Not me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday, where we can be brutally honest with each other, and live to tell about it. When you are finished here, head on over to MckMama's blog to see a list of more not me's. You will be so glad you did!

Humm, where to start...Seriously?! I'm first? No way!

This week, my dear sweet husband was not in school all week, meaning he was gone all week instead of being home on Tuesday and Wednesday. We did not miss him terribly because of it.

Tuesday was not the little boys last music class for this semester...what ever will we do with our next few Tuesdays?!

This week was NOT the longest week in recent history! Not sure why but man...it was LLLOOOONNNNGGGG! Wheew!

This next Friday is not Sour Apple's last day of school for this year! Nope, that would mean summer is almost here and also that I only have 21 days till vacation! YIKES! Only 21 more days! Actually...less than 21 days because this time 20 days from now we will be trucking on along.

I am not so freaked out about vacation that I have still done nothing to get us ready! What? ME? Done nothing? No way! Not me! I am way more organized than that. By now, you know that I have lists, lists of lists to make and lists of things to take. Oh my...will I make it on time?

Since my dear, sweet, wonderful husband did not have school this week, he did not get the weekend off. Nope, that would not happen! In the almost 4 years he has been with this company, other than vacations, I can count the number of weekends he has had off so there is no way that he had a weekend off! Seriously? How would we get that lucky? We did not love having Daddy home all weekend either! With our weekend with Daddy home, we did not go out to lunch on Saturday, then spend the rest of our free day with Daddy shopping! Nope, who would shop on Daddy's only weekend off?! Certainly was not us! Also, over the weekend, we did not finally get a chance to watch 2, yes 2, movies with Daddy either.

Sunday afternoon, we did not clean out my car! What? Clean out my car! Good thing we did not do that, it might scare the poor car to death and it never run again!

Sunday, our family did not meet up with some friends to release pink balloons in honor of sweet Kayleigh Freeman. You will not be able to find those pictures on my blog, not even if you try. And later today or tomorrow, you will not be able to find more pictures either. We have not been heartbroken all week over the passing of sweet Kayleigh and have not thought about her loving family almost non-stop over the last few days.

Eh...I think that is it for my Not me's. Now, what about you? Don't you think it is time to join in the fun? I think you just might enjoy the free therapy. If you decide against it, at least go check out the rest of the Not me's at MckMama's. Maybe, just maybe this week I will get in before the 500's! I have never been that far out.

Ok, one more Not me...last week, I did not go have my tires balanced on Monday morning then spend the day at my parent's house. Nope, not me, NOT on Not me Monday. What was I thinking? Why would I plan to be away from home on a Monday morning and miss out on over 500 spots?! Well, at least it might have been worth it because my Mom and I absolutely did not go eat Chinese food at my all time favorite Chinese joint. And because we did not go there, Boog did not get a green (his favorite color) straw with his drink, only to ask out of the blue 2 days later..."Mommy? How do Chinese people know green is my favorite color?" I kid you not, this came from the sweet lips of my precious child 2 days after lunch and I for the life of me could not figure out what in the world he was talking about...then it finally hit me. DUH! The straw!

Happy Not Me'ing!

The things I used to take for granted,

are not so important afterall...

This post is part of "Hi/Lo Thursday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts and get your link on their site.

My high's this week are the things that have replaced the things I used to take for granted...

An empty bed...all to myself. Don't get me wrong, sometimes my very own spot to sleep would be great, but...I would be missing night time snuggles from the most precious, wonderful still 3 year 4 year old ever and knowing that the most wonderful husband in the world is only an arm's length away. So many people are alone and unhappy and I have all of the love I could ever need.

A full night's sleep...each night. Oh how I miss that! But...then I might not have the chance to spend that one on one time with the most beautiful, sweet 8 month old to ever exist. Waking at night to nurse him and spend quiet time with just him is a very special thing to me. Now, do not get me wrong here...I love me some sleep, but I have years and years ahead to come where there will not be a very needy, loving infant in the house and oh how I will miss that.

A shower at all during the day before noon...alone, with no one crying, pitching a fit or banging on the shower door! I used to just lay in the tub at night for what seemed like hours, soaking, relaxing, sometimes reading, then have a shower in the morning to start my day...now I do good to get a chance to bathe at all. Good thing I do not do much to work up a sweat! I do not miss it, you will never hear me complain because I have 2 precious little ones at home that need me in the mornings. I do not want to miss a thing. Just knowing that they want me around brightens my dreary days.

