busy

wow.  its been months since i have posted.  so much has happened, life goes by so quickly, doesn't it?

in October, i started a new path, career wise.  i accepted a position as the executive director for the Bristow Area Chamber of Commerce.  the title is crazy, it's really just me.  i have the task to promote and grow the economic path for my hometown.  what a job. 

emileigh started dance class in september.  cutest thing i've ever seen.  she knows what shoes to wear for what dance, that her hair is supposed to be pulled back, and that miss jennifer (her teacher) is beautiful.  i can't wait for her recital in may.

blayne is doing so well in school.  it really is amazing how much he is learning.  i went to parent-teacher conferences in october and to see where he was then and where he is now, it's such a nice change.  i can't believe, this time next year, he will be reading.

speaking of this time next year... kevin will be able to write, Kevin Taylor, RN.  kevin was accepted into the bridge program and will start nursing school in january. 

so, we have been a bit busy since i've last posted.

I do want to wish everyone a very, very, merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Heart Crayons: How To

When your big brother starts school, you are suddenly left alone.  For the first time in your entire life you get to play with your toys without having to share, you can play with his toys without him getting angry, you can watch barbie movies, and dora... life is wonderful.

Then, about 4 weeks goes by, and you are bored.  b.o.r.e.d. 

Thank goodness it isn't 100+ degrees in Oklahoma anymore, and thank goodness mom's foot isn't broken anymore, because I have one of those bored little sisters on my hands.  Let's face it, when you are 30-something, playing with barbie dolls is the last thing on my to do list. You have to come up with something creative and fun, something that will keep a little one's attention long enough for me to get through an episode of DanceMoms online a load of laundry and clean a stinky bathroom.


Thanks to the wonderful world of Pinterest I stumbled upon this project.  I couldn't find directions, so I googled and sort of piece milled some together.  It's a wonderful project you can do with your kiddos.  Seriously, worth it. 

{you must overlook the crap photo bombing my pics.  Pillows, toys, rouge feet... sorry!}

 

Step 1:  Find a super cute, super willing helper.  One that is creative will help, but any will work.  This one was so stinkin excited.  When I told her she was going to get to pull the paper off of crayons and *gasp* break them...she was all in. 

 



 

 

Step 2: Gather up the crayon box/basket.  In our house, you will find crayons in crazy places.  Pillowcases, purses, daddy's work boots.  Emileigh is a packer. Sometimes, it's funny, sometimes it will drive you crazy.  This was the basket we chose to work with.

 

**note: I need to be honest.  I'm a crayon snob.  Crayola is the ONLY thing I will buy.  However, other folks gift crayons to my kiddos, they pick them up in restaurants, etc.  All of the crayons get dumped into the basket... The next time we make crayons, I will pull out the Crayola crayons and only use them... I'll show you why a little later down the post.**

 

 

 

Step 3: This was Emileigh's favorite part, peeling the paper from the crayons.  She LOVED that she could pull the teeny-tiny pieces of paper off and not get into trouble. She sat there for a solid 45 minutes working on it, watching cartoons.  I'm serious, I got some major brain-rot television shows catch up time. 

 

 

 

Step 4: Collect your molds.  I pulled out the hearts and the star-looking ones.  They are silicone, found at walmart, hobby lobby, michael's, etc.  The silicone won't hold on to the heat, so you won't burn the wax.  Plus, popping the finished product is easy peasy. We ended up just using the heart molds.  Yesterday, while looking for glitter at the walmarts, I saw some mini-gingerbread shape molds. I'll be getting those soon.  That will make GREAT Christmas gifts for Blayne's school friends.

 

 

 

Step 5: Break those crayons!  Emileigh's next favorite step, hands down.  I used this project as a teaching opportunity.  As we pulled the paper off of crayons, we talked about the color, then we broke it and put the crayon in the cup assigned for that color.  She did great!  We talked about how colors can be in all different shades, but still orange, red, etc. Plus, it made for really cool crayons at the end. :) 

 



- Just lay those crayons in the cup.  Easy... I'm not even kidding. We filled the cups until the entire bottom was covered, and we tried to get the amount equal in each cup.  We didn't put much science into it, just eyed it and had fun.

Step 6: Once you have the crayons in the molds and ready to melt, turn the oven to about 200-225 degrees. 

It will take about an hour for the crayons to completely melt together.  It looks wicked cool while they melt, my crayon maker (emileigh) kept asking to look at them.  She thought it was so neat that her crayons melted.  I'm not going to lie, it was fun watching her.

This is what they looked like about 30 minutes melting.  The bigger crayons took a bit longer, but that was okay, it make the end product amazing.

Step 7:  When the crayons are completely, or mostly melted, take them out of the oven and set them on the counter to cool.  I actually stuck them in the fridge for the last 10 minutes or so of the cooling process. 

