Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

From us to you, Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Family Pictures!

Jenna and her cousins (the big one is pregnant with the littlest cousin-Logan!).

29 today!

Today I turned 29......wow! It is amazing to reach the age you are going to stay at forever!

I always feel more philosophical on my birthdays. Every year I think of all the things that have changed in the past year. This year I thought of how different my life had become in the last 12 months. A year ago I was nursing and dieting (well some things never change) and obsessing over being a first time mom. A year ago today, my boss gave me the worse (& only bad) performance evaluation I have ever gotten and I started to hate my job. A year ago today I lived in a brand new house in Missouri. A year ago I taught 4th grade and loved my kids(another thing that never changes!) but hated my job. A year ago today I worked with several of my best friends, in the town I had spent most of my life in. A year ago today, I lived in the same town as my sister and mother. A year ago today, I lived a little to close to some family members and not close enough to others.
Today I am the mom of an ever growing and ever changing 18 month old. Today I live in Oklahoma in the town my cousins grew up in. Today I do not have a rich history with the people I live around, but I am building a rich present & future. Today I am still dieting! Today I live in a 100 year old house and LOVE it. Today I miss my best friends I worked with but love my new job. Today I am PROUD to be a part of my school and PROUD to teach 7th grade. Today I love all my kids and my job. Today I miss my mom, sister, niece and nephew, but am enjoying being close to my Dad and other family members. Today, I still live to close to some family members and not close enough to others! Today I have found a relationship with a cousin I never knew. Today I miss the life I had but am so excited about the life I am building.
Today I realized for the first time I feel like my life is what I have made it. Jason and I have made some big changes to make this life. Lots of sleepless nights, joy, sorrow, growth and trials. I am proud of the last year and what it took us to get here......

Trick or Treat??? (is Shawna really blogging again?)

So I am finally back around. We have been remodeling our new "old" house and living in it at the same time. I barely have time to breath between unpacking boxes, little "projects," school, Jenna, and the dreaded laundry! I wish I had all this time to keep you all posted about my crazy life and I will try to do better. Tonight I am taking a break from working on lesson plans to spread a little joy......LOL!

I have a few new pictures of Jenna to share and a short little story or two.

1) For all of you who have known and loved my little Gizzy, he has been missing for over a week now and we are afraid he has become a victim to a coyote at our new house. We love and miss our little furry friend so much, we just feel blessed to have had him 5 1/2 years. :0( It is amazing how much you become attached to animals and how much your life just doesn't seem as full without them. I just believe that Jenna has her own little guardian angel dog.

2) (This is just for Stacey!) Jenna has lost the dreaded "PASSY!" We got rid of it last week and let me tell you that it was the BEST thing we ever did. She seems to have grown up 2 years in a week. She doesn't even ask for the nasty thing! The whining is so much less and the fits have decreased as well. I wish we would have done it weeks ago.....especially when I teach with a lady who lets her 8 year old have hers when she's had a bad day at school! AND NO I AM NOT KIDDING!

I'll leave you all with a few new pictures of Jenna & Sydney this weekend at the pumpkin patch.

Yes, we should have pulled her pants legs down!

Greetings from Oklahoma

Greetings from Oklahoma! Just a little update on the family and what has been going on. We FINALLY closed on our house in MO last weekend and our house in OK today. We are in the process of redoing some things in this beautiful old farm house. I will upload pictures this week. Jenna is growing like a weed, wearing 18 and mostly 24 month pants for length (we all know that she gets that height from me!). She has been running, climbing, and jumping for months know and we have been monitoring her ankles, they turn in pretty badly. Well, last week the new pediatrician at the OSU medical center decided we need to see an orthopedic doctor. I made her appointment this week and we go Friday but they have already said they will probably send her on to Oklahoma City to a pediatric specialist. It seems silly but I am not as stressed out about this as some may think! I really just feel like in the scheme of things, this isn't a terrible thing and I have faith that it will all be fine.

I made it through my first Parent/Teacher conference without a hitch so life is looking good from Oklahoma!

I took this picture after church a few weeks ago and wanted to share it with you all!

My other kids & God's blessings.

As most of you know, leaving my sisters kids was the hardest thing I have ever done. We have done pretty well so far. I have been talking to them on the phone and shopping for them and sending them things. It didn't hit me until Thursday afternoon, when it hit me that I had started school and they hadn't started it with me. They will be attending Rogersville this year, which has truly been a blessing. Brady will be in the same building as J's aunt, who I adore and she adores Brady! Ashlee will be in the same building as Lindsay (my friend and former counselor at Sparta) and she will check on Ash for me. So, even if they don't know it, I will be keeping an eye on them, even if I am using others eyes to do so. It has been really hard leaving them but I know that this is where we are meant to be. So many things have been direct signs from God that I know we are on the right track. No one ever said change was easy.
I promised you all that I would share the story of the farm house....so hear is the shortened form! We found the farm house on a Monday, Jason and I were going back to Missouri that night to start packing up our house. I fell in love at first sight. It was the house I had always dreamed of and the farm J had always dreamed of. The price was in our range & it was in our 2nd choice for school districts. The lady that lived there had lived in the house since she was 9 and she will be 85 in November. She agreed to hold the house for a few days so we could make a decision. Well, I would have bought it that day BUT, we still had the land that had been on the market for almost 18 months and we just didn't want to bite off more than we could chew. So, I tried calling her Thursday night to tell her we just couldn't do it right now, but she didn't answer. I had prayed to God that if this was our house to send me a sign and he sent a BIG one. About 1 hour after I had given up on getting in touch with the lady that night, our phone rang. It was our realtor, with an offer on our land. With in an hour after that we had worked out a deal with the man and with in 10 days we had a check in hand and closed on it. I called the lady Friday morning and worked out a deal with her and HOPEFULLY, we will move in September 15th! God does take care of us. That week J also got a good job! We have truly been blessed to sale $100,000.00 worth of land and a house in this market is a gift directly from God.

I have survived!

