Coming out of the Shell

After several weeks of depression and anxiety I can say I am finally coming out of my shell. Dealing with depression and anxiety really sucks. It takes days away from my life that I can't get back. Luckily, my meds seem to be working and paired with lots of prayer, I am doing much better.

The Beemer house is about to get busy again...

Victoria made the JV soccer team so her season is already under way. She has about 2 games a week and practices are on their off days. She also has practices for Band so the Suburban will be very busy! I am hoping we can find a carpool because it's a lot of driving back and forth; not to mention the gas money it takes!

I signed Brody up for Itty Bitty sports through the local YMCA and that starts in March. He will have a 2 week rotation of baseball, soccer, football and basketball. I can't wait to see how he behaves during all of them! It's crazy to even think he is old enough to play a sport....didn't I just give birth to him???

I am also getting a bit anxious about enrolling Brody in a lottery funded Pre-K program in March. Supposedly it's madness and hours spent overnight to get your child in the school. So I guess I will be spending the night in the school parking lot in March. The things you do for your kids!

The Beemer girls had a nice Valentine's day thanks to Mr. Beemer...we had flowers, jewelry and a nice meal yesterday. Victoria got a present from her boyfriend so I think she was over the moon about that. The way to her heart was Hot Tamales and some lotion from B&B works.

She did it again!!!

I got the text this morning that Victoria made the JV Girls Soccer Team at LCHS. I couldn't be more proud of her.

She has spent the last two weeks conditioning and preparing for this moment and it paid off!

She only started playing soccer a few short years ago and has became a really good player. She always doubts herself but as parents we see her potential...and she proves time and time again that she has great potential.

I can't believe she is even old enough to be on a JV team in HIGHSCHOOL! The time has flown by...it seems once they hit 13 everything starts to really go by so fast!  I seriously was just planning Strawberry Shortcake parties for her. Now we're attending highschool events for her. Wow.

I'm trying to take it all in because I know in a short 3 years she will be leaving our nest for college. She even knows where she wants to attend...isn't that crazy?!? We went from talking about what Bratz doll to buy to what college she hopes to get into.

All I can say is that I am one proud Momma of one very special girl!

Tryouts Take 2

Today is the day that all a parents (or at least me) dread....their child trying out for a school team. I turn into a ball of nerves and pace the floors all day hoping and praying for my child to come home with a huge smile saying she made the team.

Today while having coffee with Susie we agreed that it's harder on the parent than the child. Wonder why that is? I guess it's because you never want your child to fail and you never want to see a dream they have crushed. You want them to attain any goal they set for themselves.

Victoria has been conditioning at school for soccer for about 2.5 weeks and today is the start of try-outs for the JV squad at LCHS. My little girl is big enough to play a sport in highschool....say it ain't so! Wow. time. flies.

After saying a prayer and keeping my fingers crossed I hope I have good news to share very soon. They were not told how long tryouts would last so I am hoping it's a quick process and not one that will leave me with no finger nails left or a floor to pace on!

Holiday Memories that Last

I think that Christmas (besides Halloween) is my most favorite time of year. It's like it's the one time your spirit is free to be a child again....at least for me it is.

I get all wrapped up in buying the *perfect* tree that always tends to be entirely too big for our living room but somehow we manage to get it to fit. Usually it entails a little cursing and a fit or two but it does make itself into an upright position and the angel looks perfect when we are finished decorating the massive pine tree.

Another joy of the holiday season is BAKING! I love to bake/cook the common household staples around Christmas time. You get cookies, candy, dipped pretzels, cheese straws and so much more. It's like your kitchen becomes a bakery during Christmas! The smell of your house is a mixture of sugar and spice with a splash of pine tree....HEAVEN.

This year my parents will be here for the holidays and I am beside myself. It will be a wonderful holiday filled with so much love, laughter and days full of making memories. I always make a gingerbread house with Mom and the kids so I can't wait to do that this year. It always turns out so pretty and it's a wonderful bonding experience and something that Victoria will hopefully do with her children. Hopefully we are making traditions for her and Brody....that's what Christmas is all about right?!? Family traditions?

Growing up we had a few family traditions like going to the same Christmas tree lot every year to pick out the not so small tree. Coming home putting the tree up and decorating it while listening to Christmas music. We would always ride down Union Street and little side streets to look at the beautiful lights that lined both sides of the streets. We would always watch "It's a Charlie Brown Christmas" and several other holiday cartoons. I would always go to the Carolina Mall to get my picture taken with Santa Claus.  It was a magical time for me growing up. My parents made Christmas special even though I am sure they thought these small gestures didn't mean a whole lot to me (but they did).

