S Club Mama

Our family is definitely known for our love of superheroes and Star Wars so when a friend and her husband were shopping for their daughter and happened upon this adorable Supergirl outfit, they got it for our Princess. Thank you Duane and Amanda! Obviously, her brothers love it, too. The past two days I've been doing laundry like crazy and packing for everyone. Moose has a 5 day EEG from Wednesday - Sunday to determine where his seizures are coming from exactly (from his malformation/birthmark on his brain, from multiple places, from somewhere we haven't pinpointed yet). I am staying with him during the week and will switch off with Big A on Friday afternoon to come home to be with my littler two. I have never been away from any of my children for 3 days so this will be odd. Moose has such a good attitude about all of this and doesn't seem stressed (doesn't probably know to be stressed). He prayed this morning for him to have seizures so they can do his test. Wh...

Well, if we thought 2016 would be quieter, I believe we were wrong. We started off the new year with a new van after our crash. It worked out well that friends were selling their van so win-win situation. Now we have a red van (Go Huskers!) which is basically like ours. We took the van on its maiden journey (with us) to see my parents and grandma over New Years. We will never again be staying at this hotel on NYE. People (my husband suspects the employees) ran through the halls at midnight, yelling Happy New Year and throwing confetti everywhere. Yes, it was NYE. I get it, but aren't we at a hotel where the point is so people can sleep?? Princess had an especially hard time sleeping that night (that weekend) so it was rough. She also had 5 blow outs over the weekend. Thankfully, she got clothes for Christmas. boys got cozy robes Princess got a crinkly book she loves & time with her grandpa, which she loves I love getting to see my grandma when we go home!! The f...

Today we remember those who have served so bravely in our armed forces to protect our freedom throughout the years. My dad served in the Navy, my sister currently serves in the Air Force. Another of those soldiers was Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL, who served four tours of duty in Iraq before coming home and finding his way back to his family. I'm sure you have heard of him. Kyle is portrayed by Bradley Cooper in "American Sniper." My husband and I had the opportunity to watch this movie together in our home. I don't want to give a lot away in the plot, but this was a really powerful movie for me. Seeing circumstances portrayed from Iraq in the years after 9/11 were more than I expected. Kyle's service and how that service to our country (and ultimately us as US citizens) affected him mentally was heartbreaking. Imagining how his wife and children handled his service was really impacting to me as a mother. image via Grace Hill Media We really enjoyed watching th...

Months ago when we were debating on whether to have another kid or not, I had in my mind a few ideas about this pregnancy. Looking back, I was naive without reason to be naive. I've been through two other pregnancies that were about the same and yet I had hope that this one would be different. I thought I could run through this pregnancy. I'd forgotten about the several weeks/months of the beginning that were full of nausea and vomiting. I thought 'it's been five years, maybe it won't be the same.' I forgot that genetics don't really change in five years so I could have mentally prepared myself for this better. I thought I'd love it. I'd forgotten how I hate this part. Yet it's been a good challenge. I've gotten very self-reliant in the past 5 years. I can cook fairly decent meals (not as good as those of my supper club partners but I have a few tricks up my sleeve). I can keep a fairly decently clean house (no one's eating off the fl...

You're not missing Day #1 of this gratitude challenge (hosted by my good friend, Evi); I just didn't post anything. I did get out my handy dandy gifts notebook to begin (again) logging the blessings poured upon me in a day. Day 2 Challenge:  Stop , actually stop, somehow "pull over" in your day, even if it's for 30 seconds to notice a gift.  Find a way to  give back to the giver  (whether that's a person or the big G Giver). Today I was given a reprieve. A reprieve from my boys' growing.  Squirt wanted to walk in himself today. I reminded him if he did so, he'd have to go in the (very loud) gym with all the other kids. Well, that didn't sit with him and so I got a reprieve. I got to walk my baby to class today.  Not sure when he'll stop being my baby, but for today he is.  My baby.

1. 2 miles walked this morning in peace. Not running (yet) but walking will do for now in my injury rehab state. 2. a house. Too many in this world don't have a stable place to live. And even in year we've been here, I feel I take this luxury for granted. 3. family. I love holidays that equal days off for Big A. It's so lovely to have us together. We've played games together, read together, shot off some fireworks, and rested. Later - fireworks! 4. watermelon. It just doesn't feel like officially summer until we eat some watermelon. And I think $2.98 watermelon just tastes a little sweeter, right? Well, not quite as good as the free (!!) peas from my garden will taste (seriously, I have peas in my fridge that I picked from our garden). How cool are gardens?! What are you thankful for today? Independence? Nice weather? Good food? Music? Thank you to the soldiers who have provided so many nice freedoms that I enjoy every day. This is a sweet holiday, a sweet...

No, it's not Thanksgiving November but I'm thankful regardless. In the midst of this emotionally hard week, I'm thankful. Don't worry, there's nothing big going on, just a kid who comes home daily from kindergarten grumpy. I feel like all of his happy hours are getting used up at school and I'm left with grumpy. *sigh* But I love him when he's grumpy and when he's happy. And I love his brother when he's weird (both referring to Squirt). *sigh* It's just not easy when there are tears numerous times on the way home (we live less than a mile from the school). Tears over silly things: tv (UGH), not being able to go to someone's house (sorry kiddo, I cannot invite us to someone else's house!!), and sometimes sillier things. But I'm thankful he's doing well in school. He no longer has a para with him at recess or lunch. He's also moved into the classroom for reading groups. I cannot tell you how much of an answered prayer thos...