31/365: Pain in My Egyptian Heart

I have been intently watching and keeping up with the news as of late, which
is rare for me. The power struggle in Egypt has me in tears, I am worried about
our American excavating teams and my heroes Dr. Hawass and Dr. Weeks. I found out yesterday
that some of the protesters broke into the Cairo Museum and looted the gift shop. Some
of the looters went right for 13 display cases looking for gold and precious artifacts,
which the Cairo museum has tons of. It was later confirmed today that the protesters beheaded two 
mummies and broke several exhibits. They have also broke into tombs in Abusir and Saqqara.
I am horrified to think that 3,000 years of Egyptian history maybe destroyed and I have to
just sit here with tearful eyes and watch. I cant believe that we as the United States are
not helping the government get a handle on this madness, but what do I expect from a non-christian
president. I remember feeling this way when Katrina hit New Orleans, I cried for days and now
it is happening to my Egypt! I fear that these people that want to take over will make it hard
for the very important historical work to continue. The U.S. is asking all Americans to leave Egypt,
my fear is what will happen if they never let us back in and I never see my Egyptian home. I will be
honest, I don't care about the government, but I care A LOT about the history there and these people
seem to have NO respect for their own history. Please pray that your children not only get to see these
historic monuments but they are still around for them to see.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

30/365: First Step to an Organized House

Another productive day today....Finally got the cabinet finihed for the backdoor
and got it hung. I am excited to say the first step to having the whole house
organized is finished. Now if we can just get the weight set sold, I can start
working on my closet office. I have decided to try to get my "office" out of the
dining room and into a large bedroom closet. I think it will make a great craft room/office
that I can shut off when we have company. This would be a great for Eric also, that way
he can use the extra space in the laundry room to set up his jewerly making stuff. After a
long day of organizing and being productive Eric cook a wonderful dinner of stuffed pork chops
and cream corn. Busy week this week but so looking forward to it.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

29/365: Productive

Today was a very productive day in the Vance household. We have been working on
a wood cabinet for the backdoor for all our coats and bags. Eric also fixed Kaylynn's
door, which means I don't have to pick up on it to shut it anymore. Kaylynn also got a big
surprise when she woke up from her nap, Ashley came to stay. Kaylynn has been asking about
her for weeks, she was so happy to see her and vice averse. I love it when Ashley is here,
she is a great help with the kids and they cant get enough of her. Connor has been smiling at her
since she got here. Later Emily can to have dinner with us and to wait on Granny and Papaw to pick
her up from a busy day shopping with her dad. Another good thing about the girls being here, they
love to cook with Eric. I get twice as much done with them here and I love to see them. I have the
best nieces in the world.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

28/365: Married Time

Five years ago today, I married the second most wonderful man on the planet(the first being my
grandfather). Eric and I had been dating and living together for three years before we were married.
Both of us had been married before and swore either one of us would ever do that again. When we started
dating we were both broke passed the point of being broke. In fact, had it not been for some friends
moving and giving us all the food in their freezer I am sure there would have been a few nights we
wouldn't have eaten. It was tough in the beginning because while we were happy to be together we were
POOR! It took a long while to get us back on track but we both worked really and made it. Eric asked me
to marry him on New Years Eve 2005 and we were happy married 28 days later with most of our family and friends
there to celebrate with us. Since that wonderful day we have moved into a great home and have two beautiful children.
I am sure we will have many more adventures together as time goes by and I look forward to every minute of it.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

27/365: Early Days

Today started out like yesterday at 6am, which is still to early for mommy. I didn't
get that feeling this morning about the day being long, but it has been. Connor got up
with a fever, so we were doctor bound early on. Dropped Kaylynn off and headed to see
Dr. Rao, just to have her tell me that my 3 month old son is teething. After hearing that
news mommy needed some retail therapy. My anniversary is tomorrow and I wanted something
nice to wear to dinner. I think Eric talked to Connor last night and told him to throw a fit
while mommy shopped so I wouldn't spend so much money. After all the retail therapy Connor
decided it was time to go home for lunch and a nap, so we did. We cuddled and played until
it was time to pick up Kaylynn. Went to see Ms. Marnie to pick up Connors new diaper bag and
when back home to do more playing. The day took a turn for the worst when daddy accidentally
let the cat outside, we spent a few hours looking (more like chasing). At 8pm we decided to
give up and set a trap to hopefully catch her, but I guess we will see.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

26/365: Long but okay day

Today started out to be a long day from the beginning. Both my beautiful
children started screaming their heads off at 6 this morning, which is
always a clue that the day is going to be interesting. We decided to go ahead
and get up with daddy and start our day. Kaylynn had school today, so while she
ate breakfast I did some light cleaning and picking up (to stay awake mainly),
mommy is not a morning person at all. Mommy needs a route 44 coke from
Sonic this morning, just to get through. Even though it was a long day it was
most productive. I am still working on organizing this house before our
big construction job. I did run some small errands and shopping after picking Kaylynn up
from school and had time to do a little scrapbooking before dinner. I also
got the menu and the shopping list finish. So, I guess it turned it out to
be an okay day.

