Summer = Family, Friends, and Fun

I know that the few of you who have followed this blog thought that maybe it was a one-two shot deal for me. I'm back to blogging because I want to share how blessed I am and how much I love my family and life.

Most of you know that at the beginning of the summer Rob became unemployed. This was a decision that was well thought out and prayed over. We are still praying that he finds something that will be interesting, challenging and fruitful. It has been really wonderful having him home over the summer. We have had so much quality time together and the kids love having him home. I guess we are making up for those five months that he lived in Dubai. Don't get me wrong it is an adjustment having him under foot all day but a good one. Less housework for me. :-)

The kids spent the summer swimming, swimming, swimming. Those kids are fish and every chance they get they are at Nana's pool. Thank goodness mom and dad dug that hole in their back yard 20 something years ago. They also have been enjoying the horses that my dad has adopted and in May we welcomed a colt, named Denver in honor of Tebow's new hometown. They are both learning alot about taking care of the horses and riding lessons are coming slowly but surely. Chloe is a natural and the horses seem to respond well to her commands. Nana and Papa just splurged and bought both kids new boots and let me tell you I would just love to have Chloe's. I'll have to post pics of them.

We took a vacation to St. Augustine beach for Memorial Weekend (about 5 days), in July we went to the my parents home in Franklin, NC. Otherwise know as the "mountain house." There we went tubing in Deep Creek, white water rafting, hiking, and spending time with family and cousins for the 4th of July. We headed home for a few days then we headed to Myakka to visit the Bartley's (my uncle and his clan) new home, then to the Long Boat Key for a few days. I so love that beach and want to go back for a week next summer. We started celebrating Chloe and my sisters birthdays in Long Boat and then kept the party going for at least another week. Chloe had 4 birthday parties between my uncle, playgroup, Rob and I and Suncountry. I think next year we may have to cut it down to two. I was exhausted from all the birthday celebration but our little Chloe bug is so worth it. She turned 5 and is the most wonderful daughter we could ask for. We spend my last week of the three week vacation hanging around the house, going to the springs with the Holbrook's and going to movies.

I'm back to work now and there is a whole other blog that I will dedicate to Back to School and where we ended up sending the kids this year.

God bless!

OMG, I have a 7 year old!

Time has flown these last seven years since we brought our handsome boy home from the hospital. He continues to outwit me and melt my heart with his blue eyes. He patiently puts up with his sisters antics, temper tantrums and inability to follow rules. That last one is really hard for him because Taylor is a not only a rule follower but he likes to make up rules as well.

This year we celebrated his birthday with a party at the park. I'm not sure why I waited so many years for a park party because really they are the easiest kind. As long as weather permits there is nothing you have to worry about because the kids entertain themselves. I've discovered how much we have every second of every day scheduled and planned. Even when it comes to birthday parties of past we had so much crammed into a little amount of time. These kids had the best time running around, getting dirty, trying to climb trees and using there imaginations to make up there own games. Of course we had the obligatory pinata, and goody bags but I think we could have skipped out on those as well.

Taylor's birthday celebration started on Friday and ended on Sunday. We treated him to dinner at BJ's where he had his very favorite chocolate chip cookie dessert, and I made him lasagna on Sunday.

This year has been amazing to watch him grow and learn to read. He also is really improving in sports and enjoying them so much. Even though he always says he needs a "break" he has so much fun playing. Well, I'm tired and want to post some pics but I just want to end by saying how grateful I am for such a wonderful son.

One Venti double shot skinny vanilla latte, please!

Today I just feel like venting about how tired I am and how much there is to do in the next 24 hours. I'm about to go into work for my third shift in a row, I'm super tired because I've only gotten about 4hrs of sleep yesterday and today and tomorrow is Taylor's 7th birthday. I tried to make chocolate chip cookies for his class tomorrow b/c they are his favorite and even though Taylor informed me that "Mommy you are the best chocolate chip cookie maker in the world," Rob said they were a little overcooked and maybe we should just buy a cookie cake. :-(

Night shift is rewarding because you get a little extra time with your kiddos in the afternoon that you normally wouldn't get working 12 hr days. But by the third night the house is a disaster and you are running on fumes.

For some reason I think I'm superwoman when I make plans. I planned Taylor's birthday party for tomorrow afternoon at 3pm after working three in a row. So if I can just get through the next 24 hours without a meltdown then I will be doing ok. God has blessed me with a great husband who is going to make some descent break and bake cookies tonight, go to Sam's for the party food and my sister Traci is has gone to the party store for the supplies and ordered the balloons.

So it will take a very large cup of coffee with my very own nonfat vanilla creamer to get me moving tonight. Did I mention my third shift it's also my turn to be in charge?

Will post about Taylor's party this weekend. I can't believe he is 7 years old.

