Levi's first day of Pre-school 3's
LaborDay Weekend at Lake Brownwood
The Panhandle Southplains Fair
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
September.
Well we made it through the first month of school. First six weeks done Friday. Kids are loving their teachers and classes- I don't know why that surprises me. Maybe because I never cared for school. Levi however not so much. He had a VERY rough start. His teacher was absent the first week which I think was the root of it all. Nothing a little bribary couldn't cure. Yea for Seven Eleven dollar slurpees! He is doing better now. He has already learned days of the week, how to spell red, and a months of the year song. It amazes me what a little sponge he is. He is still very difficult and after this summer became very clingy to me. He does nothing I say almost never. I do however enjoy the short time we get each morning after the bigs leave. He always comes and sits in my lap. Again I bribe him with a show so he will stay still and be unaware of my millions of kisses to his soft little head and stare at his little dimple hands. What a bittersweet time this is.
I went home to be with my parents on the 21st for four days. It has been really hard to go from seeing them every other day or anytime I wanted, to a whole month without. It was nice to be at their house with them actually in it. I wanted to help as much as I could to give them both some relief in what has been a very trying time for them. Due to my Dad's spinal cord injury, he is not able to reposition his body or shift any weight. If this doesn't happen it can cause all sorts of other problems that can make things even more serious. Because of this he has to be turned every two hours while in a bed. It ends up being like every hour and a half for my mother after trying to fall back asleep. My mom did that for me when I was nursing a baby. I wanted to do that for her so she could rest. She also had not been resting in the days after nights like this because of so many phone calls and thearapy interruptions, etc. I got a glimpse of what she is going through but still have no idea the extent of it. SOOO much goes into his care. SOO many things to remember b/c of the nature of his condition.
I love to cook when I am not in a time crunch or have constant kid interruptions and catastrophes. I had the joy of being able to do some of that too. I really enjoy being able to serve parents who did so for me so much of their lives. We also enjoyed just being the three of us like old times. That is so rare these days.
Its so surreal to be in the sandwhich generation before I even turn 40. My heart aches for both of them. I so wish they had decided to get rid of all their stuff and do assisted living in order to have more freedom and help. I feel that it would so improve their quality of life. My mother is still not wanting to give anything up but starting to realize the effects of not. They are in the process of getting a van. Its been a ridiculous long drawn out process. My Dad has re-gressed considerably. Almost back to how he was at the beginning of rehab. He is depressed. All of these things are a vicious cycle. He has left the house thee times in month and a half. He is confined to three rooms and the back porch. My Dad was not one of those live life to the fullest kind of people before this happened but I think this situation has made him regret that.
Its hard watching your parents hurt. Especially being five hours away and still being needed so much with a young family. I feel so torn all the time. I hate not being involved because my mom has lost her mind in many ways, mostly due to sleep deprivation but also grief and incredible emotion. She took so long to see the reality of what was going on that she ended up having to deal with it on top of everything else which was already overwhelming. I feel like I am the only support that would help unconditionally without convenience playing a major role which also make be sad yet feel all the more blessed by so many that I have in my life.
Well other things happened in September too that were on a much happier note. My little family of five took off on a particularly cool fall feeling day in my husbands jeep with no top to the South Plains Fair!!! Its my favorite thing this time of year. Its small enough to be doable and lots of opportunity to give back to local organizations. We went to a Tiger show, rode the ferris wheel, kids rode their stuff and we ate homemade corn dogs, and RED VELVET FUNNEL CAKE! We also did the petting zoo. Levi had large eyes and dropped jaw out of excitement the whole time. It was crazy expensive and financially we probably should not have done it, but their only little once and their faces were priceless! Those pics will be my next post.
My business is struggling. I have gotten a few things but not enough to be cosistent. Its looking like I will be looking for a job soon. Hopefully design related and part time to work with being there for my kids. SO looking forward to that :/
I went home to be with my parents on the 21st for four days. It has been really hard to go from seeing them every other day or anytime I wanted, to a whole month without. It was nice to be at their house with them actually in it. I wanted to help as much as I could to give them both some relief in what has been a very trying time for them. Due to my Dad's spinal cord injury, he is not able to reposition his body or shift any weight. If this doesn't happen it can cause all sorts of other problems that can make things even more serious. Because of this he has to be turned every two hours while in a bed. It ends up being like every hour and a half for my mother after trying to fall back asleep. My mom did that for me when I was nursing a baby. I wanted to do that for her so she could rest. She also had not been resting in the days after nights like this because of so many phone calls and thearapy interruptions, etc. I got a glimpse of what she is going through but still have no idea the extent of it. SOOO much goes into his care. SOO many things to remember b/c of the nature of his condition.
