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Sunday, August 21, 2011

First day os school pics part duex

Here we are on the first day of preschool.
Amelia started Pre-K, Will is in the 3s and is pretty excited to be upstairs with the big kids. Drew is in the two year class. It's our last year with Mrs Laura and I'm pretty sad about it already..
I know all the kid are going to have a great year and they are so happy to be back at school!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

the ones who love them..

I love my kids teachers, probably because of how much they love my kids.
Here are the people who spend so much face time with the little people in my life.
Mrs. B
Will and Miss Robin
Miss Holly
Miss Laura..this is our third year with her. LOVE her.
Miss Chew-dy and Drewby.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

The recent helicopter crash in Afghanistan brings back memories of a helicopter crash that took place just over five years ago, killing 10, also in Afghanistan. Jason was just back from his second deployment in Iraq when we received news of the crash. A crash that took 10 lives this time. This time one of these men happened to be one of Jason's friends. He left behind a wife of almost 20 years and his four week old baby girl who he had never even met. Five years have past and this year that little girl would most likely be starting kindergarten. Just like her Daddy, I have never met her, but I think of her often. Probably because I have two little girls myself. Most likely because their Daddy is a soldier too. I think of exactly what her father sacrificed for his country. What his daughter gave up for hers. I remember how my husband took the news, just a few weeks back from a deployment himself. He had spoken several times to his friend just before he left and I think he was shaken up. He couldn't attend the funeral and I think that made it harder for him.

We are at a most difficult time as a nation. In Washington everyone seems to be pointing fingers and no one can balance a budget if their life depended on it. At this point I don't really care who is actually at fault, only that the problem persists and that on each side there seems to be no resolution. Fingers are being pointed, names are being called. As a nation, is this what we have come to? Is this what men are dying to protect? Is this what little girls are growing up without fathers for? We as a country don't want to be at war anymore. And we are bringing our troops home because we can't afford it. But we aren't thankful, we're just tired of "wasting money".

Jason has told me time and time again, that I do not understand the brotherhood of soldiers. That he can go weeks without talking to them and one phone call it is like no time has passed. That if he really needs something, these men will do anything they can to help other. It comes from being in battle together and it is a bond like no other. We witnessed that a few weeks ago with our last assignment cycle here. In the middle of the drama, Jason received a phone call from his cousin. I hear Jason in the midst of his own personal fiasco tell his cousin there is no greater Army, there will be no greater friends, there is no greater country to serve.

I wish that Washington and the American people, would put on a pair of combat boots for just one week and walk in these men and womens shoes. Maybe then they would understand a little better the true meaning of the loss of just one of these soldiers. They are someone's son, someone's husband, someone's father.
They aren't just a good story to run for a week and be finished with it. For their families this story will run forever.

The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.
Douglas MacArthur

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Ten on Tuesday

1. So tonight at bedtime Will decides that he is going to pick out his own pajamas. What does he choose? Of course, pajamas with feet. We are in the middle of heat advisory and have 100 degree weather and Will wants to sleep in fleece pajamas with feet.

2. Will decides to zip himself into a cozy pair of 24 month sleeper feet. Let me just say that Will and is size 12 foot left 24 months a loooong time ago. But he insisted and I needed a good laugh so I let him walk around in them. Although, walk isn't really the correct term. He looked more like the hunchback..

3. After he gets tired of hobbling around he decides that it is time to take off said pajamas. Maybe they were finally cutting of circulation to his feet. Maybe it was the neckline cutting into his skin. Literally his feet are stuck and he is so sweaty they aren't coming out. Will's answer to the problem, "Maybe you should call Mr. Rowe and he can come over and cut me with his pocket knife." Now, if you know Mr. Rowe, he is pretty handy. Will loves Mr Rowe and his pocket knife.

4. Bella and Amelia have a Secret Bedtime Reading club complete with secret handshake. I put them to bed at night and then they get into one or the others bed to read. It started out "secret" and grew from there. Bella loves to read and I love that she is reading to Amelia.

5. Jason finished accounting Thursday night. I may just throw a party to signal the end of both of our misery..

6. We attended a birthday party for Miss Taylor B last weekend. Her Daddy and a few of his friends got out their guitars and banjo to play for the guests. Bella thought it was the best thing ever. The next morning she said, Don't forget to hire that band to play at my next birthday party. I loved them.

7. We called Nene on Saturday morning. When it was Amelia's turn to talk to Nene, I handed her the phone and said "guess who it is". Nene disguised her voice and started talking. Amelia got mad and started crying and wouldn't talk at all. Nene and I are still laughing..

8. Drew went to bed last night with Amelia's version of the Daddy Doll. He was eyeballing Bella's and Amelia willingly gave up hers for the night. Drew said over and over, Daddy doll Daddy Doll. He put it in a bear hug got in bed and that was the last we saw of him until 6:30AM.. I'm ordering him his own.

9. Bella is excited to be in the first grade. She has told me every day she has been on her best behavior, listens and doesn't talk when she isn't supposed to be. She also told Will her busdriver is a real cowboy. He is pretty jealous.

10. Will was in the bathroom with me this morning and told me that my belly has "more cracks than the sidewalk" I bet all of you are jealous :)

Monday, August 8, 2011

First grade..

Today was the first day of school. Bella is finally in first grade. She is very excited and couldn't wait to get back to school. While we enjoy summer and have a great time relaxing, swimming and spending time with friends, Bella does much better on a schedule. She enjoys going to school and learning every day.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

It's not goodbye friends, it's see ya later

Well the time has finally come. I have put it out of the back of my mind and have kind of lived in a state of denial all summer long. One of my closest friends is finally leaving. I have barely allowed this fact to register probably because a part of me has held out some great hope that things would change and they would stay. Probably because I can function better for myself and for my friend, if I am not a moping and crying all summer. Seriously who wants to come swim with Eeyore? I wanted this summer to be normal. I didn't want every conversation to be about moving. Or leaving. Or think about August where my friend would just be gone. I tell her to sneak out in the middle of the night without saying goodbye. And I'm serious, and I may have to hunt her down at the same time. I hate goodbyes. Especially with one of my closest friends who I am going to miss every single day..
.
I know it probably may sound bizarre to some people. But I love my friend. I love her girls. She is one of the sweetest, kindest, most giving people I have ever met. I am a better person for knowing her. She keeps me grounded. She makes me laugh. She keeps my head from spinning off of my body some times when I am seeing red. I will miss her most a week from Monday when we go back to school and I don't see her every single day. When I can't walk out my door and see her or talk to her on the playground everyday. She will not be Will's teacher this year or Drew's next year. That makes me sad. I will not get to have Sassafrass in my class like I thought. Sassafrass, who tells me, Mrs. Erin sit by me I'm your very best friend in here. Bella and Amelia love her older girls and I know there wouldn't be two sweeter friends for them to have. Her husband was a good man and I am sad that he and Jason didn't have the opportunity to spend more time together before he left.
Sigh...As sad as I am for myself and as much as I will miss my friend. And believe me, she will be greatly missed, I know that there are great things awaiting my friend and her family. There are great people waiting to meet her. I tease her that I'm not going to like her new friends and I'm waiting to see who the new "me" is. But I know they will be wonderful because she is that amazing. I will miss her every single day. I am happy for her and can't wait to see and hear about the great things they are going to do.
We will be here cheering you on, louder than anyone else.

It's not goodbye Reinaldas, it's see ya later. We love you.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11