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This week has been hectic to say the least… The end of the semester grades were due and it seems I had more students and consequently more work to grade than previous semesters. Glad it’s over…I can’t wait for my … Continue reading
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It’s cloudy in paradise. My turtle is sick. Allergies have taken over so she is constantly fighting a runny nose, cough and watery eyes. Abby stands by the door watching to see if any of her friends are roaming the … Continue reading
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It’s official Kindergarten is 3 months away Abby and I went to Kindergarten orientation today Of course I am going through some sort of empty nest thing where I am going to have to let go of a dream. I … Continue reading
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My mother came into town for a quick visit and while she was here… Turtle had a mini-birthday celebration to commemorate her 9th month of life It was glorious I got to leave early in the morning to take pictures … Continue reading
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Last night I was checking on the girls after we put them to bed…they were being unusually quiet. When I walked in, Phoebe was playing with her little stuffed grey kitty and Abby was busy packing a small decorative suitcase. … Continue reading
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It’s Saturday kind of cloudy, warm and perfectly dreary outside My little turtle is down for an afternoon nap phoebe is napping Abby is at the neighbors playing Greg is napping on the couch and then there’s me…refreshed from a … Continue reading
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I would like to preface this post by giving props to the band Two Door Cinema Club and their song, ‘something good can work’….makes me wanna dance like I haven’t changed 6 poopy diapers…like I haven’t swept/mopped my kitchen, dining … Continue reading
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We recently made a trip to the beach so the 1. girls could play 2. Greg could surf 3. and I could take some pictures!!! It was a win/win/win for everyone!Greggy, rocking his new 9 ft. toy. He’s looking good. … Continue reading
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Marriage is an amazing thing. I once heard someone say, ‘if you can’t be friends with your spouse, your marriage probably won’t work’. I butchered it a bit, but you get the gist. I genuinely enjoy Greg as a person … Continue reading
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It’s March 29th In other words, our baby girl is officially 8 months. How did that happen? It was a special day for Cecilia in another way as well, today she had her interview with the state early intervention system. … Continue reading
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Our Asylum is very different these days… I don’t know how it is for other people raising kids ages 5 and under, but when my little inmates get to venture outside, everything is better. They listen better. Play better. Behave … Continue reading
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You know those moments when you’ve dreamed about something you want, so you research it, make a decision and eventually go for it…all the while hoping it’s everything you want it to be? what about those moments when the dream … Continue reading
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3 days 72 hours 4,320 minutes 259,200 seconds we will be gassing up, shoving in, eating out and scooting down the road!!! EEK!!! Did I mention how excited I am??? AND on a side note… Do Kings of Leon ever … Continue reading
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I have been posting pictures here and there of my new obsession… We are packing our little people up and relocating to this… well not right here per-se but extremely close! Oh warm weather, salty air, sunny skies, crazy thunder/lightning … Continue reading
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It has been a long week. We have some game changing events coming our way very soon. I am lost in a world of schedules, dates, appointments…blah blah blah. I have to stop and take stock of the lives we … Continue reading
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“If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow … Continue reading
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I have so much to do today, so naturally I am procrastinating There are those days where it seems like no matter what I do, I cannot turn my non-productivity around. The universe has other plans for me. I just … Continue reading
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So here we are at the park on a brisk February day I am taking a moment to say goodbye to a sweet little pink shoe that completed AND complemented so many of Abby’s little 2-year-old outfits. Sweet Phoebe was … Continue reading
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Our sweet baby Cecilia Rae is 6 months now I remember putting lotion on her little body, putting her little newborn diapers on her little 6 pound 8 ounce frame, holding her little bottom in the palm of my hand … Continue reading
