Way to go Zak!!!

Today Zak was inducted to the Beat Club at St. Ann. This club is a very exclusive club and it is an honor to be selected. The children have to maintain a 3.6 GPA, and show a high quality in Spirituality, Leadership, and Academics. Zak's birthday is today so this made it a little extra special for Zak and I.


The induction was a surprise to Zak and honestly to Larry and I too. I will not dwell on the past, but Zak had a hard time in 5th and 6th grade conduct wise. He has really turned over a new leaf. He has had the same group of boys as friends since we moved here. His friends' parents and us had the same feelings regarding the boys staying staying away from each other while at school. Honestly we rarely let them do stuff on the weekends together either.

The 4 of them have matured so much in the last 9 months it is a joy to be around them. They were really cute when it finally occurred to them why we(us parents) were all sitting together in church today.

I would post photos, but blogger will not allow me. I have been trying......hope to post some soon!

Happy Birthday Zak!

Happy Birthday Zachary A. Kennedy

Today 13 years ago your mom and dad decided to go ahead and let the doctors deliver you. You were 13 weeks early, but your mom could not be given any stronger meds to stop her contractions. There was some worry about how ready you were for the outside world. You spent the next 7 weeks in the NICU. Your mom visited with you numerous times a day. She loved you so much!

You came home and your mom and dad's journey as parents began. Dad deployed a few months after you arrived home and your mom had her hands full for the next 7 months.

I missed the first 4 years. I only know the stories I will never forget! I have cherished the last 9 years! You are my special someone.

What are you up to at 13 years old?

• You attend St. Ann Catholic School in Bartlett Tn
• You make great grades
• You have a great group of young men you are apart of
• You love video games
• You are very immature, but in a good way
• You are 5'6"
• You only weigh 104lbs
• Your favorite food is chicken nuggets and french fries with a side of hot wings
• Dad and I let you walk to *Bucks on Fridays with your friends and I never worry you will do anything but make me proud
• Your friends' parents think the world of you
• You play football in the fall and wish you could snowboard more often
• Your favorite clothes come from Ambercrombie and American Eagle
• You have a cell phone, but rarely you charge it or take it with you places:)
• You are not interested in girls....dances.....or going to the movies alone
• Your baby sister adores you! You two have a special bond!

Your dad and I are so proud of you. I am so sad that you are a teenager. I know that time is really going to fly now. Before I know it, you will be picking high schools, then colleges. Please continue hold onto your faith and follow your heart!

Our best!
Mom and Dad

I really need to......

Put photos up....

Put away 3 weeks of clean clothes that are neatly still folded on the floor of my closet....

Buy Zak's 13th Birthday gifts....

Balance checkbooks....

Prepare a menu for the week....

Prepare my schedule for the week....

Post my "Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom"....

Call a few people back....

But, I am too lazy to do it again today! We just got home from Sikeston MO where we met my Mom, Dad, Michelle, Mike, Carla, and Grandma Mary Ann for Zak's birthday lunch. We just realized our washing machine is leaking and I HAVE to clean that mess up. Add to all of this that "we" (I put " " around it because she could have kept them till college as far as I was concerned) took Bella's pacis away on Friday night and she has not slept well since Thursday night as a result. Ahhhh.....I am having a glass of wine and tuning into the Olympics. Hope to post photos soon!

Mardi Gras

I am tired........

I am sore........

I am glad it is over........

I am glad it all went well........

I had the best team of helpers there ever was for the event.........

My friends outside of school came to support me.......

We made our goal.......

We are all cleaned up......

Everyone had a great time......

Larry said I did such a great job I should think about doing it again.......

I will pray about the above, but I will keep looking for someone new to take it too.......

I learned a few things this weekend.....
1.) I am a pretty good event planner
2.) I am really organized despite what it may look like on the outside:)
3.) I have some really great friends
4.) I have the most supportive family


Thank you to everyone! Erin and Melissa, you will never know how much it meant to see you guys there!

Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom......3

1.) I will stop trying to do great things for a lot of people and focus on doing a great job at what God calls me to do.

I work so hard at pleasing everyone and it is time I stop and try to focus on pleasing the One that truly matters. This is a big task, so I am going to only work on this one for a few weeks. I will let you know how it goes.

Bella Being Silly

She insisted on wearing this headband to school on Tuesday....yes, I let her!

Zak plays with her all the time! She says "Zak you play my room peease?" She is talking to Mickey Mouse on the phone....

Nik likes to collect shot glasses and here she is after finding one; doing shots:)

Is that outfit not the cutest????

Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom....2

1.) I will continue to practice patience with the kids. On top of being patient I will try to be there more with them. I will make more time to talk to the boys and I will play more with Bella.

2.) I am going to stop letting others view of me influence the way I feel about myself. I will answer to my Heavenly Father only.

3.) I will try to make more time for prayer.....I did not do so well last week.

4.) I will do things for Larry out of love. I will be less resentful of him.

5.) I will not procrastinate this week.

Wish me luck.......

Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom.....1 Update

I was much more patient with the kids this week. For example, Nik remembered at 6pm on Sunday night he had a Science project due on Monday morning. He told me at 6:01pm and together we finished it about an hour later. I was boiling on the inside, but I CALMLY helped him and I think it turned out great! Example number 2. I had to pick up a gift certificate at Ashley Furniture on Monday. I wanted to run in and run out, but Bella wanted to sit on every couch between the checkout and the front door. I patiently let her play and you know what it did not make me late for anything and it was kindda fun!

I still have a lot of work to do on being a better wife. I tried hard this week, but not much to compliment myself on:(

I called a few people and I hope I was a good listener. I tried. I even called someone I have always found to be intimidating, but I have to work with her on Mardi Gras. I called her and found we have a lot in common. I am looking forward to building the relationship.

Mardi Gras is coming along and it will be a success!

I only lost 1.6 pounds this week, but I did cook healthy and I did not litter my body.

How was your week??