Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Busy Busy




The past couple of weeks have been very busy and hectic. A couple of months ago we had a water leak in our bathroom, so insurance paid for us to get new carpet in the house. Since we were getting new carpet, we decided to go ahead and paint the living room before the new carpet was put in. We definitely overestimated the ease of such a task. Finally, after 2 coats of primer and 3 coats of paint on paneling and brick, we have a clean and bright living room. Even though we took on a huge job, we were not dumb enough to tackle it with the kids here, so they spent a few days with Grampa and Momo. They had a great time, of course, with paint, dirt, and everything they could find.
Momo brought the kids back and was able to stay a couple of days. Thomas had School for Little People graduation and then Thursday School graduation. He sang a few songs, recited his lines for a poem, and looked so handsome in his cap and gown. And yes, Mama shed a few tears. I am really looking forward to spending time with Thomas this summer. He informed me a few months ago that this summer is when I was going to teach him to read, so we have big plans. He is really growing up, and he is so eager to learn. It is amazing to watch him grow into a smart, funny, and interesting little boy! Now, finally, my days at school are winding down. The last week of school is hectic of course, but I am looking forward to a break. Maddie and Blake will go to Mona's most of the time while Thomas and I have "school." Blake's speech teacher supplied me with a "few" (a 3 inch, 3 ring binder full) things for us to work on this summer, so Thursdays (Blake's regular speech days) will be for Blake's school. And Maddie and I will have our own day too, but we'll do FUN stuff, like shopping, painting toenails, and trying out new hairdos. I will definitely post pictures of those days!
On another note, our family has been dealing with some tough stuff lately. Brian's dad Lynn was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma about 2 months ago. The prognosis is very good, but, as any of you that have dealt with something like this know, it is still a scary thing. This is just one more thing that has reaffirmed to Brian and I that we were meant to be in Brownfield. It is hard to see the Pops that is always ready to play with kids and give us a hard time not feeling well, but we are glad to be here so we can help in any way. Lynn is doing well. He had his second chemo treatment a week ago tomorrow. He has 6 treatments - every three weeks for 18 weeks. He hasn't been sick yet, which is a blessing, but he gets worn down very quickly. He has been going to work everyday, just sometimes not all day. Last Sunday, after cleaning out the fish ponds, he decided to cut to the chase and shave his head. He is now sporting some pretty snazzy hats around town, and still looks like Lynn. I asked the boys if they also wanted a "summer haircut" but they declined. I love my boys' hair - Thomas' perfectly blond hair, Blake's wonderful little curls - but I would have totally loved for them to have a summer haircut like their Pops. Another bit of God's handiwork was putting us in Brownfield United Methodist Church, and they and our pastor Ruby have been so supportive of Lynn & Linda, and us also. It is an awesome realization to see God's plan work out so perfectly. We wouldn't want to be any where else at this point in time, and wouldn't want to be around any one else. As tough as it is to think about Lynn being sick and losing our precious nephew Hayden in February, we know it would've been so much harder if we weren't here in Brownfield. It has been a huge step in our walk with God as a family.

We have birthday parties coming up next week - Thomas will be 5 years old and Grampa will be 85. Hopefully G-Pa won't mind sharing his birthday party with Thomas and Speed Racer! It will be nice to head to Perryton for a few days and see family. I will let you all know how the party turns out!












































Friday, April 24, 2009

Thomas is ready for kindergarten






It was time to register Thomas for kindergarten this week. He was so excited to see the school and walk down the hallways. As I did paperwork, he and Brian visited with the teachers there helping. They were so impressed with how quiet he was...they will soon learn the truth! I remember waiting for Thomas to talk for two years, and we've been waiting ever since for him to stop! We looked around the school a little and got to see Blake's classroom - he goes to the same school for his weekly speech sessions. Brian will drop Thomas off in the mornings next year, and then he'll ride the shuttle to my school. I think he's more excited about riding the bus than actually going to school.




