HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETPEA!!!

In just a little over an hour from now Raelynn will turn 6 years old.  Tears run down my face just thinking about it.  I have no idea why other than the fact that she has grabbed hold of every part of my heart and soul and made every part of me a part of her and every part of her a part of me.  Raelynn came into this world with us terrified, worried and not having any idea what to expect and in the past 6 years nothing has changed except now this "thing" that leaves us terrified, worried and clueless is my life, my air.....my daughter. 

Raelynn~
     I love you sweet pea!  You are the most amazing daughter.  You bring so much joy and laughter to our family!  Today as I watch you help me in the kitchen, or get your shower taken without any help, or read words or simply listen to you talk with such perfect grammar or laugh at your witty sarcasm it is hard for me to believe that just 6 years ago you were a small 4lbs 13 oz and were completely helpless.  You have grown into such a beautiful little girl both inside and out.  You have taught me to see and experience so many things I just took for granted before.  I cannot imagine what our lives would have been without you!  You are truly my Sunshine!  I will always love you more than words can say or actions can show.  I am here for you always and forever! 

Birthdays are pretty special around here and I have been preparing for the big day for a couple weeks now.  Her morning will begin with Birthday greetings as we all wake her up.  Then after breakfast she will find a new outfit on her bed for a perfect start to a perfect day.  I will pick her up for lunch out which is sure to be her favorite....McDonalds.  Then we will enjoy pedicures together.  I just finished cupcakes for her to have for snack at Boys and Girls Club with her friends.  After work we will visit a park of her choice and then head home for her special Birthday Dinner.  This is a tradition my Mom started with us.  Your Birthday Dinner can be absolutely anything you want.  This year Raelynn has chosen sausage, mac n cheese, pasta salad and root beer floats.  (I know but it was her choice!)  Then of course will be present time.  Mom, Karli, Cassidy and Chandler will get in late Friday to celebrate with  a family gathering on Saturday.  By the time Saturday wraps up she should feel pretty special to be 6!

Last Saturday Raelynn had a "Friends Party" at LGA.  She said it was the best and loved it!  Her best friend from preschool was able to spend the night as well and they made it until midnight watching movies!!!  It was fun for us all. 

Tonight was full of sweetness and laughs......Coop and I were playing catch while Raelynn was practicing with her T-Ball team.  Every once in awhile I would be watching Raelynn when Coop would throw the ball at me.  I got tired of getting hit with the ball so I told Coop, "Coop, say my name before you throw the ball so I am ready!" He looked at me kind of funny, I said "Ok?"  "Ok" he said.  A few minutes later I was watching Raelynn again and I hear Coop yell, "Kristi!"  I cracked up, "You can say Mommy Coop!"  "Oh! Ok!"  It was pretty funny.

Then we got home from T-Ball and our new neighbors were moving a few things in.  As soon as we drove into the driveway Coop says, "Our new neighbors are here, let's go see them."  Raelynn chimes in, "We'll go introduce ourselves, should be take them dinner?"  I told them to take a deep breath and if they came out we would say hi.  Well just as the kids got out of the car they walked out.  I thought Coop and Raelynn were going to explode.  They went running across the yard to introduce themselves.  Thankfully the couple seem absolutely wonderful and they have an adorable 14 month old daughter.  As I was chatting with them the kids were riding their scooters like crazies.  Coop took quite a spill but shed no tears.  A few minutes later Raelynn and Coop walk up to me as I am talking to our new neighbors and Raelynn says, "Excuse me Mom, Cooper is bleeding."  He had scraped up his elbow pretty good and it was definitely bleeding but I assured him he would be fine and I would get a band aid on in just a moment.  Then Raelynn and Coop were off again. I went inside after chatting and Raelynn was sitting Coop up on the couch.  She had reclined him, taken off his shoes and gotten him his milk.  The whole time she is talking to him in this adorable "Mom" voice asking him if he was doing better and if still hurt.  Come to find out Raelynn had brought Coop inside, peroxided the wound, put antiseptic cream on it and a band aid.  She took better care of him then I would have!  When they saw me Raelynn turns to me and says, "I am sorry we did not stay out there to talk to our new neighbors but Coop's elbow really hurt and I needed to get it taken care of."  I often forget who the adult is! I thanked her for being so caring and taking care of her brother.  We carried on with out evening.

Then as I put the kids to be, I lay with Cooper talking.  He tells me that he has a wonderful family and that he has a Mom and a Dad and a Sister and an Aunt Karli and a Granny and an Aunt Steph and an Uncle Cody.  Then he says, "Every family should have an Uncle Cody, they are fun, he tickles me all the time.  Uncle Cody is a cool guy!"  It was all too cute.  Then he says, "Mommy, I love you."  "I love you too Boo", I replied.  "No Mommy I love you ALL the time!  Little boys like me like having Mommies like you, that's why I love you!"  Seriously the best compliment I have ever received.  I gave him and extra squeeze and let him know I was the luckiest Mommy ever!

