Week In Review #6

Wait...didn't I just do this?!

The days are flying by quickly and somehow I lost last week. I can't believe I didn't blog or really even enter bloggy land.

Where was I?

Monday- I woke up grumpy, irritable, and feeling like I needed to escape. I am not sure where I wanted to go, but the last thing I wanted to do was get out of bed, make breakfast, and get my children up and dressed. I wanted to...I don't know...go to Hawaii or something.

That was not an option.

I got up, went running, woke my equally reluctant family up, we all ate and dressed and eventually Clay and Laura Grace went out the door. It then hit me that Bible Study was that morning and I should go. It wasn't Hawaii but possibly would cause a much needed escape. Or at least an attitude adjustment. I went and it was wonderful. Will did not enjoy the nursery nearly as much and I had to leave several times because we could hear him screaming down the hall. I finally brought him into the room with me and he squealed and hammed it up during prayer.

When we got home I made lunch, put the boys down for a nap, did laundry and conquered my dishes. The boys woke up soon after and while they played I cleaned bedrooms. Before I was ready we had to leave to pick up Laura Grace from school. We picked her up, drove her to dance, and then came home. I finished making beds and picking up around the house. I had a Junior Auxillary Meeting that night and Laura Grace had an Upwards Rally, so I ironed my clothes and her uniform. My mother in law called and volunteered to pick up Laura Grace since she was coming over to babysit Will and Layton. They came home just in time for me to serve them soup and sandwiches. I left and went to my meeting. When I came home, two hours later, I was greeted by a hysterical Will. He was ready to nurse. Again. I fed Will while visiting with my mother in law. Soon after Clay and Laura Grace got home. My mother in law left and we put the kids in the bath tub and then in bed. I worked on the next week's Girl Scout lesson and watched the Olympics with Clay.

Tuesday- Mother's Morning Out day. I got up early,did Pilates, got everyone dressed and ready, and went to work. I worked until 2, picked up Laura Grace from school, and went home. I worked on laundry, started dinner, and then Clay got home. It was a crazy afternoon. The kids ran around in circles and I considered taking Prozac-only halfway kidding there. It was just one of those days. We ate dinner (I honestly don't remember what it was) and then I went to the grocery store, the tanning bed, and various other places. I got home and watched the Olympics until bed.

Wednesday- I woke up, saw that it was in the twenties, and went back to bed instead of running. Clay woke me up in time for me to get Laura Grace ready for school. They left and I cleaned house until 9. Grandmother came over to babysit Layton and Will and I went to Tupelo so we could shop for Layton's upcoming birthday party, pick up Will's portrait proofs, and find Layton something to wear to my brother in law's wedding. I shopped all day and got home just in time to pick up Laura Grace from school. We came home and Grandmother played with the children while I cleaned house. We ate potroast and yeast rolls for dinner and then Clay and the older kids went to church. I made lunches for the next day, gave Will a bath, and then folded laundry while watching ice skating. When Clay and the kids got home we put them to bed and I fell asleep soon after.

Thursday- It was a bad, bad day. I went to work and it was a bad day for everyone there. I got home and the bad day continued with cranky children, a fussy baby, and overall chaos. Thankfully, Clay came home a little early and rescued me. Clay, Laura Grace, and Layton went to a birthday party while I put Will to bed and made a BBQ chicken pizza for me and Clay. When Clay and the kids came home we put them to bed and then ate dinner while watching the Olympics.

Friday- After everyone went to school and work, Grandmother came over to babysit Layton again. Will and I went to Tupelo to pick up my bridesmaid dress. It was still too big for me after alterations but it will stay up and at this point, that is all that matters! I ran more birthday errands in Tupelo and came home around lunchtime. Grandmother left and I put the boys down for a nap. I ended up crashing on the couch myself. My sweet friend, Rebecca, and her boys came over that afternoon so she picked up Laura Grace from school when she picked up her son. We had just sat down with coffee and cookies when her oldest began throwing up everywhere. It was bad. Poor Rebecca! I helped her clean everything up and they left. Laura Grace and Layton played outside until dark, I gave them a bath, fed them sandwiches and cereal for dinner, and then put them both in bed early. Clay was working late and I took full advantage of it getting dark before 7! He got home around 7 and I ran to the tanning bed and went running.

Saturday- Will got everyone up early. He wanted to play and was so loud that the older kids woke up. We ate breakfast and then everyone got dressed-Layton, Clay and Will went to a birthday party and Laura Grace and I went to my hair appointment. After my cut and color, we walked around all of the little boutique's downtown. She had so much fun looking at all of the clothes and jewelry! The boys met us for lunch at Mcdonalds and then we all went home. I cleaned house and ran errands while Clay and the kids played outside. Dinner for the kids was a sandwich and they went to bed around 7. Clay and I cooked dinner together and spent the rest of the evening talking and watching television. It was a nice, relaxing day!

Five Months Old

I am five months old!!

This past month has been big for me. I am trying to sit up by myself, I can roll in both directions, and my personality has exploded. I love to squeal, say "dadadadada", and eat everything. And I do mean everything. I roll all over the floor and attempt to army crawl-Mommy is dreading this.

I love my saucer but will only stay in it for five to ten minutes before I need a change of scenery. I will sit in my swing or bouncy seat for even longer-but I do require someone talking to me. I need attention.

I follow my big brother and sister around with my eyes and grin at them whenever they look at me. I love those guys. Thankfully, they love me just as much and are always hugging me, kissing me, and reading me books. Layton uses his Tag pen to "read" to me.

Mommy is trying to feed me baby food and rice cereal. Well, actually, she gave up on the rice cereal. I hate that stuff. I also hate baby food. Sweet potatoes and sweet peas are okay, but after two or three bites I spit the rest out. Mommy really likes it when I spray her with it.

Did I mention I like to blow raspberries? Midnight is my favorite time to do this. I wake up and talk to myself and blow raspberries. I go back to sleep on my own because I am a good boy.

Typical schedule:

6 a.m.-Wakes up for the day. I nurse and play on the floor while Mommy and Daddy eat breakfast and drink coffee.

8 a.m. - Naptime. When I start sucking my fist and whining, Mommy knows that I am tired. She lays me on my tummy and I am asleep almost right away!

9 am.- I nurse again. I really like to do that. Then I play.

10 a.m.- Another nap.

11 a.m.- Once again, I eat. Did I mention I enjoy it?

1:00 p.m.- Another nap. This one usually lasts about an hour and a half if I am at home. If I am at Mother's Morning Out it is only an hour at the most. I don't like napping there.

2:00/3:00- I eat and then we pick up my big sister from school. The carseat is no longer a prison. I talk to my brother and blow raspberries at my feet. Mommy is very proud of me.

4:00- I nap again.

5:00/5:30- I wake up just in time for my family to eat dinner. Mommy nurses me and then I talk to my family from my bouncy seat.

6:00/7:00- bathtime, play time with Daddy, and wind down time. Mommy usually is gone running errands or taking care of the other children. Daddy spends time with me and I really like that.

7:30ish- I nurse and go to bed.

11ish-I wake up, eat, and go right back to bed.

