What we've been doing

Each year, it feels like Spring will never get here fast enough.  When it finally does, we are all so relieved to see everything green up and get outside!  Then...reality sets in.  Everything is green and we must get outside and mow, pull weeds, edge EVERYTHING in sight, cut the pasture, weed the garden, etc.  Then, in about a week and a half, we have to do it all again!  That's okay - we have some fun out there too.  Here are some Springtime pics from Skiatook!    

Paris, TX

Did you know that Paris, TX has a replica of the Eiffel Tower with a cowboy hat on top?  Maybe everyone knows that.  I didn't....until Sunday.

My girls are so very different.  I find it fascinating, strange, wonderful, and mostly humorous.  Let's take yesterday for example.  Bill stayed home from church with Will.  Several yucky diapers and a bad case of diaper rash = not welcome in the church nursery.  Kate was scheduled to acolyte, so off we girls went to church, followed by lunch at Royal Dragon.  During lunch, I brought up our girls trip to Dallas last fall.  I said that having lunch with the two of them reminded me of our trip and how nice it had been to just be with them for a few days.  This got the ball rolling on where we were going to go this year!  Claire was bursting with ideas from Hawaii to California and several places in between.  She was detailed in her ideas - what we could do there, where we might stay, how long it would take to get there, how fun the plane trip would be.  I let her go on for a minute then explained that it probably needed to be within driving distance and that we wouldn't want take a really BIG trip like that without Dad and Will.  The girls trip should be something that Dad and Will probably wouldn't be all that interested in anyway.  I mentioned Kansas City and a few other options.  Those received a lukewarm reception - at best - from Claire.  At this point, I thought I should give her a break from the travel planning so I looked at Kate and asked her what she thought and if she had any ideas on where we could go.  She had been eating, listening (she's an excellent listener) and just taking in the conversation.  Then she said, in a very matter of fact sort of way, 

"Let's go to Paris, TX.  There's a replica of the Eiffel Tower there.  And it has a cowboy hat on top."

Claire and I just looked at her (insert the sound of crickets here).

I had to laugh - just on the inside.  Keep in mind, Kate is thoroughly serious.  I asked what else she thought we might do in Paris, TX after we had our picture taken in front of this gem of a landmark.  She shrugged her shoulders.  So very typical.  Claire is still looking at Kate, trying to make some sense of what her big sister has just said.

Fall girls trip 2012.  Here's where it stands after yesterday's lunch discussion.  It's either Hawaii, 5 star resort, first class or a day's drive to Paris, TX.  I am almost certain that I will have the final call on this and it will be neither.  I am also certain that we are all three looking forward to it no matter where we decide to roam! 

One in a camo hat and ponytail, one with a fluffy purple barrette and stuffed monkey

And here it is...in case it was news to you too! 

    

Thoughtful

A few weeks ago, there was a book fair at the girls' school.  We always get a few things.  It's a good time to get some new books, gifts, and help add to the classroom libraries.  I like it, but it can get pricey.  It runs for about a week and a half and if the girls had it their way, they'd spend $30/day...each!  It adds up.  So, we talked about how much they could spend on the designated shopping days (every other day) and about how Grammie would be here during the book fair and would want to buy a book or two for them too.  

Around the middle of the week, Kate said she needed some book fair money.  She had not shopped much at all yet - if any.  I hadn't kept track as well as I should have.  I was busy that week and the initial lecture seemed to have worked.  I hadn't heard tons of begging, pleading, and "just one more book/eraser/pen".  Not much of that at all.  So, when she said she wanted to buy a few books that day, I thought, "fine".  I handed her some cash and she said no thank you, she was taking her own money.  All three of the kids have envelopes stashed away in the laundry room with cash from birthdays, holidays, etc. that they have received from grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.  It is available for them to use as they wish because it was a gift to them.  That's just how I feel about it.  And luckily, I've never really had a problem with them "blowing it".  I am always amazed at how they give purchases much more consideration when it's coming out of THAT stash as opposed to their dad's wallet or my purse!  Anyway - she took her money ($20) and headed off to school. 

After school, I was presented with this:    

She said she flipped through several cookbooks and thought this one was the best because the others seemed to have lots of dips and appetizers and she was trying to find something I could use for family meals.  She knows this is a weekly challenge for me.  Thoughtful. 



And Will was presented with this:

All things trains, cars, trucks...she knows what he likes!  She read it to him later that day.  .



And that's where her $20 went.  Didn't buy herself a thing. 

That same night, Claire surprised me when I was bathing Will and folded a big stack of laundry without being asked.  I'm not sure my little shopper could bring herself to purchase NOTHING for herself at the book fair...so she did what she could.  And she can fold clothes!    

Coincidence?  No.  Kindness begets kindness.  Thoughtfulness begets thoughtfulness.  They are watching each other.  They are watching me.  Big reminder!

