Brotherly and Sisterly Love

There are rare moments when my two play with each other so well. I just love to hear them laughing at each other and chasing each other down the hallway. Today we sat on the front porch and they were sharing a book.

Hamming it up!

Carleigh loves to have the camera on her. Lately, she is making silly faces everytime I try to take a shot of her.

Messy eaters

Cody and Carleigh love buttered flavor puffcorn. We bought a huge bag on Sunday and the two devoured the bag! Yep in just 3 days! Here is a shot of the two after finishing the bag off during lunch today.

Working on Cody's room

Today, we installed Cody's new bamboo shades and organized his room a bit. I bagged two large bags of toys for our yard sale plus one large box filled with stuffed animals. It is amazing how many toys 2 children can accumulate in 3 years! We are not finished with his room as we still need to get a toy organizer and a corner shelf that will mount to the wall for Cody's tv. Once they are installed and I get the right valances, I plan on taking a picture of his room. My next project for tomorrow is the laundry room and Carleigh's closet. Her room is fairly organized, however her closet is not. With Matt starting a new job tomorrow, working in the rooms will be challenging. I plan on working in the laundry room during their nap and working in Carleigh's room while they play with her kitchen set.

Update to physical therapy woes: we called Cody's pediatrician and the nurse is trying to get pre-authorization. I will check back next week to see if it was authorized for Cody to return to therapy. We have had quite an ordeal with his insurance these days.

Clean sweeping, insurance woes, new job

Alot is going on these days! I am working on clean sweeping our house. We are making 3 piles: yard sale, trash, and save. My goal is to get everything organized this week and finish by early next week.

We got alot of things taken care of like changing Cody's social security card, birth certificate, etc. Things were going ho-hum today until we received April's bill for physical and occupational therapy that his lovely insurance rejected. Little did we know that Cody has limited therapy. This came as a surprise to us since we have been taking him for 2 years and have never heard about limited visits. So, I have to try to make an appointment with his ped. to pre-authorize his visits so he can continue. Until then, my poor little guy has to miss his visits. The sad thing is that he really needs that therapy. Doesn't that always happen? Carleigh who is starting to not need it as much can still go to OT and PT, but Cody can't until we straighten out this insurance mess. Argh! Hopefully we will get it figured out with not alot of stress and worry on my part.

Matt signed up at a temporary agency and is hoping to work this week and for the rest of the summer. If he finds a job he really likes, he is hoping to get on second shift in the fall when I go back to work in mid-August. He is so eager to start working again and I can see why because he likes to stay busy and on the go.

Carleigh surprised me today by saying "orange." I guess my lessons on color is starting to hit home with her!

A few funny moments with Carleigh

Carleigh is fascinated with dipping her food into ketchup. Everything needs to be dipped and of course ketchup goes everywhere!! Tonight, we ate at Max and Erma's and I think more ketchup was on her shirt and face than her stomach!!


While we were on vacation last week, we went to a grocery store to pick up a few items. Well, Carleigh wanted fruit snacks and was holding the box. The next thing I knew, she threw the box into a woman's cart as she was passing by us in the aisle. She smiled and laughed. Then last Friday evening, we were at the grocery store at home, and she did the same thing. It must be a fruit snack thing!!! This time, the lady said "My girls would love those!"


Tonight, we were checking out and a cart passed by us to check out in the open aisle next to us. To which Carleigh shouts "Nanas!" and leans over and tries to grab the bananas out of this older couple's cart. They laughed and laughed.
Oh the funny and silly things my girl does at the grocery store!!

Sidewalk Chalk - A Learning Tool

Yesterday, I decided to get some sidewalk chalk out and do an impromptu lesson review on the ABC's. I wrote all the uppercase letters on our concrete floor of our carport. When my two woke up from their naps, I brought them outside. They were fascinated with the chalky stuff, but more than the chalk, they loved looking at the letters that they know. Cody would bend down and point to a letter and then say the name of the letter! It was so sweet to hear his soft voice say "A, B, C, D, F, I, M, O, P, Y" and then he pointed to the letters and identified 1 through 5!

