AWANAs Awards

This past Sunday night the kids had their AWANAs awards night. AWANAs (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed) is an 8 month program that usually runs during school time. Kids learn memory verses and depending on their age, they learn character lessons that are taught in the Bible. Anyway, Jon Kent and Zoey are in "Cubbies". This is Zoey's first year and Jon Kent's second. They both completed their book so they both received an award. They were really proud and so was I. Not to mention, they each learned and memorized a lot of Bible verses. It's a really great program. Next year Jon Kent moves up to Sparks.

After the awards program G.U.T.S.Y. the Flying Fox was there to put on a show for the kids. He did acrobatic tricks while slam dunking the basketball. It was really neat. The whole time the show is going on, he is giving the plan of salvation. His name stands for something, but I have totally blanked out on what it is. The fox even got Kent up there dancing. It was a hoot. The kids really enjoyed it. It was a great night!

Summer here we come!

Summer is my second favorite season of the year. It's actually a close second to fall. I just love the laid backness of summer. The laziness of it. The fun of it. There is always a trip planned which allows us to get away for a bit and just enjoy each other. No work schedule, no planned activities, nothing.. just family.

This summer I really do want to enjoy the time I have with the kids. Because starting August 16th at least one if not two of my babies will be gone during the day. I asked Jon Kent the other day what all he wanted to do this summer. And he gave me quite a list. Some of it's simple, some of it's silly and some of it are things that he has been asking to do for awhile now. I have written most of it down and I am really hoping we get to do most of it, if not all of it. I am actually looking forward to a lot of it myself!!

And since summer is almost here, the weather has been warming up. Thankfully. It's been pretty hot a lot of days this month so far. The kids have enjoyed it though, because it meant they got to play in their pool. Although, Jon Kent really isn't a fan of swimming. He doesn't like to be cold he says. Even when the water really isn't all that cold. He rather just roam around in the yard and play. He gets that from his daddy. His daddy doesn't like to swim or get wet. The water would have to be at least 95 for him to enjoy getting in a pool. Zoey and Nathan though, they love it. Could stay there all day. Especially Zoey. She is my little fish.


Baseball season is slowly coming to an end. I have to say, it hasn't been very enjoyable. Jon Kent and Zoey aren't really into it. They keep asking if they "really have to go". I loved baseball/softball. I played from 4-16 years old. But apparently my baseball blood doesn't run in their veins. Nathan really seems to like it though, so maybe that's were all my baseball genes went. It also could be the league we chose to play in. They aren't very organized. It makes it hard to teach the kids to actually play when they are making it so easy for them. Teach them to play by the rules. None of that pansy stuff. My opinion, of course.


And lastly, here are some pictures of random happenings around here. Most of pool time and then of my Mother's Day presents. Enjoy! :)

27

So, now I am 27 years old. Still don't feel like I should be past 18. You know when you were younger and you had a birthday you felt older? I remember 10 being the first birthday that I can remember feeling older.. feeling "my age". I was a whole decade old after all. That blew my little 10 year old mind. And then 13. I was a teenager. And I felt it.. hormone rush and all. I felt 15.. getting to learn how to drive. 16, getting my freedom on the road. All alone. 18, I was "an adult". Able to vote. It was great. But every birthday since.. almost 10 years now.. each birthday just feels the same. I feel the same age. So, I guess if I go with that thought then I shouldn't feel a day over 18. Although my body sure looks a day over 18. You know.. with having 3 kids and all. Now.. when I turned 30.. I surely hope I still feel 18.

My birthday was good. I was still in my funk. But not so deeply. I had a good cry over it all and just tried to appreciate the day. Kent and Jon Kent made me a birthday cake. Kent also gave me a very sweet card. He gave me my present (new Fossil sunglasses) on Mother's Day. I got several cards in the mail and tons of birthday wishes on Facebook and in emails. I took Nathan to have his fitting for corrective shoes (he has a major instep on his left foot. His foot is shaped a lot like a "C". Wearing the shoe should help over the course of a year), then we went and had lunch with Kent. When we got home the kids went swimming for a bit and then Zoey went to her baseball game (Jon Kent didn't go because he has a cold and it is really kicking his butt. He will have spurts of energy, but it only lasts maybe 30 minutes and then he is worn out again. He is doing a lot better today though). After the game Kent brought home Chick-fil-a, so that meant no cooking for me for the whole day. That's a gift in and of itself. Kent's grandparents also sent me a card and money. And to add on to my birthday gifts, my daddy is coming for a visit this weekend. He'll be here sometime tonight. OH(!!!) and Nathan slept through the night! WOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!! He woke up around 11:30pm but that was because he had fallen out of his bed. :) But then he didn't wake up again until 6am. Wonderful, glorious sleep! How I have missed thee!!!

