There's no place like home......for the Holidays!

They all look so thrilled, don't they? Well, it was December 26th, one set was off their schedule, the next group was worn thin from an 8 hour car ride and the last realized their house had been invaded by Christmas crazy kids, weary parents and two missing adult children. But, all in all, it was a very good Christmas! 

It seems like timing is racing past, the little one can read, write and all that cool stuff. The oldest ones are gonna be finishing college and all us girls just keep hanging onto each other, like we know we're gonna need each other more.

This year we want to a local tree farm and let Trenton cut down the tree. He did a pretty awesome job!

  

 He even drug it out and helped poppaw carry it all the way to the car.

After decorated, the tree looked pretty awesome!

Where time flies...a first birthday!

Seems like just yesterday, I was rushing to Ohio to move the babies delivery along. Now, a full year later and so much has changed!

                           

He's no longer wrinkly, tiny but remains cuddly, cute, and interested in the world around him!

His little personality is similar to his Momma's. Wants to be close and has begun to take his first steps here and there. Still loves his bottle and doesn't like to be fed, he can do it himself.

They came in to celebrate with his WV family and we all truly enjoyed it.

Aunt Dee got in some baby time. We giggled and coo'd over his accomplishments. He had plenty of presents-which he wasn't really into until they were out of their packages and boxes. Like a true child the clothes weren't a hit. The paper was much more exciting than even those,

We had pizza, chips and enjoyed being together then we whipped out the smash cake and he did a pretty awesome job! The gooey feeling of the cake and icing in his fingers enticed him. He refused to share with mommy, he stuffed his face til he cried and then it was off to the sink for a spray down.

        

          

          

       

          

He has grown so much. Having them almost 4 hours away has been hard. But it is ONLY a drive and the reward is snuggles and cuddles. We do a lot of face timing and of course I get my doses of video's and snapshots as he continues to amaze his wonderful parents. 

          

Happy First Birthday Michael David! Here' to many many more and may you always be surrounded by this family that loves you and cherish each moment of time we get with you. You are the light of our lives, the reason for another day and the promise that the future is bright and anything is possible!!

        

    

Just keep swimming!

My favorite line from her favorite my movie.... We've watched Finding Nemo in her 4 short years a katrillion times! It was the very first movie to catch her full attention that awful day she broke out in chicken pox.

Funny when you think about life and how we trudge through it, old Dory has the ultimate instructions for survival. When things are tough, scary, unpredictable, confusing, sad or just darn troubling the best advice is just keep swimming.  It's how you keep your head above water, it's how you survive in this world. 

When your a 3 year old you have no idea what grown ups do. Well, your idea of what they do is pretty simple: cook, hug, kiss boo boo's, play, read, and have an unlimited supply of money. Oh, if it were that simple! Truthfully, we just keep swimming!

8 is great!

Truly it is, just ask Trenton! 

A birthday is always just cause for celebrating, but, when you look at it, 8 is a monumental year!

Let's review, shall we? By the time your eight you have really accomplished a lot things. You have mastered the following:

Walking, talking, running, meandering and poking along. You have successfully learned how to get distracted by each and everything when getting somewhere in a timely fashion is necessary.

You have learned how to use your words, good and bad. In proper context and sometimes loud obnoxious 8 year old boy voices. You have graduated from a bottle to a sippy cup, and can handle a lidless cup, in the kitchen of course because your eight and dont always pay attention, so it still get spilled often. You no longer need someone to wash your grungy little toes or scrub your hair, you just need to be reminded several times not to forget them when you get into the shower. At the ripe age of eight you have learned how to actually read the words inside your favorite bedtime story. No one must read you the instructions to your favorite game, because you can do it all by yourself. You now have the ablitiy to make sound, just decisions, your opinion counts, because your eight. Not only can you write you letters, you can spell anything and decipher what anybody else is spelling around you. You have graduated from knowing what the big yellow M means when driving through town to being able to locate the local dentist, lawyer and insurance agent. All because you learned your letters, put them together and learned how to read. Eight is fascinating.

