Wordless Wednesday...Happy Halloween!

IT SNOWED!

OK, this girl LOVES snow.

Even when it comes in October!

So when the weather man said it was going to snow Saturday morning, I did a little snow dance!

There is nothing better than seeing the world around you covered in white snow.  It makes it look clean and sereene.  I love it!  Now the snow we got was little and VERY wet but I had to clean off the car and the kids and Seann threw some snowballs at each other.  Watching Caitlyn's little face light up and Seann teaching her to catch snow flakes on her tongue, priceless!

I love my family and the fun we make together!

Bring on more snow!

Meghan does Jr. Poms!

This is how I spent my Friday night!

Every year the Poms team at QO hosts a Jr. Poms clinic.

For a whole week girls from the surrounding elementary schools learn a routine and then they get to perform at the football game Friday night. 

I can't seem to get the video Seann took to upload into the blog but you can check it out on my fb page!

It is really fun and she learned more of the routine this year than in the past!

Love it!

Halloween Parade

It's a Halloween Parade!

The kids have a parade each year outside the school, they march around the bus driveway!  All the parents line up on the inside of the circle and take pictures of their little ones!  Caitlyn really enjoyed all the costumes and seeing her big brother and sister in the parade!

While we waited for the parade to begin, Caitlyn learned what a tail was and chased it!  She also kept hold of it while she walked just like the lion in the movie!

Colin makes a VERY handsome Tin-Man!

Of course Meghan is Dorothy!

She plays the part well, doesn't she.

A BIG thank you to Grammy Vena!  She made the kiddos costumes.

They love them!

Thoughtful Thursday...

I have been thinking a lot lately about the circle of life.

How to talk to my kids about it really...

We have lost family members in their lifetimes and they grieve as kids do and then they are fine.  But there have been a few comments or questions that have come up lately.  Seann and I answer them very directly, pointedly and honestly.  Not sure if that is what the kids need but we have always been honest with them.  I think the questions have come up because our beloved Guinness has not been so great.  His birthday was this week, he is 11!  He has been in our lives for as long as Seann and I can remember and for the kids whole lives.  He is a wonderful boy!

The problem is he looks sick but he doesn't act sick most of the time.  He still eats, goes outside to do his business, enjoys walks, car rides and going to the creek with the family.  He just appears to be skin and bones.  The winter was rough on him and he lost a lot of weight.  We spent the whole summer thinking he is going to put the weight back on.  I even switched his food to a higher calorie puppy food.  But he still looks painfully thin.  He has been to the vet and he doesn't have cancer, no worms, no tape worms, no idea???

So we keep talking about how to enjoy our days with him because he is getting older.  We help the kids take ownership in taking care of him.  We take lots of pictures and take him on walks and outings.  We love our boy...Happy Birthday Buddy!

This was from our last trip to the creek a few weeks ago!

Wordless Wednesday...One Happy Girl!

I love her!

Kind of a big deal!

My husband is a coach!  A running coach...I don't run..at all.  He loves running, it is who he is to his VERY core.  AND I love him for it.  I also love watching him work.  He is so passionate and so positive.  He has influenced hundreds maybe a thousand by now in his more than ten year carreer as coach.  He coaches at the high school he graduated from.  Tradtion and legacy are his favorite words when he speaks to his "kids", thats what we call them.  They are his kids, mine too.  They are just our older kids that we get to send home at the end of the day! :-)  Some days I believe he bleeds red and black.

Saturday was the Montgomery County Championship Race.  Both girls and boys team ran very well, they finished top 5.  Which is kind great in our large county.
What took the cake for the day was one of our senior boys!  He is quiet and shy.  He has followed quietly in his older brothers shadow for four years now.  Until he decided he was going to win the race on Saturday.  But he wasn't running to beat his brothers time, he wasn't running for him, he wasn't even running for the team.
He was running for his Mom!

Judy has been battling Cancer for 18 months now.

She has fought and done EVERYTHING the doctors have told her to do.  She has kept her head up and been the most positive person in her fight.  BUT she found out last week Cancer is winning...in a big way.  It has spread and is now in her bones, several places.  But she isn't let it slow her down or bring her down.  Judy is going to enjoy as much as she can of Evan's and David's senior years.

She loves to watch her boys race.  Which is why Evan's win on Saturday means so much to her.

