pumpkin carving

 

 

 

 

pumpkin carving with the kids

This is a crazy day that is really only just beginning. I already knew it would be so I made a note to myself for next year that it is okay to say no...and that it won't make me a bad mom. This morning I worked at my kindergarteners book fair at school.Then it was off to Wal-mart for a few last minute party supplies but be back in time to run the class party. Party started at 1 so we got out of there by 2. Now I am fixing to judge a costume contest, run 3 already dressed in the car kids to pick up Dan where we will then head to Downtown Rogers to trick or treat.Kaileigh wants to go through the neighborhood so I will walk up and then down the steep hill that is my neighborhood where after all that I am sure I will be ready for bed..... oh yeah, Happy Halloween everyone.

 

 

 

 

Oh yeah, the reason I started this post...got so wrapped up in processing what I have been running around doing all day and got sidetracked..anyway, yesterday was pumpkin carving time at my house. Isaiah would not stop feeding the pumpkin pieces to the dogs, Emory cried cause she could'nt use the knife by herself, and Kaileigh was mad she could not scrape the gunk out all by herself so overall it was really good times for me....My blog should be called IT IS A CRAZY LIFE...instead of IT MIGHT BE ONE.....

Why my blog is not as clever or funny as I thought it was

Do you ever find, that while reading other people's blogs you are mentally thinking of all the funny and clever things that you need to post? And then you realize that you have taken up so much time reading other people's blogs that you have to get back to whatever it was that you were supposed to be doing but reading blogs instead?And then one day you look back at your own blog and discover you have not posted any of the funny and clever things you had to say and really your blog is not as interesting as you thought it was because you don't have the posts on it that you thought you had?

...note to self; post on your blog, not in your mind

one word answers

. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? marvelous
3. Your hair? transition
4. Your mother? knowledgeable
5. Your father? dependable
6. Your favorite thing? offspring
7. Your dream last night? unknown
8. Your favorite drink? milk
9. Your dream/goal? bettering
10. In what room are you? office
11. Your hobby? reading
12. Your fear? loss
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? settled
14. Where were you last night? home
15. Something that you aren't? indecisive
16. Muffins? yum
17. Wish list? lengthy
18. Where you grew up? Ft. Smith
19. Last thing you did? emailed
20. What are you wearing? black
21. Your TV? SANITY
22. Your pets? obnoxious
23. Friends? real
24. Your life? ideal
25. Your mood? content
26. Missing someone? everyday
27. Your car? new
28. Something you're not wearing? makeup
29. Your favorite store? hobby lobby
30. Your favorite color? purple
31. When is the last time you laughed? morning?
32. Last time you cried? yesterday
33. Who will create a similar list? bethany
34. A place you go to over and over? library
35. Someone who emails you regularly? Bethany
36. Your favorite place to eat? mom's
37. A place you would like to go right now? shopping
38. A TV show you watch all the time? one tree hill
39. Your summer? over
40. Children? school

get ready, lots of pics to post

 

 

 

 

more pics

 

 

 

 

i finally got some new pictures

 

 

 

 

So over the weekend we went took some pictures of my adorably unruly family. I only get one shot at family pictures(my husband does not enjoy them and I have to threaten divorce in order to get him to cooperate) Thus the lack of smiles from him. But he was there and I am appreciative.
We found this subdivision outside of Lowell and I had my personal photographer, the only person Dan trusts to keep Isaiah, and Emory's co-parent and my lifesaver Syard come out and snap some pictures.I of course dressed everyone alike (I know that years from now they will hate these pictures,and write a book about how their childhood was traumatic because they had to dress alike but oh well) and I am suprisingly pleased with how they turned out. My children refuse to take a picture in which all of them are looking straight ahead with a normal espression on their face so if one of the pics turns out I am over the moon.
It really was a fun day (at least for the kids) just kidding, it was fun for me too and not that he would admit it, but Dan thinks its important to record our family through the years too (either that or he just knows he has no choice and just accepts that I will do this from time to time)

