I've reached that time in my life...

Well my boys are now 6, 4 and 2.  They are so grown up and have definite ideas of their own.  Gone are the days of Mommy and Daddy easily guiding the decisions they make.  So the example I have for you all once again involves Jackson.  We were traveling home from a family Thanksgiving with my family and I convinced my hubby to eat at Cracker Barrel (I love it there and given the choice of BK or Cracker Barrel I got my way).  After we sat and ordered Jackson wanted his Daddy to take him shopping.  I thought a toy had caught his eye but no he wanted to Christmas shop for Mommy.  When he returned he grabbed my hand and said "Come on Mommy I want to show you all the nice things, you like diamonds don't you?"  I said "Don't you want it to be a surprise?"  "No Mommy I picked 3 things and I want to see which is your favorite."  So off we go to the gift shop, first we stop at a blue cape, a XXL royal blue cape that was surely something my Nannie would have loved!  Next was a black sweater with "diamonds" across the neckline and the cuffs of the sleeves.  Then "Come on Mommy I save the best for last.  It is the beautiful, red, smells good candle for your table".  I love my boys and it brings tears to my eyes that he wanted to spend money he worked hard for on his Mother this Christmas.  So I have reached the time in my life when my fashion sense gives way to what my sons want me to have...and I love it!

I want I want I want, I need I need I need....

Yesterday was a crazy day for me.  It was the first day of this fall/Thanksgiving vacation.  My boys were good for the most part but the constant asking for things drives me CRAZY!!!!!   After about an hour of me fetching breakfast and juice and snacks and milk and more juice and finding a movie to watch and helping put shoes on and well you get the point, I was at my limit.  In a selfish fit I said to my children, "I want I want I want!  Doesn't anyone ever think about what you can do for someone else?????"  For the rest of the day about every 10 minutes Jackson asked me "Mommy is there anything I can do for you today?"  Talk about feeling guilty!  But I enjoyed every minute of my sweet oldest boy catering to me and every time he asked I gave him a small task even if it was just "give Mommy a hug".  I think it made us both feel special.

Small town living

We have been in Clarkesville, GA for 4 years now.  Talk about how time flies.  I have made many good friends here, lifelong friends and my children love it here.  The thought of living somewhere else, even across town, is unacceptable to them.  Small town living is great and a much different experience as an adult.  I grew up in a small town.  As a teenager I couldn't see what the appeal was, what could possibly make my parents want to live in Wise, VA?  There is nothing to do!  Everyone knows your business and EVERYONE feels the need to comment on what you are doing (tell on you).  I couldn't wait to graduate and move FAR AWAY!  Not to get away from my family but to get away from that town, that small town.

Now I'm all grown up and here I am in a small town, a teeny tiny little town.  Now I see the benefits to raising my children in a small town.  We rarely leave the house without running into someone we know.  I have so many friends willing to watch my boys for me if I need them.  So many friends that care about me and my family.  They bring dinners when we are sick or sad.  They pick up my boys when I can't make it.  They care.  And the plus side to knowing what everyone is doing is...you know what everyone is doing.  I have many eyes on my boys to help me keep them in line, keep them safe and keep them good.

No matter where this life takes me I will always be glad that it brought me to Clarkesville.  I can't count the blessings that I have received here.  And I realize this post sounds like I am leaving for those of you that might be concerned about that I'm not.  Clarkesville is home, for now!

Who do you play with?

Everyday when I pick Jackson up from school we have the same conversation.  My lines will be in italics.

What kind of day did you have today?
Green!
Awesome!  What did you do?
Nothing!
I know you didn't do "nothing" all day.  Who did you play with at recess?  (the answer to this is always the same).
No one.

Now I know this isn't true.  I know my son plays with lots of kids and has a great time at school but he always insists that he doesn't play with anyone.  Until this week, I pushed the question.

What kind of games do you play at recess?
Today I played absent.  I like to play absent a lot.
What is "absent"?
It is where I hide from Madelynne during recess so she thinks I am absent.

Not sure why but he thinks this is the funniest thing ever!  What am I going to do with my crazy boy? 

My Uncle Thurman was killed this week in an accident.  Most of you know that this is not the first loss our family has suffered this year.  In April Jason's brother Bryan died tragically.  When I got the call about Thurman I broke down into tears, not just about this loss but for all we have lost this year.  
As I was taking my boys upstairs to tuck them into bed Jackson said "Mommy I am sorry that your Uncle Thurman died and that you are sad."  I replied "Thank you Jackson, I am sorry too."  His response to this was "Mommy, you know my uncle died too."  My sweet Jackson, he is so precious and compassionate.  Most adults can't express themselves as well as he does.   I am so blessed to have a child like this.