Smell those feet!

Last Friday Eden and I went to Six Flags, just the two of us. We had lots of fun. It was nice to go with her and do the slides, wave pool, and rides that she can do and her brothers cannot. She just loves the Tidal Wave, it was actually like 70 degrees, so rather chilly for the water rides, but that is what she wanted to do. Anyways at one point we headed to the bathroom. [Sidenote: When we go to the bathroom these days, I always make her go to the stall next to mine so we can always see each other's shoes.] But this time we actually didn't have any shoes on (although it sounds gross, it was normal at the water park). I was staring at her feet, I still knew they were her feet, but for the first time they looked HUGE! I just sat there and realized she doesn't have baby feet anymore. I probably wouldn't even pretend to smell them, like I have in the past and like I still do for Eli and Tobe (you know the "stinky toes" game). No cuteness to her feet. It made me sad to think this thought. It made me think of a book my friend gave me "Let Me Hold You Longer" by Karen Kingsbury. This book highlights some of the "lasts" we have as parents. Usually we are always documenting the firsts. First smile, first word, first step, first t-ball game, first recital, first report card, first boyfriend, etc. But we never really document the lasts. The book is a real tear jerker for moms. So that is what came to my mind. I don't remember the last time I smelled her feet and pretended she had "stinky toes" and now she and her feet are too big for that. It may help me savor each and every moment, because it may be the last time I do that game, hold that tradition, tell that joke, sing that song, give that bottle, say that prayer, smell those feet.

the Jack's

OK---this is actually a comment to one of my friend's very funny posts of her intense need to pick up a package (Season 3 of 24) and her minute by minute play of whether or not she was able to accomplish her mission. I decided my comment was so long, and obviously something Chris and I are passionate about, so I just decided to re-post it on my page so that you would know how Chris and I got hooked on "the Jack's":
I love Jack, Chloe, Tony, and anyone remotely associated with 24. Our BFF's got us to watch it during the off season also (I think in one summer Chris and I watched Seasons 1-4)....Since then we've been watching it via the TIVO, which is a lot harder to have to wait a week to see IF Jack will get out of his predicament. But I least I get some sleep....Watching 4 episodes in one night can be kind of draining when you actually have to care for your offspring the next morning. Anyways you MUST catch up, because it definately becomes love/hate!!! Our friends also made us do this with LOST the next summer and we again caught up and it is just as bad, but his name is Jack ________? For some reason his last name just left me. Anyways, I LOVE both Jacks....and also thought your post was the most intense I've read lately...way to keep me on the edge of my seat. BTW, since Chris and I must drive a mini-van, at least it is jet black and Chris likes to call it the CTU van. That way if Jack is ever in need to apprehend a van, we are ready!

Shepard! His name is Jack Shepard. Whew! It just came to me. I feel good that I didn't have to google it. For a minute I was thinking I'm not a real fan. BTW, our friends tried to get us to watch HEROS as well. But we had to draw a line somewhere. We are addicted to the Jack's. Is there a character named Jack in heroes? I might reconsider if there was.

Lazy Days of Summer

Summer has been crazy. Whatever happened to that old saying "the lazy days of summer"? We have been to to the lake in Branson (just the kids and I went with Missy and her kids to their cabin for a couple days), VBS (It worked me out daily and I got "swamped" literally at the end), mini stayvacation in St. Louis (in one weekend we caught a Cards game, Six Flags, and the Zoo),4 night camping trip at the Meremac for the 4th, mini-Springfield vacation (Fantastic Caverns,Lambert's, and the Landing w/ our friends in Branson), not to mention a book club and a bible study and normal church gatherings thrown in there. If we don't have major plans we are trying to take advantage of the tot time at the city pool and our season passes to Six Flags. Chris is planning an FFH/Newfire concert and we had Highest Praise from OCC here as well. Now to end out the summer, Eden is participating in cheerleading camp and gets to cheer during the Little League Football season in the fall. We have the annual fair (which is HUGE here). Chris always has a float in the parade and it normally is the hottest day of the year. This year my MOPS group is going to offer a diaper changing/nursing station at the fair which will take lots of extra time. Plus Eli likes the fair more than Six Flags (he actually calls it eight flags (more flags, more fun!). My Eli turns 4 on August 16th and then starts preschool on the 18th. My baby girl starts the 1st grade! Finally Tobe and I will get some rest. (Side note: Maybe he will start talking when brother and sister are not around to do it for him.) I am going to need a break from summer vacation. Needless to say that is why I haven't posted all summer and probably won't post again till September. Who knows? We've been anything but lazy, which is why when we are actually at home: guess what? We are lazy!

