September Recap

While updating on all of the bigger events and holidays, I wanted to be sure to include the little moments too!  And rather than do that with one humongous post, I opted to do it by month.  I have no idea how much of life actually got blogged prior to the fall, but I thought starting in September was reasonable!  I look at these pictures and it is amazing how much the kids have changed in just a matter of months!

I enjoyed some Friday afternoon patio time with my girls before getting the kids off the bus!  Not to worry - Brad had come home early from work...I didn't leave the boys at home by themselves :)

Jack has decided that Hank is his best friend - it is always so entertaining when they play together!  Sweet boys!

Stella and Katie - such a sweet pic!  Slow down time!  They already look so different than they did here...

And college football was in full force! We got together with the neighbors to watch some football - and the kiddos sported some Auburn gear!

We also got some hikes in!  On this particular day we went further than planned, but the boys did a good job!

I snapped this of the crazies before heading down to the bus one morning! Love it!

Katie had her bridging ceremony from Daisies to Brownies!

My soccer season started!  This was when Jenn and I were headed home from our first game, I think.

I managed to get some good runs in!  Boy, do I miss getting outside and running.  I can't wait for some milder, rain-free days this winter to get out and run!

On Meme's birthday, I went to visit with her for a little while before she headed out to lunch with my mom!  I love this picture I snapped when she and Ryan were playing peek a boo through my keyring!

I started a Bible study at church!  It was a really great one!

A week of Katie's outfits for school :)  Clearly we still hold Matilda Jane near and dear to our hearts!

These boys love a stop at the park anytime!

These pictures were from Katie's Spirit Week at school!  Neon Day, Cowgirl Day, Wacky Day, Decades Day, and Spirit Day!

That Friday night was the Fun Fest at her school!  It is always so fun - the weather was perfect this year!  Jack had a blast doing some of the inflatables too (mainly the obstacle course one).  Next year I need to remember to have Katie wear a super bright color that is not green so I can find her more easily!

I got my hair done!  I think I am going to do this color again - looking at this picture makes me ready for a dark color!

I also got to go on Katie's field trip!  It was so fun to spend a day with her and her class!

Brad and I ended the month with a date night!  Dinner at Whiskey Kitchen and then a concert - Rob Thomas and Counting Crows!

I'd say September was a keeper! 

More Togetherness

We sure have had a lot of together time.  And when I say a lot.  I mean a lot.  Like whoa.  The ice storm last week meant that the kids didn't go to school all week.  And we could hardly get out of our neighborhood (it took Brad 10 minutes to get up our street on Thursday morning - I figured it wasn't worth it with the kids in tow so we stayed in).  And just when things started melting, it hit.  What is it, you ask?  Why, the stomach bug, of course.

 

This was Katie's Saturday.  She woke me up at 3:30am and informed me that she had thrown up in her bed.  Yuck.

Sunday, she and Brad were both out of commission.  But they both got better as the day progressed.  They both even ate baked potatoes for dinner!

 

And yesterday, Brad went to work.  And Katie was doing better.  We even got out of the house to run a couple errands!  And in the meantime, I got the call/email that the kids would be back in school today.  Just with a one hour delay.  Hooray! The best of both worlds!  Ease into the morning routine but have extra time..and they go to school!  Until Katie threw up again last night.  Twice.  So this is how she slept again last night.  In our bathroom.

She woke up feeling a lot better today (thank GOODNESS).  But the germ claimed another victim.  The Wild Man himself.  So this is what our morning looked like.  I moved the kitchen table and made a nest on the floor for Jack to watch shows.  And Katie sat at a distance but watched also.  And poor Ryan - he is WAY too big for the swing, but I needed somewhere to put him!

And thank GOODNESS for neighbors.  Like for real.  My friend/neighbor/angel came and brought these for me.  And not only did she bring these, but she happened to come when I was upstairs feeding Ryan a bottle to get him down for a nap...and Jack threw up again.  Good thing we love each other's kids.  Sheesh.

And she brought Jack a few feel better goodies...

And she brought Katie a word search and coloring poster that are both Frozen.  She was thrilled with something to do (since she is feeling better)!

And then Jack decided he wanted to get snuggly.

And then he fell asleep - in the middle of the kitchen with The Incredibles on.  Poor dude.  He did however keep one Saltine and a few sips of Pedialyte down!  I will call that a success!