My girls are sweet and have kind hearts, but this is not necessarily the norm for my household.  We are not sailing about every evening, opening doors for each other, saying please and thank you and always thinking of the other person.  Please!  Of course we are trying to teach this and lead by example, but reality and business set in and we are scrambling, bickering and carrying on and doing our best to make an 8:00 p.m. bedtime!  So, this made me think.  How quick are we to correct them when they are wrong?  How quick am I to constantly be on top of them regarding hanging up towels, taking dishes to the sink, getting homework done, and for goodness sakes...STOP all the bickering.  That's how it goes.   So, I thought - why not give the thoughtful and kind things they do equal attention.  Why is this so much harder to do or to remember to do?  I had thanked them both, but I decided to do exactly what I require of them when someone goes out of their way to show them kindness. 

  

Thank you notes.  Really simple, but they were so happy to get them at their seat at the table the next morning.  It made them realize how important those notes are to people on the receiving end. 

Kindness begets kindness.  How true.  Haven't had many days like this since.  We tend to get busy, tired, grouchy, short with each other (to put it nicely!).  But at least I know what we are all capable of and I like the chain reaction that occurred on this particular day.   

Bedtime

Claire has been lobbying for a later bedtime for quite some time now.  It's 8:00 p.m.  She would prefer 8:30.  It's a nightly discussion.  Those thirty minutes that I will not budge on are her latest irritation with me and her dad.  A few nights ago, I found this taped to her door.  It all makes sense now...she's not tired at 8:00!  I especially like the 15 minute window she gave herself  to "be tired".  The girl knows herself. 

I will make a note of it, Claire and give your situation further consideration.  Love, Mom.     

Happy Birthday to Will!

Two years old as of March 3, 2012.  I hate to start this blog with...wow it went so fast.  But, wow it went so fast!  He brings so much fun, joy, love, perspective, and energy to this family.  We feel so grateful to have him in our mix.  I have had just as much fun watching my girls interact with him as watching him.   To see them read to him, change a diaper (wet ones only!), get him dressed, get him a snack, and just care for him in general warms my heart.  I think we are not only busy shaping and teaching him, but learning from him too.  They learn all kinds of valuable lessons just by being big sisters. 

Here is a quick summary of all things Will.  Happy 2nd Birthday, sweet little boy!

* Loves to sing

* Can repeat almost anything you say (careful!)

* Loves the barn and hanging out in it with Dad.  A ride on the tractor would be a close second. 

* Runs everywhere he goes - walking does not exist

* Talks to me constantly on our trips in to Tulsa to get the girls, etc.

* Loves pizza, roast, and barbeque chips

* Still loves his bottle of milk (morning, naptime, and nighttime)....don't rush me!

* Loves to Dance - anytime he hears music

* Water, water and more water to play in...sinks, tubs, anywhere he can turn on some water

* Calls shoes, Bee-Bops

* Calls the raindrops, rainbops

* Has been known to call for Claire or Kate (over the monitor) after his nap, especially if he isn't happy with Mom and Dad. 

* Loves our dog, Missy

* Loves his cow blanket

* "Momma, hold you."  My favorite thing he says.  Actually, he begins almost every statement with "Momma"....I guess just to make sure I know he's talking to me and that I'm paying attention!

* "Here he is!"  Bill's favorite thing he says.  Kate said it exactly the same way.

* Is the cutest thing, in my book!  Check it out!   

Lesson for me

Those of you who know me and my husband at all, know that we differ where finances are concerned.  Most couples do to some degree.  He would like to bury it all in the backyard.  I would like to take all of it to Pottery Barn.  Good thing we have each other.  Okay, maybe better for me than Bill!  We have both revised our thinking since getting married 10 years ago.  It was not always easy, a pretty painful process.  One thing we have ongoing discussions (and yes, arguments) about since moving to our acreage in Skiatook is time management vs. financial management.  The load of chores immediately multiplied when we unpacked our stuff out here on the pasture!  I don't know why this came as such a surprise to me.  Not only do we have the normal house, yard work, kid's activities, car maintenance, etc.  We have a barn and 30 acres now, fences that need to be fixed, cows and horses to feed, brush hog work to do, a garden to maintain...the list goes on.  I am always suggesting we have someone at least mow and edge our "yard" so that we can focus on the pasture and barn area.  Or maybe let's have someone help put up shelving in our barn.  Let's hire someone...please.  Your time is valuable.  I'd rather just have more time to enjoy our place.  Dig deep in those pockets and CALL SOMEBODY! 

No.  I'm going to do it myself, he says.  He and I both know that the main reason for this is purely financial.  I get it.  This is a one income family with three kids headed to private school.  There is a limit to what we can do and we have to be responsible regarding our future.  But he always throws this out too: 

I want the kids to see US working hard, taking care of things, doing things ourselves.  It's a good lesson and shows them value in hard work.  It's what I want to show them.     

It sounds perfect.  It really does.  However, I usually roll the eyes and drop my case.  He wins and gets to put that money that I had only conceptually taken out, back in his pocket.  Honestly, what can I say after that?  Such a good lesson for them.  Very true.  But we don't have time for all of the things we need to do!  We have yet to get around to things that needed doing when we moved out here five years ago! I always chalked this up to another attempt at saving money.  I knew that what he was saying had merit, but I still just pulled out the tally sheet and marked another "1" for Bill and "0" for me. 

