My Mom

February 12, 2010 was the hardest day of my life. My Mom passed away that day and a piece of me went with her. I have wanted to blog sooner, but I couldn't find the strength. I am a mess, have been since the loss. I hope to write about the day she passed because I was with her and so were two of my small children. I miss her terribly and can't believe she is gone. The fog that surrounds me is choking at times, but I've managed to live over a week without my Mom in my life here on earth. That seems so unreal to me. But it's very real. So, when I'm able I will write about her passing and tell you about her Memorial service.

Such a Diva!

2010...

2010 has been a great year so far. I have decided to open up shop and start my very own photography business. It's been a dream of mine to do this and after many requests from personal friends and family I decided that I might as well do something that I love besides being a Mommy. It's been so wonderful and such a rewarding process. I'm building my website and portfolio. I have a long way to go in the business building aspect of it all, but for now I'm having fun and making friends. If you get a chance, check out my website, blog and fan me on Facebook.

My Bow Hook-up is having a Giveaway!

So RUN or head on over to her blog and put in an entry or two. She's got the goods! Just ask Sarah! Peace!

Happy New Year!

2010 is here and I took my blog down for a few weeks. I had quite a few messages in email and on Facebook so I decided to leave a message just saying that I haven't really felt like writing lately. Facebook has given me an outlook with friends and family all there. I play the games, too many to name. All the other hours in my day are dedicated to my children, husband, housework and various other duties that fulfill my day. I've also taken up photography and if you know me, you know that I don't just do something in a little way, I dive right in and tackle it with full gear on. I'm not sure if I will write or keep this blog, but for now the blog is back open for your reading enjoyment. If you want to follow me and my family closer just "friend" me on Facebook and you will definitely get better, more current updates there. Happy 2010!

Mother/Daughter Picture

and the daughter had interest in other things. Ahem.

I love this time of year!

I love the Fall and Winter months. The weather in Texas doesn't always cooperate, but this year it's been mild and cool out. The humidity is what drowns you, but it's gone easy on us this Fall season. The boys are really into decorationg and celebrating holidays. As soon as the calendar struck October 1st they were eager to bring the rubbermaid containers down from the attic and start decorating the yard and house. In the past we've walked around together and I've put the decorations and ceramics out. This year I let them decorate the house and I have to say that they did a fine job for being six and four years old. The house looks very festive and the kids are all happy because of it. I'm as happy as a clam just knowing that small things make my kids happy these days.

I've been extremely busy with parenting three small kids at home which leads me to very little time for myself. The blog has suffered because of it and I feel bad when I haven't written in my "diary" in a while because there have been times when I've gone back and read what I've written a year or more ago to see where we were at that time. I'm not sure if that will ever change now that they are involved in so many activities and keep us on the go. I do know that we're all happy together and living a great life! I've prayed for this and sometimes when I sit and think about how good things are I can't believe it. God has been really great to us and we are extremely blessed!

Nature

"How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude!"

-Emily Dickinson

10

10 things that have made my day great!

1. Joshua's BIG hugs.
2. Sarah's sweet laugh.
3. Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino at Starbucks.
4. Editing pictures I've taken of the kids and a recent party.
5. Folding laundry (seems mundane, but it's therapeutic to me).
6. Good Health.
7. Target Run.
8. Email/Internet/Facebook
9. Clean Dishes (thank you, dishwasher).
10. Cool weather!

One day...

I will rip through that play ground!

I love Proke Chops!

This past weekend I marinated a family pack of pork chops in marinade over night and had Mr. Big grill them on the grill for dinner. I told Mr. Big to tell Joshua that it was "steak" because he was going through a picky stage and he loves steak. So, Mr. Big agreed. We fixed our plates and we cut up the pork chops for the boys. Joshua puts a piece of the pork chop in his mouth, chews it and then declares "I love proke chops!". We both looked at each other and laughed. Mr. Big said "So much for the steak!". Joshua then went onto tell us that he loved proke chops and wanted to eat them all night. Cute would be an understatement when it comes to the things Joshua comes up with.

Content

Life is full for me at the moment. Life is everything I dreamed it would be when I was 30 something. At times I think it's more than I imagined and overwhelmingly beautiful. There are times when I reflect on tough times, but in the essence of the great days I am living, those seem like such a distant past. I can list out all the glorious things that make my life grand, but to some the things I find beauty in are not as glorious. At the end of the day when my head hits my pillow I'm genuinely content and for that I am grateful to God. When someone says "how's it going?" I can honestly reply with "Great!". Everything is Great! What a feeling that is to experience and what a blessing it is to live.

Back to School!

Now that Jacob is back in school I feel like our schedule has come back. Summer felt like whirlwind with three kids at home all day every day. I swear I have never slept so good at night in my life. I had no time to myself and when I did it was hit or miss. The laundry was outrageous too! So, with life back to a quasi normal state I hope to blog more than I have been. I guess I go in spurts, but I do enjoy going back and reading old posts to see where I was a year ago, two years ago, etc. Life has really been great and I love reading how we got to this point. I know everything isn't perfect, but in my eyes, it's pretty darn close.

First Grade

Jacob is officially a First Grader. I don't know how he grew up so fast so quickly, but he has. He's enjoying school so far and his teacher seems to be really nice. She reminds us a lot of his Kindergarten teacher and if that's the case then we struck the lottery twice because last year was such a great year! We have high hopes for our pupil and I'm sure he'll make us proud. He's such a cool kid and I hate having to share him, but know that he's ready for the world outside the home.

The Summer is coming to an end...

Yes, I am still alive. If you keep up with me on Facebook you know that, but if you do not-well-Yes, I'm still breathing, taking in food and water and living on this earth. LOL!

