Saturday, August 14, 2010

Seriously....where does the time go???

How can something that used to be so important to me, have fallen so far by the wayside? We are all busy people and I guess that I can use that as an excuse just like everything else. Playing catch-up seems inevitable, so a brief picture of what has happened in the last six months seems appropriate.


At last writing we were in the midst of several weeks worth of blizzards...more snow than I have seen in ages. We were out of school for a total of 13 days...of which we DID have to make up the time lost by adding minutes to the school day for the rest of the year.
Carson completed first grade, and I got the ever so important first year of teaching under my belt. While the stress level of the school year seems to have mellowed over the summer, I am still enrolled full-time as a graduate student, working on my Masters of Education degree. At times, I wonder if I would have been better suited to have chosen the circus as a career path simply because all I felt I was capable of doing was juggling one thing for the other, often at the expense of my family. I am happy to say however, that we ALL survived!

In April, I managed a quick trip back to Texas without Carson or Wayne to see my family. Mom had some recent surgery, and I needed to touch base and was blessed to get to spend time with them. From Amarillo, I flew to Boston and met Wayne and Carson and we headed up to his old stomping grounds in New Hampshire. We were able to spend some time with some dear friends and let Carson have a glimpse of where his daddy grew up.
As I mentioned earlier...the school year ended..quite successfully I might add. My "boys" all nine of them blessed me in so many ways! I learned as much if not more from them as they did, hopefully from me.

Carson started his first ever season of Little League and he decided all on his own that he prefers baseball over soccer. With this being a learning season for him, he did quite well and wants to continue with baseball again next season. He earned his green belt in karate and is now officially a wolf cub in cub scouts.


No vacations planned for this summer, as Carson and I were both in summer school. I spent five weeks with my boys in the extended school year program and Carson was enrolled for an enrichment program to give him a boost for second grade. I also had two more grad classes to complete...so time was kinda gone before we knew it!

Perhaps the BIGGEST thing we did this summer was move into a new house...of course moving is stressful under any circumstances, but we LOVE our new home. It is right behind the school where I teach and right across from the commuter train station that Wayne rides into work in D.C.
I am just about completely unpacked...at least the important stuff is. The basement...no where near done, will be a project for another day

As I look at the calendar now, I am both excited and a bit melancholy that the summer is about over....although with the record heat and humidity we have had this summer...FALL looks mighty good! Carson and I have spent some time at the water park and managed to unwind and relax some. I realized that I start back to school with trainings on the 23rd. Classes for students don't start until the 7th of September. We have given some thought to a short trip over the Labor day weekend... but nothing much is set in stone as of yet. I am excited to see my boys again...I really have missed them, and I DO, do much better with a structured routine.

I have also decided that I need to get back to my photography...while I am still an amateur, I love doing it. It fills me with a joy and a sense of accomplishment when I am able to capture something digitally and share it with others.

Life throws lessons at us each and every day, I have learned this summer particularly, how blessed I am! I have an amazing husband, who loves me unconditionally, as I do him. A son, who fills me with pure joy every single day, and friends that support me and love me.

So here is to NOT, hopefully going so long in between blog posts.........maybe!




Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Catching Up!

It is the 9th of February and we are snowed in, and out of school for over a week...I decided what better time to catch up on the blog and hopefully rekindle a joy that I found in blogging.

Carson and I both started back to school in September...Carson in first grade, and myself as a first year Special Education teacher for children with autism. While it keeps both of us busy...I love working in the same school that Carson attends.








We immersed ourselves in everything Conway and had a blast doing so.... This is the 1st annual Trunk or Treat.
Myself with the Cougar

Carson wanted to be a police officer...closest we could find that wasn't too cheesy was a S.W.A.T costume.... HE LOVED it and was mighty cute!

The Trunk or Treat coincided with Spirit week and we all got involved!

Thanksgiving came, and relatives couldn't make it in...so the three of us, along with a teacher friend who could not get home, celebrated the holiday together.
We starting preparing for Christmas, but mother nature had different plans and dumped 18 inches of snow on us on the 19th of December....as a result we missed the last two days of school before Christmas break.
Carson got clobbered in a snowball fight.
But he LOVED every single minute of the snow...

Loved this shot and played around with it in Photoshop

Wayne borrowed a snow blower from a neighbor and Carson had a BLAST!

Christmas Eve came and we prepared for Santa and the reindeer with cookies, milk and carrots. Of course we had to leave Santa a letter.

