This past week...

My dad did not know he was getting his picture taken. He will not like this....

Spring Break is over and it was so hard to get going this morning. We've been sleeping in while Todd gets up and heads off to work. We loved it too. The weather was nice and we didn't have any plans. Which is super hard for Kylie because she likes to have her day filled with plans and wants to know what will happen next.

We got out and played in the backyard and I even took my camera out on Wednesday and drove around in the country and took some pictures of my girls. My dad went with us and watched. We love when he comes along on our adventures... We found a rope swing in the pecan grove that we visited twice within two hours just because it was so fun. We walked along the walnut river and wondered just how it was we could get to the other side? The week flew by and we are more ready for summer now than ever.

Signs of Spring

Kylie's flowering pear tree, we planted this when she was about 3. The blooms are just beautiful.

Sniffing the daffodils....

Spring break and the weather has been so wonderful..... I love warmer weather and love to be outside digging or mowing or playing, whatever! We have enjoyed our time at home and it will be very hard to get back in the swing of things next week. School will be out before we know it and summer will be upon us.

Until then, enjoy these signs of spring.....

New Do

Kylie finally talked me into cutting her hair short. It took her some time. I think because my hair has been pretty short for awhile and I wanted long hair I didn't want her to go short too.

But we did it and it is SUPER cute!!! Here are some before and after pictures taken right here in our own garage. How cute is she?

Get Real... Spring Style

This week Laura's challenge is Get Real Spring Style..... What spring fashion item do I like do?

Well if anyone knows me fashion is not high on my list of priorities, I like cute, comfortable clothes and I do not spend much money on clothes for myself. I really kinda thought of showing a picture of the new walking shoes I have my eye on but wasn't sure that would fit the bill. This shirt I thought was super cute and comfy. If I remember right I found it online at Old Navy. It could be worn with jeans or some bermuda shorts.
More than anything I'm looking forward to the warm weather so I can be outside enjoying the sunshine.

My Aunt Carrie

My aunt Carrie passed away on February 22. She was only 49. Carrie was one of the sweetest people you would meet. Almost every time I saw her she told me how beautiful I was. She always had a hug for me. She was around alot as I was growing up, we would ride 3-wheelers together. She took me and a friend to our first big music concert to see Chicago. How cool is that? As adults we didn't spend much time with each other but we did get together to help my grandparents with things they needed. She absolutely loved my little girls to pieces. I will truly miss her but I do know that she is watching over us and the pain she endured in life is gone now and that gives me peace. My mom and I took care of her at my mom's home the last two days of her life. I will always be grateful that we got to be with her in her last moments.

This picture was taken on Thanksgiving day, Carrie is on the left, along with my mom and their parents.

Sweetness

I just had to share this little story about Emily. At the first of the week I had a dentist appointment and she went with me. She was out of school having problems with her eye again.
Anytime I have taken them to the dentist I always sit there at the end of the chair and watch them get their teeth cleaned. I always watch as their lips get dry and I jump in and put a little chap stick on for them.
I was getting my teeth cleaned and Emily was watching from the chair, I was fighting dry lips myself. Out of nowhere Emily's little hand slipped a chap stick in my hand. I almost cried..... I did start giggling and the hygenist stopped and asked what was funny? I told her the story and she sweetly reminded me that children learn what they live...... Thank you for the chap stick Emily and all of your sweetness.

Get Real...

Laura my super sweet and creative sister-in-law created this button and challenge so we could all share pieces of our everyday life with each other. Her challenge this week is to show where we blog. I blog at my dining room table. I have a laptop but I still like to sit here and kinda stay in one spot, I'm not one to blog on the couch while watching tv or anything. My girls sit here too. This is where they play webkinzs and computer games. I can keep an eye on them when I'm cooking supper and we can hang out together. Once in a while I do load up the laptop and go to Laura's dining room table and blog with her. We have fun talking about the blogs we read. Sometimes she'll make some chai tea and I'll bring muffins. Just this morning she taught me how to get this button so I could join in the fun. Take this button an join in if ya wanna play. It's fun to see what everyone else is doing.

Miss Me?

I officially decided that after not posting for 4 weeks I should try to get back to blogging. I've missed it a little but mostly just reading everyone elses blog is what I miss. Time has been an issue lately and the computer is at the end of my list of things to do.
I don't think I ever mentioned it here but at the beginning of January I started some part time work at my children's elementary school. I have always volunteered there but the principal approached me about a job. I am a substitute aide. I get called in if someone is sick or takes a day off. I can cover for the office, recess, library or just about anywhere they need me. This is good for me as I really don't like to sit in one place to long. I enjoy being able to move around the school and get to know all the kids.
So over the past two weeks I took over for one of the aides while she went on vacation. 11 days to be exact. It was 8-4pm. In the meantime my aunt got really sick, I stayed at my moms house for two nights at my aunts beside. She passed away and we planned her funeral. We cleaned out her apartment and sorted thru her things. Life was dragging me around by the tail.
I realized one morning that I had never been a full-time working mother. When my kids were really small I cut hair 2 or 3 days or evenings a week.
I never had to get up and get around very early or get them off to school at the same time I needed to get ready. Needless to say full-time working moms have the hardest job in the world. I knew this before but not to this extent. By the time that 11th day rolled around I was ready to go home and get my life back in order the papers and bills were neglected, my laundry and bathroom were beyond recognition. My car was dirty and the oil needed changed. It seemed like I had barely spoken to Todd in days. I was getting rather cranky. I take pride in being organized and keeping my house neat but I was not doing so great keeping up. I know if I had too I could do it and get used to it, but for now I am so very blessed to stay home with my girls. I think now that they are in school full time this job will be good for me and provide me with a little extra cash. In the meantime though I hope they don't call on monday morning. I'm not quite ready to go back yet.