Wondering what it would be like

Today as I was reading a post of another blog I read I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if my mother was still around to be with her grandchildren. This blog I was reading was telling about how she has spent the last two week visiting either her parents or her in-laws and just yesterday her post was about her mother driving down for a visit and helping her with her little one while she ran errands. There was a small twinge of jealousy that ran over me (even though I don't personally know this person) as I was reading about how much the grandparents enjoy this child.

I know it was God's plan for my mother to leave this earth. I know her body is fully restored and she is watching down over us every single day. But I DO miss her and mostly for my children. Unfortunately I have not been blessed with the most attentive in-laws. Living only 45 minutes away it is like pulling teeth to get them to come and visit our children. And they are ALWAYS to busy to help on the babysitting front. All of this makes me a little sad that my boys and my niece and nephews never got to meet my mother. She was a WONDERFUL Nonnnie to Jesse and would have been the same to the others. I sometimes sit and wonder what it would be like if she was here...Would she just drop by to visit, stop in to let Michael and I have a date, or take the kids for a weekend just because? I am almost positive she would.

But for now I don't have this. I almost always depend on friends to watch my kids if I am going somewhere they can't, almost never does anyone attend their events/sport stuff, and more than once they have even missed a birthday party. Most of the time it is Michael and I plugging away at this all alone. I am so lucky to have found some friends who really love us and our kids. Because with out them I am almost sure I would be a pile of mush wishing for a little love and support!

Monkey's for our Monkey

Well as I posted a while back Cooper will be turning 2 in July! I am a little sad...Okay ALOT sad:( I can't believe the speed in which the last 23 months have gone by. It just seems like yesterday I was sitting at the pool on the 4th of July talking to someone about how I still had until the first of September to go! Little did I know Cooper would make his appearance 6 weeks early via induction. We have alot to celebrate....Getting Cooper here healthy was not the easiest task I ever undertook (is that a word?). I have been blessed by being his mother the totally adds a TON of fun to this house!

So anyway I have decided to go with a the "Mod Monkey" theme offered by Birthday Express. We have called Cooper our monkey for a long time so it is a truly fitting theme for him. I finally decided on having it at our church in the fellowship hall. I realized Cooper is too young to enjoy a "location" party. Hey plus it has air-conditioning. PLUS PLUS for Alabama late July. I am so excited I have already began the party prep! I can't wait it is going to be TONS of fun...I am going to decorate all over with the blue and yellow found in the plates and napkins, do a candy table and I am going to make him his own special birthday banner. It is going to be great....And for those of you who know me know that I LOVE to plan a party!

Hope to see you there!

Where did I put that floppy straw hat

Well today is the official start to summer vaca at my house. Albertville City Schools due to the Tornado actually have school through Friday. But with end of the year parties done, graduation (from kindergarten) under our belt, and awards all handed out the McClendon's are DONE! We decided that this last week might lack structure so we opted out. So it begins today SUMMER that is and my never ending battle on how to entertain my crew for the next 10 weeks and 2 days! I know most of our month of June is full of swim team "Go Gators" of which we begin morning practice TODAY and then we are looking forward to attending Aldersgate a United Methodist conference on "spirit-filled living". Other than that and a possible long weekend trip to the beach depending on the oil spill we are just up to "normal" summer time stuff...VBS, gymnastics camp, day trips with Mom! It is going to be fun. And I am hoping that one day this week will be get the pool up that was given to us by our good friends the Poole's so I can enjoy my lemonade under my covered patio while my crew splashes around to beat the Alabama heat. So bring on the flip-flops, a good book, sunglasses and my floppy straw hat (of which I actually own and wear) SUMMERTIME is here!