2 a.m-Like clockwork I am up. I eat and go back to sleep.

4 a.m.- I eat again.

All of this nursing has made me rather plump. I am 26 inches and 18 pounds! I am wearing 6-9 month clothes and a size 3 diaper.

Do you like my beautiful eyelashes? Mommy is jealous.

I have learned to lift my arms up when I want to be picked up.

I also grin and laugh a bunch!

Week In Review #5

Monday- Will woke up at 3 a.m. to eat. I sleepily asked Clay to get him out of his crib so I could feed him in bed. Clay said, "I think I have a fever. I think I may be..." and then he ran to the bathroom. He was violently sick for several, several hours. I put Will back to bed and began washing laundry and disinfecting everything. And I do mean everything. Around five a.m., Laura Grace came into the living room and said, "Mommy...I feel funny." I got her to the bathroom just in time. Clay was supposed to be going out of town that afternoon for several days, but we quickly realized that he would not be able to leave. I got my husband and daughter bathed, comfortable as possible, and then continued to clean.



Sickness makes me somewhat of a germaphobic maniac.



Layton and Will got up around 6 a.m. and cheerfully watched cartoons together. I eyed them like a hawk, but there were no signs of illness. Layton pointed out that it had snowed during the night. We had about 2 inches covering the ground. I had been to busy cleaning to notice it! The day continued with Laura Grace and Clay getting sick and calling for me. It was lovely.



Tuesday- 3 a.m. comes and once again, I am up with Will. He had been coughing all night and was not able to sleep well. We were rocking back and forth near the humidifier when I heard it.



A child throwing up.



I wanted to hide under my covers.



I put Will back in his crib and ran into Layton's bedroom. I just knew it was him. It was. He had gotten sick in his sleep. I will go no further except that I nearly burned everything. It seemed pointless to save it. I gave him a shower, washed all the linens, scrubbed down his room, disinfected his toys, and put him back to bed.



By this time it was 6 a.m. I made breakfast for myself and fed Will. Laura Grace came bouncing out of her room asking for breakfast as well. She ate a granola bar and a banana with no problem so I decided she was well enough for school. I got her dressed, Will dressed, and myself dressed for work. Clay got up and said that he felt well enough to care for Layton. I kissed them goodbye and rushed out the door. I dropped Laura Grace off at school and went to Mother's Morning Out. I worked until 2, picked up Laura Grace from school, and then went home. I got home to discover that Layton was much better and Clay had cleaned the kitchen after breakfast and finished the laundry. I love that man. I fed everyone soup and crackers for dinner, helped Laura Grace with her homework and then went to Tupelo. My friend, Rebecca, and I are doing the Grocery Game together and needed to shop at Kroger. We decided to ride together, so I picked her up and we drove to Tupelo. I returned some things at Old Navy, browsed through T.J. Maxx and bought new pillows (Layton had ruined several), and then we went to Kroger. We shopped and then drove back home. I was exhausted but loved spending time with her.

When I got home, Clay unloaded the groceries while I changed into pajamas and relaxed. I went to bed soon after!



Wednesday- I woke up during the night feeling horrible. I didn't have the stomach bug, but I could tell that I was getting a cold. By the time morning came I was sick with fever and cold symptoms. I sipped on hot tea while my family got dressed for work and school. Thankfully, Will slept in a little that morning so I was able to drink tea and slowly wake up. Clay took Laura Grace to school on his way to work so I would not have to leave the house. Layton and I spent the morning cleaning house, organizing my kitchen cabinets (because we have very little cabinet space), and reading books. My friend, Rebecca, picked up Laura Grace from school for me and dropped her off around 3. We worked on homework and they watched a movie until time for dinner. I cooked baked chicken, cheesy broccoli and roasted potatoes. We ate, Clay came home, and then he went to church. I cleaned up the kitchen, gave Will a bath, put him to bed, put the rest of my children in bed and then enjoyed some tea while watching the Olympics. Clay came home after church and we watched the Olympics until I fell asleep myself.



Thursday- I woke up early, went running, came home, got up the rest of the family, we all got dressed and went to work and school. I held and fed babies until 2, picked up Laura Grace from school, went home and cleaned house. Laura Grace and I went over her homework and then read some of Secret Garden together. When Clay got home we ate Beef Stroganoff and salad, and then I cleaned the kitchen. I drove Laura Grace to cheer practice, went to the tanning bed, ran errands, went walking with a friend, and then picked up Laura Grace and came home. I put her to bed and watched the Olympics with Clay.

Friday- I woke up, went running and then I cleaned. Cleaning is pretty much the theme of Friday. My sister, Amy, was coming to visit and I cleaned like an insane woman. Why I am worried about my sister finding a dust bunny, I have no idea. Will and Layton had a great time playing on the floor most of the morning. Honestly, it was wonderful. I didn't have a sick child or a fussy baby! Clay came home early and I went running again and then to the tanning bed before Amy and her family arrived. They got to my house around 8 that night. My kids were so excited. They ran circles around the house with their cousins, Coen and Adeline. We finally got them in bed around 10, but they did not actually fall asleep until after 11!

Saturday- I woke up to giggling. Giggling and running feet and whispering. At 5 a.m. I stumbled into the living room, herded all of the over excited children back into Layton's room, and told them to play quietly while the adults rested. I went back to my bedroom to see Will looking around in his crib. Grinning. I gave up at that point and just made coffee. My sister got up shortly after and we made breakfast for everyone. After breakfast, Amy and I decided to go walking. We walked for 3 miles-just talking and enjoying each other's company. It was so nice to spend that time together. When we got home we settled down the chaos, put the kids in the backyard and then, at the suggestion of my wonderful husband, went shopping at some of the stores downtown. Around lunch, we met up with our families and ate. Laura Grace had her last Upward's game so we all loaded up and went to it. We watched Laura Grace cheer and the boys run in circles. Then, we went to Tupelo so the kids could play in Barnes and Noble and ride the mall carousel. While the kids played, Amy and I went shopping. Again. I love my husband. After shopping, the kids were all whining for food so we left the mall and went to this great catfish resteraunt. We pigged out, went home, and put our exhausted children to bed. We spent the rest of the evening watching a movie and the Olympics.

Sunday- Everyone slept in until almost 8 that morning. Amy and I went walking and then picked up doughnuts for breakfast because Coen kept insisting that his daddy was going to buy us all doughnuts! The kids ate and then went outside to play because it was GORGEOUS. Amy helped me get Taco Soup simmering on the stove and then we cleaned house while Clay went to church and Justin watched the Olympics. My inlaws came over for lunch and we spent the afternoon visiting with family. Everyone-including Amy and Justin-left that afternoon. I was so sad! I spent the rest of the day running errands, cleaning house, and getting ready for the next week!

YAY!

My sister, Amy, and her family are coming to stay the weekend! I am so excited! Layton says he is even more excited because his cousin is coming to spend the night in his room. Laura Grace is concerned that her uncle Justin will not want to spend the night on her pink sheets!