This picture sums up all the emotion for Seann.

We always look at the families on the team as a big extension to our family.  This last year has been such a rough year and to have just one day to let out the tears and then celebrate was a huge relief.

And this picture sums up Evan's joy in his accomplishment!

  

It might be a tough fight ahead of Judy and her boys but days like Saturday and smiles like these will still be with them.  I am truly blessed to have them in my life, to me they are kind of a big deal!

Phone call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM SO HAPPY AND EXCITED!

I got a message this evening offering me merit employment with DHHS!

This is a huge deal...benefits;  including sick leave, vacation days, consistent work and SNOW DAYS!  I am a very content mama tonight!  This is going to be amazing for my lil family and our world just keeps getting better.

I will have an orientation on the 7th & 8th and then will start my position on the 9th of November.  The only draw back will be I will more than likely not be at Baker.  :-(  I will fill an open position and since Baker is technically filled, I think I will be looking at a new school.

But I am not going to let that bring me down!

Gonna enjoy every moment of this celebration of all my hard work in the last 9 months!

Yay Me!

Wordless Wednesday...Family time

Fall decorating

Oh my goodness!  My kids are super excited about Halloween.  So much so they did homework!

Yup you read correctly, they did homework last night.

They have homework most nights but last night they decided to work a few days ahead.

WHY?

Because they have been begging to decorate the house for Halloween.  And with our weekends full of baseball, errands, chores and family time we haven't gotten a chance.

So the homework work a head was key for them to be able to decorate this evening after Irish dance.  And it is going to be a perfect evening for it.  A cool crisp evening.  I see their favorite dinner, hot chocolate, maybe even a fire while we hang up all the spooky crafts they have made over the years, all the ghosts and spiders they have picked out, all the webs and maybe even some spooky music.

They can't wait till they receive the magic package from Gram that will hold their costumes for this year.  My Mom volunteered to sew their costumes.  I can't wait to see them either.  We have another family theme going on.  Last year it was Star Wars, this year it will the Wizard of OZ.  I can't wait!

I see us watching the movie SOON, maybe even this evening!

Just another Manic Monday

A week or so ago I wrote about 3 things I needed to think about, figure out and do better with.  Well, I forgot last night.  See I was frustrated again with the state of the house, the running around, the getting things done for the family/house but, nothing for just Heather.  Seann went for a run after work.  I could tell he needed it, even though I was ready to lose my mind I told him to go.  He came back to pure chaos, kids running a muck as I finished making dinner with Caitlyn on my hip, snot dripping down her face cause she was crying...non-stop.  She was hungry, I am pretty sure she would have eaten the spaghetti raw if I would have given her the choice.

We ate dinner with the kids, it was kinda quiet and nice...they were starved as well.  Then I sent them for showers, Seann disappeared.  I didn't know where he went but, he was MIA.  I got Caitlyn ready for bed while the big kids showered and expected the arguing to resume as soon as they got out.  BUT  Seann came into the living room while I was holding Caitlyn and handed me a glass of wine.  Then he said go outside and sit by the fire.  :-)  Pretty sure that is the best thing I had heard all day!  He got the big kids out of the shower and off to bed.  I got to enjoy a glass of wine without all the whine!  He gets the best HUBS award for the day!  Lets face it we all look forward to those moments when we can sit out by the fire and just be.  I am a little better, ready to breath and remember all those things I want to work on and do better for my 3 little ones!

Saturday at the Creek.

Look what we found!

A girl and her begging dog!

It's SO not cold, really!

Cheese!

We went to Black Rock Mill and hiked up the green way trail to find a little spot.  We love it here and so does Guinness!  Add a picnic and it is pretty much a perfect day!

Birthday, Again!

Happy Birthday

Mom and Aunt Irene!

My Mom is an identical twin.  It's really kinda cool.  Especially since she was there when I was born and the first couple years of my life (we lived together).  They are both amazing women, who have made great families.  I look up to them and try to emulate them in many ways. 

This is my Aunt Irene and my Uncle Vince.

LOVE them!

  I even got to live with them one summer in North Carolina!

 This is my Dad and Mom!

LOVE THEM x INFINITY!

A couple years ago they went to Maui together.  So jealous!

They got to have an amazing vacation together.