I can only hope that I am making the holidays special for my children. I want them to look back, smile and get that warm fuzzy feeling inside like I do when I think of my childhood during the holidays.

Gesundheit!!

Gesundheit!! We are barely into the winter season and my poor little Brody is already sick with a very gurgley, nasty cough. So it's off to the Doctor we go tomorrow.

I feel so bad when my little bugaboo is sick because he is so helpless. He can't blow his nose very well so he has snot all over his face which creeps up into his eyes where they matte shut. Ugh. It's so sad.

I was hoping we could get into December before anyone became ill in our household but with the kids in school I guess that is asking a lot. Victoria rarely gets sick but germs seem to swarm in preschool. I know he had to pick up some other kids nasty germs. Which brings me to my reason for my post...


Dear Parent,

WHY DO YOU SEND KIDS TO SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE REALLY SICK AND HAVE A FEVER?!?!?

I will be the first to admit that Brody goes to preschool when he has a slight cough or a little runny nose but he DOES NOT and WILL NOT go to preschool if he has a fever, a croupy cough or has been throwing up. I don't want to subject another kid and their family to my families ailments.

Okay, I feel better now to get that off my chest. So the moral of my post is keep your sick kids at home so they don't pass off their nasty cold to the other children in the class!

Thanks,
A peeved parent.

All Systems: Slow Down

Wow, where has this year gone?!?! I feel like time has flown by and now the holidays are fastly approaching us! Next week is Thanksgiving.....eeeeekkk.

This is really a random post because our life has been a whirlwind the past couple of months. I am honestly ready for things to slow down so I can enjoy the holidays and not feel so rushed. However, I don't think that is going to happen.

We started out the month attending my Dad's annual Hospice Charity concert and as usual it was a success and fun was had by all that attended. The music played and the wine poured freely. They raised money for a great cause and people were already signing up for next years even tickets. Can't go wrong with that. I am so proud of my Dad and his band for doing this. Hospice is such an amazing organization and it's something that you can fully appreciate until your family has to use their services. We have had to use them twice and each time I walked away with a new found respect for the nurses and staff that work within the organization. They truly are miracle workers.

We cleaned out Pappaw's house while we were there for the concert and rented a truck to bring back a few items that were left for me. My grandmothers dining room set, a bedroom set and some other miscellaneous things. All reeked of cigarette smoke so we spent most of Saturday bathing the furniture (and ourselves) in Murphy's Oil and Liquid Gold. I smelled like cleaning supplies for two days. We already have the dining room set in  the house and every time I walk in there I smell my Mammaw & Pappaw's "house". It's kind of weird but comforting feeling. I know my Mammaw would be happy that her set will still be used for holiday dinners. I am actually excited about using it this Thanksgiving and Christmas. I had to get the chairs recovered because the fabric was old and smelly so those cushions will be done today and I am looking forward to seeing what they look like when I pick them up :)

This past weekend we went and saw our neighbors children compete in their YMCA soccer tournament. We have the best neighbors and we try to support them and their children. It was a perfect fall day and they did a great job. They won their first game but lost and fell out of the tournament during the second game. They played hard and we enjoyed watching them since we are a soccer family....Vic's soccer conditioning as a FRESHMAN will start in a few short weeks. Say what?!?!??? My kids are growing up entirely too fast....TIME SLOW DOWN, PLEASE!

I have been spending the past few Mondays at Morningside Elementary School tutoring children that come from lower class homes that do not get the support they need at home. Either they come from a broken home, their parents are not able to help them or far worse; their parents aren't around. I have truly enjoyed my Monday mornings with my two little boys Juaneye and Jordan. They light up when they see me walk into the classroom and that makes my day. I was able to volunteer through our church. It's a great mentoring project that helps our community and that is what First United Methodist Church is all about; giving back to the community.

I am SUPER excited about Thursday because I will be attending the Stewart & James holiday show. Kristen and Arre Fuller always have amazing frames and all are unique and one of a kind. They are a little pricey but you know you are getting a one of a kind reclaimed wooden frame. I have several around the house and I always love to add more to my "collection". It's a nice night to get out and have girl time with wine and cheese. It's an event I look forward to every fall.

Well, I will wrap it for now because I have been in my PJ's too long! It's time to get dressed and try to get some things done today!! I do have another recipe to add so be looking for that one to be added to my blog later in the week.

The Princess Fairy and The Little Dragon

For Halloween this year I found the cutest costume at a consignment sale I went to last month. Brody is all about Dinosaurs and Dragons and I was lucky enough to find him a very nice and pricey Dragon costume for only $10! Great find if you ask me (consignment sales are the best--they rock).

