Emmy's Note's for Me

Emmy is just going to love our blog books when she is older:)

I got home late last night and missed these notes Emmy left for me.  This was the one to get my attention at the top of the stairs....

This is the one on the couch. 

[Emmy refuses to sleep in her bed and even if she starts in her bed she always ends up on the couch]

This is how an 8 year old describes migraines.

{Poor girl}

I feel her pain.  Too bad I missed the signs.

Tate {5}

This cake was {so cute} and I didn't have to make it!  It was super yummy too and we all know what I think about cake!

We had a "friend" birthday party on Tate's actual birthday.  It doesn't always happen, but I love to celebrate on the actual birthday!

We had car races...

ate some pizza...

blew out the candles (3 times)...

and presents...

Some things about Tate @ 5:

• 
  
  Often introduces himself as Tate the Tiger with the roar and all
• 
  
  Still {loves} cars
• 
  
  Is starting to test the no's and what he can get away with
• 
  
  Favorite colors blue & yellow (perfect for cub scouts:))
• 
  
  sweet boy-don't get me wrong he is a boys boy, but his dosposition is very pleasant and has the best manners out of all our kids without any reminders.
• 
  
  In pre-school at Mrs. Shelli's Learning Safari and loving it!
• 
  
  Little Mr. social and super friendly.  If you get him talking you can't get him to stop.  I always feel bad for people that have manners and give him all of their attention when he starts talking because he doesn't stop.  Often people can't understand some of the things he says so fast that I have to translate.  The other day we were at Big O for way too long (over 2 hours) and he was talking a mile a minute pretty much the whole time to all of the people in the waiting area-all about his new monster truck from the dollar store and how old he is as well as asking people their number (age) and telling everyone my number.  Another instance was when he called Grandma Phillips last night to thank her for the birthday present he was just throwing things out and talking so fast...he was telling her thanks for the monster truck and once again telling her about his small monster truck and told her that she could come see them to which my mom said it's dark though and Tate said we can do a sleepover, that he has a captains bed and then he changed his mind that she could sleep in my bed because I have 2 pillows.  I was laughing so hard.  He cracks me up-the things he comes up with.

We {heart} Tate!

Happy 5th Brithday!

Emmy's First Gymnastics Meet

As I did Emmy's hair for her first meet I asked her if she was nervous and at first she said no, then she said maybe a little, then we was worrying about the bell on beam (which warns you you have 10 seconds to dismount the beam) and that if they dinged it she might fall off or something.  I noticed her nervous face as she waited for the judges to give her the OK to start her routine on each event, but her nerves did not seem to effect her at all!  She did great and we are so proud!

  She was competing Level 4 compulsory gymnastics against 17 other 8 year olds and here were the results....

VAULT   {2nd Place}  Score: 9.0

BARS  {3rd Place}  Score: 8.55

BEAM  {9th Place}  Score: 8.35

FLOOR  {3rd Place}  Score: 8.6

OVERALL  {3rd Place}  Score: 34.5

We just started her competitive season so most Saturdays you will find me cheering her on and we only hope she gets better from here!

Fortunately I charged my camera earlier in the week but unfortunately I forgot it had been used at the school for 2 hours for Grandparent's Day and it had a low battery so I tried to snap a few pics but they were dark because she was so far away and my camera stinks.  But for records sake here are the few I took...

[marching in]

[soluting for 3rd place]

[another salute]

[call it bragging call it what you will, but it's my blog and family journal so I can do what I want:)]

So Tired

Don't let these sleeping pictures fool you-she is not a sleeper-she just fights it until she can't anymore-like her dad. 

She is [REALLY] asleep.

New Pet

With all of Scott's driving and adventures he calls working he comes across a lot of things.  One day it was little kittens at the dump with their eyes barely open, one time it was pigs, etc.  He is the kid that is always asking mom to bring animals home-just out of the goodness of his heart.  Well, yesterday he found this on the side of the road, immediately researched them and surprised me with it when he got home.

We are failing miserably at becoming pet free and not only did we add a pet, we added one that lives forever. 

Scott brought it home last night and *tried to kill it by flooding the back yard to no avail-like I said they live forever.

*he wasn't really trying to kill it that would be mean.

Random Thoughts-Here's a Penny.

While blow drying my hair this morning I was thinking, and so many random thoughts ran across my mind I wanted to jot them down because that's how I roll learn and remember.

I reminded myself/realized/reflected on the fact that I have a healthy happy family.  We have our ups and downs for sure, but none like so many others we know have had, and I cannot even imagine going through them myself. 

My heart aches for a friend who has already been through so much and will bury her son tomorrow. I can't help but think of the song "Emma" and the chorus of "how much can one heart take?".

I can get caught up in the small annoyances of life (dirty house, neverending list of things to do (this one pretty much covers everything)) having them consume my task oriented/OCD/ have to finish things brain and running my days.  I just need to remember, as a friend amidst a tragedy recently said...

"LIFE IS GOOD" 

Remember what really matters.  Because we never know when that could change.  Especially in these times of uncertainty.  Recently after a very rough morning resulting in a lot of yelling getting the kids ready, chores done, breakfast eaten (who has time for teeth brushing?!?!?)  I sent the kids off to school.  I went to blow dry my hair, once again reflecting on what just happened.  I was heartbroken at the missed opprotunity and wanted to go get the kids and bring them home for a do-over and I should have.  The opprotunity I had to stop and kneel in prayer with my kids to ask for patience and to ask the Lord to bless them and help them to know that I love them and to be with them throughout their day.  An opprotunity missed and gone.

As critical and judgemental as I can be of others (I know I need to work on it) I am equally if not more so of myself.  I'm not perfect, I know, I can hear your gasp of surprise.  I definitely expect better of myself though which can result in a constant sense of disappointment with myself.  Be patient (atleast a little), spend less money, want less material things, do more service, eat healthy and exercise, have the kids watch less TV, and the list goes on and on.

BALANCE

I have a really hard time with balance.  If I think about or concentrate on improving anything it totally and completely consumes me.  Fashion, clean house, eating healthy and exercising I have to remember that no one can do it all even if it seems that way.  OK I can think of one person that can pretty much do it all, and I am pretty sure she will be exhalted soon.  But for the most part even if the house looks clean the closets and the fridge aren't (that's my analogy for it anyways).  So just know that when you drop by my house and it's dirty it's because I am tending to more important things-well, I hope so anyways.

I stalk this blog where I think she says it best.   I think I need to change some of my "most days" to "some days".

Another random thought....I love these lines of this song ...

Never Let Your Prayin Knees Get Lazy

And Love Like Crazy

I love FALL.
It puts me in a good mood.
It's a time to renew and re-commit.
To clean out and re-organize.
It's time to start planning and marking the calendar for the upcoming holidays.
Time to start Christmas shopping-yikes!  OK that can probably wait a little bit longer.

She Won!

I was a little perplexed by Macey's expression as she approached the van after school today.  Nothing.  Not a hint of a win or a loss. Then she got in the van and said she won.  At first I thought they were playing a joke on me, but she said they told them the results before lunch so her excitement had worn off! 

Yay!  Happy kids make a happy mom!