Flying Squirrel

I was schooled tonight by my 1st grade son on "how to pick up a girl" (I have struggled with exactly what to call the process...I guess it is the closest thing to a pick up line for a 1st grader).

How to pick up a girl

1. Write your phone number on a piece of paper


2. Find a girl with a bra that you can see (I imagine this would be hard to do in 1st grade)


3. Go up to her and point to the sky and say "See the flying squirrel?"


4. When she looks up....stuff your phone number in her bra.

Seriously....what girl could resist that!!!

**I needed a good laugh and I haven't laughed this hard in a long time!!!**

Looking for the light

I have spent several days in a gloomy mood. I am so trying to find the light and some happiness.

I know it is there....

I just need to look harder.

Our Jake

Jacob Albright

Mommy's love for you is as strong today as it was 9 years ago. I hope you are being a good angel for me. I miss you terribly!!

Our Boy

The Lord decided to keep him

To give her someone to hold.

This is for the better-

At least that's what my heart is told.

Running, laughing, and playing

Just like a "normal" boy would do.

Something he couldn't have here-

That's what we felt and knew.

He knows this is the best way

For a life he could truly live.

A special place in Heaven

Is the most precious gift to give.

Instead of the falling tears,

A smile overcomes my face.

As I remember our sweet boy

And a love that will never erase.

Written by his Aunt Lisa for Jacob before she even knew the joys of parenthood herself.

Jacob's hand and feet

Rough Day

I am usually a "half-full" kind of person. I roll with the punches....and believe me we have had a few punches aimed our way!!

Today I was unable to dodge an unexpected punch thrown my way....in church no less.

I don't really want to share what it was that upset me - those who know will "know".

I am not a "why me" person....but today I did feel some bitterness about a challenge God gave me 9 years ago.

I want to thank my mom who was able to find me when I left mass and give me the comfort I needed to return to my seat and share communion with my family. It helped me comfort my children who didn't understand what had upset me.

I will definitely watch the church schedule in the future so that I can miss this particular mass...fortunately God has helped me miss this mass in the past. I am sure there was a reason that I was supposed to be there today.....

Bless You's

Last night Matt was sitting with Hunter and the dog sneezed two times.

Matt started cracking up and said "Hunter just bless you two times"

Hannah said "did you say 'bless you'".

Matt said..."yes, two bless you's".

How cute is that...I guess he does listen from time to time!!

Too Sweet

I took the boys today to go pick Hannah up from school because she had "news team".

Davis was bitching and moaning about having to do his homework when we got home. He tried to say that if he didn't do his homework after dinner, then he would be grounded. I said "no deal"....do your homework. Seriously, how long can it take to write 3 sentences using your spelling words? I am sure the griping took longer!!

Matt says "If you teach me, I will do it for you."

How sweet is that? This 4 year old continues to amaze me!!

P.S. Davis is doing his own homework right now!!

One step forward

I got a call this morning with an actual interview set up for Monday at a county job that I applied for.

Send those prayers if you have some extra!!

How do you say "no more" in dog language?

I love Hunter....I really do.

But can someone please tell me how to tell a dog that I DO NOT WANT TO PLAY BALL ANYMORE!!

I am trying to look for a job on the computer and he keeps bringing this ball to me to throw....

My toughest job

Having 3 young children is really hard sometimes...

But I have finally figured out that being a mom isn't the toughest job that I have.

I think the hardest job for me is being a wife while being a mom.

Pre-children we fought, we disagreed, etc....

But we could separate from each other for a couple of hours, cool down and learn something from the disagreement.

Now, things have to continue...dinner has to be cooked...clothes washed....children need to be disciplined...baths taken.

I can't just stop doing something that I don't feel appreciated for just "to show him". We can't stop talking to each other when there are decisions that have to be made for the family.

You try to hide the tension from the kids so they don't worry.

I don't want my children to grow up too fast....but I do look forward to Pete and I being better spouses for each other.

Brrrrrr Rabbit

Holy Moly it is cold here!! We live in Georgia, we aren't supposed to be this cold!!!

Matt made it to school today and lasted all day.

We drove the truck today...NICE. The check engine light came on yesterday, but hopefully it is just something simple. My dad is going to bring something home from work that will hopefully tell him what is up. It is running really nice, and all the gauges are where they should be (temp, oil, battery). Dad told us to drive it like we stole it....but I would like to baby it. We need it to last until the fall until we can pay off my car and get a new truck.

