Stay at home Mom's are Busy!!

  Anyone who says that a stay at home mom has an easy life is FULL OF IT!! This past week has been so CRAZY BUSY its not even funny!! The funny part is that the kids were out of school Wednesday through Friday so you would think it would have been nice and relaxing! NOPE!!! Even though the kids were out of school we still had Oktoberfest to prepare for! So we were working on the Girl Scout float and pole decorations for the pole contest, 4H pole decorating, I had to make both of my son's a costume to wear on the floats, plus try to squeeze in some fall arts and crafts for the kids, AND keep up with all of my house work! I will let you guess what fell to the wayside! YEP the housework! I will say though I kept up pretty good I just have a TON of laundry to get washed! UGGGG!!!

  The Girl Scouts worked VERY hard on their float and pole decorations! Their theme this year was 100 years of Girl Scouts so they had to make 2 giant cardboard cakes with 100 candles on them! 1 was to put around the pole on main street and the other was to put on the float:) We worked on it for 3 straight days to get them both done and to work on getting the trailer and truck decorated! It was a pretty cute float and the girls had a blast doing it!!
























We were supposed to have met on the 17th to decorate the 4H pole but it was too windy that day. So each of the kids had a decoration to make and have ready by Friday the 19th. My son's job was to make some stars out of neon green poster board and fill 2 pumpkin trash bags to sit in front of the pole. The theme for the pole was "Peace out with 4H" and the colors were bright and cheery! When we met to put the pole together it turned out really cool! The kids were very proud of their pole!!

  Not only were we helping with floats and poles but I also had to make costumes for my boys to wear on the floats. My oldest son who is in 4H had to come up with a superhero themed suit that tied in with 4h. So with him he wore jeans, a 4H tshirt and a cape made from a white sheet that I glued a clover on and painted H's on each leaf! It was pretty cool! My youngest son's class was having a float in the parade and the theme was "Mrs. Summers Magical Forest." We lucked out on having to do the float one of the parents had a daughter in Latta schools and they had a cheerleader float for homecoming that we got to use and just had to add a few things to!! This was the cutest float EVER!!! We did however have to come up with fairy costumes for the girls and gnome costumes for the boys. I was trying to come up with one to look like your typical yard gnome but it just wasn't coming out like I had envisioned in my head so we ended up going with a garden gnome look! I am so glad we did cause my son was so stinking cute!!! I think both costumes were a hit! Those that know me know that the costumes that I make end up looking way cuter than anything I could have bought! One year my daughter had to dress as a scarecrow and another year she wanted to be Jessie off of Toy Story! I made both of those costumes and they were super cute! If I can find pics of both of those I will include them with this post!!!

 In between all the school stuff we actually got the time to sit down on Friday to do some arts and crafts here at home! I had planned on them making milk jug pumpkins and ghosts to put glow sticks in and sit on the porch and to make some tombstones so we could have a graveyard in our yard. Key words there is "I had planned"!!! Yeah we were so busy that the only thing we got done were the tombstones! The kids had so much fun painting the cardboard cut outs! Of course I did the lettering because I wanted them to be readable! LMAO!!! But we got it done and got them in the yard and it turned out pretty cool!! I did however have to take them down Monday because rain was coming and I didn't want all of our hard work ruined. I still have yet to get them back out there but I may do that as soon as I am done typing this!

 I will say the Oktoberfest was a BIG hit! The 4H ended up getting a trophy for their float and placed in the pole contest. The Girl Scouts also placed in the pole contest and got a trophy for their float. My son's class also got a trophy for their float for Most Elaborate!! They were all so excited and I was happy that all of their hard work paid off in the end!

 I am also happy to say that we did indeed end up getting to go to Frontier City on Sunday!!! My husband didn't get to go with us until later that evening but he did get to come out and have some fun with us! My youngest daughter rode a roller coaster called the Steel Lasso and she LOVED it! By the end of the day my oldest daughter rode it and she loved it too! We had so much fun it was just like I thought it would be! My Mom got to go with me and that made it that much more fun! My kids deserved to have a day of fun with the family and that is exactly what we did! We didn't get home till late Sunday night which made it hard on the kids Monday morning but we all survived and it was well worth it! Can't wait to go next year!!!

