Do I Have to Have Another One?

Well, I am staring a year older in the face....literally. A few hours and I will have another birthday. These times make me very emotional and spend so much time reflecting on my life. It's funny, I told Chad last night that I want time to stand still. I love my life, my husband, my kids. I feel soooo fortunate to be healthy, happy and here. I told him that I feel like every year is the BEST year. And he was very smart to say, "Why CAN'T every year be the best year?" All most of us want is to be happy and when we do have happiness, we don't always take the time to enjoy it. Stop and smell the roses they say. Well, I am going to try to stop and smell the roses. Take in all the sights and smells around me. Actually, sometimes, do nothing but sit and play with my kids and read and watch tv and play on the computer with them. These are the things that make me happy and if something were to happen to me tomorrow, I would not want them to remember that I was always running around doing chores, stressing about the house and the groceries and everything I have to do. I want them to remember that no matter what age I was, I was always willing to stop and smell the roses with them.

First Days of School

Well, we are on our third day of school here in Louisiana and I have to say my children are surprising me! They have gone to bed every night, gotten up every morning on time, (even eaten breakfast which they don't usually do) and done their homework. I thought this would happen the first day, but by the third day, I thought for sure there would be many tears.....still waiting. I have seen such a transformation this summer of them. They have started helping with chores, picking up their things, just outright being agreeable. Was it a change in my attitude? A change in theirs? Maybe both. I do realize that they are getting older and for now I will sit back and enjoy the good and happy! :)

There is a Floor!

Well, guess what? My children's closets DO have a floor! This weekend, I got a wild hair and took EVERYTHING (and I mean everything) out of their closets. I decided to go through all of it and make them help me and explain to them that we only have so much space. If there are more "things" than space, there is a problem. Well, guess what peeps, there is a problem......maybe I should say WAS. We cleaned those closets out like maniacs. And it's funny how my kids are loving how clean they are. I guess deep down inside they want order, but don't want to have to organize. Now, if we can only keep it that way!

Sounds in the Night

We had a long, busy weekend. Full of responsibilities AND fun. But, eventually, we must come back to reality! Last night, Chad went to bed early since he had to be at work VERY early this morning; and, I took over bedtime duty. You would think, how much bedtime duty is there actually with an 11 year old and a 7 year old.....well, it depends. Some nights they are SO tired that they fall into bed and you never hear another peep out of them. Considering that I woke them up at 9:40 yesterday morning, they were not too tired last night. So, the three of us laid in the bed and talked. Talked about school coming up, talked about trying out a new babysitter that they wanted, talked about how their summer had been going. Finally, all was quiet and no sounds at all were so wonderful. Just to lay there with my precious children and know they fell asleep very happy! Have a wonderful day!

My Sister's Keeper

Oh my goodness! Just finished reading My Sister's Keeper....need I say more. This book was a book I COULD NOT put down! But, tragically sad. I have a sister and I have two girls, and let me just say, it's hard not to get engrossed in that book.

On a lighter note, I have the day off of work tomorrow and I have tons to do at home, but I am considering doing NOTHING! There are only two weeks left until school starts and I want to be downright lazy with the girls. I know if I ask them what they want to do it will be a combination of go out to eat, shop, get our haircut, get our toenails painted, shop, movie, zoo....I could keep going, but you get the idea. They are full of wonderful ideas. We may have to try a few. KK is at a waterpark today with a friend and Em invited one of her friends to play while KK is gone so they should all be sufficiently entertained. I dream of being creative and doing creative things. But, I'm not very creative. Can you google "how to be creative"? I think I just may have to try. I am having this overwhelming feeling that I want to take everything out of my laundry room and scrub from top to bottom and start over. Not with everything, but with nothing. Nothing but the washer and the dryer. Right now, there are so many clothes in there I could outfit another whole family. I think about all of the dust probably behind the washer and dryer and the lint all in the hose. This will thrill the hubby, because you know I can't move all of this by myself! After all of this babbling and run-on sentences, I think I'll go back to my original idea and do NOTHING! I'll let ya know!

Sentimental

I always seem to get sentimental when seasons change. School is going start here in Louisiana in about 3 weeks and I was watching my girls swimming in the pool last night and it almost just makes me bawl crying.....they are soooo big and getting older by the day. I remember when they needed me for EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING! I told my husband last night, KK can do so many things for herself; soon she's not going to need me anymore. And then Em will follow and what will I do? I am majorly defined by being a mother....he said..."I'll always need you":) Did I mention I have an awesome husband?

Home Sweet Not So Clean

I have such mixed emotions about my house....my husband and I have been married almost 14 years and have lived in different places. Not geographically, just houses. Long story short, we knew one day we wanted to build a house of our own and continually worked toward that goal. Well, 4 years ago we began our journey. And it was actually a pleasant journey. We were just talking the other day that our house building experience was quite enjoyable; no big fall outs or problems. Anyway, fast forward to today, 4 years later, 2 jobs, 2 kids, 4 animals....I cannot keep up with this housework! And I fight myself about this all the time! I have two kids that are of age to actually help and sometimes it's just easier to do things myself (which means the bare minimum gets done). And, I actually have a husband who is VERY helpful! Just having a bum day I guess. I got up this morning to come to work and looked around and literally just felt defeated. Part of it is that I want to be home. Why can't those work from home jobs not be a scam? I will have to start searching for something to do besides work these 10 hour days somewhere else! I'll get on that right after I clean the bathrooms!:)