Baby Raegan's taggie blankie.

Lindsey had her baby! I was certain she was going to have a boy...I was wrong again and baby Raegan Isabella was born on Thursday 6/25! I went out and got the stuff to make this really cute taggie blankie for her and I hope she enjoys it!

Watching the Rain day.

Today I found the most inexpensive way to keep my children entertained for close to 2 hours! We opened up the back door and closed the screen and they sat in their chairs and watched the rain come down. They turned off all of the lights and pretended the power went out. Then later Riley decided he was going to be a "real man" and he watched the rain in Pink rain boots! It was a very interesting morning.

SkillsUSA!

Wesley finally arrived home last night at 11:30! It was so nice to have him here, even if it was so late and we went right to bed because he was exhausted and needed to be at work so early this morning. He had a good time despite not winning a medal. He was able to meet new people and have some fun, he even went on a roller coaster!!! Wes is not the roller coaster type at all! He got to sleep in a few times, which was much needed. All in all it was a great experience that he was able to participate in! Here are a few pictures from his trip.

This was the red SkillsUSA coat they had to wear for just about everything (in 100 degree heat!) It was a little big, and I am not used to seeing Wes in a coat, especially red :)
This was the competition wear that they had to wear during the actual competeing part.

Now that he is home he will be taking the final part of his testing and searching for a job! Lots of changes will probably be happening this summer. It is pretty stressful but not at the same time. School is done and I am so happy for that, but now comes the tough stuff!

Loving him.

The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created--created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination.

John Schaar
more famous quotes

Words can't even say how proud I am of my husband. He has worked so hard and so tirelessly to create a change for himself and for us as a family. We have changed and grown so much on this path that he has created. Wesley works the hardest and the best that he can at everything he does. I grow more and more in love with him as the days go by. I fall in love all over again with him when I see how happy the choices that he has made make him. Seeing Wesley happy and proud of himself is all that I need. No matter where we are, what we go through, or who we become; just knowing that we are with each other is the most important thing.

I truly am the luckiest woman.

Anxiously awaiting!

Can't wait to see how Wesley did tonight at the Awards Ceremony!!! He sounds like he has had a great week and he is as ready to come home as we are for him to! I have missed him incredibly this week and I am looking forward to what the future holds for us. I can't wait to spend some time reconnecting as a family and building relationships back to what they were. Not to say things were bad, they just became stretched because of all the time spent apart.

So cheers and here's to an amazing summer of fun, laughter and love.

The solo week!

Well, the week has not been as bad as I thought it would be. The kids are definitely missing Daddy. I get asked as soon as we wake up if it is time to go get Daddy, they ask me all day long if we can call Daddy and they ask me when we are going to the airport to pick him up. They miss him very much but we are keeping pretty busy to get through the days. It is already Wednesday and he gets home Saturday night! It also does not help that Daddy's car is in the driveway. They must forget (daily) that we drove him to the airport. When they see the car in the driveway they think that he is home. When we come around the corner and they see his car, they all yell "Daddy!" Then I have to remind them that Daddy is not home, his car is just there.
I have had a hard time sleeping without Wesley home. We never lock our house doors (terrible I know) and I have the house locked up like Fort Knox while he is not here and I toss and turn all night. I also really hate not being able to carry on a conversation with him. His cell phone only works if he has it on speaker phone, and even then I can barely hear anything he is saying but on his end it is very loud (almost embarrassing). So our conversations have been very short and to the point! He can't even use the hotel room phones, they de-activated them because each state/chapter gets charged $3.00/minute!! I know he is having a great time out here. It is very very hot though!! Yesterday it got to 106. Wesley is not a heat kind of person. He wears shorts in the winter.
I was able to watch a little bit of the Opening ceremonies online last night and I am planning on watching the Awards ceremony on Friday night. You can go to the Skills USA website to watch it as it happens! I am hoping to hear Wesley's name announced as GOLD! He starts competeing tomorrow morning and then into Friday before the Awards Ceremony. He will get a nice morning of relaxing and getting his stuff together before he leaves for home at 1:30 cst Saturday afternoon!
I am dealing with the week okay, but ready for him to be home. Riley had an Ear, Nose and Throat appointment yesterday morning. He has had several more recurring ear infections this year so they have decided to do another round of tubes in his ears as well as take his adenoids out. I always thought your adenoids were over your sinuses, but I guess they lay right on top of the opening of the Eustachian tube, so they think that his adenoids are keeping his Eustachian tube closed and that is why the fluid cannot drain. I hope that this is all we have to do and then he will be clear of all this mess and be a happy, healthy little boy again! He will be in pain/discomfort for about 2 days after the surgery but should be back to normal by the third day. Surgery is scheduled for 8 in the morning of July 20th. We have to be at the hospital by 6:30ish AM. I figured morning was better because he cannot eat anything 12 hours before the surgery and can only have clear liquids up to 4 hours before the surgery. There is no way he would last past 8 in the morning without eating actual food, especially with two other kids in the house that still need to eat!
We have a very busy summer ahead and it is going to go by so quickly! We just plan on enjoying every minute of it that we possibly can!

