Wordless Wednesday: A Girl and Her Dog!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Girl...

Happy Birthday to my dear Emily Lou. She is 8 years old today! I am so proud of my beautiful girl. She not only excels at school, but anything she puts her mind to. She is compassionate and empathetic. She truly cares so deeply about everyone. She says beautiful things like, "we are making a memory right now." She is sometimes wise beyond her years and in the same moment, I remember how it felt to hold her for the first time. She is lovely and I love her more than words can say. So Happy Birthday Emily Lou! I hope you have the most wonderful '8' you can have!

Moving?

So, it's no secret we will have to move. The big question is when. Should we get all the work we can done in the house and get it up on the market this fall and how long is it going to take to sell. If it is going to take 6 months to sell are we better off waiting until spring to put it on the market in the spring. Things are so up in the air right now that I don't know which way to turn or what decision is the best one. Will the market be better in a six months...or god forbid, worse. Can we even sell our house for what we owe? There are so many variables and so many unanswered questions. I just feel like I am standing in a crowded room screaming "HELP" at the top of my lungs and no one is hearing me...

Onaway and other Summer Fun

So the kids started the summer out with a Summer Enrichment Program at their school. They loved it, 3 weeks from 8:30-11:30. It was great, they did fun activities at school and I had some alone time with Cecilia which I hadn't had in a long time. It was nice to spend a couple of hours with just her each day.

We had a wedding in June and it was very nice. Right on Lake Michigan and the kids had a great time dancing. Cecilia had such a good time dancing that she ran to the dance floor and caught the edge of a table. Not good. Two hours and 2 stitches right above her left eye, we were finally heading for home. She healed nicely and wasn't even bothered by the stitches.

Then we had a great week at Camp Onaway. We had beautiful weather and truly enjoyed seeing all of our Family Camp friends and enjoying time together. It is so nice to just have fun with the kids. No dishes, no laundry no nothing. It was wonderful. It was a year of firsts for the kids up there. Emily rode a horse by herself for the first time, she also did the high ropes c

ourse at camp. She was way up there and she did a wonderful job.

Jack loved camp this year. More so than years past. He lived and breathed camp and all that camp had to offer. He participated in the Fishing Derby with Mom and loved swimming this year. He was a water bug, swimming whenever he could. He even tried the slide and the diving board this year as well as multiple trips on the Banana Boat. He truly enjoyed smores and he was in a skit this year and he makes a fabulous raccoon.

Cecilia was fearless and also went off the diving board for the first time this year and also rode the Banana Boat several times. She loved swimming and running around and also leading songs with Mom. I have a feeling she is going to treasure camp just as much as I do.

For Patrick and I, it was a strange but wonderful week. It was the first year that the older kids could pretty much do what they wanted without a parent to help them. Em had her friends that she would go swimming with and Jack was always busy with something or another. In fact, it wasn't uncommon to hear, "Bye mom, I'm going swimming, see you later." All of a sudden we were down to 1 child and it was remarkably easy. I can't imagine what we will do when Cecilia is old enough to just go and play.

Shortly after camp, we had a baptism. My oldest friend (as in length of friendship not age) and her husband recently had a beautiful baby boy and Patrick and I are honored to be his godparents. So we took all 3 kids on an adventure to Minnesota for a weekend. I was very nervous about said road trip as the kids have never been in the car for longer than 2 1/2 hours and even that is long for them. But I packed the car with fun activities and loads of snacks and the car ride went remarkably well with very few "Are we there yets?" It was wonderful to spend time with Liz and her new family and it was especially wonderful because Liz is Jack's godmother so now he has a godcousin.

