Bad Blogger Award Goes To.... ME!!!

Ugh, my heart sank a bit when I logged into this blog only to see I hadn't blogged since June. I am sad because these days seem to fly by so quickly and I want to remember everything! Well, maybe not everything, but I want to have this to look back (or for my kids to look back on) to see all the fun, crazy, happy, sad, (enter many more adjectives here) moments we are living in now.

I'm not going to beat myself up about it though... it has been a very challenging year trying to create that so-called work-life balance.  Geez.  Balance.  I like that word.  It sounds so nice and peaceful doesn't it?  Okay, so back to my crazy year now of not-so-balanced, peaceful moments!  I think my biggest apology goes to Miss Kylie, who has even told me she would be my editor if I needed help keeping up with my blog.  She loves to read them:) Considering my kids are the reason I do this blog, that makes me happy!

I guess I have to do somewhat of a quick rundown of where are we now so I can get this show back on the road and get back to blogging regularly!

One of my favorite things to do is think about each of my kiddos and what I love most about them right now, today.  Of course, there are so many things I love about them every day, but I'm sure I can narrow it down a bit:)

Kylie... she just turned 10 years old a week ago! An entire decade, so she likes to call it. Hard to believe my little girl is in the double digits. She continues to amaze me in so many ways. I don't think she even realizes how many gifts God has blessed her with.  Don't get me wrong, she is quite the confident young lady, but her gifts are abundant and so clearly from our gracious Father. Her grades continue to be amazing, although the workload for 4th grade has definitely picked up quite a bit. In fact, she is working on making her own Renaissance dress right now and sewing it by hand! What? So awesome. She continues to ride horses and loves it immensely, play piano, sing, and even took up the UIL version of Spelling competition.  Oh yeah, and soccer starts in 2 weeks!  This girl is crazy talented and committed. Watching her brings me the utmost joy. My heart swells each time I see her practice and perform.  Sky's the limit for this girl!

Jackson, my big boy 5 year old... he is still our biggest challenge in regards to behavior and listening. He still loves for me to get him dressed, brush his teeth, and just about anything else I will do for him.  Having Ms. Bobbi for his Pre-K class last year really accelerated his love for learning, which I have to admit I was initially concerned about it. He is now reading at a 1st grade level!!!  I get a kick (pun intended) out of watching him play soccer.  It is the coolest thing ever to watch your kid play sports! Every kick or goal makes my heart swell with pride!  He LOVES playing video games with Adam, or sometimes just watching him play!  It's been a rough year in regards to adjusting to Kindergarten. I'll be honest, when I get progress reports with Ns for Listening, Self-Control, and Obeys Rules, it is the most defeated feeling. I want so badly for him to do what he is asked, but I'm not there with him to make sure he's on task and listening. I think it's starting to create self-doubt in my little guy and my heart breaks for him. I am committed to this boy! I will love him through this and he will be victorious!  God is in control of my sweet boy's future and I will continue to pray for wisdom and guidance on how I can be the best mom for Jackson.

Carter.  Coolest little three year old ever!!!I have to find pictures of his birthday and write a post on it.  It was awesome.  Here's a hint... there was definitely some naked inflatable water sliding going on!  He did so well in school and has been learning his letters like a champ.  He is extremely articulate and yet he still makes us giggle all the time with his mis-pronunciations!  Avengers = Kavengers,  Yellow = Lellow,   Remote = Kamote.  I'll have to think of the other ones, but those popped in my head right away.  He's been accepted into the BCA Pre-K program.  It's a bit of a risk since he is so young, but he will have the same amazing teacher Jackson had. We have the utmost confidence in her ability to adapt to Carter's needs. The girls REALLY love our Carter.  He's so endearing and those big, brown eyes will melt anyone's heart. Every, single day he looks at me and says "I love you mommy" and will rub his little head on me. He loves hugs and affection and it can make even my darkest day bright! Thank you God for this little boy who brings the sweetest love to my heart. He loves trucks, trains, planes (you get the picture), swinging, jumping, and driving his sweet police car around the yard. He continues to be the pickiest eater of all three.  He eats no fruits or veggies, except for bananas. I can probably name the foods he eats on both hands. It makes coming up with school lunch just about the hardest thing ever. Ugh... please Lord help him grow to love more variety in his diet!!! I have to warn his teachers at the beginning of the year to not judge my mothering skills on his school lunches. How embarrassing. Kids are so humbling aren't they? Ha!