I have made it through my first 3 days as a middle school teacher. I have 24 students and a very supportive principal (which you fellow F.R.O.G.S. will greatly appreciate). I spent 72 hours before school started hanging new white boards and covering liquid nails covered walls. Going from a new building to an OLD building was definitely a change! A little background on my new school..... It was built in the 1950's or 60's as the African American high school. After desegregation it has been many different things over the years. 12 years ago it was the lowest performing school in the district with the highest poverty rate. My principal begged and pleaded and was finally allowed to take the school over and turn it into a fine arts magnet school. 5 years later, with the same poor kids, the school was, and remains, the highest performing school in the district. It is truly the coolest place I have ever been and the hardest I have ever worked! The teach everything with literature circles, cooperative learning, and based around the arts. The do not force teachers to use any textbooks that don't work. Students are given hands on, performance based, activities and they apply what they learn. It is the most supportive, positive environment that any teacher or student could hope for. Last year (with the same number of special ed students as any other classroom), the 7th & 8th grade had 100% of their students pass the state tests (that is a 70% or above!). It is truly an inspiring place.
Now for a little humor! My principal (MW) has begged the district for the past few years to get a Chinese teacher so that our 7th and 8th graders can take Chinese. So they finally agreed and brought him in this week to meet our kids. He speaks good English but somethings get lost in the translation! He was explaining to the kids that depending how say the same word (whether it is a falling or rising syllable) it has a different meaning. So he was explaining to the kids that a certain word meant diploma or degree and that if you said it a different way it meant "have you shitted today!" Standing next to him was MW who almost passed out in the floor when he cussed in front of the kids! The 8th grade teacher and I were trying hard not to crack up! After MW explained to him in front of the class that the kids would get expelled for that, they left the room. As the door shut behind him the entire 7th and 8th grade busted up laughing (along with their teachers!). ;0)

Finally moved and school starting!

So I haven't fallen off the face of the earth and I will someday find time to respond to your emails and phone calls but here is just a little catch-up session!!!



We moved to Oklahoma last week. We sold our land and house all in the same week! We closed on our land today and the house at the end of the month! The same week that our land sold, Jason got a job in Pryor at the new Gatorade plant. We also have found a 100 year old farm house (my dream house) on 40 acres that we are in the process of buying! Until then, Jenna and I have been staying at my aunt & uncle's house in the pool house (trust me, it sounds more glamorous than it is!). Jason will be joining us at the end of the week. We may be staying in the pool house until the 1st weekend in OCTOBER! But it is a place to stay and it is very comfortable-not to mention my aunt does most of my laundry and cooking! I enrolled Jenna in her new daycare today, she is with Dad & Grammie this week in MO (yes mommy is trying to handle that!) but will start her new school in Monday. She will be going to the program at my new school for teen mom's and they fill the empty spots with staff kids. It is in a building about 1 block from my school and was an answered prayer. God has truly blessed us during the adventure and I plan to tell you all about after school starts! About 36 hours and counting!

Moving Day!

This is "Shawna's PAD! (as Uncle Doug calls it) And as you can tell from the picture that follows, Jenna doesn't mind sharing one large room with her parents!

Off and running!

Well, my school year is off and running! Yes I know it is only the last week in July! I work this week everyday with in services and work days. Next week I have a meet the staff night at my new principals house and then it is open house and meetings on the 7th, work days on the 10th and 13th and the first day of school on the 15th! I am feeling like I am drowning. We are closing on our house in MO on the 15th as well and have no prospects of even a rental house in OK! WHAT A MESS! So pray hard for me that we make it through this transition with out to many bumps and that J finds a job here soon.
All of the ladies I will be working with next year seem great. I am a little nervous as last years reading and math test scores for my grade level at my new school were 100%! I am feeling like those shoes are a little big to fill. This is all so new to me and I am missing all my friends at Sparta sooooo much! Who ever said change is easy???!!!!!???????

Congrats to my best friend!

For those of you who have not heard the woooohooooing! Mandy & Christian got engaged about 2 weeks ago! Congrats to the happy couple!

MIA!

Okay, so I have been missing for over a month! Mostly this is because I have not had a computer at home and haven't had access. We have also sold our house, we close on the 15th of August, are in the process of moving and I start training for my new job tomorrow. Jason however, is still searching for a job and may be staying in Missouri while Jenna and I stay with family in Oklahoma. So say a BIG prayer that something will work out for him.

It's official!

It is official. I received the news on Friday that I have been officially hired as a 7th grade teacher next year for Sadler Fine Arts Academy in Muskogee, OK. I am excited and nervous.

WOOHOOOOO x's 2 and a QT!

WOOHOO #1:

Score one for Mommy! The sleep show-down is over and Mommy won! During the day Jenna and I had it worked out great. I would lay her on her side, give her the passy and her piggy, cover her up and she went to sleep. Well, Daddy was still giving the "baby" milk in a sippy at bedtime. We had discussed taking it away but he liked doing it and it is the only time we can really get her to drink her milk. So tonight when Daddy started, she was fighting him. He was getting aggravated so I just made the suggestion the we should try the nap time routine........never made a peep and has been asleep since. OF COURSE SUPER MOMMY is right again. I didn't rub it in to Daddy though I wanted to!

WOOHOO# 2:

We had an open house today to sell our house. I have been watching those "how to sell your home" shows and so for the last week I have been driving J crazy with honey do's and honey don'ts. Well, it has all paid off. The Realtor, a close personal friend, was here from 2-4:45 for an open house that was supposed to end at 4! We have 4 very interested couples and 2 that have already called tonight to get more information! Now it is time for "Let's Make a Deal!" LOL!

And the QT (read cutie!):

Okay so someday she is going to say "Mom, what was up with all the stupid hats?" But I just LOVE them!

Family

I have written some about this before but it is on my mind heavily again.....

My dad's family has never been the side that I was particularly close to. I didn't really see or know them much growing up. He had a sister & brother in CA, a sister in TX, and a sister in OK. We were in MO. I had 2 cousin's close to my age and we were (and still are) like sisters.....but the others were so much older (now in there late 30's and early 40's) and so far away that we just didn't see them. BUT, now that we have Jenna, I have the overwhelming desire to connect with them. Even if I don't like everything about them and they don't like everything about me, the desire to know them is strong. I have over the past 2 years (starting before Jenna), started reconnecting with my 1st cousins and their kids. It has been such an amazing process. I have 2 cousins, 5 years apart in age, and raised in different states, who are so much alike it is scary. I have another cousin whose handwriting looks just like my dad's!