On this trip, Patrick was offered a job in Neenah. It is with a great company and after a lot of consideration (maybe not enough) he has decided to take it. He starts mid August and is very exciting. That however means that we will be selling our home and moving, provided we can sell our home and find a new place. It is a giant leap of faith that things will work out and has left my stomach in knots constantly since. It is hard to think of selling our little house that we have called home for not just 6 years but so many memories of first words, first steps, first days of school. We have put a lot of time and effort into making our house a home and it truly feels that way to us. The thought of leaving is heartbreaking on a daily basis. The move will be great for the kids with a great school district, a wonderful parks and rec department and closer to friends and family. I think Patrick will be much happier at his new job too. So pray for us that everything works out and we can sell our house for what we need. Also pray for me that I don't develop an ulcer or have a nervous breakdown in the meantime.

I know this is a lot in one entry but I thought I should do some catching up. I will keep you all posted as to any new developments.

Jack's Birthday

So long overdue, but Jack's Birthday was great.  He had asked me to make him shark cupcakes and they turned out great.  In fact as soon as he woke up, he immediately asked to see them so I took him to the refrigerator and told him to close his eyes.  When he opened them, complete joy!  He loved them.  "Mom, the teeth look so sharp, the mouths are so red and I love the rough water."  He was so proud to bring them to school.  It really made the late night so worth it. 

 

This year, Jack decided he wanted to have a friend party this year.  So we invited some of his friends from school to our house for a Lego party.  We played Lego games, had a Lego scavenger hunt, broke a pinata, had cake and ice cream and opened presents.  The party lasted about 2 hours and went very well.  We had a great time and there were just the right amount of kids and activities.  It gave me the confidence to do it again.  The best part was that the party started at 1:00 and was over and totally cleaned up by 4:15.  It was great!  And he had a blast.  I still can't believe my boy is 6 years old but at least he had a great time celebrating.

...

That's how I am feeling lately. I am in a constant battle with a toddler, every day all day. It is an unending battle of wills and every time I feel like she is giving in, she hops right back up. It is everything from sneaking out of the house, keeping clothes on, keeping a diaper on, staying in bed to not hitting or biting. I have tried every parenting trick I know and am left with an empty shell of me. I have nothing left to give. I live for nap time (when I can get her down) and bed time when she finally succumbs. Then I feel guilty to for that because I should be enjoying her more. I am just worn out trying to get through the day. Cecilia is the most strong-willed, stubborn and head strong child I have ever encountered. I love her with ever fiber of my being but some days I wonder if I will ever get through to her. And then I think if this is how she is at two how will I ever survive her teenage years. I feel like I am failing and drowning in this and I can't see a light at the end of the tunnel.

********Update********

Since last writing this, Cecilia pulled her dresser down on herself. She is fine, I on the other hand have a sore back and neck from pulling the dresser up. Thank goodness the toy box was there so the dresser didn't completely crush her. It will be a miracle if this child makes it to 3!

Happy Birthday Jack!!!!

My little man is 6 years old today. It seems almost unfathomable. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was holding this brand new baby boy and introducing him to his not yet 2 year old big sister. Wasn't it just yesterday that I brought him home from the hospital just in time for Mother's Day? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was rocking him to sleep? I am a very sentimental person so every birthday I am flooded with memories. Like how he couldn't pronounce his words right and all he wanted to go to sleep was his "urtle rankie." Or the one Christmas he was convinced that Santa was going to bring him a "rain able" and Papa Vohen came to the rescue by building him the best and strongest train table that ever was. Or how we would snuggle in the morning and watch "The Wiggles" and how my heart broke when I was so pregnant with Cecilia that we couldn't both fit on the couch anymore. How he would ask for me to sing him "The Candle Song" and "The Rainbow Song." Or how when my parents had to put our dog down, and I was sad and crawled into bed with Jack, how he stroked my hair and sang in the sweetest little 2 year old voice "You are My Sunshine." How when he came up to the hospital to see his new baby sister and even though he really wanted a little brother, when he saw her, he came up and kissed her little forehead and said, "Oh mom, a baby sister. It's just want I wanted." Even now, as I type this, tears run down my cheek. Now as the fleeting days of childhood are disappearing and he is turning from a little boy to a big boy, I am filled with bittersweet emotions. So Happy Birthday Jack, my precious boy. You have brought so much joy to my life and I hope that all your wishes come true!