Bandit

Happy Valentine's Day to us and Happy Birthday Taylor. Our son has been begging for a new dog for quite some time and we have been resisting because we couldn't imagine having one more thing to take care of. We feel Taylor is old enough now that he can participate and help out at the same time learn a little responsibility and what it means to have someone depend on you. Then Taylor and I watched "Marley and Me" and of course fell in love with the "worst dog in the world." So yesterday I sent Rob to find our Marley and I think he succeeded. I wasn't sure including the kids would be a good idea but with grandparents out of town it was hard to leave them behind. Rob went to an adoptathon held by "Helping Hands" and that is where we found Bandit our German sheppard/Lab mix. Rob got there first and said that no one was putting Bandit down and there wasn't a chance in you know what we were getting our hands on him. Rob started looking at some black lab puppies that were pretty rambunctious (is that a word?). When I got there I spotted Bandit first. This young college student was holding him so I put on my big girl pants and said we were interested and would like to hold him and play with him for a while if she was not going to adopt. Of course she said she couldn't have a puppy in her apartment so that's when I stepped in and said my son really wants a puppy for his birthday. Bandit was very calm despite all the activity around him, people picking dogs up, dogs whining, puppies running around. He just wanted to be held. I think Rob and I knew immedietly that he was the one but we wanted Taylor to feel that way as well. It didn't take much to convince Taylor that this fluffy friend was our new family member he was smitten. While waiting to finish the paperwork I was holding Bandit whose little heart was beating so fast just like mine. I was very nervous and excited at the same time. Having a puppy is alot of work and it takes the nerves of steel to stay consistent with training.

The first night was pretty great, one accident and many successful trips to potty outside, a bath, new crate and dog toys to keep him out of trouble. Just like with a new baby Rob and I took turns getting up with him when he was whining, taking him out in the 30 degree weather to potty and laying on the floor by his crate until he fell asleep. I'm a little tired this morning but very happy with our new friend. I've always been a dog lover and have missed having one in my life.

I think it will be good for everyone. The kids have to keep there toys off the floor so Bandit doesn't eat them which might require emergency surgery and therefore I'm not nagging all the time about picking up there toys. Yeah!!!

By the way, I've had many people tell me they are following my blog but I don't see them as followers?

This post is my first and dedicated to my friend Crystal. Today is my 34th birthday and as I sit here in my father-in-law's recliner which I have reclaimed for myself, I couldn't be more content. I am blessed with a wonderful husband and Taylor and Chloe my two beautiful kids. You will learn about them later. I don't know when I will fit this into my life but I think it's a great idea to journal this crazy journey.

I am a true Newberry girl. Born and raised, although some might say I don't fit the mold. I started my journey here in this small town that's not so small anymore. I spent my days as a child enjoying my friends, church, youth group, cheerleading and softball. It really was a dream childhood. My parents had plenty of land, cows, and pigs for me to enjoy and my friends usually had horses to ride. We usually spent our time at each other's homes roaming freely on our parents properties. Times have changed, now we wouldn't let our kids set foot outside our house with holding our hands and feel the need to put microchips in our animals.

After high school I needed to get out of dodge so I headed to Tallahassee breaking my parents hearts as they are insane Gators. This was one of the best and worst decisions of my life. The best because I really grew up and made some of the best friends there. I cherish the time I had with them. The worst because I was not prepared for such a full social calendar and actually having to study to make decent grades. I thought like high school cramming the night before would actually work. I did join a sorority because living in a dorm was not enough fun, especially since I got placed on the dork floor where no one even looked at you. I'm really not the sorority type either but it sure was fun going to socials, training my liver, flirting with boys, and developing some special friendships. My most fun times included my friends Jennifer (first roomie), Gabrielle, Jen, Cristell, Amy, and Kerry. I didn't ever fail a class but a 2.9 will not get you into any nursing program and since I was not going to settle for any other career I headed back home where my parents happily welcomed me. It was there that I took a few classes to raise my GPA, got into SFCC's nursing program and met my husband in a chemistry class. That was the only good thing about that class and I got an A. Since then I've managed to get a BSN from UF and now love the Gators. I know the trader of the worst kind but to know them is to love them. I have been in L&D for 11 yrs this June. Whoaaaaaaa! That means I have 11 years worth of crazy birth stories.

Rob and I had a very eventful 2002-2003 with a wedding, baby and new house all in 9 months. We are very blessed now with Chloe and Taylor, 4 and 7. More on them later.

So this post is just a little background for anyone who cares. Which I expect to be very little and will probably only ever have one follower and that will be Crystal. LOL. Seriously, I have already enjoyed sitting down and getting this off my chest and todo list. I told Taylor that from now on Mommy has homework that she will do with him at least once a week.

So, let the blogging begin.