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so here we are, in February hanging out at the park without jackets/hats running wild through the fields getting up close and personal and for others not quite close enough… On a side note: Gregory Kenneth and I went to … Continue reading
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This is my life It was almost another craptastik day…I will spare you the details but suffice it to say, rain and all, I TRIED my very best to turn things around… ”hey lets play and let mommy take pictures” … Continue reading
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“I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” When Harry Met Sally Poor Greggy, he … Continue reading
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I know I said I would ’embrace the cold as long as snow wasn’t too far behind’ but after the beauty that was today, I am afraid I have to change my mind… Oh I am lovin the sun and … Continue reading
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Banner Elk, North Carolina… We were able to get away this weekend…I packed up the kids on Friday and we fled 115 miles north-east to Beach Mt., North Carolina, nestled atop Banner Elk. We were hoping to do a little … Continue reading
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It was super gloomy out yesterday so we made every effort to whoop-it-up Spranger style indoors! And I am happy to report, we made it to the grocery store yesterday without any casualties what-so-ever. No misplaced wallet…thank goodness! Just myself … Continue reading
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Super Tuesday’s our Tuesday’s are spent with our beloved OT and PT, Beth and Beth. Two equally beautiful, energetic, positive and gentle individuals, whose names are both Beth…obviously! In the above picture OT Beth is using the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol … Continue reading
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I have the rare moment of starting over I had a whole post written, edited and was about to add pictures when lightning hit and knocked out our power. It’s the beginning of the ‘Big Winter Storm of 2012.’ I … Continue reading
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How do you celebrate someones birthday when they don’t really care about celebrating their birthday? this is how the Spranger girls celebrate little Greggy’s big day… I will let him sleep in a little longer turn on HOWARD STERN for … Continue reading
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The day is ending the same way it began…disastrously. This morning I got upset with Abby for knocking over her juice at breakfast. Five minutes later, Greg and I are talking about something. While I was using my hands to … Continue reading
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The day has passed… well almost 35 I’d love to be whooping it up and tearin’ up the town… But, I have a cold. My nose is raw, my throat is itchy and my hair hurts. Here’s the way I … Continue reading
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I was just awarded this lovely award from the insightful, inspiring and soulful Southern Sea Muse! Thanks so much! Leibster Blog Award is a German word meaning favorite or beloved. The award is given to up and coming bloggers with less … Continue reading
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Today was filled with music and laughter…and poop. AND I couldn’t be happier. Go figure? Seriously, I think I changed 6 poop diapers between Phoebe and Cecilia. Not to mention I picked up Bear’s poop in the yard. There were … Continue reading
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In a desperate attempt to make sure we (Greg and I) live purposefully, we decided 5 years ago to try to be a one car family. When we made the decision, we were living in northwestern Nebraska. It was a … Continue reading
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What a crazy holiday. Countdown… …was the theme this holiday season. It’s 25 days to Christmas…. 20 days to Christmas…. 15 days to Christmas…. 10 days to Christmas…. 5 days to Christmas, wait 5…really? Oh Crap, 4 days to Christmas…. … Continue reading
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Allow me to preface this post with my current life soundtrack, ‘Perpetuum Mobile’ by Penguin Cafe Orchestra. If you get the chance, please listen to it, it is exquisite. Every once in a while I will teach a course for … Continue reading
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This week has been filled with appointments, therapies, grocery runs for last-minute forgotten items and more appointments as well as more therapies. And one very important unannounced visitor…eheem Uncle Rusty. I really must say with our growing list of doctors … Continue reading
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I took these pictures a couple of days ago. She was in such a great mood, very playful and talkative. I think this one is hilarious…she has quite the sense of humor Cecilia is not feeling well today. She came … Continue reading
