Meet Dakota

My nephew arrived today at 11:29 am after an unscheduled c-section. He was due June 22nd but he didn't want to wait(I tried to talk him into coming before we went on vacation. We leave Friday). Dora's water broke yesterday morning but nothing was happening so they started her on pitocin but Dakota didn't like that. His heart rate kept dropping. Dora started running a fever this morning and Dakota seemed to be under some stress so the doctor decided it would be better to just get him out of there. It all went so fast. It seemed like it was no time after my brother went back into the delivery room till he was out again holding this beautiful little baby in his arms. When I left the hospital around 3, Dakota was still on oxygen and his momma still hadn't held him. I feel for her. The first thing you want to do after hearing your baby cry is hold him. I took a video of him crying to show her. I am in awe people! He's just so darn adorable! I am taking the kids back tomorrow to see their little cousin so more pics will come.

Here is a pic of Ash after field day. I missed it to be at the hospital and I feel terrible. It was her last field day since she is moving on to Middle School next year.They had a face painter there. I think whoever it was did an awesome job!

Empty Nest

Ashley took this picture yesterday of our guests. I don't know how they had been right outside our window and we didn't see them until they got this big. I think they look like they are about ready to leave the nest, but what do I know? I'm just glad that we are able to enjoy them for now.

Okay, I didn't see this post headed in this direction but the "bird leaving nest" thing got me to thinking. These next two weeks are huge milestones in my kids' lives. Ashley is almost done with 5th grade. No more elementary. Awards night is Thursday (our last one) and 5th Grade Brunch is Friday (our last one). Where did all the time go? It seems like yesterday we were attending Tyler's 5th Grade Brunch and I was so worried about him going to middle school. Ashley has been in her school for 7 years. Preschool, kindergarten and grades 1 thru 5. It will be sad to say goodbye to all the teachers that have helped mold my kids into the wonderful people they are. Tyler has awards during school next Tuesday and then on the last day of school, it's 8th Grade Day! That is when the 8th graders (that are not in ISS!) get to go bowling, see a movie, eat pizza, etc. and hopefully get one day uniform free! I've know some of these kids since Tyler was in 2nd grade! It's just so hard to get my head around where we are in our lives right now. I'm trying. Mental note, buy tissue for upcoming events.

Totally different subject... Ashley wants to go camping. I do not camp. (Why? Long story. Dad made us live in a bus in the woods for about 6 months. Sold everything we owned. Didn't go to school, took baths in a stream, used an outhouse...) So she asked the other day when we were at Meijer if we could buy a tent. I told her we bought a tent once and it almost sent me into therapy so we had to take it back. She laughed at me in one of those "Mom, please!" kind of tones and I told her that my main purpose in life is to not have her go to therapy as an adult because of something I did or didn't do while she is a child. She reassured me that I was doing a wonderful job but... just to make sure, I should probably take her camping. I think I just gave her tons of bargaining power!

A month

It has been almost a month since my last blog. I'm pathetic, I know. I've taken pictures but then I don't have any words to go along with them so I've just stayed silent.

So, what's been going on...nothing. Well, obviously things happen everyday but nothing exciting. My mind has been full of conversations I've had with myself but nothing I need to bother y'all with.

This is all I can come up with. I am truly thankful that it has been non eventful around here. I'd rather have nothing to talk about than tons of drama. I do not handle drama well.
We saw a rainbow.

Ashley's boyfriend broke up with her, then rubbed it in her face that he has a new girlfriend already. I was a little snippy with him for a while. They are trying to "just be friends" right now. I don't know how I feel about that.

My car was broke for a while. My hubby and a few hired hands got it all fixed up. Not sure if I should take it on long trips though, it has well over 100,000 miles on it.

Next week is Teacher/Staff Appreciation week. I am the PTO president for Tyler's school. I am trying to plan something special for everyday. We could all use a pick me up these days.

My momma's birthday is Saturday and Mother's Day is next Sunday. I have NO idea what do do for those days. What are you doing for your mom's for Mother's Day?
I completely adore this kitty. He has been the best pet, companion while I've been off work. He wakes me every morning with lots of purring and love then sometime in the middle of the day (whenever I sit down and relax) he climbs on my lap and falls asleep. He is just adorable and mischievous. I am so glad my hubby decide I needed the company.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wrong, just wrong

What's wrong with this picture? EVERYTHING!!! Snow. In April. Seriously?

Ashley's Birthday

Wow, I really didn't mean to wait until almost a week after Ashley's birthday to post this. I got caught up in some books and have done nothing but escape into another world. I needed that. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy reading and temporarly leaving my reality. I guess it's my drug of choice, no hangover.