When they are completely cooled, pop them out.  They were super easy to pop out.  Check out that marbling effect.  Isn't it COOOOOLLLL!!!  It's just different shades of the same color. LOVE.
Next time, we will put different colors together and see how that turns out.  Eeek- I can't wait.

**See the white part at the bottom of this picture? It's wax.  Cheap crayons use different coloring and wax so the color sort of bailed.  If you stick with crayola, I think you'll avoid this.  Since it was just a project for our enjoyment, we left it.  If we were going to gift these, I would cut that part off. Be a crayon snob. Buy crayola!**

 

 Dude- see how COOL this looks?  They were pretty big, too.  I love how the blue one came out, LOVE.

Here is my favorite little girl with her new crayons.  She loved them, she still does.  She colors with them all of the time. Best project yet!

Thanks for coming to my blog and checking out how to make this awesome project.  If you came via pinterest, leave a comment or your blog address! I love to find new awesome blogs to follow!

 

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Soccer Mom :)

Soccer Mom.

Man, that's something I NEVER thought I would use to describe myself.  Growing up, we played Football, Baseball (Softball), and Basketball.  Okay, Softball and Basketball...and I threw in a little bit of Volleyball when I lived in New Mexico and Utah.  I'm not going to pretend to be even lukewarm in either basketball or volleyball :)

I did however, learn the rules.  I know the rules, what the fouls mean, what happens when you do commit a foul etc.

I don't even know what to call the equipment in soccer!

Yesterday, Saturday, I watched my oldest play in his very first soccer game.  I had a blast.  I never knew how great it would feel to just go and cheer, just to cheer.  I didn't worry if rules were going to be broken.  I didn't worry if the kids weren't being taught the correct way.  I just sat in my lawn chair, camera in hand and I cheered, and laughed, and had the most fun I've had in a long time.

I can't believe this year is such a year of firsts for my little guy.  I'm happy to watch him grow, yet, it's happening so quickly!!


Now, to the pictures.  Some will be captioned, some won't.  This was absolutely the most fun I've had in a while.  I can't wait until next Saturday. 

Blayne kicking off to start the game.  First kick off, ever...

 

 

After running fast to the kickoff, he put on the brakes? What??

 

 

This  is what happens when you brake too soon, you kick on TOP of the ball... ummmm

 

 

That wasn't supposed to happen! He crashed his first kick.  :)

 

 

Apparently, it hurt his booty.  I still laugh when I see these pictures.
priceless.

 

 

 

Here's the team. U6 Purple Pirates.  So small!

Hey mom!  I'm a soccer player...hahahahahaha 

In U6, they play 3on3  It works out great because we have six players.
This is group one. Blayne, C, and J.

I love seeing blayne run so hard!  Hands in the fist position because he's heard,
"NO HANDS!" so many times :)

Checking out the other team.  Game faces right here people!

J is throwing it in.  I love how they make them cross their legs. so cute!

I love my Purple Pirate :)

Do a litte dance... Make a little Noise :)

This is Coach.  He is Amazing.  Love him!

Isn't she beautiful!  M is the only girl, but she keeps up with the stinky boys!

J... he looks tired because he carried group 1 on his back :)  He's such a good kiddo.

Group 1 watching group 2 get their soccer on.

This is group 2.  They were so, so, so funny. 

Giving coach (and daddy) some love!

Goooooooooaaaaaaaaalllllllll

Same team means nothing when you are 5ish.

These two are so funny.  Love these little guys :)


 

 

My lucky # isn't 28

August 28th isn't my favorite day.  Ever.

If you are tired of hearing about my medical "stuff" then this isn't the blog for you.  However, I need to get this out.  I need to do it for ME.

Last August 28th (2011) I woke up in the early morning hours and couldn't walk.  I couldn't just not walk, I couldn't stand up.  I couldn't get out of the house had there been a fire.  I would have been in big trouble.
That morning is, and always will be, etched so vividly in my mind.  Kevin thought I was making a big deal out of a sore back.  He was supposed to go to work and thought I just wanted him to stay home.  I mean, four hours earlier, Emileigh woke up and I jumped out of bed to tend to her.  When the alarm went off at 07:00 - My life was different.  Maybe forever.

The past year has been so stressful.  To my marriage, to our finances, to relationships within my family.  My mental state has been good and really poor.  It's really hard to depend on people for every aspect in your life.  Two major back surgeries, five steroid injections, many doctor appointments, and more money than I care to admit later... and I could proudly say, we survived such a crazy year.  Barely at times, but we did.

This August promised a turn of events. Although I take more neuronton in one day than most do in 23 days and live on pain medication, the beginning of school and soccer for Blayne and dance class for Emileigh was on the horizon.  We jumped head first into church, I jumped back into friendships that have been idle for over a decade, and finally, Kevin went back to school to get some classes finished for that elusive Nursing degree.

