Am I ready?

It's now the dreaded Labor day weekend! I hate this weekend because it's my last lazy days with my children before we all go back to school and work:( How sad! I feel close to tears thinking about how I have to leave my kids to go back to work. I do love my job though and once I get back in the swing of things all will be well. I have to say again I really really love my job but after your home for 3 months it is really hard to just wake up one day and start your work schedule all over again.

Aurora and I went to her open house tonight and met the new principal and her new teacher for the year. Her teacher has such a beautiful spirit about her and Aurora instantly is clicking with her I'm so excited to see them click. Aurora asked her some great questions like "what is your favorite subject to teach kids?" her teacher said "art and science" which are Aurora's favorites:)

I asked the kids what their favorite part of the summer was and Liam's was playing outside and playing football outside with his family. Aurora's was being at home and spending time with her family. Carys' said something I didn't quite understand but I know she loved having us all home with her everyday! My favorite part was waking up and not having to go anywhere in particular just able to do what ever I wanted with my kids. I'd love to hear from some of you about your favorite parts of summer since I'm extremely negative towards winter I have to soak up all the summer memories I can:)

Funny of the day!

And the funniest comment of the day award goes to (drum roll) Mary!

Mary: "That's a pretty ring, is it new?"
Me: "No it's not new it's my Mother's ring"
Mary: "Oh, why isn't she wearing it?"
Me: (laughing) "It's not my mom's ring it's my mother's ring, ya know with all my children's birth stones"
Mary: (laughing) "I was wondering why you called her your "mother" and not your "mom""

This is why we love Mary, because even though that was actually a quite easy mistake to make she makes it cute and endearing when other people could just make that comment annoying! You make me smile Mary:) What a great friendship we have!

Liam

Liam's special day is today and he is loving it! This morning when he woke up I asked him if he felt older and he said "yes, I'm 4 now!" He's such an awesome kid we can't help but love him with every fiber of us!

Yesterday we took him to the science museum to see the Star Wars exhibit and he had a blast. His favorite thing was looking at all of the costumes and riding on this hovercraft thing.

Today he's out with Brian having some "daddy and me" time at the movie theater watching that new Star Wars cartoon movie that came out. Tonight we'll have some cake and open presents which is his most eagerly awaited activity:) I can't believe God blessed us with him four years ago today...how amazing.

It's a bittersweet day for me as I always get a little sad on my babies birthdays. I love the birthdays because I know how special it is that God has blessed us with another healthy year with our children but then I get sad during them because it seems like Liam was just a chubby little baby a minute ago...what happened to the time?

Aurora's great day!

We went to the church today to pick up Aurora's open house info and she got the teacher she wanted, yahoooo! Not only did she get the teacher she wanted but ALL her friends are in the same class...she's beyond excited to start 4th grade and I couldn't be happier for her. I hope she doesn't get in too much trouble from gabbing:) Just last night when I was tucking her in and we were having our nightly gossip session she mentioned that she really wanted Mrs.Fleming as a teacher and she really wanted her friends in her class and I told her "both teachers are great and have good things about them, God knows what teacher you need in your life and what teacher needs you so don't be too dissapointed if God leads you to the other teacher." She agreed and understood, but she got the teacher that she really clicks with so I'm pumped for her! We love love love St.Andrew's school and all the teachers there are great so either way would've been another great year of Christian Education for us.

Also on a side note Liam is almost 4 on Aug.20th!!!!!!! I'll definitely fill everyone in on how his special day went.

Things not to do...

Don't scrape popcorn ceilings after you're already moved in...

Do scrape popcorn ceilings before you've moved in...


That was THE messiest job I've ever done in my life and trust me growing up on a farm I've been covered in manure, mud, blood, cement, sweat, and other messy things. Popcorn ceilings take the cake but wow, it already looks a thousand times better!

Sisters

My mom sent this to me and my sister. It's true and thought I would share it!

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,

drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As

they talked about life, about marriage, about the

responsibilities of life and the obligations of

adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her

glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance

upon her daughter



'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling

the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll

be more important as you get older. No matter how

much you love your husband, no matter how much you

love the children you may have, you are still going

to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now

and then; do things with them.'



'Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...

your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other

women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women

always do.'



What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman

thought. Haven't I just gotten married?

Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a

married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely

my husband and the family we may start will be all I

need to make my life worthwhile!'


But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact

with her Sisters and made more women friends each

year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,

she gradually came to understand that her Mom really

knew what she was talking about. As time and nature

work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,

Sisters are the mainstays of her life.


After more than 50 years of living in this world,

here is what I've learned:


THIS SAYS IT ALL:



Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don't do what they're supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT.........


Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how

many miles are

between you. A girl friend is never farther away

than needing her can reach.


When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you

have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life

will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,

praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on

your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the

valley's end.


Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk

beside you...Or come in and carry you out.



Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,

daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,

Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended

family, all bless our life!


The world wouldn't be the same without women, and

neither would I. When we began this adventure called

womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or

sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we

would need each other.


Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on

to all the women who help make your life meaningful.

I just did. Short and very sweet:

Big Lake

The kids and I finally checked off Big Lake on our things to do this summer! We were there for around 2 hours yesterday and they really enjoyed it. When I used to go with just Aurora we'd spend all day there. It's a bit different now with Carys being so young she was ready to go in 2 hours and actually told me she wanted to go home.

Aurora was bummed that she didn't have an older kid to swim to the deep end with but she still had fun with her younger siblings. Big Lake is always a good time...if they don't have chiggers:)

Up next is Minehaha Falls, Science Museum (Star Wars exhibit), and Como Zoo. I'm pretty sure I can get that all in before school starts.

I have to admit I've been over doing it at work and going in wayyyyy more than I should. Usually I go in Fridays when Brian gets home early or I'll go in late at night to get things done and I really would rather be home enjoying my family more before school starts. I'm going to have to quit going in so much and enjoy these last weeks of summer I'm so sad it's almost over! I HATE cold weather and it seems it's not too far away.

I'd post pictures of our trips but I still have to get a digital camera that actually takes decent pictures. That's on my "to do list"!