Moving Day

Moving day today. Thank goodness my parents flew in to help. We're exhausted.

Little Patriot

Hello Friends

I think it's time that I open up about something going on in my life. I've obviously been out of blogging for a long time and many of you have asked me about it. I've been so preoccupied with other things going on that I haven't had time or emotional energy for blogging or keeping in touch or, sadly, being a good friend. So please don't take any unreturned emails, Facebook messages, or phone calls personally.

Many of you have heard about this by now but some probably still haven't. The last couple of years in particular have been really rough for my marriage. Things have not been going well and despite our best efforts and several months of counseling, we have not been able to work things out. After over a year of thinking and praying and soul-searching, I finally filed for divorce at the beginning of January. Anyone who knows me knows that this is not something I came to quickly or easily. But it is something that I believe will be for the best in the long run for everyone involved.

We've continued living together the last couple of months and keeping it together for our boys' sake. I think we've done a pretty good job of keeping them out of it and I hope we can always be successful in that. We both love them more than anything and we both have their best interests at heart.

We haven't worked out all the details yet, but things are starting to come together. I've leased an apartment nearby and the boys and I will be moving out at the end of this month. There is a daycare that I've toured several times that I feel really comfortable with for Sam that is 1/2 mile from my apartment, and Noah's elementary school is just 1/2 mile from that. I've started working part-time while the boys are in preschool. I work retail on the weekends and I work during the week (preschool hours) at a CPA firm in Houston and will hopefully move up to full-time there when preschool lets out at the end of May. Although accounting has never been my favorite thing, I'm really grateful that I've been able to get a good job after being out of that world for almost five years. And I'm unbelievably grateful for the baby and toddler years I had at home with my boys.

Anyway, so that's what's going on over here. Life's hard sometimes.

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. You all may have noticed an absense of the Simiskey family Christmas card in your mail. Don't take it personally - I didn't send out any Christmas cards this year. I guess this post will have to do! (Oh, and please don't take me off your Christmas card list. I have loved getting your cards and will hopefully be more on the ball next year).

Merry Christmas!

Just Can't Get Enough

This morning when we were crossing the street and Sam refused to hold hands, Noah said, "Mama, if Sam doesn't hold hands a car is going to hit him. And then the big tire is going to sqeeze him. And then he is going to die." Sometimes I think I am too graphic with my kids.

More Noah: The other day we were at the library, playing in the children's section. Noah was having fun with all the animals when he held up the giraffe and said, "Mama, this giraffe is the Mommy. She says good morning to all the sweethearts and then she gives them kisses and chocolate milk."

Yet more Noah: One night Ben was putting Noah to bed. Noah said the prayer all by himself and afterward Ben gave him a big hug and said, "Great job, Beeju! I'm so proud of you!" To which Noah responded, "Yeah, yeah. Don't make a big deal about it."

Last one (for now): Sometimes Noah is not in the mood for a hug, but he likes to let us down gently. For instance, once my mom was saying goodbye to Noah while he was in his carseat. She leaned into the car and reached for him, asking if she could have a hug. Noah stuck out his foot and said, "Here Grammie - you can hug my toe."


I can't get enough of this kid.

P.S.

Speaking of Noah, yesterday I walked into the family room to find Noah lying on the floor, completely naked, with his underpants on his head.

Noah's Preschool Questionnaire

What is your Daddy's name?
Papa

How old is your Dad?
43

What is your Dad's job?
I don't know. He eats. He cuts the grass. He plays with my outside toys and plays inside with me.

What is his favorite food?
Meat.

What does your Daddy like to do for fun?
To play with me.

What is your favorite thing to do with your Dad?
To play with my animals.

Why do you love your Dad?
Because I do.

Sam Really Gets Into His Treats

The boy loves his ice cream...


...and his cake

This One's for Jenn :)

So last week I experienced my first hurricane. Very exciting. We were basically right in the path of Hurricane Ike, but we live far enough inland that we didn't have to evacuate or anything. Still, we knew we would lose power and all that so we were sure to stock up on water and pantry-type food and all that good stuff.

