Jumping for Joy!

First of all, if you haven't checked out my sister's eloquently written post, head to her blog and read an update from the O'Rear family.

I am one of those mom's that is CONSTANTLY making Carley earn things. Positive reinforcement works best with her and she loves to earn things and count things down. Lately she has been coming in our room in the middle of the night to ask such important questions as:
"Do Angels have hands?"
"Will it be cold tomorrow?"
"Why did you fix that casserole for dinner?"
"If you could make your hair any color, what would it be?"
"Are you guys scared too?"
"I think I see an eyeball in my floor."

Carley is supposed to stay in bed until "the first number is a 6" on her clock. (I realize for most of you that is WAY early, but me and the kids leave the house at 7:05 each morning for me to be at work by 7:30, so things get moving early at Casa de Nelson)

Basically I think Carley just wanted to see if she was missing out on any fun, if we were playing with Corey, or I think she just wanted one of us to go lay with her. Either way we started a campaign for a trampoline. She had to stay in bed for a week to earn it. She did it and was SO excited today to jump!

Our backyard is small, so it is only an 8 foot trampoline, but it works for her!

Lost without Lost

This week, the TV show LOST ended. The six seasons of this brilliantly written show have been very captivating for me. I have watched each episode and been a true fan. I listened to the podcast, I read the online theories, and I have speculated with other "Losties" about the direction and resolution to the series. I have had a lot of fun being entertained by this show. And in a totally cheesy comment, I must say, I am going to miss this show. I will miss the fun in guess what was really going on. (which I never got right). I will miss the conversations and I will miss the characters, who I really grew to care about and root for!

Thanks Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindeof for such a great show.

Won't You Be My Baby Bumblebee?

Carley had her end of year recital tonight for her Preschool Combo class at Talent Plus. Once again, it has been a wonderful year and they have done a great job with Carley. It is 20 minutes of tap, 20 of ballet, and 20 of gymnastics. The end recital is just tap for their class and it is super cute. Carley was especially excited this year because she got to be the "line leader". She said it was like being the star of the week every day! We are proud of our bumblebee, her hard work, her improvements, her smile, her courage, and her cute little body God made for her.
My Mom was a HUGE help with everything. She helped me get Carley ready and entertain her little brother. We love you Nana!

Carley was SO excited that her family of 4, plus Papa & Nana, Uncle Tim, Aunt Mandie, Chloie, Uncle Aaron, Alex, Faith, and Grammy were able to come. She also loved seeing lots of her other friends there!

It has already begun....

...the Yankees brain washing.

Mother's Day

Today was the most wonderful Mother's day. It was my 4th Mother's Day with Carley and my 1st with Corey. I could not stop thanking the Lord for my precious family. Cody could not have been more kind, thoughtful, and generous. Carley could not have been sweeter and more excited for me and Corey could not have been more slobbery and sweet. The Lord answered our prayers for another child and I loved starting the morning worshiping the Lord who did not give us up and gave us Carley and Corey.I came out of the shower to this guy sitting in the middle of the floor banging on his gift and holding a huge Elmo card. Cody and Corey surprised me with an IPOD player and radio. I had no idea Cody did this for me.
Then Carley came around the corner, fresh out of the shower herself, with the most precious necklace and a card. The pictures do not do my necklace justice and I couldn't figure out how to take one with good lighting but no flash or glare off the necklace. It is gold and stamped with the kids' names and then it has their birthstones in dangles. I absolutely love it.
We went to church and sat with my wonderful parents and then had lunch with them. If anyone deserves a Mother's Day, it is my sweet mom who is the MOST thoughtful, generous, gentle, and loving woman I know. I am SO very thankful for her and that my kids get to have such a precious Nana.

Tonight we had dinner with the Spann family and celebrated Grammy Oleta. She has been a wonderful mother to Cody and choose to love him as her son. We are so thankful for Grammy and the light and joy she is in our lives.

Catching Up

We have been CRAZY BUSY the month of April and now it is May 8th and I have no idea what we have been SO busy doing, but man, were we busy.
Part of the month was spent at doctor's offices and pharmacies. Poor kids could not stay healthy this month. Cody and Carley have had the stomach bug. Corey has had a sinus infection, a throat infection, allergies, and a myriad of other things that made him not sleep very well in April. Carley has SUMMER FEVER! She is ready for Summer, ready for a break, ready to be home, ready for down time. I am glad to have the TAKS test over with at work and my semester at LCU over with. I absolutely love teaching adjunct there and get SO much out of it, but it is nice to have things settling down.
Carley has had some fun birthday parties and activities. She is growing into a beautiful, kind, smart, precious, young lady before our eyes. Cody and Carley still have their weekly father/daughter McDonald's breakfast dates. He called me this week after theirs and said,"I just sat there and stared at her the entire time trying to remember what our lives were like without her. She is such a joy". That sums up our "Sparkle" as I call her. She had Muffins with Mom at her school this week. I love her teacher, Ms. Sharon.

Today Corey is 8 months old. This little guy is pure sunshine. He is the happiest baby and we just all adore him. He is getting SO busy and rolling everywhere. It is hard to believe. Here is he taking a bath in the sink. What a cutie!

Carley got her first haircut at a salon today. She looks SO grown up. Here she is with Nana and Papa at dinner tonight.

So now it is May! Mother's Day! 3 weeks till Summer break! 4 weeks till family vacation! Wrapping up TV shows! End of year events! Bring it on!