Southern Belle

That seems to be the theme around here. I don't know about you all, but I can't seem to get on top of things. Motivation seems to be lacking in my world. I just need to put the junk food aside, exercise, get more sleep etc. Sounds like a new years resolution.

Brittyn is on the tail-end of pneumonia. It just came out of no where. She has been down for two weeks with high fever and the second week added coughing. After the second trip to the doc, they ordered Chest x-rays and found upper-lobe pneumonia. This is a scary word to a mom, but with an antibiotic she is feeling back to normal. She can't wait to start 1st grade. She is having a blast "teaching" Spencer to write his name and all sorts of stuff. Brittyn also went to see Caledonia Community Players production of Beauty and the Beast. It was her first theatrical production and she loved it - no surprise! Walking out the door, after making sure she had many signatures in her playbook, she announced that she could be on stage. This is something I want to encourage her in. She has the personality and the memory skills.

Spencer's vocabulary is blowing me away. He found my watch and said, "Aren't you impressed with me mom?". I was impressed that he used the word impressed!!! He went Fishing with his grandpa Napper and Dad and wouldn't stop talking about it. He is so knowledgable and inspired by fishing. He is only 4 - mind you. He also rowed the boat by himself. A feat that earned him respect in that boat.

Shane is finishing up the Art Museum. Not much different going on in our lives. I'm still doing Tastefully Simple Parties and now Brittyn is excited about it. Both the kids like to help in the kitchen.

I can't believe my kids are getting so big. Brittyn will be 6 in September and we are already looking for Belle items. If you know where I can get anything to do with Beauty and the Beast~ I am all ears.

I have added more pictures to Spencer's Birthday and another list that someone suggested I put on this blog. This will help family members with gifts for birthdays and Christmas or anytime. I'm not saying we are asking for anything - that is not the intention at all. It is about communication for us...Mom and Dad, Dan and Christine,Drew and Nicki, Sam and Ashley - It would be helpful to us if you set one up too.

Boy this is tooo long.

This is my favorite season! That is my excuse for not keeping up with this blog. We have been out and about. The kids have been itching to ride their bikes. We just had our lawn hydro-seeded and that is a long story in itself. Underground sprinkling was put in and after a few weeks of dealing with pipes breaking, run-offs, adjustments, waiting, more leaking, more waiting - we are finally at the tail-end of this ordeal. We have clay for dirt and it isn't fun to clean that off the kids shoes - and when it dries, it turns to cement.

We were able to squeeze a garden in. We haven't had a garden since we got married. Spencer picked out Speghetti Squash (he loves speghetti -so he thought speghetti squash can't be that bad) Brittyn made sure we had cucumbers. The rest is green pepper, tomatoes, banana peppers and pumpkins. Next year, we will try carrots and stuff, but this year we were a little late getting it in. Our garden has only been in for two weeks and it is mid-June, but our yard was holding us up. I could only water so many pots on our porch until the plants outgrew them. The kids love this whole process.

It is nice to have a yard with no trees, so that means no leaves to rake for a while. I had someone ask me if my tan was real 'cause they haven't seen me this dark in a while. I just told them that it IS real and it is dark because we don't have 22 oak trees in our yard blocking the sun!!!!

My friends and I got a group together to play organized, serious volleyball on Monday nightsat our gym at church. You may laugh at the descriptive way I discribed volleyball playing, but we didn't want anyone to think we were just out to hit the ball over the net a few time. Usually something that is stated that may seem obvious ~ is stated for a reason.  It is like going to a softball game and just hitting the ball, but not keeping score or running bases~ what is the point? It is like going to play raquetball and just standing in the center and hitting the ball around until you get tired~again, what is the point? Anyway, I look forward to the exercise and aggressiveness that is used when volleyball is played.

I will update pictures soon. I just don't take that many anymore. I know, I need too.

 

That title was for Uncle Jack!

Lots of things have been going on in the Napper household. We have been wrapping up things with the old house. Hopefully closing this Thursday. I have to give my Husband credit for his wisdom. I felt that something needed to be done to help make the house sell. I took down my coke border in the kitchen and replaced it with a more neutral country-looking border. I thought that did the trick 'cause it really changed the look of my kitchen and we accepted an offer after the next open house. The crazy part is that I went back to the house last week to finish up a few things and noticed the border peeling off the wall. I thought this was crazy since we just put it on a month ago now and it is already starting to peel. Found out later that it was the new owner peeling it to see if it would come off easy. AAAGGGHHH! All the border work for nothing - he is just going to take it down anyway. I hate wallpaper and border. Chalk one up for Shane. Missy and I have heard the phrase "in God's timing" alot, and I know it is true but it is really hard to rest in it.

