Ok...since last week, I've been trying to post pics from our vacation, but there are too many to pick through. In the meantime...
This past weekend, reality sunk in when I promised Kate that we'd have our first lesson in shaving! Agghhh....when did this happen? It seems like only yesterday that I was giving my Mother horrible directions to the hospital, only for her to arrive at the last seconds of Kate's delivery!! Each year has passed quicker....and now I'm up to my eyeballs in pre-teen attitude and and my babies growing up! I suppose these are the moments that we dread yet secretly look forward to (perhaps this might be in reverse order for you)! The milestones are always the biggest: first words, crawling, walking, eating table foods, losing the first tooth.....then comes bras, shaving legs....and the ones I'm sure to hate...boys and hormones!! Luckily, we still have a 5 year old to enjoy, but each day her baby voice disappears along with her baby face features!! Thankfully, she still enjoys a good cuddle and occasionally lets me hold her in my arms. I suppose that, too, will come to an end.
Needless to say, our first lesson in shaving went on without a hitch (and no major cuts)! Kate commented on her legs being as "smooth as a baby's butt" and I walked away with all smiles...proud of my baby for being so grown up and sharing a moment that is now in the books!
About Me:
- Amy Moore
- Conway, Arkansas, United States
- I became a single mom at the age of 24. 5 years later, I watched as my house grew from 2 to 4. Now a blogger & creator of Mommy Dig, and as a Thriving mom, I share my duties and mishaps as C.E.O. of 3 children and one crazy cat. Everyday is an adventure. I may lose my mind, but I'm loving every minute of it!!
August 31, 2011
August 25, 2011
Spring Pics
Mnt.; Aeris checking out the scenery.
she answered it back!
A memorial to loved ones lost (L to R):
My grandmother, Dorothy; My Aunt Delores;
ans Mike's Dad, Joe.
container resembling their lives becoming
one. Before hand, Mike read the "Scottish Prayer", which
was on the paper shown.
The baptistery is just below the window
together...
Mike had to pop a few just to get in.
August 18, 2011
Dealing with loss
Well, just a week after returning from Branson, I received news that my Dad had passed away. I was at work on my lunch break when my Aunt called me. The initial blow was horrifying! You never are really prepared to hear things like that....and being 45 minutes from home....I felt so alone! I immediately called Steven and then called my Mom, hoping that someone could erase what I just heard. I wanted so badly to rewind time and tell my Dad all the little things I hadn't said...and at least say "I love you". Unfortunately, that's not how it works....and it is true that God has his own plans for us all.
The next few days I felt numb, sad, and regretful. I honestly kept hoping that it was a really bad joke or that my Dad would call at any minute. I spent 5 days with family that I hadn't spent much time with over the years, meanwhile making all the necessary arrangements for my Dad and his belongings. I quickly became overwhelmed. My Dad's wishes were to be cremated, so leading up to his memorial services was a different experience altogether. I never got to see him...to say "good-bye"... the way you do with a burial....it was like he was just gone!
The week after his services, I had to gather his belongings. Combing over his things was a process in itself. Although our belongings are just "things", when you lose someone, those "things" become the last little tokens you have of that person's life. How do you decide what to keep and what to throw away? Pictures were the most important! Walking into my Dad's house, I realized how proud he was of me and his granddaughters. Everywhere I turned, he had pictures of us! Along with the pictures, I gathered up his wallet, watch, glasses , and a jewelry box he had saved a few mementos in. I also found a sweater I had just given him at Christmas, which smelled like his cologne that was still setting on his dresser. Throughout the week, it became clear what was important not only to me, but also to my Aunts and Uncle that had been left behind. With their help, along with the help of Steven and family friends, we managed to empty out his house. The last day I made the trip to his house was very hard....knowing I'd never set foot inside his house again....that in a sense, I was saying "good-bye".
At this point, it feels like my Dad is on vacation....that he's somewhere and I just haven't talked to him yet. It's been almost 4 weeks since we've talked and I'm already missing our weekly phone calls. Every day since, I've cherish my moments with my girls and Steven...and thinking about how important family truly is. We should never take for granted the time we are given, as we never know when that moment will end....
