A brave, new world

Well, we have entered a brave, new world at the house of Albright. Ava has become the little pop star that we have been dreading for 5 years. She loves Barbie and cheerleaders and Hannah Montana and such. She still loves the kids stuff like babydolls and cartoons but she is entering this "tweendom" too soon! I love this stage of being able to reason with her (most of the time) and have her still love me more than anything in this world. I know that every parent faces the dilemma of allowing your child to fail (on purpose) for character-building but it is so super hard! Ava is such a perfectionist that failure is not an option to her! Oh well, she is like her mama...

John Griffin cracks me up every day of his life! He is my let-loose and party-down child! (Also some of his mother's worst characteristics....) He loves to belly-laugh and destroy anything his sister so carefully created. Lately, she has begun cutting out items from my Southern Living magazines to "decorate" our house. She tapes these pictures at every door frame in the house and screams VERY LOUDLY when Griffin rips them down. I know I shouldn't but I just have to laugh because my children are polar opposite! Griffin does have his quiet moments when he just loves to be in my arms as I am stirring spagetti noodles on the stove or talking on the phone. He is a mama and a daddy's boy.

Here is a photo of my crew during our pitiful little snowstorm in January. You would have thought we were going to have 2 feet of snow listening to the news. I know that our family in Chicago and Michigan would have laughed at us! We didn't even have enough to make a tiny snowman. We spent the day at Grayson's birthday party in Huntsville instead. Maybe next year....

On the job hunt...

So today I am continuing the job hunt. It is an exhausting process because (joy!) I chose a career in which the search is based on word of mouth rather than the classifieds. I know that there has to be a disturbed individual out there who need a counselor! Why not me?

Anyway, I had some good leads but I am frustrated with those now. I am pondering whether it is part of the Lord's plan to teach me patience while staying home with my kids. Don't get me wrong, I do love being with the kids and doing the domestic thing. I just dream of a life whereby I can be totally self-involved 8 hours a day. I know that I need to realize that the kids are only little once and I can always work once they get in school, blah, blah, blah.....

Please keep me in your prayers as I continue the search for a job and for my purpose.

Moms and tennis shoes

Sorry about the spacing on the last post with the photos and descriptions- hope everyone figures out who is who.

Based on my day today, I believe that every new mother should be given a new pair of tennis shoes upon the birth of each and every baby she delivers! Here's why... My day began at 5:30 a.m. as usual. I did all the routine morning routines of drinking coffee, reading the paper, emptying the dishwasher, get Griffin out of the crib when he cries, greet Ava as she comes downstairs, feed the kids, dress the kids, shower, dress and fix myself, finish the grocery list and do basic straightening and cleaning so that we can leave the house in peace. I send Ava to school via Chris and finish routines and put on a load of laundry before I take Griffin to Mom's day out (yeah, right) at our church.

I should stop here and point out that I have already burned many calories up and down the stairs six times. I should also point out that Chris does assist in this morning routine! While he is not quite as fast as I am in the morning (he is not a morning person), he does help in many ways when I give him his tasks.

So anyway, by the time I drop off Griffin, I am pooped... I trek to Wal-mart where I weave through every single aisle and manage to leave 2 hours later and much, much poorer. I scurry home to unload cold items before I book it to carpool to pick up Ava at 11:45. My five minute wait in the carpool line was like a mini trip to the spa because no one was talking and I had nothing to catch up on in the car. After Chick-fil-A with Ava, because she needs alone time with Mommy too (!), we rush to pick up Griffin at MDO where the teachers inform me that he has eaten no lunch and don't know what is wrong...

Once home I put the other groceries away and begin my first of three loads of laundry. In between laundry, I feed Sydney, the dog, play "family going on the trip" with Ava, get Griffin to nap, start a load of dishes and talk to our children's minister about my upcoming trip to Shocco with my 4th and 5th grade bible drill class. (Did I mentioned that I am back on Weight Watchers and had only consumed about 7 of my 22 points at this point?)

I think I should stop here because I feel that you all get the picture: Moms need tennis shoes, good and sturdy tennis shoes.

Our nieces and nephews

Hello all- Here I am for Day 2. I decided to introduce my nieces and nephews to everyone today before I begin my panderings...










This first little fellow is my brand new nephew, Abe. He belongs to my brother, Clay, and his wife, Melanie. He is a 3 month old cutie and rolled over this week!












Hogan, a twin, is 3 1/2 and belongs to my sister, Claire, and her husband, Darrell. He is a strong boy and loves any type of automobile or truck, especially those in Nascar.

Hendon, the other twin, is 3 1/2 and belongs to my sister, Claire, and her husband, Darrell. She loves babies and purses and is the biggest girlie-girl I know. (Everyone says that she is just like me! Sorry, Claire and Darrell!)

Grayson just turned 7 and also belongs to Claire and Darrell. He loves to read and all sports. The kid is an encyclopedia of ESPN!

Casey is 7 and belongs to Chris' sister, Vicky, and her husband, Rog. She was so excited at Christmas to get a "chapter book." Boy, do I remember those days!

Jamey is almost 3 and also belongs to Chris' sister, Vicky, and her husband, Rog. She is so sweet and has the cutest voice you have ever heard!

Christmas recap

I decided my first regular post should be a recap of our wonderful Christmas season. We always travel home to Roanoke for time with family and friends. This year was so exciting because it was Griffin's first Christmas. Last year I was on bed rest awaiting his arrival and could not travel "home" for Christmas. We also had some extra excitement due to the fact that his birthday is December 27! Chris and I decided to throw it all together and have his 1st birthday party with family while we were home. Needless to say, we will not be doing that next year! It was too much to try to combine with Christmas and we felt like he was a little overlooked due to that fact. Next year we are shooting for a birthday celebration early in December before the maylay of festivities.

Ava, Griffin and Sydney had a great time playing with cousins and opening presents. Santa was very good to them this year!! Here are a few photos of the fun Christmas and 1st birthday times....

Here are the Albrights!

Here we all are-
From L to R: Chris, Griffin, Ava, Kate & Sydney.

My little family is my greatest joy in this life!

• Ava is precise yet creative
• Griffin is funny and on-the-go
• Sydney is spoiled yet loving
• Chris is practical and wise
• Kate (the author) is organized yet free-spirited (My mother says that...)

Here's to many posts yet to come!