Happy Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween! Well, tonight was a great night. I had so hoped this day would be fun for the kids and it sure was. Yes, Little Will had school today but that was ok. He got his homework done in a flash and played outside a little until it was time to go. Cole's best buddy, Jo Jo came over and we all went trick or treating around our neighborhood together. We started early (I think we were the first ones out!) and trick or treated for 2 hours straight! Fun night, best friends...I couldn't ask for better times for my kids and for me :) We are lucky. Hope you all enjoyed your holiday too!

Pinterest...Just another obsession...

Oh my Lord...I love Pinterest. I had no idea. I tried that website about 2 weeks ago and had no idea what was going on. So, I instantly gave up. Then, 2 days ago, I decided to give it another try. This time, my eyes were opened to it's wonderful world. Pinterest is amazing. You can find any craft/DIY idea in the world. I have found solutions to my headband ball (now I know I can use an oatmeal container wrapped in fabric to make a headband holder), my ribbon mound (now I know you can use a tie hanger) and I have found the cutest snack ideas on the planet. I'm addicted. I may even become that mom...you know the one that has it all together?? Well, I'll probably never be all that, but I can at least look like I have it all together to my 3 munchkins :) Now, I need to go...it's Friday eve and I have 10 minutes before I have to wake up Mollie and go pick up Little Will from school...Pinterest is calling!!!!!

Fall Friends...

Here's a picture of my baby boy, Cole and his best buddy in the world, Jo Jo. These two found one another last year at preschool and it was a friendship at first sight. They get along and always have fun. Today, they both just looked so stinkin' cute, pumpkin pickin' together. I thank the Lord for a friendship like this for my little boy :) Another answered prayer...one grateful mama :)

Pumpkin Mollie

This is the cutest ever...I just had to share...my friend, Kathy took this picture today at the pumpkin patch. She captured Mollie at her cutest...a little mischievious and always happy...and p.s. I made that bow :)

Daughters and Daddies...

I am one lucky girl...I have a wonderful husband, 3 beautiful, healthy children and now, I have my Daddy. I never thought this day would come. I am 35...35 year old women don't all of the sudden get a chance like this. I thought my chance had passed. I had almost given up.

Then, one day things changed. My step-mom, Donna, who I had never met, reached out to me. She opened the door and made a way for that huge gap to close. God used her that day. She thought beyond her own life and took a chance on a complete stranger...me. She didn't know me. She didn't know if I was nice or weird or crazy. She just took a chance. I believe God led her to do that. I will always believe that.

Now, after 35 years, I have a relationship with my daddy. He is everything I hoped he would be...funny, smart and affectionate. He hugs. He hugs me a lot :) That makes me smile. That makes up for lost time. We are so much a like, it's nuts. Even simple things like what his favorite candy is (Reese cups), is my favorite too. I don't take those little things for granted. They are all special and important to me. The best part of all of this is that my children have a wonderful grandfather now (Pops, as they call him). They always had a wonderful grandfather in my husband's father, but now I have something to offer too. They get to see my side. I needed that in this life. Now, I have it.

So, today, Monday, I'm sitting here missing my dad but things are different than they used to be. I don't miss him the same way. I know I'll see him really soon. I know I can pick up the phone and call him. I know that he thinks my baby girl is the most beautiful girl in the whole world. I know that he loves my boys more than I could have ever imagined. I know that he is my real daddy and that can't ever be taken away. God answers prayers. Prayers of a little 8 year old girl and prayers of a 35 year old woman....all my prayers. He answers and I am grateful :)

My baby boy...9 years old?

Tomorrow, my baby boy will be 9 years old. I can't believe it. Didn't we just bring him home from the hospital yesterday? I know everybody says that time flies, but after you have a baby, time really does fly. The last 9 years have gone by like a flash. I truly feel like I just blinked and now, my baby is standing almost as tall as me.

On October 20, 2002, William Walter James III was born at exactly 9:00 am. He was 8 pounds and 10 ounces and 21.5 inches long. I can't believe I survived to be totally honest. He was a week late (actually due on October 13th). My water had broken at home and two very scared twentysomething soon-to-be parents rushed to the hospital and waited all night to hold that sweet baby. He was precious and perfect and a true "piece of gold" as Nanni used to say. Everybody loved Will. Everybody still loves Will. But to me, his mama, that was my first baby....and the love I felt the day he was born has only grown over the last 9 years.

Here are some neat things about my firstborn son:

1. He loves science...I mean, he truly loves it. He wants to be a scientist when he grows up. I'll be on the front row for every science experiment, I promise.

