My new favorite blog to follow

I just had to post this blog because its one of my new favorite blogs to follow. I apply my make up the same way I have since probably high school and I wear just about the same colors as well. I just stick to what works for me, but hello, I could use some help. I stumbled across Tiffany's blog by reading nester's blog (my original fav blog) and this girl just show makeup application techniques, she talks about products, and really has inspired me to try different things with my makeup, something I have ignored for too long. She even does some hair style tutorials like how to do the perfect pony tail.

check it out here

love letter to maggie

A girl who stole my heart from the beginning. I find it hard to be away from you. Even though sometimes you and I fuss, I think its because we're so much alike. That's what Mom Mom keeps telling me. You really are like me, but I can tell already a much more awesomer version of me.

I love how you love to dance and aren't embarrassed to do it in front of people. I love that you love to try new foods. Today you asked for carrots and artichoke and garlic hummus for lunch. Your eating style is so sophisticated. I know you are 4 years old today but I told people who you were 3 right up until the last minute. I think that's my way of holding on to every day that I get to spend with you. I love how you are still so cuddly. Some days you can't get enough hugs and kisses and I'm totally fine with that. You're getting to be such a big girl and are staying in your bed all night, even though I still don't mind to find you in my bed on the nights you don't.

I have waited forever to have a little girl to play Barbies with, and now our, I mean your new dollhouse. I could play with you for hours. It so cool that we love the same movies. The curls at the end of your hair frame your face so beautifully. Your eyelashes are a gift from your father. You can thank him later when you understand this gift. I think its cute that you and I have our own language, meow meow. You're my best friend. I love you to pieces and I cherish you. Happy birthday my princess.

Summer Dayz coming to an end...

What's that I hear, is that, a roar of cheering going on across America. A cheer that the kids are going back to school? Well I can actually say that we had a wonderful summer, even though we didn't get to go on vacation. I'm bummed about no vacation this year, but it makes me happy that we had so much fun that no one here noticed. Here's a recap of our summer:

Went to the Hiwassee River

VBS at Barfield Baptist

lots of swimming and Jacob learned to swim under water, can now do flips in the pool and loves to cannon ball. He really solidified his swimming skills. Maggie still wears her swim vest and is quite confident going all over the pool in it. She now jumps in the little pool which may not sound like much but we have had a set back with her in the pool so her excitement for the pool is growing. We even got to squeeze in a swim lesson from Ms. McKenzie, the best swim teacher ever!!

Went to the Sports Com pool where Jacob discovered slides for the first time.

Splash Pad

Trinity VBS

Discovery Center

Lots of movie nights- one night even lasted til 12:30!!!!

Going to the library weekly

Lots of play dates

Went to see Cars 2 and if we don't take Jacob to see Smurfs I think he may run away.

Football camp and football practice for Jacob- that will be a whole separate post. We're so dang excited about this adventure for him.

A visit from Mom Mom and Pop Pop at 4th of July.

Oh yeah, fireworks.

which brings me to dance parties

and baking parties with friends- learned how to make cake balls

Yes, I must say we made the most out of summer. My goal was to do something planned with the kids every single day. I can honestly say that I did that except maybe 2 days where we just stayed home so I could catch up on housework. Those few days we had unlimited amounts of movie watching, wii playing, and lots of made up games. Maggie and Jacob had such a good time together making up games to play. I love that imaginative play. Reminds me of when I was little.

I like this idea of grace

In case you thought you were the only one who felt like everyone else around you was the perfect mom and you are still here struggling... After almost 6 years of parenting I would have thought that I'd have it down by now. And most days I do. I'm proud of the decisions, sacrifices, devotion, dedication it takes to be the mom I am. But I'm a firm believer in always looking for ways to improve. I don't beat myself up, but there are some days I think, you could have done that better. I'm glad I reflect. How else would I be able to make changes and improve. I hope my kids think I was the perfect mom, but I would never want Maggie to think that I thought I was. Because I don't want her to think the perfect mom is who she needs to be.

I love this mom's perspective of being a mother. Its nice to know that we don't have to come from a perfect place to start a legacy. I can still influence what comes after me, no matter what has come before me. Yeah. I like this idea of grace. I think I will start to use a little more of it.

Baby you're a firework!

