"Not Sissy's Mommy!"

Makinley walks around saying "Momma" about 1,000 times EVERY day. Literally. I think it's beginning to get on her brother's nerves. Lately, every time she says "Momma", he follows right behind with "No, my momma". So, today I tried to have a talk with him about the fact that I'm both of their mommy. Here's how it went:

Makinley: MOMMA!
Tripp: No, my "MomMom" (as he still calls me)
Me: Tripp, I'm both of your momma (not gramatically correct I'm sure)
Tripp: No, you're my mommom
Me: Baby, I'm your mommy and I'm sissy's mommy too.
Tripp: No, you're my mommom and sissy is Daddy's.
Me: I'm just for you and Daddy is just for Sissy?
Tripp: Yep

There you have it. That's a momma's boy if I've ever seen one!

Relaxed and Rejuvenated!

This weekend was absolutely perfect! I really didn't realize just how badly Joey and I needed a weekend to ourselves until we got in the car late Friday afternoon and headed to Myrtle Beach. I was so excited, you would have thought I was going on my honeymoon again. We left here at about 6 on Friday night and made it to the condo at 11. Obviously, we were exhausted from working all day, getting the kids settled and then traveling, so we hit the sack. I don't know if I've posted yet about the place we stayed. One day back in October, I was giving myself a "pity party" on the playground at school about how long it's been since Joey and I have gone anywhere by ourselves...how expensive it is to travel....leaving the kids...blah, blah, blah. One of our parapros spoke up and told me she had a fully furnished one-bedroom condo in Myrtle Beach that Joey and I could use any time. I literally started crying. That's how much it meant to me that she would do that for us. She doesn't know that she really ministered to us by letting us have this time alone together!

Anyway, Saturday morning, we got up and did some sight seeing. I was so proud of myself for everything I remembered from living there 17 years ago! I showed him the Primary School where my brother went, both houses we lived in, the Kroger store my dad ran, the elementary and middle schools I attended, and I was even able to find my best friend from 3rd-6th grade, Kerin's, old house. I couldn't believe I remembered every road to turn down. Joey was having a hard time relating to it all since he lived in the same house his whole life! Little does he know how many other houses I've lived in!

After the sightseeing, we hit a Tanger outlet. The sales were INSANE. I mean that literally. At Anne Taylor loft alone, I got 3 pairs of pants, a shirt and a "little black dress" for a little less than $40....for all of it. Crazy. I got some great deals on stuff for my kids as well. I'm going to add it all up and see just how much I spent, but it will be very little considering everything we got.

We ate dinner at Margarittaville for Valentine's Day and that was a lot of fun. Loud and crazy, but fun.

Sunday we spent the day at the mall, going to the movies, and out to dinner again. We were back at the condo early and just hung out watching TV. We were up all three mornings by 7:30. But getting 9 hours of straight sleep was AMAZING and we were rested and ready to go.

We've made a vow that we aren't going to let 4 years go by again without a weekend away. Joey and I really do have a wonderful marriage...we always have. Of course, we bicker sometimes, but I can honestly say we don't fight. Joey is just not a fighter (I can't really say the same for myself). However, even though I do cherish the marriage we have and the day in, day out, of being parents together, I really realized that it is still SO important to take time to just focus on each other. It's easy to get sucked into the business of taking care of Tripp and Makinley that we let our needs slide to the back burner. I love Joey more than life itself...and the best gift we can give our kids is to dedicate ourselves to each other and loving each other. After the movie we saw, my running joke with Joey has been that I'm so glad he's "just that into me"!!!! In fact, I'm glad we "are just that into" each other....and we always will be!

Hitting the Road!

Joey and I are hitting the road for our weekend away together. I can't believe we are going to be able to spend almost 72 full hours alone! We are so excited and I will post all about it when we get back in town.

Oh, and I can't believe I am 29 today. Only one more year to the big 3-0!!!!

Brotherly Love

They are now pronounced....

