~Mommy Day # 2~

I am taking off tomorrow and having a mommy day number 2.  I am so glad we are not going on a week long vacation this year because I am not going to have any PTO left.  LOL!

More information to come on my mommy day.  My day is going to start pretty normal, I am going to drop Luke off then head to drop Ashlyn off.  I am going to head back to Luke's school for a Counselor meeting, then the Dolphin Splash Award after that I have no idea what I will be doing.

It will involve cleaning.

Sick Mommy!

Turns out I have a lung infection which is almost walking pneumonia.  I feel a little better today!  I am turning the healing corner!

Mommy Day!

Yesterday was a mommy day.  I have been battling some chest congestion and I just can't seem to shake it.  Every time I am almost well I do something that sets me back again.  Well yesterday I took the kids to school in my PJ's and no makeup.  Came home and made myself rest from 8:30-11:00.  I got up and got dressed at 11:00 and left the house at 12:00 to hit Kmart.  I finished up bunny shopping.  Then I picked Ashlyn up at 2:00 to head to Luke's school to be in time for Karate Class.  I must say I have got to do this again.  What a great day.  I honestly wish sometimes I could have stayed home, but then quickly realize it is much better for everyone that I decided to keep working.

After Karate we went and got new Cleats for Luke.

Then we went and played a game IN THE RAIN!  It was not just drizzling it was RAINING!

T-ball has begun!

St. Patrick Day was the opening ceremonies.  The weather was perfect, however we could have done without some of the yellow stuff (pollen).

Our day kicked off with the Parade prep.  Luke and Ashlyn were in their 1^st parade this week-end, and they were both so excited.  Luke was not a big fan of throwing out candy because well let’s face it, he just wanted to sit down and eat it all.  Ashlyn was brimming with excitement and just loved being on the truck and hold her balloon.  My string and needle trick really worked we did not lose one balloon during the parade.

Our next stop after the parade was to head to the infield for opening ceremonies.  They called each team out and they ran to the middle of the field.  We met all the board member, and so on.  All I know is it was HOT, and the kids patience were ALL about gone.

Finally they let us leave and we hit McDonald’s with everyone else from the ball field.  The kids played, and we got a text at 12:15 that if we could make it to the field by 12:30 we could play our game!  They had miss printed our time as 1:00 and well when they did not have anyone show up at 12:00 they realized their error!  Most of the team made it by 12:30 so we started our game.

Ashlyn hit the ball really well with her lucky pink bat and so did Luke. Luke made a wonderful play stopping the ball and throwing it to 1st. Ashlyn would get to 3rd base and when you told her to go home she would run to the dugout. It was hilarious! She did it twice. The first time she got out, and the second time she was safe. She also got the ball in outer field and ran it all the way in to HOME PLATE! Would not give it to anyone of throw it in. It was her ball and she was going to take it in. Luke DID NOT have to hit from the T and was our grand slam hitter. That boy has an arm and can really hit the ball!

Ashlyn got the Game Ball. Her 1st game ever, and she got the Game Ball!!

What a crowd we had to show our support (MeMaw, PawPaw, Dang, Aunt Tiffany, Shelby, Mrs. Kessia and Mr. Louie, Vicky and Karen)  Vicky is Caleb’s grandmother and Karen is Caleb’s Aunt.  Vicky was so impressed with the game that she came over and took a picture of Luke and Ashlyn.

Rainbow on St. Patrick's Day!

This was pretty cool!

St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Today three years ago I started blogging, and have not looked back.  I had some inspiration.  Kim and Lindsey, thank you guys so much for pushing me forward.  Who know I would love it so.  What a wonderful feeling I get when I see Luke and Ashlyn looking at a book I have made for them and to be able to document things.  Important things.  They all seem the same right now, but one day they will be more than the same.  They will be perfect and special!  I am so happy to have Katherine and Alice to read and of course Kelly! 

So here is to a wonderful St. Patrick's Day and my 3 years of blogging.  I still remember writing my 1st post.  I don't  have to look at it.  I had a hard time getting Luke and Ashlyn to pose together for a picture, and I remember writing that who needs a pot of gold when you have two right here at home with you!  I should have said three.  I love my life, and could not, would not want to imagine it without my wonderful family. Luke, Pat and Ashlyn I can honestly say you complete me.  I want to be a better person, a better mother, a better wife, a better friend, a better daughter, a better sister.....you all have inspired me to want to be a better everything.  I love that fact that I have become closer to God!

I would change NOTHING at ALL!

~You look like a Mother~

I was braiding Ashlyn's hair the other morning and Luke was just standing outside the door watching me. I honestly did not even notice him standing there. He walked into the bathroom so that I could see him and he said "mom, you look like a mother doing that". At that moment I was really just going through the motions of getting the kids ready and that comment made me stop and really think about what he said. "You look like a mother doing that"!


Never forget that these wonderful kids are watching our every move, and they notice that we love them. That is about all the encouragement I need for a while to keep me going on being a mother.

They NOTICE US, and love US as much as We love them.  Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world, but it is the best job.

Who knew?

