I Got This

I will keep repeating that to myself until it becomes reality. So, I know we are all busy and I know that I am no exception, but just when I think that "I got this," I reminded that I do not. This is the time to hit my knees in prayer. We have another crazy May week this week and yet, I am home today with one sick child (his mean mommy told him it was just allergies and to "suck it up", only to look closer and find that he does indeed have a fever) and another child, darling daughter, awaiting a trip to the doctor to x-ray her pinky finger. If it is broken, this makes broken finger number three for Sweet Pea. This was  NOT on the calendar for today - not even close!

I am thankful for my full life. We have had so much to celebrate and be thankful for and yet, there are set backs. Life is not happy sunshine 24/7, but wouldn't it be wonderful if it was? Even for say, a week or two during the craziest month of our year? I won't go into great detail about the rest of our challenges, we all have them and they hurt, but I think the hurt makes the happy that much better. LAst night, we celebrated Fisherman's new school at a school-wide picnic. We found out that some dear friends we haven't seen in a while will be at the school next year with Fisherman. Blessings abound!

I will wrap this up, as I have to take Sweet Pea to the doctor, but I want to fill you all in on my daughter, and give you some unsolicited parenting advice. From the time Sweet Pea was in preschool, she has been asking to play football. Let me insert here that she is indeed a bow wearing, card carrying, girly girl who is tough as nails and out to prove it. Girl power! Anyhoo, girlfriend asked and asked to play football and I answered with "Oh no sweetie, how about ballet?" or "Wouldn't you rather play volleyball"(which she does, pretty well, I might add) Fast forward six years and our school is adding six man football to the sports next fall for seventh and eighth graders. Again, she asks to play football. However, instead of waiting for me and Mr. P's answer, girlfriend goes to the coach and asks him to play and apparently was convincing. Guess who was the only girl to start spring training with the team?  The coach planned on working her hard, thinking she would get discouraged and go back to volleyball. It didn't work. She is more fired-up than ever! It also doesn't help that she is better than most of the young men on the field. Really. She throws a mean spiral, catches like a guy and thinks getting hit is fun. Should I worry? I have been praying that God would be in control of this situation. If she is ever going to play, this is the time, as high school would be far too dangerous. All of this leads to yesterday at recess. She was playing football with her girlfriends and one of them threw a "wonky" pass and she caught it wrong and now her pinky is three times normal size and blue. Not good. Answer to prayer? Or just proof that you shouldn't play football with girls? I will found out in an hour or two. My unsolicited parenting advice? ALLOW YOUR DAUGHTER TO PLAY FOOTBALL, FLAG FOOTBALL, when she is little and get it out of her system if she thinks she wants to play. It is much safer and a lot less of a headache!

Amen! Pass the Tylenol.

Have a great day!

Krissy

photos via Pinterst

Texas History

I spent last week chaperoning fifteen seventh graders on our school's Texas History trip. Do I have a child in the seventh grade class? No. Do I teach texas History? No. Was I compensated to go on this trip? No. Why in the heck did I go? Good question! Just for the record: Fisherman is in the eighth grade and Sweet Pea is in sixth. The students in our school have the opportunity to go on overnight trips in sixth, seventh and eighth grade. Parents of students in that class are not allowed on the trip, so my thinking was that I would pay forward someone having to chaperone my own children on these trips, by chaperoning theirs. And, I do teach preschool at the school, sub quite a bit and I therefore appear to be "available" a lot, so I was asked. I really did have a fun time. I am tired, but I learned a lot and had the opportunity to see what my own children will experience. It was fun!

I won't bore you with a dissertation on Texas History, although I would love to. I am a bit of a history buff and find it fascinating. Yes, I do realize that most people do not share my enthusiasm. However, you might enjoy the pictures. We toured the Alamo (site of the famous battle between General Santa Anna and the entire Mexican Army against two hundred brave souls defending Texas freedom. The Texans lost but ultimately won freedom at the battle of San Jacinto). We also toured two other missions in San Antonio. These churches are still active parishes and were built in the 1700's.

The Alamo and my charges

We then traveled to Austin and went to the capital building, state cemetery and museums. Our state senator, Wendy Davis, took time out of her schedule to meet with us on the capital steps. Thank you Ms. Davis!

We also packed in some swimming in record cold temps, time at Main Event and lots of junk food. Whoohoo! Oh to be a teen again!

Top of the rotunda of the Texas State Capital Building

 

I had to thrown in one last pic. The eighth grade travelled to Vicksburg and Natchez, Mississippi to tour the Civil War historic sites there. This is Fisherman's class. Don't they look like a handsome bunch on this veranda? Fisherman is standing, second from left.

I feel so blessed that my children are in a school with these opportunities. Thank you for letting me share!

Happy Monday!