This has all led me to thinking about life and family.....My husband just doesn't get it. His comment was, "I have family that live here in Missouri I don't see? Does it really matter?" Well, I think family is a big part of who you are. I never really fit in with my mom's family, my sister, 2 other cousins, and myself, have always just been different. Since finding these other family members I feel like pieces of the puzzle are falling into place.

Recently, I had an Aunt pass away. At the funeral, I felt like they were talking about someone I didn't know. I didn't have any memories of her that were like what the described. It was so sad to me that I must have missed out on so much. There was a side to her I never saw or knew. Through her death, I found a cousin I have never met. Two cousins, that because of situations beyond their control, have not been a part of our family for years. My Aunt had been in contact with this cousin, when no one else in the family had. My female cousin and I have started talking via email and I hope to actually get to meet her soon. I have also found out that I have a new baby cousin born in February (which is the only one to carry on my dad's family name)! It was such a joy to my aunts to hear this news, they cried knowing that their dad would be so proud. When I thought of all of this, I realized that what an AWESOME gift my aunt had given to us in her death. To give us all the opportunity to connect with my 2 cousins and to begin to build a relationship. She truly loved us all. There needs to be a lot of healing in this situation, but, I am sure that my aunt will have a hand in that as well.

Family is a gift that we are all given and all assume will always be there. I am determined to not sit through another family funeral and feel that I didn't really know that person.

What an gift to give my daughter, this incredible (& sometimes crazy) thing called FAMILY!

#6

Brady had a birthday party and turned 6 on Wednesday (and yes for those of you who have figured it out, that means he turned 6 on 6/6!). We had a bowling birthday party and Super Stacy made a great cake which I stuck a giant toy on! LOL! All he wanted for his b-day was to go bowling with his friends and a cake with a skate ramp on it,and a pair of high top black Converse. Which I bought him and he has worn everyday since with short! Even he said yesterday that they looked like clown shoes but, all his friends are wearing them. I just hope my sister is taking a lot of pictures for future blackmail!

Catching up and trying to do better!

Okay so here are some updates on my summer!

1. The MOVE~
We currently have our house on the market and need any one's help and prayers selling it. It is listed with Coldwell Bankers and it is on line so send any friends that way! We also have 12 acres in Rogersville that is for sale and I am willing to make a deal! LOL!
I have accepted a job at a Fine Arts Academy and there are just a few hoops to jump through with my certification and the job is mine. Prayers needed as well!
Jason has had 2 interviews with Pepsi Co for a manufacturing position. We are still looking for other options as well.
We have spent about 10 days this month in OK working on jobs and housing. My dad and Brad are living their dreams and very happy in OK.
Jason fishes way to much when we are there ;0).
AND my in-laws have finally accepted (not happy about, but accepted) that we are moving.
2. Jenna and the bedtime adventures~
Okay so Super Mom Stacy was correct when she told me that if I would just let her cry herself to sleep she'd sleep. The first night was terrible! BUT, she puts herself to sleep now. At nap time she doesn't make a peep, just goes to sleep on her own. At bedtime, she is still getting a sippy cup of milk (only because she will only drink milk then!), but when she finishes Daddy lays her in bed and most nights she stays asleep or fusses a few times but we ignore her and she sleeps. TO ANYONE WHO IS READING THIS: do this when they are 4 or 5 months (or days) old and your life will be so much better!
3. Ashlee & Brady:
Ashlee is busy playing softball and has already made new friend in her new school district (a boy across the street).
Brady turned 6 today and had a bowling party with friends. I will post pictures later.
4. Summer:
I am soooooo enjoying being a SAHM more than I ever thought I would. Jenna and I have got into such a great routine. She sleeps until 9 every morning (and frankly I do to most mornings!), we then play for an hour or so. We try to get some work done or just hang out all morning. She goes down for a nap at 12:30 or 1, just in time for DAYS OF OUR LIVES. I usually watch it while doing laundry. She sleeps for 2 hours or so which gives me Shawna time. Then we make dinner and go to ball games or just hang out with Daddy. I didn't think I had the patients to be a SAHM but I am beginning to wonder. Today I actually had time to do a craft project, take 2 five year olds and 2 six year olds (along with 3 other moms, Jenna and a 2 year old) bowling, pick up a cake, hang out for a few minutes at Ash's ball practice, and still have home-made spinach and cheese stuffed manacotti for dinner (which I had made earlier). Now tomorrow may be a different story but today I am loving summer time!
5. JENNA IS WALKING ALL OVER THE PLACE!

Strength

Sitting at the ball park tonight, I watched a mother with a child who is 8 and nonverbal and still in diapers. I watched as she interacted with Jenna and it was heartbreaking to see that Jenna was already ahead of her in development. I watched this mother, how patient she is with this child, and thought about how it is like having a toddler that would never grow up. I do not envy this women one bit but I do admire her strength. I looked at my niece out playing softball, my nephew climbing a tree, and my daughter playing in the rocks and saying "ball, ball" and quickly said a prayer of thanks for all the healthy children in my life and a prayer of strength for that mother.

5 years

I forgot to BRAG just for Donna. Jason and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary on Friday and I got a beautiful 3 stone ring. So maybe Doug did give him a call! LOL!

Splish Splash and Updates!

This weekend we went to Oklahoma and spent some time in the pool playing and having a great time. It was so great to relax and chill by the pool. Here a few pictures that make me smile!

Nightmare on Avondale Lane CONTINUED:

Well, the sleeping thing had made great progress but we never let her fully cry herself to sleep with out someone in the room babying her. The past 2 weeks she has decided (with a little enabling from Daddy) to need to be rocked to sleep 5-10 times a night. I FINALLY HAD ENOUGH! SO, last night she went to sleep as usual and as usual woke up 45 minutes later and wanted to be rocked again. I was determined and Daddy was asleep. I went up gave her passy back to her and left the room. LET THE SCREAMING BEGIN! She cried for 34 minutes before she cried herself to sleep. BUT, I did not go up there and I did not give in and she did it! ALL BY HERSELF! Daddy admitted this morning that it was a good thing he slept through it or he would have given in.

