Home again, home again, jiggity jig...

We are home from our adventurous travels, and boy are we happy to be here. There is nothing like sleeping in your own bed in your own home.

We had a great time on our trip. We got to see a lot of family, Carl and I went on a date, and we even got to see some snow!

The "funk" that Arden had (and is getting over), has now made it full circle around the family, and even Carl and I are taking our turn with it. We are glad that it seems to be passing fairly quickly and not lingering too long.

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday and will see you as soon as the "funk" passes :o)

Wonderful Day...

Grammy and DadDad took Carl, myself, and the boys to an indoor "amusment" park thing today, and we all had a blast!

We bowled, moon bounced, rode bumper-cars, rode the tea cups, played games, and just enjoyed some time together. It was great...

Then Grammy offered to watch the monsters while Carl and I went on a date!

It was great, we went to an establishment that we wouldn't frequent with kids, ate HOT wings, watched WVU beat Pitt, and had a great time... We might have to make it happen more often, it was really wonderful.

OH~ I finished Arden's hat last night too! I need to get up a photo, I LOVE IT!

A few Thanksgiving photos...

Our little guys are all snotty and goopy, but they seem to be making the best of the day with the family... Here are a few shots of the boys at the park:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just popping in to say Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours! We hope that you have a wonderful day filled with friends and family.

This year we all have so much to be thankful for, and believe me, we are.

A quick shot of a turkey will end this post, and I will talk to you all tomorrow!

Just a few pics...

From our drive.

First up is a pic of the Can-man from today:


Isn't he just a cutie-pie? He is turning into a huge camera ham!

Here are my other boys taking a look at the view:


And me checking out the river:


We had a beautiful drive today and I'm thankful for the lack of traffic! Things went smoothly and we are safe and sound waiting for a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Just a recent hat...

I'm finally knitting Arden that hat I promised him, lol. Now that I got done the super-girly hat for my niece, I have gotten his started.

Here is what I have done so far; Arden picked the colors:

Plans...

We have all heard the old Yiddish proverb "Man plans, God laughs" (Mann traoch, Gott Lauch), and it is so true!

We planned on heading out for the Thanksgiving holiday today, I planned on spending my day packing, loading the car, and hitting the road by late afternoon.

Needless to say, it didn't happen and the plans changed.

The van now has a working radiator. I figure now that there is a new transmission and new radiator in the van it should be running like new, right? LOL. It took until the afternoon for that to get finished, and I planned on getting the clothes and things packed to go while Carl was waiting for the van... Well, that didn't happen either, lol.

My middle son was a bit snotty last night and by this morning had become quite goopy and began to cry over an ear ache. We treated the ear with some black current seed oil which stopped the pain, and made him feel somewhat better, but he spent the day sitting in mama's lap wanting love and comfort. (To be honest it feels nice to be needed and loved so much by my little man.)

I planned on getting him dressed to o out and run errands... but I ended up letting him wear his footie PJs all day, even out to our Tuesday night dinner. Can you blame me? I just wanted him to be comfy and to feel better.

So here it is, 9:30 PM and I am now getting around to packing and cleaning.

I plan on leaving here early in the morning, but we shall see how amusing God finds those plans too :o)

I am thankful that my little guy has kept his spirits up, and that he doesn't seem too miserable, and that we will have a safe vehicle to drive tomorrow.

Just in case we don't get to update while traveling, Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I hope that you all get to spend some time with those you love and reflect on things that you are thankful for!

Little things...

Today, I have decided to realize how thankful I am for the little things :O) There are so many things we often take for granted.

I am thankful that my family has enough to eat, a warm place to sleep, running water, shoes that fit, and lives in one of the most beautiful places on the east coast.

I am thankful for a wonderful supportive family from my in-laws and my family.

I'm thankful that I have friends who love, support, listen, and cherish me.

I am thankful for the van I am driving, even if it does like to break down. It almost always gets us from point A to B, and I'm pretty sure it will continue to do so with a little TLC and encouragement.

I am thankful for my education and college degree even if I don't get to use it. Knowing the difference between words such as "your" and "you're" and between "it's" and "its" are fairly important in the English language, especially if you are ever going to be a professional in ANY field (as is knowing proper punctuation and capitalization). Little things such as these make all the difference between someone knowing you are intelligent and realizing that you really aren't. ;)

Little things that we often overlook are the things we shouldn't overlook and should be the most thankful for.

I'm just thankful all around today, and hope you all find something to be thankful for today too!

End of the warmth...

This morning, before it got too cold, and before the rain began to fall, I mowed our yard for the last time of the season.

Our riding mower broke a few months back, and I had to push mow the property. Since the grass was getting long enough to fold over, and we are running short on warm days and dry weather, I figured today was the day.

I got the front done, then half the back, and then it began to rain. I had to send the kids into the house while I finished mowing in the rain.

I'm thankful that there was only a little of the yard left to mow when the rain started, and thankful that it was warm enough to get it all done and to let the children play outside while I mowed.