I just realized how much Amy and I look alike... I am in the yellow and she is in the black. See her scarf? Yeah, she is stylish like that. I am in the fleece vest that everyone had four years ago. Layton and Coen (in the button down shirt) could be twins... And the cute little boy with the laser pistol? That is Trey, my other nephew. He was going with a Charlie's Angels theme.

Featuring...

This week I am featuring Sarah Denley from In The Warm Hold Of Your Loving Mind. I have never met her personally...we don't think. We went to college around the same time and I think we may have had classes at the same time. I feel like I know her personally from reading her blog! She is a sweet mother, wife, and friend-I really enjoy her blog so go check her out!

1) When did you start blogging? What inspired you?

I started my blog in July of 2008. A couple of my friends had blogs and it was intriguing to me. Looking back at those first few months, I posted so infrequently and about such random things! It was such a "catch all" place and it took me awhile to find my niche. Anyway, when I got pregnant, it turned into a lot more and after Ann Peyton was born I grew to love it even more than that. The more open and vulnerable I allowed myself to be, the more I enjoyed it. I never dreamed it would be so important to me.

2) What is the purpose of your blog? What do you want people to come away with after reading it?

I want people to know that I love the Lord and that I am not afraid to be real. There are some things that I won't post about, but those things are few and far between. I want my blog to be a very honest picture of our family's life. I also want it to be a place for Ann Peyton to read about her childhood (and my Mommyhood) if she so desires one day. My mom has a really hard time remembering our early years and I want to capture the days, months and years of our life so that will never be a problem I have! I also write a lot of posts like a diary; my blog is just a great way to process and articulate the things I am feeling. I have found it to be a great catharsis. And hearing from others moms is always an encouragement! 3) Tell us, in a nutshell, about yourself. I am a wife, a mom, a substitute teacher, a pretty lousy domestic engineer, a part time childcare worker, a really lousy cook, an amateur writer, an enthusiastic reader, a caffineaholic, and an ebay addict. Most importantly, I am saved by God's grace. I just recently wrote a post about how I want that to be the thing I find my identity in.

4) What are your favorite blogs?

There are too many to name. As far as the "big" Mommy bloggers, I love Kelly's Korner and The Spohrs Are Multiplying, but Bring the Rain is probably my favorite. I just about die laughing every time I read Big Mama or Boo Mama. Stuff Christians Like and Graph Jams are hysterical, too. Two new favorites that I have fallen in love with are The Velveteen Mind and BubandPie. Finding these was like finding a great new friend and a great new book all at the same time (really exciting!). As far as baby related stuff, Upscale Baby is a great place to find adorable stuff and I love Little Miss Heirlooms because I adore vintage things. Also, Babble is a good place for parenting articles. Momversation is another favorite. Cardigan Empire is my favorite "fashion blog" and Organizing Junkie and Home Sanctuary are great "homemaking blogs". I like A Feathered Nest and Joys of Home for create decorating/DIY project ideas. And as far as personal family blogs, there are SO many I love and I know I'd leave someone out, but they are all on my sidebar.

5) What is your favorite post that you have written? What was the hardest?

It's really hard to narrow down a favorite. I always love making lists and I love surveys and memes, so those are really fun posts! I also like blogging about Ann Peyton's wardrobe and doing my Won't You Read to Me Wednesday posts. There are some specific posts that I really like, too, though. I love finding humor in goofy things and I love sharing my heart on issues that I am passionate about. I really enjoyed creating a timeline of my life because it was so fun to remember back and try to sum up each year in a few sentences. The letters I write to Ann Peyton will always be some of the most important things I've written and the one I wrote after her baptism is especially meaningful.The hardest post I've ever written was the post where I wrote for the first time about how much we did not want a baby when we found out I was pregnant with Ann Peyton. I included it in a survey and didn't go into a whole lot of detail (I have since expanded on it), but it was so frightening to put that out there. I was really scared of the judgment I thought people would feel and I didn't want anyone to think I didn't love my daughter. But it is such a HUGE part of my testimony that I had to.

Watercolor Ponies

My refrigerator. It isn't pretty but I am so proud of it!

Laura Grace drew this when Will came home from the hospital. It is a picture of him in the hospital with all of the family around. It says, "What is in my moms tomy Will is is my moms tomy."

These pictures are of Layton when he was nine months old.

Laura Grace wrote me this note a few weeks ago.

Layton gave me this card last year-it is one of my favorite pictures of him.

Laura Grace drew this for school and it was chosen for display at the library.
Layton very carefully covered this S with sprinkles-and was very proud of it.
Some of my favorite pictures from last fall and winter.
Layton made this for me for Valentines Day this year.

What is on your refrigerator?

My parents used to listen to the song, Watercolor Ponies, by Wayne Watson. I used to think it unbearably cheesy. Now, as a parent, it comes to mind everytime I look at my refrigerator.


There are watercolor ponies
On my refrigerater door
And the shape of something
I don't really recognize
Drawn by careful little fingers
And put proudly on display
A reminder to us all
Of how time flies

Seems an endless mound of laundry
And a stairway laced with toys

Gives a blow by blow

Reminder of the war

That we fight for their well-being

For their greater understanding

To impart a holy reverance

For the Lord

But, baby, what will we do

When it comes back to me an you?

They look a little less

Like little boys every day

Oh, the pleasure of watching

The children growing

Is mixed with a bitter cup

Of knowing the watercolour ponies

Will one day ride away

And the vision can get so narrow

As you view through your tiny world

And little victories can go by

With no applause

But in the greater evaluation

As they fly from your nest of love

May they mount up with wings

As eagles for His cause

Lazy Afternoon

Laura Grace and Layton are still feeling weak from having the stomach bug earlier this week. When Laura Grace got home from school she quickly finished her homework, put on her favorite dress up outfit, and grabbed some books. I popped popcorn for a snack and they quickly found a comfortable spot to settle in.

Won't You Read to Me?

The book I am choosing this week is...

Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel is one of my favorite books for little boys. Laura Grace loves it as well, but there is just something about construction vehicles and dirt that grabs little boy hearts. Layton loves it when I read and exaggerate the sound effects! The story is timeless and focuses on friendship and loyalty, as well as hardwork and determination.

On another note, I am cleaning out bookshelves to catalog what books we own-my children have so many that I lose track of them. I want to have a organized list for when we start homeschooling this summer-so many of the classic children's books go along with the KONOS curriculum I will be using. In the meantime, I have a post in the works about them!

Pictures From The Past

Layton-he was around 8 months and loved those fruit puffs!
Me and Layton on his first birthday

It is amazing how much Will looks like Layton! He was about 8 months old in this picture

Laura Grace has always been very stylish! She is 3 in this picture and Layton is almost 1.

My sweet children

I was going through old pictures because I am making photobooks of each child. I found these pictures from several years ago and thought they were worth sharing.

Homeschooling Curriculum

As I mentioned in a previous post, last week I sat down with Roan from Joyful Johnsons and talked homeschooling. She has five children and has homeschooled them for over ten years. She was kind enough to show me her curriculum that she has used and is using, as well as let me bounce ideas off of her. Go check out her blog-her family is precious. I was so impressed with her children's manners and sweet spirits!