JENNA UPDATE:

She is 20 lbs 10 oz and 29 1/2 inches tall.

She is walking 4-6 steps at a time and if she'd try to walk, instead of RUN she'd already have that mastered.

Over the past week her brain has just kicked into hyper drive! She went from 2-3 words to saying:

Momma, Daddy, Gizzy, Please, Thank you, NO!, fish, deer, T (for Aunt Tina or Aunt Tammi), Nana, Papa, More, Nose, and Toes. She is also picking pictures of fish and dear out of books and saying fish or deer. She can also tell you were her nose and toes are. IT amazes me how much she has just taken off.

Momma is pretty proud! At her one year check up last week the doctor said she was hitting all of the 15-18 month milestones! YEA JENNA!

Where have I been & What the Hell is going on?

So I haven't posted in almost a month.....

It has been a very busy month and I will do my best to fill you all in!

Most importantly we celebrated Jenna's 1st Birthday! It was a beautiful day and thanks to everyone who came or sent gifts! Here are some pictures to share the day with you all:

I have also finished up my final days at my current school. I believe this may have been one of the hardest things I have done as an adult. I left my "home," the school that taught me to read and write, to play sports, how to deal with friends and family, and finally how to teach. I had a very hard day leaving this "family" that I have been a part of for nearly 20 years. But, over the past 48 hours I have seen things take place in this school that lead me to believe that I am so much better off with out it. We lost 12 out of 22 certified staff member this year. There is over 135 years of teaching experience leaving our children. It saddens me to the core, the way that these people who have given so much of themselves to the children of this community are being treated. Today, the administration fired our secretary, who was the heart and soul of our school. I am sadden and ashamed that I ever defended anyone that could make such a terrible decision. This wonderful women, a single mother no the less, was fired in my opinion because she knew what she was doing and the principal doesn't have a clue what is going on, ever. So if you have any say in this community, I think it is time someone steps up and asks "What in the HELL is going on here?" Our children deserve that much.

To all my fellow "FROGS," especially those who are stuck behind, I love you all and will miss you so much. Enjoy the pictures from the "FROG" party!

Childhood....

I have been reading a friends blog about childhood and a book on motherhood at the same time this week. I have also struggled with watching my husband deal with losing an uncle and am still struggling with the fact that I may soon loose an aunt. I started thinking about life and my own childhood and the memories came flooding back.....the year my mom coached my softball team, laying next to my dog Rockie and watching him die, building a girl scout float with my dad, "driving" on my Uncle Charlie's lap, making mud pies with my cousins, doing cherry-drops, laying on the driveway at Aunt Diane's eating Popsicles, Grandma's blackberry jam and biscuits, my Aunt crying the day Conway Twitty died, running over Wendy with the lawnmower (for fun, no one got hurt!), riding bikes, my mom teaching me to sew, the way my Aunt Shirley's house always smelled, playing on the slip-n-slide, watching "Double Dare," my mom leaving, my dad taking me to buy new clothes when mom left, Candy's mom taking me out for dinner on my birthday the year my mom left, painting the locker rooms the day mom left, Chantry telling me his Mom and Dad were getting a divorce too (instead his mom got cancer and died), Dad drinking, fighting with my mom, Dad picking me up from the movies drunk, growing-up at 15.... It was during this "flood" of memories that I realized for the first time that my childhood doesn't play like a movie, more like a slide show. I don't remember many family dinners, just that they were always there, or what our daily routine was, only that we had one until we didn't. I just remember moments, the good and the bad. That made me think about the "moments" I would like my children to remember. What would they be? What did I WANT them to be?
I decided to work hard to create those moments and enjoy them. This weekend it took me 3 hours to plant flowers I could have done in 30 minutes last year. Jenna and I got out her new water table and all the potting stuff and had a ball. We planted flowers, played in the water, danced on the back porch, and she only ate one mouthful of dirt! Then today an equally rewarding (and a bit scary) moment. Brady was brought into my class, crying and bleeding. Another student had hit him in the side of the head with a rock. With in minutes, he had a knot the size of a golf ball. I held him until he calmed down and called my sister to come and take him to the doctor. We sat in my desk chair and talked and I held ice on his head until my sister got there. I realized it didn't really matter what happened today, he probably won't even remember it. BUT, I bet he remembers later on that when he needed us, his mom and I were there. It was then and there that I gave up the idea of being Supermom and decided to just be a super mom. I may not ever win mom of the year or teacher of the year for that matter but, I am going to live each day to it's fullest, enjoy the gift God has given me in all of my children (born to me and not born to me). I am going to stop sweating the small stuff (or at least not sweat it so much). I may not look like those made for TV Mom's with their Better Homes and Gardens houses BUT, I am doing the best I can with what God gave me and I know that in the end that will be enough. I now have a 2 new motto's-My house is clean enough to be healthy and messy enough to be happy! AND We may not have it all together but together we have it all!

MIA

Okay, so I have been a little MIA lately. As most of you know, I am finishing up my last year at my current school and have been so busy I don't have time to blink! So here is what we have been up to:

• Jenna is trying really hard to walk. She is into everything and her favorite saying is "No, No!"
• Jason took Brady to his 2nd Springfield Cardinals game and he had a ball.
• Brady had his 1st school musical.
• Ashlee and I have been MAP testing.
• My Dad and Bro-in-Law (Brad) are moving to Oklahoma and starting new jobs.
• The Baby-sitters kids have had the stomach flu (so Jenna couldn't go!).
• We have been to Oklahoma and back moving Dad and Brad.
• I have been contacted by 2 schools for job interviews.
• My Pa-In-Law's brother died of cancer (2 weeks after being diagnosed).
• I had 4 hours of eMINTS training last night.
• We took 120 2nd & 4th graders to see a play at a local university.
• & today was track & field day!