Brody was beside himself when I told him what I bought for him and I have had to hide it in my closet for the past month so he wouldn't play with it! I am so glad Halloween is over now so he can have it to play with because it really is too cute to not use.

We did trick-or-treating a little early this year because he is so small and can't "hang" for very long. We hit about 7 houses and he was pooped and I was pooped from carrying him to the last few homes. He was happy with his loot so we came home and handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters. All in all it was a very good Halloween for the Beemer bunch!

Beemer Family Randomness

My mind is slightly scattered today so this blog is completely random with bullets instead of paragraphs. It's been a whirlwind with school starting and our mini vacay to Destin, Florida so here goes:

* Victoria started school and made it through her first day without any problems. She seems to be excited about this school year but she has a TON of expectations from all of her core classes. This will definitely be a challenging year for her.

* LCHS has their first pre-season game this coming Friday and I know Mike is beside himself with excitement. Nothing like some Southern Friday night lights and your daughter marching during halftime. He will probably get misty eyed...he's good like that.

* Brody starts school next Monday and will be going three days a week. I CAN. NOT. WAIT!!!! He needs so much stimulation and with the weather hotter than hell here it's hard to do much since your stuck indoors. I think I have watched every single episode of "Dora", "Wonder Pets", "Olivia" and the "Dinosaur Train". I am d-o-n-e with kiddy shows; I may hurl if I have to watch any more.

* I signed up for PTO which I am actually kind of excited about. I really want to be involved with Victoria's school and after school activities as much as I can and I thought that would be a good start. My day time hours are limited due to Brody's school schedule but something is better than nothing. It was either PTO or Band Boosters so I went with the one that I could be a little more flexible with. I can't commit to every Friday night (nor do I want to) so we will see how PTO works out for me

* We went to the beach the past weekend and had fun but my anxiety was up 100x more than when I am at home. I have pin pointed that I get overly anxious when I am not in my own environment. Crazy, I know, but hey, it is what it is. I personally do better with a schedule and my own little world....however, I have GOT to get over it because I like to take vacations. I know, I know, I just contradicted myself.

* I am signing Brody up for Itty Bitty Sports camp this week. It's a 6 week rotation of baseball, basketball and soccer. It introduces the little tykes to the world of sports and we definitely want him involved in athletics. The program is through the YMCA and I am excited about it.

As you can see my mind (and life) is all over the board so writing a good blog just wasn't in the cards today. However, it felt good to get it all off my mind...

Chugga Chugga Chehaw!

Today I spent my morning hanging out with my favorite 3 year old at our local zoo (yes, Albany has a zoo). It was a spur of the moment decision because after watching the same "Dora" episode for the 6th time I knew we had to get out of the house.

Parks at Chehaw is really a great little zoo to take the family because it's small but big enough to keep your little (or big) ones occupied for several hours. We spent about an hour and a half checking out the snakes, frogs, lizards, pigs, miniture horses, alligators, wolves, flamingos and the big Rhino. We didn't even walk through the entire Zoo because Brody was anxious to ride the train and I could tell his little tank was about empty.

I bought our ticket for the train and he was beside himself with joy. We had to wait a few 10 minutes before we could board the cute little train and he grew more excited as we were able to hear the whistle and bell in the distance. Finally after swatting gnats for longer than I cared to we hopped aboard and went for a ride throughout the park. It was a nice breeze and Brody was smiling ear to ear. My heart pratically melted (not from the heat) when he looked at me, held my hand and said so sweetly "Look Momma, it's not scary".

TALK ABOUT WANTING TO CRY!!!!!!

In that very moment it hit me that my little boy is growing into a big boy. Even though his Birthday was this past Sunday and his party was on Saturday it really didn't hit me that he was "older". It took riding a little train and having some precious one on one time with him for it to really sink in. Good thing it was hotter than hell outside because my tears were masked by sweat rolling down my face and neck.

If I am this emotional over a simple train ride then I am not so sure how well I will hold up for those "big, monumental" birthdays.

My baby is growing up and as much as I want him to be a "big boy" there is a part of me that still needs to be telling him....."Look baby, it's not scary.".

Happy 3rd, Bugaboo!!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Brody....Mommy loves you!

'The Little One That Follows Me'
Author: Unknown

A careful woman, I ought to be;
a little one follows me.

I do not dare to go astray,
for fear they'll go, the self-same way.

I cannot once escape their eyes,

hatever they see me do, they'll try.

Like me, they say, they're going to be,
that little one that follows me.

They think that I am good and fine;
believe in every work of mine.

The bad in me they must not see;
my life to them, must, an example be.

