Day with Daddy

Okay, so Chad has decided to institute a new "tradition" for the summer and we had it's first trial run yesterday. He claims it is part of his "ABC" program (anything but church) and it involves the family going somewhere and doing something or experiencing something we would not normally do together. As I said, yesterday was the first go of it and IT WAS GREAT!!!!! Before I go on and share with you our adventure, let me explain a little bit of its origin. Chad and I and the kids have been attending a wonderful church for about 5 1/2 years and we really enjoy it. We love the people, the children, the atmosphere, and the location. However, lately it has not been hitting us. We find ourselves making any excuse there is to not go on Sunday mornings. We don't truly enjoy service and our Sunday School has been not as interesting to us as well. We have given it several tries lately because the kids love it and I KNOW you get out of church what you put in it but after yesterday...... I am all about a little break. Chad decided we would go out into the world and experience God's wonder hands on. Each week he will pick a new place and give us clues as we travel to our unknown destination. Yesterday, we ended up at Lurray Caverns. It was AWESOME!!!! SPECTACULAR!!!! AMAZING!!!! And I do not mean only the caverns. The children got along, no fighting, Chad was in a great mood and we really spent some wonderful family time together which we do not do enough. In addition, we saw some of the most amazing sights..... true evidence that God does exist!
So, we are going to be a taking a little break for a few weeks and try out Day with Daddy. Maybe, after seeing his work in the real world, we can be more attuned to him within our church setting. I certainly hope so.
Below, is a picture of us inside the caverns....

WIndow of Opportunity

Okay, so all mom's and dad's know there is a window of opportunity with all children, even more so when you are out in public. Now, while this window is open, the children laugh and play, get along and generally follow the rules. HOWEVER, once that window begins to close WATCH OUT!!! I had the most excellent example of this window not only slamming shut but shattering and broken glass covering all surfaces. We went out last night with my parents, sister, her husband and the 7 children for dinner, ice cream, and a build a bear visit. We did this last night because my sister moved away today. She has lived in Richmond all her life and she is now moving to Cashiers, NC for Jack to take a new job. SO, we were out celebrating our last night and for the first hour and a half the seven children were spectacular! They were Stellar! They were so wonderful, my sister and I did not want the evening to end. Unfortunately, that window I spoke about earlier, not only began to close but as I said before SLAMMED SHUT AND SHATTERED GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. One minute we had 7 happy children, the next Rylie is screaming because Parker took a huge chunk of her arm ( I told her he wanted to have some of her to keep once she was gone) Parkers is screaming because he is being punished, Cooper is crying because she wants me to carry her and Lily is too pieces because her playmates are now leaving. So, my sister and I quickly hug each other and each of the kids and we have to wisk everyone away to our homes. Not the good bye we were really looking or hoping for! To top it off, I was rocking Parker before putting him in his bed and he decided to vomit all over me. FUN FUN FUN!

Internal Chatter

I have just finished reading my newest book for book club and it has brought up an interesting point. The boo is called My Stroke of Insight and is written by a neuroscientist about her personal experience of suffering a stroke at age 37. SHe is a stroke survivor and talks about what she went through and what she learned during and after her experience. One of the main things she discusses is losing the internal dialogue or chatter between her left and right part of her brain. She talks about how wonderfully liberating and freeing it can be to have silence in your head. Well I started thinking about this more and more and realized that there is no way to turn of my internal dialogue. Every time things seem to be quiet or passive, my brain starts not only having a dialogue but a full blown discussion between itself. I have tried and tried to quiet some part just to experience a little of the peace the author describe but I have had no luck. It seems that the more I try the louder the conversation gets until both parts are screaming at the top of their lungs and I am saying BE QUIET< CALM DOWN< STOP TALKING< in other words, it sounds like a typical breakfast table in my house on any given day. So I guess I was just wondering if anyone out there in cyberspace had ever figured out a way to quiet the chatter and have some quiet?

Your own bucket list

So, first let me ask, "how many of you have seen this movie?" The story line goes as such, two strangers meet in a hospital to battle cancer. During the stay, the men befriend each other and before being release, they start a bucket list. Then, upon their release, they set off to start crossing things off this list. Sounds simple enough, right? Making a list of things you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket? But, as I sat thinking more on the topic, (and after watching in the special features about what inspired the movie) I began thinking more about this. This list can be a very personal thing, a list of things you want for yourself and write down which shows yourself that you may not be content in all areas of your life and you may feel unsatisfied in some places within yourself. So, I charge you out there in blogland. Try and start thinking about your own personal Bucket list. It will be different for each of us. I will do the same and maybe we can compare notes some time soon. Do notice also, depending on where you are in your life, married, single, children young or grown, your focuses will be different and as we grow older, our own lists will change. I am going to start my own list to change my way of thinking somewhat each day and when and how we plan what we are doing next in our life. Good luck and happy writing!

