Confession Number 97: I Love Our Small Town

Over the last two years, I have come to absolutely love our small town life.  Summertime is an amazing time to experience Grove and Grand Lake at it's best.  There are about a million reasons why I love it here, but here are just a few I've captured in the last week or so.

I have a hair lady who doesn't think I'm crazy when I say I need my three month old's hair cut. 

She loves my kids and they pretty much think she rocks!  I think you rock, too, Tanya!

There is a lady who delivers farm fresh eggs to the bank each week.  They are shades of tan and brown and they are beautiful inside and out!  Some are even speckled.  I'm in love.  With an egg.  Kinda sad, huh?

We have this incredible public pool!  This picture of Kennedy in her swim class doesn't even do it justice.  There are two huge slides and a shallow part with a splash structure for little kids and two incredible diving boards.  I hadn't gone until this past weekend and now KJ is taking two weeks of swimming lessons there.  I'm totally hooked!

We have some pretty amazing friends.  Dustin, KJ and I all have individual friends, then there are family friends.  Friends with kids, friends without kids.  Friends to play with, friends to talk to.  Friends, friends, friends!  They are really what makes this town great!  This is one of KJ's BFF's, Hannah.  They were playing at Rotary Park which is right next to the splash pad.  So much fun!

I could go on and on.  A brand new state of the art hospital, doctors that rival the care we received in the big city, a library that puts some metro systems to shame, beautiful lake views, a great mix of the young and old.  I can't even begin to list all of the great things about Grove here.  Seriously?  One of the best small towns in the country! 

Now if we only had a Chick Fil A......

Confession Number 96: Unintended Intentional Summer

A few weeks ago my friend Megan over at Sorta Crunchy wrote about the challenges and joys of parenting her six year old and shared some insight from Allison at Gentle Christian Mamas.  While my girl isn't six, but only three, I saw a LOT of similarities, and as I read this Survival Guide to Six I knew that there were some ideas I could use to turn my summer of Almost Four into a fun one, not a stressful one. 

I know that Kennedy loves a schedule.  Sort of.  Dustin and I are VERY easy going parents.  I'll drag my kids just about anywhere.  We made a decision while I was pregnant with KJ that our kids were going to fit into our exsisting lives as much as possible, and they have, for the most part.  My kids are well practiced at napping on the go, being pushed around town in the stroller and both are really quite flexible.  I *know*, however, that KJ really thrives when we have a plan for the day and she knows what is coming next. 

I thought more about this when Megan wrote about their summer schedule.  While I am not really a schedule person, I knew I had to have some goals for the summer, or we would both be bored and would slowly go crazy over the three month break.  So here is how we are spending each day intentionally.  Each day with some purpose.  I decided we would spend some time each day doing something that fits into these areas:

1.  Being Active- Sometimes this is swimming, sometimes it is chasing bubbles, sometimes it is walking around our neighborhood.  Whatever strikes us for the day.  Kennedy would spend all day, everyday, inside if I would let her.  I have to make it a point to have some active, outdoor time each day.  Besides, my summer tan is in need of some serious help.

2.  Creativity-  Kennedy loves being creative!  On some days this is sidewalk chalk, on others it is baking.  We are currently doing a scrapbook together of her year in preschool and she loves looking at the pictures of her friends!  It's nothing crazy good, but it is special to us.

3.  Educational- From practicing letters to reading library books, we are "practicing school" a little bit each and every day.

So, maybe this isn't a schedule.  It is a plan.  Each day at breakfast we talk about what we are going to do that day.  I have realized that if that particular day includes a nap, she is much better about doing it if she knows in advance!  She knows what is coming next and it is giving her some sort of aspect on time without being tied to a clock.  Today is:  TV time, getting ready, picking up the house, lunch, swimming at the pool, snack, reading and/or quiet time.  Then it is a night with the sitter because Mom and Dad are having a much needed night out!!  What?  No creative time?  Well, maybe she can do some drawing and stickers while I get things together for the sitter.  See?  We are nothing if we aren't flexible!

So, what are you doing on a daily basis this summer?

Confession Number 95: I'm Going

This past Tuesday afternoon I got a phone call from Mom and Lynn.

"Charli, there is a large tornado a mile west of Piedmont." 

