Back to the Future...

"Marty, I don't know how but they found me!!"

Name that movie. Wait...its in the title of my post. Never mind!

I'm weird. I know.

This morning my daughter, Natalie, showed me her itouch in the car and said..."Notice anything wrong here?"



Interesting!!! Didn't even know they made the itouch in 1970! And I wasn't even born then. Freaky!! Of course, everything becomes a blog post and I immediately brought it home so Emily and I could take pictures. Its just how my mind works on this Monday morning. Have a good one!!

La, la, la, la. Elmo wuhl.

Any parent of a toddler knows that its like trying to wrestle a pig when it comes to getting them to stand still to take a picture or a video. But here is my attempt at capturing Adiah singing "Elmo's World". Normally at the end after we clap she takes a bow and says "Tank you, Tank you". Its precious. But you won't get to see it today. She does give a lovely "your welcome", though!! Enjoy!!

Date night (AKA Take your daughter to work day)

Every 2-3 months Brian does a date night with each of the kids. Date nights normally consist of dinner out and an activity of some sort like bowling, movie, etc. Natalie is a big "you decide and then don't tell me so I can be surprised" girl. Or she is a big "I'm going to decide but then not tell anyone so they will be surprised" girl. Even on meet the teacher night she had it all planned out. We would go to the list and see who her teacher was but not tell her. Then we would lead her to her class and she could be surprised. She loves surprises!!! A girl after my own heart for sure. Anyway, when it was her turn to decide what to do on date night with Dad she knew exactly what she wanted to do. But she didn't want any of the other kids to know so they could be...you guessed it....SURPRISED! What she doesn't seem to realize is that they didn't really care. But that's neither here nor there. She told Brian that instead of a date night she would like to have a date day and go to work with him. Ummm. Ok. You realize that daddy doesn't work at a zoo or theme park, right? But she really wanted to do this so she could do "office-y" things. We've been to his office before when no one was there and she loved the idea of sitting at a desk and using the intercom. Brian sometimes has to work in the OR so he had to find a day when he was in the office all day and not putting someone to sleep for surgery. You know. Minor details. So last Monday was the day. She got up and put on a nice black dress because she would be attending meetings with Brian. I let her take my camera with her so she could document her day. She even took a bag with some books, notebooks, markers, etc. She was ready!! The plan was for Brian to call me about lunch time and I would meet them somewhere to bring her home because SURELY she would be bored. But nope. Around lunch I got a call from Natalie sobbing on the phone saying "Mom. (sniff, sniff...cry) Would it hurt your (sniff, sniff) feelings if I stayed with daddy (sniff, sniff) all day?". Eh? Brian got on the phone and proceeded to tell me how much this child is like me and how all of sudden she busted out crying because she wanted to stay with him but didn't know if it would make me sad. I love her!! She just melts my heart. "Honey", I said. "I've seen you every day all summer long. Its ok. I'm not mad!". Anyway, the eternal post. I know! But, I had to show you some pictures that she took during one of the meetings they were in. I think these sweet people knew she was doing this but I'm not sure. I just find it funny to think about this 10 year old in a meeting with a camera trying to be discreet.

Daddy and daughter off to bring home the bacon.


I'd like to think that the guy in the background there is NOT making the "I'm going to kill you if you don't put down that camera" sign to my kid!!

Notice the window cleaner in the back? We're just keeping it real, folks.

Thanks everyone for being good sports about my kid being in your office!!

Adiah's first day of school

Today was Adiah's first day of Mother's Day Out for the fall! She really had a great first day back which has a lot to do with the fact that one of her teachers from last year is with her again this year. And that Hannah was with her. She literally walked in, sat at a chair with a picture, announced that she was holding a yellow crayon, and said "bye". Much improved from last year when both she and I were crying!! This school has made a big difference in Adiah's life. I wasn't sure if putting her in it last year was the right thing to do but after seeing the difference in her after one school year I know that the Lord's hand was in it. She is much more confident and playful after going there 2 days a week. Unfortunately she has to be in the 2 year old class even though she is 3 because she isn't potty trained yet. But we'll get there....right? RIGHT? Please say right. Ok, thanks.


My sweet 3 year old heading off to MDO!! Her hair now goes in piggy tail buns. Its too cute!!

"Show me your lunch box, Adiah"

"Cheese" with the infamous body tilt...

Like I said yesterday I love these shots!!

And because I love her face and like to look at it close up!!

First day of school 2009...where did the summer go?

