keep calm and carry on....

     Motherhood is such an emotional ride.  So many things change forever when you hear that faint little fluttering heartbeat for the first time.  I'll never forget that day.  My baby boy was growing inside me, and my life was forever different.  Jeremy instantly became more than a husband...a father to my son, the head of our family, and my love for him still overwhelms me.  Although I criticize myself a million times a day for so many things, I know I should spend that time being thankful for those amazing boys that I share my home with and enjoy the life we have.  Disasters like the recent Oklahoma tornado and the Sandy Hook shootings bring this into perspective for me.

    I am a teacher.  I have been for 10 years.  I teach young (very young) kids, and any time that I see news scenes from tragic events that involve teachers and students my heart stops for a minute.  Teachers give their lives for their students in these terrible events.  Teachers are found lying on top of little bodies, protecting these most precious little beings, and hopefully allowing some mamas and daddies to continue to have hearts that beat and love that grows for their little ones.  I would give my life for my students.  No doubt. It's just something that is deep in your soul when you are a teacher...that certainty that you will protect your students no matter what. It's what I signed up to do. Those little people walk through my door each day, and their families trust me to do just that.  Now that I have my own little person I have had to find the strength inside me to do the same....trust another human being with my child's safety, happiness, and his life.  It's an amazing thing, to look at another person....someone who is not his mama, daddy, or family.....and knowing that they would give their life for his.  As I let my own kiddos go a week ago, I am thankful that we all made it through this school year, safe, happy, and  (a lot) smarter.  Today I said goodbye to an amazing lady that I always knew would give her life for my son's.  That has been an amazing feeling, and I hope we will find it again.  She is a special lady.  She loved my son like he was her own.  I am so thankful for her, and I hope she knows what she has meant to our family.  Thank you so much, Jeanette Dempsey.  You are a gift.   My son loves you deeply, and that means so much.

Thank you for being a teacher who would protect her own.  The Walkers will miss you!

     Now it's time for me to "keep calm and carry on"....and enjoy my summer with my boys.  As things slow down for me a bit I hope I can show them how much I love them and enjoy our family.  Jeremy and I will soon celebrate 10 years of marriage.  I really can't believe it's been that long.  I remember our first date like it was yesterday, and I remember waiting for him to call me with my stomach in knots.  I remember walking down the isle to him on our wedding day with complete certainty that I should spend my life with him.  I trust and love him completely.  I have for almost 13 years.  He is an amazing father and husband.  I forget to tell him and show him that too often.  Happy (almost) 10 year anniversary to us!  10 of many years to come....

Jeremy and I on our honeymoon in June 2003 

(it's still so hard to believe it's been 10 years!!)

mama's boy

      How amazing is this picture of Kirk and I on my very first Mother's Day in 2010?  Look at that little baby face and wispy hair!  He was such an adorable baby.  He is growing into a handsome little boy as well (I'll post a picture of us later).  I never imagined that I could love him even more than the day he was born, but I know I do.  I love him more than I did yesterday...or even 5 minutes ago.  There's just something special about mamas and their sons.....he's a mama's boy, and I love it.  I know sometimes I am way too hard on him, or way too easy on him, but I know it's ok.  He's a smart, funny, and brave little boy.  I'm so proud to be his mama.  I hope I can always look over my messy house and piles of laundry and pick up a book or a toy and enjoy the moment with him.  I'm looking forward to our summer together and our school year next year. I'm sure we will make LOTS of memories together.  I hope I can be the mama he deserves, and that he will remember the little things like I do....triangle sandwiches, good night songs and rhymes, and holiday traditions.  He and his Daddy are the greatest love I've ever known.  I'm so happy to be a mama and celebrate Mother's Day with my boys.

How precious are these lovely Disney mamas?  I especially love little Dumbo and his mama, and the song "Baby of Mine" still makes me cry a little (I have a Disney CD that I played a lot when I would rock Kirk as a baby. The song reminds me of nursing and rocking my little warm bundle....tear!).  Disney families are the best, and this picture reminds me how excited I am to climb aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship in 37 days!!!!!!!!

super hero soccer star!

We went to go see the super heroes that were at the KYOVA mall on Friday evening (for the new Iron Man 3 movie release).  I talked to Kirk several times about not being scared of them and how we would NEVER go again if he acted scared (he has always been afraid of characters...even ones he claims to "love!").  He promised me he would not be scared, "not one bit."  He delivered.  He went right up to his buddy Spidey and shot webs with him.  The super hero guys were so good with Kirk, and their costumes are amazing.  Kirk was so proud of himself, and we were, too!

Just another ordinary day.....shootin' some webs with Spidey..... 

