I Am Blessed!

I am thankful for my kids. I know I already posted that I was thankful for them but today I needed to remind myself how much I am blessed to have them. It has been one of those days where they have just worked  my every nerve. This time change has really messed them up. Attitudes are rearing their ugly heads and theirs mouths are extremely disrespectful. But I am blessed. They have words to speak when other parents can't hear their children. They have opinions when other children are locked in their own minds and can not express thoughts. I am blessed. They are rambunctious and are always "ON". Other parents have to watch their children struggle to walk or run. I AM BLESSED! My children love to have "Mommy Love"...that's what they say when they want to snuggle. I am blessed. I will focus on that and make more time for Mommy Love, because I am blessed with two sweet children who are future lawyers because they are learning to argue and rationalize their opinions so much that they will not need law school!

catch up:)

Okay so I need to play a little catch-up on my days! I have been sick with the stomach flu:( But THANKFUL for losing a few pounds:) So thankful for my hubby taking care of me while I was sick. So, so thankful for my parents who are watching my kids while my hubby and I take our anniversary vacation!!!! Thankful for the work we have to pay for a vacation. Thankful that my hubby shares his passion/obsession of hunting with our son. Warning***** the following photos are not for the faint of heart and please know this animal feeds our family*****

These are from last season...

My son was so excited to "shoot" his first deer. Maybe this season he will actually shoot his own and not daddy.

family

i am so thankful for my family. my mom, dad, and two sisters are amazing! they are not only my family but best friends too!

so thankful for work when it comes in. i love photography and giving massages and am thankful for the talent God has given me:)

thankful for being healthy even though i feel super old sometimes! i am fortunate to still be able to do the things i love while others can not..

Thanks, thanks, thanks...

So, so thankful for the weather we have been having lately! I love fall. Cool breezes, windows open, kids running around outside & I can hear them without them going in & out of the house:)

Thankful for my house. Many don't have a place to call home. Food, water, & so much more than we ever need. We are blessed.

Love my car! Thankful for a wonderful ride that not only gets me from point a to b but that also looks fabulous!

30 days of thanks...

Everyone else is doing it:)

Ok so for the next 30 days I will write what I am thankful for...& try to have a few pics in there as well:)
So here goes...I am thankful for

-God...without Him I am nothing. What a huge blessing to be forgiven daily for all of the horrible decisions I made. So thankful for all that He has created for me. For His mercy & grace.

-My husband...I am privileged to be able to stay at home with our two kids...huge blessing! He works hard for our family outside of the home so I don't have to:)

-My kids...they are full of energy and very inquisitive and some days I want to just Lock them in their rooms but they are the most amazing lovable little mini-me's! I love them so much and am sooo thankful for them!

Stay tuned for more...

Misses her paci :(

Me not her!!! Ever since she stopped using her paci she has been a horrible kid to put to bed! She used to just fall right asleep. Now it is up and down...need to pee...need a hug...etc. It just wears me down. It is nights like tonight when I want to just give it back to her. But I won't.

Sassy girl

We spend the weekend camping at my husband's grandparent's property camping. Other than sleeping on the ground we had a great time. Our air mattress ended up having a leak so we got a fix it kit and "fixed" it. As we were laying there I heard the all telling Sssssssssssss....slowly but surely we ended up on the ground. Mama was not happy & you know what happens then. Anyways these pictures made the trip worth while...

My son was an uh-mazing camper!!! He slept through everything! I mean he even got stepped on a few times! My daughter on the other hand...refer to above. Love her. Love her. Love her.

Such a tease...

While the weather has been nicer this weekend...I can say it got hot again:( I had my windows open for a day and a half...longing for a full week! Ok, moving on...

Another longing...to sleep in! My youngest woke up at 640 am this morning...regardless of when they go to sleep they are up at 700. I think I need to go to sleep a little earlier.


I wandered around my husband's grandparent's property last week and captured these...

Final longing for the night...would love to live a place like this!!!!

Ahhh Fall:)

At least for a few days anyways. I t has been so nice outside. We actually slept with the windows open last night. I LOVE this weather:) It makes my heart happy. The kids were outside most of the day yesterday and we weren't sweating within 2 minutes of being outside! The mosquitos didn't attack until close to dark so that is another perk. Usually 1 minute after we are out we are applying bug spray. I will probably die of deet poisoning. I am looking forward to the pumpkin patches although I miss being in GA during this time of year. They have some really cool places to go. I also wish I lived where there was a apple orchard. I pretty much just wish I lived somewhere else. Florida is not my cup of tea. I think a nap is in order today. Between the kids being up and down all night and then my hubby up at 4am to go hunting and then my youngest deciding that she needed to be up at 7am I am tired. Can't wait to see my middle sister tonight though! Yay:)

Just really love these shots:) I would love to make them into canvas and hang them on my wall!