They even hiked up the volcano, in the wee hours of a morning, when it was freezing cold!

I am pretty sure they are the best, strongest and amazing women I know!

I love you both for so many reasons and I hope you have the best birthday EVER!

xoxo

A good Mama Friend...

So I have this Mama friend.  She always makes me smile! 

 Even though I have 3 kiddos to her 1, I still learn things from her.
Patience, faith, and kindness are the first things that come to mind. 

Our girls due dates were the same day.

Caitlyn came before her lil N, only because I had a scheduled section.  ;-)

We met in a little business venture, we did in home sales with the same company.

After we had the girls our businesses died off and so we started new adventures in life, as working Mama's.

This Mama is Mama Marchand.

She pretty much ROCKS!  

AND she has taken a leap of faith towards a lil dream of hers.

She has opened an Etsy Shop this week.

http://www.mamasnestdesigns.com/

These might be my new favs, I am gonna have to order one!

I wish you all the luck in your new shop!

I may become a loyal customer!

xoxo

A thought for Thursday...

I am trying to start something here...well, OK, I am trying to make some major overhauls in our little life right now.  So I think I need to say some of it out loud so I am held accountable for it all.

1.) Starting the day off on the right foot.  Almost literally!  I NEED to go back to starting my day at the gym.  I need to have breakfast and lunches ready for the next morning.  I need to have clothes, back packs, shoes and jackets set to just be put on.  'Cause I have slacked on this for 2 weeks now and it is super stressful for this Mama.

2.) I am writing this blog to keep in better touch with family and friends that are not here for the everyday things. So I NEED to write on it more.  I need to write my grandmother more frequently too!  I should get back in the habit of sending birthday cards to the people I love too! ( I used to do that religiously, b3k..before 3 kids).

3.) I MUST find my zen, my patience, my chi.  So I am NOT the crazy yelling mama that I am turning into.  I find myself yelling at the kids out of frustration or lecturing when they are just kids.  It is my job to teach them, mold them into caring and loving individuals.  Instead lately the only thing I feel I am teaching them is how to yell at each other or at me and Seann.

So these are the 3 things I am going to work on.  My 3 thoughts for this Thursday.  3 little things I can work on to better myself and my 3 little ones!

Wordless Wednesday...Horses, we kinda love them!

Birthday!! Take 2...

Happy Birthday

Wait a minute...wasn't that yesterday's post?

Why YES, YES it was!

But, today it's my pretty awesome Sister-in-laws birthday!

You bring out the best of my brother and I can't imagine our family with out you!

Oh and thanks for those wonderful and precious nieces!

I hope you have a great day!

Hugs and Kisses!

Muah!

Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Today is my "big" brother's 35th birthday!

How did we get from here?

To here?

I am pretty sure we rock as parents though!  Here's to 35+ more years!  May we have many more pictures of us being goofy and enjoying our families together. (So what if there are 8 hours between us!)

Love you bunches and miss your guts!

Fall

I love the fall...

so here is my top ten about fall!

10.)  The cool, crisp, fresh air

9.)  Fall Baseball

8.)  I get to wear comfy sweaters and boots

7.)  The leaves crunching under foot

6.)  The Smell of wood burning

5.)  Homemade Soups and Breads

4.)  QOXC (the only season I love that Seann coaches!)

3.)  High School Football Games and Marching Bands 

2.)  Buckeye Football

AND 

1.)  Everything Pumpkin

 Cookies, bread, pies, lattes!

Need to Pray...again.

So 3 weeks ago was the kick off for Sunday School at our church.  I got the e-mail and started thinking...

.

1.) about my relationship with God and how it's been, well...almost non-existent except to pray a quick prayer for loved ones and friends in need.  :-(

2.) it has been about 9 months since my last trip to church (not including my trip to Ohio).

3.) how I miss that part of me.

4.) what am I teaching my kids?

5.) how do I go back?

6.) how do I get my kids WANT to be there, to appreciate the community, to love learning about God, and figure out their own relationships with God?

So I sat down with the kids to figure out if we were ready.  Then the words came out of Colin's mouth that I NEVER thought I would hear...

Colin: "It's boring and I don't know."

Me: "Don't know what?" 

Colin: "Well if there is a God, and the bible???"

Me: "What?"