25/365: Hard Day

Today is my moms birthday! It is one of the hardest days
of the year for me. It seems to have gotten worse since I became
a mother myself. My mother would have been 54 today and a Nana to
the best two kids in the world and a mother in law to a wonderful man. I like to
sit and imagine what she would be like has a grandmother. I can see
her spoiling my children and playing with them in the yard, chasing them around and laughing.
I can see her reading Kaylynn "The Pokey Little Puppy", just like
she did me and dancing with Connor to Elvis trying to get him to go to sleep.
I can imagine the talks we would have about my children and things going no in my life. I can imagine her, tracie and I
going shopping together in Dallas with the kids. Her and Tracie would
also be close (I know that), she would love her as her own, just like
Tracie parents do me. I can imagine Tracie and mom showing up at the house
to take me and the kids to lunch. I can see Tracie calling to tell me
she just talked to my mom and I wont believe what advice she gave.
This day is always hard and it really doesnt get any easier, I cant even
begin to think about not being here to see Kaylynn and Connor grow up.
I know my mother was sick and wouldnt have always been
there because of her illness. I think God knew that it would hurt her more
to be here and not get to be a great mom then to not be here at all. Even
though I know she is in a better place and is at peace, it still rips at
my heart to know she will never see how much she has impacked my life and
her not being here made me a good mother. I am being the mother to my
children that she could never be to me. Even though she is not here my
children will always know who thier Nana was, thats so important to me.
I love you so much and wish everyday you were here, Happy Birhday Mommy!
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

24/365: Cleaning

Another good day in our little world. Busy with some leftover housework from the
weekend and straighten and trying organizing the house( the key word is trying).
I have been trying for weeks to get this house in some order after the holidays.
I know I need to take it day by day and room by room, but when you live with
two children and a very unorganized man. Eric is only organized when he wants
to be, which is only with work stuff. Of course; if you ask him, he would tell
you I have a serious case of OCD. To be honest I do like things up and organized,
I hope that it is something that I can teach my children. Eric always jokes that he
has to keep me around cause if he didn't he wont be able to find anything, which
maybe true. I am trying to teach Kaylynn to pick up her toys and put away her
own clothes and shoes. She is a great like helper; she helps with the dishes and is
trying to learn how to do her own clothes. She is and will always be my indenpendent
little girl.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

23/365:Childhood Wars

Today, I had a wonderful conversation with a dear friend about our parents and what
they were like. As most of you know my mother passed away when I was 3 years old
and my mothers parents raised me. We were talking about our childhood and how tough it
was. I would not say I had a terrible childhood, but it was by no means the Donna Reed
Show childhood. I guess you could say I was a tug-a-war rope between my grandmother and
my real dad. I always felt like if I loved my dad it was like saying I didn't love my
grandmother and vice averse. After my mom passed away my real dad was really in no place
to take care of me and I always felt that the only reason my grandmother wanted me was because
I was the last thing of my moms. It was like I was the toy everyone wanted just because everyone
wanted it. My grandmother was not a great mother,but she was raised in a different time and there
was a huge generation gap. It was really hard for her to relate to me and even harder for her to
show emotion. Now saying all that my grandfather was my saving grace, but he did have to work allot
so there were times that my grandmother went to war(more times then I would like to count). As I was
growing up I was not allowed to see my real dad and was told that he never really wanted to see me
anyway. My grandmother told me so many lies to make me into what she wanted me to be. She grew up in
a time were women got married as soon as possible and started having children and well that just wasn't
me at all. In my family, we as women were told don't dream about having careers or seeing the world
because your not ever going to make it or see places like that. Now that I am a mom I see the difference
in how i was raised to how I want to raise my children. I would NEVER tell my children not to dream, my children deserve the world and all that it holds. I feel that it is my job to stop the mistakes of my parents and raise my children completely different. This is to everyone who has to overcome a bad childhood to be a great person.
Goodnight all; See ya"ll tomorrow

