Miscellaneous Biz

First and foremost, this is my beautiful grandmother, Anne McCary Trickey, God rest her soul. My grannie passed on October 13. She lived a very full, long life with her four children, nine grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. She was a master bridge player and still played actively, multiple times a week. She was involved in her church and was just a sweet, precious, loving, entertaining lady. I miss her more than I thought possible. She was my last living grand parent. I feel like 33 years was not enough time to learn all about her. I did love going to visit her, especially with the kids, because she would talk to me about her life growing up and it was so fascinating and nice to have grown up talk with her. I have so many memories tucked away of her. I just love you so much Grannie Annie, and I know you are happy. But it still hurts.

This is my beautiful grandmother on her wedding day.

This is Grannie on her birthday. I believe she was a young lady, around 16 or 17.

And my photography skills of pictures in glass leave much to be desired. Can anyone give me some tips (other than looking online) on how to get a good picture without the horrid flash? I turned the flash off on some other pics, but then I saw MY reflection. So, anything?


In other news, the Sunday before Halloween, we carved our pumpkin. Emma chose a ghost for the carving, and they set to work while I supervised.

Yay, daddy!

And on Halloween, Emma's class had a little pumpkin patch at school.  It was so cute! It was also PJ day, so seeing the kidlets in their PJ's was precious!

That's about all for now! Next up, Halloween! :)

Pumpkin Patch 2012

Hello! Do I have any readers left? Hope so! I know, it's 11 days after Halloween, but I haven't been able to get it together enough to actually blog. I've been using my time when the children are in school to grocery shop, clean, volunteer, and work on projects! So, I'm finally getting some blogging in. Sorry it's old news!

We went to our giant local pumpkin patch in the middle of October. It is so fun! Harrison and Emma both wore orange shorts, obvi, and he practically blended into the patch in some pictures!

And this picture cracks me up because Emma asked to go look at these yard decorations, and then when she noticed the black cat up close, she started crying. ha!

And one of my twitter friends saw me there (we've never met!) then tweeted me asking if I was there! Ha! I wish we could've met!!

Randomosity (aka catch up!)

Well friends, the last time I left you, THIRTEEN DAYS AGO, I was about to partake in a colossal consignment sale. And partake I did! I got a few Christmas toys, and way too many cute outfits for the upcoming colder months! It was a major success. I don't know how (cough, cough LG) people take pictures  of all their loot and make an album, but that wasn't happening. Mainly because I was about 2/3 of the way through the pile, taking off tags and safety pins and hangers, then realized it. Also, because I had a lot of stuff and am lazy. And that's not how I wanted to spend my naptime hours. Anywho, I scored good deals and returned home.

We are not traveling until Thanksgiving. Yay! I love going to see people and do other things, but it is SO tiring to pack up yourself and the munchkins, get to where you're going with minimal tears from all involved, then watch the kids transform into loons wherever you go. Cause they all do. So, we are hanging at the homestead for awhile.

That's not to say we don't have a lot of fun things planned locally! We've already done the pumpkin patch, went to see some really cool waterfall by the patch, we are going to a cook off this weekend, and I have the return of my beloved book club bee-otches to look forward to! We have also started back to church after a wee hiatus of um, about 8 months. Maybe more.

So, what have we been doing? Well, the kiddos both started school! They are in a Christian dayschool complete with weekly chapel, music classes, lots of arts and crafts, and Bible. Yay! Emma goes three days and Harrison goes two days. It is a wonderful four hours per day for me to focus on grocery shopping (alone!), cleaning house (without people in it!) and just getting things done that I've been meaning to do for...........3 years.

I am a mom fail because I didn't take a first day picture-because obviously we were running late. And we had no cute chalkboard holding to say, "First Day of Pre-School" or whatever.

There are no naps at school. It's from 9-1. This has proven interesting for Harrison, who looks like a zombie when I pick him up. If I hustle, I can make it home quickly and put him down, stat. Emma has also developed a lovely attitude after pick up, thinking she can do whatever she wants. So we are working on that. On the days that Harrison is with me alone (Wednesday), we go run errands, come home and play, eat lunch together, and just have us time. Because we have never had that! It is super fun, but he really misses Emma and the first week he walked around calling for her. Didn't want to play with me!

I am also back to normal person functions in that I shower every other day, actually fix my hair each day, and apply make up. Because I don't want to be seen in carpool line looking like a grubworm. Ha! So this is good for me, too. Needed to step up my "care of self" thing. Next step is to find some clothes that are not yoga pants and tee shirts since I don't do yoga.

I hooked up with some new Scentsy at a church bazaar (no shipping, what what!) and got some new fall scents: pumpkin roll, some cinnamon and cloves thing, and Christmas cottage. Can't wait for all the yummy good smells!

