My day as a "stay at home person"

Today was a day that was a bit unusual for me. My company was announcing layoffs today so I was instructed to stay home and wait for a call. Isn't that how most people want to spend a day? I looked at it as a half day to get laundry done that I skipped this weekend and relax a bit.

I got the call early, about 8:45 a.m. I am still employed-Yay! Saying I wasn't worried is not a statement of pride. It is a statement of faith. If I have learned anything in this life it is that there is a purpose for everything that happens. Christ never gives us more than we can handle. I am very fortunate to have a career to fall back on, unlike many people who lost their jobs today. Even though you do not know these people, please say a prayer for them. Many families' lives were changed today. Some great reps are now out there looking for jobs. Such a sad thing. 5 of our 11 reps lost their jobs today.

Anyway, I now see what a blessing it is for me and my family that I do not stay home everyday! I have never doubted that my friends that stay home have a gift that I do not. Today proved that right.

Those of you who know me, I think, would agree that I am a pretty focused person. I generally decide what needs to be done and do it. I get annoyed when things don't get done efficiently and effectively. Well, here are a few pictures to prove that I just may have housework ADD. I told the cleaning lady not to come today, I had this.....besides, if I got laid off, I need to know where all the cleaning supplies are and how long it takes. OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

My lone accomplishment that is still clean, Landry's bathroom.

The kitchen was perfect, then dinner happened.

Yep, it is the "living room". I do have to say this is clean laundry that was somewhat folded at one time. Reese decided to help me. Landry added her backpack to the mix.

I did forget to mention that the girls were not home all day. Once again,. if I'm getting laid off I am enjoying the last day of Susan's house!! Seriously, that is all I got finished today besides washing the cabinets down in the kitchen.

Well, tomorrow it is back to selling drugs. I hope my inability to finish a task does not continue.....

First Day of School-3rd grade

Landry survived her first day of 3rd grade. Reese and I walked her in this morning and it was a pretty uneventful goodbye. She walked home with the neighbors, Brant and Riley. I wasn't home yet but she let herself in and called me just like she is supposed to. (Mom's phone did not ring and I was on the rode home from Odessa. I was getting a little irritated at her then I checked my phone....whoops!)

She was very tired but seems to have had a good time. She did let me know that, "not changed Mom. We aren't having crazy hair day or pajama day though". The things that stick with them.

Reese wanted to stay at the school this morning. She is really wanting to go to preschool but Mom isn't doing it. I figure she HAS to go to school for many years so I'll keep her little as long as I can.

Landry had to write about what she did this summer. Wouldn't you think she would have chosen to write about our week at Disney World? Nope, Great Wolf Lodge it was. I guess it is fresh on her mind. So much for dream vacations!

Last weekend before school starts

We spent the last weekend before school starts in the Metroplex. We left Friday morning and headed East. We spent Friday night in Plano at Robin's house. We hadn't seen Robin and Andrew since March and we were delivering our crib and other baby items to them. It was good to see them and great to put our baby items to use one more time. (I forgot my camera so there are very few pictures attached to this post. Only ones I took with my phone.)

We got to the Metroplex about 2:30 and Shane wanted to go to Cabela's. The girls and I decided a mall was much better for our needs. Landry doesn't need clothes right now. After all, it will be 100 degrees tomorrow and new jeans just won't work! I did think she needed a new outfit for the first day. We found a mall and she found a cute pair of black crop pants and a cute top. She looks very grown up! (pictures tomorrow, I promise!)

While at Macy's Reese wanted and outfit too. I couldn't say no to a zebra print velour jogging suit. She did inform me that she was looking for "Rock star clothes". Where does she get this stuff?

We headed to Robin's and had a great night. I am not sure they (READ ANDREW HERE) are totally prepared for the never ending noise, screams, overall chaos of a child, or in their case 2 at once. Saturday morning, Andrew got a dose of Reese about 8:30. late in her world. She decided he needed to get up and be a lazy bones.

After breakfast, we headed to Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine. Robin decided to go with us and spend the night as well. The girls were so excited. We spent the day in the lazy river, wave pool, fort McKenzie and water slides. Overall we were wet all day!

