Ladies and Gentlemen...we have a kindergartner!

Whoa! We have a kindergartner! That's crazy! I have to admit this year went so much better than last.There were no tears as I dropped him off (maybe, one or two were shed on the way home but not at the actual school. Proud of myself for holding it together ha ha). There were a few reasons things went so much better.

 

1. This is our second year at VCA. We love it there! Isaac learned so much last year and we know he'll learn a ton this year.

 

2. We knew some of the parents and kids. It's always easier to go back to something familiar.

 

3. Isaac's teacher. Ok, I'll admit, I've only talked to her twice. But seriously, such a sweet patient lady. Not to mention she sent emails before school started. She all ready sent one about how the kids first day went! Can we say AHHH-MAZING! She likes to take pictures, she super organized, and she's funny. This is going to be a great year!

 

Ps. For any of our military friends or friends in the OKC area. If you're looking for a wonderful place to send your child. We highly recommend this school. www.vertiasclassical.com . A great education, caring staff and teachers, God centered. Love it, love it, love it!

 

Here's a few pictures

praying with Daddy after breakfast for the new school year

All cute in his uniform

He found his seat :)

A note from his teacher. She's so sweet! I love how much she cares.

some advice from a 30 year old mom

I went to the mall the other day. It was one of those unplanned trips. I usually don't like the mall. Mainly, because of the teenagers. They hang out in groups of 3 or more and don't seem to care about anyone but themselves. I figure one of these days I'm going to snap and mow over at least 5 of them with my sit and stand if they can't be a little courteous and move a few steps to let people pass. Seems I've gone on a bunny trail. I noticed the teenage girls were in "mom clothes". Seriously, Nike shorts and t-shirts, teased hair, and makeup. Let me tell you something little girls. I was in the same outfit. Well, kinda, my teased hair was the result of a 2 year old, and I was wearing makeup that was meant to enhance my beauty...not make it...but that's for another blog. Anywhoo, my point is, I was in my gym clothes because I didn't have time to run home and put them on. The gym has to be part of my day and I have to do errands around it. For Pete's sake put on a cute outfit. You have the time. Hurry! Not to far from now you'll wish you could ;)

For my fellow deployment mama's...can I get a "Amen"!?

I love my kids. They're awesome. They really are the biggest blessing and gift God has ever given me.

 Blessing #1 keeps remind me, "I'M THE MAN OF THE HOUSE WHILE DAD IS GONE!" aka "I want to do what I want to do, NOW!"

Blessing #2: Lets just say the other night he spilled popcorn all over my bed. I vacuumed it. As I went to put up the vacuum I come back in and there's baby powder all over the place, I clean it. It's quiet. Quiet is not good. He had unrolled all of the toilet paper.

Can I relate to this cartoon. Just a little bit :)

Grateful

When Isaac told me at the end of May that he was being deployed in June, I was mad. We had him here with us, but we didn't get to spend a lot of time together because he was upgrading. That means a lot of flying and studying. The silver lining was that he wouldn't leave until Oct. So, much for three whole months of him being ours unless there was a TDY or two.

However, since he's left my attitude has changed. There are positives. He only had to go for  4 months, since he got to go later. We'll be together for the holidays, and surprisingly this deployment is flying by so far.

Here are some things I am grateful for in no particular order...

An AWESOME support system...

*friends that ask me to lunch or randomly bring me dinner

*friends that watch my kids so I can go to Dr. appointments or get my nails done

* Friends that invite us to playdates

*A wonderful school for Isaac. Seriously, who gets an email from the grammar school principal telling your they are praying for your family everyday during deployment!?

*A church family that gets together to send my husband a care package

  

 Why Hello Romance!

* So, as sad as it is, Isaac is the romantic one. I am so grateful for him. I hate to admit it but when he is here I take him for granite. All the little things he does. Mowing the yard (that is friggin hard work), playing with the boys (such an amazing Dad), the talks, that he listens to my silly stories (yes, even my rants about reality tv shows), his hugs and kisses.

I know he is busy flying, I am grateful that he takes the time out of his busy schedule to pop a sweet letter in the mail every week, to send me flower and chocolates, to skype or face time on the days he doesn't fly, the emails he sends to remind me he is thinking about me, and the ring that is arriving in the mail in the next few weeks because I might have sent him an email with a direct link to a jewelery store and my ring size ha ha. He makes me feel so loved. I am so blessed to be his wife.

Family

How many families do you know say, "bring your two rambunctious boys and your dog and stay with us!" I can honestly say my sisters, bro, parents, in laws, and Aunts. They know they'll have to put up with my craziness that comes from me being extremely introverted but they still invite me and put up with me when I show up. Thank you guys!

 Quality time

I get to spend everyday with my boys. Yes, some days are hard but I wouldn't trade it for the world. The fact that Israel won't be without me for more than an hour makes me think he really loves me ;)

 Skype and Face Time

 Seriously, wish I could thank the people that created these in person. It's so great to be able to hear and see Isaac's face everyday. To know that even though he couldn't be here for our Birthday's, he could still be watching, listening, and interacting. Not missing our kids faces when they blow out their candles or open a present.

I'm sure I'll think of much more when I push the button to publish this blog. But I am truly grateful for everyone and everything!

