iLove my iPhone and my kids too!

Has it been 4 months since I last posted?  Indeed it has...

The past few days have been difficult for me and I don't really know why.  I think I'm depressed that Steve Jobs died.  Is that possible?  I never met him but his ideas intrigue me and he was obviously an incredible man!!  He's been likened to the Thomas Edison or Henry Ford of our generation.  No doubt he has earned a page in the history books with his innovative and creative technological breakthroughs. 

Apple = iTunes, iPod, iPad, iPhone

My favorite gadget of all time...the iPhone

• The device I feel I cannot live without. 
• My link to friends and family.  
• My source of world, national, state and local news. 
• My sense of direction and GPS. 
• My alarm clock.
• My check register.
• My newspaper.
• My entertainment. 
• I can Google, surf the internet, check my Facebook and message people.
• I can look up words in a dictionary and find out how to pronounce them.
• I can practice my Spanish and learn new words.
• I can order a pizza from Papa Johns.
• I can determine which shade of OPI nail color I need.
• I take photos and edit them.
• I take videos and splice them.
• I watch movies and listen to Podcasts.
• I check my e-mail.
• I maintain 1030 songs which would be approximately 85 CDs.
• I always have the Holy Bible with me.
• I always have a flashlight, phone and iPod handy.
• This device helps me determine how I should dress myself and my son depending on the weather.
• It's the object of whose whereabouts I know more than my own son always know. 
• The piece of equipment I carry with me from room to room
• "my precious"
• MY iPHONE

Steve Jobs' dream became my reality and for that I am greatful.  I found out yesterday that Steve Jobs was adopted.  In 1955, his birthmother made an adoption plan.  Mr. and Mrs. Jobs gave him opportunities he may not have had if he had remained with his birth family.  As a matter of fact, his birthmother could have chosen abortion and if that had been the case, we would have never been introduced to Apple products, a Mac computer or the handy little touch screen gadgets so many of us are now accustomed.  While thanks should be given to his adoptive family for giving him the opportunity to be creative, many thanks goes to his birth family for giving him the opportunity to BE! 

All three of my children have iPod Touches and my daughters' each beg for an iPhone.  Myself?  I would really like to have an iPad for Christmas. 

And now for an update on the MOST important things in my life...my kids...

We recently celebrated Emily's 18th birthday.  That.  is.  crazy.  It seems not long ago Wasband and I had chosen two names.  Austin Cade for a boy and Emily Ann-Katherine for a girl.  We had decorated a precious nursery in mint green with a Hey Diddle Diddle theme.  I admit I was not that thrilled the Saturday she was born when I was told SHE was a girl.  I don't know why...for some reason I had convinced myself she was a boy.  It didn't take long at all for me to fall in love with my beautiful baby girl - the first to call me "Mama".  She has always been a very pretty child with gorgeous auburn hair, big brown eyes and a beautiful smile.  Anyone who spent much time at all with us quickly learned that Emily was born with an attitude.  If you can recall her fiery spirit at 8 days, 8 months or 8 years...try 18 years!  She's still as headstrong as ever and I love her more everyday as she is maturing into a young lady I am very proud of.  My dream for Emily is that she not get so hung up on being 18 that she misses out on the freedom of being dependent on her family.  Life Happens before you know it and you wonder where all the time went.

Kensley is playing soccer for two teams.  She plays on the local recreation league with what will be her Middle School team in the spring and had the opportunity to play on the high school JV soccer team as an 8th grader this fall.  In my opinion, she has awesome abilities as I've watched her develop into a more aggressive and competitive player!  She absolutely loves the sport and I enjoy watching her play although 7 days a week of soccer is wearing this soccer mom OUT!!!  Kensley is doing well in school and just tonight one of her teachers approached me at the football game to tell me how much he truly enjoyed having her in class.  He talked about how smart she is, how sweet and kind and how he enjoys her sense of humor.  That's my Kensley!!!  Of course I think she is beautiful too.  Her big brown eyes are full of life and she has a gorgeous smile that deserves to be on a toothpaste commercial.  She makes the funniest faces, can quickly change the lyrics to any song she's singing, loves music, and can quote movies galore.  Along with Kensley's love of music comes her enjoyment of dancing.  I continue to encourage her to dance as if no one is watching...even if they are...because she is really good!

Edison is in preschool this year and is crazy about his teacher, Mrs. Adams.  He's also playing soccer and scored three "golds" at one game and two at another.  He was so proud of himself and of course, this soccer mom is his biggest fan!  His attention span on the soccer field is very short and quite frequently you will hear the coach say, "Edison, pay attention!"  "Edison, watch the ball!"  "Hey Edison, go go go!" or my personal favorite... "Where's Edison?" (because he's on the sideline talking to me or getting a drink).  He keeps all of us laughing with the funny things he says and continues to insist that we answer all of his "why" questions.  For the most part, he keeps me smiling, it's the whining I can do without.  He is smart, super cute and rotten to the core!  Another soccer mom asked me the other day..."how do you discipline him? he is so cute I don't think I could if he was mine!"  Of course, right at that time, he was running around the soccer field laughing and my goodness, when he laughs, he has the sweetest smile and  little dimple on his left cheek that would melt the Grinch's heart!  It's not always easy, but I try my best.  After disciplining him for something the other day he said "Mom, you are mean!" and he kept saying over and over in the back seat "You are a mean mom!".  I quietly responded by saying, "When you say that I'm mean...that means I'm doing my job!"  He looked at me and then he hushed and a few minutes later said "You are my best mommy."  Yes, my heart melted all over again for the love I have for that boy!