Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Count Your Blessings!

I have noticed that everyone on Facebook is posting what they are thankful for now that November is here and I thought it might be fun to do the same.  I don't think we can ever be grateful enough for what God has given us!!

Yesterday, I was grateful for a little "me" time in between my school visits (which translates to shopping) and for the fact that we had no where to be last night.  After a busy weekend with absolutely no down time, it was heaven to just come home after work.  
Today, I am grateful for the fact that this little girl did not have any drama before school this morning--at least nothing major that I can remember!
Her class went to see Cinderella at the Arkansas Children's Theater in Little Rock today.  She was super pumped about going!
She also requested that I take a picture of her nails (notice the multi colors!) for her Mimi to see... it really is the small things in life that can make such a difference!  I hope I always remember that!!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Catch Up!

It's been a while since I blogged.  I'm not even going to offer any excuses or say I'll do better, but just know that work and home have kept me extremely busy lately.   We also decided to paint the kitchen, living room, and hallway on our own so I've been busy with that.  It's only about half done so this is what I look at in my living room now...
As you can see, we are going way more neutral for resale purposes.  JJ says I'm going from "wild to boring" but I'm honestly tired of looking at this color....I'm really looking forward to completing the job although I think it will be Thanksgiving before we finish!

Mom, Jodie, Donna, and I went to Fayetteville to Jamie and Tara's this weekend to shop and hit up the craft fairs.  Jamie teased us about being the youngest people in NWA that weekend.  We had a great time and I think we pretty much ate the whole weekend!  I didn't take a picture one to show for any of it....

I left Mark on a very busy weekend.  The kids each had soccer games and pictures on Saturday morning (can't wait to see what Kam's hair looks like!), and a birthday party (that they didn't make it to--sorry, Court!)....
Since Mom and Donna were with me, Mark was also responsible for getting the kids to and from school.  I think he was a little tired of "driving all over the country" by Friday night...
Uncle T came down to spend the night on Friday and the kids were excited to see him.  He gives them grief and teases them constantly, but they love him and didn't want him to leave, according to Mark.  On Sunday evening, I came home to this...
I'm fairly certain that a whole lot of Wii was played while I was gone, which doesn't happen very often when I'm home.  No wonder the kids didn't seem to miss me that much!!  And yes, that is a swimsuit top that Kam is wearing.  When I returned from a conference on Monday night, she was dressed for bed in one and I just decided to pick my battles.  Not worth fighting over!  I can only hope that Mark brushed her hair for church that morning.

We visited a great pumpkin patch last weekend so I'll post pics of that trip soon.  The kids had a blast!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Kamdyn the Bus Rider

Kamdyn has begged to ride the bus ever since she started kindergarten and we have never let her.  My excuses were that she was too little and we didn't know anyone on the bus to keep an eye on her. She got over it last year but this year; however, she has literally begged to ride because our neighbor started kindergarten and rides the bus.   

On Tuesday morning, she got up early and really begged.  Normally, the bus goes by our house when she is just getting up so, essentially, I was out of excuses and just decided to give in and let her ride.   She even let me fix her hair the way I wanted so she wouldn't be late.  Score one for me!!  Might as well milk it while I can!
I think our neighbor was excited to see Kamdyn run out and join her at the bus stop.  It was cute to watch the girls giggle and talk while they were waiting.  I got tickled because Brian was leaving to get in his car across the street and he figured out she was going to ride so he stood the 3-4 minutes with arms folded until she got on safely.
We really thought she would ride the bus one day and then want to go back to being a car rider.  Not the case at all!  She loved it.   Turns out, they drop the kids off to eat breakfast before they go to the playground.  So Kam eats at home and then goes to school to eat again, although I don't think she's really eating.  They had bagels on her first day and she threw it away.  She said it was free so it didn't matter.  Yeah, right.  Nothing's free these days! 
Today was day three and it's been the same every day.  She wakes up early and first thing she says is "I'm going to ride the bus today."  Aunt Donna still picks her up in the afternoons so that hasn't changed.   Mark is loving this new arrangement.  He saves about 26 extra miles of driving every day and he swears it saves a tank of gas as well.  After Kam leaves, he and Cooper have extra time to sit and watch cartoons so I think everyone is happy.  It's so quiet after she leaves so I think that further confirms that we know where all the morning drama comes from! 

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Cooper's Soccer Game

Cooper decided he wanted to play soccer.  Well, sorta.  At Kam's game last Saturday, he said he wanted to play after he saw all his friends.  So I asked Kam's coach (who is the league president) if he could play in the spring and she said he could play now.  So at Kam's practice on Friday, she brings all the extra uniforms and jerseys for him.  The problem is that the team he wanted to be on was full so he decided he didn't want to play.  We made the mistake of asking him one last time Friday night and he said he did want to play after all.

