Kids in New Orleans and having them home

The kids had a great time in New Orleans with their Grandparents. They went to many places and did lots of fun things, Kiarra even learned to sew on her sewing machine. She made Jeff and I each a pillow and did a fantastic job. She recently sewed Tamia a purse for her birthday and did a great job on it as well. I would take pictures to post, but unfortunately there will be no pictures for a while. Kiarra had our only camera with her in New Orleans and accidentally left it in her pocket. Well, it got washed – the memory card is still good, but the camera is toast.
Although Taryn enjoyed her alone time with Mommy and Daddy she was so excited to see Kiarra and Jayden. I thought she was going to wet herself when the door bell rang and she saw them standing at the door. She shrieked and ran to the door so fast, seriously – lightning speed. She had tears when hugging them! It was oh so precious.
We had a great weekend with Shirley and Perry when they brought the kids home. Jeff’s brother Cory and his wife Joy came over for dinner one night and we all hung out. It was really nice to see them and spend time together as a family. Cory and Joy are moving to Katy within the next few weeks so we are looking forward to spending even more time with them. Now if we can just get Perry and Shirley to move out here.
The kids haven’t been involved in sports or many extra-curricular activities outside of church and we don’t mind the non-busy schedule that most parents pull their hair out trying to accommodate one kid going this way and another kid going that way. Recently Kiarra has found an interest in volleyball so we figure she is going into Jr. High, a little volleyball won’t hurt anything. It happened to fall the first week she got back from New Orleans and she did really well considering she’s never really played before. She had a great time, met new friends and learned the powerful overhand serve. At the end of the week, she was accepted in their fall power league. We are really proud of her. She did a great job. Will all this sports talk, it has of course peeked Jayden’s interest and now he wants to play football, baseball and basketball! YIKES – what have we started? Guess it’s time to look into something for him as well.
It’s hard to believe the kids only have 3 weeks of summer vacation left. 3 weeks and Kiarra will be in Jr. High!! I think I’ve blogged before about how upset Jayden is that they won’t be in the same school. He literally breaks down crying when he thinks about it and each time we discuss it. He loves his sister so much and that makes me so happy. He pointed out that they won’t be in school together again for 7 years, when Kiarra is a senior and Jayden is a freshman. Gosh, that seems like so far away but I know it will be here before we know it.
Jeff really likes his job and even though it’s a bit demanding at times he has learned a great deal about managing and I’ve seen a change in the way he runs our home – a good change! He has to deal with some serious stuff and some funny stuff as well (he had to help one of his employees chase a dog to get it back in the fence the other day and as you all know – Jeff is NOT a fan of dogs). Too funny!
As for me, working for BP hasn’t been easy these past few months. The media has slaughtered us and if you’ve heard me say it once, you’ve heard it a million times –don’t believe everything you hear on the news…heck, you can’t even believe the weather guy half the time! I continue to be proud to work for BP and hope that one day; everyone will see we are doing our best to fix this.

New Orleans and one-on-one time with Taryn

Each summer, the older kids spend a week in New Orleans with Jeff’s parents. This year Tamia suggested they spend 2 weeks there and that was ok with everyone so we agreed on that. Friday, June 2nd we packed up and headed for New Orleans to spend the weekend and to leave the older kids there with Shirley and Perry. It was a nice relaxing weekend, we did absolutely nothing and it was wonderful. Jeff and I have been working really hard and traveling quite a bit so a little R&R was exactly what we needed. We did get a chance to visit with his Grandmother who recently relocated there from Atlanta, Jeff’s best friend and of course we couldn’t be in NOLA without a visit with our great friends John and Penny. For the first time in 7 years we didn't have a 4th of July party. I almost didn't know what to do with myself. Monday came all too quick and it was time for us to head home. We’d prepared Taryn by telling her often that she’d be coming home with us and the older kids would be staying. I was afraid of a meltdown but she did great. A few weeks prior to the trip, Tamia’s Mom decided she couldn’t stay in New Orleans so we brought her home with us as well (I think that helped Taryn too). It had been a few months since we had baby mama drama so we should have expected this! Regardless, it was hard for Tamia – she was so excited about getting to stay with them 2 weeks and now she didn’t get to stay at all.
I miss Kiarra and Jayden a lot, but this one-on-one time with Taryn has been a blast. She has an amazing personality and is so energetic – her mouth never stops, she even talks in her sleep! Everyday when we get home she walks in the house and says “kids, I’m home – KIIIDS, I’mmmmm HOOOOOME.” It is so cute. She’s been a huge help too, I took clothes out of the dryer threw them on my bed and went in to throw in another load, when I came back she had already started folding the clothes! Is she awesome or what? With the kids being gone, Jeff thought she should sleep on the couch so she isn’t upstairs by herself during the night (and he says he’s not wrapped around her little finger – HA!)… So each night, she lays in bed with me until she falls asleep then Jeff puts her on the couch. This is priceless time, we watch tv, play games and giggle until we get in trouble. I’m having so much fun with her. It takes me back to when Kiarra was this age and Jayden a tiny baby [tears…] – priceless memories. Taryn even went to her first sleep over during this time. She’s never spent the night with anyone except my Mom and she did really well. I’m not sure if she’s ready to be gone a whole week, that will have to wait a few more years, but she is good with one night here or there. Some of her new sayings are:
“You crack me up”
“Mommy, I AM old enough now”
“Ummm, ummm” (as she smacks her teeth with her tongue)
“When I get married….”
“Mommy, the baby in my tummy…”
I couldn’t understand why she was so fixated on getting married and having babies. For a few months she has been talking everyday about “getting a baby in her tummy.” Well FINALLY, it all makes sense. Her teacher at school is expecting her first baby and has been talking to them about it. Whew, at least I know where that is coming from. She loves to listen to music and as I think I’ve posed before, we always have music on and dance around the house like crazy fools. She knows all the words to Jesus Take the Wheel and if she wasn’t so shy, I’d stick her in a pageant to perform it. One of these days I’ll get it on video and will post it for all to see. Even right now, we are sitting in my bed, she is fixing my hair and every minute she throws her arms around me (choking me) and hugs me, kisses my cheek and neck and says to me “I lub you sooo much Mommieeee”. She is one awesome kid!Kiarra and Jayden come home in 2 days and I can’t wait to see them! I am so grateful to my in-laws for keeping them for 2 weeks (the kids better of behaved so they can go back next year). J Its memories like this that will stick with them their entire life and I’m so glad they have Grandparents to make memories with.