Krissy

Reality

We enjoyed a wonderful Spring Break ski trip to New Mexico. All was wonderful, that is, until we brought home sinus infections, upper respiratory yuck and one ear infection. Now it is back to reality - school, homework, soccer and volleyball practice and springtime craziness. Hope you all had a great break!

We were blessed to have snow up on the mountain, but the weather was warm in town and allowed Fisherman to get in a little of what he loves most...fishing. 

Happy Monday - dont' work too hard!

Krissy

A Dickens of a Christmas

The actual scene - live! That's Fisherman in the red!

Last Friday evening, we were entertained at the minis' school with a wonderful, holiday production. Each year, the seventh and eighth graders perform the classic Charles Dickens' story A Christmas Carol - as a musical no doubt! Each student is required to participate (nothing like making a young teen do something) and they also have the option of trying-out for specific roles. This is exciting news for some, but for Fisherman, not so much. However, much to my delight, my boy tried-out for a part! He was an understudy for Fred and part of a special party scene. He did not sing a solo (He won't mind my saying this - thank you Jesus!) and he had no spoken lines, but did I care? He stole the show for me! My boy was on the stage!

Curtain call!

I have mentioned before that this is Fisherman's first year at this school and quite a change from what he is used to. He is having a wonderful year; our prayers have been answered. He smiles each day and is so enjoying all of the opportunities that he has been given. Being a teenager, he won't admit to this, but as a mom, I know it to be true. We can't rest on our laurels for long though, he must face his first-ever finals next week! Well, as Tiny Tim would say,

"God bless us everyone!"

We are going to need it!

Krissy

Futbol At Our House

We are in the throws of fall around here. For the mini-pearls, that means school events and for the older two, research papers, TCU football games and tailgates, and futbol for Sport and Fisherman (that's soccer for all of us Americans), and ballet for Sweet Pea (volleyball just ended). Whew! That is one full schedule, but I wouldn't have it any other way - most days.

Sport is playing soccer on the team that he has been playing with since he was four. They started futbol out as the Rockets, but changed their name to Juventus last fall. Juventus is the name of one of the oldest futbol clubs in Italy and they sport the same uniforms as the Italian team. They are very proud of this. Sport is the self-proclaimed "wall of defense" and is the only kid I have ever known that never complains about practice or games. This kid loves to play and bless his heart, this fall has been difficult. He was down with his asthma for a week and couldn't play. I guess that is why he never complains. He treasures getting to play and feeling good!

Going, going...

gone!

The Wall of Defense

Fisherman played futbol this fall for the first time since he was five. He played for the school's soccer team. Sport and Sweet Pea have been at this school all along, but Fisherman attended another school that he graduated from last spring. So, this is all new to him. Coming to a new, much larger school was a challenge and I am so proud of all that he has accomplished and it's only October! We don't hide the fact that Fisherman is faced with the challenge of dyslexia. He is so smart but his brain operates in a manner that is different from the way main-stream education defines as "normal" but with a lot of hard work, my boy is rocking school with A's and B's and participating on an undefeated soccer team! (Unlike Sweet Pea, the boy's don't mind if I discuss them on the blog.) You rock Fisherman!

Celebrating a win!

Fisherman has the curse of my family - a red face!

I never cease to be amazed by the things my children accomplish and the grace with which they do it. I am so proud that God has given me opportunity to be the mother of these wonderful beings. I only pray that I don't cause them permanent damage! Being a mom is the most wonderful job that I have ever had. It is also the most frustrating and difficult. I don't claim to be the best, but I try really hard and with the good Lord's help, I will raise one amazing woman and two incredible men. I have been feeling that time is going too fast lately. How can it be that my baby is eight? How can my oldest be a teenager? How can my baby girl be on the verge of young womanhood? I feel like screaming "Wait! I need more time!" So, with those words, I am off to spend some time with these not so little ones that I have been placed in charge of and see what they can teach me, since I feel I learn more from them, than they from me.

Krissy

Brighten Your Day

Hello lovelies! My poor Sport has been home sick since last Thursday. Last Thursday was the poor guy's eighth birthday and he spent it at the doctor. What was diagnosed as a sinus infection took a turn for the worse and we were at the emergency room early Friday morning with an acute asthma attack. My baby just can't seem to get a break! He is doing better. I mean it's nothing that six medicines and a lot of prayer can't cure. It just seems that for every one step forward in battling his asthma, we take two steps back. So, we are plugging along.

All of the downtime around the house hasn't been all that bad. I have had my fill of snuggle-time and have caught-up on my design mags. I came across these fabulously bright rooms in D Magazine (that's the Dallas Magazine for those not from these parts). They sure brightened my day, so I thought I would share the smile with you!

Happy Wednesday!

Krissy

photos via D Magazine.