I must remember, as I go,
through summer's sun and winter's snow,
I'm building for the years to be,
for that little one that follows me."

Flippin' over Duster

If you flew over Albany, Georgia you would think you were flying over neighborhoods on the West Coast because almost EVERY.SINGLE.HOUSE (no matter how big or small) has a pool. The temperatures are so warm  HOT for a long period of time it's also a "must" when purchasing a home in the Deep South.

We loved the idea of having a pool when we first moved into our home but then it hit us that one of our family members didn't know how to swim and loved water. Brody is a few days away from turning three and he's our biggest concern when it comes to our pool.

When we first moved here everyone said that we had to get him into swim lessons with a lady named "Duster". She is supposedly like the "Dog Whisperer" when it comes to teaching your toddler how to swim....so I will call her the "Pool Whisperer".

After putting off lessons (and raising my Mother's blood pressure) for 9 months we decided it was time to get him enrolled in one of Duster's classes. As I expected she was pretty much booked through July so he will start the first week of August. His lessons will be four, thirty minute segments at $10 a lesson. Not bad when you think about this is potentially a life saving class. We did have to buy the cute little flippers that Brody is modeling above as well as some goggles. Right now he thinks these are cool we'll see what he thinks after the first day.

I have also been warned that viewing these lessons aren't for the weak at heart. Her exact words to me were "By day two you will want to kick my teeth in". Really?!? I have been told by a friend that if you baby your child during the sessions she will send the parent inside for the remainder of the session (Insert: Picture of USMC Drill Sgt). Duster is tough as nails and doesn't put up with nonsense. Kind of scary if you ask me but if it gets my child swimming then I can suck it up and put my big girl panties on.

Until the lessons start in August I will keep the cute little image above in mind and tell myself that it's all good.....for now.

Updates coming in early August.

"I can't want it"

I really hate to wish my days away but yesterday was one of those days that you just want to end. It's the day that your kid decides to turn into a mini devil and stay that way ALL DAY LONG. I am not sure what happened while my child slept the night before but he woke up being mean as a snake and thought it would be fun to boss me around all day. He also thought it would be fun to verbally and physically abuse me...as much as a kid can.

It started with breakfast (which is always a fiasco) and lasted until his early departure for bedtime. He woke up not wanting a thing to eat except chocolate chip cookies. I tried everything that is *supposed* to be good for you only to end up caving in just so he would eat something. Next it was time to get dressed and he is now at the age where he tells ME what HE is going to wear. I picked out his favorite Dinasaur shirt to wear only for him to turn into a howling banshee screaminng "I can't want it, Mommy, I can't want it"!!! He later calmed down enough where I could understand what he wanted....he wanted to wear his shirt with the dump truck on it. Go figure. If he has an opinion on what he wants to wear this early on in his life then I am in a world of trouble....I mean, he is only a few days shy of three.

His self absorbed attitide lasted throughout the day when he was upset his Sissy got to go bowling and he didn't. He doesn't understand that Sissy is 11 years older than he is and won't (and doesn't want to be) a permant fixture to his side 24/7! She does have a life and sometimes it doesn't include him. Poor fella. I do feel bad for him when it comes to his relationship with her because he's just too young to understand and too young not to get his feelings hurt when she "disses" him for friends and activities. I tried to make-up for it today by going to his favorite fast food chain; McDonald's.......however, I ordered his usual -- a chicken nugget Happy Meal and that wasn't even right?! The child has never eaten anything else but nuggets from there but once I again I heard "I can't want it". Really?!?

We're also having a battle with the amount of time he is consuming with his favorite TV shows. I like the idea he is learning stuff from Handy Manny, Dora the Explorer, Backyardingans and Oliva but I am also missing out on some of my TV time! He won't budge when it comes to sharing the TV time and it's about to drive me insane. I think we all may have to take a vacation from TV land to prove a point to the little guy. I'm not sure how many times I can keep repeating these cartoon theme songs in my head before I go nuts. It's also sad when you're child answers you in Spanish when his language is English. I brought him a drink the other day and he resonded "Gracias". Wow.

So, I will end with  is..... this Mommy "Can't want it" any more!

Making Music

"God is a DJ, Life is a Dancefloor, Love is the Rhythm, You are the Music".

Wow! is all I have got to say with that quote that I ran across earlier this morning. It instantly made me smile because it rang true in my case. For the past several years the music I have been putting out was a sad set of notes. I wasn't the happy, thriving young lady that I once was. My family and I both missed the sweet melodies that once projected from my heart and soul. I was a lost soul just going through the motions of life. I would wake up every day without that "spark" I once had, do just what I had to do in order to survive, take care of my family only to go to sleep and repeat. I was in sad shape and so was my family and our relationship with one another. Our household was a very sad one and anyone that listened carefully could hear that echoing through the four walls of our house and our outwardly appearance. The worst part of the whole thing was that *I* was the one to blame for the "perfect storm" that was brewing. That storm finally came to a head several weeks ago when I could no longer go through the motions...my body was a mere 76 pounds, I was tired mentally & physically and I had hit my rock bottom.

