Girls Night IN

Every once in a while Belly and I soak our feet and put lotion on them. Last Friday we saw this stuff in Dollar Tree and it smelled so good. Isabelle asked if she could get it. So we decided on the spur of the moment that it would be nice to rent a movie, get some pizza, and soak our feet. It was nice to stay in and do something with my baby girl. And it was fairly cheap too.
Isabelle is so excited to get started.
Mmmmm Feels oh so good. We really enjoy soaking our feet in this stuff. Our feet feel so good after we get finished.
Me and my baby girl. I love having a little girl to do girly things with.

Memorial Day Fun

For Memorial day this year Jerry and Janiece Cooper invited us and a couple other families over for a picnic/cookout. We had a really good time visiting with Rodney and Michelle Krick and their cuties. It seems like it has been ages since we have done anything with them and it was really nice. (By the way Rodney or Michelle one of you have to post a picture of Hunter barking at that blade of grass.) lol We also got to visit with Scott and Katherine Highlander. I think you can tell by the pictures that we had a nice time and enjoyed the friendship of each of our friends.

We ladies had a good time talking about our little darlings.
The guys went out back and shot clay pigeons.
I told Janiece if she would sit in the wagon I would pull her and she went for it. lol
The kids decided that they could have more fun in the wagon then we could.

One step closer to leaving mommy! So sad

My baby girl is growing up.
So this morning we took a bike ride to the hospital and got her shots for Kindergarten. I allowed for a 45 minute ride and was very excited when I got there because it only took us about 20 minutes. (Most of you know but just in case you don't I have been exercising every week day for about a month.) So today we killed two birds with one stone.
These are the vaccinations she got. Two shots in each arm. She was crying and I felt so bad for her.
and this is my wounded baby girl.

Isabelle's Graduation

Just a few pictures of Isabelle's graduation celebration. I was so proud of her. Of course I shed a few tears too. My baby is growing too fast. I can hardly stand it. I really do want her to grow up but it's hard to let her. I was tearing up and thinking these people probably think I'm a big dummy sitting here crying like this. But I was really proud of how far she has come and all that she has learned. Just last year she would have NEVER of walked up there and stood in front of a church full of people. And she did it last night and even sang a couple songs. She was really proud of herself too because after she got done she said something like I stayed up there mom. She was really nervous but she did it. She has matured so much in the last couple of years and I know she will be fine in Kindergarten but she's my baby so it's hard to see her go. Her preschool teachers bragged on her how well behaved and respectful she was. The mommy in me worried about sending her to Kindergarten and talked to the teacher about it and she said absolutely do not keep her out of Kindergarten next year "there's nothing else we can teach her here". She said she had no doubt that Isabelle would do great in Kindergarten. That made me feel a little better about it but I still will miss having her home during the day. We are so proud of her.

Belly's Bike

Thoughts on Mother's Day!

Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. Charles R. Swindoll

WARNING: I'm sorry if this upsets anyone of you. That is not my intention at all. Nor is it my intention to be selfish. I am just journaling my thoughts on Mother's Day. I am not saying my step son should or should not be with his bilogical mother on Mother's Day. Again, I am just writing down my personal thoughts or feelings on Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is such a special time to honor our mothers and to feel honored to be a mother. I have a special mother. She was only twelve when she was basically forced to become "mother" to her siblings. She then went on to have six children of her own. We are all grown now and you would think this would be her time now. But not my mother she has now adopted three and has gardenship of one of her grandchildren. She can truly say she has been a mother all of her life. My mom never stops being a mother. She still worries and calls to be sure everyone is doing alright. "Do you need anything?" "Lock you doors, you never know who is out there." And all the other things moms worry about with their grown children. She's not always had it easy but she never ceases to be our mother. Thank you mom!


However Mother's Day for me is bitter sweet as a step mother who is raising her stepson. Don't get me wrong I have two wonderful biological children of my own and it is definitely an honor to be their mother. But each year on Mother's Day one of "my" babies is missing. Its like there is a hole where he should be. Without going into much detail...I just want to scream, "Giving birth doesn't make you a mother." I'm the one who makes sure he has clothes to wear, food to eat, a bath at night, takes him to church, makes his lunches, takes him to school, devotions, homework, prays with him....oh, I said without to much detail didn't I. Well I think you get the point.
Anyway someone is missing on Mother's Day and I miss him terribly. But when he gets in the van that night to come home the weight lifts and I then can put it all into perspective again.
I may not be the one who gets to be honored on "Mother's Day" but I am the one honored all year long. Because I get the opportunity to be his mother. I don't HAVE to do all the things that mommys do, I GET to do all those things. And when we all fall into bed that night I can truly say it is a Happy Mother's Day!

SIDENOTE: I am not trying to diminish the fact that I have two of the most wonderful, intelligent, beautiful, loving, well behaved biological children in the world. I would not trade them for anything in this world. I pray that each of my children know that I love them all. I want each one to have a successful life serving Jesus and I am the one who is honored to be their mother.
God has truly blessed me with three of the most wonderful, wonderful, wonderful children in all the world.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

PS. The teacup flower pot is my Mother's Day present. I love it. My hubby makes every Mother's Day special preparing the meal, cleaning up, writing me a letter, and the thoughtful presents he gives me. But of course he makes me feel special all year long. I love you honey. Thank you so much.

Working the Polls

I really enjoy working the voting polls. The only thing is that it is a really long day. You have to be there at 5 A.M. and leave a little after 6 P.M. And I know I'm weird but I hate coming home to a messy house after a long day like that. So I try to pick it up the night before and Matt usually tries to keep it looking nice. But I really got a surprise when I came home this time. Knowing how much I love the smell of Lilacs he had went to the neighbor and asked if he could cut some off of her bush. When I walked in the door my whole house smelled like Lilac. They were so beautiful and smelled so good. But best of all he thought of me and making me happy. Thank you baby. You are the best.

Austin's in Soccer

Austin's last soccer game is this Saturday. I'm hoping they do well because so far they haven't done too hot. But he is having a blast planning so it really doesn't matter if he wins or loses as long as he is enjoying it. Anyway been meaning to post these pictures for a while and haven't got around to it. So...here they are.

Isabelle's trying soooo hard....

Isabelle's trying to ride her bike. She is doing really well. I didn't have the right camera card when I put these on here but she can ride all alone now she just either gets scared and wrecks or she can't turn around yet. I'm not sure but I think we might put her training wheels back on for a while longer. We love to go bike riding and until she learns to turn corners well she won't be able to ride along. I do have a seat on my bicycle for her though. So....I just don't know what to do. Part of me doesn't want to put them back on because she is doing so well and if we never take them off then that is just that much longer she will need them. I just don't know....

The Men in my life....What would I do with out them?

It's that time again and I love it. I just love watching our garden grow. And I love that is a family project. Okay I know it is more me and Matt doing the work most of the time but the kids really do pitch in on this a little bit. I was so happy to watch my men working on this for me. So far we've got it tilled up and expanded about 4 ft on each end. Each year we have to make it bigger and bigger. So hopefully we have expanded enough that we won't have to do that next year. We have green beans, potatoes, and lettuce planted so far. WE are waiting on this crazy cold weather to go away so we can plant green pepper plants, sweet banana pepper plants, tomatoes, cucumbers, and all the flowers for my yard that we bought before we knew it was going to get cold AGAIN. I will try to remember to keep you all updated on how our garden grows.