The comings and goings of the fab four

I have been kind of down all week, I don’t know what it is. So all week I have been thinking of things that I am thankful for, trying to kick myself out of it. My friend Stephanie (The Zak Family) did something similar today, so I felt like that was my sign that I need to write it down! And these are in no particular order of importance…

I am thankful:
1. for my children, that they are healthy and happy. It’s at the top of my prayers every. single. day.
2. for my husband, who is amazing and strong and proud and takes such wonderful care of all of us. I am thankful for the relationship we have, and how it has grown and developed through the years. I am thankful for it’s strength, and am proud that we have built a strong foundation.
3. for my parents and sister – they take care of me and “get” me – I am so grateful for all of the help they give without me ever having to ask. How can you ever even put it into words.
4. that we have been given the most amazing opportunity to live in different areas of the country – I truly feel that God has guided us through these past two years – everything has been a wonderful learning experience that I have needed. I have learned how to network and make friends, when I had never lived outside of Raleigh before the first rotation
5. for the Internet. It sounds dumb, but through the Internet I have met one of my very best friends, who was my companion through one of the most emotionally and physically challenging times of my life – a pregnancy in the foreign land of Texas! I have also been introduced to SO many groups through the Internet, and have had so many friendships rekindled through email. Not to mention the wonderful friends I’ve been able to maintain over long distances through email! It’s lovely!
6. our faith
7. my health, and the health of my family
8. enough money to live comfortably, not so much that we are ungrateful or unmotivated
9. friends. I have been completely and truly blessed by the friends in my life. Another way I feel that I can see God in my life is through my friends. When we were moving from Texas to FL I remember having a conversation with my friend Kerri about dreading meeting new people – putting out so much effort and energy, and being so worried that I wouldn’t be so blessed twice. She reassured me that God would provide, and that I just needed to trust. And that is exactly how it happened. I met an amazing friend within weeks of moving here, and have continued to meet awesome new people. Wow. It warms my heart.
10. a wonderful house to live in in a safe neighborhood with plenty of space for our kids to play and enjoy
11. that I sent pictures of my kids to my grandpa right before he died. He died the day before he was going to meet Miles for the first time. However, I mailed him and my Grandma Horne a few pictures of the kids a few weeks before he died. I think it would have eaten away at me.
12. that I was at home in NC WITH Robert when my grandpa died. We cannot even believe that we were in town from Texas. That was another one of those times when I just really felt that God was in charge of everything. It’s something I come back to when I am feeling doubtful – because I really don’t think there’s any other explanation
13. that my sister has a rockstar boyfriend who we just love, and a great job that she enjoys – I am so glad she’s so happy
14. for running
15. that I can stay at home with my sweet little children. I might complain and have down days or weeks (all of which is pretty much laid out here on this blog!) but there is truly nothing I would rather be doing than raising them! Sometimes I can’t believe that I get to do this every day. All I ever wanted to be growing up was a mommy, and I get to live the dream!

That’s enough for tonight. There’s just so much. I think this will probably be a reoccurring thing.

To the Mayse family on the impending arrival of baby girl Mayse! We’re sending GOOD LUCK and lots of love!

Edit: Welcome baby Amelia! Can’t wait to meet you!

I gave everyone the wrong cell number when I sent out my mass email a few weeks ago. Instead of 678 for the first 3 numbers, it’s 672. So change’er up.

J

This weekend could not arrive fast enough. By Friday afternoon we were calling daddy to puh-lease come home! I think the problem with this short week was that it was a diversion from our *schedule*, and everything was whacktastic. But we survived.

We did meet a new friend on Thursday – my very good friend Mauri had given her friend Angela (who lives here in Jax) my email address. We had started corresponding last week, and got together for a playdate on Thursday. We totally hit it off, I just loved her. So many thanks to Mauri the Matchmaker. She has a daughter close to Miles’ age, and they had a grand time swapping cups, looking at each other, you know the usual one year old stuff… We can’t wait to play with them again!

Yesterday we went to the Northeast Florida Scottish Games & Festival – it was SO much fun. The weather was beautiful and we were lucky enough to see lots of dancing, bagpiping, games, kilts, sheepherding and lots of fun Scottish stuff. It was great. We loved it. They were having a falconry demonstration, and we saw the falconer (?) walking through with her falcon on her arm (but didn’t make it to the demo). Very cool.

Today I took the kids to Mickler’s Landing which was tons of fun. There were about a zillion people there, but we got out there and played and walked and hung out. Great fun. Maybe next time daddy will join us. I am really starting to perfect taking the two kids difficult places, like the beach, by myself.

Now the kids are both grouchy and tired out, so they will be going to bed early tonight! I bumped Lydia back up to 3 days/week with school, so tomorrow is a school day.

https://www.wirelessamberalerts.org

Or is Paula darn near unintelligible?

Mmmm lasagna!


Lydia’s “camera”. She has been getting me back for all of the pictures I take of her.

Here’s the elusive gator. You can see his eye sticking up a little bit.

Lydia working a puzzle

Miles’s new favorite activity – climbing up on the chest.

Lydia and her BFF snoozing on the couch

Where’s the remote? Miles’ new game of stick the stuff in random places…

Mmmm lasagna!


Lydia’s “camera”. She has been getting me back for all of the pictures I take of her.

Here’s the elusive gator. You can see his eye sticking up a little bit.

Lydia working a puzzle

Miles’s new favorite activity – climbing up on the chest.

Lydia and her BFF snoozing on the couch

Where’s the remote? Miles’ new game of stick the stuff in random places…

Mmmm lasagna!


Lydia’s “camera”. She has been getting me back for all of the pictures I take of her.

Here’s the elusive gator. You can see his eye sticking up a little bit.

Lydia working a puzzle

Miles’s new favorite activity – climbing up on the chest.

Lydia and her BFF snoozing on the couch

Where’s the remote? Miles’ new game of stick the stuff in random places…

Lydia has gotten into the “why” stage where she asks why everything happens. Another favorite question is, “what is her mommy’s name?”. So really we answer that any time we meet any new person. She likes our new babysitter Vera (“Bera”). She has started having some separation anxiety when I drop her off at school. I’ve bumped her back up to 3 days, though. She has been a huge handful lately, and has all but given up her nap. She is still required to stay in her room for a “rest” time (she uses the time to dress herself up as a princess, or to yell at her stuffed animals for all of the naughty things she has done lately). She has started trying to provoke Miles some, which is annoying and can sometimes be scary. We’re keeping a close eye on them when they’re in a room together now. I think we have some underlying control issues – I also think she’s realizing the permanence of Miles.

Miles is starting to remind us a lot of Lydia. He will walk around and swing his arms back and forth and clap them together in the front. He is still squatting all the time. Mom says that that is all Dupree – they are all little squatters. He is starting to refuse most foods, except raisins, which go right through him. He is a funny little man. He did finally get the bottom 2 teeth when we were in NC. He’s drooling up a storm so there may (or may not) be more teeth on the horizon. He is throwing everything still. He loves to watch the Wiggles. He’s getting rid of one of his naps, but gets grouchy in the late afternoon. He loves to fake cough and thinks it’s hilarious when he does. He has figured out how to climb up on top of the cedar chest in our living room and stands up on it and smirks at us. He LOVES standing up on the couch (also against the rules).

Both kids are enjoying any time they’re able to go outside.

Miles is fussing. I haven’t had coffee yet this morning, which is why this is so disjointed.