Day 162

*Sunday, 6:29pm

Day 161

Today I chose to sponsor a child in Africa. There were some AMAZING testimonials this weekend at Women of Faith and I felt moved to do so. I have a picture of our little girl, but in the interest of the internet I didn't want to publish it. I'm so excited about learning about her & her family while teaching my girls about caring for others. I'm so grateful for this Saturday night. I have my family together, a full tummy and a roof over my head. I need absolutely nothing else...

Day 159 & 160

Collage #1: Early Friday Morning Pictures; "Mommy & Us & Tucker "

Collage #2: Deep Creek Lake, MD: August 21-24, 2010

I'm posting 2 different things today because I'm getting ready to leave for a couple of days. I'll be coming home at night (not until really late tonight) and figured that I probably won't feel like blogging! So, enjoy the pictures and if I feel up to it, there may be a post later to let you all know how Women of Faith is :)

Day 158

This post has been a long time coming. We had a GREAT trip with friends to Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Even though it rained (A LOT) we found other ways to occupy ourselves and the kiddos. We read, played, colored, ate, went on a boat, swam, hot tubbed, ate, cooked, talked, laughed (A LOT), and did I mention we ate?!? :) It was SO much fun and hopefully will become a yearly thing for all of us.

Although I will say that coming home has had it's hardships. For example, I hate to unpack! It's the worst. I'm such a procrastinator when it comes to getting stuff out of the suitcases and back into the dressers. Also, Grace had a fever a few of the days we were gone but she mostly just slept it off. Now, Maddie has it and she's miserable. Today is definitely better than yesterday but her fever has gone up to 101.8 and that just makes me cringe :( Last night she was saying she was hot and cold at the same time and that really confused her. We may just lay low again today and get her well.

Gabe will be on Kid Duty for the next 2 days while I attend Women of Faith in DC. I went last year and enjoyed it. It's sort of like a mini-spiritual retreat without going out of town. So, I'll be taking a break and Gabe will be holding down the fort.

Here's the pic's I took yesterday of us around the house. Maddie was being a "superhero" which was a first and it was really cute ;) Pic's from vacation will be up soon!

Day 156

We have been on vacation at Deep Creek Lake, MD for the past 4 days and it has been wonderful. Lots of fun with friends, our children and eachother. I have taken pic's and will post once we get home. We are leaving tonight to head back home. One funny story is that this morning, Gabe had a tee-time and was up and out early. Maddie woke up, came to find me and questioned "Where's Daddy?" I told her he was out playing golf and her response was "In the middle of the night?!?" :)
So cute! I reminded her that it's morning and then it made more sense to her. Love the way that little mind works :)

Day 152

Today was overwhelming in general. I learned today that it's nearly impossible to pack for a family vacation while 2 kids under 4 are hanging out... I could finish no single task. So, I gave up until nap time, then apologized for being "bad mommy" all morning. I resumed (and finished) the packing this evening and now I'm exhausted...but instead of going to bed, I want to watch tv and really do nothing.

*Sorry there aren't any pic's today as they would have been of my total and complete frustration and no one wants to see that! Tomorrow has got to be better.

Day 151

*First Time Drinking Hot Chocolate & First Blue Bow :-)

Day 150

*Rainy Day Girls :-)

Day 149

Here are a couple of highlights from my day! A funny picture with Grace and then a gamble I made at Whole Foods...and won! These are the best, baby orange tomatoes EVER :)

Day 147

We went to visit dog school a couple times this week and these are some pic's from one of those visits. I love the look on the dog, Mickey's face, in the second picture!

It's a rainy, lazy day around our house :) Just got home from church and planning to take it easy today...

Day 144

Here are the pic's from the aquarium yesterday. We had a blast but of course I have a bias...made me miss Monterey Bay but appreciate that such a cool aquarium is within driving distance :)

*Click on Collage to see pic's bigger!

Day 143

My Mom came to visit and because of how much fun I have when she's here, the blog got neglected. Last night Gabe and I went to our Pastor and his wife's wedding renewal/anniversary event and it was terrific. On the way home, an idea struck me. I turned to Gabe and asked if he thought he could take the day off tomorrow (which is now today) and he thought about it. Turns out he can (he went in to get some things done first) and we are off to Baltimore's Aquarium with the girls. Yay!! :)

We've been having a rough few weeks with the girls and since I'm human, it's really starting to get to me. I couldn't fathom another day of summer doing the same things ( even Target has gotten old). It's so hot here, we're cooped up, and to be honest, I'm counting down the days until school starts! 3 weeks ago I was crying that they were all leaving me and now I'm singing a different tune :) They need school and I need some peace and quiet. I've decided (right this very minute) that I DO NOT feel guilty about admitting that. I'm surrounded by Mom's who never take a break from their children. And, I've come to realize that that's fine...it's their way of parenting. But, for me, I need some time without them. I need to just be me; a person who is a Mom by vocation but one who isn't completely defined by that choice.

I've had this restlessness lately. I'm not clear on what it's about. It usually rears itself as a HUGE desire to move away...you know, closer to that other ocean. But, I know I'm called to be content whatever the circumstances and that's a real trial for me. I'm a work in progress and today that's enough.

Day 139

* Mary Poppins @ The Kennedy Center :-)

Day 138

*"You scream,
I scream,
We all scream,
For ice cream!"

Day 136

*What's going on here?............................

Day 134 & 135

*Listening to Keith Urban while driving home from bible study :-)

Day 132 & 133

*Top to Bottom: Us, Baseball Game, Friends, Boys, & On the Needles :)