My Biggest Cheerleader

Well tonight was the first night of Adventure Boot Camp for me. I felt bad about rushing out of the house as soon as Steve got home but I did not want to be late especially for the first night. Another big reason not to be late is that if you are late then you get to do 20 extra sit ups!!!! Just in case you are curious--I can do a few and I can make an attempt at doing about 20 but not 40!!!! Not yet any way but I'm going to work on it.

Boot Camp is an intense 4 week exercise program that I am participating in right now. I have looked forward to it starting and now I'm looking forward to it being over--I want to see results NOW!!!! It was a long hour tonight and I'm thinking that next time will be really long!!! Even as long and exhausting as tonight was for me I am so glad that I am doing this. At one point tonight (more than 30 minutes into the hour long class) we were running for 4 minutes and boy was it HARD. Do you know how long it has been since I have done anything that even resembles running (not counting running down the street with Casey after she swallowed the ornament hook)? Let me tell you it was probably in high school PE!!!! I was really giving out and saying "Self what have you gotten us into. We paid money for this? (YES!!) We will come to all of these classes!!" After I finished having this conversation, I started telling God how I wasn't going to make it through the rest of this class. Well let me tell you. God is so good!!!! All the time!!! As I was complaining to God about how tired I was and how hard all of this is I was reminded that our bodies are a temple and therefore we should take care of them. During my whine secession, I looked at the sky and it was this beautiful pink and it was being reflected in the lake that we were running around. It was at that moment that I stopped complaining and started thanking God for my body and reminding my self that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And do you know what? I made it. Not only did I finish the run but I was able to keep up for the rest of the class--lunges and all. I even think that tomorrow I might even be able to walk and raise my arms above my head--I hope so anyway.
So now who is my biggest cheerleader? SHELBY!!! When I walked in tonight she started jumping up and down and yelling about how good I looked (yea right, for the past hour I had been out in the heat and humidity running and lifting weights--I'm sure I looked good) then she said "let me see you belly." To which I asked her why and she answered that she wanted to see how much smaller my belly is now. I started laughing and she insisted that I had lost at least a pound!! I may just have to take her with me on Thursday. I am still smiling as I think about her and what a motivator she is for me.
So why am I doing all of this? Can you say baby weight (times 2), it's almost winter and I have 1 pair of blue jeans and fewer dress clothes--see the first reason!! I want to feel better and if I get rid of some of this "baggage" I know that I will look and feel better. My sweet husband-who only tells me how good I look--I really do want to look good for him. For my kids. I want them to see me doing something to make myself healthy. I really want to lead by example. That's something I'm working on in several areas.
Well, the bed is calling my name VERY loudly so I think I will answer it. I will update on Landon and the kids tomorrow after we get home from Landon's doctor appointment.

An informative lunch

I just love being home with my kids!!! I am totally blessed that God has made a way for us to home school--especially since I am learning so much!!!

Casey is spending some time with Mimi and KP this week so we are trying to maximize our school time. I know she is having a wonderful time. She loves to see the animals--just so long as they are QUIET!! She does not like for the cows to "talk" to her!! I'm sure she's also having fun riding on the golf cart to go see Granny and Granddaddy and Aunt Mary, blowing bubbles and playing in her sand box. Oh yea and watching TV--since last time she was there, she learned that a "mote" makes the TV play what ever she wants to see!!!

It's really funny to me when people say, "How do you home school with a baby?". Well the baby is not the issue these days--it's the walking, talking, adventure seeking toddler in the house that can make things a challenge. Usually lunch is not a real "learning time"; it's a fast paced time of trying to finish before Casey falls asleep in the high chair. We try to never let that happen because if she gets 5 minutes and you wake her up---she up for the rest of the day!!! So while I miss her dearly, I am trying to maximize my time with Drew and Shelby and get lots of school cleaning done!!!

Today at lunch, Shelby wanted to know which flower was my favorite. I told her that I like all kinds and that I wasn't sure that I had a favorite. Well that started a conversation on how flowers get their food. Shelby said she was glad that flowers don't eat people or animals. Well then we started talking about the Venus Flytrap. That started all the questions: Where does it grow? How big is it? Can it eat me? Can it bite my finger off? What does it look like? Now lots of times, we are in the car when this type of Q & A starts and I just try to remember to write the topic down on a piece of paper so I can find the answer when we get home (by which time, their interest in the subject is fading) but today we sitting at the kitchen table. I stopped eating and got the computer and they said "We're going to look it up now?!!!" To which I smiled and said "Why of course!!" We had a great time looking at the pictures and learning (shhhh, don't tell them about the learning) about the plant. It really is a beautiful flower. A good example of how something can look so good but not be good for you!! One thing I learned was that although it has successfully been grown all around the world, it is native to North and South Carolina!!!! It likes "boggy" type areas so I guess that's why I can't recall seeing one. I usually try to stay out of swampy areas since I figure that's a really good place to "meet" up with something that WILL bite me!!!

So how many of you knew that the Venus Flytrap is native to North and South Carolina?

Old Friends and New Friends

I can't believe how time flies!!!! On Wednesday, we got to spend some time with Melinda, Macaylia and Micah. It was a great visit. Shelby and Macaylia picked up right where they left off. Melinda and I spent a nice afternoon catching up and watching our kids play!!! Drew thought it was pretty good also because he got to have some electronics time while the girls played. Casey was her normal self in that she was charming but didn't care to "make" friends. Landon, well, it didn't really matter to him what was going on.

I was pretty stunned when Melinda mentioned how long we had known each other. We met at a church picnic in Greenwood. At that time, Shelby and Macaylia were just over 2 years old and her twins were about 6 months old!!! Steve asked her if she needed some help with the girls because they were crying and Macaylia was wanting to go and play on the play ground. I helped her with the twins and Steve took the older girls and Drew to play on the playground.

