For all Moms and anyone who influences the lives of our children!

MoMatron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So . . . a little background.  Because we both work - our children have cell phones.  They are mainly to contact us before and after school as needed.  Of course - the oldest two LOVE this concept!!  Cowboy T isn't really phased by it either way.  He rarely uses it or cares where it is for that matter!

Yesterday I noticed his phone was dead so I plugged it in to charge it.  Imagine my surprise when I see a large amount of texts rolling in.  Even more odd was that they were all under the name of MoMatron.  My brain began rapidly flipping through the rolodex storage files of all knowledge I have - and after a few seconds (hahaha!) I realized I was unable to associate the name with anything.

So I somewhat irritatedly questioned out loud to my sweet children . . . "Who is this Mo  Matron person on Travis' phone!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!"  It  wasn't even a half a second when they all burst out into laughter.  I didn't get it.  So I threw in my best "I-don't-know-what-you're-laughing-at-but-I-see-no-reason-for-any-laughter-until-my-question-is-answered" look.  It did nothing to quell the laughter but it did speed up a response.  Hrmph.

Did I feel silly or what when they lovingly told me that this strange person sending my sweet son a plethora of texts was . . . . . . ME!!!!!  I. AM. MOM-A-TRON!!!!!!!!!!

I am beyond honored and flattered!  A super hero of sorts!  Perhaps a Transformer!  I am Momatron!  (I guess it was the other capital M that threw me off!  :o)

I wasn't irritated any more - just to clear up that little silly tiny matter I mentioned!

Wow!  I had no idea my children felt so Super-ish about me!  Life is good!

My Silly Silly Boys

HUGE blessings!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So my Buddy plays the cello.  So far he's played a 3/4 size cello and loves it.  Problem is he keeps growing!  :o)  And soon he will need a full size cello.  This has weighed on us greatly.  A few days ago we were at the local music store picking up a new string and of course - we went and looked at the used cellos just to see.  They were $3100+   This is why it's been weighing on us.  I was worried Bobby would be this big 17 year old hunched over a miniature looking cello.  On our way home my bro-in-law called and told me this obscure little music store I'd never heard of was going out of business.  It just so happened that when he told me that I was sitting at a red light - DIRECTLY in front of where the store was!  Coincidence?  I think not.

We went in and I asked about strings, a banjo . . . (they didn't have any - but someday!!!!! I will find one!)  :o), and a few other musical-ish things.  Then on a whim I asked if they had any used full size cellos.  He said he had one but it was pretty beat up and didn't have a bow.  I asked to see it anyway.  When he unzipped the case . . . we were both speechless.  It was beautiful!!!!!!!!  The neck had been repaired at one point - but didn't affect the quality of the instrument.  I later looked online to see if it was a huge deal and several luthier's websites said it didn't matter.  So anyway - I took a deep breath and asked how much.  We both heard him start with a 7 and our hearts sunk thinking he was about to say $700 . . . and then he finished w a 5.  Seriously!  He did!  $75!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And then he went in the back and found a really nice bow he just threw in too.  I can't believe how blessed we were!!!!  We got it home and it has the most beautiful tone too it.  It is amazing!  I looked up the maker and it's not factory made - but luthier made.  A couple days later we went back and my Mom found a hard cello case for $50 (which online used for the same kind is $350).  Now it will be protected in a better case too!  I just wanted to cry I was so relieved and felt so blessed!  Bubba is so happy he has been playing and playing - which we love!  He is really really good!  He doesn't play like a 6th grader that's for sure!  So proud of how hard he works!

Fun Old Summer Pictures . . .

OUCH!!!!!!!!! Seriously!!! OUCH!!!!

So Bubba was so excited when his friends from church called to go play laser tag at the local pizza/bowling place. They were there about 30 minutes when he fell and hit his head on one of those metal railings like they use when you're lined up for a roller coaster or something. It happened so quickly that he didn't have time to put his hands out to break his fall. They immediately brought him home and we went straight to the ER. They did a CAT scan and everything is a-ok. The doctor said: "We checked his brain and nothing was there!" That was the comedic relief we needed - although the doctor was so embarrassed when he realized what he'd said. We all thought it was pretty funny though - even Bobby!