So here we go early Saturday morning to his game. One hour early mind you.... He decided he wanted to play on the green team because he knew a boy from school on that team.  The coach had every color jersey except the green one so she graciously runs home to get it right before the game starts.  He's running around like crazy with energy and enthusiasm.  By the time he gets it on his game has already started....but it's 4-5 year olds so it's no big deal.  The coach was nice and tried to put him right in to play.  

Here's the problem....
Cooper all of a sudden becomes shy and refuses to go in.   Are you kidding me?

I kept telling Mark to do something and I really think that he was just trying to stay calm.... he told me his blood pressure was about to explode after the hoops we jumped through to get him on a team.
I will say that his response was probably typical considering he's 5 and was just thrown into a game where he didn't really know the coach or other players.  His friend from school wasn't there (figures!) and the only other boy we knew was having a "moment" too and ended up not playing. 
 
The sweetest little boy came over and began kicking with him to get him out on the field.  Don't let these pictures fool you though.  He was probably out there for about one minute total.
The snack after the game was probably the highlight for him!  I really thought for a minute that Mark was not going to let him have it...
I'm hoping that after he practices with them on Thursday that he will get more into it... he has to! 

Friday, September 23, 2011

Put That Girl To Work!

Kam came to my office after school yesterday to hang out until soccer practice.  We walked over to visit Mimi in her office and probably should have been kicked out.  Kam was in a silly mood and was so loud to boot!  It started pouring when we left and we had to walk the whole way back with newspapers over our heads.  She was so afraid we would get in trouble for stealing campus newspapers.   It's her new thing....she will always ask if we've paid for something or not when we leave.  I have no clue how this started but I promise we're not into stealing!!
In case you're wondering....no, Kam does not wear glasses but I do at work.  This is how I found her when I came back into my office.  She was hard at work leaving me a note...
I don't know what it's supposed to say, but I think I should be offended.... "fat" can never be good!
It was fun to have her hang out with me for a while in my office.  I remember as a child loving going to visit or hang out with mom in her office.  Maybe Kam will carry on the HSU tradition (although I hope not!).   I think times have changed though.... I was content drawing or stamping things when they put me to work.  I can't get anything done when Kam comes because she wants to be on my computer!  The girl needs her electronics!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

South Africa Soccer

I love it when I can make Mark eat his words.  I recall hearing him say years ago when Kam was a toddler that his kids would never play soccer.  "It's un-American!" he would say.  
Kam has wanted to play forever and we always miss it because we know nothing about soccer--not even when the season is!!  But this year we made it and even Mark thought it would be great for her and encouraged her to play!   

This is her friend Broc, who went to Mae's during her first year of preschool.  She says she remembers him and I think he recognized her when they saw each other the first practice.
Kam is one of only two girls on her team but it doesn't seem to bother her at all....
As I said, I know nothing about soccer and wasn't even sure how to cheer.  I just yelled "run" and "kick it" and that seemed appropriate.  I did have a hard time knowing which goal was ours most of the time.  Maybe I'll get better and actually learn the rules before the season is over. 
She was actually more aggressive than I thought she would be!
There are eight kids on the team so they split time equally.  Kam had a good time when she wasn't playing as you can tell.  I'm pretty sure I saw her spit one time with these boys, but I think I tried to forget that....
The team we played was pretty experienced and the kid to the left had to be closer to eight than the rest of our kids.  He towered over everyone!
During halftime, I asked Kam what she was telling her coach and she told me that she was giving her some "techniques and ideas" that her daddy had taught her!  Doesn't the coach look thrilled?
Best of all, Kam kicked a goal at the end of the game!  Mark said the referee had just blown the whistle but she kicked it and made it!  Of course, I missed it!!  It was a joke in t-ball about Cooper getting a hit every time I wasn't looking so I guess the same will go for Kam and soccer.

And, for the record, Kam loves her uniform and colors.....we had war over those black shin guard socks because she wanted pink instead, which I ended up buying anyway.  Imagine Kam having an opinion on that!!  Surprising, I know!  Go South Africa!!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

I Hate My Bow

I had to laugh this morning at this.....

Dear Robyn, 

Kamdyn took an Accelerated Reader Reading Practice Quiz today.
Title:
I Hate My Bow
Author:
Hans Wilhelm
Score:  100%

For the last week, I've been getting emails telling me when Kamdyn takes an AR test and what she makes on it.  She's made 80% on the last 3 quizzes (there are only 5 questions) and I've been on her about slowing down and taking her time.  Today, she made 100%.  I couldn't help but chuckle when I read the name of the book.  She would make 100% on this.
The child has always had a bow in her hair...
Our motto was always "the bigger, the better!" and this was way before REALLY BIG bows were in style.  She should be grateful she wasn't born two years later!!
Regardless, my hair issues with Kam are well documented on here so you all know her vehement dislike for bows now. Glad it could help her later on!!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Dad's Birthday and a Car Wash

I'm so behind on blogging.  Cooper said something this morning on the way to school that I thought I must remember to blog about.  Of course, I still haven't blogged about his birthday one month ago  so maybe I'll remember what it was before then. 


