Squeaky shoes

My mom sent these shoes to Nora yesterday. Here is a video of her wearing them for the first time. She did wear them to church last night and the lady in the nursery wasn't very excited about them :). I guess I will have to turn off the squeak before we wear them again.

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Memorial Day Weekend

What a fabulous weekend we had! We did something that we have never done before, but I hope that we do it many, many more times over the years. We went tent camping! It was fun. We have been married 4 years and have owned a tent for 4 years, but have never put it to use.
We went with the Brown family and some guys from church. Nora loves the Brown boys and they are sweet to her (even though I am sure she annoys them quite often :) ).

I was worried about how Nora would do, but she slept the entire night (a little Benedryl probably helped with that) and loved everything about the outdoors. She was exhausted when we got home (and filthy!) but proved to be an "outdoorsy" girl at the early age of 1.

Below are some pics of our trip...if you would like to see them all you can click here or click on the Flickr badge to the right.

Mom, I don't like this life jacket thing that you put on me! Please take it off, I am super uncomfortable!

The water is freezing!!!! Actually, Nora had such a good time in the water, that when it was time to go in she started crying.

The inside view of our tent from our bed at Nora's Pack-N-Play.

I slept so good!!!! And I LOVE the mornings, even with banana all over my face.

The view of the inside of our tent from Nora's bed...see there is plenty of room!

The outside view of our tent and canopy. The guys tent and the Brown's tent were to the right of ours.

The Brown boys (Ethan, Griffin, and Tyson) playing Boche ball

On the pontoon boat. It was pretty windy, but Nora loved sitting beside her daddy!

Brrrrr! Very cold water. She did not love the water as much this time and cried to come back to the boat.

Family picture. Although I hate the way I look, I am swallowing my pride and posting it anyway. Here we are...all 3 1/2 of us.

It's a....

healthy baby! And we are so thankful to God for that news!

We had our ultrasound today and got to see our little mover. He/She was definitely active, kicking me the entire time...what a great feeling!

Matthew and I (and Nora) do know the sex of the baby, but we are going to try our best to keep it our little secret for a few more weeks. We have so few secrets in this life that we are going to "torture" our family and friends to hold onto this one as long as we can.

I will tell you that the ultrasound doc said that it is a very cute baby...I'm sure he tells that to all the parents.

So, there you have it, our news. We thank God for His faithfulness and many, many blessings He has showered down on us.

No, I'm not their grandma

Woman, aged 60, is oldest American to give birth to twins

SERIOUSLY!!!!!! I will be 30...almost 31...when my 2nd baby makes its appearance into this world. Matthew and I are already worried about keeping up with our children as they race around the house, yard, world. But, what do we have to worry about? We are half this woman's age and she just gave birth to twins. If there are any 60 year old women reading this right now who are either pregnant or about to give birth to a child...I'm speaking to you too. You are too old to be giving birth!!!!

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What about retirement? What about vacationing with your husband without thinking about taking along the pack-n-play? What about your 33 and 29 year old children (the woman above has both) who we be called upon in 10 years to take the boys to their baseball game because you will be 70!!!!! You will definitely be the oldest mom in the PTO and everyone will think you are their grandmother...which makes sense!

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To read all about this story, click here. My favorite quote (it won't be exact) on a video I saw last night was the new mama telling older women that if they are looking for something in their lives, don't get a dog...get a baby.

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Seriously?

Our past week in pictures

Nora enjoying some sidewalk chalk fun...actually, she just tried to eat it. Finally, she did put a few scribbles down on the pavement.

At the park for "Mommy and Me" with her friends Sutton and Sterling. Aren't they cute!

Matthew's teammates had a dinner on Friday night and one of his teammates has a 5 year old little girl, Allison. She brought crowns so that her and Nora could decorate them.

This weekend, Matthew and I went to Tulsa, WITHOUT Nora. It was our first overnight trip without her...and it was GREAT! I wasn't worried about her the entire time and just enjoyed being with my husband! We celebrate our anniversary at the end of this month and this counted as our celebration. We ate out (as evidenced by the pictures above), watched a movie, went shopping, slept in...and all without a baby. I was really glad to get back to my sweet girl Sunday afternoon, but this was needed!

At Tyson Brown's 4th birthday party last night. It was at McDonald's. I had my 5th birthday with Ronald...anyone else ever celebrate at McDonald's?

Nora's last day at SONshine School. She doesn't actually "attend" SONshine School (Mother's Day out program our church does), she just goes for an hour each Tuesday while I go to a Ladies Bible Class down the hall. I loved her "teachers" though, Mrs. Beth and Mrs. Norma. They loved Nora and that is all that matters.

