My Fitness Buddy

Kaelyn is the world's greatest fitness enthusiast. While her brother cannot stand to go with me, Kaelyn LOVES going to the gym. She loves the staff, the friends and all that the kid watch program has to offer. She gets SO excited when I tell her that we are going...it is really cute.

Today when I picked her up from school in my gym clothes she asked me, "Momma, did you run here to pick me up?" I said laughing, "no." (Her school is about 5 miles from the house...that would make for a nice mid-day run..10 miles round trip...sure, why not?) Then she asked, "did you ride the bike to come and get me?" Last year when she went to Methodist Weekday school I would often go through the pickup line on my bicycle or with the baby jogger to come and get her. She loved it. However, her new school is further plus a lot of traffic and a highway to cross to get there so I responded with a "no" yet again. She said with a very discouraged & slightly accusational voice, "you just drove here in the car, didn't you?" :)

However, she quickly rebounded once I told her the next stop was to take lunch to Zeke..then on to the gym.

First Day of School

I sent both my monkeys off to school today....Zeke to first grade and K to her Pre-K class at the ECC. Zeke rode to school with our next-door neighbors, The LeMaires while I took Kaelyn for her very first day.

I left both children, happy and excited...such a blessing. I was a little concerned after a lengthy discussion last night at bedtime where both children shared how they wanted to be homeschooled this year. But, they were all smiles by the time they had to head to school. YEAH!

A Happy-Happy Day

Last Wednesday, the kids and I went into Houston in the morning to run errands and then to go over to see Uncle Matt, who happened to be working from home that day. Midday, we went and picked up Tootsie and took her to Avalon Pharmacy to have lunch with us. That evening we had plans to meet up with the Hannas & Shoups back at our house for a dinner/swim party. Just after lunch Zeke told me, "this is the best day of my life!....even better than my birthday!" I tried to ask him why he thought this particular day was so special...he just told me "it made him happy-happy."

End of Summer Party with Hannas & Shoups

Last week Lisa, Valerie & I decided to get our families together one last time before all the kids started back to school. Being that the temps were still in the 100s, we voted on a swimming gathering. I was fun to get everyone together...we clearly need to do it more frequently because our children acted as though they hadn't seen each other in years....whew, were they a loud & wild bunch!

Blessed Beyond Measure

My children are in Granbury this week visiting Nonnnie & Granddad. While I usually welcome the time by myself, this time I am really missing my kids. It is unbelievably quiet around here. The time alone has allowed me lots of opportunity to sit, think, and reflect without distraction. As I think over the changes that have taken place for our family in just over a year I recognize the multitude of reasons I have to be grateful.

I am so very thankful for....

-my God who loves me unconditionally, who carries me through my trials, and meets my every need

-my health and the health of my children

-Nonnie & Granddad who love me and take my children to allow me down-time & time to work without distraction

-my dad who handles my "needs to be fixed" list and takes care of my lawn, and does the maintainance on my pool, and helps me with the kids, and is always available to listen to me when I need someone to talk to.

-my mom who helps me with my Mary Kay business (delivering products, helping with records, helping with inventory), and who helps to take care of the kids any time I need it and who is constantly helping to keep me organized. She is incredible.

-Matt & Reecie who are always willing to help with the kids (there is a running theme here....I guess it does take a village to raise a child) and who are always willing to listen to me when I need someone to share with.

-my sweet babysitters who take such great care of my children

-an amazing group of extended family and friends who are always supporting and encouraging me

-my ever-supportive church family

-my wonderful neighbors, especially the LeMaire's who help me EVERY single day of my existence. I do not know what I would do without them. Thank you Mr. Stephen & Ms. Alicia for always being there for me...whether I need an egg, or someone to watch the kids, or just a friend to talk to. And, thank you Gavin & Stevee for being such sweet friends to Zeke & Kaelyn.

-my job...I am so thankful to work my Mary Kay business that allows me to support my family while having the flexibility to be available to my kids when I need to be. And, I am so blessed to work with the most amazing group of women in my unit and to have the most supportive & loyal customers.

-I am blessed to have the most loving, supportive community that anyone could ever imagine having.

Thank you God for placing these tremendous people in my life. I am blessed beyond measure.