Talking on the phone to a friend...those days are long gone. They are replaced with a quick text message or hurried email, just to let them know I do still think of them. I miss my friends, but I have made so many new ones through my children's activities. I do get a chance to spend time with new friends and their children. I would not trade my life for anything. I get to stay home and be available for my children, not only the little ones, but the big ones too. I do not have to miss field trips or parties or field days or programs, I can be there when they need me and I dread when the day comes that they no longer need their Mom.

Quiet rides in the car...those never happen. I am glad. I do not do well with total silence. I am a people person and a loud car means that I am surrounded by people. People who need me, need me to take them somewhere, people who will be spending time with me when we get to the somewhere special or wherever we might be going. What I love most about the car rides now? The laughter...it is the best sound, it is magical.

Listening to my music or watching my shows...I forgot what that was like, but that is ok with me. That just means that my children have tastes and opinions of their own. They are thinkers and doers.

Sleeping late...that will not happen again for a looong time, and by then I might just be too old to enjoy it. That's ok...it just means I have longer to spend with the people I love.

There are so many more things that I used to take for granted, some before kids, some after...I have thought a lot about those things and what is really important and things are not important, the ability to sleep late, or all night is not important to me. Yes, I am tired but I have the rest of my life to rest. I do not want to miss one moment with the people that I love. If it means staying up past midnight to have a moment alone with my husband, that is what I will do. If it means getting up 5 times in a 6 hour period to nurse and spend time with a precious baby, then that is what I will do. If it means wearing wrinkled laundry because I was not able to fold it because my babies needed me, well...who cares! I know I do not. If it means hand washing one cup just to get drink, so be it...the kitchen can wait. If it means breaking my toe on a star wars figure in the middle of the night, oh well...I have 9 more!

My family is the most important thing in the world to me, so...if you stop by and my hair is up, I am still in my pj's, it doesn't look like I have bathed in days, it is past noon, the kitchen is in shambles, the living room is a wreck an laundry and toys are strown from one end to another, just ask yourself if my kids and my husband look happy because that is all that really matters to me.

I know there will come a time when I am showered, dressed and have everything neat and clean and in order, and let me just tell you, I will probably be just miserable inside! I live for my family and when my children are all off on their own, I just do not know what I will do with myself. They are way more important to me than a spotless house.

Hug your children and husbands just a little tighter and longer, you just never know how long you have.

My lows this week...my heart breaking lows...

The passing of sweet Kayleigh Freeman. Please continue to pray for her precious family.

Also...without going into much detail, please remember my sweet friend "Kay" . (*name changed and some details left out to protect their privacy.) She was pregnant...up until today sometime. (I do not know the details of today.) This morning she was supposed to be induced at 19 weeks. Her precious baby (recently discovered to have some problems) had gone into heart failure and her specialist was afraid to let the pregnancy continue for fear of her safety and well being. Please remember this precious family. The need prayers and support. I hope I did not divulge too much information but I know she needs prayer right now so I hope she will not mind.

Weekly Wednesday...Silly style

'Nuff said...

Sweet Kayleigh meets Jesus

Just a quick note to ask you to please remember the Freeman's in your prayers. Sweet Kayleigh went to Heaven last night. Their hearts are broken and my heart is breaking for them.

The TV show, The Doctors, did a story on them and it will air tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13th for anyone interested. For us, it will be on KHOU-11 at 3pm.

Not me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday, where we can be brutally honest with each other, and live to tell about it. When you are finished here, head on over to MckMama's blog to see a list of more not me's. You will be so glad you did!

Last week...I was not in the Top 10 on the original Not me! Monday on MckMama's blog! Nope, not me, I am not lucky enough to have that happen, again!

Wednesday, we did not take Tutti-Frutti back to the surgeon and get a clean bill of health! Yay! He is fully recovered from all things surgery...tape strips, stitches and all!

Thursday, we did not meet some friends at the fountains and have a great time! Nope, not us...we do not have wonderful friends like that.

Thursday was also not Tutti-Frutti's first time in the swimming pool either. Since it was not, there is no way you will find pictures to prove it...and if you did, he certainly would not look like he was having a great time, cold water and all!

While in the pool with Tutti-Frutti, Boog did not have to go potty...and since he was wet, I would not let him in the house. I would have never allowed him to just go in the back yard. I mean what kind of parent tells allows their child to do that? If it were to have happened, I would certainly not have a picture to prove it, AND I would never blog about it OR post a picture of it! Sheesh...what kind of parent did we decide I was?