Last night, I was counting to 5 and making it a game to them. I would slowly start at 1 and then at 5, I would tickle them, dance with them and act crazy. Carleigh the ever bright one would anticipate the counting and get shy when I said 4 and just laugh out loud when I said 5. She really hasn't started counting yet so the exercise was for her more than Cody. I think I found the perfect game for her and to help her on her journey of counting. What I love most about teaching is seeing a child's love of learning blossom. It is so neat to see Cody and Carleigh light up when we do ABC work and counting.

Normal Faces

Silly Faces

Settling back into a routine

Things are getting back to normal with routines such as bedtime, eating schedules and therapy. Today is therapy day which means two exhausted toddlers in the afternoon! Cody is back to normal and is eating well. We are all healthy which is a praise! Cody's new cute thing to do is to put his hands in his mouth and pull on the sides of his mouth to make a silly face. I will try to post a pic of it. During the trip to VA Beach, you have to go through beautiful mountains. I said to Carleigh, "Look at the mountains, Carleigh!" She replied, "Wow!"

Sick ones

Carleigh contracted a fever and stomach bug during the last few days of our trip and then passed on her germies to Cody and I. I am over it thankfully but it has been hard on the Codeman. It hit him Friday night and he looked pitiful laying down in a fetal position in his room, not playing with his toys. My mommy heart was hurting for him and worrying about my little man. Saturday, Matt and I had an all day foster parent training so my mom and dad watched our two at our house. Cody didn't eat much and in the evening, he just wanted Matt or I to hold him. He then woke us up crying in the middle of the night and would not drink anything. He finally threw up this morning and he seems to be doing a little bit better. He drank some juice this morning and has held it down with some crackers and bread. I can't stand it when one of my littles is sick. It just tugs at my heart!

Last stroll on the boardwalk

A picture of Matt, Cody and Carleigh standing next to the huge statue of Posideon.
A very rare shot of Matt and I as a couple!

Last night on the beach with fierce winds!

Visiting the aquarium

Playing in the sand

The sun rising over the Atlantic

Our Virginia Beach Trip

On Sunday morning, we loaded the van and traveled with my mom and dad. We drove until 5:30pm and stopped in Staunton, Virginia. We were oh so tired of being couped up in a mini-van with two toddlers (who started to whine somewhere at the end of the Kentucky line and West Virginia state line! We stopped frequently and got the kids out to stretch their legs. One rest area was a gold mine for Carleigh because they had a walk-way and nature trail completely covered with rocks! Matt and I knew we were in for a power struggle when we were ready to get back into the van. She threw a fit, but my dad picked her up and all was well with her! (Can ya tell she is a Pappaw's girl?!!)

The first night in a hotel was adventurous to say the least. Our two are creatures of habit and are used to their cribs. (We are transitioning them to toddler beds next month though.) So, suffice to say that going to sleep on regular beds was a challenge. Matt and I were bone weary from traveling so we were celebrating when they both passed out around 11pm!

On Monday, we traveled through the rest of Virginia and arrived at our hotel in Virginia Beach at 2pm. Our rooms were ready (thank the Lord!) and Cody and Carleigh had a blast exploring the room. We had a wonderful view of the beach and ocean! I will be posting several beach scenes.

After settling into our rooms, we went walking on the boardwalk outside of our hotel. The wind and the smells of the ocean were heavenly. After supper, we took Cody and Carleigh out onto the beach for the first time. Cody was in love! He loved walking in the sand. Carleigh was hesitant but enjoyed it the first time. Their reactions were priceless.

Tuesday, I was so excited about the day that I woke up at 5am. (This is shocking as I am not a morning person at all!) I have always wanted to see the sun rise over the ocean. Well, I got my wish. While the rest of my family were sleeping soundly. I snuck out onto the balcony and watched joggers jogging on the boardwalk under my room, beach maintenance smoothing out the sands, early bikers bicycling on the bike path. Then, the sun started peeking out and I was just amazed at God's creation. It is amazing how He created a beautiful scene like this! (I will post a pic of the sun coming up!)