Even though I love a good routine...the first day of school is always bitter sweet for me. Don't get me wrong. It IS nice to have a block of time to get things done without needing to stop to feed kids, clothe kids, discipline kids, etc. (You should see how I went through my list today!!) But man, I love them and find myself missing them during these first days back. And for some reason every year I find myself tearing up when I see them sitting at their desks or walking into school. The world is so big. You know? But I got away without shedding any tears(as far as they know!). Anyway!!! I'll stop now but I wanted to share some pictures from our morning. And this music video that speaks to how I felt this morning ...I'm sure lots of you have seen it but you MUST watch it if you haven't!! HI-larious! Click here....

My elementary crew!

My 5th grader!! Can't believe this is her last first day of elementary school!!

My 3rd grader!

Walking in...you should have seen how many moms were doing this today! 23 at least. I exaggerate but YA KNOW!!

My sweet 7th grader!

And Adiah starts back to Mother's Day Out tomorrow but she thinks she needed to hop in a picture anyway.

Anniversary dinner

Last night Brian went out to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary! It was so great just to hang out and talk like adults!! Before we went to dinner we stopped in at Best Buy and bought a new coffee maker since mine went kaput yesterday. That will NEVER do. Then afterwards we headed to our favorite restaurant Pappas Brothers Steakhouse. Oh, my!! So yummy!! I forgot to take my real camera with us so I thought I'd whip out my camera phone. Well, that didn't work like I wanted because it was so dark in the restaurant that you couldn't see anything. But here are a couple of shots and a video that I did get. NOTE*** I hesitated to put the video on here for two reasons. #1- its so dark you really can only hear us and #2- You may not want to play it with kids in the room so you don't have to explain what we meant. I'll just leave it at that. We were joking and it came out all wrong!! But its all I have of our celebration dinner so I wanted to document it.


Our yummy desserts that said "Happy 15th Anniversary Mrs. Woods"

And "Happy 15th Anniversary Mr. Woods". So cute!!!!

Some random silly videos from my iphone...

Just a little glimpse into the every day life around here. Its what makes me happy...




This was during our breakfast of champions at the donut shop this morning.




That would be an Elmo swim diaper on her head. Its how she rolls.

15 years....

Could it be that I've really been married to the man of my dreams for 15 years? Could it really be? Well, its true and I'm happy to report that we are just as in love today as we were back then. No, I take that back. We're more in love. Differently in love. Oh, sure, we still have the goo goo gaa gaa moments where its as if the world disappeared and its just me and him. Maybe that's more me than him but I like to believe its both of us! But those of you out there who have been married for more than a year know what I'm talking about when I say our love has changed. Its deeper, more intense, more "real". I've watched us learn how to be married, learn how to be parents, learn how to take one day at a time....and I'm so glad God allowed me to do all of those things with Brian. And at the end of the day I get climb in bed and fall asleep with my best friend. What could be better than that? So on this day...our 15th wedding anniversary I want to say this again like I said last year during our vow renewal. Brian, if I would have known 15 years ago EVERYTHING we would go through. I would say yes again. Over and over! I love you.......

(Lets pretend there is a really great picture of just the two of us right here. I'll try and get one tomorrow night.)

Woops.

Weeeelllllll...on Saturday I was at Target and I pulled my phone out to see what time it was and I dropped it! Ask me how many times I've dropped it before. Lots. But back in May I dropped it and my cover that I had on it (a cute little hot pink number) was never the same again. It wouldn't snap around my phone and I would many times fish for my phone AND the cover in my purse. And it would also fall off while I was holding my phone causing me to juggle it in the air. Brian had asked me time and time again to throw the cover away and buy a new one. But did I listen? Neeeeeeooooowwww....So while standing in a long line on Saturday the 'juggling' thing happened and down it went. But this time the entire screen shattered. The phone still worked but I was getting cuts on my thumb every time I'd try to turn it on. Well, maybe not CUTS but I sure could feel the jagged edges of the glass. So last night my knight in shining armor went to the Apple store and got the new iphone 3GS. I thought he was going to get it for himself and I would get his iphone 3G which would have been great because I had the first generation iphone so the 3G would have been awesome! But then today he decided I should keep the 3GS because I would use the video feature a whole lot more than him. Ya know...with the kids and all. And it would be better for blogging. What does he think I do? Drive around and blog? But whatever...I thought it was so sweet!! AND he got me a cute little hot pink and brown cover to go on it. Is he amazing or what? So I tried out the video feature today at the dentist. Still don't know how to put a video straight to a blog from my phone. Is that possible? I guess I should get out the manual! Anyway, here ya go...Fun, fun, fun!! Thanks, B dub.

Orlando!!

Brian and I took a little trip this past week to Orlando, FL. We actually went for fun and so that Brian and I could just spend some much needed time together but it was also for a huge event that our church attends every year called General Council. We got to hang out with friends and also just be together which hasn't happened in a long time. It was good times! Brian got to play golf. I got to run on the treadmill and lay by the pool with my friend, Beth. And we ate out alot!! It was awesome!! I want to give a shout out to Sara and Matt who watched the kids the ENTIRE time which was huge feat!! Thanks guys!

