Week end Wrap Up

We have had such an amazing week end. We were so blessed just to be near each other. Kate has this cute thing she is doing where she will reach her arms up and say, "Hug?" Like I would ever turn down that request. I scoop her up in my arms and hug her and hold on to her as long as she will allow which isn't very long these days. And then in true boy form Carson plays his funny game where I ask him for a hug or kiss and he shakes his head in the cutest way and says, "No!" But sometimes he relents and gives me the sloppiest kiss ever and I love it. Thankfully Jared lets me kiss him and hug him as much as I want. He's sweet like that. ;)
Speaking of my husband. We got a date night on Friday night at the Rangers game. Our reality is that we see each other 2 weeks out of the month  . When he is gone to west texas our conversations generally sound like this. "Babe can you hear me? Hello? Babe are you there?" Lovely cell phone service. And when he's here our conversations sound like this. Me:Hi sweetie how was you d-"
Kate rushes in "Mommy! Daddy!! Look at this!"
Me: "So really how was your d"
Carson:"Daaaaaaaaaddddyyyy!!!!"
Me: "So as I was saying how was"
Kate:"I wanna go outside!"
You get the picture! SO....last Friday was wonderful. Our little friend Savannah just started babysitting and did a wonderful job. We were blessed to have the time together just to be a couple. Ah bliss!
And now some pics from the past couple of weeks and week end...........

Poor Jared!I LOVE this picture.Somebody got a haircut!Testing the self timer. Jared is so funny.I made this for a friend's baby shower last week end. So easy and fun to make. Fruit kabobs!This little girl cares not one wit about potty training but she has got the washing hands bit down pat!Mimi was in town a week ago. She put Kate's hair in foam rubber rollers. Kate didn't mind at all. Kate adores her Mimi and follows her around like her little shadow when she is here. Last week I was laying in our bed with Kate before she went to sleep and I had my head on MY pillow. Kate said, "No Mommy that Mimi's pillow!" Oh dear!Kate trying to pull off the tourist look. Carson has the right idea as to what his future holds for about the oh next 5-6 months. He's a multifaceted boy. Pushing his pink stroller with his monster truck along for the ride.Me and my girl!

It is Well

So many times I have almost come to this blog to share all of the thoughts and feelings that I have had these past 2 weeks but I have just not been able to do it. I have ridden the roller coaster. My highs involve knowing that this job is turning us around financially. It is jump starting our debt free plan. And then my lows involve moments like last Thursday when Carson cried and reached for me as I left him in tears. That was a bad day. But believe it or not, and sometimes I don't believe it myself I really do have a peace about going back to work this time. In the previous times I have gone back to work I would always try to think of ways that would get me back home. But this time I am not doing that. I am settling into my job. Thankful for the opportunity. Very thankful to be there. I really do think this peace comes from the endless prayers that are being lifted up for me and my family. It has to be, because there is no other way to describe this contentment that I have right now. And there will be days when I know that this contentment will fade away but the difference this time is that I know it is there. I know that contentment is possible and that it will find me again. I heard something amazing about 6 months ago.
 I did not know Jenny Bizallion but like many I identified with her as being a young mother. Jenny lived in our area and died about 6 months ago. I was priviledged to listen to her funeral online. Something that was said at her funeral has stuck with me ever since that time. She had been dealing with a very hard trial in her life and she said that she didn't want to be known as the woman who was constantly down about this certain trial but rather she wanted to be known as the woman who didn't get her way but still praised God with everything she is. That's how I want my kids to remember me during this time. I want to tell them, "Mommy didn't get her way. Mommy wanted very much to stay home with you, but Mommy also knew that God had a plan for our family that I needed to follow. And even if it wasn't the plan I wanted I was obedient to it."
I miss a lot things about staying at home with my babies. But I think the one thing I miss the most is the seemingly infinite time we had together. If Kate wanted to step on every crack in the sidewalk on the way to the car, well, she could. I remember telling her, "go ahead baby we have all the time in the world." If Carson wanted to be rocked and held after he woke up from his nap that's exactly what I did. There were days when we never got out of our PJs. All that time and I tried to never take it for granted. Looking back, I always acted like I knew that I wouldn't be home for a long time. And that perspective helped me to enjoy it to the fullest.
All I know is that God is protecting our family. He is near to us and He is not going anywhere. I take comfort in that. The Sunday before my first day at work I went to church and was doing well emotionally. And then the praise band started this song and it brought me to my knees. I had been singing it my whole life, but that day it took on a whole new meaning and I saw this song with new eyes.

When peace like a river
Attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot
Thou has taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul.

The Electric Slide

My Favorite Dress

So the green sprout hat made it into the picture and also went to church on her head. Yeah it's a little quirky but she picked it out all by herself so I just rolled with it. It's hard to tell but the polka dots are actually green so she made a very color coordinating choice!

Very rarely am I completely happy with something that I sew for Kate, especially dresses. I seem to have a skirt pattern that I really like but dresses have really stumped me. I make some cute ones that look great on hangers, but when I get them on little Miss they just don't seem to fit right. I think she has narrower shoulders than the dress patterns I come across so it seems as though everything is falling off of her shoulders. Last night I came across a pattern that I found at THIS website. I love the name of the blog, "Living With Punks." Well it turns out she has a punkette! She made this sweet little dress for her little girl and when I saw the materials needed, 1 yd of fabric, coordinating thread, and bias tape, well I just had to try it out. I love the ruffle and after making it last night for Kate I have to say that this is my favorite all time dress that I have made for her. I will be making many more for her. I like it because to me it is the least homemade looking dress I have made. And ironically it was probably the easiest dress I have made for Kate. Yipeee!!!!! And I love that when I put it on her this morning she didn't run from me and say, "Too small Mommy!!!!" She said, "Oh pitty Mommy!!!" As if to say, "Well finally you hit the dress jack pot!"

Now You're Cookin'!

Kate's favorite phrase lately is, "Mommy I help you!" Here she is "helping" me make some banana bread.

Little Sprout Head and Little Old Lady Boy

Repeat After Me....

Thank Goodness for washable markers!

On the Upside......Down

I love my kids. This week has been especially emotional for me so far as I will go back to work on Monday and leave my life as a stay at home mom behind. As I was having one of my sad moments today  I looked over to see this.

Isn't he great? I just laughed out loud. Did he know that I needed that? Maybe an 18 month old does have the sense that his Mommy needed a laugh. Or maybe it was a happy coincidence, but I love him all the same. When Kate saw how much this made me laugh she rushed over to join in.

God bless my kids.

A Baby Gift

Our good friends Taylor and Ty are expecting their little girl in November, but her baby shower is this month. I decided to sew a couple of things for Miss Paisley. The first is a little quilt that I appliqued her name on. And the second gift is a little sock monkey onesie with some red and white polka dot bloomers. I really love the little sock monkey girl applique. I got the pattern from THIS web site.

Crosbyton Jubilee 2010

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Hair Apparent

Slide Time

The kids have started to slide all by themselves lately. They love to go to the park at night. We go around 8:15 when the weather starts to behave itself. Meaning the temp finally dips below 100 degrees! Ridiculous heat!

Showing off her sliding skillsI've got confidence!This boy just wanted to wander!But he finally took the plunge! Sliding with Daddy

What a week!

This week was filled with sunflowers, our little friend Dre over for dinner, softball, finger paints, Southlake townsquare, some playtime before bed, reading, sunglasses, the little pumpkin that will never be ;( and a trip to Jared's hometown (shown in a seperate slideshow!) My favorite picture in here is of Jared and Carson. He has Carson's chubby cheeks in his hands and Carson has the most terrific smile on his face.

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