  As you can see us Stay At Home Mom's are always busy doing something for our kids! Granted its always fun and we don't HAVE to do it but that is one of the perks of being a SAHM:) Only thing is we don't get paid money for all that we do, we get paid in hugs, kisses, smiles, and that twinkle in our kids eyes!! I wouldn't trade it for the world! These are the days that I will cherish for a lifetime and my kids will NEVER forget! So the next time you have a busy week doing different activities and projects with your kids remember that they will never forget all the fun you had doing them no matter how old they get!!!

Life is hard.

  There is no doubt about it anyone will tell you life is hard! Some have an easier time at it than others and then there are those that keeps getting knocked down. Most of the time me and my families lives are pretty easy going even though we live paycheck to paycheck. Don't get me wrong we have everything we need but it seems as though everytime we start to get ahead and can see that light at the end of the tunnel something happens the earth shifts and the tunnel collapses. Sometimes I find myself questioning why is it easier for some folks than it is for others. But I haven't found any answers to that question. I guess maybe its to make us appreciate what we do have. I just wish sometimes that life would stop throwing us curve balls for a while. We need a break from all the stress. I feel sometimes as though I have had enough and want to just give up, not kill myself but more like telling OG&E to take a flying leap off a tall cliff! You know what I mean?! But then I hear 4 little voices that remind me that giving up is not an option and that they depend on us for everything. So I know that we just have to pick ourselves up off the floor and pull through it because we ALWAYS make it through. I am not sure how sometimes but sure enough the light comes back as fast as it disappeared!  We are not a family with money in our savings account or in or checking account for that matter but we get by. I guess that is all any family can ask for. It could always be worse and I have to keep reminding myself of that. Sorry guys I just went off on a...... not really sure what to call it but I know some of you feel the same way I do sometimes and I am just wondering how you get through tough times? Lets band together and help each other out!
  Thank you for listening to my rant;)

Important Childhood Groups.

  As any parent knows as your child gets older there are certain groups and activities that they can join and be apart of that helps with their social, and creative skills! There are many groups that your child may come home one day and decide he/she wants to join! Some of those groups are 4H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and MANY MANY others!!! In my opinion I say let them join! It will help them learn to be self controlled adults later in life with all of the many activities they will get to be a part of! I am learning that this year! My son has decided to be in 4H and my girls have decided they want to join the Girl Scouts! I know there will be extra work on top of all the school work and activities but I think in the end they will be much better off for it!


  Monday I find out from Lil man's teacher that there is a 4H project due on Wed at the 4H meeting!! So needless to say we busted butt to get Ayrton's poster ready! We had a LOT of fun doing it. What was even cooler was that we went to his first 4H meeting on Wed and he got to turn in his first project! We got all the project paperwork for upcoming events and that is also going to be lots of fun! This next week they will be working on decorating a pole for the Oktoberfest contest. They will also be doing a float for the parade so I am sure they will be working on that as well. Their theme for the float is 4H Super Heros. The kids will have a blast doing that! Our next big project or should I say projects will be due Nov 30th for the Holiday Festival. With the Holiday Festival the kids get to get creative and make things for any Holiday and turn it in and get ribbons for them. We are going to try to put together a fall and Christmas wreath, make and decorate a stocking, and bake and decorate some sugar cookies:) I am going to have a blast with this because I am VERY crafty!!! Plus he has a speaking project that he has to start working on for this month. I think he will do it over our pet potbelly pig Harry Porker. That sounds like a good topic to start with:)  I can't wait to see how his first year of 4H makes him more responsible with homework in general and how his speaking projects helps him to communicate better with his peers. I believe this will be a fun year for him and I:)

Ayrton's 1st 4H project!