Anyway, her advice helped tremendously. I have been pouring through curriculum catalogs and websites for several months now. It is overwhelming how much information is out there! My biggest challenge was deciding on what method of homeschooling/curriculum would be the best fit for my children and my teaching style. I loved the idea of unit studies because they are hands on and wonderful for families with multiple children in different ages. However, they are also intimidating and overwhelming because there is so MUCH to them. Roan sat down with me and showed me how she adjusted the lessons to fit her needs and how NOT to get overwhelmed.

I was so excited! I really think it was an answer to prayer because I knew that unit studies were the best plan for me but I worried about burn out. I tend to throw myself into things full force and then go so hard and fast that I get exhausted and fed up with it all. When you look at unit studies there are so many activities and options that if you try and do them all even the most experienced homeschooler would be exhausted! The key is to pick and choose. Decide what will most benefit and engage your children. Then, have fun with it! Laura Grace is such a hands on, creative learner that I think she will enjoy many of the projects. The beauty of unit studies is that Layton can do them right along with us even though he is a few years younger.

This is my plan so far...

Beginning in June:

Math- Horizons Math 1st grade, 2nd semester book. There are some concepts in the 2nd grade math that Laura Grace has not covered in school. I want to keep her math skills sharp over the summer, as well as catch up on what she needs to know for the fall.

Read Little House books and do unit studies based on these books. We will study the history of that time period, draw and illustrate pictures, make food (we have a Little House cookbook), and dress up like the characters. At the end of the summer we had already planned to visit a Pioneer Museum so it will tie in nicely with what we have learned.

Review first grade spelling words. I will add to them as the summer progresses.

Bible- I am going to work through a children's devotional book I found at Lifeway.


Fall (2nd grade):

Math- Horizons Math

Bible, Science, Social Studies, History, and Literature- KONOS. I am going to begin with the Obediance study. Each Konos book/unit study focuses on a character trait. It then ties in Bible, Science, History, Cultures, ect...

Grammar- Easy Grammar System Nearly every homeschooling mom I have talked to praises this system. It breaks grammar up into small lessons that any child can sit still for!

Handwriting- I am going to use Easywrite.com and create my own. I will have Laura Grace write about what she is reading, copy passages or poetry, or simply work on spelling words.

For Preschool:

Layton will be four next month so I am going to begin preschool with him. I am going to tie in Kindergarten curriculum as well because he already knows all of his letters, the sounds they make, numbers, shapes, ect... He is actually beginning to learn how to read on his own. I have realized that I need to take advantage of this passion and begin teaching him more diligently.

He will do the KONOS activities with Laura Grace and I will use letteroftheweek.com on a daily basis. I am also using Get Ready For The Code with him. Finally, we will read books-lots and lots of books!

I need some matches.

Layton now has the stomach bug.

This is my second night without sleep and I am getting the urge to just burn everything and start over.

Not really. Ya'll know what I mean.

I AM SO READY FOR SPRING!!!

Week In Review #4

I honestly can't remember what we did last week. Or the week before. Isn't that sad?!

Okay, thinking...

Monday- We woke up to snow and sleet so the schools were closed. I was a little annoyed at myself for not watching the news before I forced Laura Grace to wake up! She very rarely sleeps in, but she was that morning. The roads in Memphis were icy so Clay also stayed home. He watched the kids while I ran to the tanning bed and the grocery store. When I got home I cleaned house and made chicken salad for lunch. Clay drove Laura Grace to dance for me so I could finish up laundry. I read books to Layton and Will while Laura Grace was at dance. When she got home I cooked Chicken Spaghetti for dinner. We ate, the kids had a bath, and we put them to bed VERY early. I think it was 6:30... I watched Bachelor and Castle with Clay and then went to bed.

Tuesday- Mothers Morning Out days are hard for me. I got up at 5:30, ate breakfast, watched some Fox news, took a shower and then got Laura Grace and Layton up. They ate bowls of cereal (Layton loves chocolate mini wheats and Laura Grace loves frosted mini wheats) while I did my hair and makeup. Meanwhile, Clay fed Will cereal (he only eats three bites before spitting it all out) and dressed him for me. I realized that I had forgotten to make lunches the night before so I made lunches for all five of us. I then checked over Laura Grace's bag, only to discover that she was supposed to read a passage from her language arts book over the weekend. I put the kids in the car, gave her the book, and she read to me on the way to school. I dropped her off, drove through Mcdonalds for another coffee because I needed more, and then went to Mother's Morning Out. I worked in the baby room until 2. Many of the babies are still sick from the RSV breakout so we only had a few babies. Layton, Will, and I left work, picked up Laura Grace from school, and then met Clay at home. He took over with the kids while I ran to Tupelo to meet with Roan. She sat down with me and let me pick her brain about homeschooling and curriculum. I was so excited about meeting her! I got a phonecall I discovered that Laura Grace had a red light for talking too much in class. I disciplined her, helped her with homework, and went over her sight words. We had chicken stir fry for dinner thanks to my sweet husband! After dinner I ran to the tanning bed while Clay gave the kids their bath. I got home, helped tuck everyone in bed, and then went to a meeting. After my meeting I worked on several projects and Sudoku puzzles until I fell asleep.

Wednesday- Wednesday morning, Will had an appointment to have his portraits made. I was so excited! I woke up early, got dressed, dressed and fed the kids, made Clay's lunch and saw them out the door. Clay drove Laura Grace to school so I could get some housework done before I drove to Tupelo. Grandmother came over around 9 to babysit Layton because I knew it would be much easier to only take Will. I drove to Tupelo and spent two hours trying to keep Will still enough so that they could take a picture! He kept trying to sit up or he would roll over. It was so cute and we ended up getting some beautiful pictures of him and his personality. After the picture appointment, I ran some errands in Tupelo. I had to buy ink at a specialty toner store, return some clothes to Old Navy, and pick up my contacts. Will did really well and only fussed a little in Old Navy. I got home around 1, ate lunch, folded laundry while I visited with Grandmother, and then left to pick up Laura Grace from school. When we got home I helped her with homework, fed the kids leftover Chicken Spaghetti, and when Clay got home they went to church. I cleaned the kitchen, gave Will a bath, put Will to bed, wrote names on Layton's valentines, stuffed treat sacks with candy, and then fell asleep while watching HGTV. I woke up long enough to plan my menu for next week and make a grocery list.

Thursday- Mother's Morning Out again. Layton had to take cupcakes to his class party so I had to juggle 24 cupcakes, a baby, my lunch, Layton's backpack, Layton's coat, my purse, Will's diaper bag, and my coat. It was interesting. We spent the day eating junk food in the baby room. The babies were all too little to have a party but the grownups had one! I picked up Layton who was bouncing off the walls from his sugar high and picked up Laura Grace from school. She had gotten a red light again and it was not pretty. We went home, did homework, and ate pizza for dinner. I took Laura Grace to cheer practice, ran some errands, and got home after the kids were in bed. Laura Grace got a ride home from a friend so I could have time to get my errands done. I was so thankful! Clay had cleaned up the kitchen so I was able to sit and relax! I worked on my grocerygame.com list, my next Girl Scout meeting, and looked through some homeschool curriculum.