Sorry, no pics this week. The kids have the camera in New Orleans.

Fathers Day, Jayden’s Birthday and 2nd trip of 2010 to Iowa

This year was the first Fathers Day since Dad passed away that we were planning to be in Iowa. I was dreading it from the day we planned the trip several months back. Jeff always seems to get ripped off on Fathers Day because I simply don’t like Fathers Day anymore. Trying to buy him a card is pure torture. I try to “remember the good times” and “not think about it” but seriously? Is it that easy? So this year, the kids and I planned to surprise Jeff celebrate Fathers Day a week early. Our plan was a success and we all had a great day.
2 weeks before going to Iowa we invited a few boys over and had a little b-day party sleepover for Jayden. 5 boys came, we went bowling, played limbo, musical chairs and they spent hours building things with legos. They all had a great time.
Our trip to Iowa began on Friday, June 18th we drove straight through and after 17 amazing, wonderful, terrific, fantastic hours in the car with 6 other people, we arrived to our destination. Jayden was so excited that we were going to be in Iowa for his birthday that we decided to throw him a surprise party – on Fathers Day. My aunt Marcia was a HUGE help in making this happen. She did all the shopping for us, made potato salad and cut up tons of fruit. Having the party on Fathers Day was great because all day we kept referring to the “Fathers Day picnic” that was taking place in the afternoon which was actually his party. He and the other kids filled 300 water balloons! We started the day giving Jeff his Fathers Day gifts and sharing our gratitude to him. We spent the day getting some things ready for the party; I had to take my niece to get a bathing suit and a few last minute food items.
Jeff and my cousin Jeremy took the kids to the park so we could finish preparing food and get the cake from Aunt Marcia’s house. Family started to arrive and I was ecstatic. At 4:00 Jeff brought all the kids back from the park and we all yelled “surprise” to Jayden! He was so confused and didn’t understand what was going on. I had to explain to him that this wasn’t a “Fathers Day picnic” but his birthday party instead. He was surprised and so happy. We had a slip-n-slide for the kids and of course the 300 water balloons that I think the adults had more fun with than the kids. Within an hour everyone was there and we had dinner – or supper as they call it – water balloon fight, followed by cake and gifts, more water balloon fight, basketball and of course the good ol’ slip-n-slide that the kids played on the entire time. The kids had a blast playing with all their cousins.
We spent the rest of the week chilling, going to my nephew’s baseball games and my nieces softball games, swimming and hanging out with family.
Saturday, the 26th was Brent and Kellie’s wedding and it was beautiful. The ceremony had me in tears, the speeches at the reception had me in tears and seeing the other side of my family had me in tears. My Dads cousins were there and it was so great to see them and hug their necks! We all danced the night away, ok ok the kids danced WAY more than I did but we all had a really good time. Congratulations Brent and Kellie!!
Sunday, we got up, packed up and headed for home. We packed as if we would stop and get a room along the way because we were all exhausted but ended up driving straight through again. I drove the first 15 hours and Jeff drove the last few. Although I love my family and love spending time in Iowa, there’s nothing like crawling into your own bed! We got to the house around 5 am and crashed. All in all we had a great trip. See my facebook page for tons more pictures.