Dad's birthday was last weekend and he wanted to fry fish instead of going out for dinner.  Just what Mom wanted to do but luckily, Mark and Brian took care of it for her.  Believe me when I say they fried a ridiculous amount of crappie.  Even Cooper and Kamdyn ate some and loved it!
Dad told Mom that he didn't want a cake because he heard there was a burn ban on still...
He turned 65 which is so hard to believe!  These kiddos all love their Pop!!
It has been forever since we were all at Mom's for a meal and hanging out so it was nice.  Loud and crazy, but in a good way!  We watched the Hogs after dinner and it's probably a good thing it wasn't a close game because it was hard to concentrate with the kids playing and running.  

Campbell Grace in her Razorback jersey...I joke all the time about this girl passing Kamdyn with her temperament!
Sunday the kids decided that they wanted to get wet and wash my car....
I knew this would eventually happen....
And then this....
But surprisingly, there was no brawl or hair pulling.  Now that's what I call a good Sunday afternoon!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Labor Day Weekend

After Mark got home from Vegas on Friday afternoon, we headed to the Magnet Cove home opener before going on to Heber Springs for the weekend.  One kid wanted to go to the game and Heber Saturday and the other wanted to go on Friday night.... so we compromised and did both.  Seemed like a good idea at the time but I was extremely tired at 11:00 when we arrived Friday night!  The kids (of course!) got their second wind when they got to Papaw Sonny's and had no desire to go to bed.
On Saturday, we went to Mary Ann's house for a Chastain family get-together.  Kam always has a blast because she gets to swim and play and eat as many of Mary Ann's chocolate chip cookies as she wants (and Mary Ann makes sure there's plenty!).  
The kids had noodle races and as you can see, Cooper tried to figure out how to blow water out the other end of his noodle.  I think he might have finally figured it out; however, riding that noodle like a seahorse rubbed his inner thighs and chaffed him pretty badly.  I've done this before on my arms so I know it's painful.
He was pretty miserable for a while and stripped down nearly naked.  He cried and kept saying, "is it ever going to stop hurting?"  After a diaper rash cream, vaseline, and ice packs (courtesy of Sandy), he finally settled down.
He slept all the way home and didn't even budge when we carried him in and put him to bed.  He woke up early and refreshed the next morning and ready for Papaw to get up so he could play with his iPad.  He could be as addicted to the iPad as he is the Wii if we let him....yet another reason not to buy one!
The kids like to play Texas Hold Em poker on there, which I don't approve of, and Cooper really gets into it.   He whoops and hollers and you would think he actually knew what he was doing!  I keep telling them they better not be teaching my babies to gamble!
The kids didn't want to leave Papaw's and we tried to talk Cooper into staying the week now that Papaw's retired (although I think Papaw Sonny might have changed his mind about the offer after riding one hour in the car with Cooper)We didn't make it 5 miles down the road before Cooper was completely passed out!
On Monday, Kam was in one of her moods where anything and everything Cooper did bothered her....I found this sign on the floor in front of her door.
I'm fairly certain Cooper ignored the sign and I'm sure some sort of fight/brawl ensued at some point.  It was such a beautiful day that I told Mark to take the kids outside and not bring them in all day long! JJ and I then took our happy selves to Hot Springs without kids for a while!  I think we deserved it!!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Finding Mr. Right

*This should have posted on Friday.

It's been a very. long. week.  I was convinced that yesterday was Friday so I feel like today is an extra work day for me!   Mark's been here all week...
No fair, I know!  
I have kicked myself all week long for not going to Vegas with him.  The kids and I have made it fine until this morning when Sybil decided to rear her ugly head again.  We were late to school and I'm pretty sure she stomped off with her arms crossed after she got out of the car.  Ms. Alma, the car greeter, laughed and said, "she really is a good kid!"  I think it's the first time she's ever seen Sybil....

Yesterday while I was trying to fix Kam's hair for school she said, "Mom, what if I can't find anyone to marry me one day?"  Uh...... did she really just ask me that?  I gave the standard "you don't need to worry about that because you're too young and God has someone for you" answer.  Then she said, "what if I'm old?"  


"Kam, I was old when I got married and besides, you can't get married until you finish college.  It's a rule."  

"You mean like when I'm 19 or 20?"

Then she proceeds to tell me that if she can't find anybody she can go on "The Bachelor" to find someone.  "Uh, Kam, that's not real."  

"Yes, it is.  Ashley found JP on the bachelor." 

"But they are not married."

"But they're engaged and that means they are going to get married."



Oh, Lord, please help me!!!  
I've had too many conversations with Kam and others about boys this week.  A grandma came up to me on Wednesday night and said, "you know we're going to be related someday!"  Uh, seriously?  It's fun to joke about it now but I don't even want to think about when she is seriously interested in boys!!  
After all, she's a princess and one day her prince will come!!  Let's just hope that her Daddy and I approve of him!