adoption search update

I got an email today from my search angel today. My angel was able to make contact with a birth mother from Louisiana that for many years searched for the child she had given up for adoption.From what I have heard this woman sounds so driven in her search. Supposedly she even snuck into the courthouse and was able to copy birth records and eventually formed a type of support group to help other people that are searching. She did find her child and was re-united. She said she has notebook after notebook with notes in it and maybe one of them will have some piece of the my puzzle. Maybe someone knew Maureen and has some clue to find her. I am cautiously optimistic and just have to stop and pray about it. I have learned this past year that you don't have control over what happens since we don't always know God's plan for our lives and why we have to go through what we do go through. I do believe that no matter what when you pray you get an answer. I know it might not be the answer I want to get, so I pray for the peace to just accept what that answer is. It is so much easier to type and a little bit harder to keep a postivie and encouraging spirit though.
It is actions like this ladies that I really find inspiring and encouraging. The world is such a big, big place, full of people with their own lives and stories and it is easy to get lost in it all.But we have the chance to do something good with the trials that we go through. We all have strengths and gifts to offer and as a human being you should do that for someone else. Just because you can.
In my search I alternate between obsessively pouring over adoption sites looking for any bit of information I can find on Maureen and then having to just walk away and not look at any at all because i am just devestated that I can't find anything. I know it's because I don't know where to look and that I do have alot of information so maybe someday I will find her. Or she will find me.If you have not seen The Locator on the channel WE you need to DVR it and watch it. It's about a search angel and how he connects people that are searching for each other. But make sure you have your Kleenx handy.
Honestly I would have given up totally if it had not been for my search angel. She always seems to give me hope when I am not expecting it and it encourages me to be reminded that I just have to keep looking.Maybe try to look at it from a different angle and re-visit what information I do have.Sometimes I ask myself why is she doing this? She has her own life and it is in no way connected to mine (meaning she has no personal agenda for her own gain here) but then I remind myself of what I talked about earlier in this post about helping someone just because you can and I think of her and smile.

Journal entry from Leighton's mommy

I am so overwhelmed right now, I am sitting at my dest bawling (sp?) like a baby so proud of my awesome kids here at the club. When they heard about Leighton and Elijah they wanted to make get well cards. They felt bad and sad and wanted to do something to make them feel better. We could learn alot from kids.......this is the journal entry for today on Leighton's caringbridge page written by Laine (Leightons mommy) and my kids from the club are mentioned in it. I will make sure to read this to them and to tell them how proud I am to be able to say I work at The Boys & Girls Club of Benton County.



FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008 12:24 AM, CDT


I am not ready to talk about how hard my past day has been. I can say that Leighton is comfortable with a morphine drip and regularly scheduled adavan. He also looks much happier not having to grasp for air, the vent takes care of that. We have not heard much more then what we were told last night about his heart.

Today is my dad's birthday and he chose to spend it in Little Rock comforting us, and kissing Leighton. Rich made us tacos! We went to the grocery store and that was so much fun! Silly I know, but I have not been grochery shopping in months and it was pretty fun. Dinner was great. So Happy Birthday Dad!

Rich and I are staying at Katie and Hunter's tonight and it has been about a week since we stayed here... so we had a bit of mail piled up. It made our night, really we were laughing so hard we were in tears at times. My nephew Jackson in Georgia drew Leighton some pictures and aget well card. Gina Woods sent us some wonderful encouragement. Denise Wheeler send us such a sweet card. But I think the best thing we have gotten so far was a package from the Boys and Girls Club of Bentonville. We have over 20 home made cards for leighton and each child spent quite some time with art work and words of "wisdom" for our little man. We would like to share a few with you:"Get will soon, I hope you get will, I will pray", "Get well Leighton, I hope you look at this card and smile because we are praying for you!", "Get well soon, you are the best baby ever! I love you Leighton!", "Get well soon, I wish you the best of luck. For we may meet some day. If we do, I know my wish came true.", "A smile from me to you., I hope you get well, Get well very soon so you can have a lot of fun with family. My family is praying for you so get well soon!", To Leighton From XXX (no her name is not xxx, just being safe), I hop you get (the g is backwards) you'r hort back. BaBy Leighto I hop you get betr." "Leighton I hope you get better. Happy Birthday, crich or treat", "I hop you get a ful hort. I hop you get better littel baby srviv the opreashon get wel!" (on this one you can imagin the b's and g's backwards and on opreashon, the "on" at the end is on the next line with an arrow leading to the end of the word....), "Happy Halloween Leighton, I hope you geel better. You might have half a heart but your parents still love YOU", "Get well baby Leighton, You Rock!!!!!", "Leighton you are the best baby ever", and here is one last one "If you look at my name and you say it, it will be find with me! Take the stress off and know he will be fine, We are always waiting fo ryou. To the mom and dad don't give your hopes up!".

