243/365

Lately I have been thinking a lot about Lockhart and our life there.  I don't know if it was brought on by the start of school but I've just been really in a mood for the past few days.  I am so happy with being here in Albany but some days I just miss our house and miss my friends.  I miss feeling settled.  Last year at this time we were just living our life.  Jackson was in school.  The boys were playing soccer.  Jaci was in dance.  I had a routine with my friends.  We were happy.  Now I see my friends posting about dance fundraisers and signing kids up for soccer and something inside just aches.  I miss that life.  I miss how comfortable we were there.  I miss just knowing that there would always be a familiar face to talk to.

I am honestly surprised at how much I miss it.

That being said...I wouldn't go back for anything in the world.  We will get to that place here.  This will soon be familiar to us.  I know that this is where we were meant to be.  It's just taking longer to get settled in here than I had hoped.  It is good to go outside of your comfort zone every once in awhile but what I wouldn't give to just feel like we are HOME.  Just to have that familiar sense of security for one night would wonderful. 

Hopefully soon...

(Oh...and in case you were wondering we STILL don't have a lot...I know...It is ridiculous...but whatever!)

242/365

Today we really started getting back into the swing of things with school.  This afternoon Jackson started back with his tutoring.  We took most of the month of August off which was so nice but today right when I picked Jackson up we headed over there.  It certainly makes for a long day for Jackson by the time he goes to school, goes to tutoring and then has to come home and do homework.  The good news is he has shown improvement and I think we are headed in the right direction.

Tyler had an off day today.  Doesn't happen often but when it does it's rough.  He isn't feeling well and that along with him being upset about my afternoon being crazy just made for a bad day.  I am going to try to get an appointment for him this week.  He has started wheezing so I need to get it under control now.  He apparently is also upset that our vacation at the Great Wolff Lodge is over.  Today he went on and on that we needed to go back etc. and he didn't know why daddy moved us to this little house.  You will notice that both boys are still wearing their wrist bands from there.  They won't let us cut them off.  LOL!

Jaci's big accomplishment of the day was figuring out how to wash her hair like mommy.  Might sound like a small thing but it is huge for us.  She fights us at bath time a lot and does better when she can do it herself.  The problem is she never does it well by herself.  Today I think she finally got it.  I just watched her in the tub while she did it all.  Hopefully she will keep up the good work and bath time will be less of a fight!

241/365

Today we relaxed some.

We worked on figuring out where every last dime in our budget goes and tried to figure out what kind of mortgage might work best for us.

We relaxed some more...bathed the kids and got ready for the week ahead.

I know you are jealous that we are leading such exciting lives.  :)

240/365

This is what happens when to tell a 5 year old boy to clean up his toys in the closet.  He discovered his John Deere room decorations (for the new house) and decided he wanted to see them with his new bedding.  After that he decided I needed to hang up his clock...which I did.

And then insisted that I take a picture of him with his clock.

All this while we were supposed to be cleaning house.

He was my little cleaning buddy today while Jacob, Jackson and Jaci went and bought groceries.  We had a great afternoon together and although there were a lot of distractions we managed to get the entire house clean.  (All while listening to and singing along with 80 music!)

Jaci was also a big helper today.  After supper she helped make a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

(They were so good!)

After supper we headed out to enjoy some outside.  Jackson played in the sandbox.

Jaci and Tyler blew bubbles.

I have to say that for it being such a busy day full of work it was wonderful.  Funny how that happens.

Hope you all had a great day as well!

239/365

Tonight we met with out builder and realtor to work on our contract details.  We are just a few days away from a final contract and that feels wonderful.  We still have to get everything approved buy the man selling the lot and then we can go under contract with him as well but at least we are moving forward with our builder.

We met for supper so it was late when we finally got in.  The kids were pretty good this evening but they really weren't in the mood for pictures.

And now I am going to try something new.  I would like to know what you want to see or read about.  Ask me any questions.  Tell me what kind of pictures you want me to take.  Right now I am simply documenting our daily lives which is fine but I thought I would try to get some reader involvement in this and maybe challenge myself a bit.