SUMMER IS FLYING BY......

So it makes me crazy when I don't update this blog for so long because I have too much to recap and I forget all the really funny things the kids say!!!  We are on the go all the time but I am not complaining, for the most part I love it!  I have to say though, last night was the first night is over 3 weeks that we were able to just come home after work and it felt great!!!  I let the kids have a carpet picnic for dinner and we played and even made it to bed on time!

Last week we went to the Round Ball Classic, a charity event, where some of the past KU Bball players play a game against each other.  They have things for the kids and a silent auction and some raffles.  We had never been in the past but it was super fun and I am sure we will make it to all of them in the future.  Raelynn stood in line FOREVER to get her face painted which she loved.  However, 3 hours later when we were trying to wash it off, it was not quite so much fun.

The long wait in line was well deserved though as Raelynn was amazing last week.  On Wednesday night as we sat and ate dinner Raelynn looks at me and says, "Mom can I clean up the kitchen tonight?"  She was so exhausted and I told her it was ok I would get it done and she could just go relax after dinner.  She insists by saying, "why don't I clean up the kitchen why you give Boo a bath and then we can all relax and watch TV together."  It was so sweet so I agreed.  After dinner I gave Coop a bath and when we got done and I got back out to the kitchen, I found that Raelynn had done everything perfectly and had not even put the dishes in the dishwasher but washed, dried and put them all away.  She had Windex the table and everything looked fantastic.  She was so proud and so was I.  She is such a huge help!

Friday night Mom, Karli and Chandler came up for Raelynn and I's baptism on Sunday.  We had a great weekend.  On Sunday Raelynn got up extra early to make breakfast for Terry for Father's Day.  She was so excited and made it all by herself.  The day was kind of over shadowed by other events but there is no doubt it was a special day to Raelynn.  Cooper and Raelynn are so lucky to have such a great Dad.  I love my Dad very much and cannot imagine not having a relationship with him.  I am so relieved my kids will feel the same.  Coop is still a little young to really understand Father's Day but he is such a Daddy's boy Terry should and does feel appreciated by him every day. 



It wasn't long after breakfast we were off to a horse show and then Sunday evening Raelynn and I were baptised at a lake baptism at our church.  This was so awesome as it was something I had been wanting to do for some time and when Raelynn brought it up to me that she would like to be baptised I couldn't think of a better time or place to do it.  I am so thankful for my relationship with God and my church and family that I have to share it with.  I truly am so fortunate and have so much filling my life with happiness!  Cooper sat with my Mom while Raelynn and I were baptised and he told my Mom, "When I get big, I going to do that with my Dad!"  It was so sweet!

This week has been pretty quiet in comparison to others with a TBall game on Monday, riding lessons this evening, TBall practice tomorrow and Adventure Night Friday (we visit somewhere new after I get off work whether it be a new park, store, snack shop, hiking trail....just something we have never done before).  Then we start the weekend fun!  I love summer!  I love my family!  I love our crazy busy lives!



MOMMA GOT A NEW TOY.................

So this post let's start out talking about me!  I got a new toy this week, partly by choice and partly because we were forced into making a change.  We had actually been researching and negotiating price on this very vehicle for almost 2 months but had not really reached a price I could stomach.  Then on Tuesday night as I was driving to pick up the kids I noticed my temperature gauge was reading a little warmer than normal.  I shut off the air conditioner and continued on my way.  When I picked up Raelynn I explained why we weren't running the A/C.  We pulled into our driveway and Raelynn got out of the car and headed inside as I gathered things from the car.  She says, "Oh Mom, I know why the A/C isn't working."  "You do?" I replied.  "Yea, come look."  And there, gushing out of my car, was green liquid.  It ran out forever and I new it wasn't good.  It ended up being my water pump, radiator and a timing belt needing replaced.  The next day we headed to the Ford dealership knowing we would either be leaving repairing my car or with a new Explorer.  Luckily for me it was the latter.  I had never really liked my old car and for 6 1/2 years I dreamt of a new one.  This one is awesomely amazing and finally I don't mind driving!!  Coop was super excited about the new car too which was cute.  Unfortunately I cannot say the same for Raelynn.  She is so sentimental and can't stand to get rid of anything.  She cried and cried about getting rid of our old car.  Finally though I think she is coming to terms with it and actually said she thought she might like it just a little bit!



2011 Ford Explorer

Another heart Mom and I are starting a chapter of the Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Support Group here locally.  She had contacted me some time ago and we have been working on it.  Last Saturday we had a little BBQ to get to know those that would be interested.  It was a lot of fun and we met some more wonderfully amazing people.  Coop also made some new friends including a Hamster.  Fortunately he has yet to ask me if he could have one of his own!