Kansas City...Here he comes!

Wesley left for the National Skills USA competition in Kansas City this morning! I have been very nervous about this upcoming trip, I don't really know why. I think just because I will miss having my support system here at night. I am used to doing the stay at home mommy thing by myself during the day because we have not had enough of a break between the end of school and this trip to get used to having Wes home any more than he was previously. Anyway. We had a nice night together last night, but then we had to wake everyone up at 6 this morning to get ready to go to breakfast before the airport. We were meeting the Moultroups at the cafe to eat. Luke Moultroup is the high school level competitor going to Kansas City, he just happens to be from Richmond as well (good ol' Richmond boys!). So we met them down there and we ate a nice big breakfast before heading to the airport. We got to the airport and met with the head of the aviation department for the tech center, affectionatly called Mr. S. He is such a nice man! Wes started to check in and the kids were getting antsy, I think realizing that Daddy was actually leaving! (Did you know you have to pay $15/bag for luggage now!! What the hell's that for?!?! We haven't flown in almost 4 years so it was a surprise to us!). I decided that we were going to leave Daddy with the rest of the group and not go over to the securty check in/gate with him. That is when it all went downhill. Aiden was crying, Calleigh was crying and Riley would NOT let go of Daddy!! I gave my husband a very quick kiss and picked up my screaming kids and walked the long walk to the parking garage and our car. Everyone thought it was so sweet how much they were going to miss their Daddy. I on the other hand was thinking what a horrible way it was to start off our week together. It brought me to tears, of course I waited until the kids were buckled in their seats and we were on the road so they couldn't see that I too was upset, did not get to really say goodbye to my husband and that I didn't want to leave Wesley.
We have never been away from each other or the kids for more than one night at a time. Sad to say, but we have never had the time, money or resources to go very far. The only time they were away from us for too long was when my brother passed away and they stayed at Tom and Sue's house for a while. But, they were still not too far away and we did see them during the day. Aiden was 18 months old when Wes and I got married and we did not get to go on a honeymoon either. The more I write it and say it, the more pathetic it sounds! I am hoping that Wes and I can have a getaway at the end of the summer for our anniversary.
I am missing Wesley so much and it is only day one of a very long week! At least we have a lot planned for the week and lots of appointments here and there. Aiden has SAMBA soccer camp all week from 9-12 each day. Calleigh has school Wednesday and Friday. We have Riley's ENT appointment to discuss his tubes and his hearing and see how things are going and decide if another round of tubes are necessary. Calleigh is also going to have a hearing test this week. Hopefully on Thursday. Every time we have tried to get the test done, she has fluid in her ears so the test won't be very accurate. We have fun stuff planned but I am also planning on surprising Wesley and having the pigs and chickens "re-homed" into the back corner of our property with new houses! I am hoping to get a stone grill built as well, but that may not happen! I guess I am just trying to focus on staying busy until Wesley gets home!

Happy Father's Day Wesley!

