Not Gone....

Hello All,

I am not gone, I have just focused my energies into other things.  I will no longer be posting on my blog.  Honestly, it wasn't all that interesting and it isn't much fun to write when no one reads.  I am too busy with other things that interest me to do this anymore. So long!

There's a Snake in My Boot!!

Each student in Dakotah's class at school had to make a 3D animal.  Dakotah chose the anaconda.  So I figured we should go all the way and make it big.  And one of my great idea's actually worked!!!

Here's a pic of quite a handsome guy!  Wow!

Again

Well, here we are again.  Today is Austin's birthday.  He would be 3 years old.

I thought that because more time had passed that today would be easier than previous years.  But I have a swell of emotions churning inside me.  I feel dizzy, tired, sad, anxious, and I could be sick at any moment.  The most curious emotion is nervousness.

Yesterday was not only the day before Austin's birthday, but the day we found that he had died.  Last night when I went to bed I was remembering that 3 years ago I was in the hospital wondering how I could do this.

Today is not only Austin's birthday, but the day he arrived, without breath.  Today is the day that I held my son for the only time in this life.

So please forgive me for not answering my phone today.  Please understand if I cry.  Most of all, please, please, remember my son.

I'm Done

For the two people that still read my blog, you are probably ready to hear my "surprise announcement".  Here it is:

I am no longer teaching piano lessons.

I really struggled this year to find a balance with my kids and teaching and I never really found one.  I kept feeling like I should and can be doing better to help my kids with homework or just being able to talk to them right after school.  Colby would wake from his nap and be taken downstairs by Savannah and he would not be happy that he couldn't see Mom.

So after much inner discussions (and asking Clay if it was okay) I decided to quit.  Now my kids will have me 100% after school and I'm looking forward to the extra time with them.  I'm excited for school to be over so we can have fun this summer!

My Little Boy is TWO!!!

Yesterday was Colby's birthday and we had a fun day.  We went to Red Robin for dinner, then had cake and opened presents at home.  Take a look!

In this video, Clay brings out a basketball hoop.

He loves these tools from my mom.  He slept with the screwdriver last night.

He got a lot of sand box toys from Grandma Hayes.  Now he'll have something to play with outside.

And new clothes from my mom.  He looks very handsome.

Look at this awesome birthday cake!!!  My friend Amy used her great knowledge of cakes and helped me make this cake so I wouldn't have another disaster like last year.  Thanks Amy!

This video is of Colby, ah, not blowing out his candles.  He didn't quite get that part.

Happy birthday to my sweet little boy! 

Project Paint Girls' Rooms--Complete

A couple months ago Clay and I decided to let Savannah have her own room downstairs.  So a big project started.  First of all, the storage room would become Savannah's new room so I had to figure out where all the food and other stuff was going to go.  That took some planning and finagling but we got that figured out.  Then I started painting.  A lot.  As in 5 different colors.  By myself.  Savannah wanted two colors, so Dakotah did too, and I had to peel off a wallpaper border and prime Dakotah's room first.  I got Savannah's painted in 3 days (only painting while Colby napped, of course) and Dakotah's took a week but they are both finished and the girls are happily living in their own rooms.

Here are some before pics of the girls room

Dakotah's room!  We ordered some wall decals that will pretty up the walls a little more.

Savannah's new room! 

So next I am preparing for a yard sale I am having in June.  I'm getting rid of all my baby clothes, our TV and entertainment center since we bought a new one, toys, Clay's tool box for his truck (which hasn't lived in his truck for 8 years) and other various stuff.  Right now my sewing room is a mess with all the stuff I'm collecting.  It'll be good to get rid of it and have my sewing room back to its original cleanliness.

Oh, and stayed tuned for a surprise announcement coming in June!!

TAE KWON DO

We went to my mom's for spring break and the girls' favorite thing to do was to take a class at my brother-in-law's karate studio.  They loved it and I have to admit that he was a great teacher.  It was so fun to watch.  We'll probably do a class every time we visit now.

The goofy teacher is my brother-in-law.

Savannah got her white belt!

Dakotah got her white belt!