 The same night we had the CHD Meeting, Raelynn had her very first sleep over.  We have had kids stay with us several times but I just have not felt comfortable letting he stay somewhere else.  He best friend from school invited her to stay and since we know the family very well and they literally live right behind us, we felt like it was as good of a time as any to let her.  She had a fantastic time and the Mom kept me in the loop on the nights happenings with text pictures.  The entire night was a success!!!

Raelynn also started Boys and Girls Club this week which has been amazing.  They do so many fun and exciting things each week.  We are so blessed to have such an outstanding program.  They are very structured but yet fun with the kids.  They get to swim, do tumbling, cook, work on computers, study math and writing and visit the public library, go to the movie theater and so much more.  I have been absolutely pleasantly surprised by how wonderful it is.  Raelynn is really enjoying it and has a new and exciting story to tell us every night as we drive home.

Today was a long but enjoyable day.  We went to Oskaloosa where Terry's family was holding a garage sale and we had put some things in to sale.  Garage Sales are not my idea of a fun Saturday but I felt we should help.  As we got ready this morning I sent Coop in to do his hair.  He returned with well brushed hair and a pretty bow headband.  He thought he was pretty hilarious and I must admit Raelynn and I agreed!

 Then tonight when we returned home Raelynn and Cooper took off playing as they love to do together.  The next thing I know they tell me they are headed to a concert and I shouldn't wait up for them.  I wasn't concerned in "Imaginary Land" whether they would be home in time or not, but rather looking at Raelynn's outfit I realized that our talks about appropriate and inappropriate clothing would have to begin long before I thought they would!

 Then I was informed that they were not just going to the concert but rather they were the band performing at the concert.  I told Raelynn, "Ooooooh, then what you have on would be just perfect!" 

 As I made dinner this evening Coop came in the kitchen and said he wanted to watch me.  I asked him why he wanted to watch me and he responded, "because you're the best Mommy ever!"  "Awe thanks Boo that makes Mommy feel good inside", I responded.  "It makes you feel good in your heart?"  Coop then asked.  "Yes, it makes me feel good in my heart, can I have a hug?" I asked him.  Coop hops off his chair and runs to give me a hug and then says, "I knew it make you feel good in your heart and then I would get a hug and you hold me!"  I couldn't decide if this was super sweet or if  I just have a really manipulative son since he had been asking to be held for the past 10 minutes!  Either way I got a hug and a little Cooper and Mommy time!

This is just a miscellaneous picture from Raelynn's 1st Tball game.  She is doing pretty good but has already told me that next year she was just going to stick with soccer so I am not so sure she finds Tball too exciting.

So I don't know if anyone remembers a post I made back in April about the lady at Raelynn's school who reads to the kids every day and then greets them as they come in.  Well this amazing lady decided this was the last year she was going to do it which made me very sad.  Word got around about my April post about her and how I was taken back at her interaction with the kids.  She actually read the post and thanked me for what I had said.  So I continued to think about how yucky the mornings were going to be without her there and how much of an impact she made on these kids' days.  I thought so much about it I found myself at the school office on the last day of school inquiring about the now "available position".  Anyway, one thing led to another and now I am the new story reader and greeter in the mornings.  I think it will be fun and a good way to start each morning.  I can't think of more rewarding volunteer work than putting a smile on the face of children.  I know I won't replace the extraordinary lady who did this for so many years but I am hopeful that I will find a way to touch each of the kids in my own way!

MY LITTLE COMICS!...............

This week has been a long and difficult week at work.  I know in days it has been a short week but I can honestly say I really did not think Friday would ever get here!  It is funny though how when one area of your life is overwhelming another is perfectly wonderful. 

Raelynn and Cooper have been nothing but laughs this week.  Everyday after I pick them up from daycare I just cannot get enough of them.  It started out Monday night when Coop and Raelynn were in the bathroom brushing their teeth before bed.  I hear Raelynn yell for me and as I headed down the hall I notice the light is turned out in the bathroom and they have a flashlight on instead.  Raelynn says, "Mom, we're going green!  We turned out the lights to save energy and are using our flashlights."  "Good job guys", I reply with a huge smile.......what a sign of our times!  When I was 5 I would have never even heard of the term "going green"! 

