Wordless Wednesday

My week has made about as much sense as this ...

What happens when you interview your children..

A friend of mine did a neat thing in her blog this past week, she interviewed her daughter. The questions gave my friend a great idea of how her daughter viewed her.
At first I was like, that's a fantastic idea! Then I thought... what if I didn't like the answers I got from my children? I'm constantly worried that I'm not spending enough time with them, I'm not doing the right things in this situation or that. I thought about it all night, then went ahead with the interview. Gavin is 7, Shane is 5, and here is what they said.

What do I like to do?

Gavin: Cuddle me, cook.. I really like your cookies.. ummm.. and read.. a lot.
Shane: Put makeup on!!

What do I not like?

Gavin : Getting in the kid pool.. why don't you like it? Is it because it's cold? Spending money, 'cause you don't buy us stuff!
Shane: Punching!! (We've been having issues with him doing this, it's good to know he's listening!)

What do you wish I would do more often?

Gavin : Give me candy for snacks and stuff!! I LOVE CANDY!
Shane: Get me stuff!!

What do you like best about me?

Shane: When you cook me dinner!!
Gavin: It's true, I like that too! I like it when you cuddle me and we go to the zoo.. the zoo is awesome.

So there you have it. It's really funny to see how much they pay attention and what they observe about me. I love them dearly and fell so blessed to be their Mom!

First Day of School!

For the first time ever... I have two children in school all day! They both went to preK but they were dismissed at 11:30.  I had about three hours to myself those days. This.... is different.
  After walking the kids in the hubby and I made a B line to Starbucks!!

What's a kid free day without a shot of espresso?! The sad thing about having so much early morning free time, NOTHING IS OPEN!!
My kids have to be at school before 7:45, most of the really fun shops don't open till 9 or 10. We twiddled our thumbs at Starbucks for a bit and decided to go to Target.
Why Target?? Why not! If you don't have kids you don't understand the awesomeness of wandering up and down every isle, looking at everything without a child begging for a toy (just a $5 toy mom PLEEEASE!)
or popcorn, candy, or begging to leave because it's just too BORING.
I did have a purpose, besides killing time, for going there. I needed hooks to hang the boy's backpacks on at home. We cruised electronics, meandered through toys, and giggled at harlequin novel titles in books. Then... these happened

   Hiphopsicles... it worries me that these exist. Why.. just... why? So tacky.
We made our way over to the back to school area. I wanted to survey the destruction after the storm that was school shopping. I really should have taken pictures.. the carnage was amazing. It looked a bit like the grocery store scene in Zombieland when Columbus meets Wichita. I was almost expecting to have to smash a remaining zombie with a banjo (because I carry one around for just such an occasion!) Folders everywhere, backpacks strewn about the aisles, pencil pouches scattered through the main aisle like slippery little land mines. It was crazy! I feel really sorry for the employees that have to straighten it all back up.

   After Target I really wanted to go to my favorite used book store, BUT we learned they changed their hours and aren't open on Mondays anymore.. booo! SO we went to Books-a-Million where I discovered I need this...Everyone needs a 'Nuns Having Fun' calendar!  I didn't buy it but did expand my personal library a bit. It's impossible for me to go into a book store and come out empty handed.  Yes, yes I know, I have a kindle, but there's just something about a real book that I can't quit them. I'm a closet book sniffer too.. I loooove the smell of a book. The older the better. Old books just have this amazing aroma! I'm sure there are meetings someplace for people like me.. Book Sniffers Anonymous. "Hi, my name is Sam.. It's been three weeks since my last book sniff. I had a close call when I drove past the library but my resolve kept me on the straight and narrow" LOL

Ok.. back to my kid free day..

We went home after BAM,  it was raining so no zoo. We were going to take stroll through the zoo to look at what animals WE wanted to look at!

The house was so very quiet. It's strange. I didn't realize how much noise the one remaining boy made last year. Oh well. the cats got lots of attention.. I think they are going to be 500% spoiled after this school year. My sweet, snaggle toothed, Cleopatra is the worlds best attention whore. She cant' help it. I think it's in her DNA. 

The rest of the day wasted away by making lunch and wandering around the house aimlessly till time to go sit in line to pick the kids up. This stay at home alone stuff is going to take some getting used to. I'm sure I can find ways to keep myself busy, it's like there's so much I want to do but I'm not sure where to start! Exciting stuff is in store.. or you will see posts about massive crafting/pintrest fails.  Time will tell!

So it's been a year already...

So as of August 8th.. we will have been in South Carolina one whole year. As of August 15th we will have been in our house a whole year. Time flies when you're having fun I guess.
Loading up that morning... everything we owned in a uhaul and a destination 800+ miles away from everything and everyone I've ever known, was tough.  It's also been one of the best things our family could have ever done.

My trunk the morning we left

 I really think we are a closer knit family. Coming all this way with no one but each other to cling to has really been a good thing for us. Gavin matured a LOT. He had a rough few weeks, we all did, but he came out of it with a better understanding of emotions and how to communicate what he feels. I learned how to be a better Mom and that it's ok to be a friend too when the situation calls for it.
Shane is so easy going he didn't have too many issues with all the changes. His one challenge, that I didn't see coming, was church. Gav was excited to go and try new churches and find a new place to get settled in to. Shane... not so much, he even told me he wanted HIS church at our old house! I thought about it and well, Beech Street was the only church he ever knew. He was still in an infant carrier and taking bottles when we started going there. He was there every Sunday and Wednesday and then went to preschool there too. It was where his friends were. Shane has found his groove at Friendship and I'm glad.
We've all found our place out here and it's been a wonderful thing. We've made memories and new traditions. Discovered new places and continue to soak up all of the history there is out here. I absolutely love the museums, historical sites, plantations, state parks... all of it! Not to mention... the beach. I don't think I could ever live far from the ocean again.
I love South Carolina with all that I am and I love it for what it's done for us.  Here's to many more years to come!

How it looked our first day in our house!