Friday- It was Laura Grace's turn for a Valentine's party. I drove her to school, cleaned house, did laundry, and then got dressed. Grandmother came over to babysit while I ran to her class party. I brought the cupcakes and the class was thrilled to say the least. We had a wild party and then, for some insane reason, I invited two of Laura Grace's best friends over (Emma and Maggie). Actually, it wasn't too insane-they are precious girls and had a blast running circles around my house. Screaming. At the top of their lungs. Somehow, Will napped through most of this. When Clay got home, I ran one of the girls home and went to the movie store to rent Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. The teenage/college aged boy behind the counter tried to convince me to buy/rent an array of things and I barely left in time to still pick up a warm sausage and olive pizza from Dominoes. This pizza is not my favorite combination, but for some unfathomable reason my children love it. Macaroni and cheese they will not eat, but they will eat black olives and sausage. We watched the movie, pigged out on pizza, and had a great family night. After the kids went to bed, Clay and I watched the Olympic opening ceremony. At some point I fell asleep and Clay helped me stumble to bed. This happens often.

Saturday- I was coming down with a cold and Will is not sleeping well at night-because of this Clay let me sleep in :) He made pancakes and coffee before he woke me up. My husband amazes me with his thoughtfulness. After breakfast, Laura Grace and I got dressed. We were going with my mother in law to Memphis for the day so we could get some shopping accomplished. Will came along as well because I can't leave him for more than two hours. He still nurses frequently and baby food is not his favorite. Anyway, we did the majority of our shopping at Target. I love that store. I can't say it enough. I am the proud owner of four new pairs of shoes (that post is coming) and a precious outfit. Laura Grace got three pairs of shoes, Layton got one, and Will has swimming trunks and a rashguard for the beach. We got home from Memphis around 3. I realized then that I needed to go to Old Navy and exchange something. Clay and I loaded the kids up and drove to Tupelo. It was a huge mistake. Will was tired of riding in the car and screamed the entire 30 minute drive. He then screamed through the unbelievable Valentine's traffic and screamed some more the way home. I was still feeling sick when we got home so after we all ate leftovers the kids went to bed and I followed!

Sunday-Will woke up congested and fussy. I kept him home and Clay took other kids to church. I cleaned house, clipped coupons, and listened to Hillsongs praise music. Will loved the song, "Mighty to Save". We danced around the house while I prayed and sang along-it was one of those moments that I could have stayed in forever. Precious. After church, Clay picked me and Will up. My inlaws had us over for lunch and a movie. While the kids watched the movie I ran to Tupelo so I could get my grocery shopping finished. Clay was leaving to go out of town the next day and I wanted to make sure I was not stuck with three children in the grocery store! I got home just in time for Clay to take the children back to church. Will went to bed as soon as he got home because he was still fussy. I put away the groceries and made myself some hot tea. I filled out Layton's birthday party invitations and planned some of his party details while watching HGTV. When Clay got home we put the kids in bed and both fell asleep early. I was awakened in the middle of the night with Clay and Laura Grace both throwing up. That was the start of next week!

There Are No Words

Actually, I do have words-ya'll just don't want to hear them.

Clay and Laura Grace have a stomach virus or the flu. Layton is saying he feels funny and I am not feeling great myself. However, Will is going strong and wanting to eat every hour or so. We are having a great time at my house.

Valentine's Weekend

This year, Valentine's Day has stretched from Thursday to Sunday. It started with the parties at Mother's Morning Out. I work in the baby room so me and the girls I work with tortured the babies by ordering pizza for lunch. Layton's class went all out-they exchanged Valentine cards, had a pizza party, and ate cupcakes the size of their heads. I was the parent that brought those cupcakes and snagged a few for my class. We did let some of the older babies eat a little of the icing because they were about to riot. By the end of the day, Layton had a paper grocery sack literally full of candy. A grocery sack. When we got home, Layton and Laura Grace disappeared into his room. I was naive enough to think that they were playing quietly. I really do not know why I was shocked to discover them sitting on his floor, surrounded by dozens of candy wrappers.

Bouncing off the walls does not even begin to describe it.

Friday, Laura Grace had her class party. Being the dutiful homeroom mom, I brought cupcakes and came to referee the class. I walked in to the classroom and was immediately confronted by screaming pandemonium. After a rather noisy hour, I left and brought Laura Grace and two of her friends home with me. I thought it would be nice for her to enjoy a playdate but did not think about the fact they had just consumed massive amounts of sugar. For three hours they ran around my house, giggling and screaming. I just let them run and scream. I figured there was no point even trying to make them calm down. Eventually, the sugar high came crashing down and they watched a movie in near silence.

Around dinner time the girls went home and I ran some errands. We decided to have a low key Valentine's this year because our budget was tight this month. It ended up being the best thing we could have done. I picked up a sausage and black olive pizza (my kid's favorite-I pick off the olives), a 2 liter Diet Coke (Laura Grace insists on Diet...hilarious because she gets that from me), and ice cream. You would have thought I brought home a pony. The kids were SO excited. Clay suggested we rent a movie on paper view and let them eat around the coffee table. Again, you would have thought there was a pony or live circus in our backyard. Layton and Laura Grace had the best time eating and watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Will hung out in my lap until he fell asleep. It was all a little much for him. After the kids went to bed, Clay and I watched the Olympic's opening ceremony. We also consumed massive amounts of ice cream.

Saturday morning, Laura Grace, Will, my mother in law, and I went to Memphis and shopped. I got several new pairs of shoes, we picked up Laura Grace's flower girl dress and shoes, and found Will a swim suit for the beach. Laura Grace requested lunch at Wendy's and then we came home. Will did really well for being in his car seat most of the day!

That evening we ran errands in Tupelo, came home and fed the kid's leftovers. When they were in bed, Clay and I ate dinner together, watched a movie, and then talked until I fell asleep. It was not a night out for us, but I honestly prefer hanging out at home! I have such a sweet husband and I love that we are best friends.

This morning, Clay let me sleep in and got up with the kids. I opened my eyes to see a pink card laying on my nightstand. Clay had one on his as well. Laura Grace made us cards!

Are they not adorable? I was so impressed that she kept them a secret!

Clay made pancakes for breakfast and then took the older kids to church. Will woke up congested and fussy so we are staying in this morning. At lunch time we are eating at my inlaws and watching Up with the children.

I hope everyone else enjoyed their family this weekend. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Layton

Seemingly overnight, Layton has lost the soft roundness and dimpled hands of toddler hood. When I hug him, he is all angles and legs. It is astonishing how a baby transforms so quickly into a child that has completely stolen your heart. Layton is, and always will be, a joy. He is bubbly, funny, sweet, and in my unabashed mother's opinion, adorable.

Because he is so easy going, I realize that he does not get the spotlight often. I was determined not to let him become the stereotypical "middle child" but I do realize that in the antics of his big sister and the needs of his baby brother, he is in the middle. So, today, I wanted to give him the spotlight for a little while.

