Father's Day 2008

Happy Father's Day Honey!

Thank you for giving me these precious babies and for caring for us all so lovingly and completely. I fell in love with you all over again watching you welcome our babies to the world. The joy and pride radiating off of you as you held your new child was intoxicating and is forever etched in my memory. Your tenderness and wonder in caring for them, even as tiny newborns, only endeared you to me more. I love how you love our babies, how dedicated you are to our family, how hard to work to make our dreams a reality, and how you've embraced parenthood. I couldn't have picked a better Daddy for my kids and I'm so thankful we're on this ride together.

We love you up to the moon and back.

Love,

Kate, Sam & Zoë

Guess Who's Blogging?

My pal Brooke (aka Whitey) has finally caved to the pressure and started a blog! She says it's to chronicle her summer adventures but I know it's really because she wants to be cool like me and throw her life out to the interwebs. I've apparently touted the addictiveness of the blogsphere to her one too many times and now she's been sucked in. If you get a minute, swing by and say hi to her and make her feel welcome! You can find her at http://www.thegatclanchronicles.blogspot.com/.

Brookie & I met almost three years ago thru our local MOMS Club. She had recently become a full-time SAHM and was looking for activities and friends to keep her busy and get her out of the house. When we met, our little ones, Dane and Zoë, were 6 weeks and 3 weeks respectively. As the months went by and we found ourselves at activities together frequently, I grew to admire and appreciate her razor sharp wit, her easy-going manner, generosity, and her overall joie de vivre. We soon discovered we had more in common than just babies the same age.

~We both adore being moms yet sometimes crave our old "freedoms".
~We both love to be on the go.
~We both were a bit wild & crazy in our younger days.
~We both like to dream big and shoot for the stars.
~We both love coffee and baked goods.

~We both have "Martha" tendencies (although I'll admit, she's a much better hostess than I).

~We both need sunshine and warmth and dream of living somewhere tropical.

The list goes on and on, but it all adds up to a really fun and special friendship. Being friends with Brooke is just easy. She makes me laugh, she's always ready to lend an ear, she's honest, she's creative and energetic, and she's comfortable in her own skin. She's a helluva gal and I love her. I know you will too.

I felt the earth move...

It was a rainy Friday when we began excavation. Fortunately, it tapered off after awhile and we were able to get out of the car. Raindrops on our heads should've been the least of my worries, because after an hour or so of tromping around, both kids were covered in mud. It was in this state of dishabille that I delievered Sam to school, having not had the presence of mind to anticipate mud and/or children who are naturally attracted to mud, thereby requiring a change of clean clothing. I might have been a little excited to finally see some dirt moved.

Two days later, on Sunday, we went out to check the progress. Because it'd been so wet and the ground so soft, they'd had to lay a road fabric down first before dumping the gravel. Otherwise, we'd of had to put about two feet of gravel down in order to get the road stable enough to support heavy vehicles, such as a cement truck, which I heard was going to be necessary.

It was a big job, this excavation. All the dirt basically had to be moved twice; once it was dug up, it was dumped, still within the outline of the house due to the limited reach of the trackhoe. Then that dirt had to be moved further away in order to dig out more of the foundation. The next two pictures show the building site partially excavated. I guess they don't work weekends. Must be nice.



As previously mentioned, my children are drawn to dirt like a moth to a flame. Good thing, since we seem to have an abundance of it in our lives lately. The way I figure, it's cheap entertainment and good for the imagination. Throw in some sticks, rocks and leftover lumber pieces and it's a kids paradise.

Since they are soon going to offcially be "country kids", I suppose a healthy love of dirt is a good thing. *sigh* But I fear for the state of my floors already.

Flashback Friday

It's been awhile since I've flashed ya (hardee har har!), so today we're flashing back to June 2006. Zoë was 9 months old and Sam rapidly approaching 4.

Happy Friday!