Israel

Relly Baby,
         I swear I blinked and you became two. Where did this last year go!? You went from a crawling baby to a climbing, screaming, running two year old. You make everyday an adventure. From the time you open your eyes to the time you close them, I have to keep a very close eye on you. If I don't you might be on a counter, covered in mud or paint, running 1/2 way down the aisle in a store :) You keep me on my toes! I can't picture my life without you. It would be much much less adventurous. And since you have a mom whose motto has always been, "better safe than sorry" I need someone to make me realize it's ok to take risk! Just don't scare me too much this next year, and make sure I'm around to get you off of the things you climb up on when I turn my back for 10 sec. I love you little dinosaur!

                                                                                                                           Love,
                                                                                                                           Mom

Aunt Caroline

An amazing woman

I've mentioned before how much my family moved around while we grew up. However, during holidays and sometimes randomly we would go home to Texas. My Dad always told us stories of how him and my Aunts would get in trouble growing up. So, even though we moved around a lot it is like we knew these family members. Aunt Caroline always welcomed us with hugs and laughter. She went to my graduation, wedding shower, wedding, and baby shower. She had awesome advice. She was an amazing friend, Aunt, Mother, Grandma. She was one of the strongest women I had ever met. I can't picture family reunions without her and am happy that someday I will see her at a reunion in heaven. Today, I would like to think she chose to go and spend Mother's Day with two other Great women and mothers. My Memmaw and Aunt Linda. I know they are having a fantastic Mother's Day full of laughter in heaven right now. Can't wait to get another amazing love filled hug from them someday!

1/2 Marathon Mommy, 13.1 Miles of Peace & Quiet

I did it! 13.1 miles. After 4 months of training I finally did my first 1/2 marathon. Here's a recap...

The night before I went to a Carb party with some of my fantastic and inspiring Girls In Training ladies. My goal was to be in bed by 8pm but I made it by 9pm. It usually takes me a while to fall asleep but the minute my head hit the pillow I was out. Woke up at 4am feeling refreshed and nervous. My friend Shelly picked me up and some other friends around 5am and off we went to the race. Man was it busy! People were everywhere. We got a parking spot, stretched, prayed together.

Down to the corral we went. It was so crowded that all of us from G.I.T. couldn't find one another. 168 sec of silence for those lost in the bombing. It was very emotional and reflective. The national anthem. That one always gets me, probably because Isaac is in the military. Then it was time. The gun went off. We walked to the line for 6 min, then we were off. My stomach had all sorts of knots and butterflies and there were so many people to run with and around, plus there was the roar of the people cheering. It was very motivating.

For about 1/2 a mile I could see Shelly and then I lost her in the crowd. Shelly is my running partner and my motivator. It was up to me now. I had set three goals for myself.

1.Don't ever stop running

2.Don't stop to use the bathroom

3. To make it on time to see little Isaac run the kids marathon

I try to find a good pace but it's hard with such a big crowd to run in. Speed up to get past people. Slow down because you can't find a hole to maneuver through. Which is how I hurt my foot around mile 3. I sped up to pass someone and saw another runner do the same. To avoid hitting the other runner I took a side step and almost ate the asphalt. My first thought was, "wow, that was so embarrassing. Thank you Jesus for not letting me fall". My second thought was, "my foot kinda hurts". I ignore the pain and keep running. I was feeling great. Even the hills were not that bad. At mile 6 my foot started to throb. I kept ignoring it. My only thought was, " Isaac is counting on you. Don't you dare let him down". I actually do Gorilla hill without even knowing I did till I get to the top. Miles 7-10 I still feel great, minus my foot. At mile 11 I wanted to quit and walk. I thought about Little Isaac and picked up the pace the best I could. Mile 12 seemed like forever. People were beginning to pass me and I look far a head and see the finish line. I pick up the pace a little more. The last 100 yards I sprint as fast as I can. I was done! I was so relieved, happy, and proud. I grab my medal and ask where the kids marathon is and start to run as fast as I can through the crowd. I hear a man say, "Dang, look at her, she's still running". I make it to where they told me it would be and I don't see any kids. I ask a lady about it and she says, "The finish line is a block up but the race is all ready over." My heart fell into my stomach and the feeling of disappointment washed over me. Disappointment that I miss the race. Disappointment that I didn't push myself harder. I call Isaac and begin the walk back 2 blocks. It felt longer and harder than the whole 13 miles. I see little Isaac in the distance and I start to tear up. However, when I walk up he excitedly says, " Look mom! Look at my medal! Hey! You have a medal too! Way to go mom!". All is right in the world again. It's drizzling and we decide to head home. Then it hits me. I am so thirsty and my foot is killing me.

Isaac went and got the car and picked Israel and myself up. Not before I snapped at him a few times on the phone because I had to bring Israel in a nasty port a potty with me. Poor guy. He is an amazingly patient husband and fantastic father. He ran the 1.2 mile with Israel in the back pack carrier and took pictures just for me. I am so blessed to have him. Anywhoo, he tried to take me to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate but I was  so sick I just want to go home. About an hr later I took myself to the ER hoping they would give me an IV but they said I was not dehydrated enough. They did ask about my foot though and checked it out. Turns out I had a sprain so I got some meds for that.

All in all it was a great experience. I want to do another but this time I won't schedule a run for anyone else in the family but myself :)

My Results

OKC 1/2 Marathon
3,868/8,138- Over all
386/851-age division (25-29)
1834/4985-out of the females
2:23:50-my time



10min after the race holding my little inspirations. Wish I would have moved my cell phone so that the medal would be showing.

 Don't know what I would do without my guys!

SO PROUD OF MY BOY!