March 28, 2010: I've just spent another wonderful weekend at my mom and dad's farm. I love going home. Is there anywhere better than Mama's house, even if you are a grown girl? On the menu this weekend: homemade gumbo, grilled steak, grilled pork chops (both very thick and flavorful), salmon, tuna steaks, baked chicken. Instead of leaving on Sunday like we normally do, we're staying another night. Even Trey is still here. Don't my parents realize if they keep feeding us like this we may never leave? ; )
It's not just the gourmet food, it's atmosphere of love, security and happiness that still exists after all these years. How blessed I am to have had a happy childhood, and still be close to my parents and siblings.
To make it even better - Liz and Riley are here. Riley is adorable. My girls love playing with (attacking and pestering) him. He's SO smart. He said the Pledge of Allegience, super cute. It would get a million hits on YouTube!
Also, Fri. night we arrived just in time for a shrimp boil hosted by my cousins Cortney and Rick at their camp. It was not your typical, cluttered South Arkansas campsite. This looked like Martha Stewart had set up camp, and her kitchen was sitting in the middle of the woods! It was totally organized and even had a row of little tulips in bloom. I was in awe. Now, Cortney lives out of state and I haven't been to her house, but I can only imagine. . .
March 19, 2010: Last Thursday, Leah kept the girls while I went to the doctor. She has been a lifesaver this past year, keeping my girls so I didn't have to drag them to the Dr. Then we went to watch Zoe and Gabby at gymnastics class. I was very impressed! Then Leah let Ava spend two nights with them and I had some alone time with Isabel. We, played, went grocery shopping, picked flowers and had some special one-on-one time we both really needed. On Sat., Ava spent the day with Commie and went to Brett's art show- he got third place for his painting, and to Rachel's barrel race.
Last Saturday, we had a visit from my Mom and (SURPRISE!!) my sister Valerie! Now, of course the girls always love seeing their Memaw, but Aunt Vallie popping in was an added treat. She is really busy with grad school and the campaign she is working on, so we were thrilled to see her. Ava and Isabel think Aunt Vallie is FUN, FUN, FUN!! She brought the girls a purple bag and cool purple suitcase, and an assortment of Easter egg colored nail polish which kept them entertained. Speaking of eggs, Valerie and I discovered Isabel in the kitchen with the egg carton, raw eggs dripping from her face and hands and on the floor!
And speaking of messes. . . some advice you hear when you have a new baby is: "The housework will wait." I didn't like it at first, but I'm starting to let some stuff go. If you want proof that I'm "letting the housework wait," just ask my mom and Valerie. They were sitting in my living room, one on the couch, the other in the recliner and a HUGE mountain of clothes between them. They couldn't even see each other's faces!
Now, normally, I would never let the clothes pile up, but the washer is going 24/7 because Sophia has reflux. Some of us think "unpredictable milk spewing geyser" is a better term! (Ask my uncle Robin who flew all the way from Ohio to meet his new great-niece, reached out to hold her, and immediately had to go change shirts!) So me and the baby are constantly changing clothes. Ava and Isabel are just plain messy, and when they are not changing clothes because they've made a mess, they're changing them because they've been princesses long enough and now it's time to be pirates! In addition, Trey's hobbies are yard work, hunting and cow-wrangling! You bet we have lots of laundry.
And what kind of hostess just lets her guests sit beside a pile of clothes? Well, the next morning I woke up and they had been neatly folded! ; )
We also enjoyed an afternoon with Commie and Big Daddy on their farm. They have a new baby "hee-haw" and Isabel got to pet it. And the girls fished on the pond with Big Daddy and Trey.
Then, Monday, we had another surprise visit from another fun aunt bearing gifts. Lauren popped in on her day off to see us. She brought a couple of sundresses and supplies for Sophia, and St. Patty's day goodies for the girls. Unfortunately, the girls were really cranky that afternoon and our visit was interrupted more times than I'd like to admit by misbehavior and competing for attention. I wonder if other mothers experience this, but many times I am very insecure about how to handle discipline problems. Sometimes I feel I'm too strict, and other times I feel like I'm too lenient. I try to be consistent but every situation is different. I want them to be so well-behaved, but then again, they are only kids.
