Thankful Thursday

I am very thankful for the parents we have been given. Both of our parents, Jeff and mine, have volunteered to swoop up our children and care for them while we are gone. This may not seem huge to some, but it is to me.

It is hard for me to give up control of my children. I like to see what they eat, drink, play, watch, read & wear. You should see the list of foods, clothing packed up in bundles to make it easy to know what to put them in, I typed up medical release forms... let's just say I take my job as a Mom very seriously.

Despite my crazy, obsessed organizational skills Mimi & Mamaw are going to have a blast with my girls. I am going to try to breathe and not worry about it. Because at the end of the day not many get the chance to spend that much time with their grandparents and they are making memories.

Thank you Mom and Dad. Thank you Arlene & Mike.

Thank you Lord for blessings us with such wonderful parents!

Just so you know...

No. I am not pregnant. Well, at least I am fairly certain on that. I am assuming we both had a bug and we are both feeling fine now.

Leah is picking up more words left and right. Her first birthday is approaching SO fast. It makes me crazy. She is also becoming very clingy. Maybe molars? Let's hope because she will mow down Ayla if I am holding her. Poor Ay doesn't get alot of Mommy time.

To make ammense with the previous statement. I took Ayla for a mani-pedi last night. Ha. I went to get my toes done for our trip and thought it would be a special little thing just for her. She is very girly and eats this kind of thing up! (I have a couple phone pics- we'll see if it works out to post)

Said trip is SO soon I am salivating. Still not totally finished packing and since there is a heat wave coming to IN while we are gone I had to repack the girls! Too bad the great weather could have waited for us. Oh well. The girls will love being outdoors! If our parents don't take pictures Im gonna cry.

Whirwind Weekend

Can you believe its Monday again? How did that ever happen? Really... it freaks me out. I was so looking forward to the weekend and am having trouble remembering it all already.

Saturday morning I woke up to my husband in bed with me. This is rare because he has a meeting most Saturday mornings. It was nice to have them there and all the girls came in and curled up with us. Major moves were made in order to get Ayla's room done before we leave on our trip. The stripes are finished, bedding is washed and only one more coat on the top (hopefully) before we can start moving things into their positions. I doubt we will get things hung on the walls- but the painting will be done and bed in place. Her bathroom renovation is going to have to wait. Which is fine because we have adapted to not having it in service this week. And again I don't have to clean it. Did I tell you we have 4 bathrooms... a little much I know.

Anyways, so Saturday we get ready to leave for the game and I toss my cookies. What?! This can't be happening... so I think "ok, am I pregnant" or maybe its because I started a new pack of bc pills. Oh- no- should I take said pills. Ugh. We went to the game anyway. Not much can keep me from shopping :) As soon as we pull on to I-70 Ayla tells me she doesn't feel good. WHAT?! Jeff won't pull over, the responsible driver that he is. I grab an empty Mcd's sack and lean her forward. And well, you get what happened next. She was pittiful. Said thank you and told me she was tired and shut her eyes.

Awesome.

The rest of the day went fine. Ayla and I weren't feeling the greatest but shopped well, snacked a little, and had very few meltdowns between me or the girls. :) The game was awesome, minus my very tired girls crawling & bouncing on us. And we made it home in one piece.

Great Job Hatchets!!!!

Sunday we worked a little on Ayla's room. Packed a little. Hung out and visited family. It was a very good day. But, now Monday is back and I feel all my "to-do's" creeping up on me. Still not totally packed for all 4 of us. Anyone who knows me I typically pack a month in advance. No joking. So, its kinda bothering me. But, I do have house sitters, cat sitters, & baby sitters all lined up. All necessary documents out. Schedules printed because I am that kind of Mom. So I think I am on the right track. Plus, I have painted and/or cleaned during nap times twice today!

(Don't tell anyone but I am still in my pj pants...)

What am I doing?

I have found myself everyday this week checking my to-do list over and over. Sometimes scratching something off, sometimes adding something else. I wonder what am I doing? It feels as if I am walking in circles.

I don't get time to blog and my brain is so mushy I don't know what Id blog about. Thankful Thursday... will happen. Just maybe having to take a couple weeks off.

This week (even with dance done) has been another busy one. I worked on the pep session. That was fun. We were able to have Meredith come play for a little bit. Courti made her hair pretty. Ayla has adjusted to her big girl bed, and is sleeping even longer in the am. It has to be more comfortable! I finished taping and primed over the green stripe and added the white stripes (with primer). The plan is this weekend to get the white painting done. That is the biggest part. My friend Jessie said her hub tore apart Kate (to-be)'s bathroom and wished he'd just paint! ha I thought that was funny because that same night Jeff took out Ayla's toilet to prep the floor for the tile that has sat in our garage for over a year. It never surprises me that Jeff and Dusty are doing similar things. They are funny. But, very handy husbands!! That I am thankful for! As for now, I am enjoying not having to clean that bathroom for this week. Hopefully, the paint will get done and we'll concentrate on the bathroom after.