Things have sure changed since then!! We have both moved to new towns and have more kids. There might be a pattern here. They moved to a new town and another kid and we moved to two different towns and had two more kids. Haa Haa just kidding--there is NO pattern forming here (at least not on my end)!!!! That being said, I know that GOD is totally in control and He works all things to His glory and in His time--which can be very different from what we have planned and despite our best efforts, God still chooses to bless us!!! He is so amazing!!!

Okay now for a little trivia.....

What is the only place that Steve and I have lived SINCE we got married that we have NOT had a kid?

2 screaming babies and a lizzard....

Yep, that was last night right before dinner. Landon and Casey were both hungry and letting the world know about it by you guessed it screaming and crying as loud as they could!!!!!
Yes, I was quickly solving the problem as fast as I could possibly do when I hear a scream in the living room. It was a VERY loud noise because I was able to hear it over the two little ones. It was Shelby. She had spotted a lizard in our living room. Now Shelby has been known to actually catch lizards while at Mimi's but it must be a totally different when it's in your own home!!!
Ahh, Daddy to the rescue. Steve came in and we got a box with a lid to try and catch said lizard. It must have been a smart lizard because it ran for the TV. Yep the TV. The one place Steve would not really bother it--because as you know we are not going to damage this TV!!!!! Steve told Shelby that he would get it in a few minutes because he had to go and check on the grill. He was stalling trying to think of something to tell her tonight if we didn't get that little lizard before bed. His plan was to tell her that they couldn't climb stairs--I'm not sure she would have bought that one. And yes the 2 little ones were still screaming!!!
Finally we got dinner fixed and the little ones fed. Conner came over to play and as he and Shelby were going upstairs to play with Drew, Conner said "Hey there's a lizard on the stairs!" It surprised him because he thought that it was fake at first!!! Well the screaming started again from Shelby. Steve got the box and caught the little guy. He didn't have near as many places to hide on the steps!!! Steve took the lizard in the box and got behind Conner and said "Oh no it's getting on Conner's head"! Yep you guessed it more screaming but this time from Conner. Thank goodness, he did this to Conner and not Shelby!!! Finally the lizard was released outside so that he could be free and try to get back inside to drive us crazy on another day!!!

The reason we homeschool....

I just had one of my best homeschool moments. We are studying countries and cultures this year so to before we got to into our countries, I wanted to make sure we had a good understanding of maps and legends and the related items. Well I had Drew and Shelby working on using maps to answer some questions while I folded a load of laundry, and Shelby comes to me and says, "Mom I finished. Can I do some more? This is so much fun!!! It's not like I'm learning but I really am!" Well what could I say except "Of course you can do more!!!"
Moments like these don't happen every day but they are a big part of why I love having my kids at home!!!

Casey is a little irritated with school right now. She has really enjoyed having Drew & Shelby at her disposal. She is not liking them having to do more work now and to show it, she is finding all kinds of things to keep herself busy while I help them. Today, she tried to swing Landon--while he was already swinging thank you very much!!! She also offered him some milk from her sippy cup. I think what she likes the most is filling the pack n play with her stuff and she really doesn't care if L is in it at the time or not!!!

Drew has really stepped up and been one of the most helpful people around. He empties the dishwasher if it needs it--sometimes, he always ask if Casey has had breakfast yet when he fixes his. Today he learned to fix oatmeal!!! Shelby has really had some fun playing with Casey lately also. I am so blessed by my kidos!!!

I was thinking last night while I was up with Landon (it's a really good time for that since it's usually quiet at that time) that God has blessed our family in so many wonderful ways. Over the past week, I have spent a lot of time thinking about how much I HATED being here after we got moved. Well, it's still not my favorite place but you know what....God has such an awesome plan for us here!!! He gave us a wonderful new baby and we are starting to find our place--I'm pretty slow when it comes to this area. One of the things that started my thinking about all of this was a quote on a friends blog. I'm going to share it here and maybe it will bless someone else like it has me this week.

"Just keep asking 'God, if I can't have what I want, then help me to know what it is You want me to have.' Faith is knowing in your heart that He has a treasure much greater than the one you've been asking for."-Guideposts

a quick song

Just something cute to share with all the moms out there!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlY8STkhopc

I find my self singing a similar song most days!!!

Field Trip Fun

What's more fun than being up most of the night with a screaming toddler? Being up most of the night with a toddler who is either screaming or playing the body alphabet game and knowing that you have to get up early the next morning--not taking it slow.

We decided to take a quick field trip to the zoo today when we realized that some of our "bestest" friends in the world had the day out of school and could meet us. Our plans for them to come here to meet Landon had fallen through so this was a great alternative.

The zoo was great--not to hot or crowded. That's just the way I like it. Poor Casey wanted to see the elephants but she didn't get a chance today. They were working on the elephant area and the elephants were "inside".

Drew and Shelby had a great time with their friends and so did I!!! You know, I am so thankful for all the friends I've made during all of our moves. God has blessed us over and over in that area!!! With that, there are people who you will always keep in touch with no matter where you live. That's the kind of day I had. I know that Jennifer and I will always be friends no matter where either of us live--yes I know who will move first!! We had a great day together an the kids had a wonderful time--it's pretty great that each of our kids has a "buddy"--well L will just have to tag along with Casey and Nate--or Casey will just have to join the other girls and let Nate and Landon buddy up.

This was just the start of a busy week for us. Today the zoo, tomorrow I have a dr. appt., the kids have gym and swim, Wed. holds one maybe 2 dr. appts. for Landon, hopefully Thursday and Friday will be quiet!!!

Well, it's been a long day and I'm hoping that the kids will sleep better tonight--although it's not looking like things are headed in that direction now!!!