OH WHAT A MORNING!!!

Have you ever had a morning where nothing seemed to go quite right? This morning was one of those and oh, what a morning it was! Let's begin at the beginning - early, early this morning (4:55 a.m. to be exact) with the cry of my 9 week old son. That's right - he was ready for some food. So, I do as I always do and pop him out of the basinet and into my arms to nurse while I fall back asleep. As I was contemplating the time while drifting back into dreamland I realized that Rhett was going to be hungry again around 7 a.m. (right as I'm making last preparations for the day and getting kids prepared to leave for the sitters). But, that thought soon vanished as I fell asleep again. The alarm came oh too soon and I found myself hitting the snooze button three to many times. By the time I actually realized what I was doing it was 6 a.m. Panic set in and I jumped out of bed. Heading for the shower and glancing at myself in the bathroom mirror the realization that Rhett had just nursed on one side made me do a double take and in my mind I was thinking, "Oh crap," Will I have time to pump before I leave - not likely!! The next hour was a whirlwind of activity: showering, getting dressed, passifying Rhett (with 4 oz. of formula in his car seat while I finished getting Addison dressed and ready - don't judge!), and running around the house packing my lunch, Rhett's diaper bag, and all my school items (things I should have done the night before but was much too tired). Rhett finished his bottle just in time and without burping him (oops!) I stuck both kids in the car and we were off to Kristen's. We arrived at Kristen's a little behind schedule but nothing so drastic as to say that I was leaving them on the doorstep and running back to my car or anything. Instead I felt the need to chat and delay my lateness ever further. While there I realized that in my busyness this morning I neglected to remember to put Rhett's bottle in his diaper bag. Oh Joy! Now I need to call my husband and have him bring one to Kristen - not a huge deal though right? I hop back in my car around 7:50 a.m. (supposed to be at work by 8:00 a.m. - in Melba!) and say a nice little Christian curse under my breath as I realize the time for what it was - not only would I be late for work but I would also get ahold of Jeremy just in time for him to be arriving at work and the last thing he is going to want to do is go back home and grab a bottle. Luckily I make it to Melba with 7 min. until the bell rings - I quickly call Jeremy and he lovingly agrees to go back and get the bottle (love that man!) And then I realize that if I don't do something about my lopsidedness I'm going to be one hurting (or very wet) teacher in no time at all. This neglected breast has seen close to 9 hours with no nursing action and by golly it feels like it's going to explode. So, I take my handy dandy travel duel breastpump and head for the ladies restroom. That's right - I have to pump in a small ladies room. This room is about 5'x5' , one toilet, one sink and a small cabinet for womenly things. Not a very big space!! Anyways, at least there is an outlet and that's all I need. So, I get all of my equipment ready, expose myself to the chilly, stale air of this restroom, sit down on the toilet (no cover - apparently too much work) and try and get some relief. Well, you probably have guessed it by now but just as soon as I sit down the bell rings. At this point I don't care if my students have to wait a few extra minutes out in the cold, I have to express some of this milk NOW!! After I feel like the pressure has at least subsided and may at least last me until recess without any further leakage or lopsidedness I reluctantly begin putting away my things. I'm quickly trying to shove everything into the travel pack and wash my hands when I feel water dripping down my leg - I look on the toilet seat and notice that it's all wet. My first thought was oh great I just sat in urine and am going to smell like a toilet all day. No - actually my dress had been sitting IN the toilet while I was pumping and the bottom was soaked and running down my leg. At this point in the morning I just had to laugh because -seriously - it was funny! I did my best to squeeze as much toilet water out of my dress as possible, gather my things and head out the door to the lonely line of students standing out in the cold. Luckily none of them asked about the travel bag that I was carrying, or the reason behind the drips of water that followed me as I walked. Fortunately for me the rest of the day carried on without any major mishaps and I am able to laugh about the abnormal, crazy morning that I had. I'm sure some of you moms can relate and if any men end up reading this blog - I apologize for my bluntness but the story would just not be the same without the details. Hopefully next time you have a tough morning you can remember me and mentally put a picture in your head of me in a small bathroom, sitting on the toilet, fully exposed, expressing milk with my double breast pump and having my dress lazily float in the toilet water. Happy mornings to you all!!

