Thursday, December 15, 2011

Slow Down!!

It's Thursday and I'm pooped!  December has been one event after the other.  Put that on top of work and three kids and you have one exhausted mama!  I HAD planned to do so much this week and through the weekend, but I am stopping here (other than what we have planned at Church).  So I'll skip the other two "adult' parties and relax this weekend.


It was busy, but it was fun, fun.  I'm swamped with customers trying to get in before Christmas, so next week will be all work and no fun.  This past week, though, I was able to enjoy my kids and their (mainly Hayden's) activities.  I had to work on Monday, but Tuesday the boys and I accompanied Hayden and the rest of her pre-school as they sang for and made gingerbread houses with some of the residents at Spring Arbor, a local rest home.  It was so heart-warming to see the joy that our children brought to the wonderful residents living there.

My sweet little ones when we first arrived.



Hayden and her best buddy Ashlyn



Hylan and Hayden


Yummy candy canes!!
G (left) E (right)


Then today we gave the pre school a Christmas party, complete with Santa and all (although I have no pictures of Santa).  Hayden still won't go anywhere near Santa.

Making it snow!!

More snowflakes!!

The Christmas Tree decorated by the kids' handmade ornaments!


Sweet children!


Even though most of the week was hectic, it still went by way too fast.  I enjoy being able to be apart of Hayden's "little" events, even if they wear me out and make me too tired to participate in my own events!








Sunday, December 11, 2011

Ahhh LIFE....

It's little moments like this, a Sunday afternoon, a great Church service, napping children, reflecting on my week as I update my blog (that one is new), that make this life worth all the hardships.  I think I'll skip folding clothes and mopping the floor to just sit and type.  The week was so full of work, fun, Disney on Ice, and a birthday party, that I fell asleep at 7:30 last night.  With a little help from my husband, we put the boys down and he watched Hayden so I could pass out!

One of my very best friends celebrated her 31st birthday Friday night.  It was so great to see all my long time friends!

Holly, Me, Shannon, and Brandy


Me and Leslie



 Me and Holly


Courtney and I



Shannon has a beautiful home and beautiful Christmas decorations.  Her husband, Richard, had the biggest bonfire I've ever seen!  It was a fabulous time and I wish I could see all of them more often.  I'm so grateful for good times with good friends.



Speaking of great times with good friends....

Here is a quick pic of Hayden and some of her buds last weekend at Dean's Farm.  She and I joined our friends Courtney, Gina and Amanda with their girls and Nathan for a hayride to Santa's workshop!


What a week!  As Christmas gets closer so does the chaos!  Now I need to plan for Hayden's school and dance Christmas parties and a couple more parties for Spencer and I this week.  Lord, I pray for a safe and fun-filled week......

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Princesses can ice skate??!!


There's nothing like seeing Repunzel dance, sing and act..... on ice!!  We went to Disney on Ice this morning with the pre-school and it was wonderful.  Just me, daddy, and the little princess herself.  Of course we had to buy a few keepsakes and eat some popcorn (thank you Ms. Marsha).  Then it was off to Crabtree Valley Mall for a little shopping and a visit with Santa (afar).  Hayden and I fell asleep as soon as daddy got on the highway.

It's Thursday so we had to make it to our weekly dance class!


This is an older pic taken of Hayden in front of the dance studio.  Tonight we had a whole lot more clothes on since it was in the forties!  Boy are we all going to sleep well tonight!

Good night and more to come!!!

Umm.. Hello? Are you there?

I'm so busy reading other blogs that I neglect my own, like a year of neglect!!  I don't think I remember how to publish a post anymore!  Oh well, here's worth trying.  After reading the usual blogs I follow, I just happened to stumble upon my own.  While shedding a few tears reading all my old posts, I figured I really needed to stick to this blog because one day I will be glad I did.  So after the "lost" year (undocumented that is) I will once again rededicate myself.  It also helps that I'm bed bound at the moment after the power sculpting class I took yesterday.  Let's catch up on a few things....





My sweet, sweet babies are not so baby anymore.  Hayden is 3 and a half. going on thirty.  She's smart and intelligent and charming and sweet and full of life.  She's also loud and stubborn and sneaky...

This picture was taken at her Preschool Thanksgiving program with her good buddy Hylan.  She absolutely loves going to school.  She has a great group of classmates and wonderful teachers.  I could not be more grateful for such a wonderful establishment.  I tell them, often, that they need to change it to pre-k through grades 12!  She has learned so much!  She recites the Pledge of Allegiance (learned after only 2 weeks), sings "My Country Tis of Thee", writes her name, knows the days of the week, knows the months of the year, counts to 20 and countless other things that I can't remember at the moment but I'm sure I'll add in the future.  She LOVES horses.  We hope to get her riding lessons after she turns 4.  She takes Tap/Ballet on Thursday nights and loves that also.  She took swim lessons over the summer and can hold her breath under water and  swim a few strokes.  This child is an open book willing to learn anything.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for her...

On to my little ball of energy, Ethan Spencer.  He is an absolute doll.  He was baby B in the womb and always smaller than his twin..... until now.  This child is unstoppable and has surpassed his brother in development (not by much) and height (also not by much).  He is a thinker and can figure out just about anything I don't want him to or didn't think he could.  E is definitely a leader in a world of followers.  This kid will be president of something when he grows up.  Although no one can really understand him, he has a lot to say.  It doesn't really matter that you can't understand his words because he gets his point across.


This is my wild man after a nap, soooooooooooooooo cute!  My how they grow!

This is Ethan at around 4 weeks old.  He was so small!






And last, but certainly not least, sweet Garrett.  This little boy has melted my heart like I never thought a child could.  He is so sensitive and kind, yet funny and silly.  All my kids are silly and funny, but G can steal the show.  He has THE BEST belly laugh, like one you would see on You Tube.  He's the kid that sees you lying comfortably on the floor or bed and comes and jumps on you.

Ummm....  Excuse me, Garrett?  Could you turn around please?


 
There... that's better.

He was not happy (obviously) about wearing this adorable pumpkin costume for Halloween this year.  But he's still so darn cute!!


This is G at 5 weeks old *tear*.  I miss those sweet preemie cheeks, but absolutely love the toddler that he's grown into.  I still could gnaw on those cheeks, if I could only catch him that is.

 

I couldn't ask for sweeter, smarter, more loving children than I have.  God has blessed me with all I could ever have imagined.


Even if I have to put my Christmas tree on top of my kitchen table!  ;)



More to come..................................