After an early breakfast, my mom, Matt, Cody, Carleigh and I set out for the beach. This is not a long walk as our hotel is on the oceanfront. We rented a cabana which is a must for fair haired and easily to burn toddlers and myself! The kids had a blast playing in the sand. Cody liked sticking his feet into the ocean and feeling the waves splash all around him. Carleigh was terrified! After awhile, she insisted on me holding her and she put her face on my shoulder! Silly girl! I was afraid that they would run around crazy but the sand was hard to walk on so they stayed right around the cabana and played really well. A professional photographer was taking pictures of families on the beach and we agreed to let him take a few shots. We stayed on the beach until lunchtime and naptime.

After naps, we went out to dinner and then went shopping on Atlantic Avenue. There were so many sovenir/gift shops that we were overwhelmed! We also picked up our family portraits and were very pleased with them (although they were a bit pricey!). I plan on scanning them sometime later as I do not have a scanner. We also saw lots of ice cream, candy, and salt water taffy shops! We shopped and then walked along the boardwalk. The second night was much easier to get the kids down for the night as they were getting used to hotel living!

On Wednesday, Matt and I and the kids went to the Virginia Beach Science and Marine Aquarium. The kids enjoyed seeing sharks, fish, and turtles. Carleigh kepting saying "Fish! Fish! Fish!" The clouds parted and we set out for more time on the beach. After the beach and naps, we ordered pizza to be delivered into our rooms and then we shopped and walked along the board walk. The winds were becoming more and more like hurricane winds so we had to but jackets on the kiddos! The tide was getting so rough and the waves crashed so loudly that I thought for sure the water was going to head for our hotel! What was our beach spot earlier that day was completely submerged in water that evening!

That evening, we watched exhibitors put up tents for the Art Show that would begin the day we left. I felt so sorry for them and for the security officer who had to stay on the boardwalk that night in the cold, fierce winds. Oh, and Carleigh comes down with a fever and diarrhea! Whoa! I think it might have been a combination of food and sun that disagreed with her.

The next morning, we loaded the van and said farewell to VA Beach. I wanted to stop in Jamestown but the weather was not cooperating, Carleigh being sick and the rest of the family wanted to get half-way home. So, I plan on going back in a couple of years and stay in Williamsburg for a couple of days and by then the kiddos will be able to understand and remember it.

Travel was great until we hit the West Virgina mountains. It started to rain and then we heard a THUD! Yep, HAIL! And when I say we drove in a hailstorm, boy do I mean a hailstorm! It was so bad that most travelers were getting off the road. Matt being the daring one kept going and followed this semi. I was so scared and were praying the whole time! The hail was golf ball sized and the road looked like there was 2-3 inches of snow on the road! It was the worst hail storm that I have ever experienced. It lasted for 20 - 30 minutes and I thought it was never going to stop. It woke Carleigh from her nap as it sounded like our van was being hit with a baseball bat, but Cody slept through the entire hailstorm! That kid can sleep through anything! It finally stopped and I was so happy to see the sun come back out.

We stopped in Huntington, West Virginia for the night and were exhausted. On Friday, we left around 9am for home and arrived back home around 1pm. I am so happy to be home! I had a wonderful time, but there is nothing like sleeping in your own bed and having normalcy back for toddlers!

Last post before leaving for the beach!

Well, the kids' clothes are packed. Ours is almost complete. Boy do we have a lot of stuff to load in the van! Of course, MOST of it is for Cody and Carleigh: clothes, diapers, juice, sippies, snacks, toys, strollers, beach toys, and lots of beach towels, etc. We are not planning on driving the whole way there...we will stop somewhere in the northern or middle part ofVirginia Sunday evening and let the kids swim at the pool which also minimizes our stress level because they get bored very easily! We also have plans to stop in Colonial Williamsburg and see the original Jamestown settlement. (Ok, this is a Jennifer activity! I want to take pictures for my class as we study the Jamestown settlement in the late fall and of course I LOVE history!!) We also found out that there is a kiddie amusement park right on the beach so that kids will have a blast. We will be back Friday afternoon/evening.