I am slowing getting out of my funk. Vitamin D surely helps. And I have been able to get plenty of it. The weather here is quickly turning to summer and not a moment too soon. I am ready for fun in the sun and vacations and family outings and maybe.. just maybe.. Kent and I will get to go on a trip alone. If everything works just out right we are planning a trip to Washington DC. Kent has always wanted to go and I haven't been since high school.. sooooo.. maybe we will get to do just that. Maybe. ;)

Far too long

Wow. I have let this thing go. Almost 10 days. We have been busy. But I have mostly just lacked motivation to write. To even take pictures. The past few days have been rough. Don't really know why. Well.. dread is why. I had to endure my first Mother's Day without a mother. And really, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I handled it pretty well. I knew it was coming.. I dreaded it like a plague and then all was well. My kids and husband showered me with gifts and cards. I got a new watch, a new iPod, some new earrings, cards, cards made by the kids. It was a really good day. Even got a nap in. But the last 2 or 3 days.. man.. I have been in a deep funk. Depressed even. And I don't use that word lightly. Trust me. I have had no motivation to cook, clean, play, get out and about.. nothing. I just want to sit and do nothing. I have been fighting it with all my might and it's wearing me down. And then on top of that Nathan isn't sleeping well at night. Not that he really ever has. I guess just coupled with everything else it's worn on me more than usual. Tomorrow is my birthday. I have already cried a bucket of tears because my momma won't be here. She birthed me and now she's not here. I, as a momma, always take pride in my kids' birthdays.. because, heck.. I birthed them. Without me they wouldn't have been born.. ya know? So to know that tomorrow.. I will be celebrating a day that I came into this world because my momma wanted me to.. and yet she's not here. It's sad. And really it's hitting me harder than I thought it would. Sucks even. Oh well. I knew it was coming and now that I have had a good cry over it, maybe tomorrow won't be so bad. I am hoping so even. Tomorrow my theme song will be.. "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to". And to add to my valley of a mood.. Jon Kent is sick and running a temp. Really bad cough. Really hoping it's not pneumonia.. He keeps holding to his chest during a deep cough. Lovely. Momma duty calls.. even when it's your birthday.


PS: Truly sorry this is such a sucky post. It is my life right now.

Sweet Home Alabama

We spent the past week in Alabama. Kent was asked to come help out their computer department and help get them caught back up. There are operating one man short and their manager just retired, so it made things get backed up there. It was ironic to me for Kent to be called back to help. This was the same department that didn't hire him almost two years ago because he wasn't "qualified" (although that turned out to be an error on their part in calculating his actual hours spent working in the department.. long, boring story.). But how I am so thankful he didn't get that job. Because if he would have, we wouldn't have moved to where we are. And we are truly blessed to be in South Carolina.



While we were in town a lot of things took place that I was really dreading. My momma's birthday was the 28th. It was a hard day. The kids and I took balloons to my momma's grave. The kids ran around having a good 'ole time while I cried and thought about all the memories I had of her. I miss her so much. I still get taken back when I remember she is gone. It still at times doesn't seem real. I am glad though that I was in Alabama during her birthday. Also, my parents' anniversary (would have been 34 years) was the 1st. It made my heart hurt for my daddy. He seemed fine with it. I know it hurts him.. you would have to be inhumane or really have a cold heart for it not to. I guess the next hard day will be Mother's Day. I'm not really sure how well that will go. We will be in South Carolina for that and I have mixed feelings about it all. Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

Balloons for my momma. The kids picked them out and Nathan picked out the pinwheel.

The necklace that I had made from my momma's engagement ring.

While we were in town my necklace was finally ready to pick up. I had my momma's engagement ring's diamond taken out and put into a necklace. I am happy with the way it turned out. Glad that I have it to remember her by and to pass it down to Zoey when she is older. She is already asking for it. :)

The whole week we were in Alabama Kent's granny cooked us breakfast.. and lunch.. and supper. I gained 5 pounds. Good food.. just wish it didn't all go to my belly. Bleh.

We had a good time. We hope now that we have been there a couple of times that our families will make the trek this way and give our car a break. :)