Who knew........
.........that Luke would not hit off the Baseball-T?
.........that I would keep forgetting to put Ashlyn in the line-up because she is so quiet and doing her own thing in the dug out?
...........that I would still be so sore from taking the kids to practice one time on Sunday?
........... that all the kids needed was a new good luck bat to start hitting like a pro again?
............that all this pollen so early would  get me sick?
............that if I keep it up I can actually get this weight off. I am down 3.8 pounds in a week.  (It is a combo of the Advocare cleanse I finished up Friday the 9th and Weight Watchers. It was a hard week with lots of temptations, but I did not give in because I am accountable now.  If someone offered me something I would say no I have already eaten or that too much sugar breaks me out)

Game Schedule

3/17/2012 Saturday 1:00 PM
3/20/2012 Tuesday 6:00 PM
3/22/2012 Thursday 6:00 PM
3/29/2012 Thursday 6:00 PM
3/31/2012 Saturday 12:00 PM
4/3/2012 Tuesday 6:00 PM
4/17/2012 Tuesday 6:00 PM
4/19/2012 Thursday 6:00 PM
4/24/2012 Tuesday 6:00 PM
4/26/2012 Thursday 6:00 PM
5/1/2012 Tuesday 7:00 PM
5/3/2012 Thursday 7:00 PM
5/5/2012 Saturday 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM
3/17/2012 *Opening Day* 9:00 AM Parade
5/19/2012 "*Family Fun Day/Closing Ceremonies*" 10:00

Advocare Cleanse and Weight Watchers

I am finishing up my Advocare Cleanse Friday!  I figured what a wonderful time to start eating healthy as well.  I know I have tried a ton of things lately but this is it.  I AM GOING TO GET THIS WEIGHT OFF BY SUMMER!  TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT IT.  It is time to be accountable and DO THIS THING!

I started my Cleanse and then we went on our week-end getaway.  I tried not to weight but they weighed me last night.  I have gained 3 pounds, but that is ok I feel the cleanse is working and I feel better.  Getting the Toxins out of my body is the most important thing right now that is why I wanted to do the cleanse. 

I HAVE BEEN Super hard on my body the last 6 years.  2 babies, 1 surgery, radiation, another surgery and then some good old fashion lazy/pity party years!  Enough is Enough!

I have messed around and am going to miss my 1st goal of hitting my Marriage Weight by our Anniversary, but that is ok.  I am going to be close! 

Yesterday was my start on Weight Watchers, and Friday I finish up my cleanse.  Let's see if I can join the 5 pound loser club by 03/13.  That is my Goal!

I will keep you posted next Tuesday.  PS: I have a partner in crime my sister Sheila.  She does not need to lose any weight but she is going to walk/talk me through this and together we are going to be successful.

Bonding

It was so nice for Joan and Steve to keep Luke and Ashlyn for us. They enjoyed it as much as Luke and Ashlyn did. It is so hard for me to let go, but I am so glad I was able to. The kids need this bonding time, much more than I will ever know. Pat and I needed it as well. Luke is ready to stay for 12 days! Ashlyn said she missed me, but still had lots of fun.
While in Oconee, I saw a Grandmother walking with her two grandkids they each had on rain boots, and walking sticks and it made me think those are the memories Ashlyn and Luke are making at that very moment.


I hope and pray I can keep my missing them at bay so they can enjoy more of this type of Grandparent Bonding. And Ashlyn gets more comfortable staying without me overnight. Luke is like good bye, see ya when I see ya. It must be the difference between girls and boys.


I didn't have that much growing up. We did get to go down to Grandma Brown's house and she was fun, however she did not like to go outside much and if she did she would only go as far as the front porch to her rocking chair. I do remember eating all her Saltine Crackers, and Freezer Pops as she called them. Or we would go to Grandma Lee's or Nanny's and they would put on Coffee and send the kids outside to play while they smoked and drank coffee. We would go out to the car and start blowing the horn, and mom would get so mad at us, but we would not stop blowing the horn until she came out. :-)


Pat had some good times with his grandparents, Moonie used to take them all kind of places even Disney! And Papa Ryan they got into lots of funny messes at the vineyard with Papa Ryan, the Bacon Cheeseburger in Pelion is one my favorite stories. Staying at Mimi Boozer’s house and getting into even more funny messes. The stories he tells me have me in stitches. Some good old times.

New Hats

I got some new hats, with all that rain I did not want to head up to Oconee and well have to fix my hair, so I got some hats.  Also Sheila wore one last week-end that looked cool, so I guess I was going to try my hand at being cool!  :-)

Here they are, the black on is a Burke's Special that I got for $3.00 and took off the flower, I have this flower that Nicole made for me that I will be adding to both of these hats from time to time as the outfit requires.  The Khaki one I got out of the mens section at Old Navy in Anderson on clearance for $1.50 it is a small!  Pat really likes them both and they sure grew on me this week-end because I did not have to fix my hair once!  :-)

Oconee Get-Away! ~Waterfalls~

We are under a tornado watch!  Then a tornado warning.  A tornado touched down 4 miles away in Walhalla.  Isn't that our luck!  The thunder and lightning, I kept waking up! 3 and a half falls!

Our FIRE!

Back Porch

Cabin

Snake Roads



Stumphouse Tunnel



Stumphouse Tunnell Falls

Issaqueena Falls

Issaqueena Falls and US! My Fav. Pic!

Close Up Issaqueena ~ All the Rain made all the falls flow much faster!

Our Attempt at Yellow Branch Falls! Pat's Fav. Pic!

After having to walk through two springs!  And almost having to SWIM through one we decided to turn back!
 That water was COLD!  Yellow Branch Falls was FLOODED!

Oconee Station ~Station Cove Falls -  Fence

Oconee Station Indian Trading Posts- Entry to Station Cove Falls

Family Tree

Hiking

Station Cove Falls and US!

Station Cove Falls

Station Cove Falls again and us again.

Station Cove Falls II ~ This was one of the prettiest falls!

 

Station Cove Falls!  Look at the water!

The Owl Tree

My camera did not like the cabin!