I will post an update if I get a chance on Friday evening or Saturday. Until then, keep us in your prayers for traveling mercies.

Swimming with a friend!!

The temps reached the low 90's today so I thought swimming was in order for today's agenda! After naptime, we put on the sunblock and spent the afternoon in the pool. My niece Brittany was babysitting Emily so she came down with her and they had a blast splashing and swimming.

I also got out the suitcases today to start packing and organizing what we need for the beach and for 6 days of clothing. This is our first big vacation since we brought Cody home. We have stayed overnight and for a long weekend before, but not this long. Cody and Carleigh had fun playing with the suitcases in the hallway while Matt grilled our dinner.

Our 9th Anniversary!

Nine years ago today, Matt and I said our "I do's." I can't believe it has been 9 years and that we have known each other for 11 years! In some ways it seems like we have been together forever but in other ways I just can't believe it. The past 9 years have been filled with happiness, grief, fear, anxiousness, worry, love and celebrations! Our first few years were funny and light-hearted, then we faced infertility and I thought it was going to be the death of me. We grieved the biological children we wouldn't have. Then we faced anticipation and the arrival of our children. Though with our first child, we didn't have time to prepare and anticipate the arrival but with Carleigh, we knew 6 months in advance AND we knew what her gender would be. Through all of our trials and sorrows, we have come closer as a couple.

My mom and dad will be babysitting the kids while Matt and I go out to dinner tonight to celebrate. This is such a rarity that we go out to eat by OURSELVES so I am going to so enjoy this time alone and it will be a good time to just reconnect and carry on a conversation without it being interrupted by flying food or a spilled drink ( I love my kids and wouldn't trade those experiences for anything).

Happy Anniversary, Matthew! Can't wait to celebrate many more with you!

Good news!!!

I just got back from speech therapy with Carleigh. She doesn't need speech therapy over the summer! Hurray!! The therapist wants her to come back in mid-August to follow-up and to see how she is doing. Her therapist is amazed at her progress in the past 2-3 months. I am so proud of her!!

Progress!

We are so excited about Cody's vocabulary development! He has been saying quite a bit more words. He really listens to Carleigh and now says "up, bye-bye, Elmo, dog, more, ba-ba(sippy cup), Pa-paw, Mummaw." Yesterday he repeated what my dad said when he said that it looks like it was going to rain and Cody said "rain?" This makes me so proud of my little guy. We have been waiting for over 3 years to hear his precious, sweet voice and it will be great for Cody to tell us what is going on and what he wants.

Carleigh's new word of the week is "splash." She has a large word vocabulary and now her next step is talking in two and three sentences.

Both children can identify many alphabet letters without any prompting. We are now moving on to shapes and colors this summer as well as numbers 1-10.

Splish Splash!

Last night we bough a new pool at Target. Before lunch, Cody and Carleigh had a chance to splash in the pool. They had so much fun! If they like this wading pool, imagine their reaction to the ocean for the first time! In one more week, we will on our way to Virginia Beach! We are getting so excited! If the sun comes out later this evening, we might go swimming a little bit more.

Last Day of School!

Oh the memories, some good, some bad, and some I will never forget! This class has been my most challenging class ever. It was my seventh class of second graders and eighth class of children overall. It seems like yesterday when I was student teaching a set of 4th graders! This class has really kept me on my toes this year! I will admit that when I got up on the stage to pass out end of the year awards, I was a bit teary. Although they had their difficulties, I have grown to love them. Yes, the teacher heart in me beats steady. I strongly know that God called me to be a teacher. But, now I am soooo ready to relax! I have to work on Monday, but should be finished by lunchtime. Every year, I am ready to relax in June and July but the school itch starts again in mid-August. For now, I am going to think beach and vacation dreams and spend each day with my two precious children! Ahhhh, the life of a teacher and a mom!