I love to cook when I am not in a time crunch or have constant kid interruptions and catastrophes. I had the joy of being able to do some of that too. I really enjoy being able to serve parents who did so for me so much of their lives. We also enjoyed just being the three of us like old times. That is so rare these days.
Its so surreal to be in the sandwhich generation before I even turn 40. My heart aches for both of them. I so wish they had decided to get rid of all their stuff and do assisted living in order to have more freedom and help. I feel that it would so improve their quality of life. My mother is still not wanting to give anything up but starting to realize the effects of not. They are in the process of getting a van. Its been a ridiculous long drawn out process. My Dad has re-gressed considerably. Almost back to how he was at the beginning of rehab. He is depressed. All of these things are a vicious cycle. He has left the house thee times in month and a half. He is confined to three rooms and the back porch. My Dad was not one of those live life to the fullest kind of people before this happened but I think this situation has made him regret that.
Its hard watching your parents hurt. Especially being five hours away and still being needed so much with a young family. I feel so torn all the time. I hate not being involved because my mom has lost her mind in many ways, mostly due to sleep deprivation but also grief and incredible emotion. She took so long to see the reality of what was going on that she ended up having to deal with it on top of everything else which was already overwhelming. I feel like I am the only support that would help unconditionally without convenience playing a major role which also make be sad yet feel all the more blessed by so many that I have in my life.
Well other things happened in September too that were on a much happier note. My little family of five took off on a particularly cool fall feeling day in my husbands jeep with no top to the South Plains Fair!!! Its my favorite thing this time of year. Its small enough to be doable and lots of opportunity to give back to local organizations. We went to a Tiger show, rode the ferris wheel, kids rode their stuff and we ate homemade corn dogs, and RED VELVET FUNNEL CAKE! We also did the petting zoo. Levi had large eyes and dropped jaw out of excitement the whole time. It was crazy expensive and financially we probably should not have done it, but their only little once and their faces were priceless! Those pics will be my next post.
My business is struggling. I have gotten a few things but not enough to be cosistent. Its looking like I will be looking for a job soon. Hopefully design related and part time to work with being there for my kids. SO looking forward to that :/
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Summer Fun
We did not do any sports camps or lessons of any kind this summer, except for Levi who took his first ever in a toddler sports class at the community center. We were at home quite a bit. The kids were very responsible with chores which helped me SO incredibly much. They would make their beds and bring laundry of the day to the washer each morning and then we would all together do chore of the day. They also unloaded and loaded the dishwasher each day. This was their first experience at being paid. Well for Ty and Olivia anyways. We all had down time after lunch and read books during that time. We took advantage of our city's library by checking out books and attending the programs they had available on Tuesdays. There was definitely lots of goofing around. I was amazed this year at the lack of fighting. I really enjoyed being able to be with them.
Ty in May
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| Ty got sports glasses for baseball! |
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| Ty and his friend Isaiah on the last day of school |
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| awards closing ceremonies for Western Little League. Ty's team The Angels went to the finals! |
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| Ty and his rather large trophy! |
Olivia in May
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| Olivia with her friends on the day of their awards ceremony. Olivia received an award from Social Studies. She made all A's all year. |
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| Taking Olivia for rehearsal for her recital. Seeing her in this much make up was very disturbing for me! |
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| Our cousin Hampton ended up being at rehearsal with some friends! |
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| We switched out to a tutu for her ballet performance |
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| Friends of Olivia's since they were two! They have danced together since they were four. |
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| Pop wanted to see Olivia in her costume since he was not able to attend the event |
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| We had the blessing of having Aunt Mimi and Cita in the audience this year! |
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| Olivia with her teacher Miss Hannah |
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
First Day of School
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| Ty Fourth Grade Olivia Second Grade |
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| Levi Preschool Three's |
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| Same backpack Ty had at three! He is going Mon- Thurs til 2:45 and til noon on Friday |
Friday, August 30, 2013
Dad Went Home
I am really too emotional still to write too much about this so I will let the pictures tell the story. The last ones are of the room and bathroom I set up before his return home.