And that was just this week! So I will try to do better next week and post some pictures of Brady's musical and other fun stuff, BUT we are moving my sister tomorrow so wish me luck with time for an interesting blog. MAY take a few weeks.

Scariest moment of my life......

Last night I was giving Jen a bath while A & B played outside in the sandbox. She was having a grand ol' time splashing and standing up and down. I put a towel on the edge of a tub to absorb all the splashing and step to the next room to peek out the window to check on A & B. Jenna is quiet, she is never quiet. I was out of the room for maybe 45 seconds and she climbs out of the bathtub for the first time ever and is standing on the top of my very steep stairs. She has already made it down one step. I yell JENNA, which is not a good idea when a 11 month old is standing at the top of 15 steep stairs with tile at the bottom. I run to her and scoop her up...she is grinning and I am crying. For 24 hours I have thought 100 times of how much my life could have changed in those 45 seconds......

I think we may have taken charity a little to far....

As most of you know, my best friend has MS. She was diagnosed the first year we started teaching together (about 2 1/2 years ago) and is doing well. Every year we walk in the MS Walk in Springfield to raise money and this year we may have taken it a little far....
Saturday morning we get up and it is raining and cold (42 degrees). It is early and it is Saturday so I am crabby! I get Jenna dressed to go to Grammie's, she was going to ride in the stroller but it is too cold. Then I start getting ready and J is being sooooooo sllloooowwww! It is stressing my already crabby butt out. SO I b*tch at him for taking to long and for wearing to many layer (because he is going to b*tch about the heat being on in the truck). We finally get in the truck, 1o minutes late, and I have to run back in for an umbrella. While J is getting his SNOW clothes and I b*tch at him some more. We drop Jenna off an head north, I am still secretly thinking what a waste of time it was for J to get all that snow crap. So I preface the pictures with the following words-3 MILE WALK, NO SNOW CLOTHES FOR ME, WET SHOES, & HYPOTHERMIA (okay maybe that last one is taking it a little to far!).

The Snow as the temp drops 10 degrees between home and Springfield.

Mandy & Christian walking behind us in the snow and rain.

Me wearing J's hat after the walk-yes the hat I was b*tching about him taking to long to get is the only thing that kept my ears from falling off!

J in his snow gear & I am sure he as AT LEAST 10 degrees warmer than me.

The moral of this story is: We raised a lot of money for MS and J is a much better person than me because after as much as I b*tched about him taking so long and wearing so many layers, I would have let my butt freeze (but he shared all his warm things with me!)!

For all my loyal followers....

Just in case some of you can not go to bed tonight without knowing (LOL), Jenna went to bed at bedtime, slept all night, and so did we! HOPEFULLY we are on the right track.

Still not sleeping & an uplifting story....

Okay so last night we were up 20 times between 8-11! I am obviously not doing something right. We'll see how tonight goes.

So my uplifting story.....

About 6 weeks ago my uncle received the news that he had a large mass in his abdomen. Then he was told it was cancer and he had 3-12 months to live. Last week he went to a cancer treatment hospital in TX. This week they removed a WATERMELON size tumor from his abdomen and he is doing very well. The miracle of this story is that they believe they have got all of the cancer and he should make a FULL recovery. That was the answer to a lot of prayers.

Jenna & her Miracle Uncle!
(Not to mention her now much happier Aunt)

Hoppy Easter

My first Easter dress.

My first Easter Basket!
Hunting Eggs behind the curtains with Uncle Lance.
Having a ball playing in my chair.

Jenna's first Easter was a cold one but here are a few pictures to share of that HOPPY DAY!

Maybe this is getting better!

We are doing so much better. We definitely should have done this months ago.

Night #4: (Daddy's account)

830-Daddy gave her a bottle and put her in bed asleep.

930-1130-Up 5 times. Daddy just gave her the passy and patted her back.

Daddy says she slept all night after that (or Daddy slept through it but they both survived).

Night #5:

7:30-Mommy gives her a bottle and lays her in bed still awake. She plays for about 30 minutes and fusses. I go up, put her passy in and lay her down. I leave about 15 minutes later (I just sat there and watched). We hear her moving around for about 10 more minutes but she puts herself to sleep. MUCH easier than previous nights.

She woke up 3 times throughout the night. Passy back in and asleep. ANYBODY have any ideas how to stop the habit of us putting the passy back in 3-4 times a night?

Tonight we are already down for the night (7:45). We'll see if maybe she will stay down. This is getting easier by the night and I feel a lot better than I felt this time last week.

And Rome Fell......

Okay, so we started out great. Then Easter and the change of her routine hit! We went to J's G-ma's for Easter dinner. Way to much going on and Jenna didn't eat dinner. SO, we headed home about 8 (she had her normal bedtime bottle on the way home) and she went to sleep in the car. We carried her in asleep and put her in bed. So I am fully expecting her to start the wake up and crying thing anytime but, 10:00 came and she was still asleep. SO you can hear me now: I am FABULOUS! I am SUPERMOM!

NIGHT #3:

11:30. I had just got into the REM mode when "AHHHHH" from upstairs. I tried to ignore her but it just keep getting louder so.....

11:35-go up and put in the passy (which is the next habit to break!). Goes back to sleep.

11:55 Up again-Daddy puts her back to sleep-just the passy and a pat (no bottle or picking up).

12:15-12:45 We get up 10-12 times. MOM is ready to cave.....Daddy is still trying.

12:45-Daddy gives in, we convince ourselves that she must be hungry because she didn't eat dinner and we give her a bottle. Well, she did sleep all night after that!

So we caved in...tonight I'm MIA (more on that at a later date) so we will report Daddy's progress tomorrow.

ON they bright side, the babysitter is on board and she said today when she laid her down at nap time, she went right to sleep without a bottle or rocking for the first time, so we must be making progress.

Rome wasn't built in a day.....

Okay, so we survived the 1st night. She got up again at 11:30, I did go up and put her passy in (another bad habit I am sure!), but she didn't have to be rocked and she did go back to sleep.

Night #2:

Tonight we had out Easter Dinner, so at bedtime, my aunt and uncle were still here. Daddy did his usual bottle and hold trick (next thing to work on!) and put her to bed at 7:50.