2. He has a beautiful singing voice. My baby can sing. He sounds like an angel. I am so glad. I wish he would sing more but he's a little bashful nowadays. One of these days, I'm going to hear him belt it out and once again, I'll be on the front row.

3. He has a tender heart...he cries when he sees a commercial about kids with cancer. He begs to give food to hungry people. He worries when we see a homeless man or a child without good clothes. He cried in the movie Soul Surfer and Dolphin Tail....I love his tender heart.

4. He loves Jesus. Will gave his heart to the Lord when he was really little. I wondered if he even knew what he was doing back then, but now I know he knew exactly what was going on. He prays everyday and if you're his friend, I can guarantee that he prays for you. He tells little Cole Bible stories and listens in church, like he was 35 years old. One more reason that I'm proud...

5. He's just like his Daddy...yes, if you have seen my husband, then you have seen my son. They are identical, not only in looks but in personality. I have always wondered what it would feel like to have someone look so much like you and also act the same...it's really neat to see. I am proud of those two. Little Will sure lucked out to have such a good Daddy to be like :) I wouldn't change that for the world.

6. Will loves to read...I mean, he LOVES to read. He is surrounded by books this very moment in his bed. Science books, history books, baseball books...you name it. He usually falls alseep with a book under his pillow. I hope he never loses that eagerness to learn. I'm so proud of him :)

7. He loves his family...Will would do anything for his family...anything. He loves his baby brother and has set such a good example for him. He is like a mini-daddy to Mollie, who absolutely adores him. He would give his right arm for time with his grandparents. Will is a family boy and I know one day, he'll turn into a family man.

8. He has the cutest freckles in the world :) Enough said. They are literally the.cutest.things.ever

9. He can hit a baseball like nobody's business...yep, I'm a proud baseball mama every spring. I love cheering him on and the best part is his smile from ear to ear the whole time. He would do anything for his team. That's my guy.

10. We grew up together...yeah, I was a complete ignorant mess when I gave birth to that sweet boy. I had no idea what I was doing and couldn't believe the nurses were actually going to let us take him home. I grew up real fast...I learned most things the hard way with Will but it was worth it. I remember rocking him for literally hours and hours (since, remember I learned everything the hard way) but those days of just us...well, I wouldn't trade it for the world. It was never that way again.

So, there are just a few of the wonderful things about my baby boy...yes, he's still my baby boy until the day I'm gone. Little Will, if you ever read this, remember that I am so proud of you and I love you. I love you more than all the stars in the sky and all the grains of sand on the beach. I love you as far as the ocean and the sky. I cherish every day with you. You are my piece of gold.

Love, Mama

The Office...Episode 4...much better

Ok, this week's office episode was MUCH better...sorry I'm so late with this blog (cause I know you all are all on the edge of your seats). The Garden Party...funny idea. I loved Andy's parents and the fact that Josh Groban was his brother...good casting there. His dad and mom had been on about 100 Lifetime movies in the past and who could have forgetten Andy's dad from 7th Heaven? Anyway, very cute episode...not the best it's ever been, but better than last week. But really anything would have been better than last week...

Alrighty, enough of The Office for today...it's Monday already and I'm just not feeling it...I'm more in a Sing-Off mood now ;) Maybe I should blog about that!!??

Happy Monday!!

Fall Babies

These are my 3 babies at the pumpkin patch, South Forty Farm near our house. They are precious and perfect...enough said. I love this picture and just had to share :) Happy Friday Eve!!

Top Ten Favorite Songs of All-time

Well, I love favorites...I love it when someone asks me what my favorite (color, song, movie...etc.) is...so, here is my favorite list of pop songs. I have about 100 more that I like but here are my top 10 that I love...what are your favorites??

1. Belief by Gavin Degraw...the best song ever. I love it and it always takes me back to when my son, Cole was born. One of the truly happiest moments of my life...I've seen Gavin Degraw in person and he didn't sing this song, much to my dismay, but it's his best...really.

2. Down to Earth by Justin Bieber...don't laugh...it's really that good. He has a flawless voice and you have to admit, he's just a kid. The lyrics are heartfelt and the melody is so sweet. I love it and it makes me cry.

3. Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae...the anthem of girls everywhere, at least in my world :) I love it and it's my little summertime song...can't wait for Mollie to hear it one day.