22/365:Sick Days

Today was a rough day for everyone! It is never a good thing when mommy is sick and daddy is on call, but we made it work. A friend of mine asked a few days ago "Who takes care of mommy when she is sick" on her facebook page and I am sad to announce the overall answer was "no one". I started wondering, why is that, but I know the answer to that too. I never realized how tough and hard it was to be a mother until I became one. It is the single most important and unappreciated job any woman can have. As a older mother it does get trying and rough and there are many days that I don't think I can make it and then my children smile at me and I know I will be fine. I do stay at home with my children and it is great to be able to do that, but I do have friends that don't get that option and I will be honest I don't know how they do it. I cant imagine having children and a full time job, to those woman that can do that I say "you are my hero's". I love my role as a mother and wife, but some times mommy needs some alone time. It is hard to explain and many people don't understand, but sometimes you just need to be in a room or car alone to control your sanity. A role of a wife and a mother is a gift and a job. You not only have to keep up with your things, but your husbands stuff and your children's and that gets overwhelming sometimes. Lucky, I know a great group of women in the same boat and they are always willing to help.

Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

21/365: Adoption is ALWAYS the answer

I was horrified to find out that in the new health care bill there is a abortion clause. If I did agree with the whole national health care thing (which I don't), this would seriously change my mind.  This clause means that if a woman becomes pregnant and does not want it, the government will pay for her to end the pregnancy. That means your tax dollars are going towards ending a baby's life, so you are paying to fix her mistake. I would like to pride myself on being a "free thinking", "woman empowering" woman, but I can not stand for this. As a parent of two adopted children I don't understand how a woman can do that. In my mind if you don't want to be a parent then don't do the stuff to become one, but when you do please make the right choice for you and the child. Abortion is so selfish to me, there are thousands of women that long to be mothers. Thousands that long to hold a child, to smell baby's breathe and to see a child's first smile, to hear a child's first laugh. If your not ready to me a parent, please think of all the women who cant: give them the gift of a child. I have many friends that have adopted children and many more that would adopt or adopt again; myself being one of them. Adoption to me is always the answer, I have two amazing children because it was the right answer. I thank God everyday for my children and the birth mothers that gave them to me. Adoption works for everyone......Please think about it!!!

Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

20/365: Brotherly Love

Today is starting out to be one of the longest day. First we were
late getting up for school this morning, so Kaylynn didn't get to go. Second
Connor is just not eating, not sure why. Third mommy is getting sick (thank you
daddy). The kids and I haven't done really anything, although Kaylynn has played
with Connor more today the the past three months. She sat down with him to watch TV
this morning and this afternoon she is trying to teach him how to high five. She even
held her "play" phone to his ear so he could talk to Lighten McQueen and daddy.
We have both been making funny face at him all day just to hear him giggle. So overall
its been a good day, think I am going to call it an early night tonight and get allot of rest.

Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

19/365: Little Helper

Today was day 2 of Kaylynn's little meltdowns, she didn't want to go to
school this morning. I am starting to think she wants to stay at home with
Connor and I. Even though we had a meltdown it turned out to be an okay day.
Kaylynn and I cleaned and straightened up the laundry room and cleaned the stuff
out from under the kitchen sink. Kaylynn even started the laundry and the dishwasher,
she is always a good little helper. She also helped me feed Connor and put him down
for a nap. While Connor napped she colored, she loves to color(that she gets from me).
She was every active all day with can get on my nerves little (okay allot) when she gets
like that she is into everything. Then daddy came home and well there is just no calming
her down then. We have been working on a few things everyday with her, like having her
clean her playroom every night and saying her prayer...she is doing a great job at learning.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

18/365: Daddy's Girl

Today was not a great day in our little house, Kaylynn had a little bit of a meltdown

this morning,needless to say we did not get to go to our playdate. For some reason this

morning she wanted her daddy and no one else. Eric is never off on Tuesdays, but Kaylynn

thought he should have been. Kaylynn is allot like her daddy, in fact I joke that she is
really Eric's child. I am not sure what happened to make her wake up screaming for her

daddy, but it most have been terrible. She loves her daddy;like every little girl, but they

have this bond that Kaylynn and I do not share. I am sure that it a daughter-daddy thing and

mommy just doesn't get it. It makes me wonder if I ever had that bond with my own dad or my

grandfather. My dad and I were separated when I was five that's when my grandparents(my moms

parents) got rights to me after my mothers death. I really don't have many memeories

of those days, but I have allot of my moms friends who have been there for me over the years

to help me imagine what my mom and dad were like back then. I have several pictures of me and my

dad and I can see the same look in my eyes looking at him as Kaylynn gets when she looks at her

daddy. My dad and I do have a relationship now, there was allot of daddy-daughter time lost; but

we are working on getting to know each other again.

Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

17/365:Routine

Today was a very good day in the Vance household. I took my two wonderful nieces and two beautiful
children out to lunch for my nieces birthday. After lunch we decided to do alittle shopping at target
Kaylynn loves to shop for new "Cars". Along with having a good day with the kids, I think we are finally
getting into a routine around here. It has taken 3 months but we are getting it down like clock work at least
for the past two nights. We have had Kaylynn on a routine since day one, but when you throw another child in the mix things have a tendency to get alittle out of whack. We haven't been doing allot the last 3 months cause mommy felt out of sorts, but last night was the first night Connor wasn't in our room and I felt like an angel.Even though I had to get up at 4:30am and go down the hall to feed him, I still found myself wake and feeling great this morning. You will never understand the wonderful feeling you get when you relieves that you can turn on the lights in your own room without waking up a newborn(unless your a parent). Needless to say we do have plans to meet friends in the morning for a small playdate, so maybe with a routine down, Connor out of my bedroom and my life in some kind of order my friends and family will be seeing more of us.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow!

16/365: Time Goes By

Yesterday my twin nieces turned 13 years old, It is hard for me to imagine 13 years has gone by so quickly.
For those of you who don't know me. my nieces (really cousins) and my nephew are as important to me as my own children.They along with their mother is always there when I need them and vice averse. My cousin (the twins mom), is really like a sister to me and that's how my children know her (Aunt Pen Pen). Penny and I have not always been close, but to look at us today you would think we were real sisters. Saying that we have not always been close does not mean that we didn't have a good relationship, cause that is so not the case. We have always had a good relationship, but I think having children and getting divorced made us closer. We have always been at the important events in every others lives. Which brings me to the birth of my nieces, I can remember it like it was yesterday. Trace and I were in Shreveport(I was still living at home)
looking for stuff my upcoming wedding(that never happened...long story), we had gone to Ellis pottery to get flowers and was headed into a bridal shop on Mansfield rd when my grandmother called to tell us that they(the doctors) had decided to take the girls at 7 months. Penny was checked in at Willis Knighton South. We loaded up and headed that way, when we arrived there were members of my family lining both sides of the hall. Trace and I settled in for the wait. Then it happened they bought the girls out, they had to be taking to the NICU cause they were born early. Has they rushed them out I can remember crying, I was just thanking God they were finally here and I was so happy. I continue to thank God that they are not only in my life but my childrens.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

15/365: Family game

Every night in the Vance household, we play a small but important game. It usually starts off with someone saying "Where's the cat", which is kind of like "Where's my car" without a panic button to push to help out. At that time we(Eric and I) ask each other when was the last time we saw her, after determining it has not be recent(cause she is not cuddled up to my feet on the couch) we get up grab small flashlights, which we have ready by the back door just for this reason (thank you Mr. Don, great Christmas gift). Once flashlights are in hand we do a initial sweep of her usual places; window seals, baby's jumper and formal living room couch. Once it has been established that  she is not in her usual haunts, it's time to get serious. Now we break it down by floors; 1st floor back of the couch..no, dinning room chairs...no, Russia room bed...no(but has been found there), Kaylynn's playroom...no(found here before too), laundry room...no(never found here) and I am not mentioning the kitchen cause that's where the dogs are and that's just a dumb idea from a cats point of view. So not on the 1st floor means we have to move to the 2nd floor (the whole time praying she is not outside cause either one of us wants to go out there). The 2nd floor search starts with our room; did she sneak in there while we were putting Connor to bed and is she hiding under the covers of our bed(where we found her two nights ago), once the master bedroom is clear, Eric's office is next which is another dumb move from a cats point of view....so that's a no; then its Connors room maybe she is in the crib (she use to sleep in Kaylynn's)...no; okay now on to Kaylynn's room this is where the game gets tricky for everyone involved; Eric and I need to find the cat with flashlight but not wake up the two year old and the cat doesn't make it any easier. The cat has learned that if she does venture into this child's room it is better to stay under the bed until the child is a sleep and then she can get on the bed without the child wanting to play with her. Okay now stay with me, now that we have figured out that she is not on the 2nd floor ;our last hope is that she is on the 3rd floor asleep on the pool table this never happens. At this time our one true fear is realized SHE'S OUTSIDE at some point in the day she got passed one of us, this could take 2 minutes or 2 hours to resolve. Tonight she was outside huddle in one of the chairs trying to stay dry and warm.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