You, my child, have learned your colors, started drawing lines, then circles and can color in the lines making masterpiece's for all to enjoy. You have learned that the season's change, and what months, weeks and days, as well as the holidays in each month. There is even a little bit of remembering your families birthdays beginning to stick in your little busy brain.  You have learned that friendship and companionship is important, and that everybody needs someone to confide and trust in.

At eight, you have graduated from the baby seat in the car. You are officially allowed to ride solo, in the seat, without a carseat or booster, using only the car manufacturer's seat belt  (and a safe, competent driver) to keep you safe. 

Most of all, at eight, you have learned that famliy comes first and that they are the most important thing you need to succeed. You, my boy, are a loud, smelly, fun, eight year old who means the world to his family. You have been a blessing from heaven. Whoever tells you that eight isnt great, hasnt taken the time to think about all the things you have done in these eight short years. So, Happy EIGHT Birthday Mr. Trenton! 

September arrives....

It  is officially September! The summer is done. I am grateful we have had such a fun and exciting eventful summer. Recapping it we spent 7 wonderful days on Pawley's Island, introducing Trenton and Haleigh to the joy that the ocean and salty breezes. The kids continue to remember all the fun details. Chasing crabs in the surf, floating and in Haleigh's case "running" through the lazy river, dinner with Mermaids and walking on the beach with flashlights on the last night.

Trenton and I took off with Dory, Bailey and Unky Alex to celebrate Poppy's 70th birthday. We walked our piggies raw. Saw real rocketships, the biggest ball pit known to man, stayed up too late, and managed to get some educational digs in while we toured the museums and monuments.

David and I have taken several afternoon drives and eaten at some of the hidden gem restuarants in West Virginia. Camera in hand, I shot the New River Gorge Bridge. Captured my soulmate gazing at the beauty of the hills and we found a renewed appreciation for taking just a few stolen moments for each other.

We celebrated our 21st anniversary, looking forward to many more. It seems time has flown by. The joy, trials and experiences that we have shared in the last 21 have honestly made us even more closer. Granndbabies to be spoiled, grown children to pray reverently for, and the knowing that nobody could have endured it all with either of us. God sent us to each other. Complementing each other. Lifting each other up and holding each other's hand as yet another trial headed our way.

September means birthdays around here, remember? Alex, Chelsea, Drew, David, and Trenton. It is our cake month! It also means the weather finally cools down, the night air seeps through the open window at night and evening walks get a little longer (as long as the gimpy foot allows), and the days get shorter. Bring on the cool weather, leaves changing to bold orange, red and yellows, sweaters, blazzing fire pits,hot coffee and pumpkin everything!  My favorite season is finally here!

Searching for Goliath!

  

This is the culprit! It would be my right foot, second tarsal....EVERY step I take, EVERY move I make, this monstrosity makes itself known!

Originally, I had a wine plus oil slick in a parking garage while on vacation with David accident. He was in San Diego for business as well as his Christmas party, which is when the accident happened. I had a free rental car, sunshine, and days all to myself and I spent the majority of the trip in the hotel, remote close by and and an ice pack to my swollen foot. Being that far from home, I wasnt sure what insurance would cover, and who breaks their foot on vacation. The X-ray shows an old scarred remains of a fracture to the great toe. No, it does NOT give me any grief or pain. Despite being injured, it was a wonderful mini vacation for the two of us. I did hobble to dinner every night and take my advice, do NOT attempt the San Diego Zoo with a bum, swollen, painful foot. 

Fast forward to 2015, the darn thing will not stop...normally, im a get up and go, keep on moving, don't let it stop you kinda girl. But, dangit, this thing is gonna drive me mad! Generally, I am healthy. I actually just see the docor maybe once a year, if I remember. But, after putting up with this thing for 10 years, I am done. David agree's-it needs to be taken care of. Something must change before I get so old they can't fix it. And good lord, what if arthritis settles in there. I may never walk again and could become a walmart buggy shopper......NOOOOOOOO, say it isn't so!

