Champions!!!!

In what turned out to be a nail-biter PH won the District Championship on a sudden death, walk off goal!!!  I am so proud of those guys!!  I, of course, missed the walk off goal because I quickly ran to the car in between over times for Charley's paci!  I heard the whistle to start sudden death and started walking faster and 15 seconds later, right as I came to the gate, I heard the roar of the crowd!  Read and see more pictures about the game here (go to "photo gallery for a cute pic of Chris celebrating with the guys!!)!!        

Seniors!!!!  Don't ask about the "Sprout" shirt...its been with them a "long" time!

OH.MY.WORD...how sweet are those matching ties!!!

Since Charley wasn't feeling well I let her take the night off from the tu-tu and the daisy hat...don't worry they will make their appearance for the regional game on Monday at 6 at PH!!!!

Congrats PH Men's Soccer Team!!  and to my hubby (AKA The District Coach of the Year!!!)

So it turns out...

(originally written on Tuesday night)


I am NOT super Mom!!!!

If there was a soundtrack for today it would start out with the “so you had a bad day” song! Today was just a plain ol’ icky yucky bad day. Charley and I both have sinus and ear infections, at school we are in the last weeks (enough said about the excitement of my school kids), and within 7 days BOTH of our cars had to have MAJOR work done (so much for saving up for my new Mac…if I could just convince myself that I really DO like typing without the “r” and “t” keys I’ll be ok). By the time I picked up the car from the shop and got the kids I was spent…and my patience was left somewhere around my time math lesson! While I wanted to sit myself on the couch and stare at the TV until “Biggest Loser Finale” (P.S. I was rooting for Ashley…how cute is she?) came on, I knew I had to get ready for a whirlwind of a night. I got the kids dressed for Daddy’s game, ran by the store, got gas, picked up dinner for the kids at McDonalds because I’m all about the organic, go to my school for the Volunteer Reception, and race to Daddy’s game! Needless to say not much sitting and staring going on! By the time I was at my school for the volunteer reception I was literally sweating! That’s when the downward spiral happened. Sam, my sweet, well behaved, cautious, shy Sam was….well….ummm….not sweet, shy, or well behaved! He was turning circles, making loud car noises, lying on the ground, and the best part...singing…LOUDLY! Not a particular song per say, more of a “make up words and stretch them out as loudly as you can” song! While my co-workers laughed I was mortified! Not to mention sissy was just poor ol “I have an ear and sinus infection” Charley. Between the two of them I was literally running around like a chicken with its head cut off…NOT in control! In my mind that was not at all how the night should have gone. I wanted my coworkers to see me in my parenting “element”, to respect the job I was doing as a mother and I was embarrassed. When we finally got to the car it wasn’t 2 seconds after the final door shut that I had already started in on my “Sam, you were not a good listener” speech. You know the one us moms have stored up for the really important times! After my spill we rode down the road in silence. And that’s when the mom AH-HA moment occurred. Sam HAD in fact been a sweet, well behaved boy. He changed himself into his game clothes instead of playing with his train, was a great listener at the store, didn’t complain when we had to get out of the car because they left out our fries at McDonalds, buckled his own seat belt when asked, didn’t care that I made him eat IN the car (while riding) like all the good moms do :), came in from the playground the first time I asked EVEN THOUGH he only got to go down the slide two times because we were running late. His night had most certainly not gone how he expected either. And his clueless mom expected him to sit still and quiet for an hour during a boring reception when all he really wanted to do was play on the playground like she had promised!! Talk about breaking your heart…mine was crushed. It wasn’t the first time Sam didn’t listen, and it won’t be his last. It wasn’t the first time my kids embarrassed me and it won’t be the last. It wasn’t the first time I set unrealistic expectations and it won’t be the last. Right then and there I prayed for forgiveness and apologized to Sam. So yes, it turns out I am most certainly NOT super mom. I’m just a mom learning how to be mom one day at a time…and you know what’s great about my Sam…he doesn’t expect me to be super mom, but he thinks I am…and that’s OK too:) !!



Then I came home and read this post by my friend Katie and I gave a good hardy AMEN GIRLFRIEND!! Because Beth Moore has nothing on my friend Katie!!!

Crazy fun weekend!

How crazy was last weekend!  So much fun but we sure did pack a LOT of things into a couple of days!  First we had April's shower here at the house!  It turned out great but some how I managed to not get a picture of the cutie preggo!  We can't wait for little miss Emery to arrive!