You have to imagine how wonderful each one of these card we get are for us. I have always LOVED getting mail as a child and then getting at my very own mail box, but this is even better. I really love the ones where letters are backwards and things are spelled how they sound because that is exactly how i used to do it and still do often. I also love it when there are drawings of little stick figures with wings and halos, and then hearts all over the page. I LOVE kids. Thank you boys and girls club for making our day so special. And thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. Times are really tough and I could not do it without you all.

Rich and I are both headed to NWA for the weekend together. My mom and dad are staying with Leighton and "making" us go home for a few days to do some house work, get the nursery fixed up more, and just have a little time at home. Time for bed. We did not get much sleep at all last night so its time for a nice rest. He is calm tonight. Good night little Leighton. You are the best baby ever and you rock.

LOVE ALWAYS- Mommy

the many faces of emory

 

 

 

 

just a day at the park

 

 

 

 

Life lessons by me and the things you may not know

So today is the day to post for me I guess. I just love to write, what can I say? But I really liked this one since I have many lessons I have learned (and most of them I learned the hard way)So here are ten things you might not know about me.

1. I wanted to be a cab driver up until I was in the 9th grade (part time of course because I was going to be a singing, interior decorating, teacher as my full time job)

2. I hate to capitolize things. I love lower case letters and it is not an accident when i do it. (It drives one of my best friends Bethany nuts i know :), but she loves me anyways and just corrects me often)

3. I can sew, cross stitch, weave baskets out of newspaper, paint, write poetry and sing (yes i said weave baskets out of newspaper)

4. I can bend all of my fingers back behind the finger next to it. ALL of my fingers and keep them there. (Quit laughing and try it, it's not as easy as it sounds)

5. I have been in love with Sean Connery, Gene Kelly, Travis Barker, Jimmy Smits, Joey Mcintyre, Jason from General Hospital, McDreemy from Grey's,and right now it's Dr. Drew from Celebrity Rehab. (And none of them are black either so see, you thought you knew!!)

6. My favorite drink ever is plain ol vitamin D whole milk (I know most of you thought it was Jagger, but no)

7. The song Dan and I first danced to (and is still our song) is "Easy Like Sunday Morning" by Lionel Richie. We were outside in the beer garden on Dickson and it came on and we danced (so Bethany, I feel you too about loving Lionel)

8. I pray everynight (and for some reason while I am in the tanning bed)

9. I seperate my candy and eat it by color and by twos. i will throw away any stray pieces that don't have a partner

10. I had the biggest crush on my cousin Josh until I was about 7 yrs old or so,and learned what the term incest meant.We are about the same age and I did'nt see him that much since they lived in Kansas. We have talked about it and he thinks it is funny too. (so see Beth, you are not all that strange)

I think we all have our quirks. Those things we think are odd but really just make us who we are.

cheesy leaf bags for the yard

 

 

 

 

I hope that you can judge whether or not you are getting the whole parenting thing by how many times you say, "I can't believe that I am dong this. It is so cheesy! But my kids are happy so I guess I will keep doing it." If that is the case, I am doing just fine because I say that often. I find myself doing things that I thought were so uncool and cheesy growing up and I swore I would never be that mom. But I am, suprisingly, and as I am saying it myself (and out loud) I really am enjoying myself. I think that for so long I was selfish and self absorbed and my kids were more like accessories and now that I take more pride in being a great mommy doing things like this makes me think I am on the right track FINALLY!!!
This past weekend Kaileigh wanted to buy these ugly orange pumpkin bags that you stuff full of leaves and then put in your yard. And as you can see from the pictures, all the kids got in on the stuffing action. Isaiah would not put down his "Baby" so the bear had to be washed (because he stuffed it in the bag with the leaves several times) then they got the brilliant idea to stuff the dogs in the bags and they thought that was hilarious (too bad the dogs were not as thrilled) so this was our Sunday.

the pumpkin patch

 

 

 

 

On this day Kaileigh and I played hooky from work and school and went with Emory's kindergarten class to the pumpkin patch. We had to walk from the school to the pumpkin patch and as you can see in the pics my daughter is the head of the pack when it comes to her peers (but she comes by it honestly so what can I say). Kaileigh of course acted like she was too cool for any of it.
We finally got there and the pumpkins were everywhere. We listened to a couple of stories about pumpkins and where they came from and what they mean and then it was time to pick out a pumpkin. Of course we got one for Isaiah. A cute little one that he held in his lap in the car and then carried all around the house screaming "NINE" (his word for mine) all in all I think everyone had fun. As Emory told me later that night as we were snuggling in my bed "Mommy, this is the bestest day of my whole school career"
I did not make that last part up, those were her words exactly. My kids are such a hoot!!!

