Always Doing Something

I have so much extra time (hahahahaha)!!!! Seems like we never stop, but yet I always feel like I never get anything done. This weekend is no exception. Saturday I had made appointment for the kids to get their Easter pictures made. I have been taking pictures with this same man since Gracie was little. Mr Chambers is from Olive Branch but usually comes to Grenada for a weekend right before Easter. He has the live bunnies and lambs and I just love the pictures. They are always so good. This year however he didnt come to Grenada but was setting up in Olive Branch - so I made an appointment for us to go - this will be the 8th year he has taken Easter pictures for me.


                        Gracie and Jake getting ready to take pictures

                                                           
Trying to keep them occupied until our appt. time I let them have my camera and practice their smiles - they took some cute practice pictures - but I cant wait to see the ones that Mr Chambers took

I had promised the kids that if they were good that I would take them to do something fun - My plans were CHUCKY CHEESE - who doesnt love a big mouse that talks.

They did really good on their pictures and acting pretty good the other time - I wanted to ride to Tupelo to go to Hobby Lobby and get somethings and meet up with my cousin - so we took the hour drive from Olive Branch to Tupelo to go to Chucky Cheese - the kids had no idea where we were going they thought that we were just gonna meet my cousin and go to the park their and feed the ducks - when we pulled up at Chucky Cheese - I wish you could have heard them - they were so excited. Then a plus is my cousins daughters work their so they gave us a coupon for 50 extra tokens - so excited until I realized how long it would take for Jake to spend his tokens - he didnt want to spend them bc he was scared he would run out - we spent over 2 hours in there - I finally convinced him to save the rest until next time - I was wore out.

Sophie had a good time too - she seemed to really enjoy all the lights and music

But she got bored real fast and

had better things to do.

We had a really great time and really enjoyed seeing the kids have so much fun - but I was ready to go home and sit down - and let me tell you I slept like a baby last night - I think I even wore Sophie out - she slept from 9 last night to 6:45 this morning - I can handle that.

Pretty Sassy

Bought Sassy some cute little headbands the other day. They are so adorable on her. I love taking pictures of her. My grandmother says they are to big, and Sam just rolls his eyes, but anywhooo I think they are adorable.

Gracie has been really been doing well in her bible knowledge. She has learned all Ten Commandments in order and all the books of the New Testament in order. Im so proud of her and her excitment about His word. She is growing up so fast and is so smart, if we could just work on her attitude sometimes it would be nice. She is 9 going on 16. She is gonna make me gray before my time.

Jake has been a real handful. Some days he goes back into baby mode. He gets upset bc Sassy takes so much of my time, then other times he wants to be such a big boy. He has been going to friends house to play and wants spend the night company, dont know that im ready for him to grow up. I know that sassy is the baby, but Jake is MY baby. He loves his momma so much. He just cant give enough love. He will be going to kindergarden next year. I cant believe it.

And Sassy loves him to death. He loves on her and kisses her and talks to her. She just smiles at him. Everyone at church just loves the way he loves on her before he goes to his class. He is the best big brother ever.

Nana and Pops came over this weekend. They try to come about once a month or so to see the kids. They just love it when they come. Especially Jake wanting Pops. He loves Pops bc Pops gets him all worked up and then decides its time to go home. Jake is crazy about Pops, I think it is bc pops is on his level - sorry pops.

We are getting ready for Easter. I have gotten Gracie and Sophie the cutest dresses and Jake a shirt to coordinate. We are going to take Easter pictures next weekend with Ronnie Chambers. He has the real bunnies and lambs and the pictures are always the sweetest things. I have been taking pictures with him since Gracie was little. I cant wait to see how they turn out this year. We are also working on the Easter egg hunt at church. I have been really big into the kids ministry for the last several years, but I think that the Lord is trying to lead me in other directions. Been praying about it, I dont do change very well, so we will see.

We always go to my moms for Easter, cant wait to hide eggs and let the kids hunt them. I wish I could still hunt eggs. I remember having the best Easters at my Granny's house every year with all my cousins. I wish my kids had cousins to hunt eggs with.

