I can't keep up with a blog!!! I try, but inevitably I fail .... So, after a very long hiatus, I'm getting back in my blog saddle, and giving it another go ... Giddy Up !!
We have since moved into our new home, and we are enjoying it immensely. We have lots of space, a beautiful back yard with a creek trickling through it. That, in itself, has become an educational learning experience that we hadn't really thought about. We also have many wonderful neighbors, and an all around great neighborhood! We've settled in quite nicely, and really do like the South!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Long Weekends
Back to reality today, after enjoying a wonderful long weekend! Friday night we had dinner at Amy & Jeff's. The 4 kiddos played so well together, which allowed the adults to enjoy a couple of hours chatting away.
On Saturday, we met up with some old friends from KC. Swimming and pizza at their hotel! It was so nice seeing Sherryne and her family again. Who would have ever thought that after she moved to GA we'd end up meeting up in TN! Our other KC friends, Sue and Lance, moved to Ohio and we met up with them here in TN over Thanksgiving ... I guess TN is the place to be!
On Sunday we drove around and looked at a few more housing developments, and I saw a true hillbilly trailer ... Complete with the goats on the front porch .. I should clarify that we were NOT looking at moving into the goat / trailer park!
Monday was spent catching up on laundry/shopping etc... It's rather nice having hubby home for all the extra holidays!
Toodles for now!
On Saturday, we met up with some old friends from KC. Swimming and pizza at their hotel! It was so nice seeing Sherryne and her family again. Who would have ever thought that after she moved to GA we'd end up meeting up in TN! Our other KC friends, Sue and Lance, moved to Ohio and we met up with them here in TN over Thanksgiving ... I guess TN is the place to be!
On Sunday we drove around and looked at a few more housing developments, and I saw a true hillbilly trailer ... Complete with the goats on the front porch .. I should clarify that we were NOT looking at moving into the goat / trailer park!
Monday was spent catching up on laundry/shopping etc... It's rather nice having hubby home for all the extra holidays!
Toodles for now!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Shrimp and Grits
You know you are in the south when you see "Shrimp & Grits" on the menu, and your waiter says, "thank y'all for coming in!"
The boys were finally back in school today, so after dropping them off I drove downtown to meet my hubby. We needed to open a checking account with a local bank, so naturally we chose the TVA Credit Union! After that, he took me to lunch at a funky little place on Market Square called Cafe4 and we had the Low Country Shrimp & Grits, and it was soooo YUMMY!!!
I still have to pinch myself, on the rare occasions, that I do get to eat out without my kiddos (just to be sure I'm not dreaming). Just the mere thought of taking them out to eat in public, makes my heart start racing ... It just never goes well...and I mean never. Occasionally, afterwards, we will say to each other, "Well, that wasn't too bad," but that's as good as it gets. I've been told it gets better ... I'm still waiting!
The boys were finally back in school today, so after dropping them off I drove downtown to meet my hubby. We needed to open a checking account with a local bank, so naturally we chose the TVA Credit Union! After that, he took me to lunch at a funky little place on Market Square called Cafe4 and we had the Low Country Shrimp & Grits, and it was soooo YUMMY!!!
I still have to pinch myself, on the rare occasions, that I do get to eat out without my kiddos (just to be sure I'm not dreaming). Just the mere thought of taking them out to eat in public, makes my heart start racing ... It just never goes well...and I mean never. Occasionally, afterwards, we will say to each other, "Well, that wasn't too bad," but that's as good as it gets. I've been told it gets better ... I'm still waiting!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Footprints In The Snow
Last night as I was taking the dog out for her last potty break, I stepped outside into the bitter cold .. Took a deep breath and huddled even further down into my coat and scarf. As I rounded the corner of the building, the frigid wind literally slapped me in the face. I was tugging on the dog's leash trying to convince her to hurry up and tinkle, because I desperately wanted to get back inside where it was warm. Finally she dooes the deed, and as we approach the front door I look over to the snow and notice a bunch of little footprints zigzagging through the snow, in no particular pattern. I thought back to the past couple of days and I remembered the snowball fight the boys and I had with Daddy ... The snowball fight that created those little footprints in the snow .. The laughing and giggling that had taken place each time they managed to hit us with one.