14/365: Talking Bug

First of all, I have to explain that my daughters nickname is "bug". A few months ago I mentioned to my husband that I was worried that Kaylynn was not talking as well as some of the other kids in her MDO. I know some of my mommy friends whose toddlers needed to go to speech to help them out and I was seriously debating on putting Kaylynn in a speech class. It is often hard to understand her, my husband jokes that he doesn't speak "Kaylynn"(like she is a foreign language). I have been having to translate "Kaylynn" for months for him and just about everyone else. But here in the last week she has been picking up words and phrase left and right. Her speech has been clear and understandable, I can even describe how impressed I am on how quickly she is now learning things. I have to admit that it brings a small tear to my eyes every time she says something she has never said before. Eric comment just tonight;t its like she just woke up being able to talk better. I like to thing that her going to MDO and being around other children that speak well showed her how or maybe she just got the talking bug.
Goodnight all, See ya'll tomorrow

13/365: Bonding

It is always great when you find someone that you can talk to with easy and bond with, but for a woman it is double special. When you can find another woman that has had some of the same life experiences you have had. For example, I have a friend that has adopted two children, like me. So when something about adoption comes up and I need advice she is the first person I want to talk to. We are members of a few mommy groups, which is wonderful because there are many different moms. Some have adopted, some have done IVF, and some had them the "old-fashion" way. I have had two miscarriages in my life and it is always helpful to know that there are other women that have gone though that too. It is also helpful to other moms that may go though this kind of stuff in the future to know that there is always someone to talk to. And its not just the "hard" stuff that we bond over, it could be as simple as a first time mom calling another experienced mom about want to do about the first time her baby gets a fever. We as women have stopped calling our moms for advice and started calling our friends, which is a big help to our poor mothers. We also bond over the simple fact that we are all moms and that alone is a wonderful reason.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

12/365: Egypt

To those of you that really know me; you know I have always dreamed of going to Egypt. Over the past 33 years it has always held my attention and my heart. I love everything about Egypt; the history, the people, the culture and the religions. In the last year the desire to go has gotten so much worst after watching my hero Dr. Hawass on "Chasing Mummies" and reading Elizabeth Peter's novel's. Elizabeth Peters writes a series about an Egyptologist family living in the early 1900's. The Emerson's has exciting adventures while excavating tombs in Egypt. There are 19 total books, I am on book 8 and I am fully addicted. It is the perfect mixture of Egypt and mystery. We all have places we dream of going, well Egypt is mine. I have planning my Egypt trip since I was a kid. Everything from where to stay(Shepherd's hotel); to where to eat (Aqura Restaurant), even where to get a authentic cup of Joe(Africano). I want to see every monument and ancient city, but there are two places that I most see Abu Simbel and Amarna. I know one day Eric and I will sail down the Nile with our children while mommy points out all the monuments and gives a history of that place, What a wonderful thought!
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

11/365: New Words

Today Kaylynn got up saying "daddy(in her best British accent), where are u", of course Eric was at work, but she had never said before. Everyday I am amazed at what she learns, she can tell you all the characters in Disney's Cars. She knows who Mickey the Mouse(that's what she calls him), Handy Manny and Oso are. It is  funny to me the things she already knows and I am surprised at least once a day by something she does or says. Like today we were looking though her baby book and has we started turning pages; she started pointing out people. "That's Ashie(which was like her third word), that's TJ(which I have never heard her say), that's Lala(which she asks about allot) and she kept going on and on. When daddy got home the other day she asked him if he had a hard day, which we both thought was completely funny. Its not just what she learns it's how she learns it, for example when she says mommy or daddy it is in a British accent, but when she says Connor it is in her best Irish accent(we don't know where she got it). She knows who Thomas the train and Elmo are, even though we don't watch them, but they have toys at MDO of them. I know it is good for children to learn, I just I never realized how fast they do!
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

10/365: Traditions

Today I watched a TV special about the upcoming royal wedding of Prince William and Lady Catherine. There was a clip of the BBC interview when they announced their engagement, in the interview Prince William pointed out that the engagement ring was his mothers and that was a way of making her part of the event. Well that got me thinking about the day Charles and Diana got married, it was July 29, 1981 and I was 4 years old. I can remember my grandmother waking me up at 4 am to watch their wedding, it is one of my most favorite memories with her, she always said it was something my mother would have done had she been there. We set there in complete silence and just watched the beautiful event, I remember telling my mamaw(that's what we called her) how pretty I thought the dress was has I cried happy tears(I have always been emotional). When the service was over I remember her turning to me and saying "She is a princess now, like in your book and she will live happily ever after." Since that day I followed Diana in everything articles, books, and TV,  even more after she became a mother. I always thought her to be an excellent mother, see put her children before anything else which had to be hard considering her position. Seeing a real mother act that way with her children was inspiring to me, not having a mother.I remember always thinking how lucky her two boys were to have such a great mother. I always vowed that when I became a mother that was the woman I wanted to be like. I also remember her untimely death it was August 31, 1997 and I was 20 years old. There I was,like tradition, up at 4am in the morning watch her funeral and crying, but this time they were sad tears for her and her boys. I can not imagine being 15(William's age) and 13(Harry's age) when my mother passed away, I was only 3 years old and thank God everyday I was so young. I can remember happy bits and pieces, but non of her being so sick, which is perfect. I am sure I don't have to tell you that I will be pulling Kaylynn out of bed at 4am in the morning to watch the royal wedding, just like my mamaw did with me IT'S TRADITION!