Things have been crazy, still trying to find our normal. In my last post I was aggreviated and just felt overwhelmed. I know that I have a great life, great kids, great job, and most of all a great husband. I just need to find my place and get re organized.

Permission to VENT

Let me start by saying I love my husband, I love my kids and I am so blessed, but it does say in the bible there is a time to vent.

My day starts at 5 - if not before, bath, makeup, hair - if im lucky Sophie sleeps through this part, if not I have to stop and nurse her then rush to finish hair and makeup - somedays i dont even think its worth hair and makeup. Anyway 6 in the kitchen cooking breakfast, waking Gracie (for the first time) and Jake, Sam is still sleeping, let dog out, get breakfast started, fix lunches, fix coffee, wake Gracie up for the second time, let dog in, tend to Sophie if she is awake, Sam is still sleeping, 6:20 breakfast on the table, Jake is eating, wake Gracie for the third time, Sam is still sleeping so I go wake him up, Sophie needs holding, my coffee is cold, 6:30 finally get Gracie out of the bed, Sam eats and goes back to bed, change Sophie's clothes, tell Gracie for the last time to get dressed and go eat, Jake needs help with his shoes, Sam is back in the bed. 6:40 in the bathroom brushing teeth, combing hair, hollaring at Gracie to hurry up and eat so I can fix her hair, Granny wakes up and helps with Sophie who is still hungry bc I didnt have time to finish nursing so she gets a bottle, Sam is still in the bed, 6:55 coffee is frozen pour that full cup out and make another cup to go, Jake gets in the car, Gracie cant find all her stuff, which was suppose to be gotten to gether the night before, out the door not later than 7:10 - making me late for work - Sam finally gets out of the bed to get dressed so he can leave.
Work
Home by 5, eat supper, clean kitchen, get homework done, Sam is home but on the internet, 7 time for bathes for 3 kids - if sassy is luck enough to get a bath that night, pack sassy's bag for the next day, pick up the little things that our out of order, Sam is still on the internet, Feed Sophie, make kids get clothes set out for tom, book bags together, 7:50 brush teeth, listen to kids fuss about whatever, start trying to get them in the bed, Sam is still on the internet, 8:10 kids are in the bed, 8:12 kids are out of the bed bc they need water, 8:15 back in the bed, 8:21 back up bc they forgot to give me love 12 times each, back in the bed, Sam is still on the internet, Sassy wakes up to eat again, kids back up for whatever reason, my head hurts, Sassy is back down with luck for the night, if not ill be back up about 2 for nurse, if a storm comes through im up with Gracie who is terrified of storms. 9;15 kids are finally down. Sam puts the computer up to take a long need hot bath - by himself with no kids. finish picking up what I started, get coffee pot ready for the next day, makeup off, teeth brushed, take a final check of all the kids, Sam is out of his long hot bath with out kids and sitting down resting now, let dog out one last time, check doors, check thermastat, feed cat, one more check on the baby, in the bed, NO SAM, and you ask WHY AM I TIRED, you think??

He is good and a very hard worker, just not at home. I love my life more than I could ever explain, just feeling kinda used and abused. But God is good and I could not ask for a better life, just needed to vent my frustration. Sorry no pics - just to tired to load them and post them.

2 Months and Growing

Sophie was 2 months old this last week. It is going by so super fast. I know im gonna blink and she will be Gracie's age. Seems like yesterday Gracie was her size. I forgot how demanding having a little baby was. Its been 6 years since we had a little baby. We had gotten to the point where you say get in the car and you go, now we have to pack and plan an hour ahead before we go anywhere. It is demanding and sometimes tiring but so rewarding. Still trying to enjoy all this time though, bc I know it is gonna zoom by.

Its been a busy weekend. Sam and I celebrated our 11th anniversary Saturday. My grandmother watched the kids so we could go out to eat. I was so tired, I had cleaned all day and just didnt want to do much of anything really. We did get dressed up and went and ate. It was nice to go and be able to talk without momma momma momma or daddy daddy daddy, but I think next year we are going just grab a burger and maybe take the long way home, bc I sure was glad to come home and put my pj's back on and just lay in bed. Just feel like an old fuddy duddy, good thing my husband is a fuddy duddy too, we are just simple and just like being home with the kids, even if they do drive us crazy sometimes.