8:10-We are awake and crying for attention. I go up, put her passy in and fight the urge to just rock her to sleep this one time. It has been a long day-Easter dinner for 15 at my house-so give me a break here! Jenna starts to play....

8:30-Start sobbing from the crib, Mom sits outside the door trying not to sob herself.

8:45-Still sobbing-WOW this kid has lungs. Mom goes in and places passy back in mouth and lays the standing, sobbing, kid back down (5 times!).

8:55-Starts coughing we are crying so hard. Mom can't handle much more. Lays Jenna on her side and rubs her head to calm her down (probably not a great idea, but it took us 11 month to ruin her, will probably take more than 1 night to fix it!)

9:00-starting to calm down. Mom sits beside the bed, Jenna needs the occasional pat on the back to be reassured.

9:1o Jenna rolls around and gets comfortable.

9:15 Mom leaves room-she's almost asleep.

9:20-Jenna cries out-Mom doesn't go up.

9:25- A little more noise and then all is quiet. Success for now at least!

As Jenna was screaming I was thinking "Why didn't I do this sooner?" Well, the answer is until she starting throwing fits, I didn't really think about the different ways she cried. I just wanted her to feel loved, safe, and secure. Then I realized she does but she also wants to test Mommy and Daddy. She wants to be in control and do what she wants to do. The crying tonight wasn't "nobody loves me," it was "HEY People, don't you know the Princess wants something!" I don't think I could have done it before now, BUT, I will not create the same monster with her siblings!

We've created the monster, now we have to fix it.....

The Root of All Evil!


Night 1:

Okay, so we have done a great job of creating a routine for Jenna. UNFORTUNATELY-it is not the right one. Each night she has a bath, then around 7:30 Daddy gives her a bottle and holds her until she goes to sleep. BAD habit, so when she was 4 months old we put her in her bed, in her room and we or should I say I, tried not giving her a bottle at night. But,Daddy figured out really quickly that a bottle meant she went right back to sleep. So that is how we got here; 11 months old and getting up to have a bottle AT LEAST once a night. One night last week we went upstairs 8 times during the night! YES, 8! So, I was fed up......it was time. I didn't think I could let her cry herself to sleep but that was the only advice I kept coming back to, self comforting.

That brings us to night one:

7:15-Daddy gives her a bottle and holds her for 20 minutes while she sleeps and then takes her up to bed (Mom watches, knowing this has to stop).

7:45-Daddy is back upstairs, Jenna is crying. Daddy rocks, back to sleep by 8:00.

8:10-Mommy is taking a bath, Daddy is back up stairs, rocking Jenna again.

8:25-Mommy has had enough. Goes upstairs, puts Jenna in her crib to "self-comfort." Mommy and Daddy "discuss" how this is BULLSH*T and that Mommy is watching to much Super Nanny, Dr. Phil, Oprah, Etc. Jenna fusses. Mommy pats her back, so far this is going okay.

8:30-still not asleep, Jenna thinks it is time to play. Daddy has slipped into nightly coma, thank God, would have never let this go on this long.

9:00-Playtime and fussing continue-Mommy watches "Numbers" and hopes this will work.

9:15-Mommy calls Aunt Manda for support, fussing getting louder. Mommy goes up to sit in her room. Keeps telling herself she CAN NOT pick her up.

9:30-Fussing turns into crying. Mommy tries laying her down in crib with passy and putting hand on back for support. NOPE...

9:45 Jenna finally fusses out, lets Mommy put hand on back and then walk away while she is still awake. Goes to sleep by herself, success.....

9:50 Daddy chokes while snoring and starts coughing loud enough to wake the neighbors. Jenna starts crying again. Mommy places passy in mouth and lets her put herself to sleep.... (Mommy wants to CHOKE Daddy whom she is convinced is trying to sabotage the entire thing....have discussion over not having to help, but not hindering either, Daddy falls back into coma!)

To BE CONTINUED......

Has it really been almost a year?

The 3 kids-the night before Jenna was born!
New Born Jenna!

Jenna will be 11 months old next week and I can't believe it! So here is the list of what I have learned over the last 11 months:

• Child birth can be done "naturally," even when induced.


• If you do it "naturally" Stacy will bring you a GOLD STAR!


• Nursing is great and exhausting and you really begin to not care who you offend doing it in public!


• Nursing D's do go back to Prepregancy A-'s! :0(


• If you change a newborns diaper every time they are wet, you'd better own stock in Pampers.


• Babies bring out the best and worst in people.


• You really can go back to work IF you trust your babysitter.


• Some people are better parents if they don't stay home full time...maybe I don't have what it takes.


• There really should be something that will hold that passy in her mouth in the car.


• You can never have TO MANY passies in the car or anywhere for that matter!


• Everything looks better with spit up, drool, food, etc. on it (or you just except it and convince yourself it does).


• No matter how hard you both try it is NEVER 50/50 with Moms & Dads.


• No matter how much time Grammie and Poppy get a week, they will say they don't see her at all (not bitter about this at all am I!?!).


• No matter how tired you are they can always make you act silly and smile.


• Nothing has ever been more exhausting or rewarding.


• They really are more fun to dress than you are!


• AND finally-you can't force a kid to like green beans!
  

NOW-here is what I am still trying to figure out:

• HOW do you get a child to sleep through the night?
• Why are otherwise intelligent parents, still feeding this child bottles at night?
• How do you get Dad to spend less time at work and more time with his daughter?
• Can you love you daughter enough to love all her Grandparents?
• When did almost 1 year olds start throwing terrible two fits?
• Does ignoring these fits really work?

Okay, so I still have a lot to learn. AND for anyone willing to help with the sleeping issues, comments are welcome. (FYI-yes she is in her own room and bed, has been since 4 months, we have tried the comfort item and I don't know if I could do the crying herself to sleep thing.)

OH MY GOSH!