We tracked Santa on NORAD and waited patiently....

This was our first Christmas in Virginia, and while it was nice with just our little family...we missed friends and family in Texas tremendously...

Santa was on the ball this year and FINALLY brought Carson the drum set he had been asking for for the past couple of years. Santa was ever so wise and brought a drum set that ONLY works with headphones...or plugged into a stereo system....Carson doesn't own a stereo system...and if I get my way...he never will :)
The day after Christmas we loaded up the car and left cold and snowy Virginia...for cold and rainy Florida...and WALT DISNEY WORLD. But first we stopped in St. Augustine Florida and played on the beach for a couple of hours.

Carson Loved running on the beach...and I was hard pressed to keep his shoes on..and his toes out of the water.
One day, I hope he grows into his teeth....
Had to leave his mark...
On to Disney World....

I LOVE this boy!!!!!
We saw lots of characters....
Our Favorites Lightning McQueen and Towmater!The man of the hour MICKEY!
Wayne and Carson goofing off on the bus to Disney's Hollywood Studios
Teacups were a MUST at the Magic Kingdom....
We had Breakfast with Mickey at Chef Mickey's
I think Carson was smitten with Minnie!Goofy helped to cook our breakfast!As did Pluto.
We stopped at a couple of resorts along the way to sight see... This is the Polynesian.The GINORMOUS Christmas tree in the Grand Floridian.AND the MONSTROUS Gingerbread house in the Grand Floridian.
Carson and Dad rode the Splash Mountain.
We spent New Year's Eve in the Magic Kingdom...we stood with 750,000 of our closest friends and waited for the fireworks. While we waited, the light show on the Castle was amazing.


Carson lasted for about an hour and then collapsed and slept on the street...until the firework show. More of the Castle and the many colors.....
And THEN...... the fireworks started.......And it was definitely worth the wait......

This is just a brief glimpse of all that has kept us busy since September. As of this writing we are going on day four of being snowed in...and are waiting the next round of snow that mother nature sends us. We missed all but one day last week at school...and so far we are out until at least Friday. Who knows... I may really get back into blogging....before this snowcation is over!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Carter

Words really seem inadequate trying to express how sorrowful, and sad we are to tell of the passing of Carter Harris age 6. He was an angel in many ways here on earth, but now he truly is dancing with the angels. His passing is bittersweet. We are sorrowful and broken hearted that he no longer is here with us on earth, but rejoice knowing that he is completely healed! His parents, Courtney and Skip as well as his big brother Tommy and little sister Caroline, need your prayers as they walk down a different path without Carter. Please take a moment and visit the Carter's Crusaders blog linked to the left and read about the journey this amazing child has finished, and the road ahead for the family he leaves behind.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Please Continue to Pray for Carter

This was last December....Carson and Carter watching the Fredericksburg Christmas parade. It was BITTER cold, and we had the first snow of the season start to fall during the parade. The kids were all bundled, waiting patiently for Santa to arrive. The parade this year was last Saturday....again it was bitter cold, and again we had the first snow of the season. It was perfect....except Carter wasn't there. I find it very hard to even imagine what has occurred to this brave little man in less than a year. He was diagnosed in February with an inoperable brain tumor. He has been fighting ever so valiantly and unfortunately there is nothing left that the doctors can do.

Please stop, and add Carter, his family, especially his sweet Mama to your prayers. Waiting on God, waiting on the inevitable has to be excruciating. Please pray for peace, acceptance, understanding and most of all comfort as Carter is called home to his saviour.

For continued updates check out http://carterharris.blogspot.com/ God Bless!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Time Flies.....


when you are too busy to stop and notice it. It has been 10 weeks since I started back to work full time. 10 weeks since I moved Carson to go to school with me...10 weeks since I slept late...had a semi clean house, read a book until I wanted to quit, instead of falling asleep. 10 weeks since graduate classes started up again. 10 weeks since I actually enjoyed coming home and playing Mommy and wife. Hectic doesn't quite seem to be the word that I am looking for. I
am looking for balance.....and honestly not having much success finding it. I only have one child...this is definitely doable, but I feel like I am barely keeping my head above water. Carson is lucky to get clean underwear, simply because I bought him more...was just easier than worrying he wouldn't have any clean for the day.

So we stopped last week.....took a break as a family and played all Sunday afternoon. Took the camera with us and this is what we got!

Worth it.....I think!