What I am loving about him right now...

-he is always hugging and kissing us. Whenever Will is playing on the floor or in his bouncy seat, Layton will periodically stop what he is doing, kiss Will, and then go about his business. It is precious to see that natural, uninhibited affection.

-He is always asking, "will you join me"? or "will you cuddle with me?"

-Layton loves to carry around his Tag pen as he plays. His favorite story is The Little Engine That Could.

- His favorite phrases are, "Wow! That's Cool!" and "That is so sweet and nice of you!".

-He sleeps with his Lightening Mcqueen, Mator, Chuck, Filmore, and Ramone cars from the CARS movie. He carries them in his pockets during the day.

- When Will went for his four month shots, Layton told the nurse that she could NOT do that to his brother. He said that Will was too little and sweet.

-He loves to pray. At bedtime, nap time, and meal time he requests to pray. He bows his head and whispers, "Dear Jesus, thank you for this wonderful day. Thank you for my family and friends. Thank you for my food/bed. I love you. Amen."

-Layton has become a bit of a picky eater. When he does not like to eat something he says, "It is too cherry!". He hates anything fruit flavored, tomato sauce, and any kind of pasta.

-On the other hand, he loves carrots, apples, oranges, and shredded wheat cereal. He gets quite a bit of fiber throughout the day!

-He wears a cowboy hat around and says he is Mickey the Three Musketeer.

-He adores his big sister and baby brother. He tells them throughout the day how much he loves them.

-Out of the blue, several times a day, he will hug me or Clay and say, "I love you."

He melts my heart.

Laura Grace and Clay

Clay and Laura Grace went to a Daddy, Daughter Ball last weekend. They had a great time eating a special dinner (chicken fingers, ranch potatoes, and salad), decorating cupcakes, making wands, visiting the balloon man, and dancing. Laura Grace was beautiful and so happy to have that time with her daddy!

Featuring...

My blog feature is late, but better late than never! The blog I am featuring this week is It's Not That Bad. I love her blog and Jessica even more. She is one of those women that I refer to as one of my friends even though we have never actually met. I talk to her on facebook and through bloggy land and somehow forget that we have never actually talked. Clay reminds me of this very often, but even he laughs when I tell him about her children's antics. Jessica is currently one of my heroes because the temperature where she lives pretty much stays below zero. I would not function! Not only does she function, but she goes to Target. SHE ACTUALLY LEAVES HER HOUSE! I would just wear fourteen sweaters and stay huddled by a heater...

Go check her out!

1. When did you start blogging?
I started blogging in March 2005. (Holy cow it’s been five years!) My first blog was on xanga.com and I started it because my brother had one and he told me it was cool. I moved over to blogspot later on because it seemed more “grown up.”

2. What is the purpose of your blog? What do you want people to come away knowing about you?
The purpose of my blog has changed over time. When I started it was just a silly thing I did to record my thoughts during my first years as a wife and a teacher. Since our kids have been born I’ve used it to help our long distance relatives keep up to date with our goings on, as well as to record funny things that happened to me at school. Now that we have moved out of state and I’m a stay at home mom I’ve been writing about adjusting to a new place and what we’re up to. One of these days I’d like to get my blogs bound into a book--I think that would be a neat keepsake.

3. Is there anything you would change about your blog? Not really. I’m not the best writer or photographer but I do try to be myself. What you see is what you get on It’s Not That Bad

.4. Tell us, in a nutshell, about yourself.
I’m 27 years old, wife to Dan, mother to Luke and Chloe, Christian. We just moved from Missouri to North Dakota. I taught high school for 4 years before we moved but am now a stay at home mom. It’s been a big adjustment (moving and staying home) but most days I love it. I will like North Dakota more in June when the snow melts.

5. What are your favorite blogs?

Of course I’m a fan of Christy’s blog! I have a list of blogs I read on my sidebar, but some include Classless and Lovin’ It, Cow Patty Surprise, Far Beyond Pearls, He Will Carry Me, Pioneer Woman, and Steece’s Pieces.

Swamped.

My to do list is longer than I can handle at this point. Will is getting portraits done this morning, then I have errands, a house to clean, and children to kiss and talk with. I also have various projects that need to be completed by the end of the week. I will be back-but it may be next week!! That is one thing I don't like about blogging, I feel guilty if I don't post every day and even guiltier when I can't read the blogs I follow!

Regularly Scheduled Programming...

or posting rather, has been interrupted. This girl has WAY too much to do. My house is so embarassing I wouldn't let my own mother see it. A surprise snow day has added to the chaos of a teething baby who convienently developed an ear infection, a three year old who is running amuck and a laundry pile the size of Mt. Everest.

I have noticed that I talk about my laundry a lot lately.

Anyway, Monday blog feature will happen tomorrow!

Please, Don't Laugh

I am so not photogenic anymore. I used to be. Thank goodness I was during my wedding. Clay pointed out that it looked like you photoshopped my pictures because my face looks the same in every single picture. But, now...now is another story.





This is my new haircut. And color. Yes, the haircut looks pretty much like it did the other time I got it cut, but the color is much darker.








I have no idea why I posed in front of my bathroom window. I have the knack for picking the WORST backgrounds when I take pictures. I will take this cute picture of my kids and the laundry is overflowing in the background.





And then, the infamous do it myself pictures. Why do we do this to ourselves? Or am I the only one who can't take a good picture of myself, by myself?


<

See the holes in the wall? Yeah, I took down the towel rod because I am going to repaint our bathroom because I hate the gold color. But then I changed my mind but took the picture BEFORE I hung the shower rod back up. Why do I do this to myself?



And the teeth. Goodness gracious I am all teeth. And against yellow they look well...yellow. I apparently am very secure in my relationship with you people because I am showing them to you.

Shopping

Shopping for children's clothes is a wonderful thing. I love it. I have posted about my love of monograms, smocked clothing, and their entire appearance in general. I can't find the one about smocked clothing. Chances are I wrote it and never hit publish. Anyway.

I have had to come to terms that Layton will be four this month. Not only will he be four and a big boy, butfour is way too old for him to be wearing appliqued and smocked clothing. Clay did assure me that the occasional monogram is acceptable. I mourned this for awhile. I poured over the Castles and Crowns catalog just last night wishing that I could buy matching brother and sister outfits. However, that time has passed and I just need to get over it! With big boy status also comes a child that can make his own snack. That is serious progress.

So, this morning, I went shopping for Layton. I had my friend, Rebecca, come with me because she is an experienced shopper of all big boy items. She has two sons that are Layton and Laura Grace's age. I told her I needed her expertise on boy's clothes because Clay said if I came home with anything babyish he would take over shopping for the boys. I also thought it was a great excuse for a girl's day. Well, not totally a girl's day because Will was there... The point is, I went shopping.

I went to Old Navy because they are having a fabulous sale. I was leery at first because Old Navy does not always have the best quality. Don't get me wrong, I love a good deal! I just want my clothes to last all season! I found some great stuff! I love how little boys look in madras shorts and plain tees and polos. I bought several polos, tees, and shorts that I could mix and match for him. I also got these adorable shirts...

