Its all in the attitude...

A Proud Mommy Moment...

Bailey finally scored in her basketball game, the last game of the season!!!!! I must first share a little background story here. Since our girls were little John has had hopes that at least ONE of his girls would play soccer. Well, since Bailey is the oldest of the three she was the one who was pushed the most. She is our natural athlete, and very competitive. But try as we might, she was not interested in the sport. Last year, Bailey announced that she wanted to play basketball. Now, I am a former b-ball player so I was thrilled!!!! Dad, poor fella, couldn't help to be a little disappointed, but I reminded him that she was at least interested in a sport. So we signed her up on our local Y-league.
Well, first day of practice rolls around and .... she is the only girl on the team. This was not good. Bailey has never been an assertive person and to be the only girl on the team, well, she was not pleased. But I told her she wasn't going to quit. I told her it would be good for her, you know, it would make her tougher and stronger. All good and well in theory, except they have to acknowledge that you exist in order to participate. The boys wanted nothing to do with her. We're talking 7 and 8 year old 'superstar players', who would fight to not have to stand next to her. I must admit, as a sideline Mom, it was hard watching my little girl being ignored by every teammate.
First game rolled around, and of course every kid gets playing time, so Bailey is on the court with little knowledge of what to do in a game. It was heartbreaking. No one threw the ball to her, sometimes she didn't even know where to run. I just knew after the game she was going to cry that she hated the game and wanted to quit. Boy was I wrong. She came running off with a big grin on her face, why???? In her words, "We won!!! And we got a snack!!" Well, talk about the simple pleasures.
Each practice got a little better and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. Her team was winning and she was getting her snacks. She improved so much from the beginning of the season. But she had yet to get a basket. The boys, although tolerant of her, still didn't pass the ball very often, only when the coach told them to.
So today, was the last game. At practice this past week they spent the entire time handing the ball of to Bailey and one other little boy who hadn't scored so that they could be ready for the game. On the way to the game, I kept telling her to shoot the ball everytime she got, even if people were guarding her because maybe she would get fouled and be able to shoot freethrows. Big ups to the coach and the boys who tried many times to get the ball to Bailey, and she made several attempts at a basket, but with no luck. Finally, with a couple of minutes left in the game, Bailey got the ball and shot it, and yes!, she got fouled!!! Two freethrows. I couldn't restrain my tears. I was a bundle of nerves. First shot, missed it. 'Oh please God, let her make this one.' Second shot, nothing but net, baby! Yes! The whole gym cheered for her. Other moms hugged me with tears in their eyes, because they were almost as happy as I was. Well, the game ended and she had made the last basket of the season. It was all good. I was so proud of my baby girl. I could never have imagined such emotion from one little basket. Today was a good Mom day. One of the best yet.

Some recent photos of my girls...

Just sharing some photos that I have taken lately. I don't thank God nearly enough for my precious daughters. I love them so very much.

"Pray for us centers"

Through weekly Faith Formation at church Bailey and Peyton have been learning their prayers. The other night I was going over the prayers and asked Peyton to say the Hail Mary. I held my laughter (she is so sensitive), when instead of "pray for us sinners" she said "pray for us centers". So cute.

My nieces...

Just sharing some photos of my two sweet nieces from their last visit. Love 'em so much.

"Jack Frost~ Please Let The Snow Fall Down"

This is what my girls said Wednesday evening by their windows, before going to sleep. They wanted it to snow so badly. Well, it snowed. Only for a few hours and with little over an inch accumulation, but they stilled enjoyed it. They couldn't wait to get dressed and go outside. It hasn't snowed in Concord in three years! And they don't remember the last time it did. We had to really make do with the clothing choices. I'm sure any northerner would laugh at us, with our clothes. But...they didn't care. They could only play for a while b/c their little hands were freezing and shoes were soaked. Just sharing a few photos.

A Christmas Tradition

We have a small town nearby, known as Christmas Town, where all the houses, Churches, and businesses along Main Street decorate their houses and buildings for the Christmas Holiday. It is actually known world wide and many people come from all over to see this little wonder. Well, a few years ago, while my dear husband's family were over from England, he decided to take all of us to see the lights. Well, we crammed my hubby, his mother and father, our three young girls (one a mere baby), my mother and myself into the minivan and headed to McAdenville. We were warned that there would be a wait, but we had no idea what were in for. Well, it was an experience, for sure and one never to be forgotten. We waited well over an hour, all the while the children went from excited to see the lights to tears of having to sit in a too crowded car not being able to move!!!!! And after all the waiting it couldn't taken us more than 15 minutes to drive through the town! I mean it was pretty, but worth an 1 1/2 hours of waiting....umm...NO!
So next year rolled around and John asked if we wanted to go see the lights at McAdenville? Not really. But we decided to make it a yearly tradition, a fun memory for the girls. This time we got smarter, we headed down to Belmont, a small college town nearby, in the early afternoon. We found a small coffee shop and sat and played games, drank coffee and hot chocolate, and enjoyed spending time with each other. When it was almost dark, we climbed in the car and set off, once again, for Christmas Town. We were one of the first cars in line to see the lights. Thus a new Cullen Christmas tradition was born.
Every year now we schedule an afternoon to go to McAdenville. We go to the same coffee shop and enjoy some exotic coffee (something John and I rarely drink) and then head for the lights. Every time we remember something from the last year and we never forget the first trip to Christmas Town!!
Next year we might even park the car and walk the street so we can really stop and enjoy each decoration.
I've tried for the past two years to get photos of the decorations, but haven't successfully done it yet.