Thanks Mom....you know for what.

I spend a lot of time in the month of January thinking about our angel in Heaven. I went through all my "Jacob things" tonight to scan his ultrasound pictures. I wonder if I will ever be able to look at them without the tears falling. I am also always comforted by the cards and well wishes we received from our friends and family. I still get a newsletter from the Perinatal loss group from the hospital...and I read it from cover to cover every issue. I have been able to announce two healthy baby boys in that newsletter. I am not sure I will ever ask to be taken off the mailing list....it is my tie to my sweet Jacob and other parents that share our love and grief.

I could use some good things to happen with us this month!! Jobs would be good!!!

A day of POSITIVES

I filled up my gas tank for $25 (and it was empty).

Matt tested positive for Strep (not a great thing but it was "positive" and at least he should be improving soon!!).

Publix gives certain antibiotics for FREE!!

Got a call from a recruiter about a possible job (not great $, but it is better than zero).

But the biggest positive of the day....

Pete will be driving the truck home tonight from my parent's house!!!!! There is no way for us to repay my dad for working so hard to to get us back to two vehicles without losing an arm and a leg financially. I also have to give some props to my husband....he has tried to help as much as possible. Thank you Mom too....I know you will be glad to get your husband back!!

Something new every day...

Matty stayed home sick today from school. His throat really hurts and he just doesn't feel great (he also puked this morning - but I think he just wasn't swallowing because it hurt). After some Tylenol and warm salt water (I remembered Mom), he felt good enough to take a shower and head to the store to get more medicine. We got him some Motrin and some throat lozenges, along with some Sprite. We also needed some groceries, so he toughed it out throughout the store.

Suddenly he said (or what I thought he said) "If I keep talking I am going to throw up". I repeated what he said and Matt said "No Mom...if YOU keep talking I am going to throw up". Pete agreed that he feels the same way sometimes (no worries, Pete WILL pay for that comment).

Here is a picture of him this afternoon after he took a GREAT nap and ate a whole can of chicken noodle soup (it was CARS soup and he kept joking every time he would eat "Sally").


I don't know if he will feel good enough for school tomorrow...I guess we will wait and see.

Hannah and Davis walked in the door from school this afternoon and said...."Do you know what 'Dork' means?"

Laughing they said "A whale's penis".

Guess what....they were right!!

I feel so enlightened!!

There is No Greater Love...

Than the love of a Papa for his granddaughter

PS - Woody, I have your camera in case you haven't figured it out!! You might want to try to actually download your pictures from time to time!!!!

It won't be like this for long...

This is my new favorite song....it is so true.




This helps me get through the stage Matt is currently in!!

I completely understand the arms wrapped around your leg and you try to peel them off to leave. I can still hear Hannah crying when I left her at daycare when she was 3 and having to tell myself in tears..."Get in the car Sally...Get in the car". Now she barely looks around when she runs to the bus!!!

Enjoy every minute...it won't be like this for long!!

Blessed

There are days in your life that are etched in your memory forever. Yesterday and today (9 years ago) are those kind of days for me.

I was lucky enough yesterday to go to my sister's house with my mom to help babysit the kids while they went to a movie. Today is my sister's birthday - Happy Birthday Lisa....hope your old ass was able to get out of bed today!!

I sort of stole little Lilah from my mom (Sorry Big Mama). I fed her twice and changed lots of diapers, but most of all I held this sweet baby. Anyone that knows me can tell you that this was my slice of Heaven!!! Thank you Lisa, Jason and Mom for giving me such a gift!!!

Nine years ago today we got a terrible phone call that set off some very dark times in my life. We found out that our baby I was carrying possibly had something seriously wrong with him (although we didn't know it was a boy at the time). It is funny how you can remember exactly where you were when you get bad news. I also remember when Pete came home and I was in bed with Hannah (we had just put her in a big girl bed because we wanted to have her out of the crib way before the baby came so she didn't feel pushed out) and I can remember how stunned and scared we were. I continue to be amazed by God's blessings, I was actually home with Hannah that day because she was sick....getting that call from the doctor would have been even worse if I had to hear that at work.