I had a life changing experience two weeks ago that left me renewed, refreshed and ready to start life over again singing a new tune. I was able to take a break from my "real life" to focus solely on myself and my problems without the issues of my every day family life. I was able to get away from my household for 5 LONG days to take time to heal inwardly and outwardly. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who allowed me to remove myself from my family so I could take time for myself....time to fix me so I could fix our family. If that isn't a blessing I don't know what is.

After taking time out of my busy life to concentrate solely on me and my own faults I was able to see that I have been the root of all the chaos in our family. I was unhappy and miserable with myself and the music that I was putting out echoed loudly in the ears of my family and friends.  The only music they heard was a sad melody and that in return made them upset, unstable and on edge. Once again, all the ingredients for the "perfect storm".

I have learned more about myself in the past 2 weeks than I have in my 32 years on this earth. I have learned that I need to ask for help when I need it. I have learned that you can't heal overnight, deep scars and wounds take years to heal. I have learned to start putting myself first and doing that *isn't* selfish; it's what you have to do in order to stay healthy to take care of your family. I have learned your family really does know more than you do when you are at your lowest point in life. I have learned that your actions, sharp tongue and attitude rubs off on your family and in return they start reacting in a negative manner. I have learned that getting professional help isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of strength. I have learned that FAMILY is the most important thing one can have. I have learned that love is unconditional if it's *true love*. I have learned that your children do love you unconditionally...Thank God. I have learned that at the end of the day no matter the riches you possess that you're no better than the homeless. I have learned to be humble and patient. I have learned that church really is good for the soul and that GOD is good....you just have to trust and believe in him. I have learned the power of prayer and that things happen on *his* time....not yours.

Above all, I have learned that the music I project is what my family dances to and for that very reason I am done with sad & angry lyrics....I am ready to dance to something joyful and uplifting. So you better get your dancing shoes ready because I have a lot of goodness to sing about!

xoxo

"You've Got Mail"

There was a time where I longed to hear the words "You've Got Mail" from my Gateway Desktop computer. I believe that we all used AOL as our first email accounts when the Internet hit big in the mid to late 90's....you know back when we still used dial up connection and had disks not discs. 


I think technology is a wonderful thing and it's proven to be awesome in my case once we moved away from home. Without Facebook or Email our family would be lost. That is our main form of communication on a daily basis...usually multiple times a day. If my parents don't hear from me once a day through some form of online source they will worry and you can be sure one of them calls to check in with me that evening. 


With that being said I must admit I think we have become too dependent on technology when it comes to communication. What happened to sending a greeting or letter through the good 'ole USPS? Our mailboxes (the ones at the road not on your PC) are overloaded with bills and junk mail but we rarely if ever get a nice greeting from a friend or loved one. Maybe I am old fashioned but every time I see a HANDWRITTEN card from a familiar name in my mailbox I instantly get a smile on my face. 


I am a card sending fool....maybe on the verge of crazy. I enjoy making & mailing cards/notes to my family and friends. There is something about a card that says you took the time to buy or make that person a greeting, hand write a quick hello, put a stamp on it and actually put it in the mail. You took time out of your day (and we all know we are ALL busy) for that person instead of just hitting the enter button on your computer. I completely agree it's faster, more convenient and just plain easy but sometimes I wonder what that says about us as people.


I guess I had this on my mind today because in Bible study we were talking about all of the "things" we have in our life that keep us so busy like technology that we forget what it was like when things were simple. Things that took time and showed effort.....a real effort. Sometimes I don't think we do take the time to do the simple things that mean the most. I know some people aren't "card people" and I totally respect that and I this blog isn't a slam to those who fall in that category. It was just a thought that was in my head and happened to be discussed today at church.


I am and always will be that card person. I like receiving greetings in the mail as do my kids. They can't wait to get to the mailbox to see what's in there from Nannee. Sometimes I just mail things to them so they have something to smile about. The crazy thing is that they really do appreciate it and it's something that makes not only them smile; it makes their heart smile too. 


Which brings me to this question....it's kind of like presents....do you really like the gift bag or does it mean more when it's wrapped. Just something to think about. Anyone can throw a gift in a bag with some tissue paper....wrapping it just seems more personal. 

Elation!