My sister is now a contributor at Poop Whisperer. If you don't read her already, you should. She's pretty freaking funny.

I really want to try some new K-cup flavors, but I'm too scared to buy a whole box. Maybe a visit to the online site to build my own flavor box is in order??

I'm starting to make my master Christmas spreadsheet detailing gifts. It's awesome and I'm excited.  I'm also trying to think of a few things I want, because I know I'm going to have to tell the parentals something.

I feel like there is more stuff that I wanted to update you guys on, but now I can't think of it. Harrison is up from nap, so peace be with!

Out of town again!

Well, we took off yesterday for one of our last trips of the season before school life sets in! We (me and the kids)  headed to Montgomery to visit FeFe and Poppy and to spend the night. We were making the drop and leaving Harrison behind so Emma and I could boogie over to Birmingham for the major consignment sale I do twice a year. I'm a contributor, so I get to shop early, and let me tell you-I get EVERY SINGLE PIECE of my kids' clothing at this sale twice yearly. I can clothe both kids for $350-400. Nice clothes! Polo, Kelly's Kids, smocked, etc. It's one of the biggest consignment sales in the Southeast. Anyway, I don't buy new anymore. Some people buy them new things for birthdays and Christmas, but I only shop secondhand now. It's that great!

Here is their link if you are in the Birmingham area. It opens to the public on Monday, October 1st. It's in an old Academy Sports building-that's how big it is!

Rows upon rows of boys and girls clothing, shoes, toys, any/all baby items, carseats, etc! Multiple items too so you can choose the best priced one!  I am so excited! Sissy and I are going tonight at 6:00 for our time.

We will hang around Birmingham for the rest of the weekend, and go take my  mom shopping at the sale on Saturday with our guest pass.

Sunday we are taking the girls to our childhood church, and then Emma and I are headed back to Montgomery to spend the night before picking up Buddy.

Kiddos start school on Tuesday, and I'm SO READY. I have to make lunches and pick out clothes the night before. Gotta make sure they have all of the necessary supplies, too! Look for an upcoming first day of school post-sure to be entertaining-if I know my kids and our follies!

Toodles! And have a great weekend!

Harrison Update

Oh, Harrison. You are turning out to be quite the little character. We went for your fifteen month appointment today, and you are measuring in the 50% for weight and the 95% for height! You are going to be a tall boy just like your daddy! Also, we discovered you had a ruptured eardrum. Bless your heart. Here I was just saying it was  a cold with all of the crusty boogers and drooling/sneezing, but no. You apparently had an unnoticed ear infection. #winningmom.

You are so busy these days! You try to keep up with "ma," (what you call Emma) and you are doing a great job of almost running after her. Your words have really come out, too! You are saying: mama, dada, ma, dog, juice, dirty, hot, no, and also doing the Braves tomahawk chop while yelling Ahhhhh! It's so cute!

You are growing like a weed and wore a pair of your "cousin" Peebs 2T jeans yesterday! You are so tall, I barely had to roll them up! I can't wait to get some more pants for you at the giant consignment sale coming up! You are in size 4 diapers, but could probably go to a 5. You wear size 6 wide shoes! (Emma wears a 7, so wowza!!) You are in all 18 months, mostly 24 months clothing.

You drink your milk out of straw sippy cups in the morning and night, and you will pretty  much eat anything I put in front of you, unlike your sister! Your favorite foods right now are grapes, oranges, beans, hot dogs, sunflower seeds, cheese, and apple pouches. You have gone off strawberries and pears for some reason. You dislike peanut butter which shocks me! Your favorite treat is your once a day V8 fruit/veggie juice after nap. You wake up saying, "joooooos?" It is so cute.

You are a feisty little thing, quite full of your own opinions and likes/dislikes. You love being outside with Emma and want to do whatever she is doing, be it playing in the dirt, riding in the cozy coupe, or climbing up the slide. You also get down with a rake and/or Emma's tricycle. Slow down growing, Buddy!

You are about to start going to MDO on Tuesday and Thursday and I'm excited to see what changes that brings. I'm sure you will thrive being around others!

You have had 4 haircuts already and are due back for another one! You understand pretty much everything I tell you. You are getting to be such a big boy and I am so proud of you! I love you so much, Buddy!

It Ain't all Sunshine and Rainbows

Motherhood, that is. Specifically, stay at home motherhood. Jeez, if I would've known what I know now-it still wouldn't have made a difference on my decision to quit work after nine years. I know this is nothing new, but oh em gee.