So...let me hear from you! 

238/365

Today I got Jackson out of school early and we headed to the doctor to get his cough looked at.  The doctor came in the room, listened to him and immediately said he had to have a breathing treatment right then.  I was a bit shocked.  Jackson is not my wheezer.  In fact, Jackson has never had to do any type of breathing treatment.  He hasn't been complaining about his lungs bothering him and has still been pretty active.  I felt terrible!  He has had this cough for about 3-4 weeks now but hasn't really complained too much.  We were just getting tired of listening to it at night and worried it would become an issue at school.  When Tyler is wheezing you can tell he is in distress.  He tells us his lungs are hurting him and takes it easy.  Jackson hasn't really said anything.  He was excited about getting to do a breathing treatment because he has watched Tyler do them for years and apparently thought they were cool.  Tonight when he was sitting on the couch while the little ones played he decided it wasn't so cool.  In fact he complained a lot.  It is amazing that for 2.5 years we did this with Tyler every day...a lot of times 2 times a day.  The movers put our other nebulizer into storage (where it wasn't supposed to go!) so we had to go buy another one today.  By the time we got home we were all worn out!

The weather is still beautiful here.  It warmed up a bit into the low 90s but it still feels so good compared to the 100s.  The kids have enjoyed getting to spend the evenings outside again.

I am tired and not feeling well so I have dosed up with NyQuill and plan on sleeping good tonight!

Hope you are all having a wonderful week!

237/365

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day!

The sun was shining.  There was a nice cool breeze blowing.  It was in the low 80's.

It was heavenly.

So much nicer than the 107 degree temps we saw just 2 days ago!

We haven't been able to get out and play in the evenings because it is just so hot so today we made the most of the beautiful weather.

The kids rode their bikes.

Played on their scooters.

And practiced new tricks.

(Doesn't this crack you up!  She was so proud that she could ride with her one leg up.  I think it is hilarious how she had her leg lifted so high up!)

I also have to brag on Jackson.  Today during the morning announcements at his school his name got announced for having wonderful behavior and being so respectful to the teachers and principal.  I asked him if any others in his grade were announced and he said that only 3 kids were announced.  It makes me so proud of him!  He might give us a hard time at home but I am so happy that he is so good when around others.  He is really a good kid.

Hope you all had as wonderful of a day as we had!

235/365

Today Jackson started the second grade.  I can't believe he is growing up so fast!

I had hoped that after the past 2 years and with us moving that Jackson would handle change a little better and not cry and get so upset when I dropped him off.  It didn't happen.  Right when we walked into the classroom he turned to me and buried his face.  He began crying and coughing which lead to him gagging and trying to throw up.  He does this every time.  I feel so bad for him.  I know he isn't unhappy being there. He just doesn't handle change well at all and his nerves get the best of him.  When I picked him up he was fine and had a great day!

Of course the return of school brings the return of carpool.

Today Jaci had her 4 year well child check so we came in from Abilene just in time to get in the carpool line.  Thankfully the kids were sleeping and not complaining about how hot it was.  I am not sure if it was actually 111 degrees (it sure felt like it was) but it didn't change from the time I left the school to the time I got home so I have to think it was close to that.

Jaci is feeling crummy and running a fever from the 4 shots she got today.  I forgot how tough the 4 year check up was and how many shots they have to get.  Jaci was 37 pounds and 3'5".  They didn't tell me what percentile she was in but this seems about average with where she has been in the past.

Tyler enjoyed a day out and was thrilled it was Jaci getting shots and not him.  He was also thrilled that it was Jackson starting school and not him.  The little ones start private Pre-K on Sept. 7th.  I am excited for them and think it is going to be a really positive experience.  Hopefully they will agree!

234/365

We are home.  Back to reality.  Back to laundry.

Back to our HOT LITTLE HOUSE!

This picture was taken about 2 hours after we got home and had the AC back on.

Since then the temperature has gone up to 93 degrees.  I am assuming it is from all of the laundry I have been doing even though I have the laundry room closed off.

It is MISERABLE!

