Confession of a busy Mom

Life in the Way
Sadly, I knew I wouldn't be the Mom that would keep up on her blog daily, weekly, and as proven - even monthly. I wish I was. I would love to have a daily post recording each day's accomplishments, no matter how big or small, and a picture that would represent life in those moments. I would love to document every milestone and "newness" of my children's lives. However, that just isn't me, and I must be okay with that - and always strive to be better. Our lives are truly filled to the rim, but that is just how we seem to like it. We love being involved in every aspect of our children's lives - which entails basketball games, soccer games, trips to the park, school projects, reading the bible together and having our famous movie nights. So, with all that said, I'll go through our latest milestones and events now...

Alexandria Rose
This week I began planning for Lexie's 2nd Birthday Party. Our close friend, Ginger, came by this morning to take her birthday photos - so thankful for talented friends! It truly amazes me that we are about to embark upon the "toddler" years - as the "baby" phase seemed to just flow by. Lexie has been a delight and joy in the lives of her family members, as she has learned to play dress up with Maddie, loves piggy back rides from her brother... and just can't wait to see her Daddy after school. Her vocabulary grows daily, as she'll repeat just about everything she hears. Her newest sentences are:

1. Mom, c'mon! Hurry!
2. I lub you
3. Where Maddie go?
4. I want milkie
5. Watch Dora (or Elmo, Barney, or Mickey Mouse)
6. No nighty! No nighty!

She now can sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and loves playing with her Little People toys, but most of all, loves her Dora and Boots little figurines and even has to sleep with them everynight. So glad I saved all of Maddie's old toys!

Maddie Sue
is now missing one of her top teeth and has another loose. Her little grin is just too cute and the lisp she now has will bring a smile to anyone's face. She began soccer last month and it took a couple games for her to figure out that she's not on the field to a. do her hair b. dance with her friends or c. smile and wave at Mom and Dad constantly. At letter b - Jon had to "gently" remind her to get her head in the game and that if the next game she kicked the ball he would get her an icee. Well, the next game - she proved that she wanted that icee! She kicked that ball from one end of the field to the next! Twice! She ran as fast as she could (and even beat some of the boys to the ball).

Jacob Jonathan
Just like his Papa - that explains Jake. He is all about learning the "business" side of things and enjoys organizing his desk, coming up with new inventions and creating contracts. Yesterday he spent the day with Papa and helped organize Papa's office and "do business" all day. Over the summer he played basketball and at one game, made the winning shot - a 3 pointer. He will start baseball at the end of this month, staying with his same coach/team. Jake got a speaking part in this years Christmas play and already has his lines memorized :).

First Day of School

Jake is starting 3rd Grade and Madison is starting 1st Grade

Double Play, Little Piggies and Bows

My children amaze me every day. I am amazed at how quickly time is passing and how much they have changed. When Jacob turned 8 a couple weeks ago, it caused me to sit back and look at the past few years and how much his personality has developed and how he has become a strong, determined, intense and sweet young man. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve such amazing kids and wonder where they get it...

Jacob finished Baseball last Friday... it was a very bittersweet night for me. I have LOVED watching him grow into baseball. Jon started working with him when he was 2 and that hard work and consistency has just paid off. He is one of the stars of his team. The games were stressful on me sometimes because I didn't usually have the help of Jon with his schedule, but thankfully my Mom was in town and was able to help me. Lexie, my little independant child does not like to stay in one spot and a spot not determined by herself. So, that caused some stressful moments... I am sure other parents on the team looked at me as if I was crazy at moments. Jacob played his last game just brilliantly! He even made a double play!! He caught the ball (first out) and then threw to first base (second out). Dad, Nana and Papa were also there and we were cheering like crazy!! He also tagged another player and got another out during the game as well. All of his hits were amazing, but one he just cranked crazy like! It was a home run hit! So very proud of him. I have to work so hard at not sounding boastful when it comes to Jacob, but I am so very proud and again, just amazed that I could have a child as amazing as him. Maddie
I want to cry when I think of Maddie... her Kindergarten year is quickly coming to an end. In just 14 days - she graduates Kindergarten. I am so guilt ridden that I didn't once volunteer in her room during the school year. With having Lexie and working, I just never quite made it work out. I wish I could re-do this year. Just a couple weeks ago, she had her Kindergarten Play - "The Little Piggy Opera" and was the "Mama Pig"... what a star! She knew all the words and moves and was one of the few kids that was excited and not scared at all! Do I see a future in this for her??? Jon gave her flowers for her amazing performance and that meant so much to her. Maddie ADORES Lexie. ADORES. She can't wait to be a Mom one day. Just this evening she said to me that she can't wait until she has a baby in her belly and can care for her own. So cute. A couple weeks ago she said to me that she also couldn't wait until she got married. When I asked her why she said because she wanted a different last name..?? Come to find out that the kids call her Maddie Weenie. :) I had to smile. "And Mom, do you know what a weenie is? It's a hot dog. And hot dogs come from pigs." So sweet...

Lexie learned to say "bow" yesterday! She pointed to her bow and said it! She loves wearing bows and actually hands me one each morning to put in. Two days ago she learned to say, "yeah" so any time I ask her a question she responds, "yeah" - I LOVE IT!! She also adores Maddie and just follows her around and wants to play in her room all the time. Maddie loves it! She thinks it's the greatest thing ever and plays make believe with her. I don't think Lexie has any idea what is going on, but loves the attention and she will learn to grow into playing make believe with her big sister. Lexie likes to color and draw - some of her victims have been my tv, couch, coffee table, etc. :) green crayon does come out of almost anything, though - I have learned...
This weekend we are going camping - pulling the camper out to the woods for a couple nights and we are going to just relax and enjoy each other. Thank God for my amazing kids and the blessing they are to our lives.