4. I'm Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado...This song is more than 10 years old but I remember the day I bought the CD at Kmart :) I used to sing it at the top of my lungs way before I had kids. It reminds me of my baby blue Volkswagon Beetle...oh how I loved that car and that song :)

5. Somebody to Love by Queen...I love Freddy Mercury's voice...I remember my grandmother telling me his voice sounded like an angel. She was right.

6. Umbrella by Marie' Digby...yes, it's a cover of Rhianna's song but it's better than the original...I'm serious. Rhianna's version makes me want to dance...this version makes me want to squeeze my babies and cry. I love it.

7. Dream a Little Dream of Me by The Mamas and Papas...I love Mama Cass. What a loss...She had another angelic voice and I like to think that in my dreams I can sing like that :)

8. Soul to Squeeze by Red Hot Chili Peppers...This song made me want to learn to play the bass guitar...it's the reason I bought a bass guitar...a mint green one at that. I listened to this "tape", yes, tape all the way to NY on my senior trip in high school. I never forgot that song. I remember every word that blasted through on my walkman.

9. Fireflies by Owl City...not only do I love the name of this group (I love owls)...I love this song. It's my 4 year old's favorite song in the world. I have a youtube video of him singing it...I was hoping Owl City would see it and give us free tickets to their concert...as of yet, he hasn't been discovered but I'm holding out hope...the best electronically created song ever

10. Somewhere Only We Know by Keane...I found this group a long time ago...before Winnie the Pooh grabbed this song for it's trailer...Keane was the VH1 artist of the month way back in 2005 and I fell in love with this song. Tom Chapin has a fantastic voice and this song makes me want to run through a field and twirl around...well, not really but I love it and even my kids like it :)

Seriously, send me your top ten! I would LOVE it :) Happy Tuesday!!

The Office...Episode 3 :(

I forgot to blog about this episode...it was that bad. My least favorite episode ever. I don't know what to write. I was so disappointed. I miss Michael. I had to rely on Jersey Shore for my Thursday night entertainment...do you know how ridiculous that is?

NBC...please don't make Daryl the lead in an episode again. He ain't funny. He's great as a supporting character but not as the main guy.

Also, NBC, please don't do this again. The Office is already hanging by a thread...Michael Scott is gone. He was The Office...step up the funny stuff...grease on a warehouse floor really isn't too funny. Go back to stuff like the Dundies,  Michael's birthday at the ice skating rink...now, that was funny.

So, this was a terrible, pointless blog post but I had to do it...until next week all you Office fans :)

Yard Sales...Oh How I Love Thee...

Yesterday was an insane day...I went to Kings Mountain State Park with Little Will's 3rd grade class...super fun and I loved the kids :) I so enjoyed going...beautiful day, great class, great teachers...then, the bomb dropped.

Last night, Cole slammed his finger in a door at our church...a heavy door...a really heavy door. I have never heard that child cry like that and if you know Cole, you know he cries alot (a fly touched me, my ear lobe hurts, somebody scared me...etc.) This was different. He was in real pain. It looked terrible...smushed and swollen. We knew for sure it was broken...fast forward to 2 hours in the ER, xrays and misery and we found out IT'S NOT BROKEN! Yay! Had to be a miracle :) So all you friends that I texted at 9:00 last night...thanks for praying. I love you all :)

So, today we needed a break....like some totally mindless fun. Oh I have an idea...YARD SALES! You know, you have $10 and you get $100 worth of stuff?? Yeah, that's my kind of mindless fun. The neighborhood down the road was having a neighborhood sale, so me and kids loaded up the van, got ourselves a McDonald's biscuit and were on our way. We totally scored...I mean, we really did.

Here's what we got and this should make you a yard sale believer too:

1 Lamaze Octopus baby toy
1 travel baby toy octopus
1 Little People Princess camping set with tin toy pail
3 Star Wars Lego sets...yes, 3 of them for $1 each! Even came with all the parts and directions!!
1 large bag of over 30 Star Wars action figures...oh my Lord, Yoda, Darth Vader...all the gang...my boys were uncontrollable :)
3 Christmas dresses for Mollie
1 Halloween shirt for Mollie bell
1 pair of Gymboree leggings
1 pair of black holiday tights
1 Carters pink jogging suit
1 Gymboree long sleeved body suit
1 Children's Place pink dress
1 white Sunday sweater
1 Old Navy fall long sleeved shirt