 My girls on the other hand have decided to join Girl Scouts! I attended my first meeting (I forgot about the first one) on Thursday. That was a really cool experience and the girls were excited that I was there! Bri got her shirt, sash and patches this past week and got to wear hers to the meeting and got points for wearing her uniform! Lorelai's hasn't come in yet hopefully it will be in this week so they both can wear them on the float at the Oktoberfest! The girls have been selling candy for their first fundraiser these past 2 weeks and we have to turn that in on Monday. Can't wait to sell the cookies! EVERYONE loves Girl Scout cookies!! The Girl scouts have many activities coming up this next week! They got together today to make the decorations for the pole decorating contest that will take place at the Oktoberfest! Their theme for the pole and the float is 100 years of Girl Scouts cause its the 100th anniversary:) So they are making 2 HUGE birthday cakes, 1 for the pole and 1 for the float:) We got Bri's patches ironed on but they need to be sewed because the sticky stuff didn't hold it. I can already see in the girl's faces that they are having a blast! I can't wait for all the activities that the girls will be able to participate in and add patches to their sashes!

Lorelai's first meeting and pic:)

Cute lil thing they do at each meeting not sure what its called.

Making flowers for the Oktoberfest float

  This is going to be an exciting year for my kiddos and me!!! I also can't wait to share all of their fun times with you! I hope these experiences help mold them into highly functioning adults as they get older. These are the times that us parents enjoy the most and I don't want to miss a second of it! They will only be kids for a while and I want them to enjoy every minute of it:)

Busy October!

  Anyone who is a parent knows that October is the starting of the busiest months of the year! From now till January our schedules get filled with class activities, family get together's and holiday shopping! These are my most favorite months of the year! The air gets crisp and cool and the fall colors are in full bloom and everywhere you look you will see pumpkins and scarecrows which will soon change to ghosts and goblins! This month is ALWAYS a busy month for my family!! We have LOTS of school activities coming up this month and several community events too!!
 
 Of course with having children in school we will have Halloween parties to plan for and school class floats to get made for the Roff's Oktoberfest! The kid's Halloween parties are always a blast! There is nothing cuter than the whole school dressed in crazy and cute costumes!!  Not to mention all the good candy us parents get to eat!!! Oh yes I am one of those parents that goes through the candy and picks out my favorite things!! I may not do that this year though because I DO NOT want to gain all the weight back that I just lost! The school is also doing a Fall Carnival with all kinds of carnival games to raise money for each class. All of my kids will have a booth there and I am sure I will end up running at least one of those for a bit that night!  Plus we have the 3rd-5th grade basketball festival coming too!  My girls really enjoy basketball! They look forward to playing every year! And then there is the Oktoberfest!! The Oktoberfest is kicked off with a parade! There are many floats from the cheerleader float to class floats! All 4 of my kiddos will be on a float this year:) Ayrton will be on the 4H float, the girls will be on the Girl Scout float and Lil man's will be on the Pre-K float! So I am sure I will be working on at least 1 of those floats within the next week! Also at the Oktoberfest there will be many different booths set up selling anything from purses and bows, to YUMMY food! The 4H will have a booth and I believe Lil man's class will have a booth as well! Then on top of all of that we have to keep up with school homework AND spelling words:( I hate spelling so its a good thing that my pc has spell checker otherwise you probably wouldn't be able to read my blogs! LOL!!

  Oh and I forgot to mention that we are going to get our family pics done this month too! I am sooo excited!! We didn't get to get them done last year cause too much was going on but we have it on the calender this year!! I can't wait to go do those and post them!!! We also have a baby shower to go to for my new Niece! Well she isn't my blood Niece but I consider her my Niece! Her Momma is like my baby sister! Madi was born a little over a month early but she and Momma are fine and at home now:) AND lets not forget the tickets to Frontier City that we still have but we haven't gotten to use yet:( Was hoping to get to go this weekend but its supposed to rain Friday and Saturday:( Hopefully we will get to use them this month because they close at the end of this month for the winter. I am staying positive though!

