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This is the old fashioned rose bush that Maw brought me last year.  So glad that is survived! This is the first bloom and boy is it fragrant.

And below, James is holding “fuzzy.”  This is so crazy but James found a small  (you can barely see it in the photo) ball of Shadow’s hair in the floor.  He picked it up and said, “Ohhh, fuzzy, so soft…” He kept going on and on.  He and Haleigh ended up playing with it…putting it in the train and taking it for a ride, feeding it, and petting it.  I know, it’s strange.  But funny. 

 

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I got up this morning and saw this little robin sitting on the deck.  His little feathers were just blowing in the wind.  He looked down right cold.  Even my flowers looked like they were shivering with the way the wind was blowing on them.  This weather is strange.  It’s odd to have the A/C on one day and the heat on the next!! 

I went shopping this evening.  I don’t enjoy going to the grocery store anymore.  The prices just keep going up and I don’t like the final bill.  We had cereal and fruit for dinner tonight (I know, I went all out).  When I looked at the table, I realized one reason why it might be high… three different milks and had Chris been home, there would’ve been a fourth!!  :)

 

 

Today I learned three important life lessons that I thought I would share with you:

1.  When your 4 year old yells down the stairs, “Mom, are you doing ok down there in the kitchen?” that does NOT mean she is being sweet and genuine.  It DOES mean go upstairs…and fast… because she/they are up to NO GOOD!!

2.  Don’t go shopping at Krogers at 5:00!  That is just crazy.

3.  Do NOT brag on your blog about how easy your 2 year old goes to sleep the first night he is put in his toddler bed.  It will turn around and bite you in the butt… ;)

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Wait a minute…what happened?  Is that my baby boy?  In a toddler bed?!  It is?  Are you sure?  I am quite certain it just feels like yesterday that he was a little tiny peanut in that crib and just look at him now!

We had to make the ol’ switcharoo because he finally realized that he could climb out.  Note that he was quite capable of doing this sometime ago. 

If you know me at all then you know that this was a bittersweet moment for me. Sometimes it’s hard to let them grow! 

Let me just say that I was expecting this to be an interesting evening.  I figured he would be popping in and out of his room but to my surprise, he is sound asleep.  God love him!  To top this “bittersweet” evening off, I came out of his room to do my normal bedtime routine with Haleigh and that little stinker tucked herself and went right on to sleep without me (mind you that this is also a first)!!  I walked in her room and she was all cozied up in her blanket, sound asleep. 

 

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For some reason, James decided his pants and shirt were not necessary this evening.  My children are not fond of their clothes, oddly enough.  I honestly don’t know where they get it!  Here James was actually aggravated with me.  He said “Stop!  I don’t want picture…”  That’s not a good sign!  Hehe!

So, what do you think of James’s new do?  Chris thinks that he looks like a 1950’s child…?

I like it and it looks so much more blond (in person).  He did so great this time getting it cut.  He rode on Clifford and watched Sesame Street!  He smiled and laughed (because he is so ticklish).  He earned his sucker and balloon this go round! 

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Hello Saturday!  Hello Colton, Scott and Jamie!  We’re so glad you were able to stop by.  So fun to watch the kids play.  It’s funny how they play.  They were bickering and fighting while we were all upstairs.  The kids ended up downstairs by themselves and we barely even knew they were down there they were playing so well.  Once they get away from us, they play great! The bickering must be “attention getting.” 

Here’s hoping 30 days doesn’t pass before we do it again!  :)

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Family fun Friday here at the Ando’s.  Homemade pizzas and Haleigh’s choice of movie---Barbie Princess Fairy movie.  Here you see her in Tiana…aka Tiarna…helping make the pizzas.  This is a good picture of James pre hair cut!

I’m searching for a good homemade pizza sauce recipe to use on these nights. If anyone comes across one, I’d love for you to share it.  I don’t want it to be sweet though.  We’re not fans of the sweet sauce. 

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My big girl at the dentist!  She did so great!!!  I was so proud of her.

Lump in my throat

 

Today is such a sad day here in Lebanon as a fallen police officer, Brian Dulle, was laid to rest.

The kids and I were out running errands this morning, taking note of the support the community was showing. Flags were flying half staff and yards were decorated with signs reflecting appreciation for his service. As we were driving home, cars were lined up alongside the road with small flags flying out the car windows. As I got closer to town, I noticed our main street (Broadway) was lined with citizens from the community; all waving their American flags. I decided that we were going to forgo naptime and I took the kids to stand amongst the crowd who wanted to show their respect. For two hours, we stood along the streets and watch police car after police car pass, in the procession to Sgt. Dulle’s final resting place. The moment was almost surreal.  So many people yet, so little noise as the officers drove past.  Quietly people just waved their flags. Every once in car I would make eye contact with an officer…an officer who’s eyes were filled with tears.  I know they were tears of sadness but I hope there were tears of joy knowing how much our community supported each of them and their service, bravery, and dedication.

Haleigh was very curious, asking why people were waving flags and asked if it was a parade. I explained to her the sad situation. It’s a lot to grasp for a four year old but I felt like it was important that she knew even if it was very sad. She asked: “why did he die? Was someone going to make him alive again? Were his children going to be sad?” The lump that has been in my throat all week came back full force and the tears started flowing.

I don’t know this family but have read much about them in the previous days. I have seen pictures of his wife and his three beautiful children. One of which has been battling cancer (but currently and thankfully symptom free). I, too, have a hard time grasping this situation. It seems so unjust and so unfair that a family who is already burdened with such hardships must now suffer this tragedy. I can’t begin to imagine how Mrs. Dulle is holding up. The questions she must be asking and the deep sadness she must be feeling.