Goodnight all; See y'all tomorrow

9/365: Louisiana Snow Days

Today was a wonderful day and exciting for the kids. It snowed in Louisiana for the second year in a
row and Kaylynn really had a great time in it this time. I took Connor out in it for a minute and let the snow flakes hit his face, all he did was smile. I am hoping that my children like the cold weather like me cause Eric hates it, but he grew up in Arizona and California. Eric absolutely loves the heat, which is one of the reasons he is good at his job. I however hate the heat, but I love cold weather. Fall and Winter are my favorite times a year, when you don't burn up taking your kids to the park. I have been trying to talk Eric into taking a cruise, he is all in until I tell him I want to go to Alaska and then he stops the whole conversation. I don't just like only cold places; my dream is to go to Egypt, but that a whole other blog. There are so many places I would love to go, but with Eric's job it is easier for him to take off in the winter months, so I think he might want to get use to the cold.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

8/365: Productive Day

It was a very productive day around the Vance household. We got up early this morning, mainly because we have two great alarm clocks, Connor and Kaylynn. We started with all the leaves and believe me there was a ton of them, but its funny we dont have any trees in our yard. We left Connor in the house to play with his new play gym Aunt LaDonna got him for christmas, but there was no leaving Kaylynn, she had to be outside with mommy and daddy(daddy mainly). We worked and she played, although she did help alittle. After all that it was nap time for the little ones and more work for us, cleaning out the shed and sweeping up everything. I often feel sorry for a garbage men, there is always a pile of something out front on trash day. When Kaylynn decided she had slept to much, she helped mommy and daddy move stuff from daddys old truck to his new one. She even helped me vacuum out my ride and daddys old truck so we could sell it, then it was truck washing time and even though she wanted to play in the water, we made her go in her playroom. Can you believe after all the stuff we did today, we decided to go to lowes and target to pick up a few things to help mommy get her desk in order. Woo! what a busy day and tomorrow its laundry and house cleaning..I love the weekends.

Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

7/365: New Things

A few months ago my husband and I decided that we need a better family car, mini-van. We decided on a VW Routan and I love it, even if it makes me a "soccer mom"! We have bought me a few cars since Eric and I met, okay more then a few, but Eric has only bought two. He is always saying he wants this or that, but always puts it aside to get me or the kids something. He never really ever ask for anything (which makes Christmas a pain) and is always happy with anything he gets. My wonderful husband works all the time, in fact I joke during the summer months that I become a single mom. He takes care of all the bills (I know that is rare for the man to do), all the ways to save and never complains (except when I go to Gymboree to much). He found a way for me to quit my job and become a stay at home mom when Kaylynn was born. Speaking of the kids, he is a wonderful father and I see if everyday when he walks through the back door and Kaylynn takes off to be scooped up and loved on. He cooks dinner most every night  and always helps around the house, he even lets me sleep late on Sundays and takes the kids. I have grown as a person, as a wife and a mother from him being in my life. So, last weekend he mentioned he wanted a new truck and that he might have found one he really liked. I never asked if we could afford it, I didn't try to talk him out of it or tell him it was a bad idea.....I figure with all he does for us, he so deserved it.
Goodnight all, See ya'll tomorrow

6/365: Family Meshing

Another blessed day in the Vance household. Kaylynn started back to mommy's day out and we are settling back into our old routine we had going before the holidays. After dropping her off, Connor and I went to meet up with Connor's birth mother and birth grandmother to get his social security card. I know allot of people only see the birth family once or twice during the child's life and sometimes none at all, not in our case. When we took Connor in our hearts and home, we also took in his birth mother, grandparents and both his sisters. Not only did we accept them, but they accepted us and Kaylynn, especially his grandparents. To them and us it was a "package deal"; they got an extra grandchild (Kaylynn) and we got a extra set of parents. Everyone ask how they act around us and Kaylynn, the only thing I can say is they act like family; family that has always been there. We mesh; our two little families and even though we all except Connor's birth mother to run off as soon as she knows her little one is officially ours; his birth grandparents will remain a main part of both our children's lives. And really, no one can ever have to many people loving them.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

