Ode To Pain!!!

Yesterday friends of ours went to our gym to help train us. Matt and Sioux-z are power lifters and own their own fitness gym. They took the time out of their busy schedule to help Noah and we are so grateful. They taught us so many new things and the funny part was that we didn't use any gym equipment. Not sure why we need a gym membership anymore!!!

They kicked our butt and I am feeling it. Oh am I feeling it today!!!! At one point yesterday I wanted to give up because I was so tired, but Matt just told me to suck it up and get it done. How rude!!! Is that how someone should talk to the "First Lady"?!?! HAHA.

Noah and I are now ready to take our workout to the next level thanks to Matt and Sioux-z!!!

Matt and Sioux-z ( the best trainers ever)

Childhood Friend!!!

I love that I am still in touch with a childhood friend. Of course through facebook I am in touch with lots of high school and college friends, but I love the fact that I spend time with one of them.

Here she is... Nicole Young

Nicole and I have been friends since 5th grade. We did about everything together. I was with her so much that people asked if we were related and we would say,"yes we are cousins." So all through Jr. high and High school everyone thought that and we didn't correct them and we still don't.

Nicole was a true friend to me and was always there for me. She was there to..

• lean on
• cry on
• laugh with
• talk about boys
• talk about girl stuff
• help me study (I would have failed many science tests without her)
• encourage me
• support me in the things I was interested in (Nicole and I are total opposites but we were always good at compromising).
  
• etc...

When we left for college we went our separate ways and lost touch. I always thought about her and kept our friendship dear to my heart. When I moved to Maryland we were able to get back in touch. It felt like we have never lost touch and I am so happy when I get to spend time with her.

This past Saturday, Noah and I went to Baltimore to celebrate with Nicole. She just graduated with her MBA. YEAH Nicole!!! We had the best time and Nicole and I broke out some old moves at Howl at the Moon (Piano bar).

Nicole and I

Nicole and Aunt Cathy (Nicole's mom)

Boys Afternoon Outing!!!

I love when my boys spend time together. My best memories with my dad were when him and I went out together. Nothing like getting your undivided attention from you dad.

Noah and Davis went to see the Blue Angels fly in Annapolis, Maryland. Davis loves airplanes (he still calls them bees) and so does Noah. They had a blast!!!!

Yeah for DADDY DAY!!!

Airing Dirty Laudry!!!

Being a Mom is HARD!!!!

Here is my junk for for the week. It has been hard being a mom this last month. Davis is going through some transitions.

• Not listening very well
• Not sharing his toys
• Not sleeping in his own bed anymore
• Being very rough with his friends (especially the little ones)
  
• Very clingy to me ( at home, church,and school). It has been hard to do my job at church because if he sees me he flips out and the same at school. There are days when I can't have lunch with him because he freaks out when I have to go back to my classroom.

Here is what this has done to me:

• I feel like I have to be so strict with him because I don't want to let anything slide. I am so scared to have a "bad child".
• I am starting to feel myself worth in my 2 year old. If he not doing well, then neither am I.
• I feel like I need to protect him more so he doesn't get falsely accused.
• I find myself not wanting to put him in a situation that could cause him to act up. He had such a bad day yesterday that I went to bed early to hold him and cry because I didn't know what else to do.
• I feel it is my fault because I am not home with him during the day. I can't wait!!! 7 more days of school left and I will have more time with him. I am sick of others having him more than me. I think he really needs me know, so I am thanking God right now for making it financially possibly for me to do this.

I hate that I feel like I need my son to be perfect. I hate that I am letting what other people say about him to effect what I really think. I hate that I care what others think in general. They are not going to stand before God on my behalf or my son.

If you think about it pray for me. Pray that God continues to make me into the mom that I need to be for Davis and any other kids to come. I need to remember that my son is not perfect and that he is ONLY 2. I need to be true to my heart and know that I have an AMAZING kid and I really don't think I have done half a bad job raising him thus far.

"Sorry DayDay, Only 7 more days and you are going to have a lot more of your mommy. Promise!!!!"

Book Review

I read an awesome book this weekend. It was kind of a challenge/dare but it ended up being an amazing read. It was to prove to Noah that I do like reading "spiritual books" and yes I can read them just as fast as my other novels.

So, I told him that I would not read another novel until I read a "spiritual book" and this book was the first in the pile of books I wanted to read. Man was I glad I picked it.

This lady stepped all over my toes and brought home some good points to romancing my husband. Some key things that I took from this book:

1. You want your husband to romance you? Then start romancing him first and he will follow. Does your husband hope you will be intimate with you or does he show you what he wants? They have no problems communicating what they want, so we shouldn't either.
2. Your husband wants a lover-wife not a mother-wife. Sometimes I found myself guilty of this. I want Noah to do something but I want to make sure he does it my way. Many times I end up just doing it myself. So yesterday at lunch Noah said he would make Davis a plate and I bit my lip and let him. There wasn't much on it that Davis would eat, but instead of controlling the situation and going back to get something else I let Davis eat what he wanted, and it ended up being great. I just told Noah thank you and enjoyed my lunch. I need to do that more often!
3. You need to have a forgiving heart. Your husband is not perfect and neither are you. They need as much forgiveness and grace as the next person. With God in the middle of our marriage anything is possible, even forgiving the unforgivable.
4. Save the best for last! We need to cultivate a scared romance with God. If we grow in our relationship with Christ and take time to worship and read His word, we are going to make our marriage better. We are responsible to pray for our spouse everyday and sometimes several times a day (lol).

There are so many good points in this book and I was extra blessed this weekend reading it. It is a must read!!!

