Rainy Friday

You know it is going to be a good day, when a friend calls you at 8 a.m. and is delivering a peppermint mocha. Thank you, Java Fairy!!

It was POURING down rain this morning, and I had scheduled this crazy haired boy a haircut.

After Jack's tumbling class, we met daddy for lunch. I heart half days and lunch dates with this guy!

In charge of the office. A miniature Michael Scott!

World' Best Boss.

A Day in the Life

Week in Pictures

Summer Vegetable Lasagna...Delicious!!!

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2011/07/skillet-summer-vegetable-lasagna.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+melskitchencafe%2FNvNP+%28Mel%27s+Kitchen+Cafe%29

Jackson's buddy, Kate, brought him a Back to School Survival Kit. Super thoughtful. Got their pic together....notice they both have their shoes on the wrong feet. :)

She is going to be a gymnast!

Claire and Emma having a little fun.

Claire mezmorized by the big kids...Izzy chilling in the Bumbo seat.

Ahhh....Date Night with my hubby!

A Day in The Life: Series Finale

4:11: Claire woke up. Hungry. I fed her. She went right back to Sleepytown.
6:45: Claire was hungry again. I fed her. She went back to sleep.
7:15: Jackson was sandwiched between Blake and I, and woke up. He wanted to watch PBS kids. We watched a little bit of a show, and I put on my running clothes.

Blake watched Jackson so I could go run. I ran/walked for an hour, and talked to two friends while getting my exercise.

I came back, fed Claire breakfast (rice cereal/applesauce), chatted with the hubby, and cleaned up the breakfast dishes, unloaded the dishwasher, and cleaned the kitchen. I started a load of laundry,

We decided we were going to have another pool day. We made the beds and did a toy pickup.

Drove to CVS, bought more sunscreen.

Got to my parents' house to swim, and Blake found our old marching band videos. We watched the shows from our sophomore and junior years. I, for real, looked like a 12 year old when I was 16.

Swam. Swam. Swam. Blake put together a swing for my parents, since we use their pool a whole lot in the summer.

Kids out of the pool, and I bathed them. Put Jack in a Pull Up so I would not have to spend the evening washing bed linens. Fed Jack lunch. They may have both rode home in a diaper/Pull Up.


Layed the kids in their respective beds. I took a 20 minute power nap. Blake woke up me, I was sleeping so well, I am confident I had drool all over the side of my face.

I showered, got dressed. Picked out Claire and Jack's clothes. Blake got J dressed. Claire was still asleep...she may have rode to P.F. Chang's in her diaper.

We met some friend's for dinner at The Chang's...I nursed Claire and put her clothes on in the parking lot.

We ate dinner, and decided to walk around the mall for a little bit.

Had a great time. Blake's parents came back from vacation, we went to visit them. We all got some pretty cool souvenirs from Disney World. Claire had a meltdown.

Came home. Some type of drama was going on at the Hometown Inn. Every police car in the big SD was there. Hope everyone is okay.

Got the kids ready for bed. Everyone is asleep, for now.

I probably won't do a series of posts like this for a while...it takes too long to type it out! But, it is funny to look back and read things as life's seasons change. I read a post I had written the other day, about when I went back to work when Jackson was a baby. I remember trying to balance both was really hard, but I eventually figured out how to balance both. I remember getting to work, all dressed up, and having crusty rice cereal on my shoulder...sippy cups in my school bag. Having Claire changed our family dynamics to a new normal, too. The most challenging thing is making sure I am giving both children plenty of attention...not wanting Jackson to feel any less important. I guess you just make a "new normal" every time life's seasons change. With much prayer and grace, God walks you through whatever you are doing, and takes you where He is wanting you to go. I think sometimes we (women, in general), are too hard on ourselves. I am trying more and more, to lighten up, take a deep breath, and just give each day the best I have. I am thankful for these days. And I am thankful for the days to come, all the new normals...I anticipate those with great joy, too. Thank you, Jesus, for your grace, your mercy, and your love that never fails.

Wednesday: A Day in the Life

2:11: Claire woke up. I put her pacifier back in her mouth. She screamed. I rocked her. She screamed louder. I nursed her right back to sleep. Ilayed her down. She cried. And cried. I think her teeth are giving her a fit. I brought the Baby Papasan and put it by my bed. At 3:00 she went back to sleep. I know this is probably not Babywise, or Happiest Baby on the Block, or any other great theories, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

6:44: Claire is hungry again. She nurses, and is back asleep. Hate I didn't get to see the newspaper guy zoom by this morning. Just kidding. Blake left for work.