Colin: "I mean, I think there is a God...but the bible???  I don't know what it's about"

Me: " Well that's why we go to church and Sunday School, to learn, to question, to decide for ourselves what our beliefs are."

Colin: "oh...(long pause) well then I guess we should go"

My heart skipped a lil beat.  Next was to ask Daddy to get on board.  Seann is not into the whole community of religion.  We differ in that way.  Seann likes to explore the history of religions and how each one differs.  He keeps his beliefs simple (do unto others) and he emulates that for our children.  Me, I like knowing there is a group of people I can surround myself who can help me with the hard questions, lift me up and bend God's ear when I need a little help.  Maybe because I lived it for so many years.  Here's another real lil tidbit about me...I AM A PK, aka preacher's kid.  I grew up in the churches my father served and each one of them hold huge milestones and places in my heart.  I ran around the sanctuaries when they were empty and played hide n' go seek with my brothers.  We raced to eat the left over communion bread and fought over who would get to light the candles at the beginning of service if the acolyte didn't show.  I spent time in each choir loft and at each organ.  I also went with my Dad to see the new babies, the sick, the members who were having surgeries and those that were dying.  I learned to be compassionate, forgiving and understanding.  I learned to  accept life and death as everyday things.  I learned that everyone is equal in the eyes of God and I am just as beloved as anyone else.  I learned that God is spirit and God is everywhere.

So, my wonderful Husband who is super hardworking, agreed to come to church before his Sunday shift at Fleet Feet.  Awesome!  We went, we sat, we prayed and all the while I waited for the kids to loose it.  They didn't!  BUT, Sunday School was another story...long story short, Meghan was reduced to tears by the end of it and her brother stood tall to protect her.  Apparently, one of the girls in the class was having a rough day/week and decided to pick on Meghan.  But she said mean and hurtful things and Meghan was crushed.  Seann and I tried to help her learn the lesson of forgiveness.  At first she didn't want to return but by the following Sunday she was ready to try it again and the week after that too.  Colin learned how to forgive and use the stories he has heard for years now to help him in his "real life"

I think that is our "WIN"!

We are far from perfect in our journey to learn about GOD but we are working on it.

Wordless Wednesday...Nothing like a parade!

Butler Camp

This may have been the best experience I've had in a while!  

Seriously!

I worked everyday, all summer at this camp.  It was like going home.  You see, I worked at another Montessori school before having my family.  This was like coming full circle in my adult life.  I not only enjoyed seeing the campers and counselors everyday, I found a little piece of myself that I forgot was there.  I remembered skills I had long forgotten I had with children.  In the last few years I have turned into a mama that yells, OK I yell a lot!  I knew it was happening and no matter what I did to try to stop it, I just couldn't.  For me being in an environment that re-directs, calmly explains, or gently leads individuals to good choices works!  It helped me re-direct myself, calmly explain to myself and help lead me to better choices.

Nuff said!  I think I'm gonna be a better mama for finding this lil piece of myself again!

I look forward to returning next summer!

(Maybe with the kiddos!)

It's official!

It's official, I get to return to Baker Middle School this fall. 

 I will still be a long-term sub but, I get to go back!  I am pretty excited!  Can you tell?

I was there a short few months (Spring break till the end of the school year) last year.  I really enjoyed the kids that were there, the staff was very helpful and the nurse was easy to work with and helped me learn new things!  LOVE that!  I'm one of those people who want to learn stuff each day.  Even if it is something little, I want to better myself a little each day.

As far a going back to work after not working a "real" job for like 8 years was super hard!  I know being a mama is hard work and is a valid "real" JOB but, working with adults is completely different work.  The hardest part was leaving the kiddos.  They were fine, only a few bumps and I was able to keep my mama guilt to a minimum.  So as the new school year is approaching I am so excited to return to a grown-up job!

Colin turns 9!

My little man has turned 9.

It is so crazy that he is 9 already.   I feel like it was not too long ago that he looked like this.

So tiny and quiet...

He is now going every waking moment a mile a minute...

BUT

He is turning into a wonderful young man.  I love him more and more as the days go by.  I am amazed at the things he can do and all that he has learned.  Even when he is faced with challenges he does his very best.

His teenage years are fast approaching so hopefully we can keep up the good work!

I love him!

Pelkey Family in Annapolis

Seann and I love Annapolis.