But bless his heart - he does have a concussion and he's still in quite a bit of pain - but he was so brave and such a trooper about the hospital. It's not his favorite place at all. I am so incredibly grateful everything was ok. There aren't words that seem appropriate enough to actually express how deeply I mean that. A lot of worries go through your mind as a parent - and Bobby had a lot of questions on the way there about what might happen that I honestly didn't know what to tell him. Thankfully we didn't have to worry about any of that. He said the CAT scan was a little scary. They wouldn't let me go in with him and it seemed like an eternity for both me and him - but I guess it was only about 10 min. One of his school teachers had recently told the class all kinds of horror stories about when MRI and CAT scans go bad! (Thanks a lot!!) But he made it through just fine! Phewph!

The picture below is while we were on the way to the ER. It's the biggest bump I've ever seen - so if it might make you queasy don't look. I think my Bubba was most upset because he was doing a great job at laser tag and they were going to play a second round and then go to the park and he had to miss all of that. Poor guy! It looks like he'll probably end up with double black eyes as it drains and heals. He looks a lot better today. The area is swollen and tender - but nothing like yesterday - thank goodness!

Much Better

So I went and I'm fine. :o) Some things occurred that mean I will need to go back and testify on Friday. I will get served another subpoena. Just going today and seeing the place and the people made my nerves settle and I don't think I'll have any problem on Friday. The unknown always makes me nervous until I can at least visualize it in my head.

The Family Courts building has got to be one of the saddest places. If you ever need to feel grateful or blessed go there. I've never seen such excruciating pain and anguish written on people's faces. It was really humbling. Thanks for all the prayers and support! I really really appreciate it!

Update

We LOVE our new home. It is beautiful and so quiet! The neighborhood is normal and small and gated. The town house is beautiful and easy to keep clean. It's big enough for all of us and it just feels so nice.

Yesterday the kids did their chores - the laundry was clean - and the house was all tidy. Bob and I looked at each other in amazement. There was nothing to fix - no house projects to work on - no never-ending list of broken things. LOVE IT!!!! We actually have time to do other things. We will save money too by not having to fix so much!

Anyway - we're happy! Everything just fell into place for us. It's nice to be free of the old house and all the heavy weight that came with it.

Yea! What an amazing answer to prayer! So many times we'd try to move and it just never ever fell into place. Finally we stopped trying to force it to happen. We knew when the Lord was ready and everything was right it would just happen and there would be no doubt it was time. And it did. It was one of those things that was so complicated and every single piece of the puzzle lined up all by itself that there was no way to deny that the Lord's hand was in every step. Sometimes our plan and our timing - for whatever reason - is not what is supposed to happen. Down the road maybe we'll be able to look back and see all the reasons why - but for now we are just so incredibly grateful to be where we are. It is such a comfort to Bob when he travels to know we are here and happy. It's truly one of those massive blessings we couldn't have even imagined 6 months ago.

We're moving

So yep! We are! With a massive amount of travel coming for Bob - it just made sense. We'll be at the new place for a year or so. The list of reasons why it is perfect was enormous. The list of reasons to leave the house was just as long. We're hoping to quickly sell the house as is - or find an investor/ugly house place to buy it. It just is in need of things bigger than we are able to manage right now. So it will put us in a different ward - but not too far. We'll still see everyone often I'm sure. It will be a relief to all of us to open this new chapter. Hooray!

Mourn with those who mourn

My husband's cousin posted this on her blog and I had to share it.

We had the opportunity to do just this last night. Well-meaning words don't often ease the pain in moments of grief or despair. Sometimes it's hard to know what to say or do. But last night I knew. We just sat. The kids understood and I knew a precious life lesson was being embedded. We stayed and were just there. There were moments of quiet and stories and memories were told. After several hours everyone's eyes grew heavy and I knew we should go - but when we readied to leave it was obvious we were still needed and so we stayed until it was finally ok. Even then - it was difficult to leave. We sat outside in the car for a bit - all of us wanting to leave our hearts inside. I hope it's something my children always remember. Our hearts felt so full while we were there. I'm so grateful Crystal posted this video. I really appreciated its beautiful illustration.

