company, party, and fun

On my last post, my in-laws had just left and I was about to get my best friend from growing up, Alethea from Nashville.  It seemed like we had little to do according to my calendar.  Well, that quickly filled up with field day (the one that got rescheduled), grocery shopping, church supper, dance, and the Southside Spirit Fest.  So, Alethea came on the 17th (Tuesday) and just left today.  I am sure she is looking forward to some true quiet.  I am beginning to question my routines.  They are good for us girls while we don't have company but not conducive to guests.  Our bedtime routine is the one that has me frazzled.  I am sure I have posted about this co-sleeping stuff before.  I didn't like it when they were infants and I don't like it now.  But, it sure beats getting up 3-4 times a night due to nightmares.  The girls' counselor (Rebecca) suggested that I embrace it.  I could modify it to fit my needs but try to relax and "go with it."  It is obviously something the girls need to feel secure right now but....I am having a hard time embracing it.  I WANT to but can't.  We all go to bed at around 8:15.  The girls read until about 8:30.  Then, lights, etc. out.  Well, I have my computer on so I can do things I want to do.  This is good until we have company.  Well, two girls (sisters) in a bed together with no adult supervision can cause problems.  So, staying up and having adult conversation can be interrupted by breaking up arguments over who touched whom and why one sister has to sleep facing the other because the one can feel the others' breath!  REALLY?  ROLL OVER!!  So, it is a difficult position.  The girls really want to be in here and I really do enjoy watching them sleep.  When one girl moves, the other does too.  It is really sweet how connected they are as sisters.  Oh, wait, I figured out the problem!!!  If they had on/off switches, it would be perfect!  I could turn them "off" at night and "on" in the morning....  So, that is my struggle as a mom.  Embrace what is uncomfortable for another 8 months (minus 3 nights with Alethea in Denver and 14 nights E will be back for r/r). 
I really hate to complain about this.  It sounds so petty.  My biggest struggle as a mom is the fact that my kids argue at bedtime????  REALLY?  Ok, so they argue in the car, at church, upstairs, downstairs, inside, outside... you get the picture if you're a mom.  And, we actually do have one routine.  The girls switch who gets to sleep beside me each night so it's fair.  I like sleeping next to D because she doesn't try to kick me off of the bed.  But, she doesn't snuggle either.  I like sleeping next to RJ because she snuggles and it's sweet.  But, by 3 am, she is trying to sleep sideways and kick me off of the bed.  If you are a proud co-sleeping parent and have suggestions, let me know!  BTW, they are 8 and 6 (if you didn't know).... They are ready to sleep on their own when Dad gets home.  I love all the power a man in the house holds!  The "Protector of All from Evil" the "Hero Dad" the...walks in the door and they do what they are supposed to at bedtime!  What gives?
On to more fun stuff.....I did get over the guilt (thanks Kendall) and enjoy the Southside Spirit Fest.  We had a total of 54 guests who all came with drinks and side dishes.  I had great cooks (thanks Rick and Mike)......  And, everyone seemed to have a good time!  I think May is the perfect time for this.  So, mark it on your calendars now!  The Saturday before Memorial Day, my house, WITH "Hero Husband" AKA "Bestest Brewer" will be here to celebrate........ 
I do want to mention a few things before signing off.  It is off topic because it isn't relevant to my blog topic.  But, the reason I feel the guilt when I can't embrace this bedtime thing....  My friend Mary's son Luke (D's BFF in Korea) has a tumor and has been treated for it for a while now.  But, they were at Vandy for 6 hours today trying to run tests to see if it is growing again or not.  (And, I worry about bedtime??)  My friend, Heidi's neighbor, Doug (also a GREAT friend to her) has cancer and also had an accident this weekend at his house and broke the L1 vertebrate. (and, going to bed 10 min. later is a BIG deal?), So many lives were lost in Joplin, MO.........I think I need to hug these girls a little tighter...
Afterall, I am a mom who has and will continue to make mistakes.  I will do this while my husband is home, training, or deployed.  It is one of the cons of motherhood.....your mistakes are highlighted in the faces of your children......But, every day I wake up and try to do the best I can for these girls.  I hope they look back and remember the time when I slept in bed with them and we were all at peace.  Not the one night of the month I yelled at them for not going to sleep.......

busy, busy, busy

I can't believe it has been 13 days since I last blogged.  Since the last blog I fell and hurt my foot (ouch! Happy Mother's Day!!!), cleaned out most of the basement, prepared for a recital, hosted my in-laws (from last Friday until this morning),  helped the girls with their recital, and prepared to have one of my best friends to come tomorrow.  It's been good to be busy but also exhausting.  I am looking forward to slowing down some and enjoying time with Alethea.  But, those of you who know me, know that slowing down is not stopping....  I have to go shopping and prepare for a party on Saturday night.  This is something I have been looking forward to since I began planning it about 1 1/2-2 months ago.  Usually I have a group of friends at a time over.  This time, I am inviting friends from all of my walks of life.  I have friends from childhood coming, family, friends from teaching, friends from church, etc... It is going to be great!  I can't wait!!!  I kind of feel like I am in high school again.  I remember being a senior in high school.  I sat in child psychology between a friend who went to see Rocky Horror Picture Show, rented hotel rooms, smoked pot (?or used other drugs) and a friend who wouldn't do anything illegal if her life depended on it.  Well, I know where each of them are now (thanks to Facebook) and it isn't where I expected back in high school!!!!  I knew that there was one who was much smarter than the other and hoped that she would recognize and fulfill her potential (NOTICE THE TEACHER LINGO!!!  I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL THINKING THAT!!!).  Thank goodness she did!  I knew she was bright!  Anyways, I am saying that to say that I am somewhat nervous about them all being in the same space.  Why?  I have NO idea!!!  I think it will be a great time with great people!  I think that each of my friends are in my life for a specific purpose.  Some allow me to laugh, others allow me to cry.  Some I call on when I haven't heard from E for 2 days and they allow me to totally stress out!  Some I call only when I am in a good mood while others I tend to call when I am weak.  I have friends who rely on me more than I rely on them.  I love the dynamics that friendship brings.  And, I love having parties.  I can't believe that E won't be here to celebrate.  My excuse?  I will get it all figured out this year and make a bigger event next year!!!  :)  After all, by that time we will have KEGS of beer brewed by my hubby!