The weekend came, went and I am happy to say that I felt pretty darn good for most of it! FINALLY!!! I *think* that the nasty part of this horrible sinus infection that I had plaguing me for 10 long days has moved on it's cruddy little way. I am praying I do not encounter anything like it for a very long time because it ranked pretty high on my "What death feels like" list. 


Friday I ventured away from my bed and went to lunch with Susie. While most of my lunch from the Cookie Shoppe was untouched (I had no appetite) it was still nice to get out of the house and the stale smell of my room that I had barricaded myself in for so long. It was a short trip out but put some fresh air in my lungs, sunlight on my pale skin, good Vegetable soup in my tummy and allowed me to have some good girlfriend time. The lunch was short and sweet but very meaningful.


Saturday was a chaotic afternoon of me running around like a crazy lady trying to make 3 different parties  from 2 o'clock  thru  6 o'clock!! At first I was like any crazy lady thinking that it sounded completely normal and could be done. No worries, right? Um, sorta once I really stepped back and looked at the bigger picture! I made promises and I was keeping them. So that's just what I did even though it was a pretty stressful couple of hours.


Early Saturday I went to my new girlfriend, Laura Register's 1st Mary Kay party. I really wanted to attend this function  because it was he first party and she was really excited about her new venture into the MK world and I wanted to show her that I would support her and her new business.


After spending a little too much time at the party we were delayed to our next stop....a Birthday party for one of Brody's little classmates. It was held at a local gym here in town but we were over an hour late so he missed the jumping so we skipped right to the good stuff --- the Birthday cake, cookies and ice cream. He was happy with that and I was glad we were able to make it and let Brody and Daniel play even if it was only towards the end of the event. I know they had fun so that is all that matters in my book!!


Once we were finished with the last Birthday party we had to rush home because we were having the Fuller's over to grill out for dinner and let the kids swim in the pool. It was a fantastic evening for it because it was cooler and the gnats seemed less bothersome than usual. (Yes, we have gnats here in Georgia.) Everyone had a great time and we spent the night filling our bellies with hamburgers and hot dogs. I am sure all of the kids slept well last night because they played a lot out in the pool and running around the yard.


Today I did my shopping run to Publix to pick up a few items for the week. Even though we do our main shopping every other week I tend to have to back once a week to get more fruits, milk or lunch making stuff. It is always something when it comes to groceries!! I also never walk out of there without spending $100...It's impossible for me. 


All afternoon I worked on getting Victoria's teachers gifts ready for school so she could take them tomorrow. I made each teacher a monogrammed glass filled with candy. I really hope that they like them because Victoria and I thought that turned out perfect! I really should start selling  these types of things on Etsy.com because they are great gifts. 

Conflicted

Mike and I have been discussing taking a mini family vacation for a couple of weeks now and I have been pondering where we could go that would be close, cheap and kid friendly...having a two year old and thirteen year old in tow really narrows that list down so I was excited about finally making a choice. We had thought about the beach but that is always pricey this time a year plus it's a pain trying to keep up with Brody around the ocean because he thinks it's a giant bathtub! It's also a pain in the ear hearing your teenage daughter huff and puff out of boredom while complaining that not having a friend tagging along sucks. 


We are stuck in between the Gulf and Atlanta so with the beach sounding like a nightmare our only alternative other than staying home is Atlanta. I have been to Atlanta several times and honestly had no idea what it had to offer other than a racetrack and Buckhead (nightlife) but after a friend told me about all of the "kid-friendly" activities it sounded like a dream!


Atlanta is a smorgasbord of educational fun waiting to happen for the family and I think we would all enjoy a trip to "Hotlanta"! I know the heat will be an issue but we already live in the Deep South where we're already hitting a toasty 85+ degrees so it's not like we aren't used to it. Half of all the attractions I am interested in are indoors so that will provide some relief from the sun in the big city. 


A few of places that I am eager to check out are the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Zoo Atlanta, World of Coca-Cola and the Children's Museum. 


All of this sounds great, right?!?!? Right, if your not conflicted like I am! For once when I get stoked about a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of our normal every day life I am only greeted with more hustle and bustle in the form of a school letter. Victoria cheerfully threw a letter at me this evening and after reading it my smile turned upside down into a frown. There is an after school event for her soccer team the weekend we had planned to go out of town. You have GOT to be kidding me...sEriOusLy?!? And not only is it the weekend we were planning to get away it's an overnight school thing so we can't just push the trip a couple of hours back. 


I know I probably sound just as shallow as she does at the beach grumbling about not having a friend to pal around with but I was really looking forward to getting away. My life has been nothing but 24/7 errand runner, Band Mom, Soccer Mom, Chef, Laundromat worker, Diaper changer, Wife and the list could go on & my husbands list is equally as long so this little retreat was a welcome break. 


