Visiting Teacher

I have the sweetest lady as my visiting teacher at church.  Her name is Susan and she's about my moms age.  Sometimes I feel like she's my mom away from home.  I feel like I can always call on her for extra prayers or anything else and she's always there.  Without fail she checks on me each month.

She asked if she and her companion, Nina, could come see me this week.  Lane has had this headache/sore throat thing going on for a few days so I told her maybe she shouldn't come by, I wasn't sure if little one was contagious.  I get home from the grocery store this morning and Susan had left flowers and a get well note for Lane.  I thought it was so sweet and Lane felt pretty special.   I've always had great visiting teachers, and Susan is definitely one of my favorites so far.

Past Due

It was way past time for Addyson to have a haircut.  The last time her hair saw a pair of scissors was last July when Grandma Fackrell cut it.  She's been asking for short hair, and I'd say today she got it!

Field Day

Today was Field Day for Addyson's 2nd grade class.   All of the kids got to choose 4 events they wanted to be part of, and there were also two class events. There are three 2nd grade classes, and Addyson's class was the blue team.   Laney and I had lots of fun watching these kids play their hearts out, and in the end Addyson's class won.  Yay!  To celebrate we went to Handle's ice cream for some Hurricanes.  Great day!

Blast from the Past

My Dad came across some pictures on his camera from years ago, and this one is quite a gem, haha.  10 years ago this one was taken, one of our engagement pics.  It just screams "young, naive, head over heels in love and not a care in the world".

Stony Hill Class of 2013

Our little Lane graduated from

Pre k last week and she was so proud.  Me?  I was sad, but what can you do.  The teachers had a cute graduation for the kids, caps to throw in the air and a picnic afterwards.  It's only up from here now, Laney Lou!!

Memorial Day

The best parts of Memorial Day.....

Look Mom! No more training wheels!

Lane is now an official big kid.  It's been Addyson's mission to get rid of the training wheels on Lane's bike and it looks like mission accomplished!  I was inside getting dinner ready when I heard a scream, I thought someone was hurt, but it was just Addyson cheering her little sister on.  Go, Laney Lou!

Hearts

Since Addyson was in Kindergarten, every now and then she and I will draw hearts on the palms of each others hands before school.  It's our way of giving the other one a hug throughout the day.  She came up with the idea when in kinder the days were long for her and we missed each other.  This morning she asked me for a heart and I was so glad she did, we haven't done it much this school year.  She's such a good kid, and this year has been a bit hard on her with a new school to attend and making new friends.  She's done great though, so proud of her.

Adios, Preschool!

Sad day!  I've had a baby in preschool since 2007 and this morning I dropped our youngest off for her last day.  I feel like once they get to Kindergarten, the real world has definitely taken them from me and it's a sad feeling.  We've had some sweet memories throughout the girls preschool years, we've made great friends, had fun field trips, and some great teachers.  I took some pics this morning before we left for school, and the first pics are of Lanes first day of preschool this year.  

Thank goodness we don't have to say goodbye to Stony Hill just yet, Lane will go to private Kinder there this next year for two days a week so that kind of makes me feel better.  Ha!

Dude

My passenger this morning on the way to take big sister to school.  He's a great co-pilot!

A Not So Healthy Mother's Day

An interesting Mom's Day this year.  Woke up to freezing weather outside, so we all had to bundle up when we left for church.  I have to say, this is the first Mother's Day that there was a fire in the fireplace at our house.  But this IS Ohio after all.

Church was great, but emotional for me. It was fast and testimony for our ward, and I bore my testimony and also spoke of my mom, whom I have not seen in 10 months.  I miss her dearly, but I'm looking forward to the trip that she and my dad are making to come visit for my birthday in July.

After church Ryan asked me what he could make me for lunch and I requested a plate full of nachos.  Yum.  After lunch he had to go in to work for a bit, but when he got home he had an enormous chocolate cake for me.  Good because I love chocolate cake, but bad because that didn't exactly fit in with my Special K diet.  Oh well.

I got some cute cards and gifts from my sweet babies and overall had a great day!

A Boy and His Grill

Since we threw our old grill out when we moved from TX, it was past time for a new one.  Ryan has been keeping his eye out for one for the past few months, and yesterday he found one that called to him.  It does everything and more and he's pretty thrilled to have it.  We've owned it for just over 24 hours and already he's grilled pork chops, sausage, chicken and steak.  Yay for leftovers and not having to worry about cooking for the next few nights.  Happy early father's day to my Ryan!

Uh-Oh

Before school this morning Lane says to me, "Mom, I'm happy I get to go to school today because I love Connor."  I say, "Oh is he your favorite friend at school?"  "Nope", she says.  "I like ALL the boys in my class because they're so cute.  Well, except for Colton.  He always has junk in his nose."  Hoping this isn't a glimpse into the teenage years, I don't need a boy crazy daughter!  This child is a mess.

Called to Serve

Since August of last year I've been teaching Sunday School to the 14-15 year olds at church.  I've enjoyed it and felt like I'd probably be doing it for a while.  That all changed when I got a call from Brother Griffin Sunday afternoon.  He asked me if I would teach in Primary(the children's part of the church)to the 8-9 year olds.  I couldn't say yes fast enough because I've never gotten to teach the younger ones, and Addyson will be in my class!  She and I are both pretty excited about it.  She said, "Mom, you need to have lots of patience with my class because they're pretty noisy". Ha!  She obviously never sat in on a class with my teenagers.  I'm up for the challenge!

Strawberry Freezer Jam

I came across a recipe for strawberry freezer jam and thought I'd make some. Aunt Melanie made it a few times and I always loved it so I thought I'd try my hand at it. Not sure why I always thought it was so difficult, a bit of mashing and stirring and you're done! I had a helper so that made it easier. Haha

Personalized Picnic

We went on a hike this afternoon and stumbled upon a spot that was made just for us. Had to stop and take a photo!

Furry Friends

They are my babies, my friends, my comfort and I love them like I love my human babies. Each fur baby has their own personality and I love them so. Two cats and a dog seem like a lot to care for in addition to raising kids, but they are a joy. Definitely one of Gods great gifts to us.

Laundry vs Heather

...and Heather rarely wins. I think life would be absolutely perfect if I didn't have laundry and our not so kind next door neighbor. I've told Ryan laundry is the one thing I can never get a handle on. Obviously it bugs me because I'm blogging about it. Thankfully we have clothes for me to launder, but man. I try not to complain much, but I can complain about laundry until the cows come home! It never goes away, I don't like putting it away, and you're only ever finished with it for like an hour. Grrrrrr. Complain session over.

Reward

For having lots of cabin fever during the months of December-March, we are rewarded with some ahhhhmazing weather this week. Not a drop of rain predicted in the forecast and highs of 70. I realized this morning that this is day three of no heat or AC turned on. Loving having all the windows open and feeling the breeze and no humidity to speak of. Take THAT, Houston!
Headed out for a walk this morning with sweet Joan and our dogs. Happy Wednesday!