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YEAH…Hello Weekend…Goodbye crummy week! Good riddance! Be off with you… What a strange week The highlights go something like this… 1. Cecilia had her OT appointment and rocked the house. We met her OT, Beth in the lobby of Cecilia’s … Continue reading
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My baby girl finally turned over today from her back to her front! I was beside myself with excitement! Of course she decides to make her triumphant debut right as I put my camera down. I was watching her as she … Continue reading
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Today was definitely a Monday! And we were not here… To my dear friend Lisa, if you are reading this blog, I am sorry I didn’t get back with you…time got away from me!!! I broke my phone on Monday … Continue reading
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Tom Petty knew what he was talking about when he sang ‘the waiting is the hardest part’. Cecilia and I agree…and I think this picture of Cecilia is proof positive that waiting is in fact difficult. I am going to … Continue reading
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I have one word to sum up where I am in my life at this very moment in time…that word is, yup, that’s right…seriously? I have a gazillion pictures of the beach…of which I am never going to do anything … Continue reading
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12.5 hours in the car with 2 toddlers, 1 infant, 1 golden retriever and 1 very determined driver… Her expression here pretty much sums up the trip home. I don’t want to see or hear from those mentioned above for … Continue reading
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sweet heart…our power went out at the beach house tonight. It was super windy and rainy all day…we should have seen this coming. Greggy went to pick up a movie and of course like clockwork, 5 minutes after he left, … Continue reading
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Every once in a while I will have a moment with my family where I am teleported from my body to somewhere else in the room. I can see the girls chasing each other and giggling, Greg is preparing dinner … Continue reading
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Vampire Weekend…another righteous band! I was driving to Knoxville with Miss Cecilia the other day and Vampire Weekend came on….I went from an, ‘I’m barely awake moment’ to an, ‘I want to dance out of my skin moment’. I get … Continue reading
Abby Leigh.
There are words, phrases, adjectives that come to mind when talking about Abby Leigh…
loud
fun
sensitive
non-stop
She’ll give you everything she’s got
Sometimes Abby will spend the night with my mom or this summer she spent a week with her Busha. I was devastated. For the entire week, I slept in past 6:30 am, Phoebe went to bed at 6:30 pm…no questions asked or battles to fight, we had food in the cabinets and in the refrigerator and I actually experienced silence during the day. Yes I will say it again…
I WAS DEVASTATED.
It was the quietest week I have ever lived, since having kids.
You get used to the chaos and talking, singing and squealing, questions and comments about EVERYTHING everyone in the room is doing
Sometimes I need a 5 minute break from the chaos that is Abby
A quick five minutes does wonders
I constantly learn from Abby.
She is a ‘glass is full’ kind of girl. She loves life. I remember one day in the spring, I was pregnant with Cecilia, we were home from a long drive and collecting stuff that had piled up in the car. Greg carried Phoebe up to her crib in hopes of letting her stay asleep a little longer. Abby was out of the car and headed towards the door when she looked back at me. I didn’t say anything, but obviously I was having trouble getting out of the car. I had a lot of stuff in my hands and the car was at an incline, so the door wouldn’t naturally stay open. I was kicking it with my foot and the stuff in my arms was spilling out onto the ground. Abby rushed over to me and opened the car door and said, “I’ll help you mommy”. Tears of pride streamed down my face, honestly. Ok, so I was pregnant, hormonal and my feelings were probably hurt because I couldn’t do everything I wanted to do right in that moment. But she made everything better. How did she know to help me? As parents we are so busy helping our children do every thing…every day.
Here was Abby, at 4 years of age, seeing her mommy struggling and helping her.
Just yesterday I was blowing up balloons while the girls were playing with their dolls. A balloon popped in my face. It scared everyone. Abby and Phoebe jumped and their mouths were wide open. Both of them looking at me in shock. Abby said, “Are you ok mommy?” I just laughed. I asked her if she saw the piece of the balloon that blasted off…we certainly didn’t want Phoebe to get a hold of it. Abby started searching and found it on the opposite side of the room, “I found it mommy…it was all the way over there.”
She has such a wonder about her…
I am consumed by the love I have for this little girl. I am consumed for the love I have for all my children and my husband of course who constantly gives and amazes me with his sensitivity and love for his children.
I am having a moment…
the point is, I am so proud of the little person she is becoming!
I hope she has a wonderful 5th birthday!!!