The hurricane conveniently coincided with me being totally sick so I spent the night lying in bed, kind of half-conscious. It was, obviously, the craziest storm I have ever heard! I thought for sure at a couple of different points during the night that our windows were going to blow in, but they didn't. My little boys slept through the entire thing.

We were very fortunate that we didn't have any damage done to our home or yard. There are lots of fences and some trees down in our area, but overall things are fine. We were also very lucky to only lose power for 20 hours. Not bad! Although we do have friends that are still without power, and many stores and restaurants in the area are still without.

Anyway, I just wanted to update because my friend Jenn asked me to. :) Thanks for your concern, Jenn!

P.S. I know I'm a crappy blogger. I still have several posts in my head that I have yet to type out. I'll get to it eventually.

First Day of Preschool

Today was Noah's first day of preschool. His school is from 9-2 (he'll be going 3 days a week) so I was a little bit nervous about how he would do being away for 5 hours all of a sudden. He loved it though! He was all smiles when I came to get him and was so excited to show me what he had done that day. His teacher (who I love already - she labels his papers "Animal" for him) said he did so great and didn't have any transition issues at all. He is the only one in his class starting for the first time, but his teacher said he just joined right in with everything. Noah even told my dad on the phone, after a very enthusiastic recap of his day, "I'm going to go to school again tomorrow!!" I'm so happy that he loves it.

(This picture of Noah in his classroom is very blurry. I was trying to hurry plus I had a squirmy toddler on my hip):

Noah's Birthday Party

On Noah's birthday we had a party for him at our pool (basically an identical party to Sam's - it's nice having two summer birthdays!). Here are a bunch of pictures from the day:

Floating babies

Birthday boy
Sam contemplating the high dive

Cupcake time:

Waiting patiently Blowing out the candles

Some of the party guests:

Lexi

Tatum

Grant

KaylaDaniel

Emily
Jamesand of course, Sam

Now We're Pretending it's August 9th

I actually did start this letter on August 9th but then the weeks flew by. I don't know what my deal is. Anyway...

Dear Noah,

Today (August 9) is your fourth birthday. On this day in 2004 you made me a Mama, and for that I will forever be grateful to you. Here are some pictures from the day you were born:

I knew when you were in utero that you would be a fiesty little guy. You would flip around with such force that my whole belly would make waves big enough to see on the outside. And one time, when I dared to rest my bowl of fruit on top of my big belly, you started kicking so ferociously that the bowl wobbled and nearly fell right off! I guess I can't blame you - I wouldn't want someone resting their lunch on my head either.

It's funny now thinking back to when you were growing inside me. I've been trying to explain it a little bit to you, but it's still a hard thing for a four-year-old to get. Your mind is making connections though; after we read Horton Hatches an Egg, you said to me, "Mama! Do you remember when I was in an egg and you were sitting on me and then I broke out of the egg and was a baby? Do you remember that?" I'm sure by the time you are old enough to read this you will have straightened it out, but just to be clear - humans don't hatch out of eggs, they grow in their mama's bellies. And just to prove it, here are a couple of pictures of you in my belly:


One of the amazing things about being your Mom is seeing how your mind works, and watching as you learn new things and increase your communication skills and expand your thought processes. Having a big four-year-old boy like you is so fun because we have actual coversations together and I enjoy talking to you so much. You are such an observant little guy and you just take in and remember everything. Sometimes I feel like I can almost see you learning something new. And there are so many times when you'll say something to me that I don't ever remember teaching you before.

Noah, I love you so much. I hope there is never a time, even for a moment, that you question that. I sometimes feel badly for the first child because the parents are just feeling their way. I know that I fall short sometimes and I hope you'll forget (or at least forgive and not be psychologically damaged by) my mommy mistakes. I make you promise me every night before bed that you'll always be my boy and I'm going to hold you to it. And, as you make me promise you every night, yes - I'll always be your girl.

Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mama

Newborn

One year old

Two years old

Three years old

Four years old