Hair post

So we've finally gotten into a routine of doing hair Saturday at some point so that it's fixed for church on Sunday. The girls hair does not last a week, but we are getting closer to 4 days. That's a huge help not to have to do hair everyday, rather just moisturize it in the mornings and add some clips or barrettes.

Emery's hair is just gorgeous with nice curl pattern up top. She has tons of hair. At the nape of her neck it's more brittle and there is hardly ever a noticeable curl. I've been working with different products and trying to be more diligent about coconut oil and deep conditioner and her sleep cap (she hates the thing). I am praying that over the years as she gets older and naps less, the hair will be healthier. Our biggest hang-ups with her hair right now are: she's young and can't sit long and the short spots in her hair where Sadie gave her a trim months ago.

That's right. I don't think I ever blogged about it, but Sadie took kid scissors to her sisters head late May as I was cleaning our house for a showing. I was devastated. For lots of reasons. Blake finally convinced me that I was being prideful and he was right. I spend lots of time learning and practicing and taking care of the kids hair. So I take lots of pride in how it looks. And I want them to be proud of their hair too. This cut me deep. I felt like I hadn't protected Emme from this occurring. Blake reminded me that Emery would not remember this, nor be scarred by it.

So, all of this to say, it's caused some issues with sectioning her hair and putting it in protective styles. Anything but an Afro and you can see where there are chunks of short hair. At least Emme can rock an Afro, but this doesn't help the need to protect her hair and keep it growing well.

Sadie's hair is growing, slowly but surely. I feel like it's filling in better than it's gaining length. But that may just be because her curl pattern is so tight. She has gorgeous defined curls throughout. I am struggling to detangle using a 4 step process (finger detangle, wide tooth comb, fine tooth comb, then Tangle Teezer). I have to be honest; I mostly go straight to the TT. The girl just can't sit through 4 steps in the bath...she likes to swim in the bath and that doesn't work well when I am detangling! Am I the only one who goes straight to the TT brush?

I have sure enjoyed the flat twists, mostly because they don't take a ton of time to do 4 or 5 rows of them and I can't practice cornrows or braids on Sadie's head yet. The hair on her hairline is just still to short and thin. If I could start a row in the middle of her head it would look fantastic! HA! Here she is sporting a flat double rope twist along her hairline. I think it's adorable!

My sweet husband asked a nurse that he works with about a hairdresser she would recommend. Ah, I love that man. I love that he got all kinds of advice from her while they were chatting it up in the OR. I can't wait to take them in and start learning some new things.

We love the Georgia Aquarium

I could sit in this room all day! It's amazing.

Oh how I love this man...this is why we can't just sit and stay in this room all day. The kids are ready to move on to the next thing as soon as we sit down. Blake's smile is saying, "Why are you taking a pic babe? Help me with the kids. We are missing one!!!"

The shark tank is so cool!

I love it when she lets me hold her!

Daddy and Emme checking out the stingrays. Let's be honest, I don't really know what they are.

Oh Cooper. You make me LAUGH! He thought this area smelled!

This isn't a great picture of Sadie, but it so captures her personality. She is constantly singing and entertaining and she isn't particularly lady-like.

Thank you bubba! He only takes pictures when I tell him its for our friends and family back home ;o)

What a difference a day makes!

After Monday I was exhausted. It took all I had to get things ready for Tuesday. But I am glad to report that Tuesday was MUCH better for Owen when we said good-bye!

Tuesday was a bit of a hectic day just getting into the new routine, trying to figure out naps between drop-offs and pick-ups, feeding everyone and preparing for dinner. For Owen's pick-up alone we were in the car for an hour. His school is less than a mile from our house. Not.gonna.cut.it.

I've wanted to get Sadie into dance classes since she is not going to school here. I couldn't find anything online that was open to her age group that wasn't a mommy and me class. When Gigi was here we saw that Cooper's school has additional classes for computer, dance, tumbling, etc. So I just asked if Sadie could come to dance even though she wasn't enrolled in school. They said yes, and ballet/tap started today!!!!

We ran to Payless yesterday and found both tap and ballet shoes in her size! Thank you Jesus.

Is she not the cutest thing EVER? She has such a ballerina body! Look at those calves! Oh my goodness, I am so excited for her!

Here she is just before class. She had to go potty! YAY Sadie!
Then I asked her if she could smile for her grandmas. This was her response above... During this pic Emery snuck out of the bathroom and ran into Cooper's class before I could snag her. She sure does lub her big bubba.

I had to include this. Emery has started covering her ears when we get kinda crazy loud. When I got the camera out she took one hand down. It cracks us up. This lil miss has personality!! She has even started giving us a hairy eyeball look when we tell her "no ma'am". We try so hard to hide our giggles when she does this. Sadie's dance teacher. Her teacher told me that she was quiet and shy. HA! Watch out Ms. Zandie...she's gonna knock your socks off!

This is Sadie telling me she wants to go back to dance. I am so glad she had fun!

First Day Jitters

We had our first day of school today. And let me say it's ridiculous to wake kids at 6:30 to be at school at 7:20. That just seems nuts when you are 5,4,2 and 1.

But the kids got up easily and ate rather well despite the darkness. I was amazed at how quickly our routine went and that we were actually early to school. We walked Owen to school and it was SO nice out. As we started to say our goodbyes after snapping a few pics my lil buddy started having a hard time. I was a little caught off guard because he did so well last year, and although this was a new school, he didn't know a soul at the start of last year either. We talked a bit, hugged a lot, said a quick prayer, tried distractions...I was panicking. What do I do?