As everyone knows, I had an interview at Union PS today and can I say WOW!!!!! This school was the size of MSU with a lot newer and nicer campus. It was amazing. AstroTurf football field, a John Q. Hammons Arena, an aquatics center and even a gym made especially for Gymnastics! It was the coolest school I have ever been to. IT WAS AMAZING! For those of you who watch the reality show on MTV were the kids play football, that team plays Union. Anyway, the interview went great and I feel very good about it and about turning down the Tulsa contract. I am sure God has a plan for us but I secretly hope it involves Union Schools!
On another note, I found out that Sparta is also losing a FABULOUS Kindergarten teacher and a WONDERFUL counselor today. I think it is sad how much our students are losing.......

Kids really do say the darnedest things!

Today a fellow teacher came to me to tell me that when discussing careers today, a 2nd grade boy informed her that he knew what he was going to be when he grew-up. She asked what and he replied, "A Redneck!"
This got me thinking back to all the things my kids have said in my 3 years at Sparta......
When making Birthday cards for our wonderful secretary one of my students wrote "Happy Birthday Sweet Pee." I explained to her that Pee wasn't the word she wanted that it was Pea, that Pee meant urine. She says OK and starts to walk off, turns around and with a confused look on her face says (I kid you not) "You're in what?"
Just the tip of the ice burg with some of the things we hear daily.......PLEASE do share your darnedest things.

Oklahoma Move

Just a little update on how the move is going. I had an interview with Tulsa PS last week and was offered a job. I have 10 days to decide and of course I am taking every single one of them! I also have a interview on Thursday with Union Schools (also in Tulsa). I would like them a little better I think so wish me luck!!! I am also holding out for Muskogee or Fort Gibson but I won't hold out to long.
As for J, he had a very promising phone interview with QLF (Quality Liquid Feeds) in Muskogee. He should hear something in about a week so lets say a little prayer! Also, he has been offered a little raise to stay but it isn't enough. So, our house and land are for sale and we are looking for the move to happen in June or July.

Did I mention I hate my truck.........

The Dreaded Beast!

As most of you know, my husband traded my SUV for a 3/4 ton Chevy 4-door about 18 months ago. I went along with it thinking it is a new vehicle and you shouldn't B*tch about a NEW vehicle. WRONG! I have hated the thing since the day we bought it......

Reasons why I hate my truck:

• 12 MPG= way to much $$$$ in the gas tank.
• It is like trying to park a semi at the mall.
• It is WHITE!
• My house is smaller than my truck.
• It is a CHEVY......

So, this brings me to my point.....

Today I arranged for a sitter (Thanks Nana) for all 3 kids (mine and my sisters) and made an appointment to take my truck in for the 4th time to get the check airbag light and extremely loud rattling 4-wheel drive shifter (not to mention the recent addition of the air leaking door!) fixed. They have assured me that the airbag will not go off randomly at 70 mph but J did up my life insurance just in case (ha, ha!). We arrive at the dealership 45 minutes early, check in with a lady and a gentleman takes my keys, and J picks me up so that I can shop while they are working on my truck. So I take him back to work and have an enjoyable afternoon shopping. At about 3:30 I realize that I am to be home in 3o minutes and I have yet to hear from the dealership. So I call to hear the Chevy service manager (who might be 23 years old) say "We don't have a truck under that name today."
I say "3/4 ton, 4-door chevy?"
He says "Hold on let me check...........(5 minutes on hold)...What color is it?"
I say "White"
He says "Afraid you were going to say that, just a minute....(5 more minutes on hold)......Mam, no one ever told me it was here so it was never taken back...... (FYI: It was sitting less than 10 feet from him, someone had moved it forward a car length, and he was the guy that made the appointment, didn't anyone ask why the GIANT thing had been sitting in the bay all day??? HELLO??)

This goes on for a while, he offers to take it back right away and it will be a couple hours.....I explain how my babysitter is off in 3o so that won't work. He offers for me to bring it back tomorrow....I explain how that won't work either. SO then I did it......in a move that any fed up Mom would have pulled............

"Sir, I would be glad to bring it back tomorrow.....BUT, I arranged for a babysitter today and a ride today....so tomorrow I will have to wait in your waiting area for 4 maybe 5 hours while you fix my truck for the 5th time. I will make sure I bring my 10 month old, 5 year old, and 10 year old to HANG OUT during that time since I won't have another babysitter....I am sure your other customers won't mind......OR you could get me something else to drive home tonight and I will come in and pick it up tomorrow....your choice."

2o minutes later: I am driving home in a nice rental car which the dealership is paying for and I can pick up my truck tomorrow with a deeply discounted oil change and tire rotation...

MORAL of this story: DON'T buy a Chevy and Even slimy car dealers are scared of 3 children under the age of 1o............

It's a BOY! FInally!

Congrats to Tina & Jason! I didn't think we could have boys in this family. I'm not telling Brady yet, he won't believe it anyway. Baby Boy Taylor will get to join Brady in the Estrogen Ocean! Baby Boy Taylor-coming August 2007!

Oh, what an adventure.......

Today we took 45 kids to Jefferson City. They were soooooooo good, but 6+ hours on a bus is way to much for this old school teacher. We managed to have only 1 puker, 5 phone calls from the school, one family emergency, and 1 kid whose parents didn't show up to pick him up! All-in-all I would call that a great day! (If you've ever been on a field trip, you'd understand!) We didn't loose anyone, no one got hurt, and no bus trouble! ;0)

More JennaRoo!

Ridin' Along in my Automobile!

Does this child take after her mom or what !?!?! She did this all on her own! You who know J can imagine the stress this mess maker is causing him! hehehehe!

Tammi & Raelynn!

Girls, Girls, Girls, no use fighting......We all know that I am the best of the "Lynn's" anyway. Work hard, you might make it to my level of perfection someday.
AND Jeremy, if you read this, BUY THAT GIRL A RING! ;0)

New game.....

Jenna has started a new game this weekend....It is called "Drive Gizzy NUTS!" She chases Gizzy in circles and pats him. He licks her and runs. Finally he jumps up on the back of the couch while she beats on it saying "Giggy!" He looks at me like "Mom, tell her to leave me alone!"

Questions????