August 13, 2011
Incomplete Timeline
So obviously I have neglected the blog in almost a year's time...but we're still here. Since my last post, a lot has happened...some good and some bad.
Back in December, I ventured off to Dallas, TX. for 2 weeks for job training with AT&T, where I am now working. It was rough being away from the girls....at least the first few days, but then I trusted the fact that I knew they were in good hands with their Daddy at home. In retrospect, it wasn't so bad...free money to eat with, free room and board....it was a mini vacation!!
To kick off summer...our next exciting event was my mother's wedding at the end of May!! The wedding was beautiful, yet simple....and it was nice to see my mom so happy!! So, it is with open hearts, that we welcome Mike into your family!!
This summer has really been a blur....with work and vacations! It seems like the girls have been gone a lot...Katie spending time with her Dad and family...Aeris making random trips to Stuttgart, where she spent most of her time fishing and swimming with her Granny & Poppa. Mid- July, the 4 of us spent a week in Branson. I had hit my 6 month mark and blew through my vacation time....but it was sooo worth it!! We had a blast swimming, seeing attractions, and having some good ol' family time. Our favorite hot spot was the Butterfly Museum. we made 2 trips....one day time showing and another at night. If you've never been, I highly recommend this place!! The girls loved it...and I, myself, could have spent hours there!! There's a neat rope maze, a movie on butterflies, the girls got their faces painted, and of course...the butterfly room. We went around noon, when the butterflies are the most active....and within minutes we were surrounded by the MOST BEAUTIFUL butterflies I've ever seen!! They are magical little creatures covered in the brightest colors!! We weren't there 5 minutes and one planted itself on my foot. It seemed to be content...and I suppose the lotion I had put on that morning before made him my new best friend! After that, the butterflies made their rounds with each of us....and Aeris was quite jealous that none were landing on her...although one finally found its way to her little hands! She was so excited! And just like that....it was gone! The night show was a totally different experience, but it ended up being my favorite thing we did together! Everything under the sun glowed in the dark!! There were girls there dressed up as fairies and danced around in their neon tutus and glow-in-the-dark hoola hoops. One man had positioned himself in a corner with a chameleon puppet...who instantly became Aeris's best friend!! It didn't seem like she could get enough of him. every 5 minutes she begged to go back to talk to him....and I imagine by the end of the night, the poor guy had his fill of Aeris!! He was a great sport and did an amazing job entertaining her while we were there!! Again....highly recommended especially for kids!! During the week, we ventured off to a huge outlet mall (and if you like to shop...there's plenty of it!). I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I found the Coach store, but my wallet shriveled up at the prices! Katie found a backpack she wanted and as kindly as I could possibly explain....I told her she wasn't getting it! When you can buy a family of four shoes new shoes for the same price....there's no way i was dishing our money for a new purse...or a backpack! Good thing she likes The Children's Place...they have cute backpacks there for a fraction of the price ($20-30 to be exact)! We defused the situation with free fudge samples and a trip to the Disney Store (the cure-all for everything in my book)! Besides the mall....and not a big highlight for the week, we also went to the Hollywood Wax Museum (where Steven married Johnny Depp...and yes...you read that correctly...dress and all!), the Dinosaur Museum (which was lame but had a great haunted house), and we found an exhibit called "Our Body: The Universe Within" where you could explore every inch of the human body...LITERALLY! I wasn't too enthusiastic about it at first, but a great learning experience for all of us! There were real bodies inside that had been preserved and displayed everything from the circulatory system to the reproductive system.....AND there was a section that was dedicated to pregnancy, in utero development, and infancy. The actually had 3 small babies that died due to conditions such as SIDS....and although ti was heartbreaking to see, it was still amazing to see. So I guess we got our "learn" on while on vacation...but we had fun! In fact...I was enjoyed our vacation so much, that I had a serious thought about NOT going back to work, moving to Branson (or somewhere nearby), and working at the Butterfly Museum!! Let's just say...I can't wait to go back!! Next time, we'll have to plan ahead and be sure to go to Silver Dollar City and White Water....2 places we didn't visit! I know...I know....how can you go to Branson without going there? Right?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)