Catch-up :)

What a wonderful day I am having so far! I walked my littlest to school today with our dog and she thought that was the coolest thing ever:) It is hard being a stay a home mom. We have the biggest, hardest job ever. I have come to realize though that it doesn't have to be. What is important in life? A clean house? Nicely manicured lawn? Nope. Time spent with those you love. I tend to get frustrated with my kids when they are acting crazy or demanding my attention. I am usually trying to clean or do laundry or something of that nature. I have decided that all of that can wait. My kids will only be 4 & 3 for so long and then, that time will be gone. I don't want to miss it because I have to do laundry. That laundry will be there the next day & so son. It never ends. Just like our kids never stop growing, so I am going to stop what I am doing to watch that car get crashed fort he 10th time or help her put on her crazy dress up outfits over & over again. And I know I will be happier because I am spending time with my kids instead of saying "I'll be there in a minute" or "Not right now. I have to fold these clothes". It can wait, my kids shouldn't have to.

Fall is here! Well, on the calendar anyways. I. Love. The. Cold Weather! I am not a typical Floridian who longs for the hot summer days. I enjoy the cooler weather and right now I am longing to have to wear a jacket when I go outside! Someone said we are supposed to have cooler weather next week...God please send it:) Here are some pictures from over the last month or so:)

Blah

I wonder if my life just isn't that interesting sometimes. I look at other blogs and people right on them everyday. I would love to write on it everyday but I just can't think of things to say! So here are my random thoughts...

1. Love the show Wipeout. Especially when my day has just been blah.

2. My kids drive me crazy. But I love them to the ends of the Earth & back.

3. My faith is going to be tested soon. Good is good. Everything will work out:)

4. Can't wait for my youngest to start school on Tuesday because I will have a solid 2 hours to myself and I plan to run jog:)

5. I can't believe my baby is turning 3 next week!

6. I make the most uh-mazing tater tots!

Gulf Fritillaries

We were over at our grandparents house the other day and the kids wanted to collect some caterpillars. So grandma being the outdoorsy one she is runs inside for a butterfly box:) We collected 4 caterpillars and some passion fruit plants for them to eat. The kids didn't understand the fact that it takes a few days to weeks for the transformation to occur. They were pleasantly surprised because on the second day one caterpillar turned into a crysalis! Not sure I spelled that correctly but you get the idea! We now have 2 in that stage and are waiting for the other 2 to turn:) Hopefully we will see the Gulf Fritillaries soon:)

Forming...

First crysalis

Tomorrow is the first day of school for my son. He is so excited! My daughter starts in a few weeks and she is a little sad that she has to wait! I can't wait to see him tomorrow:) Everything is laid out for a smooth morning...hopefully:)

Paci Nightmare

About 2 weeks ago my daughter lost her last paci. Naptime & bedtime have not been the same since. I was reassured, it only takes 3 days and she'll be fine. Apparently my kid is different. Nope, not the right word. Stubborn. She asks daily for it. Daily. At nap & bedtime she screams at me, kicks, and tries to think of every excuse to get out of bed. When she had her paci she would just go to sleep so nicely. In fact she was in a better mood all day. Guess what I found the very day after she lost her paci? A paci. Yep the one she bought with her own money. I found it in the van under the seat. Oh and guess what I found in the pocket of my bathrobe? Yep, another paci. Oh and guess what my son found at his Nana's house? You got it, another stinking paci!!!! Now I have not given her them but boy I secretly want to. Ok not such a secret anymore considering I just wrote it. But you get the idea! Before she lost her last one I had to throw the "last" one away because she bit it just about off. After that nap she comes out of her room to tell me that I needed to take her to the store and buy her a new one. I said no. She thinks a minute and then says, "I will get my money from my bank and you can take me to the store and I can buy one". Umm, yeah...she's 2. So that is what we did and that was the last one she lost. I have saved it though for her. When she gets older I will tell her the story and she may laugh or be really upset that I didn't give it to her but she will live. And so will I. Hopefully this phase will end soon.

Ants on a Log

What a rainy day! I actually loved it:) We spent the day going to the gym, dodging (unsuccessfully) rain drops at the grocery store, watching t.v., and reading books. I made chili for dinner because it seemed appropriate for the weather. My kids are very picky eaters and tonight I was determined to get them to at least try it. My son loved it!!!! Yay! My daughter however was not impressed. I always worry with her because she tends to throw up when she doesn't like something. But she got it down. After dinner we made ants on a log. Again another new food, which my son loved too! So proud of him:) She licked the peanut butter off and left the celery:( But it was fun for them to make on their own.