So, here I go, off on another week of fun, adventure, and SOME relaxation...................

OBL.........

OBL is not the Outer Banks of Louisiana.  It is Osama Bin Laden.  I have to admit, Sunday night my sweet husband called at 9:15 pm and I was trying to settle the girls down after they should have been asleep.  I could feel my stress level rising and then the phone rang........  I felt so bad that I wasn't ready to talk to him.  I didn't expect the call and should have been ecstatic.  But, instead, I was just frustrated with the timing.  So, half of the conversation was me getting upset with the girls.  We did get a chance to talk and he let me know that the flight he was taking that day (which was planned long before) would be a long one.  While I was talking to my sweetie, I received a call and text from my girls' dance teacher.  When I returned the call, she couldn't talk because the president was about to speak.  {Really?  On Sunday night?  Really? At 9:30? hmmmm......}  So, I turned on the TV.  Then, I learned the news.......  Osama Bin Laden was killed!  Really?????  While my husband was in Afghanistan?  While I am proud of the accomplishment, I was hesitant about the timing.  I want my husband home when things like this happen.  Doesn't everyone?  Don't we want our husbands there to protect us?  Not sure why.  It really doesn't make sense.  But, it's the reality.  I remember when Saddam Hussein was found in the hole.  We were in S. Korea.  But, we were together as a family.  So, while I was happy about Bin Laden's capture, I was worried about retaliation against our troops in Afghanistan.  So, I sat and worried.  My brother called and tried to say something reassuring.  It was sweet but I knew he had no idea what to say.  But, what a great thought!  A while later, the phone rang again.  This time it was my sister's girlfriend.  It was so sweet for her to call.  At first, she had no idea what to say.  She listened, let me cry, and then brought me back to reality.  Then, we spent the better part of an hour laughing, talking, and gossiping!  When we had a connection problem, we decided it was a sign that we needed to get some sleep.  By this time, I was exhausted and knew I had to sleep. I sent Eric an email to every email account that Eric had to tell him to let me know he landed safely.   Although it wasn't good sleep, it was sleep.  I was a nervous wreck until I heard his voice again.  This is crazy because in 2003 when he was in Iraq, I only heard from him once a month.  Yes, once a month!!!!  (That was a once a month phone call with no emails between!!)  So, why is it that I worried so much?  It is because the realities of war weren't there in 2003.  The 101st Airborne Division was going to go into Iraq, kick ass, remove Saddam Hussein and come home!  Wow!  Now, 8 years after his first deployment (2/28/03), I am very aware of the realities of war.  I have seen the devastation that war can create within families that stay together, families that are broken, and families who have lost a loved one.  So, for our true heroes, the fallen heroes, I keep a prayer vigil...until the troops come home....

Proud Mama!

So, today was the QCRR (Queen City Road Race).  It was the 33rd Annual event.  Last year all four of us registered for the 1 Mile Movement but decided not to go because of the heavy rains (which led to the flooding of our town).  This year the 3 of us registered for the 5K since Grandpa (my Dad) was going to do it, the girls decided that they could too!  It ended up being myself and girls, my sister Julie, my Dad (a.k.a. Grandpa) and my Aunt Kathy.  My Mom (a.k.a. Grandma) and Uncle Frank (Grandpa's brother and Aunt Kathy's husband) came for moral support. Grandpa told me I should bring a wagon because with the hills in Clarksville, I was surely going to be pulling one of them along....  I didn't do it!!!  I refused to pull an 8 or 6 year old around in a wagon!! About an hour before the race it started to rain.  But, by race time, it was sprinkling.  RJ began strong and got a stomach cramp at about 1 mile.  But, we breathed through it and she rocked the rest of it.  D went from jogging to walking the whole race!  We are still waiting for our "official" results.  I think the girls and I finished before the 45 min. mark.  Grandpa and Julie finished a few minutes later.  And, Aunt Kathy and another nurse that she met along the race finished last at 52 minutes.  Aunt Kathy met this lady who had just lost over 100 lbs. and had completed a 2K and a 3K previously.  The girls and I met a lady who's children were cheering her along around the Franklin St. area.  We began talking and this was her first race after losing 155 lbs.  How awesome!!!  It is great to meet really neat people along the way.  Of course, we ran part of the race with our dear friend, Jaime.  We also ran into friends from dance, church, and school.  It was amazing how all these paths crossed today to make it a great day!  I appreciate http://www.clarksvillenow.com/ for taking pictures and posting them quickly.  They are awesome!!!
So, here's to a happy, healthy, and FIT 2012!!!!