Ok, do you believe me? Yard sales can be great. Today was a hit day...sometimes you have a miss day. I spent only $25 dollars...I'm serious. Two of those action figures would have been that price at Walmart. So, my boys are happy...Mollie is happy on her 9 month birthday and I am happy....now, just stop by my house next Saturday when I have my yard sale and I'll probably give you anything you want for free...gotta make room for more junk :)

Bowtastic :)

Ok...today I attempted to make Mollie some hairbows...at least I had my friend, Meagan with me. Our baby girls are only 1 month apart, so this was our little adventure. Youtube is my friend. I have found out that ANYTHING you could ever need to know is on youtube :) We watched a video and started bow makin'. Anyway, I made an orange and white polka dot bow, a brown swirly bow and a Minnie Mouse bow...not perfect by any means, but it's a start. I gotta learn to do this...I have a daughter now...I could go broke on the bows alone...now, I'll just go broke on the ribbon ;)

Happy Friday Eve!! The Office episode 3 blog coming soon!

5 years later...Nanni is always in my heart...

Today is October 2...this is a sad day for me because it's the anniversary of the day my Nanni passed away. She died of lung cancer on October 2, 2006. I was 30 and she had just turned 70. She had been so full of life until about 3 months before she died. She was my best friend and the only mama I ever had. I was 5 months pregnant with Cole when she died...she got to see a 3D ultrasound picture of him in her last days but she couldn't say anything to me. My heart was broken. My life would never be the same.

My grandma (Nanni) was much more than just a grandma to me. She was my mom from the time I was 6 months old. She took care of me, washed my clothes, cooked for me, helped me with my homework, read the Bible to me and was the only person in my life who ever took me to church. She did more than just meet my needs as a child and teenager, she was my friend. We talked...we talked all the time...every single day. We did everything together. We loved the same shows on TV (except she hated The Office, which I never could figure out). We loved the same movies and Lifetime movies were our favorites :) She was a constant person in my life when things weren't always consistent. It was Nanni who I remember staying up with me until midnight studying for a history test and Nanni who took care of me when I threw up all over my bed when I was a kid. I depended on her and loved her more than she will ever know.

So, that horrible day when I found out she had stage 4 lung cancer and lymphoma...well, it was one of the worst days of my life. But to be honest, I didn't really realize what all that meant that day. I thought she would be fine. I thought she would never go away. I couldn't picture my life without her and I just knew everything would be ok. The crazy thing was 2 weeks after she told me she was sick...I found out I was pregnant. I remember her telling me that she would be fine by the time the baby came and that she would stay with me and help with Little Will (who was 3 at the time) and help with the baby. I just pretended that she was right and that everything would be ok even though I saw her falling apart every day before my very eyes.

Her cancer was bad...it was miserable for her and it took her pretty fast. She fought as much as she could but it had her every which way but loose. I lived in a pretend fantasy world back then...everything will be fine, everything will ok, she'll be fine...all the while carrying a little baby inside of me and taking care of my sweet 3 year old who pretty much witnessed everything firsthand.

The last weeks in September of 2006 were the worst. I stayed at her house everyday. I would sit with her and talk about everything we were going to do when she got better. She couldn't talk to me much. She looked so different. Little Will had started to get scared. My husband, Will had to do things that he never imagined and helped her in ways that I will never forget. I probably fell more in love with him in those days than every before. I knew how much he loved her and really how much he loved me.

So, on October 2, 2006, Nanni finally got some peace. She passed away at about 8:30 that night. I missed it by 5 minutes. I had prayed that God would let me see her die if I was supposed to and if I could handle it...and I always prayed that if the Lord knew I couldn't take it, to let me not be there. Well, God knew what was right. I couldn't have handled it...especially pregnant. She fought it until the last minute. She didn't want to leave us. God knew she needed some peace...some rest.

Now, 5 years later, it's just as fresh in my mind as the days that it all happened. I miss her voice. I miss her hugs. I miss her phone calls. I miss our trips to the mall. I miss meeting up with her at Walmart to get the babies a "prize". I miss her smell. I miss it all because she was my mama and I will never let that go. I still have 5 messages she left me saved on my answering machine...I listened to them yesterday. Her voice is still as precious as before. She told Will and me that she loved us. She said she was just calling to see how we were doing. I would give anything for a call like that today. I know I'll see her in heaven one day but the ache right now is still there. What I would give for her to hold Cole,who would have made her laugh like crazy and little Mollie, who she would have loved to pieces. We'll all get our chance one day. I know we'll all be together when it's God's time. But for now, I'll remember that sweet voice and that love of a mom that I'll never have again but that I can give to my own children.

I love you Nanni...