Blake and Maddie hung out together a lot this week. Everytime Blake was outside, Maddie had to follow. They built a farm in the backyard and had had fun mixing up the mud in the dog's water dish. Maddie learned to walk in heels this week at Mona's. She was very proud to show me her new look.
We're looking forward to a relaxing weekend after I get done with Saturday school tomorrow. Hopefully we'll have nice weather and spend A LOT of time outside!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Family

I have been blessed with an amazing family.
Brian and I met in college. Our first date was March 27, 1998. After 3 weeks apart, and several failed break-up attempts by Brian, we decided that we would be together forever. We were married on July 15, 2000. Brian is a newspaper man to the core, so I knew that we would be wherever we needed to be so that he could pursue his passion. As a teacher, I can work anywhere and I'm glad I can follow him as he follows his dreams.
We were a little surprised when his career brought us to his hometown, Brownfield. We were ready for a change and we have definitely gotten that. Brian's parents still live in Brownfield, and while Brian was beginning his job in Brownfield, and the kids and I were still in Hereford, he lived with them. We were lucky enough to find a house across the street from them when I was ready to move down here. I got plenty of "Everybody Loves Raymond" jokes, but living across the street from my in-laws has been such a blessing. I love it when my children hear their Pops whistle FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE and go running to the driveway to see him. And I have taken advantage of the late hours and convenience of the Across the Street Grocery Store. The kids love being so close to them, and we all have such a wonderful time together.
Brian is the news editor for his dad at the Brownfield News and I teach 4th grade writing. We are both doing the things that we love, so we consider ourselves very lucky and blessed.
Our first child, Thomas Edward, joined us on June 5, 2004. We tried for 2 years before Mr. Thomas came, and he's been beautiful since day one. He is named after his Great-Grandaddy Brisendine, and I know he will live up to his sophisticated name. He is finishing up his first year of school - a wonderful program at our church called School for Little People. We will register him next week for kindergarten. Time flies...
Our second child, Blake Richard, joined us on January 31, 2006. Blake is the Energizer Bunny. He never ever stops going. He is the spitting image of his Daddy, and from what I have heard, also behaves just like his Daddy did. Blake started going to speech this spring to correct the fact that he speaks in vowels. After only 6 weeks of classes, for 20 minutes a week, he is making amazing progress. He is such a big boy now that he goes to Big Boy School. He'll go to School For Little People next year.
Our third little blessing is Miss Madilynn Nicole. She was born on September 13, 2007, 11 days before my 30th birthday. She is the princess of the house and we are all guilty of spoiling her. Her brothers take such good care of her and she follows them around EVERYWHERE. She and Blake are especially close. She loves her shoes (she is my daughter, after all) and takes great care of her babies.
We are loving our life here in Brownfield. We would not have chosen the circumstances that sent us here, but we feel like God put us here and we are feeling the blessings of it everyday. We are members of the First United Methodist Church of Brownfield, and our church family takes great care of us. We are truly blessed.

My First Time ;)

Okay, this is my first blog. I've enjoyed reading my friend's blogs and "catching up" on all the things I miss by not living next door to everyone! I decided to try this because I could talk about my family for HOURS and now, lucky for all of you, you can read at your own leisure instead of having to listen to me talk forever!
Today is a good day. Brian is out spending some QT with his dad on the golf course and the kids and I are being especially lazy. Blake and Maddie are sleeping in their rooms and Thomas is "resting" in the TV room - thus, I have a moment to start a blog. I spent 1/2 a day teaching yesterday in the hopes that 6 extra hours of math and reading will help some of the kiddos pass their test in a week. We'll see. The kids and I cleaned up the back yard yesterday while Brian mowed his parent's backyard. Since we all "worked" yesterday, I'm not going to feel bad about doing NOTHING today! Laundry will get done eventually.
If anyone has any pointers on this blog business, please pass them along. Like I said, I enjoying reading my friend's blogs, so I hope my is fun to read also. I think I will post something about the kids - they ARE my favorite topic. -Susan