THANKSGIVING!!

Our Thanksgiving this year ended up being a Franklin family reunion. My mother-in-law (Nancy) has 5 sisters and each one came this year with their families. So, that was 43 people in all, including the kiddos. Jim and Nancy had a FULL house. It was extremely good to see everyone and enjoy their company for a few days. We played many games (Risk, ping-pong, telephone pictionary, pictionary, apples to apples, PIT, and Rook to name a few). We also enjoyed celebrating Grandma Grace's birthday and having our own little Christmas together. It was a fun time and time well spent. Before we knew it the day had come for everyone to leave and the rest of us to return to work. Who knows when we will get to spend time together again, especially ALL of us at once but it was a time that I will cherish and remember. I feel so blessed to have married into such a wonderful family.

I'm Thankful for . . .

The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Having a wonderful family
Addison and Rhett
Never having to fear about the future - God is in control
Katie - my little sis
Sunday's
God giving his son for me so I can live in Heaven someday
In 7 months I will be in DisneyWorld with my family
Veterans - Thank you!
Icicles (good for prisms, swords, popsicles and lots of laughs)
Nerds - without them we would be stuck in the stone age
Grandma's apple crisp

One week down!!

So, many of you know I just went back to work on Monday morning. It was a bittersweet moment for me because as much as I love teaching I hated leaving my kids. And someday I hope to put teaching on hold for awhile and just be at home. But, until then I am glad to say that I do not dread getting up in the morning and spending my day with 22 little people. Each and every one of them is such a blessing to me and I'm so grateful that I got the class that I have this year. When I returned Monday morning there were plenty of hugs and smiles going around and as my heart ached for my own children I felt blessed that God had given me 22 more that I was now responsible for once again - and they had missed me!! It was a good feeling.

The week whizzed by and now I feel like I'm back in my old routine again. My kids were in the wonderful hands of my long-term sub and church friend Ruth Pridgen and my class absolutely adored her. She was so amazing and I was able to pick up right where she left off without any setbacks.

Even though I'm enjoying my class right now I'm excited to go back after Christmas and only work 3 days a week, especially since I've exhausted all my sick days during maternity leave. And what do you know - the first day back to school I come home with a sore throat and am still trying to fight a cold. It figures!!

All in all however it was a good first week back and I trusted that Addie and Rhett were in good hands. Thanks again to my mother-in-law, Barbie, my mom and Kristen for shuffling the kids around your busy schedules. I felt really good going to work knowing that my kids were in a loving and safe environment.

Thanks for all of you that were praying for me and my first week back. Love you all!!

Hair CUT!!!

O.K. - so I was hoping that we could get through the stage where toddlers cut their hair but I failed miserably in the attempt to skirt around this one.

Last night as I was cleaning something off the floor I noticed a clump of hair underneath the bench that sits at the end of our hallway. I thought it was strange and when I looked closer I realized that it could only be one person's and that was of an almost 4 year old little girl who when quickly glancing at her I suddenly realized that one ponytail was a bit shorter than the other. We questioned her about it and she begrudingly admitted to trimming it.

So, this morning after bath time I attempted to reconstruct her hair so that it wasn't that noticeable. I failed!! It is noticeable and I don't think there is anything myself or anyone else could have done about it. She will probably wearing the same hairdo to all public functions until it grows out. And of course this comes at a time when she will have her 4 year old, and Christmas pictures taken. I was trying to grow it out as long as I could before then. That just goes to show that I should not make plans of how I want things to be when dealing with a toddler. I had to laugh though!! Silly kid!!