Okay, on to Ashley's birthday. She decided to have a party here and invite about 15 friends, with a sleepover. WHAT!!!!????? I agreed, temporary insanity. Luckily for me, only one girl showed up for the sleepover and three other friends for the party.

Those other friends were all boys, should I be worried?

My first reaction to not having 20 people in my house was not relief. I had a ton of food. I totally underestimated the appitite of 5 eleven year olds... not much food left at all. What was left, the girls cleaned up while they stayed up till 6am.

Ashley's boyfriend brought her roses. So sweet. (My mom radar totally went off, don't get me wrong. I'm watching him!)

The next day I had to go to a funeral that completely drained me, especially after staying up ALL night. It was an especially emotional service. It was my mom's mother in law. The pastor grew up in the same neighborhood and was friends with all the kids. There were a lot of personal stories. Okay, this is sad, moving on...

When I got home, Ashley's boyfriend and Tori, the girl that slept over (scratch that, the girl that helped Ash keep me up all night) were ready to go to the movies. We went to see Monsters vs. Aliens. I would love to tell you it was a good movie but honestly, I was in a daze through most of it. The kids seemed to enjoy it. I seriously have never seen anyone go back for a popcorn refill, they did! Okay, birthday party (check), sleepover (check), movie (check), so now everyone will go home...nope. The kids stayed and stayed. I was exhausted people! I finally caught Ashley alone and told her to politely get rid of everyone so I could try to sneak in a nap. She was not happy with me but complied. Whew! Okay, enough rambling. Here are some pictures. Hope y'all had a good spring break!
Billy made sure his flowers were part of the "table scape". They really are beautiful.
Cupcake treeGrandma Zook. She is actually my son's grandma but she loves us all like family. I feel the same about her.

Tyler helping put out the sparklers. I really think he just wanted to show off in front of Ashley's friends. HA!
Me, a mom of a 14 yr. old and an 11 yr. old. Where has the time gone?

This and that

What causes this?



That!!! This is what I saw as I stepped out of my relaxing shower. Isn't he just darling?

Spring? Hello, are you there?

I hear birds, there are buds on the tulip tree. Could Spring actually be on it's way? I hope so. I can feel it way down deep inside, the urge to shave my legs and paint my toes just in case it gets warm enough for them to come out of hiding and be exposed. I know I could find some flip flops in no time at all if necessary.

One thing that comes with Spring is Ashley's birthday. She will be 11 in a couple of weeks and I can tell times are changing. She has changed her mind at least 5 times about what she wants to do for her birthday, which does not work well for me cause I am a planner. I want to know weeks ahead of time what we are doing, who is doing it with us, etc. I need to plan what to eat and buy and how much money I need to do it all. This morning she decided maybe we should take her and a few friends down to Indianapolis to a hotel with a indoor water park. Ya, okay, I'll get right on that! Let me just pick some money off that tree out back and make the reservations. Maybe we can even get a limo to take us down so I don't have to fight traffic. (Seriously people, I am kidding. Not about what she was asking but that we would actually do it.) I understand that she wants to do something fun with her friends. I also understand the times and town that we live in. I've talked to a couple of parents who have sleep overs and end up getting guests for the weekend because parents never pick their kids up and can not be reached. Usually the kids that spend the night at our house are either related or my friends' kids. I'm a little weary of new friends that have been made this year. It took me over a year to get the little girl that came over almost daily to ask if she could stay while her mom was at the store. Oh, well her mom already left. Can anybody out there relate? One of Ashley's greatest qualities is that she is not a snob. She befriends whoever she likes regardless of what color they are or how they live. Which at times has caused something new that I bought her to end up in their possession because "they really liked it and their mom couldn't buy them one". I feel for them, I grew up on welfare and government cheese. There are days when I completely adore the fact that my daughter is so giving. But I have to admit that there are also those days that it just really ticks me off.

I'm getting off on a completely different rant that was not intended for this post, sorry.

So, two and a half weeks till Spring break and Ashley's birthday. Weather - please continue to get warmer, we've been through enough cold, I think it's time. Jeremy - if you tell me one more time it's 81 degrees in Arkansas, I might just have to stop talking to you (like I could for more than a day, but you get the point).

Welcome Spring. My arms are open, hoping my windows could be too.

Today my baby turns 14

In years past I am usually sad on Tyler's birthday. This year I am unusually calm. I am so proud of Tyler and the young man that he has become. Don't get me wrong though, I CAN'T BELIEVE HE IS 14 ALREADY!!!!

