Gold Rush Cutie

So my little girl is a Freshman at AHS now.  I can't even believe both of my kids are in highschool!! I feel so old! She decided she wanted to try out for the drill team this year instead of pursuing tennis as she did in middle school.  Of course my little dancer made it on the team and she loves it!  It is so rewarding to see her dress in her uniform as I once did when I was her age.  She is so adorable in it!  I am so proud of her. She seems to do exactly what she sets out to do.  She tells me she wants to be a Vet and I truly believe she will be.  She has such a big heart and loves God.  This child began going to church on her own with friends on Wednesday night.  I am so proud of her for doing so but so ashamed of myself for not leading by example on that one.  Sometimes I feel like as much as I encourage her she ends up inspiring me instead!

Driving a little too fast eh?

So here's the thing, Hayden will be officially 16 in January.  I know I know, what the heck?  Yes he will be driving.  Preston bought him a car a few months back and we prepared for the let down of Tj not following through with giving him his truck.  Well it's a good thing we did.  Because well, life happens and that is all I want to say on that.  Hayden is beyond excited to drive and I am beyond excited to let him.  I am so proud of the young man he's become. He is a sophomore now and still on the AHS Varsity Tennis team and making A's and B's on his report card.  I have no idea how in the world I lucked out having two of the best kids. God is sooo great!

Hard week....

This has been one of the most exhausting weeks. Just a glimpse:

June 13 Nikki passed
June 15 Katherine (my niece) Birthday
June 17 Hayleighs Birthday
June 18 The funeral
June 20 My anniversary and Prentices (brother in law) Birthday
June 21 I go back to work

Do you know how hard it is to appreciate or celebrate the following when you follow June 13? Lord give me strength to move on....

Flute being a pain in the behind...

Last week Hayden and Hayleigh are fighting over the Wii like normal 11 and 12 year olds do (NOT) and Hayleigh gives in and sits down.  CRUNCH right on her flute.  Now she didn't break it, but I get the "Mom we need to take my flute to the shop cause it's  bent". Of course I ask how it happened and she admits to accidentally sitting on it.  So I take it in to get it fixed, $95.00 later we get to bring it home.  I said next time you look where you sit!

God is good, God is great.....let us thank him.......

Remember that from Kindergarten? It seems like yesterday they were telling me they learned that at school. Now, Hayleigh is playing the flute in 6th grade and having every boy in school give her love notes.  She is looking older by the month and God only knows if she takes after me, I am going to have my hands full.  Hayden is taller than me now, well sister is too for that matter.  He is playing the trombone for the 2nd year in 7th grade and playing tennis.  He is really good in tennis too for not ever playing  before.  He has won twice which is good for a novice.  He likes it well too which is just God's miracle because the boy does not like to move much less run. They are both in honors classes and doing awesome....the Lord surely has dealt me a set of great kids.  With as much time as I am away from them, they could be real bad and I couldn't blame them.  Thank my lucky stars everyday!

Where for art thou little girl.....

So I think Hayleigh is going through the teen change where parent's suck.  This week has been the second time she has this something about her that she is above me.  I am not sure what it is, perhaps I have spoiled both of my kids to the point where they think they can look down on their parents?  Not sure but I sure hope I figure it out soon.  She reminds me of the popular girls in school that everyone hated because they seemed so out of touch but when you talk to them they were so nice.  Except she shouldn't be that way, not with her mother anyway.  Fine I am not cool, it's not cool to share stuff with your mom, this I know...but it really hurts at the same time.  I am hoping that is what this phase is and not something worse I am missing.....

Gone for the summer....

This past Thursday I drove the kids halfway to Dallas to join their Dad for the summer. I don't know why, but when I am not sure when I will get them back for a visit, I miss them horribly.  Although I needed the break from two preteens running around here fighting, at times I feel like I would give anything to hear them in the house.  It's hard to share them but I know it won't be too much longer before I will be sending them off to College.  Yes they are still young at 12 and 10, but time flies when you want them to stay small.  My advice to little ones, kiss them, hug them, and make sure they know you love them with all your heart every chance you get.

Now I have 3 "Goat Karts"

Tj got hayden a go cart for his birthday.  It's one of the street ones as far as I know.  Anyway, not that the kid needs it but of course someone HAS to be the hero right? So they go to Tj's for the weekend to try it out.  Hayleigh sends me a text back after I ask what they are doing, it says "riding haydens goat kart".  I just died laughing, sweet baby angel LOL.  So of course this past weekend at the Abilene auction (which I never thought I would say I was at an auction ever in my life) we bought the kids another go cart with roll bars and mud tires etc, to ride at the new house on the land.  Once Hayden got home this weekend to see it, he said "Oh now I got 3".....hmmm not really what we were expecting to hear.....

Could not ask for more

I have to say that I really do have the best kids.  I know most parents think that of their own but for me it is more true than anything else I know.  I am always doing homework at home when I am not at school.  They don't expect me to cook them a hot meal.  They are ok with finding something on their own to eat every night.  When I am really tired and want to go to bed early guess what....I do! They take their showers, do homework and ready themselves for bed without me hounding them,  I love that they are independent but on the other hand I wonder if it is something I should fault myself for.  They shouldn't feel like they HAVE to do things on their own all the time.  It is a tough balance I know. I really appreciate what they do for me and how they are,  They give my love back 100 x infinity.  I guess I am just hoping that this really isn't a negative situation for them that I am putting a positive spin on.

I thought I had 2 kids...

We got Hayden Xbox live for his 360.  Haven't seen the boy since.  HE comes home goes to his room plays, does his homework, takes a shower then back on until bedtime.  Never thought i would have a gamer son at age 12!! Technology amazes me. I know it's been out there, but at 12 I think I was still into chuck-e-cheese. He grades are still good so I guess I can't say much.  Maybe he'll grace us with his presence sometime soon.