On the plane I got to catch up with my good buddies from the 80's!! Oh, Saved By The Bell! How I loved you!! Screech, why did you have to go off the deep end? That's all I'm going to say about that.

When we landed on Tuesday we headed out to the Florida mall in search of a few items we forgot. I was looking for a hat I could run in but Brian decided to try some on for coolness sake. He didn't buy it just in case you are wondering. Even though he did look incredibly hot. Maybe....

On the way to dinner one night. I was "smoodged" in between two guys(Brian and Shane E.) in the front seat. Shane E's dad(Larry), Beth, and Shane B. in the back.

I don't really know why I was making this face but I had a reason at the time. Me and Shane E.

Larry liked to make fun of me because I'm having vision problems at the moment and have to hold everything at arms length at least. So when I was taking a picture....this is the sassy-ness I got. Thank you VERY much!

At dinner with some fun friends! Jenni and Scott Wilson(our pastor and his wife), Larry Everett, Justin Lathrop, Shane Everett, Brian, Shane and Beth Barnard. We had a great time despite the awkward waiter!!

Beth singing to a crowd of preacher's kids one night at one of the services. I just love this girl...she is the real deal!!

Shane B. being sweet with his wifey while she sang.

And apparently, when the cat is away the mice will play....Sara and Matt caught Adiah and Hannah in the sink in Adiah's bathroom with toothbrushes, toothpaste, Desitin(diaper rash cream), and a whole lot of water. I heard that Matt said..."Sara. Get the camera. First we take pictures. Then they get in trouble!"

Ok, so maybe I DON'T like living in the country...

I've hesitated to write this post. I guess I was worried that if I actually put it in print then it did indeed happen. But the fact I haven't taken off my shoes in 24 hours tells me that it did. It did happen. Let me give you a little background. Back when the kids were young we lived in Abilene, TX. Brian and I went to college there and moved back there when we were doing our payback time with the military. But that's neither here nor there and really has nothing to do with this story. Anyhoo, when we lived there 3 of my kids were 4ish, 2ish and like 8 months old. I could calculate it but its late and I just need to get this out. Anyway, we were all sitting on the floor in the living room when I saw a scorpion crawling on the carpet very near my babies. I FREAKED!!! I didn't realize this but I have an EXTREME phobia of those things. Not like..."Oh. Those are gross. Ew." I mean like hyperventilate freak out. I grabbed the closest thing to me which was a dumbbell and cremated that thing. But then proceeded to absolutely freak out. I remember calling the exterminator who knew me well and he made a special Saturday house call to spray again. Well, whatever. Cause it didn't work. There were more. I would not let any of my kids walk around without shoes on and I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep for the rest of our time there. I'm really not kidding. Brian about had it with me. It got so bad that Brian contacted a counselor for me to see who went to our church. I went to him a few times but when he told me that he would eventually put me in a room with a live scorpion, I bailed. I did. I mean, y'all. This is like a real live phobia. Anyway, we moved to the DFW area and those scorpions were all but a memory to me. Until yesterday. Oh, yesterday. How I wish I could do it all over again. I was getting ready to leave the house around noon and I realized that I had forgotten to feed the dogs. So I let them in and went and got their bowls. I came back in the kitchen and thought I saw a twig on the ground so I bent down to get it when I saw that it was in fact a scorpion. Dead. But a scorpion, none the less. I'm pretty sure I blacked out about then but I do remember LOTS of screaming. And Brian with the kids running into the kitchen to see what happened. When Brian realized what it was I'm sure he ran straight to the phone book to look up the closest mental hospital. I couldn't quit screaming y'all. It was awful. Brian got rid of it but I was completely done with life at that point. Couldn't calm down. Brian told me to call the exterminator(who by the way had just been at my house 5 weeks ago. When I first hired him we were deciding how often he should come he asked me how tolerant I was of bugs. Without telling him my issue I told him not very so he now comes quarterly) and I left a frantic message on the machine. Praise the Lord, I already had plans to be out of the house for the rest of the afternoon so I sort of calmed down while I was out. But the second I stepped back through the door, the fear crept back in. I was praying constantly....and was ok. Brian was gone with the kids to a movie and about a minute after they got home the exterminator called me back. He proceeded to tell me that the fact it was dead was a good sign that the treatment was working....that he didn't realize that I had such a phobia....that it probably crawled through a crevice and got in the spray he had sprayed...that he didn't need to come do an emergency break through treatment....all stuff that should make me calm. But it didn't. I went to tell Brian what he said and I found myself hyperventilating and sobbing. I was so mad and trying so hard to get control but I couldn't. You see...scorpions to me are not just an earthly nuisance. They invoke such fear in me it becomes spiritual. I was mad that I let the enemy make me afraid this way. I was mad that I couldn't just make myself NOT be afraid. Just MAD!! Anyway, after a good cry and asking the Lord to intervene I found myself not being so petrified. I wouldn't take my shoes off but I walked around my house speaking out loud(hope that doesn't offend anyone) that satan was under my feet and would NOT win. I would not give way to anxiety and fear. I wish I could say that I'm completely ok....I'm not. But I'm going to be. The Lord has made me MORE than a conqueror, as my sister reminded me. I'm just saying now...I will not live in fear!!

