WELCOME HOME

So the big move is fast upon us. My parents are moving home. Finally. It's been a long time in coming. But I think everyone is ready. I know me and the girls are.

That's not to say that things aren't going to be different. Because they are. We've been living alone for many years now, as have Mom and Dad. We both have our own schedules and the way we do things. It's gonna be quite the upheaval at first, getting to know each other. Not to mention putting a house together. I predict moments of frustration, and other times of laughter, as we figure it all out. As long as everyone hangs in there, I think the outcome will be more rewarding than anything we could even imagine.



There's some speculation that once they move in, Mom and Dad will be raising my children. That they will be stuck being the parent, while I run around willy-nilly. So let me put THAT tall tale to rest. I am, and will be, raising my children. Just like I have been for the past eight years. I'm sort of insulted that anyone would think differently. That's not to say I don't have some expectations.



I expect Mom to challenge Trinity in checkers, and Dad to teach her how to properly set up a fish tank.



I expect Mom to help Madison with her reading, and Dad to teach her how to grow a sunflower.


I expect them both to be there for Lexi's first step.

I predict tantrums and door slamming on everyones part (including my own), but I also predict Friday Night Game Nights and family dinners. My mom is going to help me cook my first Thanksgiving feast and Dad is going to help me string the Christmas lights outside.

With all that being said, I'd rather travel a curvy, bumpy road with those I love than ride the straight and narrow all by myself.

Shelly
Welcome Home

WATER BALLOONS

It was Sunday, late afternoon, and I had worked all weekend (in some way, shape or form), and I was ready for a little bit of fun. And the easiest, breeziest way is with water balloons. They take some time to fill...


...but in the end, it was more than worth the trouble.



Shelly
Loves a good fight

SOMEBODY NEEDED A NAP

Today I arrived home with just Madison. We were minus one baby (who was with her daddy), and one big sister (who was also with her daddy). We chatted all the way home about what we were going to have for dinner and what we were gonna do afterwards. We arrived home and I went to change out of my work clothes. When I came back to the living room, Madison was sound asleep on the couch. And I let her be.


I was surprised that she fell asleep so quickly, but not bothered in the least. I went about my business expecting her to wake up any moment. I emptied the dishwasher and put a load of laundry in.


I turned some music on and cleaned out some drawers. And Madison slept. And slept.


And I let her. Yes, I could have woken her up at any time. I could have shook her off the couch and made her eat and put jammies on, but I didn't. My big kids don't nap anymore, so when the time comes that their little bodies obviously need some sleep, I let Mother Nature take over. And when Madison finally woke up, she was the most loving, hug giving child any mother could wish for.

Shelly
Ahhh. The power of sleep.

SLEEPING LIKE A BABY

I was STRONGLY encouraged, by my parents, to put Lexi in her crib at bedtime. And although I did sneak in a few co-sleeps at the very beginning, I did what I was told to do so by my dad. As a result, Lexi sleeps in her very own bed, every night. She is safe. She is content. And it chaps my butt that my parents were right.



The older girls were allowed to sleep in the "big bed" since they learned what the word "bed" meant. And I didn't discourage it. During the divorce and aftermath, we all needed some comfort at the end of the day. So if one my little girls wanted to crawl in the bed with me and snuggle, I allowed it. I had no problem with it. We snuggled and slept, and faced another day. We survived. We lived another day.

So although I don't think my children will perish by sleeping in the big bed with me, I know there are babies that have. If Trinity or Madison creep into the bed late at night, I will not kick them out. But I will not put Lexi to bed in the "big" bed. At least until she's two.

Shelly
Loves to snuggle

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

When Trinity was six years old, we signed her up with The Boys and Girls Club. At the time, it was our only option. Her Dad and I were both working, and she was too old for standard daycare. So we did what we had to do. And it was the best decision we ever made for ALL our lives. The Club is so much more than just a safe place for your child to wait until you can pick them up. They have teachers to help with homework and do art projects. They have activities for every age group, and discipline protocol for those that fall out of line. This past winter, we had actual UT basketball players teaching the kids how to play ball. Not only were they taught how to dribble, but they were also taught about teamwork. The result was a very exciting season between them all.


This spring and summer, the girls have been members of "The Dancing Divas and Dudes" dance team. All the kids have worked very hard on this dance, and the progress they have made since April is beyond amazing. They are putting on a final performance in 11 days (Madison is counting), and the crew needs T-shirts. They held a bake sale all week, and today they had a car wash. The kids were out in the hot sun, scrubbing the cars down, and spraying each other with the hose willy-nilly. They showed some charm to many locals and some gullible tourists. It was a smashing success.

Shelly
Loves the Boys and Girls Club. And you should too.

AHHHHH!! OMG!!!

As I was cooking dinner the other night, I walked throughout the kitchen several times. I emptied the dishwasher, stirred the hamburger meat, and even cleaned off a part of the island. Turning away from the sink at one point, I found THIS on my floor. All of a sudden. Out of nowhere. At first I wasn't even sure what it was. Once I realized that it was a Barbie head, I opened my mouth to fuss at Madison for leaving it on the floor. But a quick peak around the corner revealed that Madison was not playing with Barbie's. She was, in fact, fully mesmerized by the newest episode of iCarly.


So how did this Barbie head appear on my floor?? Where did it come from?? And why am I so jealous of her glorious head of hair???

Shelly
AHHHHHHH!!!

THE JUNGLE

I'm not sure what the official name is for for this particular baby gadget. I think it might be a "Play Yard", or something similarily named. I don't know. It was a hand-me-down.


Either way, in this house it's called The Jungle. Play links hang down and there's a monkey involved somehow, so that's how it got it's name. Lexi loves it, so that's all that really matters. She rolls around underneath it, squealing and grabbing for the "vines" that hang down. It's the most fun spot in the house.



Shelly
Has jungle fever