A Lifetime of Love

T.G., I had no idea how being your mom would be such a blessing! You are a sweet, kind, caring girl who loves her baby sisters so much. God has given you a nurturing spirit, and you do it so well! You are helpful, especially when it relates to babies, cleaning, or cooking. I can already tell you will be a GREAT mommy when you get older! :) You have your own ideas regarding fashion and clothing, and your favorite color continues to be pink. If you had it your way, you'd wear pink from head to toe every day of your life! You also have an expressed opinion about hair styles and how you want to wear yours each day, and you refuse to have your hair cut except for an occasional trim. I am amazed that you don't mind it so long (it's almost to the bottom of your back) but it is absolutely beautiful, especially when you wear it down. We have had to start conditioning it daily in order to be able to brush it in the mornings, and you LOVE that you get to use grown-up conditioner. ...

Since money has been (and still is!) so tight for us, my mom sent money for us to take the kids to a pottery place to do something fun for T.G.'s birthday. T.G. has never been to one before and has wanted to go since Th has been doing his homeschool pottery class. We planned it on a day when TJ's dad and step-mom were coming out so they could help us with Annie. The boys painted airplanes and the girls painted butterflies. We ended our afternoon with a Strawberry Shortcake birthday cake as a special treat for T.G. (she has recently become infatuated with her).  =)

Last Spring I began couponing, trying to plan and prepare for purchasing a vehicle that would accommodate our growing family because I knew we would not have the money to pay for something fully with cash. That has been going well and I honestly hate buying something without a coupon (but sometimes we need certain items so I at least try to buy them during a sale). Anyway, my plan was in full swing and going great: our grocery budget was cut in half or more depending on the week and so I was able to save a few dollars. In August our budget shrunk unexpectedly. We took a whirlwind trip to Ohio to visit family. While we were gone, we received a phone call from the people watching our house informing us that our A/C wasn't working. By the time we got back home, the house had warmed up to a toasty 87 degrees!!! We ended up having to replace our entire A/C unit. It was definitely an unplanned expense! We also received notice that we have hail damage to our roof, meaning we need to ...

Annie is 19 months old and I haven't really updated the milestones she's recently reached. Language- Annie knows some sign language and is able to verbalize words, as well. They are listed below. Signs: yes more eat please thank you I love you cheese bird Speech: hi no more mine thank you Mommy Daddy ni-night shoes Rainbow (for cat, since our cat's name is Rainbow) nose baby please bye bye move uh-oh Gross motor- Annie is walking, running, going up/down steps, climbing, jumping (with both feet off the ground), doing somersaults (yes, you read that correctly), and just plain ol' getting into everything! She is a very busy girl who is able to keep up with her older siblings just fine. Fine motor- She can self-feed using a spoon/fork, drink from a regular cup (although I still give her sippy cups for my own sanity!), string beads onto a pipe cleaner, and push small buttons (you know, like to turn off the television or change the channel on the re...

October is Fire Prevention month and to celebrate, our local school district, along with some local private schools, participated in a coloring contest for area first graders. Ta won the contest for his school, and was awarded $25 and a frame that contained his winning picture and certificate. We all joined him at a local fire station for a reception where he met the Mayor, Fire Chief, and Fire Marshal. Yay Ta- we're so proud of you!! Ta accepting his award from the Mayor and Fire Chief

I recently joined a subgroup of my homeschool group in which we make and swap activity bags. The activities contained in each bag are geared for preschool/kindergarten-aged children, but honestly, all of my children LOVE to do them.   Each activity is supposed to entertain the child for approximately 20 minutes; however, depending on the age/skill level of the child and the type of activity, it could take him/her longer to complete the task.   I currently have about a dozen different activities that range from easy to difficult. They also include tasks that focus on fine motor skills, counting/numeracy, letters/phonics, and logic. I like them in that Annie all the way up through Th enjoy doing them, and it gives me a chance to prepare supper, throw in a load of laundry, or do whatever (like use the bathroom alone!) while they are ALL occupied at the same time.     I am in the midst of another swap so by the end of next week I will have another 18 activities t...

A couple of weeks ago, TJ and I took the kids to the Carolina’s Aviation Museum.   The museum recently acquired the US Airways jet “The Miracle on the Hudson: Flight 1549.”   We had a fun morning of looking at airplanes up close, followed by lunch at the Charlotte airport overlook where the kids were able to witness the busyness of the flightline.   It was a beautiful day spent as a family! Standing next to a main gear strut. TJ & the kids at the back of a cargo plane. Annie in the tire that was once on the space shuttle. The boys watching the documentary about the landing on the Hudson. They were enthralled by it! "The Miracle on the Hudson" Contents that were recovered from the Hudson. The cans of soda were still sealed, which is amazing to me considering the impact of the crash. Other side of the plane. Ready for our picnic at the airport overlook.