The discovery of the missing hair

One ponytail lacking a few inches. She doesn't seem too upset does she?

The new hairdo - the one everyone will be seeing for awhile!

History Has Been Made!!

On Tuesday evening our country elected a new President - Barak O' Bama. As we were watching the poll counts come in and becoming more and more discouraged as the outcome of the election slowly became a stark reality I was stunned by the newscasters reactions. They were commenting on the fact that America's younger generation (who voted in full force) are colorblind when it comes to a person's race. I would have to agree that my generation and younger don't seem to have an issue with anyone that is black, latino, asian, etc . . . They have always been an equal part of our lives growing up and now that we are older it doesn't seem to phase us. However, I was apalled by the newcasters comments that the fact that Barak O'Bama was black and democrat were the sole reasons for his becoming President. I believe as this election has played out that it is true - we are colorblind - but the same should be said that the majority of the public seem to be blind to reason, morals and a lack of duty to our country and what it stands for. Some of the things that Barak O'Bama wants to do as our President completely astonish me and cause me to wonder about the future of our country. His stand on abortion for example and that he could willingly support partial-birth abortion or ANY abortion for that matter makes my toes curl and makes my stomach churn. His statement that he would like to bankrupt every coal company in America so that we do not have to rely on that kind of energy anymore is a concern for those who work the coal companies. They would be out jobs as will thousands of Americans who fall prey to his golden tax plan. Didn't he say that he is going to create jobs? The list goes on including his health care plan and his plan for the war in Iraq. All of which I do not agree with.


All in all, the damage is done and we will be answering to his government for the next four years and possibly longer. I hope and pray that Mr.O'Bama leads this country in a positive direction and he will have my respect as I believe that his position demands and expects it of me. However, in this great country I do not have to agree with him on everything. I also will be glad to see America get away from the bashing of a President. Barak O'Bama will not get the kind of treatment that George Bush did simply because the liberal media will not allow it, no matter what he does. I have to admit it will be nice to see a President respected in the media and I wish him the best of luck.


Throughout this campaign I have been nervous and fearful with the prospect of O'Bama becoming our President. However, as the campaign entered it's final days a few months ago I realized that Barak O'Bama will not have complete control of America. It has always and will always be God's. Our founding forefather's prayed and poored God into every aspect of America's government and how it was to be run. I am so grateful for a higher power that is in Jesus. And it is HIM that I will be looking toward for answers, it is HIM that I will be bowing down to, it is HIM in who the fate of America lies, it is HIM that I will be singing songs of praise to and it is HIM who is in complete control and so I do not live in fear of the start of the O'Bama reign in the white house. May God Bless Barak O'Bama who will be my President and may God continue to bless America.


I also want to give a shout out to my current President for the last 8 years - George W. Bush. No other President in the history of our country has gone through what this man has and I say well done Mr. President. He went through the worse terrorist attack in the history of this country, 4 natural disasters, two wars, the capture of one of the worst dicators in the history of the world and a fallen economy. He stood his ground and did the best he could under the circumstances, and did it with America spitting in his face. I want to thank him for his service to our country and thank him that we are still safe, we have food, shelter, jobs and are still free. May God Bless him as he passes the baton and I hope and pray that his future is one of health and happiness. You've done a great job George Bush and I thank you.

HALLOWEEN!!

Halloween kind of snuck up on us this year. We usually have a harvest party at church and this year we didn't so it didn't seem quite the same. Halloween night we had Jesse and Jeni over for some Monster Stew and finger sticks - then we hit the trick-o-treating trail. We first hit the family houses and then the kids went door to door in Jeremy's parents neighborhood. It was a fun-filled evening but Addison was very tired when her head hit the pillow. We look forward to seeing pictures of all our little friends who we weren't able to see in their costumes this year. Hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween!!

Me and my little dalmation

Pirate, Poodle, Princess

Cutest pink poodle ever!!

My puppies!!

Pink poodle and her best!!