Grandma will give it to us!!!

Lately, my three little munchkins have been sneaking candy and chips without asking. A few days ago I caught them again and had had enough! So I told them I was very upset and would have to think about their punishment. Later we decided to go out for dinner and although I wasn't really angry anymore, I told the girls that after dinner John and I were going to have a dessert and they could not have any, b/c they had already eaten candy. They were all upset, but Reagan, putting her hands on her hips, explained to me "That is okay, because when we go to Grandma's house, we will ask her to give us dessert and she will!!!"

Another kid quote...

Today while out shopping, my six year old Peyton, made the comment that we should get rid of some of our old clothes and toys. "Mommy, we could give them to Old Will so that the poor people could use them." She has such a sweet heart and soul, but I couldn't help laugh at her say 'Old Will' instead of 'Good Will'. You gotta love them.

Christmas Card Photos...

aaahh yes, those sweet photos of our children we send to our friends and family every year at Christmas. Dont' they look like the sweetest kids ever?! But what you don't see are the threats we yell at them for not cooperating and then the bribes we offer for sitting still for one good shot. I love photography, it is a new passion of mine. And of course every photographer needs models. Which my children have been forced to be. Sometimes they will run when I pull my camera out "for practice". So when I pulled them away from playing one Saturday morning to take Christmas photos, I was not a popular Mom. But I was not to be deterred. I was going to get a great photo. Well, after lots of yelling and bribing (a piece of candy for every photo taken) I got a decent one. Merry Christmas!!!!!

Beach Trip with my Sis

This fall, my sister and I took our first trip together with our girls. Yes, we have all girls, and my mother couldn't be happier. So we drove down to Myrtle Beach, SC for a long weekend away. The weather was fantastic, it was October and the girls went swimming in both the ocean and the pool. It was a lot of fun. I also brought along a friend of mine and we just had the best time gossiping and just hanging out. In the past my sister and I haven't been very close, but I don't want it to be that way. She is my only sister and now that we have our own families I don't want them to lose out on knowing eachother because of our stubborness or differences. So this trip was a good start for us. Love ya, Sis.

Students of the Month

In October Bailey was chosen as Student of the Month at her school. This honor was given based on following the school's core values and was voted by the the staff of the school. We were very proud of her. Well, then, can you believe it, the following month Peyton was voted Student of the Month. Wow!!!! Talk about beaming with pride. John and I are so proud of our girls and they are doing so well in school. Unfortunately, I only have a photo of Peyton. We didn't know about Bailey's award until she came home, but Peyton's teacher gave us a head's up and we were able to come to school and watch. Just sharing a proud parent moment.

Halloween Photos

I am the worst blogger ever, I admit it. What, its now one week before Christmas and I am just now getting around to sharing some Halloween photos. Oh well, sorry guys. I will catch up, I promise.

Anyways, we had a very busy Halloween this year. It seemed like pary after party, and we still have some left over candy hidden somewhere. Bailey dressed up like a Geisha and even used her costume later for a World Celebration Parade at her school. Peyton was a Diva, but in the photo John says she looks more like the Queen of England with her big hat!!! Reagan on course, our princess. Ooops, I stand corrected, not just a princess, but Rapunzel (is that how you spell it?). Where is her hair??, well, maybe this was after the witch had chopped it all off.

A Day At Patterson's Farm

Today I went with Reagan and her preschool class to Patterson's Farm. We had a great time, it was a perfect fall day. We got to pet and feed some goats, bunnies, and horses. We even fed an Emu!!! Then we all made a scarecrow for the class. And afterwards we all went for the hay ride. At the end of the ride we were dropped off at the pumpkin patch and we searched for the perfect pumpkin, which Reagan took very seriously. She picked a great one. Mommy got one for herself, too. Next week Bailey and Peyton will be going to the Pumpkin Patch with their class and hopefully Dad and I will be able to join them as well. I know there won't be too many more Pumpkin Patch trips with our children so I want to cherish these times while I can.

Thinking of my Dad today...

and missing him so much. There is never a day that I don't think and miss him, but there are some when it just seems like he is every where I look. I miss him most in the fall. I'm not sure why, I'm guess partly because these are the days before he died. I step outside and the sun is shining brightly, skies crystal clear blue, with a slight breeze blowing and I think of the day that Tish and I had come to visit him in the hospital. He wanted to go outside and I was so glad to see him looking okay. It was such a beautiful day and it was almost half normal sitting outside with him in the warm sun, forgetting just for a second that a terrible disease was killing my Daddy. We talked and laughed and it was nice. But that isn't the only memory of my Dad in the fall. I remember going to his house on the lake on days like today. Lazy Sundays, taking the girls down for a ride on the pontoon boat. The lake was gorgeous in autumn, the sun reflecting in the water, everyone out enjoying the last few warm days on the lake. Watching Dad as he let the girls take turns driving the boat. Priceless. But go back further in my book of memories and fall still stands out with my Dad. We grew up in the mountains and many a fall day we would just pack a picnic (sub sandwiches of course), load up in the van and drive up the Blue Ridge parkway and hike the trails until we found a place to lunch. We would just sit and talk and enjoy the beauty around us. Nothing extraodinary, but those were great days just being together. The thing is, I probably took all those days for granted back then. Never realizing what meaning they would hold for me today. Yeah, I always miss my Dad, but on days like today, the pain of him being gone tears at my heart and soul and I would give anything to have one more day like today to share with him. I love you, Dad.

A few more to share...