5/365: Behaviors

Today was another good day with my children, even if we were coughing our heads off due to sinus problems this morning. It was a day for many thoughts and happenings, for example Kaylynn tried to roller skate outside today and Connor laughed when she fell (there is that brotherly love
I was talking about). Connor has a wonderful laugh, but what child under 13 doesn't. We did manage to get out of the house today to go to target, which will two children is an adventure in it's self. While we were there a elderly lady and a few those smiled and played with the children, Connor mainly (you know
people can't resist a baby). Each time commenting on how much they look like each other or me, this fact always amazes me. My children and I have no blood relation to each other nor do they have blood between the two of them. saying that, I pick on Eric at least once a day that Kaylynn is his child through and through. She  acts like him, talks like him and even writes like him (I am hoping that will change in time). She looks like Eric, she has so many of his behaviors that it is unreal. I know what your think, sure she has been around him her all life from day one of course she is going to pick up on somethings, but they even love the same foods!
He is a great father and a wonderful man, but I real don't think I can handle having Eric and Kaylynn; who acts like Eric. I will give you a great example, yesterday she got up on the couch to sit by me, but she want something on the coffee table; I asked her what she wanted (as a rule I don't get it for her until she can tell me what it is); after being asked repeatedly she climbed down got the car(we cant do anything with cars); climbed back on the couch with this "mom this is what I wanted" half smile and I realized I had seen that same look a hundred times from Eric. For most people saying that your child looked just like their dad won't be a big deal, but for us it is huge. It will always amaze me that my children act like Eric or even me, It is a blessing that will always be here.
Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

4/365: Wondrous Things

We had a few wonderful things happen today, small but wonderful. I know this statement will sound strange to most people, but I think Kaylynn is warming up to her little brother. While most older children have 9 months to warm up to the fact that they will be getting a sibling, Kaylynn did not. Kaylynn literally went to mommy's day out an only child and came home with a little brother. Even though both of our children were adopt, we had little over 8 months to get ready for Kaylynn, but not Connor. We learned about Connor only a month before he was born and the state dropped him off with us one week after he took his first breathe. Don't get me wrong; Kaylynn is a good sister, but she really doesn't have allot to do with Connor. She does say goodbye to him when she goes to school and she kisses him goodnight before bed, but that is pretty much it. I know that it will take time for them to get use to each other and they have a lifetime to do so. They will love each other, hate each other and have many battles and memories together. I also know that she; along with Eric and I will learn to love him more then her own life, but today she gave me a wonderful surprise. She climbed on the couch with him today and actually loved and cuddle with him. She is always a great helper; I can always ask her to hand me something or do something for me and she always comes though. But it was a wondrous thing to see my little monkey (Kaylynn) loving on my little turtle (Connor) without me making her. She gave him a huge hug and he gave her a big smile back, and yes I cried at that moment. I was so happy to see my children interacting with each other and proud of my daughter I just couldn't help it!!! We are so blessed! Goodnight all, See ya'll tomorrow!

3/365: New Generation

So today my two children and I piled on the couch to watch some bull riding that I had recorded on our dvr, the PBR will be in town this weekend and I wanted to see how some of my friends were doing this season. To my surprise I did not see one bull rider that I knew and not one that I use to rodeo with. There was no Cody or J.W. Hart, no Justin McBride, and no Cory Melton. Not only were there no riders that I recognized, but there were no bulls either. No BlueBerry Wine, no Little Yellow Jacket and no White Lightin'. I can honestly say that my rodeo days are long behind me, but they were some of the best days of my life. My entire high school years I was driving from one rodeo to another and I loved every minute of it. It was not surprising to see a car load of us hit two to three rodeo's on weekend. It was always great to pull up to a arena and know even if you had never been there before, that there would probably be at least 10 to 20 people you did know. Rodeoing to me was like being apart of a huge family, granted a family you only saw on the weekend but family none the less. I had so many great things happen to me at a rodeo; I met my best friend of 16 years at one, I got over being really shy because of rodeoing, and I learned allot of medical training at rodeos(even though I didn't do anything with it). It was never uncommon to see me behind the chute gates wrapping ribs, pulling out dislocated shoulders, resetting broken fingers and putting ban-aids on cuts. I can't explain what it is about the sport I will always hold so dear, I have always said it takes a different kind of person to do and to love the sport. I have seen grown men fight and bleed for the title to be the best. I have witnessed riders get on bulls with to many broken bones to count, but they still pulled out the eight. I have seen the dreamers that want to be pros and I have stood along side to some of the best pro riders before they were. I have watched so many not make it, but I have seen a hand full of my rodeo family make it to the pros and have beamed with sisterly pride to see them ride. It is the best feeling in the world to see someone you know as dreamed and sacrifice finally get that wish. I guess that is what made me so sad not to see anyone I knew today. You see in bull riding ;if your lucky your poor body will hold out 5 to 10 years after making the pros and not to see those guys just reminded me that we all are getting older. I am not the 17 year old waiting on the weekend anymore and I won't see any of my friends at the rodeo this weekend. But, I will hold on to all those wonderful memories and great guys I met during my rodeo days. I will also admit that no matter where I am the smell of cow sh*t, saw dust and resin will always take me back to those days. To the riders that did it, stayed with it and made it! Goodnight all; See ya'll tomorrow