I ran to the computer and found the live stream from an OKC television station.  It wasn't "large", it was HUGE and it was baring down on our previous home. 
I panicked. 
I yelled prayers to God.
I cried.
I called Dustin at work. 
I hit refresh on the radar.
I cried some more.
When I thought it was clear I started making calls.  No answers.
I panicked again, but I knew communications must be compromised.
Finally I got through and started making the way down my list.
Scott and Shelli?  Safe, no damage.
Matt and Nicci?  Saw it face to face, but safe with no damage.
Marcie?  Safe, no damage.
I also got from those I talked to who else was okay. 
The Glasgows?  Fine.
Dustin was working his phone, too.
The Samarripases?  Fine.
The Wyatts?  Fine.
Then finally he got a text from the ones we couldn't get in touch with.
The Caldwells.  "We are safe, but lost EVERYTHING."
The Johnsons, same story,
Their homes are completely gone with only a few bags of things that may or may not be salvagable. 
I'm headed home to Piedmont this weekend to help.  If you are in the Grove area and would like to help fill my truck, here are some things I'm looking to take:

Boys clothes size 3T
Boys shirts size XL
Boys pants size 8 slim
Boys toys for 3 year old and 7 year old
Girls clothes sizes 4 and 8
New towels and washcloths
New kitchen items
Bottled water
Snacks
Work gloves
Trash bags
Ice chest
Gift cards

There has been tragedy all around us this spring.  What a great time for us to come together and lift each other. 

Confession Number 94: She's Passionate

To say that Kennedy is a passionate soul may be putting it lightly.  She loves what she loves with her whole heart and when she doesn't love something, well, she does that with her whole heart, too.  We have really been struggling with keeping our passion in check at our house.  I know part of it is the hardship of being almost four, but holy smokes, this child tests our patience sometimes! 

We set distinct boundaries.  "Kennedy, you can play on the computer for 10 minutes" as I set the timer on my phone.  That seems to work a few times then, out of the blue, nuclear meltdown occurs.  Screaming, crying, clawing, hitting, it is all fair game when one of these fits begin in Kennedy's mind. 

Taking a page from my friend Angie's parenting book, I decided to take pictures of said fit throwing, making it fun and threatening to send to Mimi and Weezie.  Well, okay, maybe posting on the world wide web will be enough embarassment.

It didn't work.  So, here I am, asking for help once again.  How do I help teach my daughter to keep her highly passionate emotions at a reasonable level?

Confession Number 93: He's A Pretty Lucky Fella

I love Mother's Day.  It's just one of those 'warm your heart make you feel good' kinda days.  I love snuggling up with my kids and not really doing anything in particular but celebrating our little family.  Of course the pampering that comes with the day isn't too bad, either.  One of the sweetest gifts this year was when Dustin decided he would get up with Cole during the night.  He normally does a good job helping out anyway, but, ahhh, sleep.  So good!!

I cherish those little handmade projects from Kennedy, and now that she can write, I love that she can sign her own name (and Cole's) to her card.  Dustin is a great gift giver.  Always has been.  He's passing his skills on to his daughter, and even though I can't wait for the time that she gets to go pick out her own gift for Mommy, I absolutely love seeing what Dustin comes up with next.  A new truck, an iPad, diamond earrings, a special KJ and mommy video and gift certificates to my favorite shoe store are all highlights of gifts past.   My heart goes out to those of you whose husbands don't possess the same "skillz".  The very small materialistic side of me loves this about my husband....along with about a bazillion other things.  :-) 

This year they really went over the top.  I got three cards.  The first was from Kennedy.  It was a princess card with crown stickers for us both to wear, signed in her perfect little almost four year old handwriting.  Tucked inside were two tickets to Game 5, Thunder vs. Grizzlies in OKC for Wednesday night.  Eeekkk!  Sooo excited!  Next was Cole's card, claiming I was an amazing mommy (duh!) and inviting me to dinner at my fav OKC restaurant, Cattleman's.  This boy sure knows the way to his mommy's heart!  Finally I opened a card from my fellow zoo keeper, Dustin.  Out fell a night's stay at the Embassy Suites in Norman after the game. 

I was literally ecstatic with my gift!  I made the comment that this was the 'best Mother's Day ever'!  Later in the day Dustin smiled and said, "What a lucky guy I am to have a wife that thinks NBA playoff tickets make the best Mother's Day ever." 
Yep. 
Your one lucky fella. 
Better not forget it. 