Once inside, it hit me .. Bill and I had created those little feet that left behind those little footprints in the snow .... I was reminded again just how lucky we were to be able to watch a legacy unfold as those footprints grow .... Now here's to us not screwing it up!
Once inside, it hit me .. Bill and I had created those little feet that left behind those little footprints in the snow .... I was reminded again just how lucky we were to be able to watch a legacy unfold as those footprints grow .... Now here's to us not screwing it up!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Bloom Where You Are Planted
I'm going to borrow the phrase "Bloom Where You Are Planted" as my new motto, for awhile. I've been reading the book on moving that my new friend, Amy, gave me, and it has been very helpful! It must be good advice, because my SIL's mother also told me the same thing. Not in those same words, but the message was the same. She has also moved probably a dozen times, so "blooming where she has been planted" has become her life. She told me that I may need to go out there "and look for it" but if I was determined enough, I would find it. Just before Christmas she sent me a package of my favorite Canadian coffee-Tims!! (one of her moves had previously planted her in Canada)... How sweet and thoughtful of her!!
I do like it here and know that given a little time, I will start to think of it as "Home." It would just be so much easier, if our house in KS would sell, so that we could buy one here and start putting down roots. Even Liam says "when we get our real house." In the book the author talks about one of her MANY moves from Atlanta to Phoenix and taking 18 months for their house to sell. They were saddled with TWO house payments for almost 18 months ... I keep reminding myself that not everything in life should come easily ... And there will come a day when I'll be able to look back on this part of our life and chuckle .... We really have so much to be thankful for, and just think how much more we'll appreciate our new home when we do finally
move in ...and I'll be sure to pass along a book on moving,or a box of coffee, to any old or new friends who are "Blooming where they are planted"
I do like it here and know that given a little time, I will start to think of it as "Home." It would just be so much easier, if our house in KS would sell, so that we could buy one here and start putting down roots. Even Liam says "when we get our real house." In the book the author talks about one of her MANY moves from Atlanta to Phoenix and taking 18 months for their house to sell. They were saddled with TWO house payments for almost 18 months ... I keep reminding myself that not everything in life should come easily ... And there will come a day when I'll be able to look back on this part of our life and chuckle .... We really have so much to be thankful for, and just think how much more we'll appreciate our new home when we do finally
move in ...and I'll be sure to pass along a book on moving,or a box of coffee, to any old or new friends who are "Blooming where they are planted"
Saturday, January 8, 2011
The Three R's
Today I had to smile as Liam , my 4 yo, happily tagged along with Daddy to the recycling center. We've managed to keep up with our "greener" lifestyle, even here in the apartment. It's a definite challenge trying to set up a recycling system in such a small space, but we managed! It's so cute watching Liam go to each recycling station at the center trying to figure out what goes where ... And as parents, I'm proud that we are making the effort to teach our children to reduce, reuse, recycle, and while we still have a lot of room for improvement, at least we have started to live a greener lifestyle!
Friday, January 7, 2011
MNO
I went out last night with my new "Moms Club" and had a great time! A fabulous group of gals who have made me feel so welcome! The restaurant food/service was lousy, but I didn't even care...mainly because I hadn't been out in weeks and also because I had a GROUPON which brought my bill down to $1.80!!
I've been struggling a little lately ... Moving is stressful enough, but we also have the added worry of trying to sell our house back in KS. Everything is new and different .. And while that has some excitement built into it, it can also be emotionally draining. One of the moms I have met, who also moved here not so long ago, gave me a book at playgroup today called "After The Boxes Are Unpacked ... Moving On After Moving In". So sweet of her and it meant a lot to me. There's a chapter called " Cherish, Not Cling ... Remembering back, but looking forward" and another one entitled "Nobody Knows My Name - Finding Your Lost Identity". I'm looking forward to reading it over the weekend. The good thing is the boys are adjusting well. They have already moved on and settled in, and for that I am thankful!
I've been struggling a little lately ... Moving is stressful enough, but we also have the added worry of trying to sell our house back in KS. Everything is new and different .. And while that has some excitement built into it, it can also be emotionally draining. One of the moms I have met, who also moved here not so long ago, gave me a book at playgroup today called "After The Boxes Are Unpacked ... Moving On After Moving In". So sweet of her and it meant a lot to me. There's a chapter called " Cherish, Not Cling ... Remembering back, but looking forward" and another one entitled "Nobody Knows My Name - Finding Your Lost Identity". I'm looking forward to reading it over the weekend. The good thing is the boys are adjusting well. They have already moved on and settled in, and for that I am thankful!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
School is back in session!!!!!