The summer! Where do I begin? This summer has been the busiest summer of my life. Three kids is great, but where does the time go? I wake up and before I know it it's bedtime again. We've been on the go and on the move since school let out and I don't know where the summer has gone, honestly. We've packed in activities, doctor's appts., dentist appts, trips to the lake, trips to see both sets of grandparents, cousins, friends, etc etc etc. Life has just been a whirlwind of good times the past two months.

The kids...

Jacob will be entering first grade in 13 days. My little baby that I would sit and rock for hours in my lap is now a first grader! That just amazes me beyond words. It's really tripping me out, actually. I just don't know how those years flew by so quick! He just had his yearly check up and he was over the curve for weight and height. I could probably wear his shirts comfortably and his head touches my shoulder blades now. He's getting too big, too fast! We joke and tell him that we're going to put a brick on his head and rope it there to make him stop growing. He's such a cool kid and I love him to pieces.

Joshua is four and still the little devil he's always been. He's matured quite a bit and will reason with us now, which is nice. I really hope the next year he matures even more because I can't even imagine him in a class room setting at this point. He'll definately be the one to give us a run for our money when he is in school. I'm really worried about his behavior and social skills. He's more aggressive and outgoing than Jacob ever thought about being. With that being said, he's extremely smart and extremely motivated when it comes to learning and life. He really thinks things through and has an engineer's mind when it comes to building things and creating. I love to watch him flourish and blossom. When he's not being mischeivious he does enjoy sitting with me and snuggling on the sofa. He's still my baby boy and he knows that he always will be. I try to remind him of that on a daily basis.

Sarah. She's just my tiny, sweet, baby girl. I don't know how else to describe my little priss other than she's pure perfection. She's the easiest, sweetest little girl I've ever known. She has such a great spirit about her and everyone that meets her can tell right away that she's a good girl. Her smile is delightful and her laugh is the cutest girliest laugh. We laugh when she laughs just because it's that cute! She's a blessing beyond words to our family and I thank God for her and the boys each and every day.

So, that's a run down of our life this summer. I wish I had more time in my day to hang out on the computer like the good old days and blog more. I just am enjoying my life and the kids and well, at the end of the day sleep is pretty darn important to me. I know one day that I'll have more time and that these days will pass quickly so while I'm in the moment... I'm enjoying it and eating every ounce of it up!

Baby Boy is 4!

Joshua is now FOUR! He can't believe he's FOUR and has actually asked for us to still stay he's three. I think he's a tad in denial. He's grown so much in the last year blossoming from what I believed was still my baby boy into my youngest little boy. He's still the mischievious, adventurous, crazy spirited one and I adore him because of it. He's a perfect mix of funny mixed with serious. He says and does the cutest things, but also challenges me to my limit. When I think of Joshua I smile (most of the time) because he makes my day very exciting and offers many original things to our day. This is my last year with him before he starts kindergarten and I know how fast that year will fly by. I am really enjoying our days together and know that they are limited to that one year before I lose my baby boy to a school year. He is a miracle to me and our family and I can't tell you how lucky I feel when I think back to the days of infertility and loss. There were times I felt hopeless and to tuck three beautiful kids into bed at night is a dream come true. I can't tell them enough just how much they are loved and how special each of them are to me. Joshua is the middle and will always hold a special place in my heart because he made me a Mom to two kids. He's a gift and I treasure him.

Mommy, Loves you Joshua!!! Happy Birthday my baby boy-You're 4!!!!

Happy Birthday, Jacob!!!

From this...

To This... in just 6 short years!

Jacob,

You are the absolute sweetest, most caring son a mother could ask for. You are so well behaved! You are extremely wise for your years and you make me proud every single day. Six years ago today you made me a mother for the first time. You will always hold a special place in my heart because I didn't think I would be a mommy to anyone and there you were. I remember when you were delivered and how it felt when you took your first breath and let out that hearty newborn cry. I felt a huge sigh of relief and uncontrollably your father and I started crying pure tears of joy. We had done it and you were here! Life has been crazy ever since, but I wouldn't change a thing! You have made me a better person and for that I will always be greatful and thankful. You are a precious gift from God and I will never take you for granted. Every precious moment we share I treasure it and I hope that when you're as old as I am you will look back on these years with happiness because that is what you have brought everyone in our family.

I love you, my sweet baby boy!

Happy 6th Birthday!

Your Very Lucky and Proud Mommy

Crazy Days!

I wish things would slow down. I have a ton of pictures to share and a ton of pictures to edit on my camera. Life has been crazy busy as the school year nears its end and the summer begins. We're having a garage sale this weekend at our house and I've been a busy bee tearing through closets and pricing items. Mission Declutter is in progress. When I sit down after putting the kids to bed and having a minute to myself I fall asleep sitting up. I'm ready for some dog days of summer and for life to slow down a tad, if possible.

He's no ordinary kid...

He's Jacob! Almost six years old. I can't believe my baby is almost six. He makes me so proud every single day. He's such a good, good kid and such a lover. I can't believe he's graduating Kindergarten and becoming a first grader! Time flies and I wish I had the magic potion to make time stand still, if only for a little while. He's such a cool kid and I'm so proud to be his Mommy.

Keeping disease away when you have three littles...

is near impossible. I mean, how do you isolate one from the pack when one becomes ill? You can't. The disease eventually spreads around and the second person then spreads it to the third person and before you know it we're all sick! Bleh! I have to admit my biggest baby isn't one of the littles. I'll let you figure it out, but I won't name names (Mr. Big!).

As you've probably guessed... we're all sick at my house. Joshua came down with it first. Sarah second. Mr. Big third and Me fourth. One more to go. Let's hope he can stay well for four more days of school. He has really fun things planned tomorrow and next week and I know he'd be devastated to miss them.

Oh and Sarah turned 8 months old this week! Look at this big girl!