7:15: Jackson woke me up...he has slept for 14 hours straight. Crazy. He wants to lay in the bed with me and me tell him stories about pirates. I do my best to become cognitively alert enough to form a plot.

TV time for Jack. Shower time for Mommy. Pretty sure we are going to have a pool day, so no need to fix the hair, make up, etc. Running shorts it is!

Claire wakes up for the day. We meander into the kitchen. Breakfast time. Eggs, applesauce, toast, and milk for Jack. Claire had cereal and applesauce. Jack ate every bite and wanted more of everything....all that sleeping must have made him hungry. I obliged.

One of the doctor people from yesterday called me back and made a doctor's appointment. Dishwasher unloaded. Load of laundry started. Kiddos dressed. Teeth brushed. Beds made. We played. We talked. We laughed. We smiled. I love them so much. They are my sunshines.

Claire nurses again, and goes down for her morning nap. I start another load of laundry. Emptied out my diaper bag to give it a wash. After Claire falls asleep in the mornings, I usually try to just have one on one time with Jackson...whatever he wants to do. Today, he decided we were going to have an indoor baseball game. He even brought me a pair of pretend cleats (ballet flats). We read books....he is still so obsessed with trains.

We made plans to meet Robin and Ben at the pool. We packed our lunch and waited for the princess to wake up. Claire woke up, and we headed to the pool.

Claire ate her lunch, Jackson wasn't hungry. We put on our SPF 167 sunscreen, and had an awesome time swimming. Jackson and Ben played pirates. Blake got off work early and joined us. Jackson ate a little lunch in between finding treasure and jumping off the diving board. They swam for almost 4 hours. FUN SUMMER TIME!

We got out of the pool....I printed off a few things for our Wednesday night class. Blake bathed Jack. I brought the kids home...they crashed on the way. Blake put them in their beds. I showered and got dressed for church. Claire woke up, and I gave her a bath and got her dressed for church.

I packed our bag for church. Woke Jack up to change his clothes...he had drank too much pool water...took care of the linens, and headed out to the door.

We taught our sweet little class. We taught about the sixth day of Creation. So fun.

I packed up the troops, we picked up Emily to spend the night with us.

Got home...Jack played outside with our neighbor for about an hour. Came inside..he still hadn't eaten dinner...fixed him some snacks...he announced he was "hitting the hay." For real, I don't know where he comes up with some of the stuff he says. He is so funny.

I nursed Claire, and put her to bed.

Started a load of laundry, loaded the dishwasher, and picked up toys.

Fixing to go read my Bible, pray, and read my devotion book.

The. End.

Tuesday: A Day in the Life

Claire woke up about 5:00. I sat down in the glider to feed her, and low and behold, the newspaper guy came flying down the street almost on que. For the past 8 months, he has been getting on my nerves. The speed limit is 20 MPH. For real. I put her back in the crib after she ate, and crawled back in the bed.

About 6:45, Jackson crawled in the bed with me, and Blake left to go to work. Jackson and I chatted for a few minutes, and I turned on the TV for him, and I got in the shower. He watched "Martha Speaks" and "Arthur," while I finished getting ready. I brought him his clothes, and he dressed himself while watching TV.

Today, the plan was to meet some friends at the zoo at 9:00. We were also picking up Emily (a family friend) from my parents' house, and she was going to go with us. After Jack and I were both dressed, I woke Claire up, fed her, got her dressed, and packed our things for the zoo.

I grabbed Jack cereal, a banana, and milk for him to eat in the car, and we were off...

I went outside...rain. Not ideal for the zoo. Just a drizzle, so I went ahead and picked up Emily, and ran an errand for my mom. By this time, the rain is coming down in buckets, and the play date at the zoo was rescheduled for Pump it Up at 10. Emily didn't sound too excited about the inflatables (she is 16), so we headed to Starbucks. She shares my love for coffee...We went through the drive thru, and headed back to my house. Pit stop at Publix, didn't realize we were low on milk yesterday.

I fed Claire her breakfast (rice cereal and banana mango), and Emily played with Jackson. I used to babysit Emily when she was about 2 years old...crazy seeing her playing with my kids! She played with both kids and watched "Horton Hears a Who, "while I unloaded the dishwasher, vacuumed, put away laundry, and picked up toys. I nursed Claire and put her down for a nap sometime during all of that.

I called and attempted to make 2 doctor appointments. I am sure offices have their reasons, but it annoys me to call and make an appt. and not get to talk to a human, and have to leave a message for someone to call me back to schedule my appt.