Spencer Turned 4 on Friday and he thinks he is a man now. As I sit back and watch my children fight...I mean, Play with each other, I noticed their growth physically and cognitively. I just can't believe how well Brittyn can read and how well Spencer can speak. He already knows all his ABC's and can count to 20 or so and can write his name - to where you can tell what he wrote.

I thank the Lord for my children that He so graciously allowed Shane and I to have and hug and play and feed and nurture and teach and create playdoh things that only a 4 & 5 year old can put a name to.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and advice on selling our house. We had three offers at once last week. Our Realtor told them to give us their final offer for us to approve. We accepted an offer on Thursday!!!!! It was less than we were asking and we have to take some money to the table, but better now than paying mortgage for several more months. Now, we are waiting for inspections and financing to go through. yes, there is finally relief. Not that there will be financial relief anytime soon, but at least we have stopped going in "the hole" and we can start to dig our way out. :) This has been a difficult time for our family, but we have thanked the Lord for the trials that we are put through because IT DOES make you stronger and a better Christian and a better person all around. The thing that I have been made aware of the most is my trust in God's timing. I'm not saying that I have mastered this, but it has been a tough lesson that I have had to learn. I am a worrier and God has shown me that no matter how much I fret or worry or try to change things to make them better (at least what I think is better)He is still in complete control. My "helpfulness" with His plan is just  interfering.  I need to be careful not to interfer with God's plan....no matter how difficult it may be. In the end, it is better for everyone around. Now we have to sever the ties with the old house. It was our first home and all the memories associated with it will be a little sad, but with the financial burden it has been - it is good to turn it over to someone else. I have been "managing" two homes for 7 months now and it will be good to final feel like this home is our only home and not have to split our time between the two.  Have you tried to shovel two driveways? Clean 5 bathrooms? and I won't even get into the dusting ( mainly 'cause I don't do it) :) Now we have to concentrate on putting in a lawn in this new house -so the kids have a place to play. :) Did I mention a garden too?!!! This is exciting to me because we haven't had a garden in 7 years. Looking forward to eating fresh veggies from our garden and not having to rely on our parents' gardens. WAHOO!!!

We have a great announcement! On our way to Grandma Nappers house for piano lessons, we were listening to a Patch the Pirate CD which sparked a conversation that we have had a few times before about where we are going when we die, what if we died now - where would we go ...what does it mean to get saved...etc.

I saw the light turn on in Brittyns head during our conversation and as soon as we got to Grandpa and Grandma's house, we found a room and Brittyn RECEIVED CHRIST AS HER PERSONAL SAVIOUR!!! What a joyous moment in the life of this mom, to be able to share that special moment with my daughter and to know that she truly understands what it means to trust Christ and believe. I am so EXCITED!!! What a JOY! What Celebration in Heaven. What a Celebration we are having knowing that our daughter will join us in Heaven. She came home and spent the next 1/2 hour on the phone sharing this great news with other family members. WAHOO!!!!

It has been too long since I blogged, so this may be a long one!! First of all, we still haven't sold our home. We would appreciate your prayers on this matter as some of you know what making two house payments does to a body and soul. We were blessed last week when my girlfriends came over to hang out. When we arrived home - they were already here and had filled our countertop with food and necessities. I am an emotional person (duh) and I think my girls do stuff like that to make me cry. :) It worked. I have thanked the Lord for the trials we are going through (you should try it sometime) and He has really shown His blessings in ways I never knew existed.

I have to brag on my kids now. We are so proud of Brittyn. She is doing well in school. She was tested to see what level of reading she was at. She is a kindergartner "reading up to a 4th grade level" - those were the exact words. She loves to read and to be read to. She reads to Austin and Spencer. Spencer even tries to "read" to Austin also. We are proud of Spencer in the fact that he has learned to be gentle with babies and his vocabulary is tremendous. He enjoys learning Sight Words and.... pretty muchly (that was for Uncle Steve) trying to keep up with his sister - in every way.

Most of you know I started an at-home business with Tastefully Simple. Such a great time I am having. Helps to pay a few bills too. :) It is so easy and fun. Of course, I love to host parties - so this is right up my alley. Lots of fun!

Shane is still working on the Art Museum which should be done sometime this year! :) He is home a little more - which is great for the kids....yeh, me too.