Phoebe June turns 2 today…It’s an all-day all-weekend birthday extravaganza!
Sweet Phoebe June. Her birth was strangely easy. Immediately after she was born, I looked at Greg and said, “I could do this again”. When we brought her home from the hospital I remember taking catnaps with her on the couch and sleeping with her at night. She was always my little cuddlebug, always right there with me wherever I was! She still is…she will find a book, locate me and turn around with book in hand and walk backwards until she reaches my lap where she will sit down. She likes our reading time together. She likes to sit on my lap while we watch her afternoon shows…she will let me scratch her back and run my fingers through her hair, kiss her beautiful chubby cheeks and the best part of all, she doesn’t mind it when I stare at her.
Phoebe has such a great little personality, all her own. She enjoys playing with little dolls and animals, she’s a girly girl if there ever was one. At meal time, she enjoys the process of eating the food – the whole sitting down, talking, raising her glass to a good meal and good company. She loves to swing. She enjoys holding hands when she wants to walk by your side, but also letting go of your hand at inappropriate moments and running far away so you have to chase her. Typical…she is two.
Such a sensitive little person. She always has a laugh or a tear ready and truthfully, it always seems like it could go either way at a moments notice. I was so impressed with her when she met Collin Read as a toddler. Greg, the kids and I were having dinner with our friends Tom and Jill and their wonderful boys Brady, Owen and Collin. Phoebe was probably 1.5 years – it was over the summer and she was so amazed by Collin and gentle with him. It makes me think she might be empathetic towards others…I certainly hope so.
For the most part she is very good at sharing. Abby has been known to just take it from her. Most of the time, Abby gets away with it. Phoebe will calmly find another toy. Sometimes though, when she is tired, she looses it. The sadness overwhelms her and I swear I can read what she is thinking by looking at her sweet face, “I really wanted to play with that toy…I had a whole story in mind for them…I was going to make my little dolls do this and that and Abby took them away without asking”. AUGH…breaks my heart.
She’s pretty sneaky too. She will spot Abby from afar playing with a doll she wants. She scoots near and continues to play just waiting for the moment Abby sets the doll down. When the moment comes, snoopy runs over very quickly, takes the doll, turns and runs in the opposite direction. Leaving Abby clueless. Often times she runs into her Barbie tent. Very savvy this little sister is.
I think she’ll do alright. I am so proud and in love with her. I love getting to know who she is and what her interests are. I hope she had a great birthday! AND it will continue tomorrow…THE SPRANGER GIRLS BIRTHDAY WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA!!!
I am consumed with love for the band ‘Beach Fossils’. I cannot get enough of this band. Every time a song ends, I want to hear it again. AND the next song is just as effective as the previous one.
I am so effected by music. If I am sad or in a down mood, pop in some Beach Fossils or Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros and VOILA…all is better! I like a lot of other bands as well, but I am stuck on a Beach Fossils kick on Pandora right now. It just calms me down and pumps me up. I was just listening to ‘the horse’ and I was magically transported to a quiet secluded beach where our kids were running free in their swim suits and I just laid on the beach and watched them as they played in the water and built sand castles. And then the song ends and I open my eyes and find I am standing in my kitchen while the kids are painting bird houses on the porch and watching it rain outside. BLAH!
Thursday came quick this week. That can only mean Christmas is right around the corner. Soon it will be 2012. Now is the time to tell myself to breath and ‘live in the moment’.
This little girl needs some decent shades. We are headed to florida in a week and we need to protect her little eyes and she needs to have her Florida look going on! These are too big. She keeps knocking them off with her hands. And she doesn’t like the shape. She’s into the more rectangle shaped ones. I get it. That’s her thing. Makes sense.
I have two little girls who are having birthdays this week…Miss Abby turns 5 and Miss Phoebe turns 2. Saturday and Sunday. I told myself, since I have a 3 month old, it was ok I didn’t plan a birthday party with friends this year. We are just doing a small family get together…but I am actually a little disappointed. It is so much fun to see both girls getting excited to play with friends. I am second guessing my decision.