Happy and Sad

The mini pearls: 2nd, 7th and 5th

Today was the first day of school for the mini-pearls. I feel some sadness. Sadness that yet another summer has come and gone and my babies are no longer babies and are spending more and more time away from the nest. Sadness that the calendar is full with a set schedule once again. Yet, I am happy, too. Happy that summer is over and I can confidently say that we did everything we set out to do and more. Happy that my babies are going to be spending more and more time away from the nest. Happy that we have a full calendar schedule and I no longer have to play activities director. I am now just the chauffeur. It's a love/hate thing for me but here we are. I guess it really is possible for something to make you happy and sad or I am just indecisive. Please keep those comments to your self.

I am most happy and joyful about the fact that all three minis are at the same school for the first time ever! Wahoo! One drop-off in the morning, all sports practices at the same place (for the older ones, as they play on school teams), one place to volunteer, one place to remember. Yes, this makes me happy. I think they are happy, too.

I must say that I did enjoy my few hours off today. After the "back-to-school parent coffee", I played hooky with a sweet friend and had a lunch date with her at the movies and saw The Help. Go see this film. It was wonderful. Happy and sad. I plan on playing hooky again next week and taking my mom to see it. It's that good!

The minis brought each of their teachers a shiny apple for their desks.

My favorite part of the first day of school: a brand new box of Crayons!

Happy day!

Krissy

Chicks in the Nest

Fisherman in Biscayne Bay - that is Miami in the background

Fisherman arrived home today after a special thirteenth birthday trip to Fort Lauderdale with my mother-in-law. My mother-in-law (bless her heart) has spent the last week catering to my boy and his every whim. What are his whims, you ask? Let me back-up a bit and give you a little background info. The idea for this entire trip started in the spring when Fisherman did a report for school on the I.G.F.A. museum (International Game Fishing Association) and he might have said more than once how much he wanted to go there. (Yes, my eldest son even writes about fishing. It consumes him!) Anywho, his little comments about going to the museum are precisely the kind of comments that fall on a parent's deaf ears, but grandparents don't seem to miss. Yeah grandparents! So, off they went to Fort Lauderdale.

The eighty pound nurse shark that Fisherman caught.

Fisherman really put some thought into this trip. He scoped-out a hotel adjacent to the museum to stay in. The museum is right by a very large Bass Pro Shop. This is Fisherman's mothership. He lives to go to this place and can spend hours carefully combing through it. They went to Bass Pro everyday. They got to know the employees. This was not by accident. My boy is no dummy. Did I mention that they went to Bass Pro everyday? Fisherman got to meet Guy Harvey, one of his idols. (Who is Guy Harvey? He is a wildlife conservationist, fisherman and artist. You have probably seen his work and don't realize it.) They took an airboat through the Everglades and went fishing in Biscayne Bay. I don't know about my mother-in-law, but Fisherman had a ball. She has set the bar high for thirteenth birthday trips. (by-the-way: Sweet Pea is already talking of Paris - oh dear).

Guy Harvey artwork found here

All my chicks are in the nest, for now anyway. We celebrated by having a family dinner and Sweet Pea decorated a delicious cake with the mad-skills that she learned in cake decorating class at fine arts' camp last week. Sporty has been perfecting his dive. He learned how in lessons last week. We are together for a bit until camp and the rest of the summer madness hits again. Me? I am enjoying my chicks in the nest. Don't worry though, I will get over it and you can bet that I will be the first car in line for camp drop-off in a couple of weeks!

xoxo,

Krissy

Thirteen

Thirteen years ago today, my life forever changed for the better. This little bundle entered my world. It was Easter Sunday and it was the best Easter ever.

Home from the hospital

Where does the time go?

The Pearl Family of Three - oh my! Mr. Pearl and I look like teenagers.

(we were not by the way)

ooh that hiney!

First Birthday!

first loves - paci and woobie

Second Birthday at the train

A Sprite from Sonic, "real tongs", and the grill... good times

Third Birthday

Fisherman and Daddy

A new love - fishing

(this one seems to be a "keeper")

Kindergarten picture

(this one melts my heart)

Swinging from a tree

First Bay Fishing Trip

Legos - you are a master

The Beach - home away from home

A young man - when did this happen?

Your infectious smile

The place you are most comfortable - anywhere outdoors

I cannot believe that my first born is thirteen. Thirteen! How did this happen? I mean one day it's sippy cups and Thomas train and the next it's Legos, fishing lures, guns and deodorant. Lot's and lot's of deodorant!

Fisherman, you are a blessing to our family. You are a loving son, a patient, big brother and a loyal friend. Your passion and love for fishing and the outdoors is contagious and your knowledge is amazing. You are smart and you work hard. You are funny and a delight to be around and you light the world with your gi-normous smile. Happy Birthday darling son! Thank you for still allowing me to hug you in public. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has planned for you, for it is sure to be great. Happy, Happy Day!

Mom