It was such a bittersweet way to end the weekend. Welsey left this morning for his competition in Kansas City, but that's another story for later! Yesterday Wesley had to work at the cafe and they were pretty busy. It is one of their busiest days of the year, other than Mother's Day. All week long Aiden and Calleigh were busy making "banners" for Daddy. They made one that said Happy Dad's Day and one that said We, a picture of a heart, and then you. It was adorable! I was planning on putting pictures on here, but Daddy took the camera with him on his trip and I did not have time to take the pictures I took off of the camera. We also got Daddy a new Hammock, we got it from here. It wasn't much but it was exactly what Daddy wanted. He had one that his parents had brought back from Mexico, but it broke so he had no place to sit and relax (okay...sleep) when he needed to get away from it all! We also gave him the photo book that I had mentioned before in a previos post (Daddy's book and Butterflies). Aiden made the wrapping paper and helped me wrap it. Daddy did not get home until about 4:45. We had the banners hanging from the ceiling when he walked in and he was very surprised to see them when he came in, he kept telling me not to do anything for him. He opened his gifts and then I took the kids to go and pick up Aunt Mallory's suitcase (Daddy needed to borrow it for his trip). Daddy had about an hour to sit in his hammock and rest before dinner. When I got home we grilled Asparagus, Ranch burgers and hot dogs and Daddy and Mommy had bacon wrapped Filet Mingon! We also had mashed potatoes. The burgers were sooooo good! I have never made them before but wanted to try it as something different that maybe the kids would actually eat. I added ranch, onion powder and salt and pepper to the meat and they were so flavorful and yummy! Then we snuggled up and watched Ice Age: The Meltdown. We are planning on going to the new Ice Age coming out next week so we decided to watch that one again. It was a perfect afternoon and a great way to spend the day with Wesley. He is such an amazing Dad and the kids are so lucky to have him!

Daddy's last day of school!

I am so happy that today was Daddy's last official day of school! It has been a long two years of sacrifices, sleeplessness, and stress. It wasn't all bad. Just seeing how happy Wesley is and how proud he can be of all that he has accomplished. He worked full time, went to school full time and managed to spend some time at home. Granted it wasn't much, but at least he tried. He would get frustrated because the kids didn't understand why he wasn't home or when he was home they would rather sit with Mommy instead of Daddy. It will all be Worth it just to see him happy. He still has to go to Kansas City for the Skills competition, but he will do great and come home a champion. I know it. Here are some pictures of Daddy and the kiddos at today's Last Day BBQ.

Made me laugh!

So this morning, Calleigh got into the cabinet and snuck out some strawberry flavored marshmallows (I was trying to get breakfast together and couldn't leave the stove at that moment. So Aiden took it upon himself to be the one to take the marshmallows away from Calleigh. He put them back in the cabinet and stood in front of it. This was the conversation that followed it:
Aiden: "Calleigh, you can't have those, I'm guarding it from you."
Calleigh: "No Aiden, I'm not going to plant them, I want to eat them!"
She thought he had said gardening instead of guarding. I had to laugh pretty hard because I was picturing the strawberry marshmallow plant and what it would look like!

Rough days/nights

My poor little Riley man. There is nothing worse than hearing a cry of sheer pain and hurt and not being able to do anything about it. Riley woke up very early on Thursday morning, 2am to be precise and was screaming at the top of his lungs. Nothing could console him, nothing. he went on that way for about an hour until exhaustion took over and he basically passed out. He was up off and on for the rest of the night. This was on top of Calleigh throwing up every forty minutes from 9 the night before and my husband was not feeling well and was sweaty with chills and massive headache passed out in the bed. Calleigh was much better by the morning, she had gotten it out of her system and was very tired but okay. Riley on the other hand was not. I took him to the doctor Thursday morning and they said Riley had an ear infection and Calleigh had a virus. So we filled (yet another) perscription for Amoxicillin, after the pharmacy had to call the doctor's office because the Dr. accidentally wrote the script to Calleigh instead of Riley. Riley was just miserable all night Thursday night and did not sleep well again. I expected it because the meds did not have the full affect yet. We got up Friday morning and got the older kiddos off to school and Riley and I just relaxed for most of the day. He would not let me move at all. I couldn't stand up or even move my arm from where it was. He took a very short nap Friday afternoon and when I went upstairs to get him he was burning hot! I took his temp and it was 105.2! I was so worried. I immediatly gave him motrin and called the Doctor. I know they are not usually concerned with fevers, but this was high considering he had two doses of the antibiotic in him. They told me to just wait it out, give him a lukewarm bath to try and get him comfortable and to keep him drinking lots of fluids. So we did the bath, but he cried for two hours straight. My Mom came and took the older two to Walmart to get them out of the house and try to help me focus on Riley more. The fever only went down to 101, but that was better than what it was. So he finally calmed down after more Motrin took affect. I was finally able to get everyone into bed and sit by myself for a few moments. It did not last long (about 10pm Friday night) before Riley was up and very very cranky. He cried for yet another hour or so before again basically passing out! We had yet another very very bumpy high fever night and lots of crying (even some on my part). We went back to the Dr. this morning and she said his ears were not too bad and that it must be something else. So she gave him a very thorough look over and said she thinks he has an enterovirus. This is the same virus that causes viral meningitis. He does not have that, he just has the virus that causes that, but he did have it when he was seven weeks old so I was familiar with the symptoms. We talked about it and she said she thinks the screaming and crying is because this virus gives you pretty bad headaches and he has a sore throat. It was red with lots of mucus drainage. She said he was going to miserable but that advil or tylenol should help. If he did not calm down about an hour after the advil then they needed to see him again. They are going to call tomorrow anyway just to check up on him. As I am reading this it seems kind of complicated and mish moshed, but it has been a very crazy sleepless few days. It is so heartbreaking as a Mom to hear those cries of pain and not be able to take it away or do anything about it. If I could take away his pain and make it my own I would do it in a heartbeat. To see him look at me so helpless and want to be held and consoled but then again nothing makes it better anyway....just tears me to pieces. I am hoping that this passes quickly and I have my bouncing, lovey little boy back.