Nora's first taste of FlavorIce. Yummmm!!!! She had it all over her by the time she was done.

Where have all the fabric stores gone?

I am confused...is fabric no longer popular? Do people just not feel the need to sew any longer. Am I completely "uncool" by having a sewing machine and enjoying doing little projects? I didn't think so, but apparently Northwest Arkansas no longer thinks it is necessary to have fabric.

Our local Hancock Fabrics is going out of business. I didn't frequent it very often, but when they had a sale, I went and strolled down the aisles to see if I "needed" anything. Granted, the Hancock Fabrics in Rogers is not very big and the people working there sometimes needed a gun pointed directly at them to warrant any kind of customer service, but it was a good fabric store with all different types (cottons, upholstery, silks, etc.).

Another example of "fabric loss" is Wal-Mart!!!!!! Yes, the largest store chain in the universe is no longer carrying fabric! If your local Wal-Mart still has a supply, count your lucky stars. Our local (and newest I might add) Wal-Mart is always doing the annoying thing of moving EVERYTHING in the store around. Just when I think I could do my shopping with my eyes closed, they go and move the contact solution 3 aisles over...annoying! Well, the other day, Matthew needed some white fabric for a project he was doing in his classroom. I set out to snag some dollar fabric for him. When I got to the section where the fabric is, it was missing and in its place was a "party area" (think, helium balloons, birthday invitations, cup, hats, plates, etc...very nice if you are planning a party-which I was not). I thought, "Oh, great, they're moving things around again. Did they think the fabric would be better over by the eggs and butter. Are they thinking that if you bake surely you sew and it would be easier for you to grab a carton of eggs and a spool of thread at the same time? Genius!" But, I can't find the department anywhere. Finally, I gave up and found someone in a blue vest. She informed me that Wal-Mart stores are taking the fabric department OUT of all Wal-Marts! WHAT!!!!!!! I was very upset, where am I going to get my last minute fabric purchases, where can I find dollar fabric now, what about all the teachers who need fabric for bulletin boards, what about the people in charge of summer programs or VBS-where is the inexpensive fabric going to be?

So, if you are a seamstress or just enjoy looking at pretty fabrics, you might be "uncool". The world thinks so...all the fabric stores are slowly disappearing...just like a drive-in movie.

A great weekend!

This was my second Mother's Day and it was great! It was a busy weekend, but my sweet husband and daughter truly made me feel special.

On Friday night, Kristy Brown and I chaperoned the "High School Girls Retreat". It was hot! I say this because the air conditioner in the place we were staying was broken. We think it may have been out of freon, but without any electrical training in our backgrounds, it is only a guess. It was about 10 degrees cooler outside than it was inside the entire time we were there. Other than the stifling conditions, the retreat was a good one. The girls really seemed to enjoy being together, talking, watching movies, eating, and sharing things on their hearts. I had a nice time talking, eating, and sharing things on my heart with Kristy. I am always amazed at how different things are now then when I was in high school. These girls seem so much more knowledgeable and gutsy. I would have never worn some of the things they pulled out of their suitcases when I was in high school. The main reason why... I wasn't ALLOWED to! And I am thankful for that now, because I will be able to say to Nora when she is begging to wear some skanky outfit, "Nope, I didn't get to either...sorry kiddo." We pulled back into the church parking lot Saturday evening, tired, hot, and kind of smelly. I had not showered and was looking forward to jumping in one.

Sunday morning, I woke up to a sweet little voice talking at 6:45 am. That is definitely not Nora's usual wake up time...it is more like 7:30. But, I guess she was so excited about it being Mother's Day, she couldn't sleep one more second. Matthew went and got her and brought her to our room. She cuddled with me for about 1 second and then was ready to play.

My gifts were very special. I got two charms for my Pandora bracelet:

The charm with the "N" on it is from Nora and the baby carriage is from the baby.

Every year Nora writes me a letter, a tradition she started last year (obviously, Matthew started this tradition. He is an excellent husband!!!! When she is 12, however, he might have to threaten her with a grounding if she doesn't sit down and write the annual letter). The letter this year, just like last year's letter, made me cry.

We went to Fort Smith Sunday morning for church (Matthew's grandma and mom live there) and stayed for a family lunch afterwards. We had a great time and really enjoyed getting to see everyone. We were all pretty tired though when we got back home!

The evening was pretty low-key, a very light dinner and a nice family walk around the neighborhood.

All in all, it was a fantastic Mother's Day! I am so lucky that God chose me to be Nora's mommy and I am also blessed that God allowed me to share these experiences with Matthew. Thank you Matthew and Nora for making it a fantastic day! I love you both!