So some funny parts of this? Well, lets see. When Brian was trying to help me think rationally about this last night he said..."Whats the worst thing that would happen if one DID sting you?". I proceeded to tell him that I would probably die of a heart attack and he would be left to raise the kids on his own. I'm not dramatic!

And why is it when you tell people about a fear you have they think its an open door to tell you the experience they've had with what you are fearful of. My exterminator did that. People. I'm just here to say I do not need any more stories about where you have seen one or how they like to crawl in such and such places. I just don't. So do NOT leave me a comment with any sort of information. Thank you!! Ok, now...go pray for me. I need it!!

Big girl bed!!

The day after Adiah's birthday Brian and I purchased her first big girl bed. Actually, when Rhett comes home the two of them will share a room and this was pretty much the only solution we could come up with. Adiah's room is not the biggest in the house and the only other room besides the master that is downstairs. So we had to come up with a way that a three year old and a two year old could share a room...safely! So we purchased this bunk bed that also has a trundle. Needless to say the top bunk will not be used for quite some time!! Actually, we hid the ladder so that its not even a temptation. Someone remind me in about 3 years that we put it in the front coat closet. Thanks.

I needed to borrow my parents bed rail so Adiah would have a little more security when sleeping since she is so used to sleeping in a crib. Good thing I called my dad and asked him to bring it over. Brian sort of strained his back in the process of building this thing so my dad helped out quite a bit!! The first night, Adiah was freaked out when it came to bedtime since we finished putting it together right as it was time for bed. She didn't have any sort of opportunity to get used to the idea of sleeping in it. So Natalie slept on the trundle the first night and said she slept just fine. But the next day Natalie and Ridge left for camp so at bedtime Adiah said "Hum on, Naly"(Come on, Natalie). I informed her that Natalie was bye bye and she went to bed with only a little whining. Mommy on the other hand jumped out of bed at every noise thinking she was crying. But we have not had one problem transitioning her and she stays in her bed until I come get her out every morning and after every nap(Thank you, Jesus! Hall-e-lur-jah!)!!

The crew putting the bed together.

Thanks Brian and Dad!

Adiah's new bed!! I love her bedding! And this was before all of the pieces came in. Can't wait to get Rhett something that goes with it. Mimi is planning on making a quilt for him!

See why I hid the ladder? Look at my dad. He's like..."Amy. Do you see this?"

Night night, sweet Adiah!

Adiah turned 3!!!

Last Saturday was Adiah's 3rd birthday!! I have no excuse for why it took me so long to document this event. Aliens abducted me. There...I said it.

But the day was so special and once again I found myself crazy emotional thinking about all of the people who love her and were thinking of her on that day. Especially her China mommy. I look at this child and I'm so thankful that God allowed her to come into our lives. But there is one person out there who knows her in a way I will never and who probably experiences a bitter sweet moment on July 25th. And I'm so thankful to her and pray that God will invade her life and help her to feel peace knowing this child is loved and adored by many!

We had an Elmo themed birthday for Adiah with family and a couple of friends! Its was fun! We swam, ate pizza, and opened presents!! Everything a July birthday at home should be!! Enjoy the pictures!

My THREE year old!!


"I'm Blee!"

Sweet kissy lips. I LOVE this kid!!

Uncle Jason taking Adiah down the slide! She thinks that is big fun!

Mimi and Adiah...

Uncle Jason, Nathan, Corban, Brooklyn, and Hollyn(on the steps) having a good time!

Daddy and Adiah having some birthday swimming fun!

Ms. Kelly and Olive came over to help celebrate

Ms. Jettie and her little girl, Avery, came too! We love them!

I like this picture. I really don't know why. Except its fun. This is my dad doing a table dance. Nah. Just kidding. He was probably fixing something. Its what he does.

Adiah LOVED getting dress up clothes. So does mommy, apparently.

And she absolutely loved her new Elmo "j's" from Aunt Sara, Uncle Matt, and family!

She especially loved it when people sang the birthday song to her. She joined in and sang right along!! (I love her little fingers! I could chew on them...and have been known to do so from time to time!)

*We missed Papa Jim, Grammy Linda, and Aunt Kelly! Papa Jim wasn't feeling so hot. We missed you guys!