Tuesday night I put Raelynn to bed and then laid down with her as I always do for a few minutes.  This is when we usually have out best conversations and this night was no different.  We lay quiet for a bit and then Raelynn says, "Mom, some of the kids sometimes say really bad words."  I acknowledge that they do and let her know that she will always hear bad words and will probably learn more but that we choose the words we use and the words we use are a direct reflection of who we are.  She says she knows but she just doesn't know why the kids use such bad words.  She then says, "Mom they said the "S" and the "Sh" word."  We carried on our conversation for awhile and I assumed the words we were referring to were "Stupid" and "Shit".  I have always kept my kids from using the word Stupid so we refer to it as a bad word.  At one point Raelynn said she sometimes hears grown ups tell kids the "Sh" word and that it was hurtful to say that.  This comment made me wonder whether we were talking about the same "Sh" word so I asked Raelynn to tell me the word she was talking about.  She replies, "Oh no Mom, I don't want to say it."  I let her know I just wanted to make sure we were talking about the same thing.  She crunches way down in her covers and whispers, "Shut Up".  "Shut up" ?????  That was the "Sh" word?????????  ran through my mind but I instead reaffirmed that those words were not kind words and she was right to choose not to use them.  As I left her room that night I smiled to myself loving the fact that she was still innocent enough to be offended by the words "shut up" and not to even recognize that their could be another "Sh" word that was more offensive!

As I have mentioned, Raelynn is growing up and maturing by leaps and bounds right now.  She is a very witty little thing and although I find her wit and sarcasm hilarious right now I am sure there will be a time all too soon that her wit and sarcasm with land her in trouble but for now I can't help but love it.  We had T-Ball practice last Friday evening.  Her team has 2 coaches, one is a male and seems to really know what he is doing and is good with the kids.  The other is a female and does most of the organizing and paperwork.  She is a very outspoken person and does not try to hide that she is "in charge".  She talks non stop and as politely as I can say it, she is quite annoying.  Friday at practice the male coach was gone for the holiday weekend and it was just the female coach there.  Practice is just beginning and Raelynn is in the outfield.  She yells to the female coach asking where Coach is at.  The female coach replies, "Well what do you think I am?"  Raelynn, without even a pause, replies, "Hmmm I don't know, the one that does all the talking?"  I literally spit out the water I had just drank and laughed loudly.  The few others that heard her let me know that not only was Raelynn witty but also very observant!  Luckily the female coach just laughed but I had a hard time making eye contact with her after that.  They were to have their 1st T-Ball game last night but unfortunately it got rained out so we are still waiting for our first T-Ball experience.

Cooper has been equally as funny but the difference between he and Raelynn is that Coop is a constant comedian.  He never lets up!  He is still telling stories and making us laugh when we tuck him in at night.  This past weekend I walked in the living room to find Coop standing in front of the TV completely engrossed in what they were saying with his hand cupping his the outside of his shorts.  Immediately I ask him if he has to go potty.  He replies, "No" barely taking his eyes off the TV.  I said a little louder, "Coop, then why are you holding your penis?"  He looks down as though he didn't even know he was doing it and looks right back up at me, without moving his hand, and replies, "Hmm I don't know, nuttin else to do!"  Who would have known that this behaviour is instinctively natural for boys and Coop was so blatantly honest!!! 

We also made our first visit to the pool for the summer on Monday.  It was super windy which made it a little chilly but the kids had a great time and Coop has no fear this year.  He and Raelynn just played and played.  It was the first time in nearly 6 years that I visited a pool and actually got to relax in the sun.  I am pretty sure we will visit the pool often this year.

Raelynn and Coop had their first horse show of the season as well.  They both did great and Raelynn is competing in 3 classes this year which have much more responsibility.  She may have been a little overwhelmed at first but she is really liking it this year.  It really is a great sport to teach discipline and responsibility and it is fun to watch how much more of both she is displaying this year over last.

As I mentioned in the beginning, this has been a pretty long week for me and I have gotten less sleep than usual.  I really don't require much sleep but I do need more than the 3 to 4 I have been getting this week.  Last night when I finally made it into bed I prayed that God would give me the strength to continue to do the things I am doing and to continue to do them well.  I also prayed that he would help me to find more time for rest or allow me to get by with the amount I am getting.  That was really the last thing I remember before dozing off.  I woke up to my alarm this morning and could not help but laugh. I had the best dream ever.  I was face to face with God in Heaven and he was telling me that I was being rewarded and I was going to get to sleep or rest as much as I wanted and he had all my favorite things ready for me.  There in my dream was this amazingly wonderful and huge bed made of feathers.  It was sooooo comfortable and warm.  There was a huge TV land all sorts of snacks and drinks.  Also in this wonderful dream were Coop and Raelynn there in the comfy bed and they were in the perfect state where they just lay with me cuddling and didn't have their feet all over me and weren't moving all  over but were just laying there.  But what was so funny in this perfectly wonderful dream was what was playing on TV.  In MY perfect dream, on TV, we were watching Shake It Up on Disney!  I guess in even the most perfect of perfect dreams, a little reality has to sneak in!