Wordless Wednesday

These beautiful girls dropped by for a quick visit when we were out inspecting the excavation on Sunday and kindly paused long enough for me to snap a quick picture.

For more Wordless Wednesdays, go here.

I'm still here...

I've just been uninspired and stressed out. I haven't felt like I've had anything worth reading to write honestly. I mean, I hear other blog authors say this very same thing and then somehow they write a whole post that I end up devouring because it's witty and entertaining. And while I can't pinpoint any particular theme or thought-pattern, it doesn't seem to matter. I'm not sure I'm capable of that kind of verbosity.

Things are progressing with the house. They started the foundation on Tuesday and should have it done by the end of the week. I spent an hour or so yesterday at the courthouse trying to get some papers filed and some tax stuff taken care of. Zoë was somewhat tolerant of the process, albeit not exceptionally quiet. Her tiny little voice was only amplified by the tomb-like silence of the office we were in. I temporarily placated her with a sucker from the secret stash in my purse (totally for the kids, not me - I swear), then some paper and a pen where she informed me she was doing "decowations, Mom". I wasn't able to get everything taken care of so today we get to go back and do it all again. Oh joy.

I've come to the painful conclusion and realization that I'm going to have to work a bit more in order to afford this house. It's been my biggest fear all along, but now that we're actively handing out money like Hickory Farms free samples at Christmas, the rate at which the money is coming in needs to be stepped up. I'm hoping that by being proactive and not waiting until the bank is threatening us that maybe it'll be easier. I'm only planning on adding one day a pay period, and it still needs to be approved by my manager, so nothing is set in stone at this point. But I am resigned to the fact that it's going to need to happen. And I'm just praying that it will be enough.

I had a small breakdown about it the other day, which is quite out of character for me. The dam ended up bursting right before I was headed to work, which resulted in red puffy eyes and fuzzy contacts, which then led all my co-workers to inquire if I was okay, which then sent me scurrying to the bathroom to ward off the tears again. SO unlike me. And horrifying. Anyway, I finally laid bare my soul to my hubby about my mounting fears about the project and it's financial ramifications on our daily lives. I managed to pour out how I already feel stretched by working the amount that I do, that I still have to do everything else around the house even though I'm working more than I ever have since having my babies, and that I just was generally terrified.

The result? I don't feel like such a pressure-cooker of emotion, my hubby got the chance to console and reassure me (something that doesn't happen very often - I'm too stubborn) AND he said I just need to tell him what needs to be done around the house and he'll do it. I think it was kind of a wakeup call to him that I'm really NOT SuperWoman, even though that's certainly an image and perception I like to encourage. I don't readily or easily ask for help, but if we're going to make it thru this with my sanity in tact, I've got to learn how.

In other news, Sam's last day of kindergarten is tomorrow. This year has flown by and frankly, I'm sad to see it end. I'm looking forward to having him home with me and all the summer fun we have planned, but it's just another reminder of how rapidly the time is passing and how quickly he is growing up. We've had such a positive experience at his school and I just adore his teacher so I'm sad to have the year end. Our new house is in a different school district so next year will mean not only a new teacher, but a new school. I am totally confident that Sam will do fine - he is such an outgoing, friendly, confident kid that I know he'll fit right in.

Speaking of the end of the year, I want to find a gift for his teacher. I'd like something she can keep and remember Sam by, not just a gift card or something. I'm thinking a nice vase with flowers in it (she loves flowers). What do you think? Do you do anything for your kids' teachers at year-end?

Have a great day everyone! Send some sunshine my way - it'd go a long way towards improving my mood, I'm sure.

Meet the babies!

Miss Avery Rene

Mr. Landan Paul

Mr. Braydan James

Miss Addison Jo

I already miss these little buggars, even though at times they wore me out. They're going to change and grow so much before I can see them again that it makes me sad. But I'm so incredibly grateful for the time I got to spend with them, and the fact that they arrived healthy and happy. I was a bit teary when I had to say good-bye but hopefully it won't be too long before I can see them again.