The Hodges Homestead

This is our third snow day in a row, and let me first say how thankful I am for these 3 days of vacation! It will actually turn into 6 days of vacation for me, since I only had to work Monday -- what a much needed break!

Did I mention we moved a 14 foot Uhaul of furniture from Dallas over the weekend? This "break" has been a weekend from our exhausting (but very fun) weekend at Aunt Val's. Since Dave was off Monday (we were both under the weather)-Wednesday, we actually had the opportunity to get everything arranged and put back together. Let me just say, I LOVE IT!!! What a blessing to finally have a fully furnished house (plus some).

So today is a day of fun for the kids and I. We started our morning playing "beauty shop" with Ady. Well, Cade watched Dora and Hunter napped. I couldn't help but think back to all the wonderful times I played "beauty shop" with my Granny. Her legacy was passed on via red heels, teased hair, and black eye liner. She would be so proud.

I want Ady to embrace being a girl. She is naturally "girly", and I want each of my children to embrace their God-given beauty, inside and out. Ady is very confident and secure, and as her mother, I want to encourage that strength in the woman she becomes. She knows she's beautiful in the skin God gave her, but it's still fun to play!

Here are a few pictures from our photo shoot:

We just had to have a wardrobe change!!

I see some snowball fights and hot chocolate in our near future!

Happy Snow Days Friends!

Anywho, it's been a while. We've been busy, but now that the holidays are over we are still busy... imagine that. Ady started back to school last week and I've been wrapping up the holiday season at work -- thank goodness!!! We are all ready to get back to "normal."

For the past month we (Dave and I) have been in deep discussions about Ady's school next year. Everybody that know us knows we are Metro's #1 fan. In order guarantee her spot there for next year, we have to make a decision by January 31st. This has put me under a lot of pressure, and made me really re-evaluate what is important to us.

The biggest sacrifice I am making is being away from my family. I just can't stand it. This is not strictly a financial decision --there are probably two dozen other factors that contribute (none, however, have anything negative to do with Metro) but I want to be able to stay at home above all else. When the boys were both younger, they didn't realize me being gone. Now I have to run out the door with three kids chasing me for that "one last kiss." I hate telling them, "mommy will see you in the morning." Ugh... it makes me sick.

In addition to me working, we have also sacrificed family vacations, home updates (I would say "maintenance" but I think Dave would disagree that granite and hardwoods are "maintenance"), and a downgraded daily lifestyle. I am all about sacrificing for the good of my children, but I'm pretty sure we have currently taken that word to a new level. (Ady still thinks every family spends summers at Newport Beach, so obviously this hasn't affected her)... I feel some lessons in humility in our future.

So with all that being said, I am about 90% sure we will be giving Jenks a shot next Fall. I know that Ady will thrive in any environment, and am very confident the transition will be smooth for all of us. Dave and I signed up to attend a luncheon with Oklahoma legislators to see how we, as parents, can become more involved in public school policy-making. I am looking forward to the opportunity to fulfill this calling and give help where it is really needed. I'm also looking forward to meeting more young families, being homeroom mom, a shorter drive to school, and supplementing her education with Biblical perspective (see I CAN find some positives about this!). God doesn't always guide us where we want to go, but he never leaves us behind.