We got home around 3 this afternoon and quickly got everything unpacked and the laundry started.  I didn't want to be behind on anything since school is starting tomorrow.  Jackson is a little excited and a little nervous.  He doesn't take the first few days of school well at all.  I was hoping that this year he would be old enough and know that everything is going to be OK but just a minute ago he came in crying.  I hate it.

Tomorrow the little ones and I have a busy day as well.  Jaci has her 4 year well child check.  We are going to a new doctor because I just didn't like the one we saw for Tyler's appointment.  I hope this one is better.  I am so picky when it comes to the kids doctors.  I went through 5 in Austin before I found one I liked and felt like I could easily talk to.  I know it sounds crazy but with all of the crazy stuff that has happened with the kids I want someone I can trust.

I hope we have better luck tomorrow!

233/365

Today we headed out and went to the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science.

The kids really enjoyed it.

They had a little bit of everything including a Dino Dig, several different exhibits on animals, water, electricity, light and rocks and then a kids museum with a lot of different activities for children.  (Although most of the museum was pretty kid friendly.)

After we finished up all of the exhibits we grabbed a snow cone and Fair Park and then headed inside for an IMAX movie.

It was the first time we have ever taken the kids to an IMAX theater and they were totally blown away by it. 

(Well...actually Jaci fell asleep...but the boys loved it!)

We have done things on this vacation that we probably wouldn't take the time to do otherwise and it has been so nice.  Every time we stay in a hotel it is usually on our way somewhere.  We never just stay for no reason.  You forget how exciting hotels are for kids and what a treat it is to just go and stay at one.  I think one day our kids will look back at this little vacation with fond memories.  It really wasn't anything overly special or exciting (well...the Great Wolff Lodge was a pretty big treat but not like Disney World or something like that.) but we have all been together with minimal fighting and have spend some good quality time together.

It doesn't get much better than that!

232/365

Today we woke up rested after a great night's sleep last night.  We managed to sleep until almost 9 which is unheard of for our kids.  It was wonderful!  After a nice breakfast we checked out and headed to the Bass Pro Shop in Grapevine.  We all enjoy going there (although some of us more than others!) and I think that the one in Grapevine is by far the best one in Texas.

The boys...all 3 of them found some things they wanted to go home with.  I told the little kids they would have to talk to their Meme about getting this bay fishing boat.  They thought it was super cool!

After test driving several boats and 4 wheelers we made our way around the store.

The kids were excited to find a bear to take a picture with.  Tyler really wanted to get all over it and see what it was made of.

After the Bass Pro Shop we headed to our 3rd hotel in 3 days.  We didn't really plan things well.  The kids were supposed to go to Henderson this weekend with Jacob's parents but they were all so tired they decided they would rather stay with us.  Our plan was to stay in Dallas while the kids were in Henderson so that we weren't constantly on the road.  I got some great deals on hotel rooms by bidding for them on Priceline.com so it was cheaper to stay in Dallas rather than drive home.  This wasn't exactly what we had planned for the weekend but it is good.

We haven't really ever done something like this with the kids so we are all having a good time.  Of course an afternoon at a new hotel means that we have to go check out the pool!

It was a lot deeper than the kids are used to so Jaci just played on the stairs while Tyler and Jackson practiced swimming.  Jackson surprised us all by managing to swim all the way across the pool.  He was pretty proud of himself.

Tyler was scared at first but decided to try jumping in the pool and letting Jacob catch him.  He then decided to try to swim to the side.  He still has to really work at it but he manages to get where he wants to go which makes us feel good.  At least if something happened I feel like he could get to the side of the pool.

He even tried to swim the entire length of the pool and for all practical purposes managed to do it with just a tiny bit of help from us.  It is great to see how they are progressing.  I am so proud of them both.

Jaci just wasn't into it today.

We are going to see where the day takes us tomorrow.  We might head home and just take a loss on our room for tomorrow night.  We are just going to see how the kids feel and follow their lead.  We might head home...we might stay and relax and swim some more.

It has been a great couple of days with a lot of quality family time and A LOT of SWIMMING!  I am loving it!