My Names

Ok - one more post while I'm thinking about it. That last post reminded me about this one. At school the kids are little and can't always say things right - so I wanted to write down some of the names I've been called so far:

1. Manny
2. Ma
3. Mrs. Mare
4. Nany
5. Mrs. Maredee (like a french accent)
6. Marwee
7. Mommy :o)

So cute! I love it!

Cowboy T!

My little man isn't so little anymore!

Maggie Girl!

She's such a great dog. So loyal and protective. I'm so grateful for her!

Yum Yum!!!!

From school - for me and my TA. We have close birthdays. The parents surprised us with flowers, balloons and this absolutely sinful and delicious cake. Mmmmmm!

Me and My Bud

Watch out 6th grade! Here he comes!!!!

Happy Father's Day Dad!!!! :o)

Taking Chance

If you could only see one more movie . . .

I don't normally recommend movies (I've learned my lesson on that! hahaha) :o) Everyone likes different things - but I wish everyone in this country could watch this movie. It is touching and true. It's out on DVD and if you have the opportunity to watch it - you should.

Fun Times

It's been a while - but I still wanted to post about it.

Cowboy T had been very very diligent in earning a trip to Alley Cats.  I have to say - he really earned it and had worked for quite a long time.  Luckily we had a gift card - so the kids played a round of laser tag and then bowling.  Since it was just the three of them - the workers let Bob and I go in and watch the laser tag game.  It was utterly hysterical.  I think any frustrations, unsettled disputes and pent up emotions between them were released and cleared.  I'm going to remember that strategy in the future.  When the contention gets too bad . . . time for laser tag!  Hahahaha!  

Then it was bowling.  The kids did pretty good!  I was impressed.  We all had a fun time.  It was just a relaxing out of the ordinary excursion for us to spend some time together outside of the day to day stuff.  I'm proud of Cowboy T for earning it and grateful we had the chance to go.  I like our family.  We're a lot of fun together.  At least I think so!  ;o)

21 days!

21 days and I will begin my return to life as I knew it.  I will slowly begin to recall that there is a house I live in and hobbies I like to do.  My dedication to the gym will be stronger than ever and I will start to return all the many emails I have been silent on.  I may even begin to cook good meals again.  (Gasp!)  21 days and I will luxuriously sleep past 4:40am.  I will stay up late with no frantic dread.  I will frolic and laugh with my children until they can't stand me anymore.  (that may not take too long! hahaha)  I will laugh in the face of school zones and crossing guards.  I will shun the halls of the school.  I will turn my back on the never-ending paperwork and reports.  

And I will miss my students so very very much.

Kbug's Solo & Ensemble

So Kbugs had her solo and ensemble contest.  She had practiced her duet with her friend and they did a great job.  Her solo was great too!  Kbugs asked me to be her piano accompanist.  I was a bit nervous about this - because I'm not always the most consistent player and I really didn't want to be the one to mess her up.  She brought me the music in plenty of time.  I glanced over it and it looked like something I could play.  However, I waited pretty much until the night before to work on it.  Poor K!  I think I worried her quite a bit.  We actually had a Scout's den meeting that night so I took the music with me and marked it and finger practiced it while we sat there - and then finally went home to play it for the first time.  After going through it a few times we sounded pretty good!  Phewph!  I was so relieved.  The next morning we chugged our way over there and played it.  Kbugs was AMAZING!!!!!  She sounded so good.  I think I did a-ok accompanying her.  It was just really fun to get the chance to do it with her.  I love that mom daughter kind of stuff that we get to do.  She is such a wonderful person and I love being with her.  I wasn't surprised at all when she got her score.  She got a 1.  Good job Sweet Pea!  Ily!