It's Just Ella!

Yes, I know this is a little late and yes I know I should have gotten this done sooner, and there is no excuse....so this is about my Ella and her birthday!

I should have known when she was born that she would do things in her own time. After all, I labored for 18 hours before a c-section had to be done, hoping for an answer for why she wouldn't come....she wasn't ready. Should have known then that my precious baby would do things her way and not a moment before she is ready.



And when she got here, she let everyone know she what she thought and her ever faithful brother there to console her. Much like today, he is the first to her when she cries, the first to hug her and ask what is wrong. And she will be the one who will always voice her opinion whether you like what she says or not....It's just Ella.

She is a talker when she is ready to talk. She will follow me through the house as I'm cleaning or doing laundry always telling me stories and what I wouldn't give sometimes for 5 seconds of peace, but .....it's just Ella.



She loves to be silly and dress up. She loves to always climb in my lap and give me a hug, rough sometimes, but a hug just the same. And I will gladly take them any day or time.....


I love that she has a sense of adventure and that she isn't afraid of too many new things. She is willing to take on challenges, on her terms of course. However, if she doesn't, well don't even try to persuade her, because, well, it's just Ella and there is nothing that will change her mind....



It's not that it's JUST Ella, it is just who she is plain and simple. I wouldn't trade my sassy, strong-willed, opinionated, adventurous, silly loving girl for the entire world...No words can fully describe her except....ELLA!!!


Happy Birthday sweet sweet girl! I love you to the moon and back!

Fast and Furious July

Well, June went lazily by and I couldn't wait for July to get here. Mostly because we had a few things going on and I was really looking forward to them. We are slowly adjusting to my parents not being here. It has been a little tough for the kids, because they enjoy sleeping late and with them not here they have to get up when I go to work and I take them to where they need to go.



Most of our June was spent at the pool and pretty much July has been too. I have been trying to teach Ella to swim to not much avail. I think next year are going to be swimming lessons (ahem Casey? haha).



July we had a family reunion at Lake Kickapoo. We have so much fun and the kids always have a blast. It is so good to see family and visit with those who we only get to see once a year.





Then of course was Ms. Ella's birthday! She turned 5 this year and is growing up way too fast. She is becoming her own beautiful person who is opinionated, stubborn, sassy and unpredictable. I love everything about her. Her and all of her PINK flair!







Then we go on vacation!!! I was in such a need to get away. It didn't matter where we went or what we did as long as we got out of Childress and away from all the stress of daily life. So we went to Galveston. The kids enjoyed the beach, the hotel pool, Moody Gardens and doing nothing in general with me and my mom. Since my parents have helped us out so much, we thought it would be a good idea to have them go. My dad, of course worked, so my mom did get to go and get away for a while herself.We started our trip with a short stay at my sister's where the kids got to play and have lots of fun.



Of course we have to swim with them and my sister will probably kill me, but I love and miss laughing with her. She was trying to put some goggles on and we started laughing so hard when she got them on and I just had to take this picture....


After spending a few nights with them we went on our way!! We played on the beach a few days and spent some time in the pool at the hotel.








I do have to say that I love gerber daisies, but after seeing the beautiful orchids at Moody Gardens, I may be changing my mind...they were absolutely beautiful.



One of the pyraminds there is the discovery pyramid and is very hands on. It has a big life size operation game you can play and the kids loved that.


On our way home we stopped and played again with my sister and her boys at Chuck E Cheese's...


Loved nothing better than being with my family this past month and being able to laugh and relax. Much needed rejuvination before school starts.

Busy Busy

Since I last posted a lot has been going on....

Tanner's room has stripes and is now put together



Tanner had a birthday party with his friends at Pizza Hut


He wanted a cookie cake for his birthday and asked if he could draw it himself



Ella started t-ball and has enjoyed batting...she would rather play in a dress and flip flops, and really doesn't like catching or throwing...


Then she had her recital at Ms. Kim's....She loves tumbling and actually has more grace and balance than her brother!


We cannot forget her star attraction!! She wants to do it and loves to talk about herself, but when she gets in front of her class, she doesn't say a word, she just gets embarrased.




Our family from Australia came in and we got to meet another cousin, Chloe. She and Ella are about 5 months apart. They are A LOT alike and even look alike too. She LOVES dress up and tea parties as much as Ella!



Easter was soon after they got here and Easter on my dad's side is big. Mostly because of so many people, but the food is always good and we ALWAYS eat WAY too much! I love though getting to spend time with them, talking and enjoying everything about family


Ella wanted to hunt eggs again after we got back home, so I hid them and Tanner decided he could do it one more time, after all, there was chocolate involved!!


Mother's Day Tea at Ms. Angie's is my most favorite by far. She makes some of the best cucumber sandwiches and cookies!



Then more family get together's....more laughing and sweet little kids faces...






Playday for the elementary...



And Ella's graduation from Ms. Angie's (this will not be her last)


Whew! All of this fun and going has us being lazy and wore out




We are ready for things to slow a bit and enjoy the sweeter things of life!! We wish everyone a safe and happy summer!

Tanner is 10!

Happy Happy Birthday to my sweet son!!

I have wrote this, re-wrote this, edited it and his birthday has come and gone and I am still struggling. I was not crying when he went to pre-school, or his last day of pre-school, or his first day of kindergarten. But I am crying now. Why now? I have no idea. I guess I didn't realize how fast these 10 years have flown by. He is still suppose to be a little boy. Not necessarily a baby, but my sweet little round faced boy.
Tanner slept with my dad holding him every night for the first 6 weeks of his life...