Anniversary
Well, we celebrated with sushi and sno cones!
Here are some of my favorite dating memories with Michael Trent Phillips
My first trip home with him. I remember pulling into his parents drive way the weekend of Halloween and seeing the Christmas tree through the window :)
Fourth of July in his hometown laying down looking at the fireworks directly above us
Dancing to country music
Sushi dates at Ishin in Irving
Worshipping together at Prestoncrest
Riding in his blue chevy z71 pickup around Dallas listening to Dave Matthews and Rusted Root
Dave Concert at Starplex
swing dancing at the red door
Meeting at 5:30 to run in our neighborhood (you know thats love)
Taking him on his first trip to the Ft.Worth Zoo
The star he named after me for our one year dating anniversary
the fact that he brought my mother flowers on my birthday
Finding a brighton watch under my pillow one night after he left my apartment as I was climbing into bed
Being introduced to vanilla cream dr. peppers
His incredible ability to grill an absolutely divine steak. I have never ordered another one out!
How into clothes he is for a man
Golf tournaments and hitting balls with him on the driving range
Friday, August 02, 2013
My husband of 13 years
I started this blog almost 7 years ago one, for therapy, two to relay pics and info to friends far away (before facebook) and three to capture what life was really like. I am now hoping it will be something to leave my children to refer back to. Maybe they will understand more clearly the behind the scenes of their time growing up. Blogging has become a job for many younger moms out there now who are mostly blogging to an audience of other women and I only WISH I could make $$ off this thing.
Well I realized that I may have not included the pre-story for my kids. The one of how and why they exisit! This month on the 12th, likely the day after my dad will be released and I will not be with my husband) is when I married Michael Trent Phllips 13 years ago. So here is my side of our story:
Once upon time in a land far far away.... called Dallas, I was 24 sitting in the singles class on a wednesday night and new friend introduced me to Trent. That next Sunday I brought some friends with me to church and we came in a little late and I ended up sitting on the back row next to that same guy, Trent. My roomate had invited me and the girls to a popular golf tournament, The Byron Nelson. Over conversation in church we found out Trent was too so we ended up going all together, Four girls and Trent in my 98 rust colored Ford Explorer. It was the start of a friendship that would grow more over the next several weeks. One night I ended up riding with Trent to a swing dance(The Red Door) place and my roomate ended up staying behind. Trent drove me home that nigh, first time we had ever been alone, and he shared he would like to date me. He asked me to go to dinner the following day and then mentioned that his entire family would be in town and there as well. :)
Wow. I was honestly shocked. I had no idea that he had the slightest bit interested in me because he would always call and talk to my roomate AND then the fact that I would meet his parents and family on our first date! It went wonderfully. It was his parents and his dad's siblings and their families and then Trent's grandparents. They were all very warm and welcoming. There was a lot of comic relief to say the least.
Dating recap? To be continued...............
Well I realized that I may have not included the pre-story for my kids. The one of how and why they exisit! This month on the 12th, likely the day after my dad will be released and I will not be with my husband) is when I married Michael Trent Phllips 13 years ago. So here is my side of our story:
Once upon time in a land far far away.... called Dallas, I was 24 sitting in the singles class on a wednesday night and new friend introduced me to Trent. That next Sunday I brought some friends with me to church and we came in a little late and I ended up sitting on the back row next to that same guy, Trent. My roomate had invited me and the girls to a popular golf tournament, The Byron Nelson. Over conversation in church we found out Trent was too so we ended up going all together, Four girls and Trent in my 98 rust colored Ford Explorer. It was the start of a friendship that would grow more over the next several weeks. One night I ended up riding with Trent to a swing dance(The Red Door) place and my roomate ended up staying behind. Trent drove me home that nigh, first time we had ever been alone, and he shared he would like to date me. He asked me to go to dinner the following day and then mentioned that his entire family would be in town and there as well. :)
Wow. I was honestly shocked. I had no idea that he had the slightest bit interested in me because he would always call and talk to my roomate AND then the fact that I would meet his parents and family on our first date! It went wonderfully. It was his parents and his dad's siblings and their families and then Trent's grandparents. They were all very warm and welcoming. There was a lot of comic relief to say the least.
Dating recap? To be continued...............