I guess we will have to wait and book all vacations once we retire and the kids are out of school because it looks like their extra curricular activities will keep us very busy for the next 20 years or so!

Binky Blues

Tonight I was faced with a Mommy's worst nightmare...mending the dreaded worn baby blanket. Brody calls his blankets (yes, blankets, he has two of them) "Binks or Binkies" and they are a necessity in our every day life. Brody has to have his binks at naptime, bedtime, roadtrips and when he is under the weather. Needless to say they are a very important part of our life and they keep my little man happy. 

It seems like yesterday that I was standing in Babies-R-Us searching for the *perfect* blanket for my unborn child. I was about 6 months pregnant and I was adamant about buying him the exact same baby blanket that I had growing up; a pale yellow thermal blanket with satin trim. I was ecstatic when I found them and I decided to pick up two; one for Brody and one for Alex. I know buying a baby blanket for your dog sounds a little outrageous but I had read online that if you give your dog something that smells like the baby then your pet will be more comfortable with the new addition. I figured I would wrap Brody in it while we were in the hospital and let Alex have it afterwards to get accustomed to his scent. After all, Alex had been my "baby" for a long time and I knew he would have some issues with being ignored and second so I wanted to make the transition easy for him. 

Needless to say, Brody held on to both blankets and they have been with him since the day he was born! We were lucky in the pacifier department because Brody never liked his and would spit them out....he had already found comfort in sucking on his blankets. It's probably not the safest or most sanitary thing but it keeps him happy and asleep. 

The only downfall to his blanket sucking habit is they get dirtier and worn out quicker than the average blanket. His poor little satin trimmed binky has seen it's share of better days and tonight I had to do the unthinkable. I had noticed last week that the satin trim was starting to come apart from the actual thermal blanket and was potentially a choking hazard so as much as I hated to take the scissors to the beloved blanket I had to do what was the safest thing and cut the worn shred off. It honestly broke.my.heart! 

Call me a sap but it was really a hard thing to do and it was just another reminder of how fast he is growing up. However, I have a little peace of mind that I have TWO binks to hold *me* over for a while...notice that I said "me"...I think they are more of a security blanket for this Momma than they are for my son. 

Break Is Over - Yesssss!

Hip, Hip, Hooray....Hip, Hip, Hooray....Today was the last day of Spring break for the kids from Lee County Schools so guess what that means?!?!? Once tomorrow rolls around we will officially be back to our old schedules and Lord, do I love having a schedule and sticking with it. When holiday breaks for school come around I kind of wince and whine about it because I am the worlds worst when it comes to being around kids 24/7 without a break. I really do enjoy the hours when the kids are doing their school thing because it allows me to do my stuff around the house without being bothered and I can take care of errands that need to be ran.  I feel like with the kids out of school I get behind with everything and it's just that much harder to get back in the swing of things after having a "break" from it all. I mean, don't get me wrong, I did enjoy having the kids and their company this week but I think that Victoria is more than happy to go back to school so she can see her friends and boyfriend. Breaks to her are like being grounded because it forces her to go a week without the normal drama from the usual day to day activities that are going on in the 8th grade. Ah, the pain <hear the sarcasm> of losing a whole week with friends, drama and school work. That's gotta suck <insert eye roll>.

I am really excited about this coming week because Brody starts preschool on Tuesday after being out for a month!!! Yes, FOUR whole weeks!!! Talk about insanity. I would probably have to commit myself somewhere if he were out another week. He was out 2 weeks for that nasty flu bug we had and then Mom was here last week and they were closed for Spring Break this week. The poor kid will not have a good first day back (because he's been out so long) and I will probably leave him at his classroom door screaming but he has GOT.TO.GO and I will *not* look back once he's dropped off! This Momma needs a kidless day and Tuesday can not come soon enough! 

The Zoo Crew....stalkers and all.

The past week while Lee County schools were celebrating Spring Break, Susie and I really tried to keep the days busy, busy, busy, so we wouldn't have to hear the annoyed groans like "I'm bored" or "What's next" from Victoria, Brody and Will. Annelise was added into the mix later in the day when she was picked up from Montessori School. 

Yesterday we decided after lunch at Pearly's Famous Country Cooking that we should head to the Parks at Chehaw so we could explore the zoo and bask in the sun. This has been my first time at the park since moving here. We did ride through their Christmas light exhibit but that was always at night and animals were not part of that exhibit. The Blake family are complete zoo nerds so they already have a membership and after the wonderful time we had I can say our membership is right around the corner. It's so totally worth the money because it's something we can take the kids to on the weekends and when the school is closed. I can also take Brody there during the week to do something fun and educational when he's not in preschool. Sounds like a win/win situation if you ask me!