I am a very blessed mother to have him as an amazing son! I truly do not know what I would have done without him. In a lot of ways, he is my guardian angel. That sounds crazy, but when I had him I was not in a good place. I knew though, that I would be better and we would accomplish a lot in his lifetime and so far we have!!





He is smart and funny and a compassionate son. He loves his sister even, when she is not so nice to him. His imagination is always going. He loves reading and writing books and is a pretty good artist. I am very thankful for him and his kind heart and gentle spirit.




Tanner, I hope you had a wonderful day! You are very special to me and I love you more than you will ever know!!

Moments

Have you ever had those moments when you realize things are going too fast? Or your kids are really growing up without realizing they are growing up? I have had a few moments here or there and it really hit home when my dad and I were talking about plans.

The first time it hit me was about two years ago when I was buying shoes for Tanner. We had gone to the boys section to try on shoes, only for me to realize he was no longer in boys shoes, but mens. AHHHH!!! Not only did the price shock me, but so did his excitement. He was soooo excited that he was no longer in "boys" shoes. What? You have to stay in boys size shoes til you get to Jr. High, at least. Yea, that didn't happen.

Next shock was last year buying clothes for my sweet baby Ella. She went from toddlers to girls. I was ok with Tanner going from toddlers to boys sizes but not my Ella. She is suppose to be my sweet little baby who never grows up. Well, this weekend, as I was shopping for her some more clothes, my heart sank even more. She is not even in elementary and she is already growing way faster than I want her too. I would go to pick up the smaller sizes and realize they are too short and not big enough.

A few weeks ago this really hit home. HARD!! My dad and I were talking about their house. The kids and I are going to live in their house til dad retires in 10 years. After that, I'm hoping I will find something and they will move back and I will be able to either build(yea right!) or find something that fits us. Anyway, I was thinking that would be great. I'll have money saved, Tanner will be graduated, Ella will be 15 and wait.....Tanner will be graduated? Ella 15? Are you kidding me? NOOOOO!!! I don't want that to happen. Yes. Reality hit me hard that I have had Tanner for 10 years and in another 10 years he will probably be gone. Oh my heart broke. I know it is crazy and I love every minute I have with my kids, but I wasn't ready to come to terms with that just yet.

I guess, I have been thinking a lot about the kids and our future and am not really dealing well right now with them growing up. Don't get me wrong, I love that they are growing up and I want them to grow up to see who and what they become. But I don't know how my parents or anyone does it. Sometimes it breaks my heart, but to see who they are becoming brings me so much joy. Just wish it wasn't going so stinkin fast.

Brighter Day

I talked in my resolutions post that I would work harded at giving things to God and let him be the ONE who makes the decisions in my life. I write all of this to also help me be more accountable. 2011 started out rocky and the stress grew and grew. I was praying and asking God for help. I didn't know what to do and I certainly didn't have control or I wouldn't have been so stressed out. My stress finally came to a head and I had had all I could physically take and amazing thing happened. Granted, I know it's not how or what I wanted but HE stopped me. I felt like he told me to stop and my body did just that. I started getting sick, I had severe headaches for 4 days in a row. I felt terrible and looked just as bad. I kept willing myself to go because I had two kids to take care of and two jobs to get to. Tuesday, I thought, if I am not better by the morning I am going to the doctor. I can't do these headaches another day and I am wore out. I came to work Tuesday morning and by 11:30 I was home in bed. I have never slept so good in all my life as I did those 3 hours and that night. Wednesday I woke up feeling better, not great, but better. By the end of Wednesday I felt like me again. Still had a weak headache, but I could function again.

Today, my headache is gone, my stress is gone and I know what HE was doing. He was making me stop and forget everything else. I asked for his guidance and help with what I was dealing with. He got my attention and today I begin a brighter day working to be a better me because it's what I need to be with God's help. I need to not worry about all the things I was worrying about, and struggling with. There is a bigger picture, I haven't seen any of it yet, but I know it's there waiting. Sometimes what we ask for and what we get are not what HE has in mind for us. I'm still a work in progress and trying very hard every day.

February???

February? Already? Where did January go? I feel like just last week was New Year's. Grateful it's not, but I feel time has really gotten away from me this month.

January has been a crazy hectic month. First, I'm running around getting estimates for my car, hoping to get it in the shop by the end of the month so I can have my car fixed and back to me feeling safe in it. Well, we are now in the month of February and I am still jacking with the insurance company~fun!! Just so much freaking fun!!

Mom and dad found a place!! Hallelujah!! It's nothing big or fancy, but will work til dad retires!! So, we are working on a slight remodel at the new place, boxing stuff up, unpacking stuff, moving boxes to and from storage. It would be sooooo much easier if they were able to move everything! But they aren't and some will stay and some will go. Good news, at least it's only 30 miles if they need anything!!

Weather! We have had some freezing weather and with it freezing water lines!! At least on the hot side. We have cold running water, but who wants to take a freezing cold bath in freezing cold temps. Got that problem fixed(Hopefully!! Fingers crossed) this weekend. We moved the water heater and pray that this next round of bad weather we get, we will have hot water!!

Kids have been busy too. Went back to school and are heading into the end with smiles abound. Have had plenty to do with homework and programs. I was upset because I missed Tanner's Texas History Program, but heard they all did an awesome job!! I'm staying busy with both jobs and doing what I can to help my parents.

Hope this month doesn't go by as fast as last month did!! Everyone stay warm, spring is just around the corner!!