andrew was three we've taken him to see Thomas.


I love the look on his face. It's one of pure joy and amazement. We hemmed and hawed about going this year, because of the coast, but my whining prevailed and we went. Now I'm praying that God compensates us with the money we spent on tickets!



I just didn't want to miss seeing Andrew's joy this year. He is going to be seven in November and let's face it, he's not going to want to ride Thomas much longer.

As the girls were riding the Ferris wheel, Peter said, "it's our last time here". I felt my heart break just a little.
Well, the kids went on the rides and it was time to go. As we were walking out and I was taking it all in, for the last time, Andrew said ," bye Thomas, see you next year! "

I just looked over at Peter and smiled.

See you next year Thomas...

Fiddle Dee Dee

I was just looking through some pictures. This was taken at the Christmas tree farm. We go every year the day after Thanksgiving to get our tree. And in just 84 more days that's where we'll be!

I am just amazed at how fast time flies. I'm just as amazed that knowing this I still manage to waste time. Why do I do this? Why do I put things off? I am the Queen of putting things off for another day. I've definitely got Scarlett O'Hara syndrome. You know the line, "Oh fiddle dee dee, I can't think about that right now. I'll think about that tomorrow". I do it with everything. Even things I like to do, which doesn't really even make sense.

Sigh!

I've got a birthday coming up this month(another sigh, only louder than the first one), let's see if this old dog can learn a new trick before it's too late.

Em's Heart...

Besides being big and full of love, it is also very healthy. Thank you , God! She had her cardiology appointment today. Em was born with a complete right bundle blockage, and a very small hole. There is no treatment for either and no procedures were ever done on the hole. Like I said it's tiny. She has to go back in one year for another echo and ekg, if it's all the same then she gets bumped up to two years!

This is even better news than the mall re-opening!

I know this pales in comparison to the real heart conditions I read about all to often in blogland but I still get a little nervous when she is due to see the doctor. I'm just relieved the hole is the same... which is minute and it's not causing any problems. The RBB will always be there and most likely not ever be an issue.

We are very blessed with Miss Em's health and do not for one second take any of it for granted.

Just A Little Fluff

Okay most of the time I try to keep my blog about things that are important, or at least interesting to others. But I just gotta share my excitement about the MALL opening back up. Since that flood back in March it's been closed.
In all honesty I don't know which was a bigger inconvenience in my life, the mall being closed or my lower level being destroyed along with our bedrooms. It's a really close call.

I'm also glad to report I now have walls in my bedroom!!!!! something I haven't seen in months!
We are almost back to normal!

One thing I don't have is a bed. SIGH
I never thought to check it since it didn't get wet, but just being down there did. Mold!
But I have an air mattress for now. I'm sure God will help provide a bed, eventually.

An Absolutely Wordless Wednesday

I'm In Labor!

HA! Not really.

I was just thinking that summer vacation is like being in labor. Just when you think you cannot possibly take another second of pain, God gives the nod and out comes your bundle of joy.
I am now at that moment when I don't think I can possibly take another second. Okay I'm not in pain, I'm just frazzled.

But God gave the nod!!! Because tomorrow is the first day of school! I made it!!! Out go my little bundles of joy! Haha, can you tell I'm a little tired, tonight?

Actually they were good kids. They didn't start getting completely out of hand until yesterday.

So tonight the uniforms are ironed and the lunch boxes are out. The backpacks are filled to the gills with "stuff".

Tomorrow it's back to the routine we all know so well. It's bittersweet. But if we don't move on then all those fabulous days we are going to have will never get here. Like birthdays and apple picking, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and of course Christmas.

Here's some pics of our day in the pool. What fun! We went out to a movie tonight after swimming. We saw Despicable Me. I cried. Seriously? Yes, seriously. The end was so sweet.

Kiss, kiss, kiss ... good night

Me Time Tuesday... As Promised

Okay so I'm wasting no time in getting things going. It's barely eight in the morning and do you think I've already taken some me time?

Well yes in a way I have. I got up early on my last day to sleep in before school starts to set up this post.

I just wanted to figure out the linky thing. Don't you all just love my techno lingo? I know you all know what I mean.

Now I am having the posting on a Tuesday, but you can share anything you did for yourself all week long. Or like today feel free to post some ideas. Mostly for people like me who are used to Walmart being Me Time. That doesn't count anymore!

Well, we'll see how things go.
It's never too late to join, and seriously no pressure either. I'm not going to be knocking on your blogs asking where your posts are, hehe! This is all for fun! And an attempt to keep what's left of my sanity.

And the linky works! I tried it to make sure.

Guys, I've been Inspired!

All your comments have really got me thinking! We're all in the same boat. So let's do something about it.
I want more me time, heck, I just want some me time.
I'm going to start a Tuesday post. I'm calling it , ME Time Tuesday. Who's in on it?

Here's how it goes.

Every Tuesday I am going to post something I did for myself. I don't care if it was just taking extra time to do my hair! Nothing is too small.

Why don't you guys try it too. Maybe it would be fun of we did it together and we would get good ideas from each other. I'll see if I can set up one of those Mclinky thingamachigs, And you could link your post up to my blog. Then everyone could see each others posts.

I'm really excited about this, lets have some fun with this!

Who's in on it??????

