She Really Enjoys Her Food, Errr....Syrup

Friday night after dealing with everything with Dixie I just didn't have it in me to make dinner. Jim was down the street helping a neighbor with a project so I let my kids pick whatever they wanted for dinner which is usually cereal but since we were out they picked french toast sticks. Yes, the frozen ones. I know, I'm really out of the running for best mother of the year this year but hey, there's always next year. After getting the kids their delicious, frozen dinner I started on mine, eggs and toast. Andrew and Ally came by me at the stove to tell me about things that happened at school and since Vanessa was eating, she was quiet. I had my back to her and when I turned around I found....



She got a hold of Ally's plate and licked it clean. And yes, she was extremely proud of herself. She went straight from the table to the bathtub. It was great to get a good laugh after all we'd gone through that day. Leave it to Vanessa to know just what we need!!

Just One More Thing

I have been trying really hard to keep a positive attitude lately and look at all the things we have and all the blessings we continue to receive even though these last few months have been full of one trial after the next. I keep telling myself that we have been and continue to be blessed with so many things but sometimes (like today) I just want to scream, "Seriously? What next?" I know this is a terrible attitude and I really feel guilty about it 'cause I know that it could be a ton worse but right now it's hard to not feel bitter about things that are going on.

Our poor Dixie had a tumor on her right hip that just kept getting bigger and bigger. We took her to the vet in July to have one removed from her ear but the vet didn't seem too concerned about the one on her hip. It kept growing and seemed to be irritating her so we took her in again on Wednesday. The prognoses was not good. Basically our options were surgery with pretty scary side effects i.e. paralysis in her leg or letting her live with it but having to face putting her down pretty soon. We couldn't face putting her down right now because she really is healthy other than this tumor so we decided to do the surgery today. It was a rough surgery because the tumor was attached to muscle, tissues and extremely close to her sciatic nerve which could cause the paralysis. She had to have a blood and plasma transfusion during surgery. Her back leg is bandaged quite tightly so we don't know if there is paralysis or not, only time will tell. She is walking slowly and dragging her back leg quite a bit but we are hopeful that's because of the numbness from surgery and bandage. They have sent the tumor out for testing and we have our fingers crossed it is not cancerous or as aggressive as we think. It is so hard to see her like this and hopefully the end results will be positive because we are not ready to let this sweet thing go quite yet.

Happy Girls

I found this quote by Audrey Hepburn today and thought I'd share it with you, my one reader. It made me feel happy because I know that me and many of my friends struggle with themselves and how they view themselves. I love that she says 'happy girls are the prettiest girls.' It makes me want to find joy in everything every single day and just be happy even though I am on a journey to better myself physically (another story for another time). To me there is nothing more beautiful than a truly sincere, happy smile.

"I believe in Manicures.
I believe in Overdressing.
I believe in PRIMPING at leisure
and wearing LiPsTiCk.
I believe in Pink.
I believe that Laughing is the best calorie burner.
I believe in KiSsInG; kissing a lot.
I believe in BEING STRONG
When everything seems to be going wrong.
I believe HaPpY GiRls are the prettiest girls.
I believe that tomorrow is another day, and
I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES."
Audrey Hepburn

Andrew, Meet Sidewalk, No It's Not Your Friend

Saturday Andrew went head first off his wiggle racer (what we call plasma cars at our house) into the sidewalk. He quickly learned that concrete is not his friend, especially when he is falling off things. Luckily his only injuries were scrapes, bruises and a large goose egg on his forehead.



This picture doesn't truly show the size of the goose egg but he wouldn't let me take another picture. He didn't want me to take his picture but being the mean mom I am, I did. I figure he'll want it some day.

Grandma Time

My kids love the time they get to spend with their grandmas. Unfortunately with school in it doesn't happen as much as they would like. Last week I got to go to lunch with a dear friend that I don't get to see very often and my kind mother volunteered to watch the kids. We rented 'How to Train Your Dragon' so they all curled up on grandma's bed to watch the movie. It was so cute I had to take a picture on my way out the door.



I'm so glad we live so close to our families that our kids get to spend good quality time with their grandparents and really get to know them.

Pirate Island

Our friend Cameron celebrated his 5th birthday at Pirate Island last week. The kids had so much fun being with friends and playing all the games and on all the rides.