And then I think about the world I live in…my life. It’s sad that it takes moments like these to stop me in my shoes and realize how truly blessed I am…Someone else’s sadness to make me pause and give thanks…for a wonderful husband…for two beautiful children…for a family that supports me.

Today I find myself reflecting on the moments that I get aggravated because there are toys in the floor, or there is laundry pile up, or there are fingerprints on the doors that I just cleaned. None of these things matter. I’m sorry for the times I didn’t stop to just sit down and play with the kids because I was busy trying to “catch up.” I must remember in the days ahead to “Let them be little”… you all know how the rest of the song goes, right?! I’m sorry I didn’t take time to give Chris an extra hug and kiss so he knows just how much I love him. I feel sorry for taking little things like this for granted. Isn’t it just so easy to take the little things for granted? And it’s the little things that end up meaning so much!

I am certain that when Sgt Dulle reported to duty on his last night, he didn’t expect it to be the last time he would see his wife and children. Each hug, each I love you, each kiss…you never know when it could be your last. Its gut wrenching to think, but so true. So, I throw this out into the void…do your loved ones know just how much you love them? Do you live your life to the fullest? Do you wake up thankful that you are blessed with another day to live? Do you stand firm on a faith that is rooted in hope and love knowing that there is a God up above who loves you…even when tragedy arises and you question why?

It is unlikely that anyone from the Dulle family will ever read my blog and that’s okay. But I want you to know how sorry I am for you loss. That I pray, especially for Mrs. Dulle, that she finds the strength to carry on. I pray God will wrap her in His arms and comfort her. I pray for Maddie’s Hope…that she finds the strength to stay strong as she continues to battle cancer! Hope…what a wonderful thing. To every man/woman who bravely serves our country…police officers, fire fighters, or in any branch of our armed forces, my heart is grateful for you dedication to protect and serve our country. I admire and honor your courage.

Chris—I love you! From the bottom of my heart I love you…for being my best friend, for being the most wonderful father, for putting us before yourself, for making sure that we have a home with food on the table, for letting me stay home with our kids and watch them grow in moments that I may miss if I had to work, for making me laugh, for keeping my head straight, for every little thing you do, I am grateful!

To my kids, thank you for being the most wonderful children a mom could ask for. I see God’s grace in your eyes and in your smiles. I learn so much from you the two of you.

To my mom…I love you! Words are hard to find to express just how much I love you. We’ve been through so much together…thick and thin…we have a bond that will only get stronger as the years pass.

To Becky and Gary---I love you!! Thank you for loving me like I was your own! You are so good to me and I appreciate everything. I am so thankful to have become an Anderson.

To Maw—I love you!! You are such an inspiration to me…your faith, your love…I look up to you and strive to be like you in ways.  I hope that you know that!

To June, Leroy, and Eric—I love you!! Did you know you two inspire me? I love to watch the two of you together…after all these years your love is still so strong and is so evident…I see it in the way you look at each other…they way you still hold hands…

To all of my other family---I hope you know I love you too. If we haven’t seen each other in a long time, shame on us…we need to fix that!

To all of my friends—too many to name (a blessing in itself)—I love you!!

I’m not one to write a lot, but this felt good!  Whether you read this whole thing or not, It was just nice to put it all out there!  :) 

 

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The past few days, I seem to have reached for my iphone b/c it was more accessible to “capture the moment.” When I uploaded them to my pc, I found all kinds of pictures that I had forgotten I had taken.  I thought it would be fun to share them all…

 

 

I couldn’t find James…turned out he was in Haleigh’s toy box. 

What a crew…they get along so well, it’s cute!  Haleigh loves her sunglasses…in this picture she was preparing for our Florida trip.

 

Tiny James, crashed in the hotel room after not sleeping during the trip.  And Chris and Scott…they were having a special moment!!

  

Here Jamesy is crashed again (oddly enough, it was in the stroller)…I think this was right after Animal Kingdom.

 

The kids having fun and Michelle teaching them about a drum! 

This is what happens when I multi task too much and forget to put flour in the bread…

 

I went upstairs and stopped to see this…she was having a great time with her Barbies. 

She played so hard that she crashed in the floor of her bedroom.  And then take note of James with a trash can on his head.  What is it with my kids and putting things on their heads?

 

Haleigh was painting rainbows!

James is sporting the old school JJ look!!!

Happy Mother’s Day

 

Happy Mother’s Day!  Mom, do you know what picture this is?  It’s the one you put in my scrapbook that was horribly pink.  I scanned it and played around with it….and look at us!  This picture is so special to me because there are so few of me and mom when I was a tiny baby.  I have such a great mom.  I am grateful to her for being the most wonderful mother, for believing in me, and for loving me. 

Mother’s Day is a day for me to thank God for his most gracious gifts to me…Haleigh and James.  So thankful for my precious babies whose smiles melt my heart.

Here I am holding them for the first time….ohhhh so sweet.  I get teary just looking at these. 

 

Becky, I am very thankful for you as well. You are a great mother-in-law and are a wonderful mother to Chris and Scott!  Thanks you for all you do for me and for being a great Grammy to the kiddos.

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And now we have our hanging baskets up!  Thanks, Chris, for taking me flower shopping! Makes the back yard a little brighter!  Great Mother’s Day present!  Thanks for all your hard work in the yard and for making sure I didn’t have to work too hard today.  You are the best husband and friend a gal could ask for!

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Our neighbors were thinning out their landscaping and we landed 4 new burning bushes to our landscaping!  Yay!  They are so nice and look good around the deck.