Confession Number 92: I Need A New Purse

Last weekend Dustin and I ventured out on a shopping trip with both kiddos in tow for the first time.  Now I've hit Wal-Mart and the grocery store with both Kennedy and Cole in hand, but this wasn't a short trip into town.  We packed up Momma's new Kitty Caddy (our recent vehicle purchase was an Escalade) and headed to Tulsa with a 'not as happy a baby as his sister was' one month old and an 'I have found my voice and love to use it loudly' three year old.  It took guts, but over two months of being confined to Grove, America had us desperate for things of grander.  You know, like clothing stores that don't also sell fishing bait and fancy chain restaurants with drink menus. 

The day was going well and we decided to make a stop by Utica Square so I could shop at Gap.  On the way there KJ had fallen asleep and Cole was wide awake, so we decided to carry Cole and put Sleeping Kennedy in the stroller so Dustin wasn't confined to the car while I shopped.  It was a great idea and I got some great bargains for both KJ and myself.  As I bent down to get my purse from the bottom of the stroller I noticed it was wet.  My purse was soaked and upon further investigation I found the cargo compartment of the stroller to have tons of water.  I figured something in my purse had leaked.  I quickly paid for our purchase, found Dustin and we decided to head back to the car to find the culprit. 

Hmmm.  Interesting.  There wasn't a water bottle in my purse.  Or anything liquid really.  While Dustin was trying to save things from my purse I started putting kids back in their carseats.  I lift a very heavy, Sleeping Kennedy to put her in the car, only to find that she is soaked.  Evidently the two cups of fruit punch at lunch weren't such a good idea before naptime.  That explains the standing liquid in the bottom of the stroller and the absolutely sopping purse.  A quick trip back into Gap to purchase my three year old a $14 package of panties, a change into a new outfit and we were good to go.  The purse...and most of its contents...found the trashcan.  This is why I don't buy Coach. 

Confession Number 91: She's Pretty Good

Dang!  I didn't realize how long it had been since I had posted until I logged in today.  Hopefully things are getting a little settled around here.  While it hasn't been as hard as we thought it might be, getting into the groove of chasing, holding, feeding, bathing two kiddos has taken some time.  We are working on getting Cole into a routine this week with his sleeping and eating and working on keeping everything else as normal as possible.  While there have been a few challenges and those moments where you question what you are doing and if it is best, the second time around has been a lot easier.  There aren't as many moments when we question our decisions or worry about whether or not he eats every 2 hours or 3 hours is going to have lifelong effects on his health.  We are more relaxed this go around and that fits our lifestyle so much better!

One thing I have always regretted with Kennedy was that we weren't with it enough in those early days to think about getting some cute newborn pictures done.  Later we made up for it by having them done at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, but I always wished we had some cute naked baby pics to complete the package.  So, having these cute little reminders of how tiny and cuddly Cole is was a priority of mine.

A lot of you know I'm pretty partial to our picture taking buddy, Shannon Gurney in OKC.  Shannon has done our annual family photo session for the past three years and we LOVE HER.  She does awesome work and if you are within driving distance of OKC, I highly recommend you check her out.  She's actually getting Mom and Lynn in front of her camera in early summer and that is a feat all of it's own!  While we worship Shannon, she is um, well, three hours away AND her business has taken off so much she recently quit doing newborn photo sessions (much to the dismay of our OKC friends who also just had babies).  I think the sessions gave her too much baby fever because she is now expecting her third.  Congrats, friend!! 

Since moving to Grove I have come to know my amazing friend, Stacy Clark.  Stacy, like a lot of modern day photographers, is self taught and captured my heart when I found out that she loves natural light photography.  She started taking photos after becoming a stay at home mom with her first.  Since then she has built her business and does a fantastic job!  We met at her house, and even with some very finicky sunlight, she got some absolutely beautiful shots of our little man.  I'll cherish them forever and I'm thinking we'll keep her pretty busy over the next year or so.  I hope she has lots of good ideas!!!!

Isn't she pretty good??  If you are in the Grove area, you will be kicking yourself if you don't get some Stacy Clark Portraiture love for your own family.  Check her out here.  You'll be happy you did!  Or, if you are an OKC reader, you must let Miss Shannon get some amazing shots of your family.  See her latest work here.