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!