Harley. It's hard to even know what to say about my sweet Harley. She's been fighting lymphoma now for 7 months. When we got the diagnosis in July, my grief began and it continues.  Now, we know she is not getting better.  Her tumors are much bigger and spreading. She hasn't had chemo in 4 weeks because her white blood cell count is too low.  Every week without chemo means more tumor growth.  She pants almost all the time and tires very easily.  Her appetite is still ferocious, which is a good sign. She's gained 8 pounds since July! I wish she could tell us what she's feeling.  I wish she could tell us what her wishes are!  We have said since the beginning that once we don't see our Harley anymore, we'll know it's time.  Once her little nubbin' quits wagging, once she doesn't show us her toofes, once she doesn't beg for treats all day, and once she doesn't want to participate in whatever we are doing, we'll know.  God help us when the time comes. When she's gone, a piece of my heart will go with her. She has brought us more love and joy than I ever realized a pet could give. Until the time comes, I will continue to hug her and look her in the eye and tell her how amazing she is and how much I love her. She knows though. I can tell. I think that's why she's fighting so hard....devoted until the very end.

Adam. He just started with a new mortgage company and has jumped in very quickly to a demanding position. It was an amazing opportunity he couldn't pass up. I am so proud of all he has done to get to this point, and I know he is up for the challenge. He is crazy intelligent and extremely efficient in his work. I know God will honor his hard work. Now, if we can just get an office closer to home, it will be the PERFECT situation!  We went out to Chuy's last night, followed up by Esther's Follies and a little Pete's Piano Bar.  It was a really fun night, and I am thankful we got to have a little Valentine outing together! Sometimes I think we forget how it all started with just the two of us! We forget how "we" were before we became a family. It's good to get out and remember who we are as husband and wife!!! I am thankful for his love and his constant effort to show me and tell me how much he loves me. I am a lucky lady!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

Strep Throat Be Gone!!!

Kylie got her tonsils removed on Thursday, which was a much-needed surgery after 6 cases of Strep Throat and many sore throats this school year.  Dr. Zapalac did a great job, of course, and Kylie has taken it like a champ! She is so tough! I can't believe how well she has handled the pain so far.  She misses solid foods though.  You wouldn't think a kid could get tired of ice cream, but I think she has reached that point.  The pain meds make her a bit nauseous too, which really adds to the fun of it all.  Poor baby.  I am always amazed at how strong kids can be.  Even more tough than adults at times.  I have a good friend that works with pediatric cancer patients, and I asked her one time how she does it.  I would think it would be such a difficult thing to be around all the time. She said those kids are actually some of most positive, strong kids anyone could ever meet.  I bet she is right!  I bet it would be truly inspiring to be around them as they fight such a huge battle so bravely.  We could all learn so much from those kiddos.  I know I have already learned so much from mine!

 

Another fun thing in our household... we have three new furbabies! We got three brother dwarf hamsters!  Rocky, Turbo, and Tiger are super cute and fun to watch. Kylie's we nick-named Turbo or Spaz as I like to call him.  That little booger is so hyper.  He gets on the wheel and his little legs run SOOOO fast.  It is hilarious!  The kids have really enjoyed them, and I am glad Kylie has something to cheer her up!

 



Avengers Assemble! Jackson is 5!!!

Jackson had a great 5th birthday.  It happened to be the last day of school, so they played all morning on inflatables at school and then got awards in the classroom.  He got the Humorist award, which I think is very fitting.  He is quite the funny little guy.  Every teacher he's ever had has told me how he makes them laugh all the time.  Not only does he say funny things, but the expressions he makes are just as funny!

The fun day started with a HUGE donut from the famous Round Rock donuts! That thing has to have at least 1,000 calories in it I'm sure.  Jackson loves donuts.  He actually loves just about anything loaded with sugar. Veggies and fruits, not so much.

 

 

He decided to have an Avengers party this year, so we went all out Avengers and took it to Wazoo's for some jumping fun! Grandma Debbie made an awesome Captain America shield cake (that's why we call her Cake Boss now).  Jackson had such a good time with his buddies, and I love watching my kids have fun with their friends.  They jumped and ran for 2 hours and were a sweaty mess when all was said and done!

Happy 5th birthday my man!!! I love you so much. I love our snuggles at night and how you never forget to ask me to say prayers with you. You are really smart, but sitting down to do school-work is really not your favorite thing.  You are so much boy! Anything that has to do with trucks, dirt, and reptiles you are ALL IN! 

 

 

 

Ms. Bobbi and Jackson

Easter Time!

