Trip to Ohio

The whole fam took a trip to Ohio back in October to see Michael's family. We had a blast! We did so many "fall things" like visit a pumpkin patch and an apple orchid, play in the beautiful leaves and drink fresh apple cider.

We also took a took a trip The Toledo Zoo, and I totally got this awesome shot of this hippo!

Ethel the Goldfish

Here is Soph's new goldfish, Ethel, named in memory of her great- aunt.



Soph's petting Ethel. I soon realize maybe this was not a good idea, because now she thinks she can always pet the fish.



"Mommy, I want to pet the fish now!"



"Please, please, take me back to Wal-mart ...." says Ethel.


This is why I should have never put the fish on her level.
I am taking bets now on how long Ethel is going to make it.

My little artist

Here is a picture of Soph painting a turtle at school one day.



This is her "say cheese" face. I love those cheeks!

Happy Be-lated Birthday Brook

My dear Brooky- Happy Birthday!
I thought about you on August 9th and I was hoping your birthday was super-fabulous! Please know I am thinking about you and little Ben. Please email me and call me because it is along story why I can't contact you. I explain later- it has something to do with my computer.
love you 4-EVA

P.S.
Leslie email me, too

Working Again

WOW! has it been almost a month that I have blogged. It a busy time for me. I'll confess, I took my Adderall today so my brain is in that deep think mode. SO this maybe long blog-where I just babble about this struggle forever. School is back in session, and last week I put in 60 hours getting my room ready for my students. My babysitter, Ms. Gwen, I really should call her my guardian angel since that is who she really is, came with me to school for the first two days to get Soph used to her again. And when I dropped Ms. Gwen home, I cried and cried because I have to leave my baby again for the third year. The Lord and I have gone round and round why I can't be at home. I often wonder if missed an opportunity to be with her this school year because I keep dreaming about the school. I got a job at a Montessori school 50 miles away where Soph could go to toddler school with me and I would teach the pre-primary. How ever it was not practical- I have to pay half her tuition which would have cut my salary to a lot less than it is now, plus it is basically a two hour drive a day and gas is way to much but I wonder if I should have taken it because at least I would have been with Soph. I just wonder if that was God's way out for me. Is Gods' way always practical? But regardless, I am teaching again this year so I put my big girl pants on and deal! I met my students this Monday. They are wonderful-I do have three four-year old girls that remind me of the kittens who lost their mittens. And I have six boys and only three girls in my kindergarten group. They seem to be good group so far- although I hope the boys don't get to hyper. I have to say that if I must work- I absolutely love what I do. I love teaching these children. It fun to me to plan what lessons to do for them and I get excited about dancing with them at circle time, reading stories to them, "showing them all the love they have inside" like Whitney Houston told me to do. I think I feel that my heart is split right down the middle. All of me wants to be with Soph and be Suzy-
Homemaker and then half me looks forward to teaching and loving the children. That fraction does not make since but if you looked at my heart in fraction kinda form that is what you would see. I know that I have found my purpose though, meaning after my children are grown and are in college I am meant to teach small children. I know they see Jesus because they love me way to much for them to be loving me. After all my conversations with the Lord about this year and why I am back, the only reason i can muster up is He has someone, a parent, a teacher a child, to minister to this year. I pray I can obey and listen to the Lord in this task. So I will go to school with peace in my heart that He wants me their and my soph is well taken care of and where she is suppose to be in God's will here another year with Ms. Gwen. But I will pray, plead that the Lord will bless Michael ca rear so that I can be full- time Mama to my Soph and hopefully more babies. I would love who ever reads this to pray with me too. Thanks for reading.

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Super Fun Cruise!!

I was able to go on cruise with these three fabulous girls in June. We went to down to Cozumel, Mexico, which I must say the water is beautiful. The cruise ship had great shows, games, and even a Asian Beatles band. Our cruise director was "Big Tex", who despite his size, was a great dancer. The food was delicious. I am proud to say that I had an omelet every morning. One of my favorite treats was how every evening the housekeeper would turn down our beds and leave a mint on my pillow and one surprise towel animal on the bed. I am going to try get Mike to that trick. Overall, the cruise was a beautiful trip, full of laughter, friendship and food. If you ever get a chance to go on one, take it.

My Family

Here is a slide show of my sweet family.
It is various pictures over the past year of me, Michael, Sophie-Grace, Annabelle and A.C.
My cup runnith over with love and joy for them.

An Evening at the Beach

O.k. my first real blog story. I kinda feel like Lois Lane on Super Man typing her first story. After we ate dinner, we loading the up the car with three of us and a beach bag and headed to Jax Beach. We got there about 7:30 p.m. We got out of the car. Mike had Sophie, Sophie had her baby, and I had the beach bag and the chairs. We plopped down on the sand and everything was perfect... the temperature, the sunset, the breeze, the people, the sounds of the waves and seagulls.Well, my girl Soph is beach girl, so she head right for the water with her baby in hand. I followed her and the next few moments we wrestled with the waves. They turned us around and upside down and little Soph always came up wanting more. I am always amazed at her adventures spirit, and what a good little Mama she is because she held on tight to her baby and made sure she did not drown. After Sophie had her time with the waves, she sat down right against the shore line and started to pour the wet sand on her leg again and again and again. She would laugh when the water come and wash it way. After about 10 minutes, I decided hey I wonder what this feels like to her so I decided to join her in her activity. Turns out that letting warm, wet beach sand drop on to your legs is quit relaxing and feels kinda nice. We continued to this for another five minutes that Michael was so intrigued with us that he came over to ask us what we were doing. Next thing I know we were all pouring sand on our legs. I love stepping into Sophie's world, she lets me feel and see parts of the world I never knew existed. It was such a peaceful and beautiful night. I was so happy to be the present moment with my sweet family.

I'm back... for good!

It only took me a little over a year to post another story for my blog, but as I always say, better late than never. I must confess, I love this blogging thing. It is so much fun! However, I am not as computer savy as I want to be and have not figured out how to post my pictures or do a slide show (way cool) so bear with me on this part. I'll get there.