Happy Birthday Tylerman. I can't sum up in words how much I love you and how proud I am of you. I truly could not ask for a better son. We don't always get along, but I always love you. We are learning together and I could not imagine anyone else to go on this journey with. I appreciate the fact that you still want me around. You still kiss me goodbye no matter who is around. You are not embarrassed to show how much you love your mom. That is a great quality. You are very respected by your teachers and adults who know you. We are all blessed to have you in our lives.



Happy 14th Birthday Tyler!

Happy Birthday!

Today is my hubby's 35th birthday. Happy Birthday honey! You are a wonderful husband, father and friend. I love you.

There is something wrong here

My blog is blank. I don't know what happened. I'm gonna see if this posts.

It's a boy

I had my dates wrong, the ultrasound was yesterday. My little nephew was not shy in showing us that he is a boy. I have pics, I'll try to post one or I might wait to see if we can get better pics. She is high risk, because of her age, and she'll get two more ultrasounds.

I am lucky to still have my tongue because I had to bite it ALOT yesterday. From my brother cussing openly in an office full of variously aged people to his girlfriend confessing she is "so sick of this baby" and her daughter stomping out of the ultrasound mad because it's a boy. I kept quiet and smiled. I want to be the one that this baby comes to whenever he needs me.

Please keep my brother, his girlfriend and my little nephew in your prayers. Anyone that knows my family knows that he will need the grace of God to come out of that situation normal. :-)

Grace

"amazing grace philosophy - life is a classroom. we are both student and teacher. each day is a test. and each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject: grace. grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence, and the list goes on. it's something money can't buy and credentials rarely produce. being the smartest, the prettiest, the most talented, the richest, or even the poorest, can't help. being a humble person can and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude."

This is the quote on my bottle of amazing grace body wash. I was soaking in the tub last night and for what ever reason read that quote. I have been thinking about it all day. I hope to live my life with grace. I want to be more considerate to all people and their situations. I am way too quick to judge, especially at Wal-Mart at the first of the month. I find myself questioning doing nice things for people because they may not appreciate it or they would not do it in return. Why? I don't know. Maybe I am getting caught up in this cynical world. I don't want to be that way and I don't want to leave that impression of myself with people.

God - please give me the ability to live a "graceful" life. To be more accepting of people, that they are who they are and I cannot change that.

My brother's girlfriend is pregnant. I have a lot of issues with my brother. The girlfriends he's chosen are not ladies that I would hang out with. Growing up I always wanted a sister and hoped that my brother would marry my future best friend, no such luck. Anyway, I am getting off topic. Next week Dora, my brother's gf, is having an ultrasound and I asked if I could go. My kids are 13 and 10. It's been a while. They said that was fine but I am cautious. I could get so involved in this baby's life and I want to. I'm just not sure that I can keep my mouth shut or hide my feelings well enough to not tick anyone off. This refers to the above of me accepting people as they are. I just choose to lead a different life. But I know that I would be miserable if I wasn't the best Aunt Kari I could be. It will be my first niece or nephew that I am here for. (My brother has another child in Kansas.) So please, pray for me for next week. Her ultrasound is on Thursday. I'll let you know what we find out.

High School, already?

Tonight is 8th grade parent night at the high school. So basically, Freshman orientation. Wasn't Tyler just learning to walk, tie his shoes, ride a bike, write his name, etc.? Seriously people, I'm not old enough to have a kid in high school. Right?

I am trying so hard to encourage my children to move forward in life with confidence. But I really wish they were still little and needed me a little more. Last night Tyler told me he needed to talk to me. (heart pounding, eek!) So, in my cheeriest, heartfelt mom voice I asked what he wanted to talk about. A girl. (double eek!) He told me that he liked her and she likes him and is it okay if he goes out with her. (Collective "oh how sweet") Yep, my 13 almost 14 year old son asked me if he could go out with a girl. He still appreciates my opinion. Thank goodness.

On another note, Ashley admitted I might know a little more than her when she insisted on going to Tyler's soccer game last night instead of going to bed as I suggested. About 5 minutes after the game started she told me she feels bad and wished she was home in bed. Mom's know best, is what she said. Cute. She's been sick for a few days. Still feeling crummy today.

I guess they do still need me. I just have to wait for them to come to me.

Kitty Smells

Okay not THOSE smells. I love the way our kitty smells at the end of the day when he's tired and ready to cuddle. He smells like everyone that has held him that day. I love it!