Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Luke Builds A Bear

Luke was quite helpful this week with the purchase of a couple presents for friends. This Mama that rarely gets to the mall has been there three times this week!! I am done....insert towel throwing in here!!! :) Luke has been a trooper with all these trips. Upon our second trip into Build-A-Bear, in a week, he realized that he didn't have a bear. He stated this fact & his desire to both his Papa & Mama. He said he would love it, sleep with it, and it would go everywhere with us. Both our girls have a couple of animals from this great store. We were delighted when he showed interest in getting his first stuffed animal from us. I love this stuffed animal stage. Why can't we stay here?!?! So off to Build-A-Bear, during Christmas week, for Luke's bear. I am sure this is all part of his spoiled, golden boy, "Luke-gets-everything-he-wants" complex that his sisters complain of. Oh well, let's give them something to talk about....(I started singing that song in my head)....I am back! Here are some pics from Luke's own adventure in getting his very own bear!
Luke picked a camouflage bear. How "boy" is that? I love it!
After a few trips he was well acquainted with the procedure - filling the bear, picking a heart, doing a silly heart dance before inserting the heart, and sewing bear up.  Luke was very clear that he was not going to do a silly heart dance. I clued the bear maker in, who stilled tried to make him do the silly dance. I let the bear maker come to his own conclusions after several non-responsive requests. Upon receiving his heart being sewn up, Bear needs a bath to get the fuzzes off him!

I love this stuff. Third child, umpteenth bear, and it still gets me. I love stuffed animals. Hey, I don't have a Build-A-Bear!! I would choose a monkey, with sound & all! Missy Monkey needs to retire. She has lived a full & exciting life. Okay, back to Luke first bear.  Super clean Bear ready to roll!!!!
One cute boy with his very cute bear!
I look forward to many memories with our new little critter!
Fun times!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Little Handy Man

Luke is very creative in his time home with Mama, while the girls are at school.  This week, while I was wrapping presents and folding laundry, Luke comes in the laundry room and asks for a screw driver.  This in and of  itself is not unusual.  He likes to "fix" things around the house, "Like Papa!"  What was unusual was his third request for batteries.  Yikes!!!  All the "broken" toys that Luke had now work!  The sham is up....Luke has figured out what "broken" means - it needs batteries!!  Snap, it has become very noisy in that little boy's room!
Counting the moments until those toys "break" again.
I am sensing a shortage of batteries coming soon at the Abshire home front.


Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Simple Things

In this season where I feel the UPS man is almost my best friend & my neighbors watch the endless "smiling" boxes (aka Amazon) coming to my door, it brings me much joy to see the simple things that bring my little man happiness. He makes music with the bubble wrap that comes in those "smiling" boxes.
I love it! He reminds me to look for joy in the simple things.
"If you can find joy in the simple things,
you will really enjoy the extravagant,
but never need it! ~ Eric Simpson

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We had a blast at Thanksgiving. We headed up the hill to Grandpa & Grandma Cavey's, for dinner. The whole family was there, armed with FOOD, hugs, & enough laughter to make your side hurt! The three siblings are too much together! Throw in some spouses, and crazy kiddos you have a recipe for side-splitting laughter! We have so much to be thankful for. My heart was so touched looking around at my family. There is a sticker I saw once that captures these moments:
"We may not have it all together,
but together we have it all!!"

Nicholas getting brave with his Uncle Aaron

One little 'turkey" in the air!

One "ham" in the air!

One princess in the air!

And they all come tumblin' down!!!

Silly cousins ~ Ashleigh & Abbie

Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Enjoy your turkeys!!!
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Saturday, November 5, 2011

Home Sweet Home

Luke says some pretty funny stuff, but one thing we don't want to forget is the saying he says as we pull into our driveway:
"Sweet home, sweet home!"
It is a sweet home!  :)

Friday, September 9, 2011

Bump, Set, Spike..