HUSBAND AND WIFE!!! My family made a trip this weekend to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to be with my brother and Jennifer as they begin their life together. The wedding was originally planned for May 30th. However, due to a story that is way too long (and way too personal for a blog), they decided to move the wedding date up to yesterday. I hate to have to say this, but because of society today, I feel like I have to. No, she is not pregnant; that is not why the wedding was "rushed". They just really felt like it was God's will for them to go ahead and get married. So, about 18 of us packed up and traveled to Tennessee. We all stayed in a really nice cabin and Trey and Jennifer got married at the chapel on sight. It was very simple...but very sweet. The scenery was gorgeous! I was still her matron-of-honor and my dad was Trey's best man. After the wedding (which was at sunset), we went back to the cabin and had a catering company bring us dinner. We had a sweet time of sharing together and encouraging Trey and Jen as they start this new chapter. We are all definitely exhausted, but we wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world! I am so proud of my baby brother!! Jen is already like a sister to me...now it's just official! Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Sheneman!!! We love you and are praying fo

the four Shenemans!

My family with the bride and groomLook at that sunset! It was beauitful!

Back at the cabin after the wedding!

Greatest Invention EVER!

I bought myself my birthday present from Joey yesterday at the mall and I am officially already obsessed with it. I am extremely cold natured and I get so tired of dealing with blankets on the couch at night. Especially when most of the time I am trying to read a book! The solution: The Snuggie!!! It is awesome! It's a blanket with sleeves so my hands are free. Plus, I can get up and walk around in it. I look like I live in a monestary, but I don't care! I also figured out last night how great it is when I was rocking Makinley for almost 2 hours. I always get cold when I'm in her room but can't manipulate her and a blanket. Not anymore! Now I can wear the blanket like a robe, hold/rock her, and we are both warm and snuggly!! It also came with a booklight that I am equally in-love with. When Joey goes to bed at night, I think I'm supposed to go to bed too, even if I'm not tired. I normally cut on the bedside lamp and it gets on Joey's nerves. Now, I can use the booklight. HOWEVER, Tripp was playing with my booklight this morning and it is now MIA. I've been searching the house for it to no avail. I'm hoping it turns up before the sun goes down! I should be a walking ad for the Snuggie people. I could definitely sell these!

What a Weekend

Well, when I got to Mrs. Barbara's to pick up the kids on Friday, the first thing Tripp said when I walked in the door was, "MomMom (his new name for me) Sissy spit!!!!". In Tripp language, that means that she threw up. Sure enough, she had just thrown up everywhere. Of course, I fought going into panic mode, which is how I always initially react. She didn't throw up again until about 7:30 and then she slept through the night. She didn't eat much of anything all day yesterday, but what she did eat, she kept down. About 12:45 last night, we got a wake up call from Tripp. Yep, he was throwing up all over his bed. I knew what was happening before I even made it to his room based on the way he was screaming. He threw up about every 45 minutes until 5. His screaming woke Mak up, so I was up with her from 12:45-3. Got her back to sleep until 6. When I went in her room at 6, the smell of vomit almost made me gag. She had thrown up again in her crib sometime between 3-6. So far, they both seem okay this morning. Nobody is eating anything, but they've kept down liquids. We have a pretty big weekend in our family next weekend, so I am really praying that Joey and I can scathe by this one untouched. Or, that we will get it really early on in the week if we are going to get it. Don't worry, I've already checked my medicine cabinet and I'm stocked up on Phenegran (spelling?)! Oh, also pray that Tripp will sleep in his room now that he has thrown up in there. Last time he got sick, it was during the middle of the night and from that moment on, he refused to sleep in his crib. He was terrified he would "spit" in it again. It was just the association he made. When I got him up last night and brought him into the living room to clean him up, the first thing he said was, "MomMom (again with the new name), I not sleep in that bed again. I need new bed". So, I'm a little concerned what tonight will hold! It breaks my heart though that he makes that association and he's scared to be in his room by himself for fear of getting sick alone!