So, the best gift Lauren brought that day was her understanding smile and the kind words of encouragement she gave me when one was in time-out and one was having a tantrum. Does God use special people at just the right time to lift you up when things are low? I believe He does. Thank you, Lauren. : )
It's not just the gourmet food, it's atmosphere of love, security and happiness that still exists after all these years. How blessed I am to have had a happy childhood, and still be close to my parents and siblings.
To make it even better - Liz and Riley are here. Riley is adorable. My girls love playing with (attacking and pestering) him. He's SO smart. He said the Pledge of Allegience, super cute. It would get a million hits on YouTube!
Also, Fri. night we arrived just in time for a shrimp boil hosted by my cousins Cortney and Rick at their camp. It was not your typical, cluttered South Arkansas campsite. This looked like Martha Stewart had set up camp, and her kitchen was sitting in the middle of the woods! It was totally organized and even had a row of little tulips in bloom. I was in awe. Now, Cortney lives out of state and I haven't been to her house, but I can only imagine. . .
March 19, 2010: Last Thursday, Leah kept the girls while I went to the doctor. She has been a lifesaver this past year, keeping my girls so I didn't have to drag them to the Dr. Then we went to watch Zoe and Gabby at gymnastics class. I was very impressed! Then Leah let Ava spend two nights with them and I had some alone time with Isabel. We, played, went grocery shopping, picked flowers and had some special one-on-one time we both really needed. On Sat., Ava spent the day with Commie and went to Brett's art show- he got third place for his painting, and to Rachel's barrel race.
Last Saturday, we had a visit from my Mom and (SURPRISE!!) my sister Valerie! Now, of course the girls always love seeing their Memaw, but Aunt Vallie popping in was an added treat. She is really busy with grad school and the campaign she is working on, so we were thrilled to see her. Ava and Isabel think Aunt Vallie is FUN, FUN, FUN!! She brought the girls a purple bag and cool purple suitcase, and an assortment of Easter egg colored nail polish which kept them entertained. Speaking of eggs, Valerie and I discovered Isabel in the kitchen with the egg carton, raw eggs dripping from her face and hands and on the floor!
And speaking of messes. . . some advice you hear when you have a new baby is: "The housework will wait." I didn't like it at first, but I'm starting to let some stuff go. If you want proof that I'm "letting the housework wait," just ask my mom and Valerie. They were sitting in my living room, one on the couch, the other in the recliner and a HUGE mountain of clothes between them. They couldn't even see each other's faces!
Now, normally, I would never let the clothes pile up, but the washer is going 24/7 because Sophia has reflux. Some of us think "unpredictable milk spewing geyser" is a better term! (Ask my uncle Robin who flew all the way from Ohio to meet his new great-niece, reached out to hold her, and immediately had to go change shirts!) So me and the baby are constantly changing clothes. Ava and Isabel are just plain messy, and when they are not changing clothes because they've made a mess, they're changing them because they've been princesses long enough and now it's time to be pirates! In addition, Trey's hobbies are yard work, hunting and cow-wrangling! You bet we have lots of laundry.
And what kind of hostess just lets her guests sit beside a pile of clothes? Well, the next morning I woke up and they had been neatly folded! ; )
We also enjoyed an afternoon with Commie and Big Daddy on their farm. They have a new baby "hee-haw" and Isabel got to pet it. And the girls fished on the pond with Big Daddy and Trey.
Then, Monday, we had another surprise visit from another fun aunt bearing gifts. Lauren popped in on her day off to see us. She brought a couple of sundresses and supplies for Sophia, and St. Patty's day goodies for the girls. Unfortunately, the girls were really cranky that afternoon and our visit was interrupted more times than I'd like to admit by misbehavior and competing for attention. I wonder if other mothers experience this, but many times I am very insecure about how to handle discipline problems. Sometimes I feel I'm too strict, and other times I feel like I'm too lenient. I try to be consistent but every situation is different. I want them to be so well-behaved, but then again, they are only kids.
So, the best gift Lauren brought that day was her understanding smile and the kind words of encouragement she gave me when one was in time-out and one was having a tantrum. Does God use special people at just the right time to lift you up when things are low? I believe He does. Thank you, Lauren. : )
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