Abbie had her first volleyball game today.  This was a big day for her.  She has been practicing her serves & bumps for weeks.  We got her knee pads to protect those precious knees.  Alright, actually we had to buy new ones because Abbie didn't want some one's sweaty old ones.  I don't blame her.  So she was decked out in her 3 sizes too big school uniform and lookin' way older then I want her to look.  
Remind me, how did we get here so quick????  
Oh yeah, we blinked!!!!  
The team did really good for their first game.  Abbie even scored two points!!!! You go girl!!!!  Papa & Mama were so proud of her.  Luke even cheered the girls on.  
Too stinkin' cute!  Good times!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

For the Love of Reading

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This is the sight I walked into tonight, as I went to tuck girls in bed.  As one who LOVES to read and wanting so badly to impart the same love in my children, I about cried right there in their stinkin' doorway!  I got a grip on my swelling heart & just smiled at both of my babies reading away.  
Heck, I even gave them 20 extra minutes to read.
Love it!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Goin' Back

Luke Measuring Up!
Goin' back pretty much encompassed our day, here at the Abshires. It was our first day goin' back to school, which starts our fall routine. Summers seem to get shorter and shorter as the children get older. I know this time is coming about a week before it is actually here. A somber cloud sits right over our home, okay, actually just over me, the week before my babies head back to school. I even add salt to the wound by visiting the Pioneer Woman's website on homeschooling. Papa just shakes his head at my melancholy mood. He has just learned to live through this "week before". So the day is here when they are goin' back to school. Papa likes to stay home on this day to take them to school. I have a funny suspicion that he likes to keep an eye on his attachment-disordered wife. Whatever the reasoning is, we all love that he is here and part of our morning. We both have our jobs on this "goin' back" morning. I get breakfast together, pack the lunches, do hair....he measures the children, makes sure they have backpacks and lunches, and herds them out the door. Off to school we go!
Kayanna is getting so tall.

Abbie had a big growth spurt this year.
The girls are so excited to return to school. To see their friends they don't get to see over the summer, meet their new teachers, and to get back to a routine. They could hardly sleep last night. Needless to say, they don't have attachment-disorders! I am glad they enjoy their little school. It makes this transition so much easier on the Mama.
Kayanna with Mrs. Knox - 3rd Grade
Kayanna can’t wait to see her classroom and hug on her new teacher. That’s my girl! She meets her teacher, barely lets Mama snap my traditional photo, and dashes to the playground to see her friends. Oh, okay baby, don’t worry about your Mama’s heart that is breaking! You just run off like you have been freed from prison!!!
Abbie with Mr. Cranfill - 6th Grade
All righty then…..off to Abbie’s class. It is weird to see how quiet my spirited Abbie can be on her first day. She quietly finds her desk and checks out who is in her group. There are 20 boys to 10 girls in this class; so finding that female close to you brings an extra measure of comfort, in this classroom of testosterone. It is crazy to think that she is going to be in junior high next year. Okay, we will stop there! **Deep breath…..exhale**



Abbie & Ellie

In all the chaos of going to the different classrooms and chatting with teachers and classmates, we lose track of Luke. We know where he is.....playing in the kindergarten playground, like he does every year. The other parents probably think he is a classmate of their child; riding the bikes, going down the slide, and talking with the other kids. Not a stinkin’ chance! He is hangin’ out with Mama another couple years. Yes, we have already noted the attachment disorder in this post. We need not visit the issue again. I have two years to prepare for his departure to school. That should be plenty of time to deal with things! Yeah, right!!!!

A boy about his toys!
So with girls off to school and Papa off with locksmith jobs, Luke and Mama head home to our routine. Luke has no problem with the girls goin' back to school. He has so much to do, explore, and play with, without anyone getting in his way. Mama has plenty to do as well. This first day always goes so quickly. I manage to squeeze in lunch with my two favorite men before picking the girls up. I love hearing all about their day. It is a battle for air time for the next hour.

So begins our goin’ back season!
Goin’ back to school.
Goin’ back to friends.
Goin’ back to homework.
Goin’ back to a much needed exercise routine for Mama!
Goin’ back to Bible study & the ladies I love studying His Word with.
Goin’ back to more structure, which I thrive on.
As the day ends, I sit in my rocking chair on the front porch watching a dozen neighborhood kids play in the yard. My heart is warmed by the laughter and carefree spirit that surrounds me. There is no goin’ back to these days once they are gone, so I sit & soak it up! Life is precious! 