Lunch Time: Jackson had toasted cheese, fruit, and applesauce. Emily fixed her own lunch...I had a sandwich and a whole lot of cantaloupe....my FAVORITE fruit. I cleaned the kitchen, and then storytime.

I read Jackson a few books, and put him down for a nap. But, after an hour of resistance, he came back in the living room to play. We played Cars for a long while..I talked to a few friends...and texted with a friend from high school that had some good news.

Daddy's home. Love that part of my day! We chat, and I start dinner. Easy dinner...salads and baked potato (Blake) and sweet potato (me). We usually have that on the menu once per week (esp. in the summer).

Dinner is served. Jack is exhausted, due to naptime resistance, and falls asleep upright, whilst eating his apple. I take him to his bedroom...he has been asleep since about 5:30, and will most likely sleep until tomorrow. Claire has some sweet potato and a Baby Mum Mum....Blake held her, while I cleaned up. We both played with Claire, and had some time together. I hate when J falls asleep so early...Blake does not get a lot of time with him, but that is just the way it is, I guess. I wanted to go to the park tonight. Boo.

I took Emily back to my parents' house, Blake gave Claire a bath.

I watched Blake do "The Thirty Day Shred." I did not exercise today. Blake did a good job.

I put Claire to bed.

I did take a nice, hot bath.

I read my Bible and devotion. I wish I would do that first thing in the morning. If I move, my kids wake up...and Jack wakes up REALLY early anyway. Trying to figure that one out. Good reading tonight about protecting yourself from the enemy.

Claire woke up. She went back to sleep. She just woke up again. Ah, Blake got her. :)

I am going. To. Bed.

A Day in the Life: Monday

I fed Claire at some point in the early morning, maybe around 4:00...it was still dark outside, but I am not really sure what time it was. It was before the newpaper guy comes flying through (usually about 5:00) at about 60 MPH...I wonder if his boss knows he does that.

I came back to bed and heard Claire waking up about 7:30. I fed her, and Jackson came into Claire's room about 7:45. We all 3 went and snuggled up on the couch for a little while.

I got in the shower and got dressed for the day while they watched "The Cat in the Hat." I fixed breakfast for Jackson (scrambled eggs and fruit), and Claire had banana mango and rice cereal. I unloaded/ reloaded the dishwasher while Claire was content in the highchair and Jackson was eating. Jackson might have dropped some of his eggs in the floor, and I called Lady to come have a snack....

Then, Claire was ready for her morning nap. I laid her down, then got Jackson dressed. We read books and colored while she was asleep, and I worked on the huge laundry pile that had accumulated over the weekend.

Claire woke up, I fed her, and we all got ready to go to Publix. We went grocery shopping...so much easier now that Claire can sit up in the cart. Jackson usually does great at the grocery store, and he did today...but, he has began to notice all of the things that are available at the store that we typically don't buy...including toys. I love how all the merchandise is strategically placed at the eye level of a 3 year old. Clever.

We came home, put the groceries away. I fixed lunch...Jack had 1/2 peanut butter sandwich (which he finally likes!!), fruit, and yogurt...Claire had squash and applesauce. I unloaded/reloaded the dishwasher again.

Jackson was tired, and after a few disciplinary issues, he went down for a nap a little early and went right to sleep. Claire is teething, and fell asleep, but woke up screaming every time I put her down, so we chilled out on the couch for a little bit, and then she played in the floor while I had my devotional time.

Jackson woke up, Claire finally fell asleep. We played trains, and I put up some of the laundry.

Blake came home...yay! I started dinner while he entertained the troops. We had Simple Spaghetti, salad, and cantaloupe for dessert. Claire had cereal and sweet potatoes....I cleaned the kitchen, and Blake took Jackson outside to play.

Blake mowed the grass with a little help from the Jack-man and his very own push mower. Blake came in, I made my first batch of homemade bread...tasty.

I cleaned the bathrooms, and then Blake gave the kids a bath while I went for a run.

I came back from running, nursed Claire, and put her to sleep. Then Blake and I read books and had devotion and prayer with Jackson, and I layed down with him for a little bit.

Blake and I did a quick toy pick up, swept the floor, and laid on the couch and started watching Food Matters. But, we both fell asleep.

I think that is about it for today. I am thankful for these days when I really don't think I have accomplished much...when I start writing it all down, I guess maybe I did have a productive day! Love my Jesus, hubby, and babies. Love taking care of my hubby and babies...and so glad Jesus takes care of me. Thankful for these days....Enjoying every second. Hope ya'll had a great Monday!

I have some pics from today, but the computer is too slow tonight to upload them!