We always take one step forward and land five steps back it seems.

Broken Foot Day 3

Exactly one year later... I broke my foot.

Broken.

Snapped.

Ruined.


To say I'm in a bad place mentally is an understatement.

I have to keep telling myself that bones heal.  I will not need surgery, and this will get better!!
The doctors have said that in 3 to 6 weeks, I'll be walking again.  I'll have to wear a really cute boot for a while when I start to bear weight on it again... but I'll be able to walk.

Until then, I am back to depending on my husband who is stretched so thin he'll be lucky if he isn't at a mental hospital soon.  I'm also blessed to have my grandparents who step in and do way more than needed.  I pretty much get pushed to the side of the road and my kids walk the straight and narrow :)

My neighbor, Gina has been so great with helping us feed, water, and exercise (SPOIL) Bobo... he probably thinks he belongs to her.  She has cooked dinner for us and will again, she "called it" already.

I'm lucky my kiddos are so resilient.  I'm lucky I have family members willing to help more than my needs allow.  I'm lucky that I have a husband who loves me, through sickness and health.  I'm really working on that sickness part lately. ")

Speaking of resilient kiddos and an amazing husband, they had plans to spend Saturday together from before my broken foot episode.  They ending up picnicking and hanging out at the splash pad.

Seriously Bristow, we really, really, really, need a splash pad.

Here are some pictures of their day.  Kevin snapped a few in between bathroom breaks, but that's another story.  Gotta love EmJ.

Today, while Daddy is at work saving lives, Emileigh was able to convince memaw she needed Fwinger Nail Polwish on her toe nwails.  Lucky for her, she is the favorite great-granddaughter and her demands are greatly received :)

Dear Blayne - 1st day

Dear Blayne -

Do you know how fast five years goes by?   I do.  Way to quickly.  I can remember when I was a little girl, it seemed like forever.  FIVE whole years?  I takes less time to get through high school!  Five years is such a long time when you are young, or when you are looking forward to something.  When you are a mom... it goes faster than I could ever imagine.

Five years ago, we we knew about you for exactly 7 days.  In my mind then, you were seven days old :)  Pre-K was so far away, I'm not sure I even thought about it until you were two.  I realized that I could fit your life in four sets of five years... Blayne, I only have 3/4 of my time left.  How did that happen?

This summer wasn't spent talking about going to school much.  We continued our schedule of chaos.  We went to bed when we were sleepy, we napped when we were sleepy, and we woke up to snuggle in our beds while watching cartoons.  Most days were spent in your underoos, rarely did I force outfits or outings.  We played, we colored, we snuggled.  You have the kindest heart.  Please protect it, son.

In April, we had our very first family vacation to Destin, Fl.  I'm fully confident that you would live there in a nanosecond.  You love the beach and the ocean.  While there, I started to realize that you were outgrowing the toddler age and you were becoming a little boy.  You changed so much this summer, Blayne.  It was such a joy to watch.

In May, Momma and Daddy decided that we wanted you and Emileigh to be Purple Pirates (like mommy) and decided to move to Bristow.  June 1st we moved into our "new-new" house.  You took the move in stride and we started to talk about school.  We started attending FBC mainly because I wanted to see how you would react in a classroom environment after being out for so long.  You THRIVED.  You loved the kids and all of the activities.

In August, we went to your school for open house/meet the teacher night.  Blayne, you cried when we left because you didn't want to come home.  melt.my.heart.

There were some talk among some that you would have trouble in school because you spent so much time home with Mommy and Emileigh.  The fear that you would have major separation anxiety was voiced to me more than once.  I knew you would be fine, buddy.  You were ready.

On August 16th, 2012- you started school.

You went to bed the night before like a champ.  At 7:00, I woke you up, you ate your breakfast, got dressed, and we went outside to start pictures.  You were so dang excited... I was just completely happy.
On the way to school, we called Daddy, Papa, and Doodah.  They all told you good luck and you said THANKS!

We walked straight to your classroom, you put your backpack on the hook and picked out a puzzle.  Officially a student.  

I walked out with a smile on my face.  Proud doesn't come close to the feeling I felt, but there aren't words available to adequately describe the feelings.

Right now, you are a happy 4 year old who loves school.  You love your friends and love making friends.  You play on the playground with "buzz-girl" who apparently is known as Olivia to non-superheros.  You have had your first run-ins with Big Jackson, and chose to protect "little Jackson" because your heart is so sweet.  Day 2 you tested Miss Keli, she won... you've been amazing every day since.

You come home and sing a new song every day.  You are excited about your shapes and all that comes with learning.  You are allowing yourself to soak up everything that is happening right now, I LOVE THAT.

I pray that I can keep this excitement about learning going throughout high school.  I'm so proud of you already Little Man.  So very proud.

Love Momma.