Sophie is really coming out. She has been sleeping all the way through the night, has laughed out loud, cried with real tears and tonight I fed her cereal for the first time and she loved it. Never have followed the doctors rule on feeding them. I think a mother knows when her baby is ready and I have eaters so waiting another month or so to feed her cereal is crazy to me, next month she will be eating ribeyes and tators' - she's a country girl - Sam says we got to toughin her up.

Some sweet pictures of Sophie being 2 months old - slow down Sassy - your growing to fast!!

2 Months

Sophie is 2 months old today (I guess) She was born on Dec 29 but since there is no 29th in Feb we joke around that she cant be 2 months old. She is growing so fast. I wish it would slow down.

                                                                    2 days old

1 month old

2 Months old

This is what I wake up with every morning. Such a happy blessing

Snow & Sleep & Sassay

It was snowing Friday morning when I dropped Jake off at school. Jake was the first one at school and the Mrs Heather was waiting to go play in the snow. I was able to catch a few pictures of him and the couple of friends that got to school after him. He was so excited. Of course the snow didnt stick. Every place around us has had a couple inches of snow but so far no sticking snow for us.

Trying to catch the snow on his tongue

Also this week Pops bought Jake and Gracie these crazy lazer lights - these lights drive me crazy. You will be talking to them and all the sudden realize that you have a little red dot on your head.

Gracie and I have been watching movies every Friday night for the last few weeks. I started doing this as mine and her time alone. I will put Jake and Sophie in the bed and Gracie gets to pick the movie. Popcorn and Pj's and all. She seems to really be enjoying our time together.

Friday night movie night

Survived my first week back at work. Missed Sophie a bunch but was glad to get to work. I like my job and knowing that Sas is being taken care of by my mother in law makes it easier. She is such a good baby and the mornings are such a blessing. She is so happy. She has started laughing and trying to talk to you. She loves for you to talk to her and just laughs when you tell her she is pretty. It is the sweetest thing. I cannot believe that she will be two months old tomorrow. It is going by way to fast.

Back to Work

I officially went back to work today. It wasnt to bad, didnt cry this time like I did when I had to leave Gracie for the first time. I enjoy working - most days anyways and that I get to work with my closest and dearest friend makes it that much better.

It was a long day, trying to get my head back in the swing of things. I have been working from home since I had Sophie, but working at home is totally different, I might like it betterbc I get to do that in my pj's - haha.

It really has been a great day. I only called and checked on Sassy twice today, I think I did pretty good.
I did miss her a whole bunch, but I know that she is in the second best place other than home and that is with her Granny and Pawpaw. I am so blessed to have the wonderful in-laws that I have. My mother-in-law has kept all three of my children and is more than glad to do so. I couldnt have asked for any better in-laws than the ones I have.

This morning was crazy, trying to get me and three kids ready, plus fixing breakfast and out the door by 7 but I made it and was only 10 minutes late for work, but before I left I got the best lovin' from the sweetest thing. Sassy just smiled and tried to laugh this morning before I left, just made my day knowing that she was so happy this morning. She has really been such a good baby.

She woke up about 1:30 this morning ready to eat, She acted like she didnt want to go back to sleep. She just laid in my arms and smiled and looked around. I started to pray that the Lord would just let her go to sleep bc I was worried about how tired I would be for my first day back, then something hit me, I need to enjoy these times of just me and her and the complete quiet. I remember sitting there thinking back to when Gracie was this size and wishing she would hurry up and sleep all night, then hurry up and sit up, and walk and talk. Sometimes I would give my right arm if Gracie could be this size again and I had enjoyed all  these little moments that at the time seem so tiring and bothersome. I stopped being tired and just said Thank you Lord for this time with her. If I could just hold that moment in my head of me and her on the couch while everyone else is sleeping and I could just etch into my brain her sweet little face and the smiles she gave me at 1:30 in the morning. I know these days will be over before I know it and I will look back and wonder where they went. So im trying to enjoy my sleepless nights with her and that little bit of by ourself time. Just me and her and the Lord and all the angels that she smiles at.

So my first day back at work was blessed and it started very early.