It's been awhile

So every Tuesday night is family night in the Kaye household. We get home and give Davis all our attention. No...

• TV
  
• Cell phones
  
• Laptops
• Nora Roberts!!!
  

We do lots of different things together

• Park
• Out to dinner
• Mall
  
• Etc...

The plan is for Noah and I to have our own time after Davis goes to bed, but that hasn't been happening. Life just has been crazy and WE have put other things first. It also hasn't helped having a visitor in our bed every night.

Last night we had a plan:

• Get home
• Change
• Out to dinner with Kaye and Hunt family before heading back to my school for a spring musical.

The plan didn't happen:

• The in-laws came
• Davis and Naylin wanted to go with Grammy and Hatme.
• Dinner went from 7 down to 2 (Noah and I)
  

We got to Carrabba's and sat down and looked at each other and said, "When is the last time this has happened?" Who knows and who cares! I am so glad that I had my husband to myself, even if it was for one hour. Confession: We talked to each other more in that hour then the last few weeks. We have to get back to date night!!!

What do you like to do for date night?

Picky Eater!!!

I told myself that I would not have a picky eater and that I would never cook a separate meal for my children. Then Davis came along and messed up my plan.

Here is the list of foods that Davis will eat:

• All fruits (except for pineapple)
• hot dogs
• bologna
  
• ham
  
• Cheddar cheese
• cheese pizza
• chicken ( any form)
• french fries
• Yuca Frita (fried yuca)
• Sweet plantains
• cookies
• fruit snacks
  
• animal crackers
• And any other junk food (but we try not to keep that in the house)
• Pasta
  

So what went wrong? I had him try different foods and retry and retry, but he will either not open his mouth or he will spit it out. Now he says, "I can't like that." My kid doesn't eat beef, fish (don't blame him), rice of any kind, potatoes( sweet or white) or VEGETABLES. On a given night there is only one thing on the dinner table that he will eat and if that is not chicken, then I am in trouble. So I have to heat up nuggets or a hot dog and I always serve him some type of fruit.

Do you have a picky eater? What can I do to help him eat/try new foods? Should I worry so much? I am a new mommy and I want my son to be healthy.

Amazing!!!

Can you imagine driving down the highway and seeing this? I can't but a friend of ours did on the Eastern Shore last month. This picture is amazing!!!

All I can say is "WAY COOL!"

Home Again!!!

They are coming home!!!

We are so excited that Naylin and Anthony are coming back home. Their birth mom was able to take them with her to rehab (which I do not understand why). So Selah and Randy had to take them last Friday and it was so hard to say goodbye.

Well, their mom can't handle it with them there and Naylin and Anthony are not eating or sleeping, and they wont stop crying for Mommy bird and daddy dee.

So, In Davis' words, "Mommy, Naylin and Anthony coming home." That is right, Yeah for Naylin and Anthony!!

Happy School Days!!!

Nothing makes me happier then to touch a life a child.

Today my students and I were outside on the playground and I was just watching them play. It brought me so much joy to see them all playing and getting along. All 14 of them played house and there was a mommy and daddy and the rest of the kids were the children. The mommy and daddy were running around protecting their children and helping them on the different play sets to safety. All I heard was "Mommy help or Daddy help" It was sooo cute!!!

It hasn't been an easy year for me and it was very hard some days to get up and go into work. Even though it was hard and at time unbearable, my students always knew how to put a smile on my face. Who wouldn't love hearing, "I love you Mrs. Kaye or You're the best teacher?" I am so grateful for all the love and hugs I got from my students this year and I will truly miss them.

I am so bless that I get to spend my days with amazing children that are so eager to learn and to love. We all need to have hearts more like children. Our world would be a much better place!!!

Here are my first graders having fun on the playground after a hard academic day!!!

All Good Things Must Come to an End!

So after 27 months of having a perfect sleeper who slept in his own bed, Davis is now asking to sleep in "Mommy's bed" every night.

We start are bed time routine with:
Bath
Pj's
teeth
books
prayer

Then when we give him his cup and bobo (pacifier) and walk him to the back of the house, he automatically turns to our room and says, "I sleep in Mommy's bed." Noah would like to know where Davis thinks his daddy sleeps?

So are we going backwards or what? He does go to bed at his normal time and his normal way. We just join him when we are ready to go to bed. I do love having him next to me, but it is annoying to have "mommy and daddy time" in another room.

Forgot to mention that they sleep in our bed too. One big happy family!!!

The couple that said that they would never have a family bed is definitely is singing a different tune now. Who would of thought!!!

My Favorite Speaker!!!

I do not get a lot of opportunities to hear Noah preach (I am usually back in Capi's kids), but when I do get to be in the service I am so blessed. I know that he is my husband but he is by far my favorite preacher. Even when we are at home talking about the things of God, I am soaking it in. I admire his faith and at times I am very convicted when I see him not worrying about the big or little things like me. His famous saying is, "Why worry when I have God on my side." or "Sweetie, stop worrying God's got this." Those statements are so true but yet I still find myself worrying. I am so blessed to have a husband that leads by example and leans on our God Almighty who has never failed us yet.

Noah's Easter sermon on HOPE

"Noah, In the last five years I have seen you turn a church around and transform people's lives. People that are truly going after our vision, "Loving God, Loving People, Living as Disciples. I love our church and mostly I love standing beside you through this journey we are on. Thank you for trusting God when I wanted to give up and leave. Thanks for knowing your call and sticking through it even when it hurt. Thank you for putting your family before the church no matter what others think or say. Davis and I will be forever grateful to you. I love you sweetie and I know that God has us right where we need to be!"