Vanessa's attempt at playing skee-ball







All the kids that came to the party

Things Vanessa Loves

Vanessa is a very happy, loving little girl. She loves so many things and is very good at showing her love. Here are a few of the many things she loves.

She loves her new horse she got for her birthday (she even tries to read while on her horse).







She loves all kinds of stuffed animals and babies (dolls) but she really loves the big ones that she can climb all over.





And last but certainly not least, Dixie. She loves Dixie so much. Anytime she goes passed Dixie she doesn't just go passed her, she has to go over her. She has done this since she could crawl and still does it even though she can walk.





Ally saw me taking pictures so of course she had to be included.



It's so fun to watch Vanessa learn and enjoy life and everything about it!

Beautiful, Goofy Kids

Sunday while we were getting ready for church I just had to get pictures of my beautiful daughters. They both looked so adorable all cleaned up and dressed up and ready to go I had to pull out the camera. Of course Ally was more than thrilled to strike a pose (or ten).





Vanessa was a little more hesitant but still very cute.



As soon as the rubber band goes in her hair, she is trying to pull it out.



I wanted to get a picture of the two of them together, hmmmm...easier said then done.



And finally, a cute one.



Ally wanted a picture with Vanessa on her lap but Vanessa wasn't thrilled about that.



Then they decided to get goofy. I got Andrew and Ally slinkies which they decided to turn into trunks and bug eyes.









It was a really fun morning hanging out with my beautiful, goofy kids. I am truly blessed!!

Flag Football Finals

Andrew's football team made it to the finals!! He was so excited. It was really fun to watch his team play and their excitement to be in the finals.



Unfortunately they lost, but they played hard and had a lot of fun. They all received second place medals which Andrew loves! He took it to school for show and tell. I am so glad he enjoyed it and the good news is that he wants to play again next year, which means he really enjoyed it.





Later that night he was being really goofy and put on his medal with the fire hat he got at the fire station he went to on his field trip that day.



He is such a fun, goofy kid. I love having him as part of our family. He definitely brings so much joy into all of our lives.

Ally's Field Trip

I went with Ally's class on her field trip to the pumpkin patch at the Red Barn. I love the Red Barn but not on days when it rains like it did the day we were there. It was really cold and wet. We started out on the hay ride and headed to the apple orchard where the kids learned about the various types of apples and even got to pick their own apples.



We then rode up to the pumpkin patch but because of the rain our tractor decided to bypass the patch to go straight back to the barn. Ally couldn't get inside soon enough.





The kids all got an apple cider donut, which after taking a bite of Ally's I wish I had accepted one, they were delicious!! Even though it didn't go as planned, it was really fun to spend the day with Ally and her friends from school. Ally was quite disappointed she didn't get a pumpkin but we will get her one whether it's at the pumpkin patch or the grocery store. Sometimes we have to make do with what we can.

It's All About Attitude

This morning I was lying in bed after a night of little sleep (no my kids were not up, it's just me and my lovely insomnia) listening to my kids in the front room very loudly playing and having fun with each other. I was thinking 'do they have to be so loud?' when Jim rolled over and said, 'we sure are lucky aren't we?' Wow!! That hit me hard!! We are lucky to be blessed with three fabulous, healthy kids who really do get along and take care of one another. After hearing him say that it changed my attitude. I continued laying there listening and this time enjoyed the giggling and screeching in joy. I found myself not getting upset when the screeching quickly turned to screaming because they started fighting over something. I remembered something I learned a very long time ago, we can't control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to it. It's all about our attitude. We choose to view things negatively or positively. Even though many times when I am tired it is easier to be negative, I can change my attitude and be more positive which makes me and everyone around me much happier.
I have said it before and I know I will say it again but I love to watch and listen to my kids when they don't realize I am. I know they are being truly sincere with one another and not just putting on a show because they know I am watching them. One day while the kids were playing out front I had the front door open (not smart during fly season, just a side note for you to learn from) and could hear Ally talking. I quietly went to see what she was doing and...



she was sharing her grapes with Vanessa. I took the picture and they heard me



Later that same day Andrew and Vanessa were out back playing together. I couldn't get a picture of them without them knowing but still got some cute ones




I love these kids and am so grateful to have such good and fun kids who are, most of the time, very kind and loving to one another.