why i love fall

Burnt reds,yellows,oranges and greens all over the ground, hay bales pumpkins scarecrows and mums in people's front yards, stores decorating for the upcoming seasons, pumpkin spice yankee candles, pumpkin and sugar hand soap from bath and body works, taking our yearly fall family picture, stopping for coffee on my way to work, the chill in the air on our saturday morning trips to the public library, going to the pumpkin patch with my kids class from school, carving pumpkins then baking and eating the seeds, watching how happy it makes my kids to fling the pumpkin slime from the inside at each other, putting leaves into cheesy pumpkin bags to set out in our front yard, hay rides and haunted houses, dressing my babies in ridiculous costumes that they will one day hate me for, road trips to mississippi,the return of grey's anatomy and all those other shows that make me cry, pulling out my favorite long sleeved t-shirts, wearing dan's old flannel pj pants, christmas shopping for other people, war eagle and garage sales. I am sure i am forgetting something because i know i love more than this

Not me Monday (just for you Bethany)

So in helping Beth with her blog I decided to jump on the blog assignment bandwagon. Reminds me of a devotional but with out the bible verse.:) This first one is called not me Monday. The whole concept is that you list what is going on with you and do it in the "it is not happening" context. Such as....


My son DID NOT wake me up this morning by saying "I poop" with a cheesy grin showing how very proud of himself he was.


Today I DID NOT try to follow my diet so I ordered an cheap salad that DID NOT taste like %&*$#....Since I paid so much for it I DID just throw it away

I DID not blog about my voyeristic weekend crashing weddings of a local reality show and I DO NOT have a hangover from my not so wild weekend.

I DO not wish I had my lawn decorated with hay bales, pumpkins and mums. This IS NOT my favorite time of year.

This has been a not me Monday and I am NOT glad it is time to go home!!!!!

How I found myself at the Duggar Wedding Reception

 

So I will admit sometimes I get myself invited to places I am not quite sure how it happened. This was one of those times. I woke up a little hung-over from the night before but did my usual running around anyway. I was a little disoriented from not having my kids around(and knowing they would not be home until Sunday did not help).
At @ 2pm Alicia called and asked me to go somewhere with her. Two of her clients were going to a wedding reception and told her if she wanted to come she could. I don't know if it was out of curiosity or of a need to please but she said she would. And since she knew I watched the tv show they were on she called me. So we went.
It was held at First Babtist Church in Springdale and I will admit, I was suprised at how well everything looked. I don't know if I expected to see everyone in the wedding party in puffed sleeves and white collar matching dresses, but they were pretty modern and a pretty shade of blue. The bride actually made all of them. The family member I got the biggest kick out of is the cousin Amy. She is this petite fiery little thing and she says what is on her mind and it often gets her in trouble.
I know that this family has a lot of mixed fans and fo's in this community. It ranges from "why would you have that many kids" (prob. the most vocalized issue) to "how can you pay for all of that". I just say whatever floats your boat. I can't really tell you why I watch the show. I just do. Michelle really does talk that way all the time, and the kids were really well behaved (my 3 don't act near as calm and easy going as her 17 so that says something to me anyway) Amy said that Jon from "Jon and Kate plus 8" friend requested and messaged her on facebook and said they love the show. For some reason that cracked me up. and someone let it slip what the new babies name is (altough they won't announce it on the show yet). Mostly I just tried to stay out of the cameras way. That would be really embarassing for me. Don't
even know these people and I crashed their wedding and now I am on their show. How tacky would that be!!! But it was an experince and a kinda funny one too.
Oh what a life!