Time For Me

As I type this I have one eye on the clock. Liv has an orthodontist appointment at 9:30 a break in between and then PT at noon. Ballet is causing some aches and pains so she sees a PT too. Wednesday they are back at school and soon after all the activities will resume. Those precious six hours that they are at school promised to be my sweet times with Em, but will they really?

With therapies and housework, shopping, appointments and everything else will I actually see any of that time for me?

Lately I've been feeling like I've lost my identity. I feel as though a trained monkey could take my place. I know with a house full of kids and Miss Em and a hubby, things are crazy. But the point I'm trying to make here isn't that I'm fed up with them or all the work, it's that I'm fed up with the fact that I don't set time aside for me. I blame myself for letting go of the things I used to enjoy.
Everything and everybody has time set for them. There's a set time for therapies, a set time for ballet, a set time for dinner(mostly), a set time for work, a set time for cooking, a set time for homework, where is the set time for mom?

If I don't incorporate it into the mix, it will never be there. I mean seriously the kids aren't going to suggest it!
I need some time for me. There I said it! I need to see my friends. I need to pray in silence, so I can actually hear Jesus answer me. Lately if He was talking he'd have to be screaming in order for me to hear Him. I need to be in my garden, write letters, and go for a walk. And crafts, I used to love flower arranging and making things. I've all but forgotten that.

I need these things in order to make me a better person. Serving my family is wonderful, I always wanted a big family, but I can't loose myself. I can't forget about the things , other than my family , that bring me joy.
And I need to remember that it's okay. It's okay to enjoy other things.

So that's my goal this school year. It's going to be tough. But I am going to make time for myself, and not feel guilty about it.

Everyone will benefit by it.

A happy mama, makes a happy home!

Thankful Sunday

Maybe the title of today's post should be Not Thankful Sunday. Because what comes to mind right now, is that I'm not thankful school is starting this week, I'm not thankful summer is ending, I'm not thankful Miss Em is sick(just a cold or allergies, nothing major), I'm not thankful we couldn't go to Edaville Railroad to see Thomas the Tank Engine, because Miss Em wasn't up to par.



But that's not the name of this post so I can't go with a negative outlook. So I'm thankful for the picture above. Not the silly creature looking at me like he wants to come in for some coffee, but the morning glories behind him. You can click to enlarge the picture. But I'm so proud of these little guys. The top is full of buds. It's a bad picture because it was taken from my kitchen window.
I'm thankful that even though summer is technically coming to an end Miss Em and I can still enjoy quite a few more warm sunny days together, while the rest are in school.

I'm thankful that even though school is starting my kids are somehow all looking forward to going back. And I'm thankful they have such a wonderful school to go to.

And even though Miss Em is not feeling great, it's most likely just allergies. and nothing to worry about. Her health, I am always eternally thankful for.
I'm upset we missed Thomas this weekend , but I'm Thankful he is there next weekend too. Andrew didn't even remember that we were supposed to go yesterday. I don't know how, he's been asking me constantly. So, I'm also thankful that he wasn't upset. Think how surprised he'll be next weekend! LOL


I'm learning from posting Thankful Sunday's that even though some weeks are tough, or disappointing, you can look past the negative. It's okay to find something positive with a crummy week. I am not an optimistic person by nature so this is not always easy for me. I'd much rather dwell on the doom and gloom. But by doing that you might miss something special that God intended for you to enjoy. I can only imagine all I missed through the years.

Thanks Carol for your Thankful Sundays that I miss so much, but that inspired me to take a closer look at what I was missing out on. I am so thankful for you!


And because I'd be a bad blogger if I only posted a picture of a crazy squirrel, here's Miss Em enjoying the water at the beach.

Something A Little More Appropriate

Now that, that Yankee hat is gone, I was looking for something to keep Miss Em's hair out of her eyes. Something more appropriate, hehe, j/k.

She also CANNOT stand having her hair brushed or styled. She looks adorable with a barrette on the side or a small clip, but she eats them. So much for that, and I'm getting tired of the same half up half down style she's been wearing for the past year.

She hasn't had her headbands in for a while. From the photo above you can guess why. Not a big fan of these either. Is it giving her a migraine or something?

Maybe if I just keep putting them back on, I can break her, like a wild horse.



Or just let her hair fly all over the place. It does kind of suit her personality.

*The last photo is a slightly older one of Em.

Say It Isn't So!!!!!

What is this!! This can't be! Who's under that YANKEE'S HAT! Not my little girl! and who put it on her sweet head?? That's what I want to know!

NO!!!!! Our "friend"!!! Rob?? He's a Yankee fan? Who knew! And now he's trying to pull the baby over to the other side? What's he telling her and why is she listening so intently?


That's it honey, toss that hat to the wind! Don't believe any thing he tells you!


Oh no it's too late! Looks like the Yanks have another fan, sigh... What's a mother to do? You bring them into the world, you love them and try to teach them right from wrong, but you just never know. She was so easily swayed!




OK, before I get any grief from any Yankee fans out there, we were just having some fun. I don't see why we (Red Sox fans) can't all get along, haha. I thought it was a hoot that Miss Em won't tolerate any hats whatsoever, but kept that Yankee hat on! She did look pretty cute in it.

Wordless Wednesday

Just playing around with Bella's glasses. If Em ever does need glasses we're definitely going for pink.

Read This Now, Please

This is so worth five minutes of your time.

(Stolen from Renee's blog.)

Paul Daugherty 2009 Keynote Address