This has been a rough few days. As it always is when a kid (or the kids) are sick. And you're all by yourself, still trying to run/clean/cook/do errands all the while dealing with sick, whiny, pitiful babies, it's......mind numbing, for lack of a better word.

I am certainly not the first mother to feel like this, nor the last. I know that. But, when I think of people with more kids than me and them all being sick, I shudder. For them.

There are a lot of days when I feel like a total failure and a suck ass mom. The days where I don't do Emma's home school. There are days when I just don't want to play and pay attention. There are days when I just want to be left alone. There are days where I lose my temper way more than appropriate at a 3 year old and 15 month old. The days where they won't.stop.crying. The days where nothing makes them happy and they are all underfoot. The days of talking back, snatching, fussing, and arguing with me.

But, when I think about going back to work (say, tomorrow), or sending them off to real school, I freak. I'm not ready. We haven't done enough. We haven't had enough adventures. We need more time! So. yeah.

We are thinking of enrolling Emma in 3 day/week day school at the UMC and Harrison in 2 day/week MDO. I need it, but more importantly, THEY need it. Harrison has never been away from me. He's 15 months old. Emma hasn't been away from me since I quit teaching and she was 22 months old.  I would still have one child on all the days of the week, but it would be NICE to focus on one kid when they aren't at school. I know I would still be dealing with sick days and whatnot, but seriously? I am so excited about this possibility. Made possible by my radical husband. I always wondered why SAHM's needed to send their kids to MDO or "pre-school," (don't judge-I'm sorry!) but now, I know. Not only for the children's developmental needs, but for the mother to spend more time with the other kids (IMO). Everyone needs a break y'all-and if you aren't admitting it, you're lying to yourself.

I don't even know where I'm going with this. But, I'm having a shitty day or three and needed to vent. Therefore, this lovely blog post. Sorry guys. But I'm hoping I'm not alone.

Emma Update

I have been such a slack blogger, and lately these kiddos are growing and changing at the speed of light! Here is an update on Little Miss Emma.

So, Miss Emma, here is what you've been doing:

*Lots of playing and crafting and make believe. You love to do any sort of art activity (mainly stamps and markers), you are a fiend about being outside, digging in the dirt, riding your bike/trike, and going to the playground. You also LOVE bubbles. Lately, you have been busting out that imagination like whoa. Whether you are running around in panties and dress up shoes telling me that you're Jasmine (Aladdin), or being a mom to the stuffed bunny, you love to make believe. Your latest thing is telling me that there is a rat in your hair in the mornings, and you want me to get him out so you can play with him. Ha!

*You love a few select Disney movies, most especially Lion King and Aladdin. You will make up your own "Circle of Life" lyrics and it is so cute! You also know most of the words to "A Whole New World" and sing that, too. We have a Disney Princess Sing Along DVD in the car and you pretty much melt me into a puddle when you sing the songs on it. That sweet little voice is precious.

*You are not all sunshine and rainbows though. Your little attitude is really coming out. Lately we have had some battles with talking back, not listening, and stomping your foot and yelling, "NO!" Lots of fun in time out. Then, you tell me you are ready to come out and listen after 12 seconds. Ha! We are always working on "Listen and Obey."

*You are still a picky eater. You could take it or leave it with meat. You love fruit and still eat the Plum Organics pouches. Of course you love junk food. You have surprised me by eating some salad off my plate some nights. Dr. Cabrera says it's fine. I guess that since your brother is such a good eater, it bothers me that you won't eat or try veggies!

*You still sleep great. We've started letting you stay up later. You're still taking an afternoon nap for about 2 hours, sometimes more. I hope this lasts awhile!

*You say the funniest things! Your vocabulary is phenomenal. You say things like, "Actually, that is a giraffe mommy." You just are very smart and ready to learn. We got some books to work on writing and identifying letters and numbers. You are very excited to have "school." I wish we could get you in some MDO or school type thing, but I don't think that's in the budget right now. You are very interested in school and teachers. You absolutely LOVE books and request at least 5 when you nap or go to bed. Going to the library is one of your favorite activities!

*You are still working on being potty trained at night. You will wake up and say your pull up is dry, but it has a tee tee in it. Then you say, "That's okay, I'll work on it again!" So cute.

*You are quite the drama queen when Harrison touches something of yours or when you get hurt. You immediately demand your binky and go sulk for about 10 minutes. Speaking of the binky, just ugh! I would let you have it till you were done with it, but so many people are on me to just get rid of it! You only have it at nap and night, and we have put the smackdown on having it during the day. I really dread taking it away, as it's your comfort to fall asleep, but I guess I'm more worried about how you will cope.

*You are an amazing, funny, beautiful little girl who is growing so fast! I am so proud of you for all you do!