Daddy's book and butterflies.

I got a litle thing for Wesley today. I had gone online to Walmart.com and ordered their 2x3 mini memory book as a gift for Wesley to take with him to Kansas City so he would have pictures of the kiddos with him, maybe even as a good luck charm. You can do it all right online and then pick it up at the store in Williston. It is tiny (could probably even fit right in his wallet somehow) and not so greatly constructed, but it is pretty cute for only $3.50 (they were on sale last week!)! Aiden is going to decorate the white part around the picture with permanent markers to add a personal touch to it.The inside (it has 24 pages in it)I have also been going back to a ceramics class. I don't actually mold the pieces (although I could), but she has lots of different things you can paint or glaze. I have done mostly kitchen platters and bowls in the past but my Mom picked up two butterflies a while back and she said she was not going to have time to paint them so I decided to do it. Here is the pink one and then there will be a purple one to match it. They are going to go into Calleigh's room on the wall. They take forever to paint because I have a wrist problem (kind of like carpal tunnel but on the thumb joint and along the wrist). This one is not quite finished, I have some lighter green to do on top of the green that is already there. I think it has come out great so far!

The flash makes this look brighter than it is!

Where did it go?

It is so hard to believe that Aiden's Kindergarten year is coming to a close. I am a little bummed that RES does not do a Kindergarten ceremony, but we will live without one. It seems like just yesterday I was getting him ready for his first day of school! He has had his struggles this year and things did not always come easy to him. He is still struggling with writing and reading but he has come leaps and bounds above where he was with the support he has recieved. There are still some challanges as far as behavior and interactions go, but he is such a kind, sweet, caring, laughable and lovable six year old. I am so proud of him and what he has accomplished this year. We are looking forward to his first grade year and the many adventures that being in school will bring for Aiden. We are also looking forward to a busy summer filled with lots of fun times, sleeping in and big homemade breakfast's complete with pancakes and waffles. I intend to soak in every moment and just enjoy this summer with the kids. I am realizing our lives are so quickly changing and flying by that I don't want to miss any moment of happiness!

Aiden on his first day of Kindergarten.

Just a reminder

After the horribly crazy roller coaster of a day, I just needed a reminder (more like a mental picture) of how sweet my little girl was...before she could speak, scream, yell, and get mouthy. Love you, Calleigh. :)

Having fun with Aunt Erin

My sister watched the kids for me this morning while I took my grandmother to the doctor's office. They like to fool around with my camera and take "silly pictures", as Calleigh says.

Riley does not looked to be pleased to be a part of this picture.

Night of surprises

I have to say, it was a very long and stressful weekend and I never thought it was going to end. However, to my surprise tonight my hubby called me right before he was leaving work and said to call his sister Mallory and ask her to watch the kids, he wanted to take me out to dinner! I was soooo excited because I miss him. I really, truly miss being around him. We have such little time where he is home and not sleeping! I called Mal up and she said she would watch them (to be honest I wasn't sure if she would agree, I know she has her own life and we used to ask her to take them a lot). So we dropped the kids off with Mal and her two roomates, Tiff and Niki (they are all close to 20) and as we were headed to Koto's, the best place to have a night out ever, I got a text message from Mal telling me I forgot to leave diapers! I couldn't believe it so I turned around and sure enough they were right in front of his car seat. I figured he would be fine because he never poops at night and I had just changed him before we left the house. I told her he should be okay since we were only going to be gone for 2 hours max. We got to Koto's and were having a great time with a couple that they seated next to us when I get another text message from mal "Riley pooped". I laughed so hard my Mai Thai almost came spewing out of my nose! We were fairly close to being done dinner so I told her we were leaving in five minutes and she could either leave him in it (horrible I know) or change him out of it and let him run around in his shorts because he usually does not pee if he does not have a diaper on. The next text said "okay, it smells." Then I get "He's good, we wrapped him in TP". This is what I got when I picked up my little man from his Aunt's house:Apparently he had peed in his shorts (and paper towels) right before we got there so they used a grocery bag with holes cut in it as a replacement just in case he peed again! I laughed so hard when I walked in the door and saw him walking around with this on. I wish I had taken a picture from behind because he had the cutest little plastic bag wedgie. I know it is really not funny.....but then again, it is! They were very innovative and very understanding considering I was the one that forgot the diapers in the car. Good job girls!