Remember the trip to DC? Pure torture-40, 000 plus steps made it even more noticable. So off to the GP and a referral to a foot and ankle specialist, and still it throbs with every step. There is a stress fracture to the lower actual metatarsal joint, but the pain comes from the underneath. I will continue to see this guy, but DANG, being healthy is costly......so far, we are close to $400 in after 2 visits and they want to try and talk me into custom orthotics-another $469.....that's not gonna happen. But, we are thinking it is tendon or ligiment related and if it can't be calmed then we see an MRI in my future. I wonder how much of my deductible will be paid before that. Paying full price for an MRI doesn't seem like something one can afford out right. The spending account could go belly up because of this foot!!

                                     Somebody find me a Goliath to fix my paw, Please?!

                            

Grandparent preschool do's and don't with a toddler!!!

Our little Haleigh has turned 3 in May and technically she is old enough for pre-k, but she had a traumatic winter and spring and refused to master the potty until just this month. There has been a lot of changes in her life, I thank God that the one change hasnt been that she has been taken away from us. This little gal has wrapped her fingers around my heart since the first time we met. It was she and I who have endured through all the trauma. We actually turned our lives upside down and returned from the big city of Cincinnati, just to be here for her. The day we moved back she was there and has been every since. After a few short months she was living with us and my mommy skills came in hand.Teaching her how to crawl, walk, talk, you name it, it was me. Daddy had her 3 weekends a month, but daily child care was ultimately left up to me. It was me who stepped in and helped/taught/nurtured/became the mother figure to her when her mother wasn't capable. I spent lots of sleepless nights through teething, we fought over what foods she would and would not eat, I rocked her until I couldn't rock her anymore. It was me who taught her how to brush her teeth, that a nice clean face and feet were essential before we climbed into bed for her bedtime story and that after lights out daily recaps were a necessary way to end the day.  Along the way we had a color of the month, and learned what words went with every day encounters. 

I have taught her that a daily dose of sunshine is necessay and in doing so we've walked a trillion miles in her stroller-just to keep her calm and happy. I wouldn't have it any other way. Honestly, I think she feels the same way. So it is only natural that when I babysit her now for her Daddy and Stepmom, that when her siblings return to school we initiated Grandma Pre-school!

To set it up you need several things:

A corner of the world to learn in, 

Her own desk, all her tools handy.

Plaster your house with learning posters, at eye level and use them every chance you get!

Provide a fun learning life skills area! 

And ample room to run, jump, swing, and burn off some of that toddler energy! 

The hardest part is getting into a routine...she used to running the schedule and being bossy.

With her classmate, Emma always close by.

She should be fine. They will learn together, side by side as they have since the beginning!

She arrived on the first day with her backpack filled and was ready to learn, for about 40 mins. We managed to finished 2 matching pages, sang our alphabet (using the actual animals instead of the letter) counted our crayons and markers, seperating them as we went. Then drew a few pictures, attempting to work on writing our name.....but, a dozen H's and just 5 little a's and she was done, so it was off to run play and build some sandcastle's! 

Things I learned from our first day-GO WITH THE FLOW! Do not be rigid in your schedule. Priovide lots of time in between each structured activity. Encourage, ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE!!!!! The more praise and applauding you do, the more positve results your will get. Give them a little of the teaching control. I actually told her we needed to teach Emma the months, so now we say them loud and clear to Emma everytime we climb the stairs. If we can get the order of them down, we will begin to work on the significance of each month. Don't expect miracles, baby steps are perfectly fine. Don't push them, let them guide you. If it's ipad time, help her select learning ap's and play along. Any kind of learning is learning. If their hungry, feed them and let them help. Someday this little person is going to be an adult and will need to master these skills as well.

Haleigh and I have got this! We will be soo ready for real school, that all the teachers will be shocked!

School starts again!

Starting anew. Begininning again. School has restarted for the season! Excited parents everywhere have prepared for weeks. They have bought the backpacks, notebooks, pencils and sneakers. It seems summer flies by and we are sending them off to the care and watchful eye of teachers. My newsfeed is flooded with first day pictures of smiling little faces doning their new shoes, backpacks and eyes wide ready to take it all in. If only their enthusiasm lasted all year. Here's our big 2nd grader ready to tackle the year!

      He was soo excited days before. Ready to learn all that is 2nd grade.