After we mowed, there was a "Rock Star" birthday party where all three boys got up to sing into microphones. Rory surprised me and sang an "original" song that he made up. It was great! So happy B-Day S, we hope you had a great time too!

Here is Rory (minus his tie) ready for the party:


Overall, even with the rain, it was a beautiful day today.

Georgous weather...

There aren't many places that have the weather we do in the mountains of NC.

I am so thankful for warm days in the latter half of November, days so warm that my children don't even need jackets.

Just wait though, the weather here changes fast, I'm holding onto hope for early season snow for skiing!

My wonderful and aggravating children...

I am so thankful for my wonderful yet aggravating children... even in our most trying minutes, they are so fun loving and innocent.

This morning was a little stressful while trying to get Rory to school and we were a little late trying to get everyone out the door...

I knew we were low (like gas light on for 15 miles already low) on gas, and that the bank was closed until 9 or 10, so we had limited gas... we are running short on time, and it is cold out. So I get the kids in their seats (no gas or time to warm up the car) and jump in, throw on the wipers and realize that the steam/fogged up windows aren't actually fogged up. They were covered in ice.

Great.

So I reach down to grab my ice scrapper from under my seat, and it isn't there. I begin searching the car, and then seem to remember seeing it in the kitchen closet by the door. So I go in the house and search. I can't find it anywhere.

In the meantime I had been verbalizing what I was looking for and Arden was laughing in his seat, which meant Canyon was too.

I finally come out of the house and try to find something in the car to use as a scraper. I figured I would ask to see if the kids had any idea what happened to the scrapper... and this is the response I get...

"Mama, it is in the washing machine," followed by giggling from all 3 boys. (Arden is the one that finally cracked, I'm not sure which was the culprit though.)

Low-and-behold when I go in the laundry area and pull ALL the clothes out of the washer, my ice scrapper appeared.

What in the world are they thinking?! This is the third time this week that they have hidden items of mine in the washer. Thank goodness it hasn't been the phone yet!

While my children are frustrating, it was pretty amusing, and they are so cute you can't help but smile!

Oh and we made it to school with 2 minutes to spare and I think we still have enough gas to get to the gas station and bank :)

Friendships.

I am so thankful for the friendships that I have made here in Asheville (and all over the country really).

I went out for lunch yesterday with a dear friend, and it feels so nice to have things shared with you, and to share things with a friend the way we did. It really makes you feel good.

So, to all my friends out there, I am thankful for you, and if we don't get to talk/hang out/chat as much as we used to, I'm missing you and hoping we get together more soon.

I love you all!! Friends are a wonderful part of life!

Life as it is...

Although there are those days when I get frustrated, feel unappreciated, feel like nothing I do is enough... the majority of the days I get to spend as a stay-at-home-mom are wonderful.

I am thankful for the opportunity to be here with my children and to get to experience them growing up, learning, and becoming the little men that they are so quickly growing into. I love the time with the kids, each day I think that they teach me more then I will ever teach them.

I know that I have missed out on some things because of the life I have chosen, but really, it has been worth it and I wouldn't change it for the world.

My husband.

Today I am thankful for my husband Carl.

He is my other half, and knows when I need him. I love him dearly and am glad to have him as my support, and I am happy he has chosen to be with me for life. Besides, after 3 kids, I think we are pretty much stuck. (Good thing I like him eh?)

Love you baby.

(I know this photo is already on here, but I love his eyes in it... and it is recent, lol.)

Wonderful Company

I am so thankful for the neighborhood I live in.

D.R. is wonderful, and honestly we have come to think of her as family. Last night she took me Zydeco Dancing, and I had a blast!

Our neighbors on the hill are wonderful too! They have 2 beautiful boys that entertain my boys, and every Monday night we all enjoy a nice family dinner together.

There is something to be said for the close relationships with neighbors. It really is nice.

Beautiful Weekend.

This weekend has been perfect! Not a cloud in the sky, unseasonably warm, and just perfect.

The rivers and streams have water topping the banks, the fish were biting, and the scene was wonderful.

A friend of mine is putting up a "I'm thankful for..." each day this month, I am going to as well.

I'm thankful for the rain that has made our rivers and streams swell in their banks and that has fed our landscape, giving it the beautiful colors.

A few photos of the weekend...

Canyon has a new addiction. The boy is insanely attached to fishing poles now. If he sees one, he will start freaking out and screaming until he gets to hold and play with it. This afternoon he saw a pole in the floor of the car and was in hysterics until we got out of the car and he was removed from the temptation. What am I in for??!!

Here are a few shots of him with the pole by the river this weekend:



Here is one of Carl with Arden sleeping (maybe just laying) on his back while he fished:


And just a few of my dreads:

Long day...

The viewing for DM was today, we drove up from NC to WV this morning, and it wasn't a bad trip overall. The kids enjoyed themselves at the viewing, and I think people enjoyed having them there.

The boys really do light up people around them. Little Canyon had a book with him that he kept taking up to people yelling "book" and trying to get people to look at it with him! It was so cute...

Anyway, I hope all is well with you all and will see many of you tomorrow.

Disproportionate responses...