I went to Belk afterwards, and while I did not find anything for Layton, I did come across these dresses for Laura Grace. I thought they were precious! I love the J. Khaki brand for girls. I think that they are still adorable and stylish without making her look like a teeny bopper.
I got her leggings to go with this dress.

This one will be perfect for the beach!

What We Eat

I am nosy when it comes to what people eat. I think it is probably strange but I am. My favorite part of house hunting is opening pantries and cabinets because I can see their dishes, food, and pretty much gauge their lifestyle from it. Yes, I am probably way too obsessed with food.

I will never forget opening someone's refridgerator (it came with the house) and saying, "WOW!! They eat a lot of burritos!!" My realtor and husband were mortified. Again, I realize this is nosy and rude. But it is also FASCINATING. I seriously wanted to know how different families eat.

Those of that that have read my blog for a few years know that I tend to swing back and forth from granola mom to feed them whatever they will eat mom. I finally gained enough confidence in my mothering to know that an Oreo will not kill them as long as they are not eating Oreos every day of the week. There really is no danger of them eating Oreos every day of the week because as soon as we buy the package of Oreos I consume them. If I am competely honest then I must tell you that I consume them in one sitting.

Anyway.

We have finally found that happy medium where I feel good about what my children eat. This may sound weird to ya'll, but bear with me. For instance, almost every morning we have eggs, whole wheat toast with honey, an orange, and milk to drink. If the kids do not want this they can have a bowl of cheerios with a piece of fruit. On the weekends we have a pancake morning on Saturday or Sunday. I don't stress about the butter and syrup on the pancakes because I know that it is a treat, not a every day thing. I try hard to find that balance in feeding them healthfully, but also not depriving them so that they gorge themselves when they are out of the house. I don't want to deny them the pleasure of eating good food. At the same time, I want to teach them to eat healthy.

For lunch I make grilled chicken salads, chicken salad on whole wheat (made with light mayo and chicken breasts), tuna salad on whole wheat, turkey on whole wheat, ect... For sides we eat yogurt and fruit instead of chips. Do they ever eat chips? Of course. I do buy pretzels, microwave popcorn, or potato chips and they can have them once or twice a week. They would rather have fruit at this point in life and unless they request chips, they don't get them! Clay and I are also not big chip fans so the bag usually goes stale first. Unless I am pregnant and then I consume massive quantities of Lays. This is probably why I also gain massive amounts of weight. That is a whole other post. I also occasionally buy chicken nuggets and Easy Mac. I then feel excessively guilty and worry about it all day. Seriously, I am that weird.

For snacks we eat fruit, string cheese, applesauce, nuts, or granola bars. I make cookies with yogurt instead of butter every now and then. Oh, and the pudding. My kids love pudding and Jello. Not healthy but I let them have it.

Dinner is more of a struggle because I try to shop frugally and let's face it-healthy and cheap doesn't go together. Our favorite meals are pot roast with potatoes and carrots, lasagna with garlic bread, chicken spaghetti, and chicken enchiladas. Not exactly healthy! I do try to substitute healthy ingredients like 2% cheese and low sodium products. I use lean cuts of meat, light butter (and then use it sparingly), whole wheat or fortified noodles (except when it changes the dish dramatically). I also only serve one or two heavy meals a week. The rest of the week we eat simpler-like chicken with roasted vegetables. It is not perfect, but
at least I am no longer obsessing over healthy cookbooks, how to feed your children books, and googling calorie contents.

And Ben and Jerry's? I eat that about every week. Not healthy AT ALL. That ice cream is seriously the reason I go running!

Playtime

We are feeling much better.

Oh, the vanity...

I dyed my hair two weeks ago. In the throes of RSV, I completely forgot to mention it. My lightish brown hair is now a deep chocolate brown with some red highlights thrown in. Everyone says they love it-except Laura Grace. Every morning she greets me with, "Why did you dye your hair black?"

I cannot convince her it is not black!

I am also struggling with something else. It is a deep, deep issue that had me awake last night.

Should I visit the tanning bed?

I know, I know, I am being shallow. Of all the things I could post about, this isn't exactly the most important. After all, I have adorable three year olds declaring that they are never wearing pants with buttons again. I am not sure why, but it was pretty cute to see him checking his pants out this morning.

However, it is my skin I need to talk about. The closer I get to thirty, the more tiny lines I see on my face. The idea of aging does not bother me-it is my skin looking even older when I am still young! I have very fair skin but tan easily and I am thinking that spending last summer in the pool without one drop of sunscreen was not the best idea. True, I had a glorious tan. But when the tan faded to my winter white...yikes.

I still find myself struggling with the question-to tan or not to tan. I have only been to the tanning bed twice in my life. Both times I layed in the bed, thinking to myself that this was what being in a coffin must be like...

But now that I am facing wearing a bridesmaid dress in four weeks and going to the beach in eight weeks, the idea of my winter whiteness is slightly appalling.

And so, there I go. Back and forth and back and forth until I don't know what to do. So, yeah. I am rather shallow this morning.

Won't You Read To Me Wednesday

The book I am choosing this week is The Secret Garden. This is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it in first grade and reread it every year since then. There is something magical about the book that never fails to grab my imagination. This is how I will always remember the book...

I am currently reading it out loud to Laura Grace. She could read it by herself but I am enjoying being a part of it :) It is something that I want to experience with her and I want to make sure she fully understands some of the words due to the dialect used. Layton begins the reading session just as enthralled, but after ten or so minutes abandones the story for his cars. Will just enjoys cuddling with all of us!

Dear Turbo Tax

You broke me.

I sat in front of my computer, so sure that I could do it. After all, you promised to walk me through it. You even promised me a lovely assistant named Tina who would be there every step of the way.

You lied.

Tina says that she does not understand my questions, she needs me to use only one sentence please, and she needs me to be more specific in that one sentence. I told Tina she was making me crazy and she told me that there was no record found to help me with that one. Thanks, Tina.

Then I tried Live Help. Those chat rooms were full of people just as lost as me. We all agreed that we couldn't stand Tina and bemoaned that we really thought we could pretend to be acountants. Then we bashed our current state of government and the chat room suddenly closed. I am thinking it was a conspiracy.

So then I contemplated having a "tax expert" call me. I decided that the thirty dollar charge for each twenty minutes would be well worth avoiding an audit. After all, an audit would probably ruin us because I accidentally threw away all financial records from the past several years. I was nesting.

However, after reading the fine print that the "expert" might not be able to answer my questions and realizing that these experts might all be like Tina, I decided to go it alone. I decided that surely all the jargon was commen sense. I mean, sure I don't know if our dividend income was qualified or ordinal-or maybe that was original? Or ordinary? I don't know.

After spending all day cleaning house, holding a fussy baby, all while dashing back and forth from to Turbo Tax, I gave up. It won. I called an accountant and just like that our taxes were done. In twenty minutes. So. Turbo Tax, I hate you.

Sincerely,

Me.

Featuring...