January is a hard month for me, but each year it gets a little better. God has blessed us with so much....even this day 9 years ago. We learned that day how much we could love someone we had never even met!! I know my Jake is playing with the angels and watching over his momma especially this month!!

Beauty Partner

We have a dog that is clearly interested in his beauty...

He has decided that he needs to have his hair fixed every time I am drying my hair....

I really do love this dog!!!!!

I'M THE BOSS!!

I graduated high school....

I got married....

I graduated college with a BBA in Accounting....

I passed my CPA exam.....

I had 3 c-sections to deliver our babies....

I survived a detached retina and thyroid cancer (2 surgeries and radiation)....

I pay the bills, do the laundry, make sure the kids have clothes and food....

Why in the hell can't I play on MY Nintendo DS for a little while without being made to feel like I am a shitty person/parent??

Did you brush your teeth?

That is what I have been asking Hunter for weeks now....

He usually gives me his usual "what?" expression.

So today....I did it for him (or to him).

He wasn't too sure about it, but he let me scrub them pretty well and his breath is much better.

I LOVE THIS DOG!!!!

Ahhhhhh

The kids went back to school today after being home for 17 days...not that I was counting or anything!!! I am glad today was my morning to get the kids to school...tomorrow is Pete's turn and I bet they will be grouchy!!

We also found a used motor for the truck (my prayers for freeze plugs wasn't answered....it was a cracked block). It will be delivered to my dad's house tomorrow and then hopefully Pete and my dad can get it going again this weekend (this one car business is tough). We are so grateful we have my dad to help us with this or we would be in an even deeper hole!! Thanks Pop....you totally ROCK!!!

I wanted to send my prayers and good wishes to little Lilah....she is sick with a fever and she is only 6 weeks old. Baby Girl, you make sure you get enough attention from your mommy or Aunt Sally will have to take over!!!

Hiding

Hunter and I are hiding in my bedroom because the fridge repairman is here to look at our new fridge because the ice won't come out of the dispenser. It is the same guy that came and fixed it when we just bought it because the ice maker wouldn't work (something wasn't hooked up from the factory). **update - something wasn't connecting and now the ice door is working just fine**

The fridge is actually mad at me because I gave so much attention to the washer and dryer (I haven't told him that if we knew the washer and dryer was going to go out that he would not be here...I don't want to hurt his feelings).

So here it goes....please meet our new fridge (he is actually a "rescue fridge" because his first owner wasn't pleased that the ice maker wasn't working and wouldn't allow them to just fix it...so we got him at a discount).

**I am a little scared hiding in here because I hear the water on outside and I know the boys are outside doing "boy things....working on stuff" (according to Matt). Thank God I have a new washer so those muddy clothes will come clean!! Sorry Fridge....I didn't mean to upstage you again**

Fresh Start

I am so glad it is finally 2009 (even though I hit the big 4-0 this year)!! Happy New Year!!

Today I awoke feeling so much better than yesterday. No more head wobbliness (is that a word?). Hannah and I made it to the new year and then we went right to bed...well Hannah went to bed, I fell asleep on the couch waiting for Pete. Pete has been bartending at the church's party for several years now. It is the Catholic church....hence the need for a bartender!! It is a paid gig....so we will be able to pay for Hannah's gymnastics this month!! It is usually just fun money, but this year it is needed a little more!! Pete also drives my parents so they can drink as much as they want and not have to drive.

One thing that is bugging the crap out of me is the damn super glue is on other places than just the cut and I have pulled out lots of hair getting the excess off!!! I think I would have preferred stitches (which I know makes Pete shudder), but maybe then I would leave it alone. Oh, who am I kidding, there would be no stitches for the doctor to remove because I would likely pull them out myself!!!

Boy do the kids need to go back to school!!!! They are about to drive me crazy and there is no "Santa Threats" to make them stop acting so crazy!! They go back on Tuesday and I can hardly wait. Matty sure needs his naps....he is hard to deal with when he is tired!! Tonight at a little after 7 he got up and went to his room and put himself to bed without so much as a goodnight!! I guess he is tired...hope he doesn't wake too early in the morning.

Hope the job market wakes up next week and I can get moving on getting back to work. We hope to hear something on Pete's soon as well!!! There are a lot of sentences around here that start with "when you get a job..."

My dad has started looking at the truck and hopefully soon we will know exactly what we are up against.....I am praying for "freeze plugs"!!!