 I will remind myself to reblog about school as the year carries on. How wonderful is it to be excited to learn and explore, here's to a great year Trenton and all those other kiddio's who have gone back with the same enthusiam.

Changing the rules, etiquette & not giving in!

Who did it?! Who do we blame? I don't know how they did it, but, I know why.

Greed, selfishness and plain old fashioned narcissism.

Growing up we had rules to live by. I know I taught my children these. And, in pretty sure all my friends did the same with their children. 

Curious what those were? Let me enlighten you-

1. Always be kind. You can attract more flies with honey than vinegar.

2. Use you quiet voice inside, and be mindful of others. Do not swear, scream or throw a temper tantrum in public.

3. Always be honest. The truth will set you free. Did you know your brain remembers detailed facts of the truth? If you lie and make up stories, your gonna slip up, tell the "story" wrong and you will be caught!

4. Always be considerate of others-personal space, their stuff, their needs.

5. Always mind your manner-yes mam' no sir to any adult. Use please and thank you-EVERY time.

6. Respect your elders-that would be anyone 10 years older than yourself.

7. Be grateful, for any gift you receive, deed bestowed upon you, and any opportunity that may have come your way. This includes the roof over your head, the furnishings and belongings within that house as well as the food on the table, the clothes on your back and every other thing in your life. Who told you it's not important to take care of your stuff? We're not going to replace it a half dozen times because you didn't take care of it or simply walked off and left it.

8. Treasure your stuff. People work hard to give you things, so take care of these things, they may not (and probably aren't able) to be replaced.

9. Smile and say "Hello" if you make eye contact with someone. It's called being POLITE. (Google it if you don't know what it means, and apparently you don't!)

10. Wait your turn....good things come to those who wait. The world doesn't revolve around you. If by some chance you are standing in line at the grocery store with a buggy full, by all means let the person with 2 items behind you go on ahead. 

Lately, I have noticed even more how rude, ungrateful, narcissistic, brash and selfish society has become.

We were taught if you want something, work for it. Don't expect handouts. If you are blessed, share the blessing. How could anyone think they are the most important thing in the world, that they are a priority?!

Since when do we throw baby showers for every child you choose to birth? Our parents, as well as ourselves, only had ONE baby shower. You kept the items-baby blankets, sleepers, cribs, strollers, and stored them if you planned on ever having any more kids. What? Having a girl after your first was a boy? Well, if somebody wants to buy a frilly pink dress, that's very nice of them, but it's NOT their responsibility. It is YOURS! Sorry your little princess may have to sleep in dump truck Jammie's, it won't hurt her one little bit! 

What about birthday "gift" bags? Is it really necessary to reward someone for coming to your child's birthday party? Total nonsense if you ask me!

Who decided to change the rules? Why were we not informed and don't think for one minute we would've agreed to it. We as a society need these things. If everybody dismisses them we will fail as a nation. 

I refuse to budge! I will always use my manners, be kind, generous, giving, considerate and gracious...wanna join me?

Where,oh where, have the Golden Rules gone?

Binging!

Yes, my husband is wonderful! You know why? Well, he has us subscribed to Netflix AND Amazon Prime! 

I'm an all in or all out kinda girl-bet you didn't know that?! Ha! So, give I am connected that means on my day off, I'm totally into binge watching! And Emma's pouting on Haleigh's boppy.

First it was Veronica Mars-staring Kristen Bell. I highly recommend it! It's about a ex-sheriff turned private eye's daughter and her uncanny ability to solve even the most traumatic teenage mysteries.

Then we turned on X-files! Sadly, I must admit that I have never seen the last 15-30 minutes of every episode. During its regular run, I worked at CAMC in the Cv surgery department. That meant rising at 4:40am, every scheduled workday, plus, every other weekend on call and weekly required call I stayed exhausted and by Friday night, sleep deprivation caught up with me and try as I might, I always fell asleep before 9:00pm and completely missed every single ending! I have truly been enjoying this binge.

I've got my Emma, plenty of Dr. pepper & popcorn. It would be better if I had David here....hopefully, he'll be back for a nice long weekend. (It happens to be a grandkid free weekend too!)

Wonder what my next binge will be? Any suggestions?