 

hangin' with the super crew...

Kirk had an amazing soccer game today.  He is really getting serious about soccer, and I am so proud of him.  He scored 11 goals today!  He told me when he woke up this morning that he wanted to score 7 goals, but when he had scored 6 by half time, I challenged him to score 10, and he even surpassed that!  He listens to his coach, and he plays pretty well for a 3 year old.  I'm super proud, and I think I'm convinced that we need to play fall soccer, too!

Kirk celebrating after goal #7

Kirk fist pumping after goal #10

Kirk and his cousin Bella

Kirk and his cousin Holden 

(I have no idea what they are doing with their jerseys here, but it was a funny picture!)

Kirk and Holden

Kirk after goal #11!  Way to go! 

Yay team!  Great game!!

Kick it like Kirk!

Kirk has a few more weeks left of his first soccer season and I can already call it a success. He has boldly walked onto the field for each game and the last 3 games he has scored 6 goals during the game. He enjoys it, our coach is great with the team, and Kirk seems to really understand the rules.  I could almost cry looking at these pictures; he is growing up way too fast.  In a few weeks, he will be finished with day care and looking forward to preschool with me in the fall.  Where has the time gone?  Why is he almost 4 years old?? I try my best everyday to enjoy every minute with him.  He tells me he will always love me, even when he's a big man like Daddy. I know he will.  He is so much fun.  I'm so lucky to be his "soccer mama!"

Spring has sprung! (hopefully!)

The Easter Bunny always HIDES baskets full of goodies at our house, and last year he hid Kirk's basket on top of our washing machine.  He was a little guy, and we had to help him, but this year, he was on a mission! He looked just about everywhere downstairs until he opened the bathroom door to find his basket on the toilet, and his new Bumblebee bicycle and Optimus Prime helmet parked in the bathroom!  He loved everything, and he jumped right on his bicycle and started peddling.  I must admit...I was a bit sad to see him doing such big boy things.  We had a great Easter, and we'll have a lot of fun with his new bike.

Kirk was determined to have a Bumblebee bicycle.  Did they have one for us to buy around here?  Of course not.  Jeremy had to search the internet and order it.  Kirk was happy, though!

Kirk is slightly obsessed with the Ninja Turtles right now.  He got 2 new dvds in his basket and 2 new toys.  We had to take his money that he got from his Easter cards and his "lucky" eggs and buy the last member of the turtle team at Target yesterday.  We now have all 4 turtles.  Jeremy also ordered him some toys from ebay, so he has several "bad guys" and Master Splinter (that is who I have to be when we play).  It's pretty much turtle talk all the time around here, and his imagination is hilarious.  I know one day I will wish that he was little again, running around calling me "Master Splinter."  I'm trying my best to enjoy it...and play along!

We went to Gramma Debi's church on Easter Sunday.  Doesn't Kirk look adorable??

Cutest little biker I've ever seen!

A True Friend

"Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is truly a friend." ~ Plautus

I wanted to do a quick post for my dear friend.  As I type today, I realize I've been friends with this amazing woman for 17 years.  I met her in the halls of Twin Towers West in the fall of 1996.  We were all new to Marshall University; brand new lost little freshman.  We became quick friends, and we had some amazing fun together.  We later became sorority sisters, classmates, roommates, and obviously lifetime friends.  We have shared our lives together, and no matter where life has taken her, I know that she is and will always be my friend.  She has endured such loss and sadness, and such joy (with her three amazing kiddos).  I'm so blessed to share it all with her.  I pray that God will keep her close and heal her heart as she faces another loss.  She has always been there for me when it mattered.  Our families are connected, and our hearts are connected.  If you pray, please say a little prayer for God's healing for her heart, and pray that those around her can give her some comfort.  

(This picture was taken at the Character Breakfast in 2006...not that we wouldn't just dress up for the heck of it! Haha!)

Bringing sexy back....

I can NOT believe that I got tickets this week to see Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z!  I have loved Justin Timberlake for pretty much all of my adult life, and I have seen him in concert twice (once with Christina Aguilera and once with Pink) and the fact that his last album and tour was almost 6 years ago is painful!  So we DO have to drive to Hershey, PA (6.5 hours away....sigh) to see him and we DO have to wait till August, but who cares?  I'm sure JT will feel my love from the stands, and I will be singing along to every song!  I'm so excited!

I can't wait to see you, JT!

101 days till the Walkers climb on board this magical ship! A few more days and we can schedule our boarding time and meals.  We are so excited for our first Disney cruise!

This sunny warm weekend has made spring seem like it is around the corner!  I welcome some sunshine, warm weather, Kirk's new soccer team and games, and eventually SUMMER!