All the while, I have done all the planning for Leah's 1st birthday party. Sad face. I seriously see her grow more and more everyday. She has picked up on many more signs, loves to play, pushing her naps around, and weaning off the bottle/formula. She had her first cup of soy milk this week. Ayla is nearing 3 and super excited about her princess party! As we've approached this mark she is acting out a little bit. That really isn't her. I have changed a little bit of how I handle her to see if she snaps back. She has always been very easy to displine. I thought she was cutting her nap out, so we went to "rest" time. That has worked bc she 'reads' books and after an hour if she's still awake she comes out. I just got her out and looked down and she's asleep on my arm. Aw. Guess Mama is right, she still needs to nap!!

Today has been particularly interesting. I have been trying to prepare Ayla that Mommy & Daddy will be going on a trip soon. She says she is excited about staying with her gparents. But is more concerned with when we are going to the basketball game! ha Too cute. As my trip draws near my heart pains for my babies- who undoubtedly will be fine and better than fine.

In 24 hours alone I have made no bake cookies, homemade banana bread muffins, and choc chip oatmeal snack bars. All of which are delish and probably not the best for my soon-to-be-on-the-beach body. Oh well, they don't know me there. I am guessing the cooking has been cathartic or maybe its just keeping my mind off of the endless packing left to do. I did start packing today snacks, the girls, and us are all underway.

I cried today as I rocked my littlest. As my tear fell, she reached up and touched it and smiled. It was the best part of my week....

Project Mode & Big Bed

My mind has been occupied lately with projects. Lately, I haven't even been able to put a finger to anything. But, lists have been made and plans laid out.

Now that dance is over (for a bit) things are flying off my list.

Like putting Ayla's room under construction. We are changing her room to a "big girl" room on a budget.

Some painting to be done (see painters tape), molding will be hung, and a little update in the bathroom We were able to move her toddler bed to a full size tonight. Ayla was jumping up and down she was so excited. One of those moments I wish I had on video. So take a good look at it now because hopefully it will be dramatically different sooooon.

(ps. she's pretending to sleep.. so funny)

What are the other projects on my to-do list you may ask?

Great, thanks for asking.

A couple small house projects. You may remember that little Miss is having a first birthday soon. And Mommy loves to plan parties. This big day happens to fall a few days after we get back from our anniversary trip. Yes, trip. Most of us Mama's know what going on a trip means. Even if your kids aren't going with you they have to be packed for wherever they are going and whatever they are doing! Our kids will be with both sets of grandparents during the stay of our (very short) trip. Meaning two clothing bags, two snack bags, two emergency lists, two of most things.... Despite all the twos- the one thing I am pysched about is THE BEACH! :) Don't mention to me that I'll be without my girls. Tears may start to fall... and its just too early for that. A few weeks after we get back and throw Leah a party is Ayla's party.

Hope everyone is enjoying spring and getting things off your to-do list, too.

Its Over.. or is it?

State Finals are over. Really, don't read it again. I am not talking hoops. My dancers qualified for State finals and competed for the last time this year last weekend. What a great way to end the year.

I had (have) a great group of girls. Each one is wildly different, but complement each other so well. We have a great time every time. We are now ranked 8th in state in our category. (Categories are chosen for team size, style, etc) We were the only southern school competing in state finals. I am so proud of my girls bc the teams we compete against are born and bred in studios. They are in classes or practice 5 or more times a week. Sometimes I wish we had more resources around or the girls took more advantage of what we do have.

Regardless I am a proud coach. One of my favorite parts of this weekend was having Jeff and the girls with me. I know Jeff is really proud of what I have done and being a constant for the girls on my team. My kids don't know it yet, but I coach partly for them.

I want my kids to see me be apart of others lives. Ayla loves to dance. Its kinda fun seeing her pick up on things I work on at home and the way she looks at the dancers at practice. She went out on the floor during awards and danced around. It was a long day, but the all my girls did really well!

Thankful Thursday

Leah got her shots yesterday. Which meant Mommy watching and snuggling. This meant a baby was going to be up a couple times in the night with or without a fever. Leah got little TLC through the night and is now feeling better. I am thankful because my child will be vaccinated against many life threatening illnesses. And I can choose when to give her said vaccines.

Ayla was up twice through the night with a croupy cough. Her poor allergies are getting the best of her right now. But, I am thankful because we can afford to give her allergy medicines and for her Mommy to be home with her all the time.

I am thankful today because I have children to hold when others are struggling with the loss of a baby, another negative pregnacy test, and trying to explain what "no cure" is to a 3 year old. I know our trouble will come. And I know my God will be right there.

Thank you Lord for our many blessings.