YES, I'm sooooo happy to have my boys back in school!!!! Liam goes on Tues/Thurs and Killian just goes on Thursday. So, Thursdays have become sacred to me ... From 9:30 until 2:30 I get to go about my day day without much interruption and relative peacefulness. If there really is a heaven ... This is what it must be like!!
Today, I did the simplest of things ..stopped at Starbucks for a chai tea latte, then had the oil changed in my car, next I was off to tour a Pre-K program, then a stop at the grocery store, and all of it was done without anyone yelling at me, bickering amongst themselves, or demanding anything from me. There were no last minute potty breaks or worrying about getting home in time for naps. It's almost like not having a care in the world for 5 blissful hours!!
The funny thing is, I can remember a time when I was in no hurry to send the boys off to school. As frustrated as I would sometimes get, I still truly enjoyed being able to stay home with them ... Even last year, I just sent Liam to PDO one day a week, knowing in my heart these were some of the best years of my life and I would soon miss these days. Something changed over the summer and I found myself yearning for a little more "me" time and I was becoming a bit short-tempered with them. So, this little break from each other has been good for us. They love school and so do I!
Today, I did the simplest of things ..stopped at Starbucks for a chai tea latte, then had the oil changed in my car, next I was off to tour a Pre-K program, then a stop at the grocery store, and all of it was done without anyone yelling at me, bickering amongst themselves, or demanding anything from me. There were no last minute potty breaks or worrying about getting home in time for naps. It's almost like not having a care in the world for 5 blissful hours!!
The funny thing is, I can remember a time when I was in no hurry to send the boys off to school. As frustrated as I would sometimes get, I still truly enjoyed being able to stay home with them ... Even last year, I just sent Liam to PDO one day a week, knowing in my heart these were some of the best years of my life and I would soon miss these days. Something changed over the summer and I found myself yearning for a little more "me" time and I was becoming a bit short-tempered with them. So, this little break from each other has been good for us. They love school and so do I!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Hello 2011 !!
Well here it is 2011 .... Seems funny to type/write that! With a little encouragement from my BFF I decided to make my THIRD attempt at maintaining an active blog ... Let's see how long I keep up with it this time!
I remember when blogging first came on the scene, I had to ask my hubby what it was exactly ... Then followed with "why?". Now it seems like a good way to keep family and friends across the miles up-to-date on what's going on with us, as well as a great way to archive those precious family memories!
The boys and I have this little phrase we share between us ...it started with a song. An Uncle Kracker song to be exact. Everytime it came on the radio my 2 yo would start belting out the lyrics with all his heart ... Then he just randomly started singing it anytime, anywhere and eventually he started saying "Mommy, you make me smile", and a few weeks ago as I was tucking his older brother into bed, I kissed him on the cheek and he responded with "Mommy, that makes me smile and so do." Now we find ourselves randomly saying to each other "You make me smile". So, Uncle Kracker's "Smile" has become OUR song and "You make me smile" has become OUR own little phrase .. And "They Make Me Smile" naturally became the name of my blog, because that is exactly what they both do ... Make me smile deep down to my core.
I remember when blogging first came on the scene, I had to ask my hubby what it was exactly ... Then followed with "why?". Now it seems like a good way to keep family and friends across the miles up-to-date on what's going on with us, as well as a great way to archive those precious family memories!
The boys and I have this little phrase we share between us ...it started with a song. An Uncle Kracker song to be exact. Everytime it came on the radio my 2 yo would start belting out the lyrics with all his heart ... Then he just randomly started singing it anytime, anywhere and eventually he started saying "Mommy, you make me smile", and a few weeks ago as I was tucking his older brother into bed, I kissed him on the cheek and he responded with "Mommy, that makes me smile and so do." Now we find ourselves randomly saying to each other "You make me smile". So, Uncle Kracker's "Smile" has become OUR song and "You make me smile" has become OUR own little phrase .. And "They Make Me Smile" naturally became the name of my blog, because that is exactly what they both do ... Make me smile deep down to my core.
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