Today we went to the Nature Center in the morning, and while we were driving home, Carl and I were talking about lunch. Rory interrupted with a, "Hey Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Can I have tea with lunch?"
Me (teasing him) "Well, I don't know... Dad do you think he is allowed to have tea?"
Dad (joking as well) "No, Rory, you can't have tea."
Rory responds with "I can't have tea? SWORD FIGHT!!!" as he begins waving around a plastic sword he uses with his pirate costume.

How in the world is that a proportionate reaction?! And where did that violence come from? Needless to say, Carl and I found it hilarious and were laughing for a while.

We also went to the river today. We caught some fish, hung out, played on the cobblestone shore, and just enjoyed our Sunday!

Here are a few photos:

Arden, again.

Yikes!!!!

Look at what I found in my living room this morning!

Isn't his hair just sickly gorgeous?

Happy Halloween from the boys!

Happy Halloween everyone!!

We got out despite the rain, (although it did cut the night very short overall). The kids had a blast and I think made out better because they braved the rainy night!

Here are our little Trick-or-Treaters... could they get any cuter?!

(Edited to add: I am not sure what is going on with the uploader on here, but the photos are not this grainy and blotchy.)

Just a few snapshots

What happend to fall?

We knew it was going to be a bit cold this morning, but what I didn't expect was having to break out the ice scraper to scrape off frost, and for some windows to still be frosted after returning from dropping Rory off at school!

Here is a shot of one of the Tonka trucks in our yard:


What happened to fall?!?! We live in the freaking south!!!!

I finally charged my camera. It has been sitting uncharged for weeks. So you can expect photos/blog entries soon!

How do you say my name?

So, I had the oddest conversation with Rory this week...

"Hey mom?"

"Yeah Rory?"

"How do you say my name?"

I was not sure I heard him right, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"My name, how do you say it?"

"Rory, Roar (like a lion) E."

"Oh..." long pause.

At this point I am a little confused, "Why honey?"

"Well, I thought it was War-E, like war."

"You did?"

"Yeah, but you are sure it is roar-e?"

"Yup, I'm sure."

"OK."

So for the past 3 years my son has thought he was saying his name correctly, and I just thought that his pronunciation of the letter R was a little off. What in the world?!?! At least he can say his name now, LOL!

Just a pic of Can-man

Taken by Sonya Stone :) He is such a cutie, don't you guys think?

The weather is changing...

and fall is already here! I can't believe that the summer passed by so quickly. My boys are growing up fast.

Recently there have been a few funny stories coming from our oldest son, and before I forget them, I want to write them down.

I acknowledge that these stories may not be funny to you readers, but they are to me and I want to preserve them!

Story #1.) My son, the master of the obvious.

So Rory has been doing great in school. The teaching style is not exactly the same as the public schools, and is more art based. It really is cool. Rory has ALWAYS been a "master of the obvious" and a few nights ago solidified that for us...

Rory: "Hey mom, dad, can we watch a movie? I want to watch Evan Almighty."
Dad: "Sure, but we are going to bed right after."
Rory: "Great! I'll get out the DVD. Oh, guess what, I can spell DVD!"
~~long pause~~
Rory: "D... ummm..... V...... D? I think that is how it is spelled."

Rory proceeds to get the movie from the box, and I hear, "DVD! I spelled it right mom! I can spell DVD!".


Story #2.) Not mastering the obvious...
So Rory is still getting to know the names of the kids in his school, actually, I think he knows them all now, but he was having a hard time the first week. Two of the boys in his class are Van and Miles.

We were sitting around the campfire with friends one night chatting, and Rory was talking about the kids at school. We asked him what their names were, and he couldn't remember.

So, since we drive a van, I figured I would make it easy and help him remember the name of Van.

I said, "Rory, what do we drive?"
Rory's response: "Miles... OH! Miles is in my class!!"
My response, "Ok, yes, Miles is in your class, and we do drive miles, but what to do we drive miles on?"
Rory: "The road." (Which was said with a "DUH" tone).
Me: "OK, so we drive miles on the road in what...." trying my hardest to lead him into the answer "Van".
Rory: "In the van, mom."
Silence.
Me: "Right Rory... and who is in your class?"
Rory: "Miles."
2-3 minutes pass by... and I hear "Oh MOM! Van is in my class too! Another boy in my class is Van!"

He was totally NOT mastering the obvious this time.

Just because I like them...

I have been taking a few photos of my dreads lately... some other mamas were curious about things, so I was documenting the care for them... so here are a few photos of my dreads.

My beads are all beads that have been given to me, quite a few are cool recycled glass beads from my mother-in-law. I put beads in my hair as reminders to pray and think about those around me who need support and uplifting.

They are super tight and after cutting out about a foot of length in May, the ends are locking up again.

To answer a few basic questions:

YES I do wash my hair, regularly in fact ;) You have to have clean hair to get locs.
No, they are not dirty nor do they have bugs.
Yup, that is my hair.
They are easy to care for.
I got them for me, not because I am a rasta or anything of that sort. They are my view of beauty. It is nice to be/feel beautiful without having to modify myself to society's version of beauty.