Mother's Day and 5K's--they go hand in hand. Right?

Happy Mother's Day to everyone! It has been a long time since I've posted. I have been pretty busy since getting to play around in the Caribbean. Friday was my last day teaching my students, and this week will be my last week of work. There are TONS of paper work to catch up on. I am very excited to not be going back to work and enjoying the summer with my three beautiful, funny, and smart kiddos. Which is why I'm posting today. Another friend made a post about Mother's Day and helped me think about all those women who do not look fondly on this day for one reason or another. I did take time to think of some of those women in my life. It also made me think how I for one should not take this day for granted. God has truly blessed me with my kids. I feel like Hannah when she prayed in 1 Samuel "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him." I too struggled trying to have that first kid and it took a long time, so I just have to remind myself not to take this job for granted.
So today and yesterday were such great days. I chose my own mother's day gift which was a really cute running outfit. I'm positive it helped me run faster for my first ever 5K. (Hopefully you know I'm joking). But I felt cute and that was fun. I ran the 5K in 32:04, which involved a lot of walking. So in spite of my self, I think I'm going to sign up for another, because I am too competitive and think I can knock some time off of that time immediately. I just need to strengthen my legs---they were what gave up first, not my heart (the cardio part). It is kind of weird, because I was just positive it was going to be my first and last 5K. But it was a lot of fun after the fact and my running friends were very supportive and so encouraging. So.....Anyways it is appropriate to go ahead and combine the 5K and mother's day into the same post, since my gift had to do with running and us mothers have to run after our kids all year long, right?
Well on the acutal day of mother's day I got a break from running after my kids. So, since Chris is always gone very early on Sunday morning my kiddos gave me my card yesterday with their recorded voices and a coupon good for 1 breakfast in bed to be saved for next Saturday when I can sleep in a little and really use a good breakfast in bed. Eden has been dying to do this. She also made a flower with coupon petals for help around the house. It was very cute. Eli's sunday school class gave me a spoonful of kisses, but was upset when I wanted to actually eat the kisses and not give them to him. Tobe was just cute all day and is wanting to say so much. I had a lovely day today, worshiping the Lord, a wonderful lunch (with soda!) and then a GIANT nap. All in all I was spoiled. The last few days have been fun as a mama (and dada) because we are watching all three of our kids play together. It is fun watching them giggle and chase each other. They sometimes drive Chris and I crazy and the house is so loud, but the three of them are loud together. I love it. Thanks to my family and God for such a wonderful Mother's Day weekend.

My wonderful cruise

OK---I know all the facebookers had an opportunity to read this already. But...my AZ friends won't get on FB. So in order to share with them I am posting my note on my blog..... We had so much fun on our crusie to celebrate 10 years of marriage (March 26th). I highly recommend it. First of all for those who did not know, we DID NOT take our kids. I was so thankful through out the week that we did not have our kids, although I missed them, it was so great to just focus on Chris and I as well as relax a little. If our kids were there, I would have been working and who wants to do that on a crusie?
So it was a 7 day cruise, with 2 days at sea, then we ported at Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, and then one more day at sea. We took an awesome river raft ride on a bamboo raft for two in Jamaica (similar to a gondola). Then in Grand Cayman we got to swim in the ocean and tour the island. In Cozumel we got to swim with a dolphin and ride on the belly of a dolphin. Of course lots of shopping, a little too much Bingo, some amazing food (did I mention the lobster bisque?) and some soaking up the sun. Each island had its own personality and my anal brain thought too much about that. So we got a souvenir for a different child at each island. Jamaica, was the laid back island "no problem mon" and I got something for my very laid back Tobe, Grand Cayman had tons of pirates and was the adventurous island, so of course that reminded me of Eli and finally Cozumel was the most beautiful island we visited and that reminded me of my Eden. For specifics on the ship, activities, etc. you are going to have to ask me personally. Again too much to say. PHOTO 1: Chris and me and the gorgeous ocean in Grand Cayman. PHOTO 2: Elegant Dress Night on the Ship.These are our friends, Andy & Christina from AZ, who we went with, who also celebrated their 10 year anniversary on Feb. 28th. Photo 3: The view from the tubs at the Three Amigo Cantina in Cozumel. PHOTO 4:The sunrise, Saturday March 7th. Might be the first sunrise I've been up for....very beautiful....very early.



Just know that Chris and I want to do it again, but will probably have to wait 5-10 more years. There was one person on the crusie that had cruised 37 times. Isn't that crazy? I think I would love to be old and cruise the rest of my life. So all that to say we had a blast, yada, yada, yada, oh yeah did I mention the bisque?