Eleven Years Ago

Yesterday was my anniversary. Chad and I have been married for eleven years and I must say I am so lucky to have met, caught, and kept that man. He is the most wonderful husband and father I could ever imagine. These have been the best 11 years of my life and I am so excited about the next 50 years with him. When we met 13 1/2 years ago, who would have thought we would be living in my home town, owning our own business, and me being able to stay home with my 4 beautiful children. The night we met I DID however know in my heart that I had met someone special. Someone that would play a very important role in my life. And before you say it, yes I DO know how lucky I am to have found that truly special perfect match, my soul mate, my best friend and confidant, that person who knows what I am thinking more than I even know myself and can finish my sentences. Chad is the man who proposed to me by saying, "This is till death do us part, even if I have to kill you" and married me 6 months later and has given me the best gift of all: himself, my children, and his love for all of us. Thank you for choosing me and being with me these past 11 years and I love you with all my heart.

My Lot in Life

Okay, so I was at the gym this morning and was reading an article in one of the Parenting Magazine. It talked about how women tend to lose brain cells when they have babies SSSSSOOOOOOO, I began thinking. I have had lots of babies so I should be pretty much brain dead BUT the author of the article brought up a wonderful point that the things we focus on and learn while we are at home with our little ones. As we sit at home wiping noses, making meals, cleaning cloths and houses, driving children to all the ends of the earth, how are we exercising our brains???? Chad makes fun of me and says I need to start doing Sudoku or something to exercise my intellect because I used to be a smart girl. I loved talking about grand things and read books galore. That was before I had children. But, as the author pointed out, simply because I am not watching the news or reading Wethering Heights it does not mean I am doing nothing with my brain. It is currently filled with thoughts of how to raise competent, tender hearted, compassionate children, how to make them all feel loved, how to keep them safe and healthy, and how to keep the house running in some semblance of order. I think that these things can be even more important then politics or the nightly news but who is there to keep track??? Who can we talk about these things with??? Chad asked me the other day when we were running which of the two topics we wanted to talk about today....concrete or kids? That makes me sad that I have nothing else to talk about besides my family and children. However, I DO know this is where I am today and not where I will be 10 years from now. I will have the opportunity to watch the news and read great novels when the children are grown and out of the house. Chad and I will have the chance to discuss a multitude of topics at our own free will. I just hope my brain can hold out until then.

Day One...not so much

Weel today was the first official day of summer break and WE HAD A BLAST!!!!! YEAH!!!! We survived so far. I guess that just leaves 74 more days?????.........
Okay, so I started this post on Monday and it took until now, Wednesday afternoon to finish it. Huh? Isn't summer supposed to be about sleeping in, relaxing on the couch, having lots of free time playing in the sun with mommy sitting on the screened in porch, and fun times at the pool? That would be my ideal summer ( with several stops at Starbucks also)I have very high hopes I guess for summer VACATION but hey, what is a girl to do? SO, so far this week, we have not slept in once, only spent 5 minutes relaxing on the couch, played outside for 17 minutes, and been to the pool 2 times, once for lessons and once to get sent home because of thunder. I HAVE, however, been to Walmart, Panera, the movies, the ABC store, the bank, Starbucks, Target, the dentist, lunch with Daddy, Barnes and Noble, the fountains at Stony Point, the pool twice..... and that is just since Monday morning. Hopefully, things WILL indeed slow down a bit. I am as a matter of fact enjoying my first bit of peace and quiet this week sitting on the porch while the girls swim in the plastic pool, Parker naps, and bear is at a friends house. YEAH FOR PEACE AND QUIET..... hopefully, this will become the trend of summer, NOT the way my Monday and Tuesday were.

One Day Left

Well, I have been thinking more and more about this summer vacation thing and to tell you the truth, I am a little psyched to have school coming to a close. My kids seem so tired and done and have been getting along pretty well lately that this summer may not be as disastrous as I had imagined. SO, one more day of getting up and rushing around to be out of the house early then FREEDOM! YEAH!!!! (I know, I know, talk to me in two weeks!)