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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Work Ethic & Funny Conversations

Chores, they are a given around this Abshire home. This not a new concept. The girls have been putting their dishes away since they were little. Cleaning up dog poop…..who wanted the dogs?! Ya’ll agreed to the terms in – article 2B of the “Contractual Agreement of Children Caring for Live Animals”, prior to Mama agreeing to have animals!! I try not to remind them that in Mama’s perfect world they would be on a ranch with a TON of chores; so really, don’t complain. Well, we are doing chores yesterday and Hopie wasn’t happy about things. Here is a peek at life around here:
Mama: Hope, this is the third time I have had to ask you to clean up the poop.
Hope: I did.
Mama: Really Hope? Then why can I count three piles from where I am standing?
Note: We have three dogs now, but we won’t go there!!!
Hope: SIGH
Mama: Hope, when you have a job to do, you need to do it all the way & well. This is about work ethic, honey. Your boss isn’t gonna tell you three times. He’ll just fire you.
Note: I bite my tongue that I wouldn’t mind being fired some days!
Hope: Well, I am not getting a job.
Mama: Hope, how do you plan to pay for your home some day?
Hope: I am gonna live here forever!!!
Hoping my face doesn’t look as torqued as it feels!!! Yikes! As for now, we will be working on work ethic in a BIG way!!!!!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

They're Back!!!

The girls returned from Wagon Train today. Luke & I missed them something fierce! Luke walked around the first few days asking where they were & when they would return. So he does really love them, even though he spends his days picking on them. That is just life & I wouldn’t want it any other way! When the cars turned the corner I got so excited. I couldn’t wait to get a hold of my babies. Yes, they will always be my babies!! I had a big mason jar of tea in my hands when Hopie leaped out of the car & came at me with all her might. I planted myself & gripped that jar of tea! Woo dawg can that girl hug!! She makes me proud! I lost all my tea but held on to that glass jar. Luke was so happy to see his sisters. He hugged all over them. Abbie wouldn’t put him down for the longest time. My girls were so excited to be home. I have heard the stories & cheers, seen the scars, smelt the hair (yikes), unpacked the clothes, read the notes, & know that I will be hearing camp stories for the next week as things come to their mind. I am so thankful they have these summer camp memories. Hume Lake holds a special place our hearts.
Unloading the truck!

Luke playing dinosaurs with Abbie.

They missed each other!

I actually love this sight!

My babies all back together!


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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

My Mom - 70 Amazing Years

My amazing Mom celebrated her 70th birthday today. Her birthday has had me thinking back over the life I have gotten to share with this woman I call Mom. Mom, by definition means “female parent”, but any mom knows that is the lamest definition EVER. It can be the most unappreciated job that you can’t quit or walk out on! I will only share the definition of my Mom, and it is HARDLY exhaustive. I hope you get a glimpse of the amazing woman that I get the privilege of calling “Mom”.
Cook – She is a great cook and not just supper. She cooked breakfast every morning for her family. I am so thankful for all the breakfasts she stood & made.
Chauffeur – She got me to every Girl Scout meeting, every ballet class, every soccer game, & t-ball practice and that is just me. She had three children!! I would love to know the miles we put on that white station wagon.
Spiritual Advisor – She raised her family on a foundation of faith. She wanted all of us to know & love the Lord.
Professional Mover – My Mom moved us more times then I can count. She made sure we all knew how to pack a box so things would not be broken. We made two cross country moves with no breakage!  You taught us well Mom!
Wise Business Woman – My earliest memories are in my parent’s upholstery shop that was behind our home in Ohio. Weaving in & out of fabrics & playing with tacks….ouch! She is an incredible business woman that always knew what to do & when to do it.
“Single Parent” – My folks have been married over 45 years, but there were stretches of time that my Dad would be in another state finding work. The 80’s were not the best years. Many plants shut down, which we experienced not once, but twice. So Mom stayed behind sold homes, packed boxes, disciplined children, ran a home by herself! She amazes me!
Cheerleader – Mom ingrained in us that there wasn’t anything we couldn’t do. We weren’t even allowed to use the word can’t in our home growing up. She would say “you can do anything you put your mind to”. I even got in trouble with a nun when I corrected her when she told me I couldn’t do something.
Servant – I cannot ever remember a time my Mom hasn’t served. She has served her parents, her family, at church, at work & co-workers, her children’s schools & activities, neighbors, strangers, the homeless …….She is a beautiful example of servant-hood. We served as a family our entire life. I cherish the memories of serving together. A virtue that I treasure & want to pass on to my own family.
Tenacious – She never gave up on me. I was quite a handful to raise. I really gave her a run for her money. I gave her a ton of heartbreak & disappointments, yet she always believed in me.
Thoughtful – She constantly amazes me with how thoughtful & caring she is to everyone around her. As her daughter, she was always there with 2 weeks worth of food & tons of diapers when I brought babies home from the hospital. She always picks up the cutest things for you with “I thought of you when I saw this.” Always giving!!!!
Biggest Inspiration – Now having children of my own & seeing my characteristics coming out of them, I am even more appreciative to my parents. My Hopie is so much like me when I was little. My parents have had the “you will get through this” talk with me several times! I find a peace in the fact that I am still alive & they didn’t kill me; also, that they survived raising me. They have some pretty fabulous stories of “getting through it”! So I too, know that by God’s grace I will get through this whole parenting thing!