Africa?

We were in the car tonight and Aiden asked me where Africa was. I thought for a moment and asked him where he thought Africa was. This was his response:
"Well Mommy, the big kids at school had a dessemmbley (assembly) at school today and it was all about Africa. They sang some songs and did a dance. I think Africa is below Florida, you know like down in the ocean (he did this funny little hand motion to get his point across). It would take us 4 days to drive there and we would have to stay in a hotel for four nights. Wouldn't that be fun. We could drive in our car and listen to the Africa music?". I thought this was pretty reasonable so I asked him if he wanted to go to Africa. He said "Well of course Mommy, why do you think I told you about it. We should go the day after school gets out, so we can leave in 7 days.".
The simple things that kids think about. If it could only be as easy as a 4 day *drive* to Africa!

This is what happens.......

When I dare go to the bathroom.

Don't they look oh so proud of themselves.

Calleigh's creation.

Riley knew Mommy was not happy.

The funny part is that there was a huge roll of paper laid out in front of them. At least this time it was not a trip to the ER.

Ideas on a budget?

I am trying to come up with some ideas for my huby. I know my "reflection' post kind of pinned him as a bad guy and not so understanding. He does have a hard time understanding what it is like day in and day out, but I love that he works so hard to make our life what it is and hopefully better. He goes days without actually seeing the kids sometimes because he is gone before they wake up and they are in bed before he gets home. He gets to see them during the week sometimes but it is for maybe an hour or so. I hope that he does realize how much we miss him and I am trying to think of ways to show him how much we appreciate him. Wesley will be leaving for a week at the end of June for the National Skills USA competition. He is very nervous and stressed about it. He is also stressed because he finishes school on June 17th and he is hoping to finish up his testing for his certification on the 18th. It is an all day test and pretty difficult. Then that Friday he has to work from 5am to 11pm. Then Saturday he works from 5am until 3 in the afternoon. Then Father's Day is one of the Cafe's busiest days of the year so he will be very tired and busy that day. Then he leaves for Kansas City at 9:30 on Monday morning. He has never been away from Aiden and I for more than two nights and from the other two for more than one night. (sad I know). Anyway, my point is that while he is gone I want to do something for him that he will be so surprised and relieved that he doesn't have to do it or that it is something he has wanted.
My thoughts:
getting a new chicken coop built and in place so the chickens won't actually get out of it!
Building the stone grill he has always wanted
renovating the bathroom upstairs
They all would require some kind of cost and some kind of help. I am hoping his best friend Gabe will be able to help out some and I am also hoping my aunt can help, but we will see! I am also planning on having the kids do special projects for the day he comes home. It will be nice for Daddy to have a break, even if it is for a stressful competition. He still gets to do fun stuff while he is there.
We will miss him though and I am already dreading having an empty bed next to me (although I am sure kids will be filling the sapce at some point or another)

Feeling better.

Thanks to everyone that has sent comments or emails about my recent post. It has been a very tough few years for us and it has been difficult to be happy all the time. Things are slowly getting better and I know that being a Mom is one of the most precious and rewarding experiences I could have. I know that my thank you's come from all of the little things that I have given to my kiddos and watching them be with each other and not so much in words and praise.
I have vented to people that I need to vent to and I have confronted people I need to confront, for various different reasons and I feel much better. I have decided that I am going to enjoy every moment I can at home because it has already gone by so quickly and I don't want to waste it away because I am stressed out or just going through the motions of daily tasks and life.

I am dreading the day when I have to let go of them and let them venture on their own. I know I will always be just a few steps behind to catch them if they need me too, but for now I will settle for being the alarm clock, the stylist, the taxi, the caterer, the meal preparer, the entertainer and everything else I can think of because I am good at it....I know that now.