Happy Mother's Day!

This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way, no one would have ever done it!!!!

POSITION:Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, Momma, Ma

JOB DESCRIPTION:Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Happy, Happy Mother’s Day!!

I hope all you moms out there have a very happy day! It truly is the greatest job on the planet!

Our morning...so far

It is only 9:30am and already we have had a very active morning. Here are some snapshots of our fun so far.

Nora decided to give herself a "banana facial" this morning during breakfast. I don't know if the look is a good one for her.

It has been raining every day this week and we have not had any outside time. Nora was standing by the back door crying to go out. Well, it wasn't raining this morning, so I gave in and out we went. The grass is soaking wet and she didn't like getting her little feet in that. But, then she discovered her table...all covered with water.

She had so much fun playing in the water that half-way through, we had to have a "wardrobe" change. I think she could have stayed outside forever, but I was a little cold because she thought it was funny to pour some of the water on me. Now we are back inside and looking for more excitement. This day might wear me out before it ever really even gets started :).

A very nice weekend

We had a great weekend together as a family.

Friday when Matthew got home from work, we all headed over to the park. It was fun, but very short. It was HOT and Nora definitely needed a nap.

Saturday we got up bright and early ready to greet the sunshine and enjoy the day. We got Nora a sandbox (it is in the shape of a crab) but didn't get any sand, so she just crawled in and out of the empty sandbox on Saturday :). We also got her a little tricycle that she moves with her legs. Although, her legs are too short, so we end up pushing her everywhere. Maybe she will grow soon :).

We also spent the day planting flowers (while Nora played in the dirt, eating a handful every now and then) and getting our yard looking pretty. That night we grilled out steaks and played indoors...great day!

Sunday we went to church and had a small group potluck afterwards. The food was delicious and we were all ready for a long nap when we finally got home. After we woke up, Matthew and Nora headed off to the store to get the play sand and I sat outside and read some of a book while trying to get some sun on my white legs (see previous post). That night we went to our Bible study and enjoyed our friends and the Bible lesson. We got home, put Nora to bed and watched the finale of the "Amazing Race". The Blondes got second...my prediction was wrong. I'm looking forward to the next season starting! If you don't watch the show, you should start, it's addicting!

It is raining here again today (although the news said that it was only a 20% chance of rain last night), so we are hanging out indoors. I am getting ready for my last Monday night class of the semester and Nora is currently taking a very rare morning nap. I am glad that I am almost done teaching for this semester! Two nights has been fun, but I am glad to not be driving to Fort Smith (an hour away) each week anymore. In the fall I am teaching one class. That should be interesting considering that we will be adding a new baby to our family in the fall as well. I am planning on taking off for two class meetings and then resuming teaching. We'll see....

I hope everyone else had a good weekend! I am definitely feeling more like myself and glad to be over the "hump" of last week. The summer is quickly approaching and I am looking forward to longer days outside, splashing in the water, and small vacations!

Our lame attempt at a family photo

A funk...****UPDATED

****It is Saturday and we have had a fantastic weekend so far! I love the sunshine and my husband. Having both of them here really makes me happy!****

Ever feel like you are in a funk? You know, you just don't feel like yourself but can't quite put your finger on what the problem is? Well, that has been me the past few days.

I don't know if it has been the rain...it has been never ending the past few days and Nora and I have not gotten to go outside very much. But because of the rain, our garden has started growing!!!! I'll post pictures of the little sprouts soon.

I don't know if it is because Matthew has had to stay late at school the past 3 days. I am very lucky that he is a teacher and his day ends at 3:30. He usually gets home around 4pm and we get to spend the rest of the evening all together. However, the past few days (and for the next few weeks) he has been doing some after school tutoring and doesn't get home until around 5: 30. Again, that is usual for most people, but when your usual is 4:00, the extra hour and a half seems long.

I don't know if it is because I didn't teach this week. Next week I give the final and I gave my students the option of meeting this week to review for the final or I could just email them the study guide. Well, obviously, they chose not to meet (duh!) so I was free Monday and Tuesday nights. Which, I loved because I got to spend time with Matthew and Nora, but I didn't get to interact with adults and act smart (it's all acting).

I don't know if it is because I am pregnant...most likely, this is the cause. My hormones are crazy and I am on edge. Why does being pregnant do this to me? It's not the entire time I am pregnant, just in spurts. I'm ready for this "spurt" to be over with (and I am sure that my super understanding husband is ready for it to be over with too!).

I feel better now. We are having some new neighbors move in tomorrow, so I am going to take a basket of goodies over. It is supposed to be nice and sunny and we will spend the day outside! Things are looking up!