This is a glimpse of the gift I have been given by my Mom. I would count it a blessing to be told, “You turned out to be like your Mom!”

Happy Birthday Mom ~ I love you so very much!

Your Daughter,
Elizabeth

Monday, July 11, 2011

Sista & Cuzin' Time

This is the week that Luke & Mama played house.  By that I mean, the girls are gone to Wagon Train this week.  Papa is with the girls for half the week & then in Arizona for the rest of the week ~ busy man!  That left Luke & Mama home to wonder what in the world do we do with ourselves!!!  We missed everyone but we sure had a good time ourselves.  Mama didn't cook, due to the fact of eating leftovers all week.  There were TWO loads of laundry the entire week & that included sheets!!  We ran the dishwasher 2X.  Mama was scared it would break down due to lack of use!  It was a very odd week.  We did have some visitors. Auntie Angie & Nicholas came to stay for a couple of days.  We had a blast!
Luke is all about taking pictures now-a-days!

Cousins...tubin'


Playtime


Mama built her log cabin! :)


Coolin' off some hot dudes!

Posted by PicasaThe pictures fail to capture the sistas throwing each other in the pool several times!  We were like drowned rats, in our clothes, walking home.  We cracked ourselves up!  That is not hard for us!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Finishing Strong

We are finishing our swim season tonight & have had a great season. The girls branched out and competed in new strokes this year. They practiced very hard this summer. We are so proud of those two critters, or should I say fish! Here are some shots of our last swim meet at Garces:
Hopie's Self Portrait - Mad Dog Face

Abbie headed into the water

Ab's freestyle

Abbie getting ready for her backstroke

Hope's freestyle

One funny thing after our season of swim meets; when Luke races he goes like this:
"Take your mark, set, beeeep"
That cracked us up. That is a boy who has sat through his fair share of swim meets at the age of 4.
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Saturday, July 2, 2011

Forgotten Love!

As I perused my blog today, at all the things that get recorded here, I smiled, laughed out loud, shook my head, & even got teary-eyed at some of the adventures that go on around this crazy Abshire home of ours. I realized how much I have missed blogging this stories, conversations, memories, and antics. It is a sort of therapy for this Mama! Not to mention our family loves to stay caught up on the chaos they get to miss! ;-) Blogging slowed down for me last year after we returned from our trip to Ohio. The daunting task of blogging the Ohio trip stopped me in my blogging tracks. But a year later, I am feeling a renewed vigor to catch this blog up! A friend once told me that if he didn’t get it blogged within 48 hours he wouldn’t blog it. Well I am feeling up to the challenge of bringing this blog up to date. Okay, we will not mention the type A personality that battles within me that likes things nice & organized……without holes! :) So hold on to your boot straps and get ready for a wild ride of past year of the Adventures in AbshireLand!