Until I read this.  I stumbled across this little book made by Claire this week.  I think I can say, tail between my legs, that the score is still Bill "1" and Courtney "0".  This is why I am thankful to be on his team.  Oh, I still think he needs to let someone else bury the trampoline in the backyard (my latest project), but this little book, all of Claire's own doing, spoke volumes to me.  Yes, thank you Bill for working so hard.  We all appreciate you!  And wow, they are paying attention.   

Thank you for working at the barn for our family.

We all thank you for working at the barn!

I am going to help some day at the barn with you dad.

that is a really nice thing you do for the horses and our family.

  

Issis

That's what my kids call her....Issis.  She is Aunt Sissy to me.  Has been for 40 years now!  When Kate was a baby, she began trying to talk SO early.  Her first word, "duck", was at 9 months.  She would try so hard to verbalize what she wanted and work with such intent to repeat exactly what we were saying.  She couldn't have been more than a year old when she began referring to my Aunt Sissy as "Issis".  She just got all tangled up in Sissy and that's what she is now!  Not Aunt Issis, just Issis.  Will can go either way with Sissy or Issis.  I don't think she cares much!  They love her and that's all that matters to her. 

She is super special to me.  She is my Dad's big sister.  She is my only aunt who lived near me (like 20 miles!) growing up.  She is such a fixture in almost all of my childhood memories that she's more like a third parent in a way.  She is small, but mighty!  A Southern lady, but strong.  I know exactly who is on the other end of the phone when she calls - even when I'm not the one who answers (l.o.u.d.)!  She is something else.  She has taught me more than she probably realizes.  There are little "happies" all around my house that came from Heidelberg, MS...or Vossburg, MS (depending on where she saw fit to mail it that day!).  I love it.  They remind me of her and of home.  Almost every cookbook I own, especially all the Southern ones or Mississippi ones, are from her.  She sent me a subscription to Mississippi magazine and the Laurel Leader Call (local paper) when I first moved to OK.  I think I only got the paper for about a year ('95-'96), but I still get that magazine and I look forward to it.  She sends me little things made in MS, from the musuem, etc.  She does not want me to forget where I'm from, even though she need not worry.  She taught me how to shell peas and that there should be an UNEVEN number of flowers in a flower arrangement.  I spent many hot afternoons in her garden, "helping" her pick whatever was ready.  We did lots of puzzles together when I'd spend the night and she always had plenty of junk food for me!  Every year, on my birthday, she would take me shopping for clothes at several different places in Laurel then we'd go to lunch at Mr. Gatti's pizza.  Her chicken spaghetti, cornbread dressing, and cheeseball recipes are some of my favorites.  She always cooked for holiday meals with family.  Way back when, we used to gather at her house occaisionally for Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving, etc.  After a while, we ended up mostly at my house and she would drive at least five pots of stuff (I'm skimping on that number) all the way from her house, unload it, serve it, and pack it back up when we were done!  I used to love seeing that Lincoln coming (the only car my Uncle Bill would ever buy for her).  It meant that they had arrived and were bringing that cheese ball and all the other stuff I loved with them.  It always included peas, butterbeans and cornbread.  She still does this.  Every time we drive in from OK...her car is there in my Dad's driveway and you know there's something good on that stove!  Now, not that my Dad's a slouch when we come, providing no meals, but he would agree - she can put together some good stuff!   

That's just a smidge about Issis.  I've got more, but this is a blog not a book.  She has left her mark on me, for sure.  This Christmas she gave us all a big scare.  I received a call that Issis was in the hospital.  It was a heart attack.  They weren't sure how she was doing.  The doctor said he was "guarded" about her situation.  Big lump in my throat.  Not ready for this.  Should I jump on a plane?  Was she going to be okay?  Did I need to go help my Dad?  I wasn't quite sure what to do, but I kept in touch with my Dad (about every hour for a few days) and with prayers answered and one more heart attack later, (that's 2!) she pulled through!  Whew!   It was a long week (or more) but the outcome was exactly what we were hoping for.  My dad did a great job as caretaker.  I think she would agree.  They are brother and sister with the typcial brother/sister relationship, so I was leary of this arrangement.  Turns out, it went really well.  I am proud of both of them!  She is already back in action helping him out this tax season (the 42nd).  Could not be more thankful!  Big reminder to soak up time with loved ones every minute you can.  Can't wait to see all of my South Mississippi folks in a few months.  I'm saving a extra big hug for my Aunt Sissy.  I am more than grateful I have the opportunity to hug her again! 

One of my favorite things in my house.
Haven't found flowers that don't look good in a blue mason jar.

second favorite....yes, that's correct.  It says Milk of Magnesia.
Eat your heart out!  You know it's cute!

Just a little C.I.L.Y. present (cause I love you)...I keep lots of her notes.
Pretty handwriting, huh?

iron skillet from Issis (I think it was her mother's, my Mamaw's??)
and that dish sitting in front of it is hers too!
I think she'd be proud of the way my cornbread turned out.

Love you, Issis!