This week, I am featuring Therese at Musings of a Mom. She has four children, three of them being boys! Her newest baby, Alexandra, is Will's age and it is fun to see little Alex get bigger along with Will. I love Therese's blog because she is not afraid to be honest, to show "real life", and to admit when things are hard because after all, she is a mom to four! She is also encouraging, sweet, and becoming a good "bloggy" friend! Go check her out!

1) When did you start blogging?
I started blogging kind of on a whim in December of 2007. I was just looking for a way to write down things I was musing about while home with my kids. I never realized that I would be read by other people and make friends literally all over the world. I was looking for an outlet, and I found a wonderful blogging community. We really lift each other up when we are low, and celebrate the little and big things in life.
2) What is the purpose of your blog? What do you want people to come away knowing about you?
As I alluded to, part of the purpose of my blog is to write about the things I think of when I am at home with the kids. I write about education, about parenting, about my faith. I also share some of the goings on in my childrens' lives. Because I feel like I have a good circle of friends, we all love to be able to share pictures, recipes, crafts, etc as well. I think I want people to see that I am trying to be a good Mom and a woman of faith, but that I struggle like everyone else does.
3) Is there anything you would change about your blog?
Not really. I think that I am a part of the blogging circle that I am because of who I am and what my blog is like. If it were different, I might not be nurturing the same kinds of relationships.
4) Tell us, in a nutshell, about yourself.
I am an almost 40 (ooh, did I admit that?) mom to 3 boys and a girl. I come from a big Italian, Catholic family. My youngest is the 26th grandchild on my side of the family. I love my faith, and I love big families!
Before children, I taught the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This was my first foray into the realm of public education. I was very disallusioned and will not return to that setting should I ever go back to full-time teaching. For now, I stay-at-home with my children and I teach online in the evenings when my hubby is home.
5) What are your favorite blogs?
Yours, of course, Christy! Seriously, I have a long list of blogs on my sidebar, and any of them are a great read, but I would have to include: Yes, they are all mine; Lord, Make me a Saint; Footprints Diary; Be Not Afraid; Aussie Coffee Shop; Totus Tuus Family; So...this is the Road I am Traveling On; CanDarBry Garden; It's a Dog and Pony Show; Diapers and Deadlines.

Week In Review #3

Monday- Woke up, got myself and kids dressed, took Laura Grace to school, and dropped Layton off at his great grandmother's house. Will and I ran to Tupelo and checked on the color of Laura Grace's flower girl dress. I needed to make sure it was a similar shade of white as the bride's dress. Will was sick from his bought with RSV so he slept the entire time. When we got back from Tupelo, I went back to grandmother's house and ate lunch. She made baked chicken, vegetables, and biscuits-YUM. Will was starting to act funny and was refusing to nurse so I cut the visit short and took the boys home. When we got home I realized that Will was running a fever and it also dawned on me that he had not had a wet diaper in hours. I took Layton a friend's house and me and Will went to the pediatrician. Will's doctor saw us immediately and after looking at Will decided to admit him to the hospital. He said that the only way he could go back home was if he nursed a little and wet a diaper within the hour. On cue Will started rooting so the dr. left the room and Will ate. Two hours later we were back home. My mother in law met us there with Layton and Laura Grace. She had picked them up, taken Laura Grace to dance, picked up dinner at Mcdonalds, and then stayed to go over homework while I took care of Will. Clay got home and held Will while I cleaned house, helped the big kids take baths, and tucked them into bed. I watched Bachelor and 24 with Clay while Will slept. He woke up right as we went to bed and it was a long, sleepless night after that.



Tuesday- Clay let me try to sleep in a little and dropped Laura Grace off at school and Layton off at preschool. I didn't work at Mother's Morning Out because of Will. Will and I hung out on the couch most of the morning. I managed to do some cleaning and laundry, but it was mostly all about snotty noses and coughing. Poor Will. Layton and Laura Grace came home from school and we tackled homework. After homework the kids played outside in the mud and I held Will. I cooked Apricot Chicken for supper and after baths we ate dinner. The children went to bed and shortly after so did I!


Wednesday- Clay took Laura Grace to school and I cleaned house in a frenzy because my friend, Rebecca and her little boy were coming over. We talked, prayed together, enjoyed coffee, and refereed the boys while they played. When Rebecca left I played a few games with Layton, fed him lunch, and put him down for a nap. While he napped I did laundry and watched reruns of Wife Swap. My mother in law brought Laura Grace home from school so I would not have to get Will out in the cold. Laura Grace and Layton played outside for an hour while I cooked dinner. I gave them a bath before supper and when Clay got home we ate porkchops, rice, and roasted vegetables. The kids went to church with Clay and I gave Will a bath, cleaned the kitchen, put Will to bed, and crashed on the couch. I woke up when my family got home. Clay put the kids to bed and we watched television until I fell asleep again. It was a good thing I got that sleep because Will was up most of the night!

Thursday- Clay took Laura Grace to school and my neighbor took Layton to preschool (she works there). I cleaned house, did laundry, and played with Will who seemed to be feeling better. I enjoyed the quiet house while it lasted! Layton and Laura Grace both got home around the same time. I helped Laura Grace with homework and then put the children in the yard while I cooked dinner. We had meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, and vegetables. Laura Grace went to Upwards Cheerleading practice and Layton read books on the couch. When she got home both kids were exhausted so they went straight to bed. I ran some errands after I put them to bed and then went to bed myself.

Friday-We woke up to a winter "storm" outside. It was sleeting and icy so Clay decided not to risk the roads in Memphis. He decided to work from home so he was able to take Laura Grace to school and then come home and watch the boys while I took a shower and straightened the house. Clay worked while the boys and I played. Around lunchtime we decided to take lunch over to Mamaw's house and visit with her. At the same time the schools announced that they were closing early due to the weather. We picked up Laura Grace, went through a drive thru, and spent the afternoon with Mamaw. Later that night I ran errands while Clay fed the kids dinner and put them to bed. We decided to have a movie night and watched movies until bed.

Saturday- Laura Grace and I went to a brunch honoring Mary Beth, my brother in law's fiance. After the brunch I ran home to change clothes and feed Will. Laura Grace had a playdate that afternoon with one of her best friends, I was going shopping with my mother in law, and Clay had errands to run. Clay volunteered to take Laura Grace to her friend's house and then he took Layton and Will to run errands so I could go shopping without children. It was wonderful! I bought some cute dresses, new heels, and tried on my bridesmaid dress so they shop could alter it. We ran to Sams before coming back home. By the time I got back home, Clay had already fed the children dinner so I helped him put them in bed. We watched the Miss America pageant with Will and then went to bed.

Sunday-Clay got up and made pancakes for everyone. We ate and I got the children dressed so Clay could take them to church. After they left I balanced the checkbook and cleaned the kitchen. Will was in a pretty good mood so I got a lot done. We ate sandwiches for lunch when the family came home. After lunch, Laura Grace and I went to a bridal tea for Mary Beth. We mingled for a few hours and then met the rest of the family at my inlaws for finger foods and dessert. We snacked while Mary Beth opened all of the wedding gifts she had recieved. Around eight the children got whiny so we went home. I watched the Duggar special with Clay and then went to bed.