I've turned a corner.

Hey, Howdy, Hey!!  Yep, it's me! :) 

I hate looking back and noticing that it's been nearly a year since my last blog post.  This blog used to be my outlet for everything for a long time.  And well, life got busy...real busy.  I had this post running through my mind all day yesterday, so I've got to get it out.


Yesterday, I took my 3 kids, and my niece and nephew to Deep River Waterpark.  I packed a cooler with lunch and loads of snacks, and away we went.  It was a gorgeous day for it!  After applying sunscreen, the kids decided they wanted to play in the little jungle gym area by our seats so I just hung out and sunbathed! ;)

Not too long after we arrived, the kids came and said they wanted to go in the Lazy River.  I had Owen get on a life jacket cause he's not too confident in the water yet, even though he could touch and off they went!  I stood there waiting for them to come around again and once I saw them all, they were laughing and having a blast, saying they wanted to go around again.  I told them I'd be at our "headquarters" {Yes, that's what they named it} and to come back and check in after they went around again.

To say I about lost it would be an understatement.

For years, especially when they were little, I had been dying for this day.  Having 3 kids 3 and under was a HUGE task {for me!}.  I remember thinking how nice it was going to be when they could all buckle their own seat belts, or how great it's gonna be when they can all put on their own shoes and zip up their own coats.

Well, I'm there....they can do all those things...AND MORE! 

There I was, sitting at our "headquarters" all by myself, while they ran off and played.  I called Ryan:

Me:  Hi babe.

Ry:  Hey! {I could tell he was pre-occupied at work}

Me:  Well, I've turned a corner...all our kids are in the Lazy River by themselves, and I'm sitting all by myself. {totally trying to hold back the tears}

Ry:  Are they all together?

Me:  Yeah.

Ry:  O.K., babe, I gotta go, I'm super busy!

And that was that.  Now I really wanted to cry!   And just at that moment, Chloe, Owen and Tim ran up saying Brett was lost in the Lazy River!

In my mind I couldn't help but smile and think, YES!!  they still need me! ;)  {Don't worry, Brett was found playing and having fun in the Lazy River:) }

If this is what it's like to let them go off on their own at the waterpark, Oh My Heavens!  what's it going to be like when they go off to college?  Don't answer that...

One Year

It's hard for me to believe that tomorrow will be one year since Chloe's accident.

There are days that it feels like it was just yesterday.  And then there are days that I think about it, and it feels fresh and new like it just happened.  Crazy, but it's been one year.

I took some time to go back and read some of the older posts about her accident and the days after, and I cried. {you can read them here, here and here.  And if you want to, you can read my story about her accident on Chloe's blog here.}  I actually had forgotten about some of the events that had taken place, which in some cases are a good thing, but in other ways are a great reminder of exactly how God's hand worked in our little girls life.

A couple of weeks ago, I was looking on Facebook for a certain picture for our Christmas card, and came across these:

 

  These were right after her chest tube came out, and I couldn't wait to crawl in bed with her and snuggle her! ;)

Anyway, I saw these pics, and cried. {If you haven't figured it out by now, I cry too easily...Thanks to my Dad for that one! ;)}  Ryan was sitting next to me and was wondering why I was crying, so I showed him.  It took him by surprise when he saw what was on the screen.  I remember him saying, "Oh Aim."  He had a tear in his eye too, and we both expressed just how thankful we were that everything turned out the way it did! 

We are just so thankful for our girl and for her wonderful life!

Tomorrow is also Chloe's half-birthday.  The morning of the accident, she reminded me of this, and couldn't believe that no one remembered it was her half-birthday.  I gently told her that most people don't celebrate half-birthdays, because the real birthday is what's important.  Ryan told her in the hospital that we will be celebrating her half-birthday every year from now on!  And that's what we plan to do!  Tomorrow we will celebrate, not just her half-birthday, but her LIFE!!!!!

**Sorry, this post is a jumbled mess...I'm having a hard time getting my thoughts together this morning, but I wanted to share what was on my mind.

Procrastinating Christmas

So, as many of you know, it took me a while to get my Christmas tree up.  It wasn't necessarily because I was procrastinating, but it was seriously because I was just too darn busy.  We bought our tree last Sunday at Home Depot.  Why Home Depot?  Once again, because we were just too busy to head out to a tree farm and cut one down like we normally do.  We picked our little beauty up on our way home from the kids Christmas program at church.

The poor little thing stood in our garage all week just begging to be brought inside, and for someone to adorn him with pretty lights and ornaments.  Monday was the day we were going to put it up...and then Brett got sick.  Normally, when we put up our tree it's a family affair, so I just couldn't see putting it up while he felt so yucky.  Brett was sick all week.  He started to perk up Thursday morning, so I thought Thursday night was going to be the night to get it done.  By the time I got home from work he had temp. of 103.  Ryan ended up taking him to the dr. late Thursday afternoon, so all hopes of getting it done that night vanished.

I won't get into the weekend, but suffice it to say, we were swamped with plans, one of them being family Christmas with my mom on Sunday.

To make a long story, just a wee bit shorter, we ended up with a blizzard {it maybe wasn't declared that, but it sure did feel like it} in our neck of the woods, which resulted in a snow day for me and the kids!!  I'm pretty convinced that this snow day was specifically for me ~ just so I could deck my halls! ;)  Boy oh Boy, did I deck my halls! :)

I was beginning to think that I wasn't even going to put up my village, but I did!

Chloe and I even managed to get the Nativity Scene up too!

Let's not forget about the Christmas Candy!!!

I was just telling Ryan how fun it was to do the tree today.  I didn't feel any pressure, and it was totally relaxing!  He replied with, "Yeah, I know.  It's the first year you haven't ended up crying while doing it!" ;)

Why Oh Why do I put so much pressure on myself to have everything so perfect?  In the end, does it really matter? 