We always have.  We would go on day trips together when we were dating.  For the two of us there is nothing more relaxing than walking around the harbor and the Naval Academy.  Watching the boats come in and out of the harbor, sharing an ice cream.  Our stop at the end of those days is to any of the great pubs in the area.  We have a pint and some dinner.  We started doing these trips with Colin when he was very little.  We have continued even with the girls. The kids LOVE to watch the boats!

Our last trip was after one of Colin's all star games.  We took pictures and watched the boats and some birds.  The kids threw goldfish to the birds and giggled when they ate them.

We ended up at a great little pub where the big kids and Seann played darts(Daddy won by one bulls eye) and Caitlyn, well she did this...

That would be the cup of sour cream that came with the cheese quesadilla that we got to share.

SHE ATE THE WHOLE THING!!!!

Everyone had a great day and we are looking forward to our next trip!

Wordless Wednesday: Baseball makes us tired!

Baseball is exhausting!

Maryland State Tournament 8U Baseball



What a weekend!  So much fun!  So hot!  So heartbreaking in the end!

UMAC came in 3rd.

These boys played so well and we are all so proud of them!

Can't wait for Fall Ball!

Meghan is in Love!

Meghan has finally found her outlet, I think!

While Colin lives, breathes and eats baseball.  Meghan has tried all kinds of sports;  soccer, creative dance, gymnastics.  She just has never found something she loved.  I mean she LOVES art and we do tons of it.  But we wanted a physical activity for her and while she loves to cheer for her brother t-ball or baseball are a big fat NO in her book!  So when she started asking about ballet, Seann and I started thinking and talking.  Our little bundle of energy would not do well with the discipline of it all, they standing in a position over and over again.  Then lightening struck my hubs!

 

So, hubs showed her ballet (her age) on you-tube and then some irish dance (again her age).  Her little face lit up and she said that, that's what I want to do!  So then it was my turn to do the leg work to find a class.  I did too!  A beginner class for 3-5 year old, 5 weeks, just enough for her to get a taste but not a huge commitment if they don't love it.

Meghan LOVES it!
She can't wait for the fall when she will get to take more classes and start kindergarten!  So far no pictures but there will be many coming in the future!

School's Out Baseball

Umac hosted a School's Out Tournament.

Colin's team lost their first game.  It was a VERY hard and ugly loss.  There were tears and everything.  My heart went out to these boys.  They were on such a high from the whole tournament win from last week.  They worked hard during practices and just got destroyed in the 5th inning.

Saturday and Sunday were much better games.  They fielded well and hit the ball hard.

Until the Mt. Airy team...the team they beat last week to win the Mt. Airy Bulldog Bash.  Yeah, that's right, Mt. Airy came to our tournament with a chip on their shoulder and with revenge in their little eyes.  They were determined to win and they did.  Not only did they beat UMAC Attack but they won the whole tournament! 

A quick shot of Colin after he received his medal. 

A quick shot of the team before a long talk with their coaches!

The boys still have states in a week and practices in between.  They are still having "Baseball fun" though and that is all that matters!

We have amazing friends!

My family has been blessed in so many ways.

Most importantly we have been blessed with great friends.  They have amazing families that are fun to be with and the kids are building friendships that will last their lives.

Last weekend we had an amazing afternoon with one of these great families.  We were invited to spend the afternoon between ball games at their parents house in Mt. Airy.   It was peaceful, it was beautiful, it was fun and my kids got to experience new things.



Like 4 wheelers!

Meghan had so much fun!  We couldn't drag her off to feed her, but eventually she got hungry! She also took to screaming for Daddy to "GO FASTER!".

Colin had to beg for a turn several times.

So we would like to say THANK YOU to the Tyler Family for a fun filled afternoon!


 

Bulldog Bash Champions!

They are the Champions my friends!

That's right my boy and his all star team won the tournament this weekend.  They not only won, they swept the entire tournament.  They fought hard, had amazing defense and big bats!  I am one proud Mama this morning!

Colin was catcher for half of the game, each and every game.

I love this picture of him showing good sportsmanship as the Mt. Airy Bulldogs received their metals.

Personally I think he looks like a bad ass catcher!

The girls had fun too!  Cheering on the boys!

Here is the new hardware we have added to Colin's Collection!

GO UMAC ATTACK!