Right after the shower we headed over to surprise Josh!  Happy 30th Birthday Josh!  Kelly you did a GREAT job organizing and pulling off the surprise!!  And look who crashed both parties!!!  YES Mayme and Geggie were here for the fun!  A special "Thanks" to Amy who managed to bring "surprises" for Sam that included a VERY LOUD singing guitar and Nike goalie gloves that Sam refused to take off so he wore them out...and to bed!  While Sam sure was excited Mom and Dad would like to remind Aunt Mayme that payback is no fun at all!   

Last Day of School Picnic!!!

I can't believe Sam has finished his first year of preschool!!!  He did such a great job and we are so proud of him!!  They had a picnic to celebrate the end of the year!  Sam was such a good big brother to Charley!!!  Here he is "helping" sissy in the tunnel.

Not sure that the merry-go-round is Sam's thing!!!  I didn't let him suffer for long before I politely asked the mom who was pushing to stop and let Sam off...I did however stop long enough to take a picture! 

Once the train whistle blew the kids went running!  Sam loved watching the train go by! 

Sam has learned so much!!   My favorite has been all his precious songs!  Next time you see Sam ask him to sing "Good-bye Friends"..it will melt your heart! 

Do you know the baker man, the baker man, the baker man???

He most def. lives at the Dowdy house!!!!  Last weekend Aunt Betty bought us the starter for her legendary homemade sour dough bread and Chris (because he has so much down time during soccer season :) ) has decided he is going to bake!  This bread is a 3 day process to make but as you can see Charley and Mommy don't mind at all waiting!!  I gave Charley a bite of freshly baked bread right out of the oven...and she kept coming back for more.  She would stand below the bread pans, reach up, and and beg...I was cracking up!  How was I supposed to say no?  Charley and I managed to knock out a whole half a loaf all on our own!!! 

After all...it is a HUGE decision

When I was pregnant with Sam I remember Chris laughing at how much time I spent looking for the PERFECT diaper bag.  I wanted it to be something functional and cute...and something he wouldn't mind carrying!!  My search led me to this Pottery Barn diaper bag that AJ got me for my shower!!!

For 3 and a half years I have carried this bag EVERYDAY!! And I have loved it!  All the outside pockets are perfect and I love the two side bottle pockets!  But when you carry something everyday for that long you start to want a change, plus it was literally busting seams.  Any one looking for a great diaper bag I HIGHLY recommend this bag...I have loved it.  Which made me even more leery of getting a new one....How will it fit on the stroller?...Is it heavy?...Can I get by with a smaller one?   Needless to say this time I got the color I wanted...sorry Coach!!!

So far I like it BUT I can't throw it across my shoulder and I miss not being able to fully close the top...seriously what is with my commitment issues!!  And look got to carry it first without any complaints...that coach...he's a good sport!!!

Thanks mom for the new diaper bag!!!! Charley loves her new girly touches!

Official Spring Pictures!!!

I want to pick them up and squeeze them...right now!  I know they are my kids but come on people...ARE.THEY.NOT.THE.CUTEST.KIDS.EVER!!!!!!

Dear Sam and Charley,

Can you stay this way forever? 

Love, Mommy

Is there a doctor in the house??

Last weekend we went to celebrate with Jennifer, (excuse me I mean Dr. Kasey!!!), as she graduated with her doctorate in psychology from JMU. Jenn is my oldest BFF. We have been friends since elementary school and she was so much a part of our family she even went with us on all our family vacations!! There are some friends that you KNOW God put in your life for a particular reason....well Jenn is a friend that God GAVE me!! My dad died when I was in the 7th grade. Jenn was the FIRST person to call from school (when you had to use the pay phone) to check on me. Two years later Jenn's mom died and who do you think was the first one on her doorstep? We were meant to be besties!!! I admire Jenn so much, but most of all I admire her "go get'em" attitude. If Jenn wanted something...she went for it, and she got it!! Jenn has worked SO hard and we are SO proud of her. Jenn, I can't wait until you are in town next!!! I'll have a DP waiting for you, doc!!!

We were on our way to daddy's game when we stopped by the party, but since PH and JMU have the same colors, I left the kids in their "game wear"

Please excuse my kids....they were NOT cooperating, and since these pictures I have discussed with Charley that it is just NOT appropriate to "eat" the doctor!

 

A week for us teachers!!