Normally I would take these two sock monkeys and separate them, because well, they don't belong together...but they totally do!  Brett put these two little cuties together, and I just love them that way!!:)
 

This little cluster of ornaments is going to stay exactly the way you see it...Why?  Because my little Brett put them that way, and who am I to correct them, just so they look perfect....they are perfect just the way they are!!

This cute little ornament was created in 2008.  Owen made it.  I'll cherish it forever...

 We reminisced about Chloe's first Christmas...

 Look at her now!  Crazy to think she was once so little!! {Yes she is still in her jammies ~ in fact, we all are!

So while it may seem like I was "Procrastinating Christmas."  I think that the timing was just perfect so that I could enjoy all of the little things about it, instead of having everything so perfect and just so.

Now, excuse me, I must go watch Elf with the hubby and kids! :) 

I think I should re-title this post "Perfect Christmas!":)

Shutterfly, baby!!!

So, as always, I'm a day late and a dollar short with getting my Christmas cards ordered and sent out. How do people have the time to do it all? Anyway, this year, I'm making it easy on myself.  I'm planning to get my cards from Shutterfly this year.  The only problem though?  There are SOOOO many cute ones to choose from that I need your help with deciding!  I'm trying to picture my cute kiddies pictures in there!  Can't wait! Don't worry, I'm not gonna reveal the picture(s) I have just yet, but I am gonna reveal my favorite cards: {click on pictures to go directly to a preview of the card}

With Love Blue Christmas

Love this next one:

Like I said, there are so many to choose from, but I'm thinking these are some of my favorites!  Tell me what you think.  Which one do you like best?  Have you ever ordered from Shutterfly and what was your experience like?  In the past I've gotten calendars and photo books from Shutterfly, and I've been so pleased with what I've gotten.  I was surprised at the quality of the products that I received, and the delivery was in a very timely manner!  Shutterfly also offer birthday invitations, baby announcements, and much more, so check out Shutterfly!

1st day of school 2010

Today was the first day of school for the kids...and ME!!!! It was a whirlwind of a day, I tell ya.

It started off with me crying in the shower. Yep, I just admitted that I cried in the shower. I cried because I felt sorry that I couldn't take my kids to school on their first day of school. I cried because I wouldn't be the mommy taking their kids picture in front of the school and in their classroom and with their teacher. I was just a bit sad.

Thankfully, my mom was able to come take the kids to the bus stop, cause Ryan had work issues that he planned before me getting this job. My mom took some great pictures ~ ones that I am just too lazy and tired to upload tonight.

My day absolutely flew by! I'm in the classroom for most of my mornings, but then the late morning/afternoons I'm running all over the place supervising students! It's great, cause it really made my day go by quickly!

I'm eager to get to bed, cause I am pooped. I'm not used to waking up at 5:40, not to mention going to work! ;)

I'll try to get those pictures uploaded here soon.

It's amazing what a new watch will do

Chloe had a gift card for Justice that she got from her aunt for her birthday. She wanted to go and get a new lunch box for school with it yesterday.

Well, she got the lunch box, a necklace and a new watch (she's been asking for a new watch since her old one broke in her accident).

I wish you all could have seen her walking through that mall. She was as proud as a peacock strutting her stuff and then periodically looking at her watch. It was so stinkin' cute!!

Every couple of minutes, she'd ask me if it was 2:22. Yes, Chloe, it's 2:22. Mom, is it 2:26? Yes, Chloe, it's 2:26.

She just had to make sure it was still working! ;)

I made mention of the fact that now that I'm going to be working, I'm going to need a little bit more help around the house. Chloe immediately said she would do everything, and I won't have to do anything! :) I think she's forgetting that she has to go to school all day too! :) Chloe wanted me to teach her how to do laundry today, so I immediately obliged! Who wouldn't?!?! She was a quick learner, for sure, and she did about 3 loads this evening - never stopping to check her watch to see when the load would be done! :)

I just love this girl - she's got a heart of gold, and such a serving spirit!

Today, we head up to University of Chicago for a CT Scan. I'm eager to get the results, but I'm hopeful that everything is just fine!!

Let's talk about those changes...

Many of you may know that Ryan and I made the decision to take our kids out of the private school they were in and place them in the public elementary school in our town. It was a huge, very tough decision, but I feel very confident that we made the right decision. I've felt at peace about it for a long time and have been eager for school to begin. Side note: I'm never eager for school to begin, I'm the mom who loves having her kids home, so this is very strange for me! ;)

Fast forward a couple of months to last Wednesday. I had the idea to call the school to see if they had any types of openings to supervise recess, etc. They informed me of 2 openings for Teacher's assistants. I talked it over with Ryan and we both agreed that I should apply. I brought in my application on Wednesday around 11:30, and by around 2:00 that afternoon the office called me to set up an interview with the principal at 10:00 on Thursday. I went to the interview, and by 1:00 that afternoon, the principal called me to tell me that "I would be the perfect fit for the school family" and she offered me the job. I accepted it, without any hesitation. You see, before I even knew anything about this job, I wanted to get to the school, and just get involved. I wanted to be involved with PTO, room parties, etc. Now though, I am going to be right smack dab in the middle of my kids school, with eyes and ears all around! It is definitely a God thing, that's for sure!! Oh, and the best part - when my kids are out of school, so am I! I don't have to give up my summers with my family at the lake!! Yay!!

I had my orientation today, and it went great! There are 12 Teacher's assistant's and it just seems like an awesome school family! I officially start on Wednesday, bright and early to Welcome Back all of the students! I'm super excited!! {and so are my kids! :)}