date night with Dan

Last night I met up with an old friend from jr. high Elaine. We met on Dickson at Wasabi. I was kinda nervous because I am not an adventureous eater and I've only had sushi one other time. But I got a dragon roll and absolutely loved it.It was not raw (which alot of sushi really isnt raw but I had to ask because there is no way I would ever even try raw fish) ewwww....There wasnt enough food though to fill me up,and it was gone too quickly, but I enjoyed it while it lasted. I tried not to look at the green stuff though and just put it in my mouth. I will say I was suprised at how well I was able to work the chop sticks. Hmmm....
anyway, after Wasabi I headed to pick up my hubby and we went to Eddie Haskell's. Being out in Bentonville has a whole different vibe than Fayetteville. It might just be because I am older and don't get the thrill I once did from being out who knows, but everytime I go out it is kinda a disappointment for several different reasons. one, because I don't get trashed (for the most part) anymore and who wants to be around a smokey room full of people that ARE trashed? and two, because I know tomm. will come too fast and I will have wished I was in bed instead of being out. But it was nice to be spending time with Dan. I don't get to do that a whole lot with out the kids.
After Eddie Haskell's we headed to meet some friends at Boomers. It is new and has a really hip, laid back feel. Lots of sports stuff on the tv and pool tables and an outside patio. Some of Dan's work buddies and our friend Greg was there so we just hung out and I did have a little too much sauce there. We did the time honored tradition of going to eat at Denney's before going home. Nothing like greasy breakfast food when you have had too much to drink.
This morning I am going to the craft fairs and the library and then we have a work thing tonight. I don't know if I am likin the kids being gone this weekend. I feel kinda lost.(or maybe that is the residual feelings from the alcohol last night?!?) anyway, should be another interesting evening but I am not drinking tonight I know that for sure.

why I love blogging

There is something so personal in blogs that I think you don't get with myspace or facebook (and yes, I neglect but have both). It's like I am right there listening to the person telling me the story. My friend Syard says there is no way she would have one because she knows she has dysfunction why would she let anyone else see it. Me, I wave my freak flag high. I love telling stories and yes sometimes it is TMI but what the hell, just don't read it then.
anyway, I spent the morning with Emory and Kaileigh at the pumpkin patch. Emory's kindergarten class went and as homeroom mom I go to every field trip but this time I let Kaileigh skip school and she went with us. Emory was in heaven. We picked out a small one for Isaiah also so he can take it to "school" with him next week for a class project.
I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!!!!

This weekend should be fun. I have to drop off some flyers for an upcoming event, it's a 5K run/walk called "Chicks N Chili" and then the kids are going to Syards for the weekend. Yes, I said weekend (well, most of it anyway) I am going to go to the craft fair (alone, sniff sniff) and then Dan and I have a friends suprise birthday party to go to tomm. night so that should be fun. I think we are going to decorate our yard with fall stuff when the kids get home on Sunday so should be a pretty full weekend. But in reading this blog I am not very exciting am I? oh well, there could be worse things in life than being too wrapped up in your family cheesiness.

fun fun fun at work, and i got to wear makeup today

So today was kinda a neat day at work. First off we celebrated our yearly balloon release with 300 balloons the kids got to release. On the balloon is a note that says this balloon came from "The Boys & Girls Club of Benton County and if you find it here is our address, send us a letter" We do it every year and last year letters came from all over. There is nothing like the sound of a child's scream of happiness (and screams of anger too but that is a different noise altogether) it was such a pretty sight to see all the colorful circles floating up to the clouds.
I was a little meloncholy because while it was a pretty sight the balloon release is something that Beth and Jack's family do at special times with special notes to him on the balloons. So I looked up to the sky and said a quick "love you little buddy" to my favorite angel. and then I was drug back into the building by lots of little hands. Two sets of those hands being my own five and eleven year old babies.
I love being able to spend time with them on a whole different level than being mommy. Being Ms. Wendy is a thrill I dont think I have ever gotten to experience. I conned several of the kids into helping me with the project I have going for Emory's kindergarten class Halloween party. Yes, I am that cheesy mommy that is homeroom mom every year and while I say I dread it (for appearance sake of course), I eat up every minute of it and the happiness my kids get from saying "yeah, that is my mom".
anyway, back to art project. I had the cafeteria ladies save me cans from the lunch room that the food comes in (those really big tin cans they can clean and run through the dishwasher) We painted the cans orange (all 30 of the cans-no way I could do that by myself very efficiently) and now they are drying. I will write each child's name on the can with little squiggles and polka dots in white and black.I drill two holes in each can and a wire hanger will be formed into handles and raffia tied on the ends to make it prettier. For the art project the kids will get to glue black foam pieces in the shape of triangle eyes and a half moon mouth and that will be the pumpkin they can use to go trick or treating with.
Kaileigh did the project in her kindergarten class and we still have it in great shape (and that was 5 years ago) I will post pics on here when we are done so you can see. It's super easy and cheap but it looks like you really went to alot of trouble and the kids (and mommies) love it. At least I did.
So that was my day got to release balloons, paint tin cans and play with my girls.....and I get paid to do this job.

oh yeah, and my pink eye is gone and pealing warped skin has healed enough for me to put makeup on..whoo-hooo life is good