Okay to answer some of the questions that have been asked (both by email and post!), yes, Jason, Jenna, and I are probably moving to Oklahoma. I have resigned my position at Sparta, we are looking for jobs in the Muskogee area. We have decided we want a slower pace of life and to live in a place we can afford land. We have also decided to move Jenna to a place where she has cousins her age......so, yes, when we find jobs and sale our house and land, we are moving. SO, if you know anyone looking for a beautiful new home in Ozark school district, let me know.

Family Matters!

I have had the opportunity over the past couple of years to reconnect with family from California and Texas that I really haven't had much contact with. My dad is one of 5 children, whom (until the past year), lived in 4 different states. They are also very spread out in ages so my first cousins and I are very spread out (ages 25-40). We always lived in MO and our closest cousins (in age and location) lived about 4 hours away in OK. We grew up together and had a great time, but, we didn't see our other cousins on this side of the family. The 4 of us had a wonderful childhood, but, we didn't grow up with the other cousins. Now as adults, our 1st cousins kids are becoming adults and thanks to the web and family relocating, are becoming a part of our lives. I have spent time with cousins that I haven't seen since childhood (both in person and on the web). It has been so great to meet these wonderful family members and to see what we all have in common, despite our very different childhoods.
I am even more excited for Jenna to have this extended network. To have all of these strong, educated, independent, and beautiful women to influence my daughter is an amazing thing. So thanks to Mom, Amanda, Tina, Tammi, Lela, April, Kelli, Kimber, Raelynn, Becky, Tera, Ashlee, Aunt Diane, and Aunt Earlene......

Hola Heartburn, Hola Floor.

I don't think it was because of the company or the kids, but dinner tonight gave me the worst heartburn I have had since pregnancy. Which leads me to the theory that 7 kids (ages 9 months, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, & 10)+ 15 teacher + Mexican food=major heartburn.
Tonight we celebrated the 50th b-day of one of my fellow teachers and though we had a great time, it might have been just a little much on top of a half day of professional development.

Jenna is trying really hard to walk. She is getting braver by the day. She is now taking a couple step between things. This is great and she is doing well. Tonight though she had her hands on the foot stool and her face ended up on the floor (the hardwood floor). We had real tears and I am sure it really hurt (probably Daddy and Mommy more than Jenna). I am also sure it is the first of many falls on the way to walking.

Congrats to the Kellie and Jeremy!

Congrats to my friend Kellie and her husband Jeremy who are expecting their 1st child. I thought I'd start a list of MUST HAVES and ask others around me for thier additions to the list. LIST COMING SOON! (Half pink and half blue just in case!)

5 year old on a rampage.....

Okay, I hope I can get some help from friends, family, and at this point total strangers. My 5 year old nephew has fell completely off the deep end. He has always been the sweetest, most loving boy you have ever met, getting a citizenship award at school, and the teacher saying how he was the most caring child she'd ever had. In a matter of months he has become mean, hateful, and having terrible fits of rage over nothing. It takes very little to set him off. He has been to the principals office twice in a week and has threatened to "punch in the face," several loved ones. We have tried punishment, rewards, and begging! Nothing has worked. I am "Love & Logic" trained and have never seen a child that it didn't work on, until now. We have talked to him in length about what is causing this anger, nothing. We have now taken him out of daycare before and after school and he is going to my house. Any suggestions?

Chinese Food, Good Fortune, School buses, and Blogs

Today one of my students had a fortune cookie in her lunch box. After lunch she handed me a fortune she said was just for me.....You are the master of everything! I couldn't agree more! :0)

Tonight Nana came by and brought Chinese food. Jenna had her first Chinese food ever! It was so cute! She loved the rice. It was about the only thing that made my crabby teeth growing machine happy this evening. She is rarely crabby so it was so odd to see her that way.....I also see that maybe NO ONE is the master of a teething child! (Pictures to come soon!)

I have also had the pleasure of driving past my niece, Ashlee (9), and nephew, Brady (5), standing out on a main highway waiting for a bus this week. I stopped to pick them up the other day only to find out later that they had missed the bus, the baby sitter wasn't watching them, and they thought they could have just WALKED to school.....on a busy highway, over a mile! Thank God he made me late that day, so I could pick them up. They now have a new baby sitter, ME. I am going to enjoy every minute I have with these beautiful children, before I move and my time with them isn't as plentiful.

I was so excited to see that April and Lela had visited my blog today. It was so great to see 2 of my favorite people were the first to visit the stories of Jenna.

Daddy's Girl :0)

Imagine, if you will, my 6' 3", manly man, husband going baby clothes shopping on his day off without me. Well, it happened! Daddy went shopping on Monday for BABY clothes. Our ever growing, long legged girl, has now grown into 12 month pants as she is 29 and 1/4 inches tall! The problem with that is that she doesn't have many pairs that don't look like what I call "nerd britches!" Daddy to the rescue! My husband not only went shopping and got her 4 pairs of very cute pants, he also picked out a pair of denim Capri pants with daisies and butterflies with 2 matching shirts. ALL of which are super cute! WAY TO GO DADDY!

In the beginning.....

This is my attempt to share with all of those who love Jenna our daily (okay weekly) adventures and to be half as entertaining as my friend Stacey!

Who would have thought that just 9 months ago we brought her home. I was terrified to go to sleep, afraid if when I woke-up, she wouldn't.....now I just pray she won't wake-up for 5 more minutes! Oh, the adventures of a new Mom and Dad. Everyday is a new adventure with a 9 month old. While cooking dinner the other day I looked up to see Jenna crawling quickly across the room with the lamp cord in her hand. When I ran to her yelling "NO! NO!" she just looked up and smiled that "Look, I can make Mommy run" smile. Miss Jenna is quickly finding new and wonderful things in this world. She is saying Momma, Daddy (which is her favorite word!) and the occasional "No, No" repeating what Momma tells her! Sunday she discovered that you could make Nana's day by just saying "Nan Na!" Today we have discovered with Daddy the fun of standing at the back door, slapping the glass, and calling "Giggy," her version of Gizzy. If Daddy can call him from the back door, why can't she. You see Gizzy is our 9 lb house dog who has quickly figured out standing under the highchair is a meal ticket and if you get in arms reach of Jenna, you will get your hair pulled!