2/365:Our Education

While yesterday was a day of being entirely to lazy and deep thinking, today was a day of being a complete busy body. We were busy taking down Christmas decorations, finishing laundry and getting my house back to normal after all the holidays. I can now sit at my little desk (which I am going to work on organizing tomorrow) and I can see Kaylynn's "Learning Station" instead of a Christmas tree. Starting tomorrow it is back to picture flash cards (cause it is hard to do that with a Christmas tree in the same room), alphabet blocks, and calendar numbers. Even though Kaylynn goes to Mommy's Day Out three days a week and has great teachers that teach her new stuff every time she goes; we (at home) have a learning hour everyday. As a parent it is important that we have a role in Kaylynn's education from beginning to end, saying that we also have a active role in our nieces education also. As a person I feel that education is still every important to me and to Eric. I do have to admit that we are history channel geeks, book collectors, and computer nerds. I believe that along with love, support and trust; furthering our education will always play a big part in our marriage. We love to learn about different places, cultures, and religions, but if you ask anyone my wonderful hubby is a mountain of useless knowledge. He knows the weirdest, strangest and meaningless facts that it is almost impossible to beat him in trivia pursuit. Although; either one of us are "in school" per say, we do try to learn something new everyday. Goodnight all and see ya'll tomorrow!

1/365

Although this morning is suppose to be a morning of reflection and resolutions, I have to admit I didn't not do either. There were no parades or football games for me either this morning. I spent most of my day asleep, my wonderful hubby let me sleep until noon. It was a great way to start off the new year, relaxed and refreshed. Once I got up and started moving around, I spent time with my children and niece. But, with all I have to be thankful for and blessed with, I can not help but think of the members of our family that are not here anymore. Most people know that my own mother passed away when I was three years old, although I don't remember that much about her I seem to miss her the most this time of the year. It really has been hard the past three christmas', since I am a mom now. I can only imagine what my mother would have to say about my children. I would like to think she would be a wonderful "Nana" ,spoiling them rotten. I also think of Eric's parents, who are also gone. Although, I never got to meet them I have heard many stories and memories about them not only from Eric, but from his parents best friends Larry and Dawn Coburn. When we saw the Coburn's at Christmas we talked about how much fun it would be to see Eric's parents as grandparents. My grandfather is another person I miss allot this time of year. After my mother passed away my grandparents(my moms parents) took me in and raised me as their own. Even though, I knew growing up that they were my grandparents, they were the only parents I knew. My grandfather was my rock, my entire world, he is the one man that I compare all men to. He was honest, hard working and respected by everyone who knew him. He never got to meet either of my children, but he did get to meet Eric and knew that Eric was the one of me (he was always right).  I know that has every year goes by there will be more and more family members lost, last year we lost Eric's grandmother. She was I wonderful, strong woman and started the tradition of adopting children (they adopted Eric's dad). She lived in San Jose, CA so we didn't get to see her much, but I will still dearly miss her and all her stories. I also like to keep in mind all the women and men fighting for this country, both here and away! It is this people that give us our freedoms and our rights! I am so thankful for ALL this men and women both past and present, who have choose to serve and protect. I believe it is very important to always thank this people and that's why when I can I will always approach a solider or veteran whether at walmart or a gas station and shake their hands and thank them. It is something small, but means allot to this soldiers (past or present) and it is something that I have even passed my two year daughter, she thanked a Marine (both of Eric's were Marines) at Build-a-Bear during the holidays and even though she may not know why she is doing it now, she will one day. So with the new year ;comes new and exciting things, like this family blog and trying to lose weight maybe someone will read this and tomorrow see a solider and give thanks......Goodnight all, see ya ll tomorrow!!!