Last week was teacher appreciation week and my precious first graders spoiled me rotten!!  I have a super sweet class and each day of the week they brought in something new.  Monday was "bring a breakfast treat" day and I cracked up when at least 4 of them brought in brown sugar and cinnamon pop tarts because I eat those every day during reading for breakfast!!!  While it's hard for me to leave Sam and Charley during the day I realize that on school days I'm technically "with" my 7 year old "children" more then they are with their own mommy and daddy...I try my best to love on them and teach them and hopefully somewhere along there I'm helping to make them better people (in between SOL's of course :) :) hehe)  I'm thankful for my job and my "school kids" who teach me new things each day and DEF. make sure my days are NEVER alike!! 

Here are some sweet cards and some that just plain ol make you laugh...

This one says "Mrs. Dowdy, you may be crazy but you are still the best teacher in the world"  And then I laughed for 5 minutes because I couldn't think of a better compliment!   I love that kid!!

My favorite quote of the week came from one of my sweet boys after I received a cookie and soda from my principal.  As I ate my cookie right in front of my whole class he says, "when is it student appreciation day?"  To which I responded...."Everyday!!!!"  

Just in case you didn't know....

These kids love their Mommy!!!  Thank you Nana for the cute Mother's day shirts!!!  There was a family sitting beside us at lunch with teenage kids...the mom looked at the boy and said, "and just where is your I love mommy shirt?"  I started dying laughing!!  You mean they won't want to wear these when they are 16 and 14....get out of town!!!   AND just in case you didn't know...this mommy, she LOVES her kids!!!!   

Wordless Wednesday: Sissy don't mind Spaghetti...neither does Sam!!

Happy Late Mother's Day!!

We started off our festivities on Wednesday when I accompanied Sam to my first "Muffins for Mom"!  It was very sweet!  He was VERY excited to show me all the "prizes" he made me! 

After muffins for mom we went to lunch with Gee-Jo!  We love going to the Market building!  Mom used to take us when we were little and now I'm taking my little ones!     

Some of my prizes!!!

By far this "mommy fact sheet" was my favorite!!! I do this type of thing every year with my first graders but this was my first time being the receiver!  Here are the highlights:

My age and weight: 3 (can you tell 3 is an important number for my "3" year old)

My height: Big (I'll take that as a compliment)

Favorite thing to do around the house: Play (notice cleaning nor cooking were mentioned...and I can't blame him)

Favorite Drink: Sweet Tea (does he know his momma or what)

Favorite T.V show: Buttons (let me explain...Sam calls the Backyardigans "The Buttons" but does Mrs. Tiffany know that??   I laughed so hard thinking what she must have thought "The Buttons" was!!

Favorite Place to Go: Pump it Up

We all went on a Target run on Mother's Day and what does Chris get...water guns and balloons!  As in he didn't even get out of the store before he and Sam went to fill them up!  And the answer is yes we were a spectacle in the parking lot!!   We had a lot of fun before nap!!

Put 'em up sissy!!

Sam collected each of these at Daddy's practice last week and every time he added one he would say, "this is for you for modders day!!"  I love my rock collection! 

Hope you had a great Mother's Day..bet you can't beat my rock collection!

Dear Ferns,

You have lasted a whole month on our front porch...all three of you have survived approximately 3.7 weeks longer than my pesky husband gave you!!   I'm so proud of you!!  Could you possible hang in there a wee bit longer so I can prove to that same pesky husband my thumb just might be green after all??  I really need to win this little bet we have going on!! 

Thanks,

Emily A.K.A. "the plant whisperer"

Chuck-E-Cheese take dos...

I'm not going to lie, when my girls emailed to say they picked Chuck-E-Cheese to meet and eat I was NOT what you would call excited!  Don't get me wrong I needed a Kelly and Amy fix but Chuck-E-Cheese (the one time I've been with Sam and Charley) was CRAZY and that was when Chris WAS with me!!  I'm glad to report...Chuck-E made a comeback!!!  It was SO quiet!  Sam LOVED running from game to game especially the basketball and baseball games and Charley loved the toddler area! 

Clearly Charley is not excited AT ALL!!

Anytime Sam is pretending on a phone he is ALWAYS talking to Amy Jo.  In this particular conversation he was telling her about how he is coming to "her golf torse".  You didn't know my sister owns the whole Kingsmill golf course??? 

Nope, Charley is not have any fun at all...none what so ever!

Check out Amy's and Kelly's blog for even more pics!!