And Katie is sitting at the island eating an easy snack lunch and watching the movie and doing her word search.  She even has a twinkle back in her eye!

I sure do look forward to some sense of normalcy and routine.  Mainly I want our crazy kiddos to feel better.  And to get back into their routines.  I think Katie will be good to go for school tomorrow (thank goodness).  And hopefully Jack will be feeling better.  He is so pitiful when he is sick!  He is actually STILL and CALM!  And I sure hope Ryan avoids the throw ups.  And I hope I avoid it too - mommas don't get sick days!  Here's to hoping we are back to normal soon! 
 

 

 

Real Life, Folks

I just uploaded quite a few pictures that I have taken recently...and man oh man.  There are some gems in there.  But among the ones where I bribed the crazies for a smile or requested that they kiss Baby's head are some pictures that give a slight glimpse of real life around our house.

 

Exhibit A.

This was before church this past weekend.  This is the only one of all three that I took.  Between uncooperative kids and a huffing-and-puffing husband, I opted to stop.  Brad did agree to take a picture of me and Katie that turned out pretty cute.  Actually Katie requested a picture of us together.  Love that.

 

And then this one is before we headed down for the bus just yesterday.  Jack didn't want any part of the experience and was trying to scoot away.  Katie's expression shoes she was clearly concerned for Ryan's well-being and trying to not let Jack knock him off.  Yep.  That's about right. 

And then from this morning, I found this.  Love.  A sweet smile from Katie.  And a wild, fun expression from Jack.  And a holy-crap-what-is-going-on-and-is-this-really-what-I-have-to-live-with expression from Ryan.

We have been crazy busy around here lately - new posts coming soon, but I wanted to get this posted first!  Now, off to get things prepped for a garage sale Saturday.  Ah!  Happy Hump Day!

They're All Mine - For Better And For Worse

I am so glad I can take a step back and realize how lucky and blessed I am.  This summer, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have had all three kiddos by myself.  And it is slightly chaotic, but we survive!  Well, yesterday was the most trying of them all.  Katie wouldn't listen to save her life.  Jack is two and acting every minute of it.  And Ryan - thank goodness for his sweetness.  He started having little laughs when he smiled yesterday.  Sweet, sweet sounds.  But whew.  It was one thing after another...one of those days where I was literally counting down the seconds until bedtime.

 

But when it comes down to it, I have to remind myself that these kids are good kids.  Everyone has a bad day from time to time (note: it would be spectacular if Katie and Jack would try and time theirs on different days so as to not drive their mother insane.)  And while yesterday was insane, there were good, special moments too!

 

When Jack was napping, Katie and I did some art and practiced writing uppercase and lowercase letters (ya know, refreshing before Kindergarten starts) and her name (with the capital K and lowercase other letters).  And then we sat on the front porch for popsicles.  And then she watched a part of a movie while I fed Ryan.

 And this one - I mentioned he was starting to have some little laughs.  And they were precious and sweet and amazing.  Thankfully Ryan is a very sweet, low maintenance baby.  Now if we can just get rid of that middle of the night feeding, Mommy may have an extra bit of patience :) .... Note: This picture was taken almost a month ago.  My, oh, my he has changed!  He looked like a little squish here!

 And "acting his age" couldn't be more appropriate for this one.  He currently has two speeds: running and asleep.  And he is testing boundaries like crazy.  And if his freaking canine teeth don't hurry up and finishing coming through the whole way, we both may explode.  He didn't want to eat yesterday (which I know is fine - he isn't going to waste away...it is just frustrating).  And he was just naughty - eating crayons and not listening and all that jazz.  But there were moments of goodness (thankfully) - when he woke up from his nap, he gave me the biggest hug.  And on a few different occasions, he would walk over and extremely gently give Ryan a kiss on the head.  Sweet, wild child.  This picture is him to a tee - happy as can be and always on the move.

Most of the time, I paint a picture of pure happiness and all that at our house.  I just wanted to say that it isn't necessarily true.  I try to find the positives in each day.  And sometimes it is the whole day.  And then other days, like yesterday, I have to find little moments that made me smile.  And that's what gets me through.  But at the end of each day, I am so thankful and feel so blessed that each of these three calls me Mommy.  Brad and I are blessed enough to be able to be their parents.  Amazing.  Also?  Thank goodness a day is only 24 hours! :)