In everything I've read, people say don't hang around and drag it out. Make it a quick good-bye. I tried to scooch out the door (easier said than done when you have 3 others toddling with you). He followed us out the door 3 times. Talk about rip your heart out. He was begging me not to leave him. Oh lands. I thought I would be stronger than this. It was so hard, but I kept from crying in front of him. I was wracking my brain for how to help him. Take it one day at a time, buddy. You can do this. I will be back just after recess. We can do something fun as a treat. Nothing. Big fat tears. I felt like a huge failure.

I watched him finally enter and sit next to his peers on the carpet and wipe his eyes. He was so embarrassed. I let my guard down and totally couldn't stop crying. Another parent said, "Did he not do pre-k?" I explained that we just moved to town, but yes, we had. Now I have to clear the seemingly longer hallway pushing a double stroller and try to hide my ugly cry. You can do this Molly. It was like the walk of shame. I was that mom. I didn't really care. If my child says those things, I'd have been stone cold to not be emotional with him. I couldn't get that sweet face and those words out of my head.

I strolled to the park with Coop, Sadie and Emery. Thank God they all played like nothing had happened. I was numb. I couldn't stop those tears from sneaking up. By 8:10 I had quit crying enough to load them up for Cooper's drop off. Lord, please let this be easier or I am packing this gang up and heading west. Cooper acted like it was no big deal. His sweet teacher took one look at my puffy eyes and said, "Arya okay?" in her sweet Gawja accent. Uh-oh. Here they come again. Cooper was now embarrassed of me. I apologized, explained and quickly departed after some pics and snotty kisses from this kooky mom. I am a nut.

I run some errands with the girls. Let Emme nap. Distract ourselves for a few hours then start the pick-up routine. Cooper did fabulous and had a great time. He has 12 in his class at a small private church pre-k program. Then we eventually walk to pick up Owen. Randomly, and because I will talk to anyone...I was making conversation with another set of parents. Their child was also in Kindergarten. So I told them mine was in Mrs. Scott's class to which they said, "Oh, is she back?" What? Well, yes. I must've seemed confused. They questioned more, and I answered more. Come to find out, Owen's teacher is actually out on maternity leave. No one told us this! No lie. We came on "Meet Your Teacher Day" and assume the lady in his room is his teacher. She had no badge which I thought was weird. She never introduced herself and was a little cold for a kindergarten teacher. But my MIL and I tried not to be judgemental. Oh my lands. I am a bit peeved. Who was gonna inform us of this? Aren't I the idiot. Deep breath. It's not a big deal.

Owen's picture with his teacher...or is it? She isn't. If you take a magnified look at that ole name tag therr. This is Eileen or something. Dadgum.

At pick up. I was so relieved to see his sweet smile. Seriously...a huge weight lifted.

Tonight at bedtime Owen picked "Owen's Walk". Whoa. Was that ever appropriate. It's a great read about always walking with our Savior that is explored through the eyes of a little boy on a hike. It shares, "My God is my rock. I can run to Him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my high tower." Psalm 18:2 And, "Listen my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path." Isaiah 41:10 Then, "Don't be afraid. The Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go." Joshua 1:9

So thank you to all of you the prayed for us today. Today I couldn't be more thankful for my faith. So many people reminding me that even though we are removed from all that is familiar to us, we still have the Shockley 6 and our Savior who never changes.

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him!" -Psalm 37:5

Picture Post

These are random and in no particular order but that which they were downloaded...dinner with the adults in my family for my birthday!!! This was early July.

The night before we headed to ATL. The bigger cousins got sad when saying good-bye. It's awful hard on us adults to see the kids have such a hard time leaving each other. Notice Sadie is still at the clueless age.

The last few hours of our 15 hour haul to Atlanta got a little rough for one girl in particular. So we all unloaded to bribe them with some candy. Now that's parenting at it's finest.

I don't want to name names, but the screamer might happen to be the cutest darn thing ever...

My honey!!! This was the same night we went out with my family for my birthday.

Saying good-bye to more family. This is Blake's grandpa Pops and his cousins Jessica and Nathan. We're gonna miss you all soooo bad!

Darn flash in the mirror. Grrr

Emery is now blowing kisses, waving hello and good-bye, saying "mine", Owie, mom, dada, no, do it, bubba, Noonie, Gigi and Papa. She climbs on everything, loves peek-a-boo, playing chase
and putting her feet on the table. She loves the water and swimming, computers, phones and especially her pacifier and blankie. She is in the 26% in weight and 75% for height...just like her big sister. At 13 months she finally hit the 20 lbs mark! She has 7 teeth and is a drool factory ;o)

We love playing with our Savannah girl. And boy does she love Emery and Sadie. She would keep Emery close to her by leg locking her...it was hilarious! Do you like our new sleep caps? They are so stinking cute on the girls. Emery still can't quit tugging hers off within seconds of me putting her in her crib to sleep.

This was what the boys did while the girls wore the slip n slide out! Too funny! They said they were hot. July was brutal in Oklahoma.

Emery wanted so badly to play with the big girls. So we let her.

She needed a little drink...and then she got really brave and walked briskly down until she slid. I just happened to catch her landing on camera.

Below are some of the pics from my camera of the kids swim party before we left.

The Proctor boys sure are good to my kids! And Cindy and Ford! What a cute pic of you two!!! Thanks for coming by to see us off!

Just in the off chance that anyone from Atlanta is reading this...can you recommend an affordable hairdresser for the girls? For any of you that know me well, you know I have never paid anyone to cut the kids hair. I do hair in this family, even Blake's. Sadie has only needed one trim, bless her heart. And I did that. But at this point both the girls need an actual cut and I just think it's best if I don't do that. I am willing to learn, but I don't want to mess their hair up.