The Time Has Come...

(Please see below this post for the latest).  :)

I've gone back and forth on this in the past.  But I've decided that the time has definitely come to make the blog private.  Lately I've found myself thinking twice about posting things or feeling a little self-conscious about something I'm putting on the blog (like the last post) ~ because it's quite personal.  But I really don't want to dilute what I'm writing, because this is first and foremost a record of our life for our kids.  I want it to be real and truly representative of us and I don't like questioning myself or thinking of anything while I'm writing other than what my purpose is for this blog.

It is however, also a way of keeping in touch ~ at this stage in our life it is a really easy way to keep everyone in the loop as to what is going on around here, if they are interested in peeking in.  I love reading my friends' blogs as we're all at a really busy stage and it helps me to stay connected with their lives.  

I have also made a handful of sweet friends through this blog and reconnected with others which has been such a fun and surprising treat.  Friends that I really enjoy and never would have met had I not written this blog. 

But in an effort to keep this as authentic and transparent as possible without compromising other things, I'm going to make it a "private" blog.  If you've been following along and would like to continue to peek in, please do feel free to leave your email in the comments.  I will not be posting the comments.  Your email will not be published on the internet.  Only I will see it or have access to it.

Thank you.  I'll leave this up for several days before I make the blog private but will be posting below this.

PS.

~ Kaitlin was standing at the door yelling "Mama!!" in the above photo. 

She looked so cute I had to take a picture.
But these photos reminded me of something that happened yesterday morning. 

I got up later than usual ~ we had a really busy weekend and I was tired. I didn't shower before school as I usually do and took Matthew to school in my PJs. Andrew & Katie were too. We dropped off Matthew and came back home. I was 3 steps behind Kaitlin going into the house when she walked through the garage door, closed and LOCKED it. I don't have a house key on my key ring. I know that sounds crazy, but I always come through the garage door and had taken it off to give it to some one and never put one back on.

I know, bad idea.

My heart started pounding and I was calling through the door,
"Katie, unlock the door! Unlock the door!"
She was trying to open it and I heard her trying to unlock it but it wasn't working.
Then Andrew started crying.
Isn't it amazing how 100 things can flash through your mind in a single second in moments like this?

1. Kaitlin's safety in the house alone.

2. The fact that I'm in my PAJAMAS & slippers locked outside of the house.

3. Do I have my cell phone? Does Shannon still have our house key? Is she home from the bus stop?

4. If I don't have my cell phone I can't leave Kaitlin in there alone to go get help ~ can I?
Will she get hurt or be scared?

And then she unlocked the door and I immediately put a house key on my key ring.

Crisis averted.

She definitely got my blood pumping this morning! :)