  So as you can see that my month is already planned out for me!! I just have to make sure its all written down on my calender so I don't forget! But I am loving my life as a mother and I couldn't imagine it any other way!! I wouldn't trade all the money in the world for my busy life with my kiddos and family! I think my life would be pretty boring if I didn't have my lil family:)

Small Hidden Blessings:)

  I have learned over the years that blessings come in many forms. Sometimes plans you make fall through so that you can receive a blessing that you would have missed. I hope this helps all of you to see the deeper blessings in situations when plans fall through!

 My Great Grandma called Wednesday to let us know of the Kirk Family reunion on Saturday. I didn't have the heart to tell her that we wouldn't be here to go if weather was permitting. Just our luck a  cold front moved in late Thursday night and just got colder by Saturday morning. We were all upset that it was too cold to go, BUT it allowed us to be able to go to the family reunion:)

  I am glad that we were able to go. Some family members I haven't seen in a while! We decided this was the perfect picture opportunity! Not sure why we had never thought of it before but this year we did!! It was still cold outside but we managed to gather everyone outside and got some pics of each family and the whole family as a whole:) I also got some great shots inside!

This picture is of my Mom and my girls! My Mom's Grandbabies are her world:) My Mom and I have a VERY strong bond. I love her with all my heart! She has been by my side through thick and thin! I couldn't have asked for a better Mom! Not only is she my Mom but she is my best friend!

This is my Great Grandma Illa Kirk and my kid's Great Great Grandma! Grandma is the sweetest woman you will ever meet! She is a VERY devoted Christian woman and puts everyone else first before herself! I am proud to call her Grandma and I am even happier that my kids are able to know her!

  This is my Aunt Mary and I:) She is my Grandma's Daughter and is just as sweet as my Grandma! She is the one that puts everything together to make each reunion possible!

  This is my family! My Dad couldn't be here cause he is a truck driver and was working:( My husband also couldn't be here because he was working on a side job. He was hoping to make it but he didn't quiet make it:(

  Me and my BEAUTIFUL kiddos!!! These 4 lil souls are my world!! I couldn't imagine life without them!

  My Aunt Ella and her family. Ella is also my Grandma's Daughter and like my Grandma is the sweetest woman you will ever meet! Her and Charles (her husband) have their very own church here in Roff.

  This is a pic of all the Grandkids and Great Grandkids that were able to make it to the family reunion. There are LOTS more to be added to this pic! Hopefully next year we will have quiet a few more to add to this picture!!

  My Great Grandma and me! I love this woman!! I strive to be as kind hearted as she is!

  Grandma and her Kids and their spouses. There are a couple not in this pic because they couldn't make it and my Grandpa Jim Kirk who has passed away. I would have loved to have had him still here to be in this pic:(

  Aunt Mary and her son Kevin:)

  My cousin Kevin and his oldest son Tyler:) Tyler will soon be going into the Army.

  Me and Tyler:)

  My Uncle Mat and his family:)

  My cousin Junior and his girlfriend Becky:)

  My Aunt Barbara and Grandma:) This is my Dad's sister and she is the sweetest FUNNIEST woman you will EVER meet!

  My Aunt Mary and her family:)

  I know this is family but I am not sure who they are lol! I am sure I am not the only one that has family and don't know who they are! But I will find out and when I do I will update this info!

  My cousin Ashley and her beautiful kiddos!! Her husband Dustin was there for a bit but had to leave to attend the Chickasaw Festival in Tishomingo.

  My cousin Corey and his boys:)

  So needless to say you can see from the pics that we still had a pretty AWESOME day with family!! BUT it didn't end there!!!  Later Saturday evening we went to dinner with my mom at Smokin Joe's in Sulphur and went by the Chickasaw National Park! We got some pretty good pics there too!

 
  This is Little Niagra! It is a fresh water spring that is VERY cold no matter what season you go! This past summer has been pretty hard on the spring and there is very little water in it causing it to get stagnant and they have closed off all of the swimming spots:(

  My mom and the kiddos! I wished I had brought my regular camera but I just thought we were going to dinner LOL!!

  So as you can tell we had a pretty good Saturday even though we didn't get to do what we had planned! So the next time your plans fall through look a little deeper and see what your unexpected blessing is!! You never know what God has in store for you!!