Jake's 8th

The Night
We celebrated Jake's 8th Birthday by having his very first slumber party - camping style. He invited 5 friends to come over and sleep in the Pop Up Camper in the backyard. We had a fire, roasted marshmallows, glow stick necklaces and with little boys imaginations - a lot of fun! The night started off by the boys making their very own pizzas! Oh the fun they had digging their little hands into piles of pepperonis, mushrooms, cheese, olives, tomatoes and green peppers. This was actually my very first experience EVER at buying a green pepper and it was all for my son who has a love for them. Jon carefully rolled the dough out for one boy at a time and let them have at it. The pizza turned out delicious! I made brownies for

dessert and covered them with chocolate frosting, crushed up oreo cookies and BUGS! This went with our outdoor theme (and the boys loved it!). Then, it was time to open presents - the best part, right? He got the "X-Men" Movie, a giant torpedo, Target Gift Card and legos. Jacob was CRAZY the entire night! The boy must have had so much built up energy it just needed to be unleashed. I had to remind him to calm down many a times:). Jon slept in the camper with the boys all night (barely getting any sleep) and the boys woke up at the break of daylight! I love my sweet husband for taking one for the team! Maddie had Lily spend the night so that she wouldn't be alone, and those boys sure did like those two girlies! Maddie had them chasing her all night long! Uh oh for poor Mom and Dad :(....
The Morning
Jon got the boys up and at em' and they headed out to the park to get some baseball in before it got too hot. What came next? Root beef floats, of course! Yes, I served donuts and root beer floats for breakfast :) - we had actually forgotten about them the night before, so I just HAD to get all of that ice cream out of my house before I consumed it all! It was a HUGE hit :). Then, it was to send the boys home! This came as a relief to me, as 5 boys running around the house gets a lot crazy a lot fast! Then, it was the day of Jacob's actual birthday and in came Nana and Papa with more presents! Papa of course bought Jake a Desk Lamp that also serves as an organizer for all his office supplies, Mom picked out the "chino" shorts and the Jersey came from Papa and Nana. All in all - the kids had an amazing birthday.

Happy Birthday Jake

"Mom & Dad, a boy wants to marry me"

Yep, those are the words that our 51/2 year old daughter spoke today. Apparently, Sierra wants to marry Jaylon. Mackenzie wants to marry Jaylon. Jaylon? He wants to marry Maddie. Of course Maddie is just "mortified" at the idea of a boy wanting to marry her... or so she wants us to think! Seriously, she is 5... hasn't even graduated Kindergarten!

Then, other day, I swear Lexie said, "because" to me. She has developed quite the little attitude. If she doesn't want to do something, you hear, "NO!" and if you take something away from her that she wants, you hear, "MINE!". Oh the joys! But, she does love to hug and play with her brother and sister. We finally made it out of the hitting phase. That was harder on me than anyone else! It lasted for about 3-4 weeks and wasn't fun - I was even told by her teacher that she and the other girls in the class were "in to" hitting each other - :(.

Jacob has had baseball practice 2 times a week and games 2 nights a week. How do I juggle this, you ask? Not very well! Thankfully, my Mom is in town and is helping me! Last night she took him to practice and on their way home she stopped to buy him a root beer float - how sweet! I cannot believe he turns 8 in just a couple of weeks! For his birthday he is inviting 5 boys over for a campout. Jon is setting up the camper in the backyard, the boys are going to make their own pizzas and have a sleepout in the camper. The best part? This is all Jon! I don't have to do anything! :)

The Last Few Months

Yes, I know - it's been months since my last post! Busy life in the way once again... or maybe just priorities are a little out of wack. Well, I will try to post at least once every couple weeks - we'll see how it goes. Alexandria's newest thing is to nod her head "yes" and shake her head "no" - and she says "no" crystal clear! Oh, and she loves to say "no" :). She has really taken to Maddie in the last couple months. Everytime I turn around she is in Maddie's room playing with her toys (while Maddie scrambles to grab everything she doesn't want Lexie touching...) and putting on her play make-up. Are you kidding me? Lexie is 18 months - and already interested in make up. It causes me to wonder... is it instilled in her by watching me put on make up everyday and watching Maddie with her play make up? Or is it instinct...

Maddie is over half way through with Kindergarten! I cannot believe I have watched her just blossom into a smart, social, sweet little lady over this year. Her teacher just adores her and Maddie just adores her teacher. She still loves to just play dress up and act like she is on the set of High School Musical just about all the time.

Jacob just started his first year of Coach Pitch Baseball. Should we be modest about our children and not be boastful? Well, I'm not going to be modest and I am going to be boastful about this - he is by far the best player on his team. I really think baseball is his thing and I see it in his future definately. Whether that means high school or college or beyond. A couple months back we had just gotten home from church and Jacob had been up in his room. He comes down the stairs and looks at Jon and I and says "Mom, Dad. I want to be a Pastor when I grow up". Out of nowhere he announces this. Jon and I got down on our knees and prayed with him. Whether he becomes a Pastor, a Baseball player, or a Businessman - he will always make us extremely proud. :)

First Trip to the Zoo

Today, Lexie had her 1st trip to the Zoo! Her great Aunts - Joy and Kay came into town from Texas to visit Nana for the week and wanted to check out the Wildlife Zoo. I actually had 2 coupons to get one person in free, so I was free and with Lexis only being 1 - we had a free day at the zoo! She loved the giraffes and wanted to just stand watch them! We even took her on the sky ride - she was a little nervous at first, but enjoyed looking down at all the animals. Her favorite part of the day was the Aquarium - she kept yelling "fishie! fishie!" and just ooohh'd and ahhhh'd the whole time. It was perfect weather and such a nice day.