95, Here we Come!

We are finishing up our packing today. And also making a stop at the library. And fitting in a trip to the beach. Oh, and I can't forget that the car needs to be vacuumed and scrubbed. I'm thankful that my parents watched the kids earlier in the week so that I could scrub my house down before we left. Our roadtrip to Jersey begins tomorrow morning after Billy gets off of work. We will arrive the next day. Last time we took on this challenge we had someone throw up within the first two hours. And then two hours after that. I can still smell that trip. Better luck this time around. We are looking forward to seeing family and actually just taking a whole week for ourselves. Beach, boards, fun-fun-fun-fun!

It's strange when you look forward to creating memories. I look forward to blogging about our trip and taking pictures of places we visit and people we will miss. It's strange because we should live each day like that. Just knowing we aren't going to get it back or relive any experiences should motivate us to live on-purpose more. I have mentioned many times, how our lives are a mist, a vapor. We have anticipated this trip to Jersey for quite a long time and we have been preparing for it for a while as well. The reality is that it will pass like any other week. We, of course, want to make it count. Doing this will require effort on my part...my perspective of my Monday thru Friday. I want to make this a practice week for the weeks to follow. Not that I want to wake up each day and plan on going to the beach and boards and have fun-fun-fun-fun everyday. But instead, have the perspective that life should be enjoyed. It should be lived with purpose. You should take time to prepared for certain things. And you should know that it won't be all one smooth ride. (Kids can throw up all the way.) After all, life is a highway. (Okay, I had to throw that in there. I was starting to sound pretty corny anyway.)

T-D-Touchdown!

"T-D-Touch-Down!" "T-D-Touch-Down!" "T-D-Touch-Down!" "T-D-Touch-Down!" I hear this all day now. Alayna went to a cheerleading clinic this past week. She is going to cheer for the Junior Falcons this fall. She has learned a handful of cheers so far and has even mounted the top of a small pyramid. She was the first to jump right up on top. As I watched from across the room I wondered if they knew how clumsy she could be. I remember as a little toddler of eighteen months, Alayna standing on top of our couch cushions and the terrible fall she took. Her face was disfigured and I could barely look at her. Since that infamous injury she has been known has "Bump Girl." The cheerleading coaches were holding her up as she wobbled a bit. She had a look in her eye that said, "Look at me...I'm gonna be able to do this for real!" Alayna's first night of practice was the other girls' second night, so she was a bit behind. But by the end of the week, her coaches she was doing a great job and they would love to put her in the front line! (Plus, she's the shortest on the team.) At each practice some moms would help and some would watch. I wanted to help. However, Miss Lanie got more fussy as I tried to help. (Even though I tried my best to ignore her.) She opened up a lot more when I wasn't helping the other girls. I get it. So we have to find a balance. I know she is perfectly capable of learning on her own. But she needs to know that her mama likes to be a helper. We have some time before her practices start up again and in the meantime she is teaching Cailin all her moves. Of course, Ella needs to learn them too.

I was never a cheerleader. I was the chick watching the football game on the bleachers. But Alayna looks so cute in her uniform, I wouldn't mind if all my little girls gave cheerleading a try. Who knows, if they all give it a try and Eric keeps up with football...in a couple of years we will have a Kindergarten cheerleader, a second grade cheerleader, a third grade cheerleader, and a fifth grade football player! Go Junior Falcons!!

Eric Turned Seven

Eric turned Seven on May 31st.  We had a repeat Beach Party for him just like we planned for Cailin.  The month of May was a lot busier than excepted.  Next year I told Eric that I will plan his party first to ensure the full Mommy effort goes into the planning.  His birthday being the last of four in a row makes for a burnt out Mom.  Add in there school events, long days filled with sports, several baby showers, a graduation, my mom's birthday and the end of school...well, let's just say we really enjoyed the Beach party we had for Eric.  

Old Friend

So it's been quite a while.  And after a week or two. You remember...Oh yeah, I haven't talked to --- in a while.  Then it becomes awkward.  I haven't talked to her about this or that.  I wonder what's going on in her life.  And since time marches on, more and more events take place, and you haven't taken the time to "catch up" with each other.  So, you know that whenever it's convenient for you, when you break the ice once again...it might be a long conversation.  And when the moment arrives...will the kids stay quiet? Will you actually have a chunk of uninterrupted time to devote? You owe it to her.  You haven't called in so long.  Will she be upset that it's been so long?  I guess there's always the option of keeping it short and sweet.  Just a...Hey! How are you? What's new?  We should get together some time and "catch up!"  And then hope for the best. 


Old Friend,
                 Fingers crossed.  I'm trying to keep it short and sweet.  Lots more to come.  Weeks and weeks have passed since I last blogged.  I need to show you Eric's birthday pictures and share about our summer adventures.  
                                                                                     Take Care!  Meg

Summer on the Brain

No clock. Kids have time to do their chores. Tan lines. Sandy toes. Jumping in the waves. Lunch packed in the cooler. Jack Johnson. Babyback ribs and pasta salad. Noodles for the pool. Hose the kids down. Towels out to dry for the next day. Kids bowl for free. Beatles concert at the Library. Family reading time. Picture books, chapter books, and mommy's own book. Craft time. Dinner in the sand. Adele. Staying up to watch the Phillies. Dreaming of our Road Trip. Empty calendar. Reorganizing the chaos. Couponing. Kids make dinner. Board games. Fruit salads. Tomato sauce from the garden. Netflix. Free field trips. Concert searches. Burnt hot dogs. Sweet tea with lemon. Old friend Dave. Walking the boards. Fudge and fries. Mini golf and go carts. Bright eyes as they spin on the rides. Boogie boards. Bicycle races. Drums. Barbies. Playdough. Paintings. Baby Noah. Amanda's Field. Making memories. Making my mist count. Cheers to summer.

I attempted to post Will Smith's Summertime Video...but ran into many obstacles.

Cailin Turns Four

We were so thankful to celebrate Cailin's 4th Birthday with our family on the beach.  Cailin spent most of the time in the water splashing and swimming and trying to surf.  We played ball, dug holes, ran after little ones and sat to relax and talk.  Enjoyed dinner and cake and then I snapped bunches of pictures.  I can't believe Cailin is four.  She is growing into a little light that shines more and more.  

Goodbye Jersey, Hello Jack

Not to be confused with the Goodbye Izzy, Hello Jersey post...it was time to say goodbye to Jersey.  Our family grew to love her as part of the family.  We will miss how funny she was when she went squirrel hunting.  She would see any little creature outside and be ready to pounce on it.  When she ran through the yard, we would call her our deer.  She was so fast and strong.  But as time went by, she started to run away once in a while.  Then it happened every day. And then anytime you opened the door, she disappeared.  We drove around looking for her and other times she would make her way back home herself.  Sometimes neighbors would bring her home.  This got to be too much to handle.  While we were dealing with this problem each day, we got a phone call from Kurt and Debbie.  With never a dull moment passing us by, they told us a man had just dropped off two puppies thinking that they belonged to them.  It didn't take long to start thinking....hmmm...maybe it's time to say goodbye to Jersey.  So we took her to the Humane Society where we got her.  They assured us that she would go to a good home where she can run around in a fenced in yard.  Yesterday we took home one of those puppies.  Cindy Lou stills needs a home.  But we have Jack now.  He is so sweet.  We are thankful to that stranger who dropped him off.  Now to train another puppy...pee and poop and shredding and whining. Never a dull moment.