(the last of our) summer time fun

We went to the new water slides at Pump Up The Fun on Wednesday, July 17. We met Angel & Riley and Rachael, Leo, Suzana, and "baby Nora" there.  The kids had a blast, and we were the only ones there for quite a while.  A lady from the newspaper came while we were there and took pictures of the kids and their names and pictures were in the paper on July 18th! The kids had a great time! 

Kirk and I went to Olivia's birthday party at the Highlands Museum, and Kirk played on the light table forever!  He really likes building with just about anything, and his attention to detail amazes me.  He definitely got the building gene from his Daddy (NOT his Mama!)!

I finally let Kirk have his "own" buggy in Kroger.  He LOVED pushing it around all over the store, and he was actually very helpful.  He picked out the exact coffee that I drink, and he even put some broccoli in his buggy (although he does NOT LIKE IT!).  He only ran over my feet 3 times.  It was funny to watch him and the people in the store all talked to him (which he loved!).  He didn't ask for junky food (we have talked and talked about it) and he only took what we needed from the shelves.  I was very proud of him, even if my feet are a little sore.....haha!

Kirk is now a firefly catching machine!  Sunday night he caught 25!  He even caught 2 at once.  He loves watching them glow in the jar.  I let him take them in his room and watch him in the dark (to Jeremy's dismay).  He's learned a lot from catching those little things.  We were even talking about the differences between insects and arachnids tonight.  He's a smart boy!

Kirk is spending this week with Angel, Riley, and Brady while I go back to work...BOO HOO!!!  Angel has been taking the kids to Super Why library camp this week.  They love it, and Kirk thinks he has the "power to read!" Although he can't read very many words, he is getting really close.  He is sounding things out, asking how things are spelled so he can write them, and his handwriting is coming along nicely.  He can write his name pretty well, and I'm excited to see how quickly it straightens up when he begins preschool.  He's really interested in reading and writing now, and I think he will really excel this year. 

We're counting down days until his birthday party and the first day of preschool.  We had "Meet the Teacher" night at our school last week, and although he's met the teacher before (ME) he had fun meeting the other kids in his class and playing in our classroom.  He loves building with all of my wooden blocks, and of course working on the computers.  I can't wait to see him in circle time, during meals, and singing and dancing in our classroom.  11 days till his party, 14 days until he turns 4, and 15 days until his first day of preschool.  That's a lot for a mama to take!  I'm thankful to get to spend every day with him this school year.  It's going to be memorable, I'm sure!!

It's almost time to party, DUDE!

I love Kirk's party invitations! 
They turned out great.  Look for one of these coming to you soon.  It's time to "shell-ebrate!" 

For those of you who are wondering what this little ninja would like for his birthday, here are some of his current favorites:

Ninja Turtles 

*new* Planes toys (new movie coming out Aug. 9th)

any kind of "tools"

any kind of gun/weapon

Jake and the Neverland Pirates

any and all super heroes

Legos
board games (we've worn out Candy Land and 3 versions of Memory!)

he also needs a "big boy" car seat

size 4/5T clothes (fall/winter), and size 10 shoes

We hope to see you at his party on August 10th!   Cowabunga, Dude!

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend." -John Leonard

I had a great week.  One of my very best friends FINALLY moved back to Huntington.  After 6 years of residency and fellowship, her husband is now working for Radiology Inc., and their family has landed back in Huntington.  It feels good to have my friend so close again.  I went to dinner with another friend tonight, and we had a lot of fun talking and laughing.  I have been friends with both of these women for 17 years.  That is a long time.  I was thinking tonight on my way back from dinner how amazing it is that Jeremy and I have so many good friends in our lives....people we have held relationships with for almost 20 years.  I also heard this song on the radio on my way home, which reminded me of our college days....hanging out in the sorority house, laughing, talking for hours.....it was so fun... amazing memories I will cherish forever.  I remember hearing this song playing when we were listening to the radio on a Thursday night getting ready to go out, or while we were sitting on a bar stool at the Union.  Good times.  I was surrounded by people that I would still be friends with in 17 years....who knew?   I'm so glad.  I look forward to having my good friends close, and sharing our lives and our kiddos.   

The magic of Disney....

Our Disney cruise vacation was by far the BEST vacation we've ever had.  It was amazing of course because I love Disney, because Jeremy knows I do, and because we got to share it all with our little boy.  Celebrating our 10 years of marriage aboard the Disney Dream was fantastic.  The food was delicious, everyone was so nice, and we felt like royalty.  The staff members knew our names, remembered what we liked, and we never had to ask for anything.  We are already talking about going back!

I tried to pick some of my other pictures (out of the 237 that I took) that I hadn't already uploaded to Facebook to post here.  This was my favorite "towel character" that our stateroom attendant Danny made for us.  How cute is that little guy? He's wearing my sunglasses! Ha!

This picture was taken outside of the Enchanted Garden.  It was my pick for the best food.  This was also our last night on the ship, and neither Kirk or I wanted to ever get off! 

I think Captain Mickey might be my very favorite Mickey!

Kirk was a great eater on the cruise, and he really enjoyed all the desserts.  I think in four days he had three Mickey head ice creams!  He really liked that our waiter always put his ketchup on his plate in the shape of a Mickey head!

The Walkers had an amazing time, and we WILL be back!

