SEC Baseball

Every year since the hubby and I started dating, we have been going to see the SEC baseball tournament. The older two don't alwys gets to go since they have to go to their dad's, so we really enjoy taking them when we can. My nephews always go to and that's what we give them as a birthday present every year which makes birthday time so easy.

The first game we saw was Auburn vs Alabama.

We all had on our colors and enjoyed the game, but the outcome favored the Bama boys.

Other than a cool fall afternoon on the plains or in Ttown for a football game, nothing else beats a day filled with good SEC college baseball. Well maybe attending the College World Series in Omaha would be just as good.

All the pictures from this year's tournament that I took are on my Flickr site.  Enjoy!

First Haircut

The babies had their first haircut and they were so good. Our good friend who cut their hair loves them to death which helped the babies relax. All of us came so you can imagine how crowded the room was.

My baby girl was first. Here's the before picture.

We had to keep them occupied so my red-head was tasked with that job. He kept them quite entertained as he always does. Even his brother was all about the story that he was reading.

And during her haircut, we had a little fun giving her a mohawk for a moment.

My big girl was tasked with holding the one not getting a haircut. She is a great big sister. I can always depend on her to be there to lend a hand.

Next came my baby boy. Here is his before.

Both the babies did good. I was very impressed. Neither one of them cried and really fussed. Every now and then, they would look at what she was going and try to figure out what was going on. But after it was all said and done, they look so cute. We got a little picture happy and it was hard to just pick a few. So here are the pictures that we (or should I say the hubby) took.

Very Smart Girl

Today as my oldest was running errands with our neighbor and her kids, she saw the picture hanging up in the high school gym of the state championship team I was on. When she saw it she made the comment that I looked young - and she was referring to how I look today. Concerning that I am less than a year away from the big 40, this made my approach a little easier.

She is one smart girl!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

3 years ago today

Today 3 years ago I married my best friend. We dated for 3 years before getting married almost to the weekend that we met. Our best friends were getting married and tried for a while to set us up. They had functions for the wedding and we would miss each other at all of them.

We finally met at the rehearsal. He was the best man and i was the matron of honor. He had already met my kids through our friends and they loved him, especially my red head.

One thing led to another and we started dating and got married 3 years later.

Now here we are 3 years later with 4 kids and a life I could have never imagined. I now know what it's like to be with someone who loves me for who I am - warts and all and trust me I have some warts. Someone that i can trust at all times and through no matter what. We have been through a lot in our short 3 years with both of us losing our dads. But God knew that we would need each other and JC made the long road I had this year so much easier. We can both understand how each other feels and that makes things easier to deal with.

Happy anniversay to my best friend. God blessed the older two and me when He brought you into our lives. I love you and look forward to growing old and gray with you.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Summer

Summer is here. Time for spending time playing outside only to realize at dark just how late it is and that no one has eaten supper. It's the time of year for catching fireflies (or lightening bugs as I said as a child and still do) at night and just spending time relaxing with your family. To some, it's their favorite time of year.

For me, it's the time of the year that I dreaded. My older two have to go o their dad's more over the summer which means numerous days without seeing them. This is not what I wanted when I had them. I wanted to wake every possible day to see their smiling face, hear their laughter, feel their hugs and kisses - just experience all that life has to offer. I never intended for it to be a time when their rooms are empty, no dirty clothes, just quiet from their rooms. That day will come on it's own. But this is different. This is something I didn't choose - it was choosen for my family.

Yes I am being selfish in a way wanting them all the time, but what mom wouldnt feel this way that truly lived her kids. Yes I know they need to go see their daddy. But what I know is all this time I miss with them I wil never get back. It's not like a dentist appointment that you miss, you can always reschedule and do it again. This is life - we get no do overs, no second chances. So if you are one of the few it seems these days that has your kids all the time, stop for a minute and thank God that you do.

I praise God for all four of my kids. I treasure each and every moment I have with them. Even though I miss out on days with the older two, I am humbled at how much He has blessed me with.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bittersweet

Tomorrow I start my new job.  It's been a great two months.  I have been there day in and day out with the kids getting to be there for them every day.  As I head back to work, I have mixed emotions. I am excited to be starting this new chapter in my life and sad too that I have to be away from the kids now during the day.

I will miss seeing their smiling faces throughout the day. I know that the first few days will be hard but I know that my God will bring me through it.

I will try not to cry tomorrow morning as I leave. I will miss spending those first moments when the babies wake up as we lay in the bed and play.  I will miss hanging out with the older two and taking them to all their activities. It's going to be hard to go from seeing them all day to just a few hours during the week, but I know that this is what I have to do.  With my new job comes the opportunity to possibly work from home which is something that I have prayed for over the years.   I won't be able to be around them like I am now but I would be close, in the next room - I could hear their laughter and run get a hug and kiss whenever I wanted.

What started out as a very scary time has ended up as a pure blessing.  I could have never imagined the road that God had for me when this year started. It was all supposed to go as I had it planned in my head, but His ways are not our ways.  His way is always better even when we don't understand.  We can only see right now, but He can see tomorrow.  And I take comfort in that.

Impossible (At least I am thinking it is)

I love to take pictures of my kids.  They are the joy of my life.  Taking pictures of one or two of them at a time is no problem, but taking a picture of all four and getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time with a smile is a very hard task. One that I have yet to get.  But to the dismay of my kids, I will continue to take their picture.  Here's the latest attempt.

And then I love Mags look on her face because she was tired of having her picture taken...