This last week, Sour Apple did not get to go on a school camp trip, before the school year is even out! I mean...really, what kid is that lucky? And, he did not have an absolute blast either! Nor did he come home utterly exhausted!

Saturday, Boog did not have another T-Ball game, and he soooo did not hit the ball on the first try or run like the wind to first base! He did not have a great time at the game.

Saturday night, the wonderful men in my life did not take me out to eat for an early Mother's Day celebration, nope, not them. You will never find a wonderful picture of my favorite men on this post either. Come on, I dare ya to try!

Tutti-Frutti has not still been keeping me up at night either. Good thing too because I just might be totally exhausted by now from lack of sleep!

I am totally NOT starting to really freak out like a mad woman because our Disney trip is quickly approaching and I feel like I have done NOTHING to prepare for it! That is really sooo not like me! (To not be prepared that is...I am a total freak out kind of person!)

UGG!! I totally did not just go upstairs to my laundry room to start a load of laundry and find ANTS in the clothes!! Good thing, that might just be enough to throw me over the edge today and we would not want that, trust me!

This afternoon when Daddy got home, I did not go Mother's Day shopping for me with him and the kids. Nope, he does all of his shopping WEEKS before the big event. *Side note...I did not help pick my gift or even see it for that matter, UNTIL they had wrapped it later.

After the shopping spree, we did not go to Chipotle for dinner. Nope, not us. We ate out last night and we would never even consider eating out 2 nights in a row!

When we got home, I did not go upstairs to the laundry room and lead a murder/suicide with the ants. Nope, I am a lover of all things living, even the most tiny awful creature of all. So, nope that was not me heading up the stairs armed with caulk and murderous thumbs! That said, I think I might have gotten rid of the majority of them, only time will tell. I am afraid to go look now!

Now, go on over to My Charming Kids, before I blow a gasket over here, and see what everyone else has not been up to...hopefully this will be the last you will hear of ants around this place!

Happy Mother's Day

"Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you. Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of life." -- Maureen Hawkins

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mothers in our lives!

Have I ever told you just how lucky our kids really are? They have a mom and dad who love them more than anything...that is the easy part. They are lucky enough to have 3 wonderful Grandmothers too! We are so blessed to have these wonderful women in our lives. They are the most wonderful, awesome, loving Mothers and Grandmothers anyone could ever ask for. We just wanted to take a minute to let you know how much we appreciate you and love you and tell you how thankful we are for each one of you. You are always there when we need you.

We love you Grammy, Gee Gee and Grandma!

Happy Mother's Day!

Not only do our children have 3 wonderful Grandmothers, but they also have 3 wonderful Great-Grandmas and special aunts as well. How lucky we are to have all of the love and support from all of these wonderful women!

We love you Granny, Mamaw, Great-Grandma and Aunt Cinde!

SOME THOUGHTS ON MOTHERHOOD

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby... that somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct... that somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring... that somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will "turn out good"... that somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said "good" mothers never raise their voices... that somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother... that somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the fifth child as much as you love the first... that somebody doesn't have five children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books... that somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery... that somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten... or on a plane headed for military "boot camp."

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back... that somebody never organized seven giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married... that somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home... that somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her... that somebody isn't a mother.

We are the parents we are today, because of our mothers...we are the people we are today, because of our mothers...we love the way we do, because of our mothers...we are happy today, because of our mothers...we are healthy today, because of our mothers...we are where we are today, because of our mothers.

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.

If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive.

If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident.

If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative.

If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love.

If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with recognition, he learns it is good to have a goal.

If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is.

If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.

If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him.

If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

~Dorothy Nolte

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful women in our lives! You help make each day special!

The most important men in my life...

This is about the men in my life, the most important men in my life. These are the men that make me want to get up everyday, the men that I love. These men make me who I am and make me want to be who I am supposed to be. I love these men. They are my men.


Tonight, my men took me out for an early Mother's Day dinner, thinking we might miss the Mother's Day crowd. Well, I think instead...we got the early Mother's Day crowd, the prom crowd and the normal Saturday night crowd. We went to Cheesecake Factory (my choice, cheesecake makes everything all better) and there was about an hour wait so we decided to snap some pictures and enjoy the cool night.

This man, the thinker, had been at camp for half of last week, boy the house was a lot quieter, but we sure missed him.

brotherly love...

my wonderful little men...

my precious little men...

my smallest little man...

my little man with the most personality...

my serious little man...

These are the most important men in my life and I love them, aren't they just beautiful?