The evening of our anniversary we ate at the Animator's Palate.  It was a great dinner with entertainment for the kiddos.  Crush the sea turtle (from Finding Nemo) swam around to all the different tv screens in the restaurant talking to kids and adults....REALLY talking to them...like "hey there little dude in the blue shirt!"  It was amazing!  Other characters from Nemo swam around as well, and the food was delicious.  The waiters sang "Happy Anniversary" to us and gave us Disney pins (I saved them, of course) and Jeremy gave me these two Pandora charms (blue Mickey head and the cruise ship).  I loved the charms, but the cruise was the best gift ever!

Before we left for our cruise, we visited my sweet Gramma Sullivan in Ocala, FL.  She is my only living grandparent, and she makes no bones about me being her very favorite granddaughter (she's told me that for years!).  She loves Kirk so much, and she enjoys seeing him.  She kept telling me that she thinks Jeremy and I are wonderful parents, and that we are doing such a good job raising Kirk. My Aunt Terry said we treat Kirk like a "prince!"  HA! I don't know about all that, but I know I am so thankful that Jeremy has always  made it possible for us to visit my Gramma, even though she is so far away.  I love her dearly and the time I spend with her is precious.  I'm so glad she adores Kirk as much as we do!

Since we've been back in WV (suffering from our Disney hangovers!) we have been spending some time at the pool, and I must say, Kirk is a pretty good little swimmer.  He definitely has my love for pool water (I'm not a big ocean, lake, etc. girl....but I'll spend my life at the pool!).  I thought I'd post a quick little video of his mad swimming skills.  He was pretty proud when I was videoing him!

On a super sad note....I only have about 2 weeks of summer left...BOO HOO!  I cannot believe it is almost over and time to start another school year!  I do get to start this one with Kirk Walker in my class, so I am a little excited to see our school year start to see how this is going to go.  Kirk is excited about his new school, new backpack and lunchbox, and new friends.  I think he is an amazing kid, and I can't wait to see what this school year brings.  His brain is a little sponge, so I hope he will take off this year academically.  I worry so much about his late birthday, and how much younger he is than other kids in his class.  I know I push too hard sometimes, and I expect him to do too much.  I hope he straightens up his handwriting and starts to read.  I hope he starts drawing better pictures, and learns to count past 29.  I have lots of hopes for him, but most of all I want him to be happy and love school.  If I can get him to school everyday excited to learn, I've done my job....as a mama and a teacher!  

life of the party

Kirk had a blast with us at Martha and Nick's wedding last night!  It was fun to have him there and hear all of his questions and comments.  I told him to smile when he was playing with his balloon in the picture above, and Brady immediately whipped his head around and posed for me!  Too cute!

This picture above literally makes me laugh out loud!  The look on both of their faces are priceless!

Kirk loved being at the wedding, especially taking pictures with the disposable cameras from the table.  I snapped this picture right after Kirk made Martha pose for one of his pictures.  He took two cameras full of pictures.  I can't wait till those get developed.....haha!

Kirk went fishing with his Daddy at Beech Fork early this morning.  He was pretty proud of his catch!  

We went to Hurricane Park and spray ground today for Kendall's birthday party.  Kirk had fun and we were happy to see so many friends!

5 more days until our 

We're so excited!

We will spend an evening in Downtown Disney, a day in the Magic Kingdom, and then take off on our cruise on the Disney Dream!  We are looking forward to celebrating our 10th anniversary and our first cruise together as a family.  Please pray for safe travels and good weather for us!  

Joining the "hands free revolution".....

We had a fun day at the pool with cousin Holden!  

     I've been reading the handsfreemama.com blog for a while, and almost every post makes me really think about the kind of mama I am and want to be.  Each post makes me remember similar situations in my own life that I made a choice to be "hands free" with my child (or not).  I think every working mama carries a heavy amount of guilt about all the time and attention that our jobs take away from our kids, our families, and our energy levels.  I know after a day with my preschoolers, I don't have the energy to cook, clean, play, do a load of laundry, give Kirk a bath, read books before bed, sing good night songs, walk on the treadmill, read, do my own homework (only 3 classes left at MSU!), and get to bed before midnight.  There are some evenings I can do all of those things, but most nights I just can't do it all. 

       Reading about being "hands free" has made me really think about the choices I make with my family.  You would think after 10 years of being with preschoolers, I would remember to be fully present with my own child and family. My home and personal life seem to hold so many more distractions, chores, and tedious tasks that take up my time.  The cleaning can wait.  I need to listen.  I need to respond.  Enjoy the moment.  When Kirk cries in the middle of the night, I need to remember that he won't do this forever, and cherish an opportunity to rock him and comfort him.  He's too big for my lap.  He wants to do everything "by himself."  He can almost make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich by himself.  He can fold towels and match socks in the laundry.  He is almost FOUR YEARS OLD.  Time is passing by too quickly with my baby boy.  I want to be "hands free,"  without distractions, and really look and listen to my boy.  I only have one chance to be his mama.  I will make mistakes, I know.  I just want to be present, fully present, for our family.  When I have a day (or part of a day) that I feel like I was fully present, it makes me feel whole.

       I hope to enjoy my summer days.  We'll go to the pool (and I will "watch me Mama!" when he asks!).  We'll hang out at home.  Kirk says he loves me "all the way down to the Techno Drome" (Ninja Turtles reference) and that he wants to marry me.  I hope he always feels that way about his mama.  He is more important than the distractions.  

       If you haven't read "Hands Free Mama," you should start today.  There is a link to the right ---->

You can also join the "Hands Free Revolution" on Facebook.  Check it out.  That few minutes of distraction are well worth your time.

https://www.facebook.com/TheHandsFreeRevolution?ref=ts&fref=ts

        

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!!)