Curios George aka Curious Parker aka Monkey Boy

Okay, there is something wonderful about Curious George. The little mischievous monkey that is a good little monkey but always very curious. He gets into trouble and tries to explore most anything. This describes Parker to a T. It is no wonder that he adores this little monkey. I think Parker feels connected with that little monkey on a much deeper level than most and they are truly kindred spirits. I do wonder though if this little monkey is a good role model for my two year old or if he just gives him more ideas of what to get into. I guess I need to keep reminding Parker what they say on the show, "George is a monkey so he can do things that we CAN'T do......" My husband says good luck with that! But hey, there could be much worse things to relate to and influence him, right?

SAHMs last week of Sanity

Well Ladies and gentlemen.....
It is that time of year again....
the time of year we SAHMs (stay at home moms) call "The Busy Season". When all of our wonderful children are home for the summer and attempting to drive us crazy. I say attempting but it really doesn't take much! Anyway, we who live in my area have one last week of respite before the busy season starts. School ends Friday and then the Circus has come to town. SO, this week will be filled errands running and getting all my ducks in a row before all my ducklings have to follow me in tow. I wish all the SAHMs out there good luck and happy last week of freedom!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER!

Well today is the Wild Man's special day. He is turning TWO. Let me add that he is already very TWO so I think this next year is going to be a doozy. Anyway, he has been such a wonderful addition to our family and has made our family complete. He rounds us out to even numbers of boys and girls and also adds so much energy and excitement and adventure to our lives. He definitely gives me a run for my money but I would not want it any other way! This is the little one who had some problems in the beginning. The little 6/6/06 baby who brought with his birth MANY trips to the pediatrician those first few weeks and lots of worry. Look at him now.... Such a strong happy child in so many ways. Thank you God for giving me my little Monkey. I am so truly blessed. Happy birthday Little Wild Man! I love you.....

It Happens to the Best of us....

Okay, so I have LARYNGITIS and so many people think it is hilarious!!!! Hah hah hah, Ginny can't talk. I am not sure what is so funny about it. But, after two hours in the Patient First last night, the doctor said, you have laryngitis. Thanks, I could have told you that with the lack of voice coming from my throat. Chad has had to take over the talking and communicating once he gets home but it is still tough during the day. Anyway, if you happen to call me in the next few days, I might not answer the phone because, I CAN'T! Please do not take offense. For those of you who know me from high school, it is a flashback of Battle of the Brains event.
Squeak squeak...my name is ginny chalkley squeak squeak.........frost???? squeak squeak squeak.......

Pictures of the Beautiful Dancers

I did have one with the two dancers together but it was a vertical and I am still challenged when it comes to rotating the photos. They had their recital this past weekend. Many people came to watch, including nana, granddaddy, mimi, bethie, rylie, maddie, mommy, and madison. Daddy came to see the dress rehearsal so he could stay home with the wild man during the performance. Imagine what it would have been like if he had attended! The girls did really well and both of them knew their dances. Now, we are off from activities until the fall for them. YEAH!! The bear man still has karate 2 times a week but other than that we are pretty free and easy this summer. Taking it easy.......

Great Day

Well we had a wonderful weekend and my week has started off the same way. The girls had their ballet recital on Saturday and we got to play with Daddy all day on SUnday. We went for a bike ride and drove around in the new car. Oh yeah, for those of you who I haven't told....WE GOT A NEW CAR!!!! YEAH!!! Actually, car is not the right word for it....
Tank, boat, singlewide trailer, blue whale, any of these would be an accurate description but WE LOVE IT!!!
It is a 2008 Chevy Suburban. Yes, a Suburban... even with the soaring gas prices. You see my dears, we have a somewhat large family and we do not fit in anything that gets great, possibly even good, gas mileage. We have to have six seat belts and so we have to go big. Now the next question might be, why SO BIG.....BUT in fact this new ride of ours gets better gas mileage than Chad's old tahoe AND we have more space. With both of our cars over 100k miles (Chad's close to 200k), the new car will be what we travel in so it not only needs to fit us, but all of our superfluous STUFF as well. Chad does not have to continually take the seats in and out any time we want to ride with him AND we get to park my van each weekend and ride with him to save miles on it. Finally, it is simply beautiful and cool and new and who could resist that??? It has EVERYTHING!!!!!
Now you hear all of the excitement in my voice, (actually read all the excitement in my words) but we have not gotten the payment book yet. SO, maybe I should post after we receive that and we can see how we feel but at least for now, I can bask in the trucks beauty!
The WORST part is Chad gets to drive it everyday because it is his new car. Real bummer for me. It was really hard getting back into my trusting OLD minivan after traveling in it for Memorial Day weekend. But hey, at least I will get the NEXT new car....