Soon this will be our reality!!! Even if it’s only for 2 weeks…it’s still better than cold rainy weather…and we can all be outside together walking with our feet in the warm sand, hearing the ocean waves crash, smelling that wonderful salty air, seeing our kids wear themselves out playing for hours on end! EEK!!! What could be better than that? Man I am all over the place today…
She thinks the sunglasses look best on Phoebe. But Phoebe doesn’t like them either. I guess they’re going to Abby. Cecilia wants the purple ones.
Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!
I thought it was crazy, Halloween on a Monday night. We had a Halloween Party Saturday night, a perfect fall festival Sunday day and it truly felt like Halloween had come and gone.
Never-the-less, we welcomed the wonderful holiday and dressed for the occasion. Miss Bumble Bee and our little rainbow caterpillar tuckered out pretty quick.
Miss Ariel could have gone all night long…
She was so HILARIOUS…I remember last year at the tender age of 3, she wanted to go up to the houses all by herself. She did NOT want me to go with her! This year, she wanted to hold my hand, she wanted me to go up to the steps with her, she wanted me to ring the doorbell or knock on the door. I loved every minute of it, but as stated before, it was quite a change from the previous year. As we were walking up to one house, she looked at me with those BIG blue eyes and said, “mommy this house scares me, I don’t want to go.” At another home there were skeletons hanging from trees and she grabbed my hand and hid her eyes behind her hands and squealed. Oh these tender moments we share with our kids, they are soon to be gone and forgotten. Faded from our memory.
There’s my little bumble bee…kissing the dresser doors. Another moment I might soon forget…
I might forget that Miss Abby went through 3 costume changes before deciding on Ariel. I might forget that it took me 20 minutes to figure out that the bumble bee costume had a velcro ‘area’ which might make it easier to change a diaper, if such an act was needed. It was needed. The bumble bee costume was exposed to hazardous waste.
I might forget that Miss Cecilia looks extra ‘caterpillary’ with her hat on…but the 6-12 month caterpillar hat was WAY TOO BIG for her beautiful 3-6 month old head and WHILE WE ARE ON THE SUBJECT OF INAPPROPRIATE SIZES…Abby’s Little Mermaid dress specifically said ‘xs – 3-6’ and it looked like it could have been M-6-9. It was hanging off her sweet delicate little frame. Looking at this picture, with her arms above her head, I might have forgotten that little detail.
All these tiny little details…these little nuances…I want to remember these things about my children. I want to remember how I felt about buying Abby three separate costumes and allowing her to make up her own mind. I want to remember how reluctant Phoebe was about going up to someone’s house and the way she held on to me while she was wearing her body-hugging black velvet bumble bee costume. I want to remember how Miss Bumble Bee’s poor little yellow feathers rubbing off on EVERY THING made me giggle to myself! I want to remember how poop got on to her Halloween costume. I want to remember all of the sweet comments everyone made about my little caterpillar. In fact, I want to remember all the nice things everyone said about all of our little cast of characters. I want to remember all of these things. I am a mother now. The weight of that phrase can really sober one up. One day these amazing little people are going to grow up…and they are going to find something they are skilled in, good at or enjoy.
One day, us old folks might be welcoming their little families into our home for the weekend. When I share stories about their ‘mommy’s’ life, I hope I remember all of these wonderful little details. I hope we can all laugh about these silly things together. But for now, I want to spend as much time with them as I can. Get to know them. Hear them when they talk about their dreams. Sing with them…the way they want to sing ‘off key, making up new words and as loud as I possibly can’. Let them pick out their very own little outfits…even if they don’t match or are in the wrong season. Let them eat candy and sugar before dinner and as soon as they wake up in the morning. WAIT – did I really just write that? Show them all of the opportunities that lay before them. LOVE THEM. Celebrate with them. Celebrate them.
It’s November. WOW. How did that happen?