While at the zoo we enjoyed seeing the Alligator exhibit which had tons of gaters sleeping in the sun. Brody called these huge monsters, "Dinosaurs". I got a lesson from Susie on the different type of snakes and which ones we need to look out for here in Albany....rattlesnakes. Really??!? I mean, the scariest one of them all in my book and they are everywhere around our location in the Deep South. I can't believe I slept last night after seeing that thing! I don't do snakes.


We all enjoyed the Meerkat exhibit because they are the CUTEST things ever and have so much personality! They reminded me of little Alex's running around. I seriously wish they could be domestic animals because I would beg for one!


After spending time at the zoo it was time to leave and go get Miss Annelise from school.It was still early so we decided to continue the fun and find Paula Deen's childhood home that is only a couple miles away from both of our homes. Yes, I will repeat it....We only lives a few miles from Paula Deen's childhood home! 


(Can Albany/Leesburg seriously get any better?!?!? )


We entered the coordinates into the GPS and we were on our merry way to Southern bliss *squeals*! As we rounded the corner to her street my heart sank because this once cute community has now turned into the G.H.E.T.T.O a less than desirable location. I am sure that poor little house has had more than food cooking in that kitchen these days. It's actually for rent and if I had it in me I would love to go back to check it out on the inside but I don't think I feel safe enough to go back into the neighborhood. You could tell that this once cute street had seen it's share of better days. Nonetheless, we got to see what most won't or can't see so I am happy. It's something that Susie and I can say "We've been there, done that". 


After feeling somewhat brokenhearted over poor Paula's house we took the kids to the Turtle Park in Albany and that was definitely a good decision! I had never been to this park and I am glad we got to go because it was a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e and had 2 playgrounds depending on your age (which is a life saver when you have a toddler). The park has so much to offer children of all ages so it's something we will frequent this spring/summer.


Yippeeeeee for surviving Spring Break with the children. I think they enjoyed themselves and we ended up having a blast, too. 

Momma's Coming Home...

The day is FINALLY here....My Momma is coming to see me!!! I have not seen my parents since Christmas and I have been missing both of them terribly. We traded in some frequent flyer miles so Mom could make the visit for a couple of days and I couldn't be happier. As many of you know my Pappaw has terminal cancer so someone has to stay with him at all times. Sadly, that means I can only see one of my parents at a time unless we go home (which we are next week * super yay*). Like me, my Daddy is the only child so a lot has been put on his shoulders when it comes to my Pappaw's illness. Luckily, he didn't mind letting Mom come to Georgia for a long weekend to visit. I think she needs the break and a Brody fix quiet honestly. 

I have a lot of fun things planned as long as Mother Nature cooperates! We have had rain here all week and I am so.over.it! I can only take grey skies for so long before it starts making me depressed. It is supposed to start clearing up this afternoon and continue to be beautiful throughout the weekend....however, the weather here changes in a minute so I am not betting on it. Last weekend it was in the 80's and then turned to turbulent weather which has lasted 4 looonnnggggg days. 

I know Mom will be perfectly happy sitting in the house all weekend playing with Brody but for my sanity we will need to get out some. I am hoping that tomorrow we can go eat with Susie and Miss Annelise at "The Cookie Shoppe" because it's the most fabulous food I have ever eaten when it comes to a sandwich shoppe. Momma appreciates small town things like that so I am sure she will enjoy it as much as Susie and I do! I also have to go to Mark's Melon Patch because Daddy wants some more chow-chow and I guess he liked the jar he picked up from there the last time they visited. I am not really sure what else is on the agenda for the weekend but I am sure it will be something fun.

I am also so excited about our bedroom getting painted this weekend!! Finally the ugly Pea Green soup color will be covered with a beautiful shade of aqua/green/teal color. Mike and I had some trouble agreeing on a color but we finally chose something we both liked. This is a new color for both of us so I am hoping it turns out as good as it looks in my mind.

I have not had any time to really blog this week but I got a Cricut bundle from my sweetie. He is so, so, so good to me and I really shouldn't complain about him as much as I do at times. He is so thoughtful and loving and I need to be better about showing my appreciation for it. I truly know I am very blessed and have the perfect partner, husband and best friend. He is my everything and I would be so lost without him. 

I better start getting ready so I can make the 3 hour drive to Atlanta with Brody to get our Nannee! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! 

(Oh, and honey....I am in love with the darling bird necklace above. Click the link to check out the site on Etsy. Hint Hint!)