I'm a believer. In cake balls that is. We love this little modern day version of the cupcake. The kids love to help make them, as it reminds them of play doh when making the balls. Then comes the dipping and decorating with sprinkles. These red white and blue ones are a tribute to our country's independence. Happy 4th of July America! We live in the greatest country ever.

Speaking of the greatest country, that reminds me of one of the greatest states ever. That would be Tennessee. We have the Smithsonian channel and there is a series called Aerial America. Its a show that documents and tells the history of a state which showing shots of the state from the air. It highlighted from the Great Smoky Mountains, the battlefields of Tennessee, Country Music Hall of Fame, Beale Street, Graceland, as well as many other landmarks. It sparked lots of discussion about our state and Rick and I both realized how much of our nation's history is here in Tennessee, like the birthplace of 2 genres of music: country music and the blues.

While we were watching it, I got out my journal and jotted down all the places the show highlighted and we will attempt to visit as many places on the list as possible. So in honor of our country you should check out the show's website and see when your state is showing. I think we should all take in as much history of the state we live in. It gives you more of sense of pride where you live when you can appreciate the land and what took place long before we were here.

that's the good stuff

Tonight Rick was on a man date with his BFF. So I was flying solo at bedtime. Usually Rick puts Jacob to bed and I put Mags down. Well tonight Jacob was being a pain about bedtime. At one point of going back and forth from Maggie's room to Jacob's room, Jacob looked up with big ol crocodile tears in his eyes. I couldn't help but rush over and throw my arms around him and put him in the tightest hug possible. I said what's wrong. He said so teary that his voice was quivering, "I miss my daddy." Well then we were both boo hooing. He sobbed in my arms. He missed his bedtime buddy. And he's a big boy and can go one or two nights with a different routine, as we would this night. But that didn't change how much he genuinely missed his dad. In that moment I was so grateful that God blessed him with a good daddy. There are a lot out there that aren't so good and aren't worth missing. But this one is.

Went to Maggie's room and I got the same thing. Her cry is a bit more dramatic (what else would you expect) I sob sob sob, miss, sob sob sob, my, sob sob sob, daaaaddddddy! Oh for Pete's sake, I can't take two of these. So this is what happened next.


Sleep over in sissy's room!

Update on Jacob

I know I have blogged before about some developmental issues/delays that Jacob had. He went to Kindergarten much to my dismay this year. Because of his late birthday (Sept 2) I didn't want him to go to kindergarten this year for maturity reasons alone. He was 4 when he started kindergarten. In my opinion that's just too young. Kindergarten isn't what it was when we were young. I remember playing, having books read to us, singing, and maybe a little bit of learning to read thrown in. They are full blown doing math problems I probably didn't do until 1st grade. I know every parent struggles with their baby going to kindergarten but mine was for different reasons. However, due to needing speech and occupational therapy he didn't qualify for k-readiness. His only option, other than staying home for a year with no services, was to go to kindergarten.

Even though I love his school and teacher, this year has been a mess. You could tell all year he wasn't ready. There were times when he would get lost just going from his class to the gym where he would be picked up from school. Bless his heart.

When a child recieves services through the school they have to be re-evaluated every 3 years to make sure they still quailfy. This year was that third year. The results of that eval showed that Jacob is totally in the normal or average level in language. This is such a blessing because since he was 2 he has been a year behind in his language and this year alone he got completely caught up. So this year wasn't in vain. It was acutally pretty benefical for him. The team all agreed that he would benefit from repeating kindergarten for maturity reasons alone. Academically he could be promoted to first grade. Which if you think about it is pretty cool. That means he gets to have a year to mature. He'll be more on the level with these kids. He'll be older than all of them with 2 years down at Barfield, including preschool. And we know that he has the knowledge of everything in kindergarten so that won't be a struggle. He gets to have this year of kindergarten without the need of any services. Which is what our goal was all along.

I'm so proud of the progress that little boy made between his language, and behavior. He's had some kind of service for 3 1/2 years and won't need them anymore. Its quite possible that he may never know that he needed them in the first place since he was so young. And that my friends, is the goal of early intervention. There were some people who told me that he didn't really need speech therapy, that all boys talk late, yada yada. With all the hard work on his part, he got completely caught up so that he can go to kindergarten with no services. Hallelujah!