I am just mad at myself for falling behind on my postings, so I am going to catch up here soon!  Let's start with Easter.  So, it may be June already, but better late than never!  We had a great time hunting for eggs, painting eggs, hanging with family and all the great fun things Easter brings!  Carter was old enough this year to understand it much better, which is such a treat for me to watch!  Jackson is so funny though... he is so apprehensive when it comes to big egg hunts.  He wants me to be right there by him and help him.  It's so strange.  I think it freaks him out that kids just bolt out in a crazy frenzy to get all the eggs.  It's just too much for him and he freezes!  So, I get to hunt for the eggs with him, which is still really fun for me.  And, one of these days I know he'll be too big for egg hunts, so I will gladly hold his sweet little hand and be his "wooby" as I like to call myself.  I typically think of myself in that way for them, like a security blanket.  As long as they know I'm right there near by, holding their hand they are completely secure.  What an honor it is to be their comfort and their rock! And, I hope they know that even when they are 20, 30, or 40, I'll always be their wooby!

 

 

Coasting On Idyll

Spring Break 2014 at Carillon Beach! Amazing!  The Florida beaches are so beautiful. I hate to say it, but the Texas beaches pale in comparison.  I love the way the sand squeaks when you walk on it and there are so many shells fully intact to take home! It was definitely colder than I like and the ocean was downright freezing.  Of course, my little mermaid got in the water (crazy girl).  The boys did well on their first flight.  I came armed with new toys, games, and snacks! I did my research on how to survive a flight with young kids (thank you Pinterest).  We had LOTS of bags and carseats, and tons of stuff, but somehow we got it all loaded up in a bright red Yukon XL.

We flew into Panama City Beach, got our car and headed to our house at Carillon Beach. Carillon Beach is only about 8 miles from Panama City Beach where all the MAJOR Spring Break action is.  Talk about college Spring Break central.  Wowza.  Carillon Beach is a gated community with the cutest houses ever.  They all have their own names and are beautiful.  Our house was Coasting on Idyll. Plenty of room for me, the kiddos, my mom, my sister, and my two nieces.  There was a heated pool anyone staying in the community could use (God-send) and we spent many hours there!  We did get two good days playing in the sand at the beach and even spotted groups of dolphins not too far away.  You won't see that in Port A!

It was a great week with my kids, just hanging out and having fun.  There's just nothing like it.  We even managed to get a bit of a sunburn.  We really enjoyed heading over to Pier Park for a fun dinner at places like Margaritaville and doing some shopping!

I don't get to see my sister and nieces nearly enough, so I felt blessed to have a week with them as well.  I can't believe they will be graduating from college soon.  What? Too weird.

I'm definitely spoiled by this place and I can't wait to go back!!! I have so many pictures, so I'll have to add more soon! 

Nine Going on Nineteen!

 

My pretty girl turned nine years old!  Because she loves all things Frozen, of course we had to have a Winter Wonderland party with the family before we left for Great Wolf Lodge over the weekend.

It actually worked out nicely for me since all of the winter decor was on sale after Christmas!

I look at Kylie and can't believe how much she's grown.

She's very mature and independent so I sometimes feel she acts even older than nine, yet sometimes that little girl still comes out when she's whiny or tearful over something silly.  It almost comforts me when she behaves that way because I remember "oh yeah, she's just nine."

Kids really do grow up so fast these days.  There's just no getting around it.  Sure, we can try to keep them from being exposed too much to things they simply shouldn't see or hear, but it is extremely hard.  I want her heart to stay pure and focused on what really matters.  Her relationship with God, over her relationship with her buddies.  Her inner beauty over her outer beauty.

I want her to always know that I think she is the most beautiful young lady in the entire world.  I cherish her uniqueness and even her flaws because God made her special. She is the most special gift to me.  I look forward to growing with her and even to the challenges she will bring m as a mom, because I know I can grow from those as well.

 

 

Christmas 2013!

What a great Christmas week we have had.  It has been so nice to be off of work this week to spend time together and really enjoy this holiday season.  I treasure each day I have with my kiddos to play and spend the entire day in our jammies!!!  I love it! The boys and I snuggled on the couch watching "Mighty Machines" of course, and I just wanted to freeze that moment in time.
No greater gift could ever been given to me than what I've received in my children.  Nothing could ever compare. 
I'm so thankful for a gracious and merciful God who has given me such a wonderful family to share this life with:)

 "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

John 15:11 ESV

 

"I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing." John 15:11