Reese in the kiddie pool

Landry peeking around the corner at Fort McKenzie

These are the slides that occupies Landry's time. The brown bikini at the bottom is Landry.

Here are the slides in the kiddie area. The blur at the bottom is Reese.

We had a great time at Great Wolf Lodge. I highly recommend going there if you have kids. It is a neat place. I did realize that those of us without tattoos are becoming the minority. WOW, I saw a lot of tattoos! You wouldn't notice many of them until you see people in swimsuits. Speaking of swimsuits....I won't even go there!

School starts tomorrow. Landry will be in 3rd grade. I cannot even believe I just typed that. She is ready for school. Her teacher is Mrs. Kruse. We have known her for 8 years or so. We attended Sunday School with she and her husband for years. She is very sweet and an excellent teacher. We are very excited.

I will be saying extra prayers for all my education friends tomorrow. This time of year has become a bit difficult for me. I feel very left out and uninformed this time of year since I left the district.

Sleep well,

Billye

Yeah Landry !!!

Landry started swimming at COM (City of Midland Aquatics)in May. She had never really taken swimming lessons before. They put her in a beginner class and came to me the next day and wanted to move her to another class. She picked it up quite quickly. She move through the levels very quickly. There are 10 levels. Trust me, they get very difficult. For instance, she had to swim 300 yds freestyle with no break. She learned all the strokes and had to learn those cool flips that swimmers do.

Today, her last lesson for a couple of weeks she completed the last stage and got her 10th star! Here is a picture of her getting her hand traced for the wall of fame.

They have already inquired about having her swim on the swim team. We're going to hold off for a couple of months while she plays soccer. She isn't ready to give soccer up and it is only 8 weeks lomg. She will swim 2 days a week to stay in practice and shape.

She is such a smart, quick learner. This was good for her. There were things that were hard and she needs to experience that sometime. Fortunately, most things come easy to Landry. I was proud that she hit an obstacle and fought through it. She is very driven and intrinsically motivated so an individual sport like swimming is great for her.

She asked me the other day what was better a professional soccer player or an olympic swimmer? We had a pro/con discussion and she seemed to be at peace that she did not need to decide right now.

Man I'm blessed to have such a thoughtful, great kid! Way to go Landry!

What to do with this child

Some of you have heard this story but for those of you who have not here is a Reese one for the books:

A month or so ago we had gotten home from church. I was doing the, "Girls get your stuff picked up...." bit that goes on here about every 17 minutes or so. Reese had insisted on taking her Bible to church so it was in the pile to go to her room. She picked it up and was "reading" it. I asked her what it said. Being her Sunday School teacher I was hoping for a retell of the story from that morning.

Here is what Reese's Bible said, "God is great, Beer is good and people are crazy". I tried so hard not to laugh and said, "no it doesn't Reese, what does it say?" (Still holding on for proof that I am an excellent teacher). She said, "Well, that's what mine says" and walked away.

For those of you that don't know the country singer Billy Currington, he has a song that says that line. It's actually pretty good advice.

Man I'm a great teacher! Her Baptist upbringing is working!

B

So Much to Say

On an everyday basis I have so much to say and not always an audience in which to say it to. Yes I have a spouse and as much as I love him, he's just not a talker. Those of you who know him can attest to this. He grows tired of my endless rambling and I don't get the responses I hope for so it is a no win situation.

I am starting this blog for the 3rd time. I want to do it for many reasons. I hope to keep far away family and friends updated without having to make 47 phone calls and emails. Also, sometime I just need a soapbox. If no one reads it that is fine. I won't know that and I'll feel better.

Our lives are so busy most of the time. With 2 kids and jobs we seldom sit and reflect. There are so may firsts going on in the girls' lives and I hope to capture them. Also, this is a good way of keeping a journal, if you will of our fun, trying, emotional and great times.

Please be kind. I am not promising frequent posts. I am also not promising that I won't post too much. I don't know. That's the beauty of this. It is unknown,much like the sounds I hear right now from the girls' playroom. Better go!
B