Playin Catch up

Wow, what a whirlwind of a summer this has been! The biggest news as you all know is that we've moved. It was a crazy time, things haven't gone quite as we had planned, but we are hear, we are all healthy (except for one broken foot) and we are getting settled. We are all so happy to be back in Louisiana (okay, maybe not so much Theo but the kids and I are thrilled!) and back closer to family. It has made all the difference in the world!

It was hard to say goodbye to our friends but they are moving too so either way, we would have had to say goodbye. But we sure miss them!!

My parents were so helpful in getting this move done. My mom came up and helped me with the kids, and we drove two of our three cars down to Louisiana. It was a stressful time...with worrying about the fires threatening our town, to Theo being TDY, it was not an easy time. But thankfully, we have a great family who is always willing to help.

Once we got to Louisiana, my dad came up and helped Theo with the receiving of our household goods. The kids and I stayed up at moms so I could keep the little "helpers" out of the movers way. Theo couldn't have done it all without my dad's help! While Theo spent 4th of July watching our stuff being unloaded, we had out 4th celebration the weekend prior and hung out at Aunt Vickie's house and had a great family time together! It was soooo good to see my brother, sister-in-law and neices and nephew.

More of this summer saga coming up.....stay tuned!

School's out for summer!!

Theo and I can't believe we have a first grader! It seems like only moments ago we were bringing our sweet firstborn son home from the hospital and now he's going to be a first grader! Where did that time go?

I wanted to make Carter's last day of kindergarten extra special. The weather changed most of my plans but we still managed to make Carter feel like the luckiest former kindergartener in the world :) I went to Dollar Tree and got him several summer inspired toys and put them in his crate he got for Christmas. I also made him a banner that said "Good bye Kindergarten! Hello First Grade!!" and put a picuture of his first and last day on kindergarten on it. He of course was more excited about the toys :)  We also had a water balloon fight and let him eat lunch at McDonalds.

I'm looking forward to the summer and just being able to relax (mostly!). We are cracking down on the tv watching and just going to enjoy playing, being outside and having fun!!

Teacher Appreciation Week

School is officially out! But I wanted to post about some things I made for Carter's teacher for teacher appreciation week. After talking to my mom, my resident teacher expert, I opted to do cute little things Monday through Thursday and then a nicer gift for Friday. I forgot to take a picture everyday but the two I did were these: I baked cookies and made a tag that said "I'm one smart cookie because of you"

And then the "big" gift was a starbucks gift card wrapped in a starbucks cup with a tag that said "Thanks a latte for all you do!"

I thought they gifts turned out cute and Carter's teacher seemed very appreciative. I'm so thankful for good teacher in our lives....especially my own parents!!

The Tooth Fairy Comes for a Visit

Carter lost his first "official" tooth several days ago. It had been loose for a while and then as he was biting trying to get the top off of something, it flew out. It was funny because Theo was home for lunch and said "Carter be careful, you're going to make your tooth fall out" and as soon as he said that, Carter spit and there was his tooth! He was excited and traumatized at the same time. He wasn't prepared for it to bleed. He was saying "Mom, put it back in!! I want my tooth back!" But once the bleeding stopped, he was so excited. We literally tried to call almost everyone he knows and even wanted to go door to door down our street telling everyone :)

 The tooth fairy stayed up late that night trying to make it special for Carter. His tooth was so small that we had to put it in a ziplock bag. We later found a little tooth plastic container (I guess he got from the dentist when he lost his actual first tooth at 15 months old). We'll definitely have to use that next time!

That night, Carter came into our room around 2 a.m. saying the tooth fairy hadn't come yet. In actuality, the tooth fairy was stumbling around in the dark and accidentally left the money inside the pillowcase instead of under the pillow :) Next time, she'll know better. But when he woke up, he was excited to find his surprises.

 He even got an official certificate from the tooth fairy.



 But of course, he was most excited about the money....$2 to be exact in case you all are wondering what the going rate for a tooth is these days. At least this is what it was at our house!

I love making my kids feel extra special by turning momentous things into extra special occasions :)

Denver: Take Two

These are the rest of the pictures from our Denver trip. I had a post all created with all these pictures and then it magically deleted itself :( So I'm just going to put the pictures on here without typing anything...hope you don't mind :)

 I do have to make a comment about this photo. The space part was Carter's absolute favorite part. He didn't want to take that astronaut costume off. And who knew astronauts had capri pants?  :)

Denver trip

Friday, Olivia had her follow-up appointment at Children's in Denver. She receieve a clean bill of health, praise the Lord! So we decided to make a little weekend getaway out of it. We had a good time but it was challenging staying in a hotel with three kids. Let's just say, I might have brough Benadryl.....I will neither confirm nor deny that though. If only Isaiah could have had some....but I digress.

Friday, we got to the hotel late on account of Denver traffic, so we ordered take-out and then (attempted) to get everyone to bed. This is the chaos that is otherwise known as our hotel room. You should have seen the stuff we brough for one overnight trip. One hasn't traveled until they have traveled with kids!!

Saturday, Olivia and Isaiah were up bright and early (i.e. 6:30) so we all got our suits on and headed to the indoor pool. We had a blast! This was the first time since last summer that the kids have gotten to go swimming. They were waiting by the door for us!

We swam for over an hour, got ready, and then had our left over dinner for lunch. We had originally planned on going to the Denver museum of science and nature and then the aquarium but only made it to the first place. We spend three hours there and the kids were ready to drive home:) Good thing about this museum is that is was free for active duty so this turned out to be a very inexpensive little trip!

On a side note, this little monkey was attempting to jump off the bed and into the pack-n-play and busted her lip while Theo was picking up dinner!

So, as I was saying...the museum was a lot of fun and in three hours, we still didn't see everything.

The first stop was the a play area for younger kids. They had all kinds of activities. Carter had the most fun building with the blocks, surprise, surprise! He also loved the globe and Livie loved the piano and dancing around.

Isaiah was just amazed at everything!! :)

And more pictures soon....

Mom's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women and moms in my life. My family made me feel extra special today. Theo made me breakfast in bed (even went to the store at 6 a.m. because we were out of eggs!!) and bought me flowers.

We aren't big gift givers anymore really so when he asked me what I wanted, I told him to feel special. Well, he certainly did. He even helped Carter make me paper flowers with pipe cleaner stems. Carter was so proud of himself! 

I feel especially sentimental this mother's day although I can't say why for sure. But when I was talking to Carter this morning, I just had tears pouring down my face because I'm so thankful I get to be a mom. It is not easy. Most of the time it's very challenging but the rewards of motherhood are priceless and immeasureable.  I can not imagine my life without my children. I'm incredibly blessed with the life we have and feel undeserving most times of the love that is poured out onto me from my husband and kids.

I have a special place in my heart for each one of our children. They are all alike in so many ways yet so different. They have such strong little personalities and I love to watch them grow daily. I hope I can be the best mother for them I can possibly be. They deserve it. I am amazed by how much these little people love me. But then when I think about how much I love my own mom, it's not so surprising. That is what motherhood is. Having the child you created love you wholeheartedly and unconditionally and being able to return that love back to them. Wow, what an awesome privilege.

I am thankful every single day for my children. I want them to always know how much they mean to me, how much they have enriched my life, how I understand God's love more because of them. My hearts greatest desire is for them to have their own personal relationship with God, for them to seek him with all of their hearts, for them to know him in a real and personal way. I pray that I can model what that looks like to them.

I am so blessed to have my own mom in my life. I would fall apart if it weren't from her. She often talks me back from the ledge of motherhood insanity and her ever-present listening ear makes my life so much easier. She loves in a phenomenal way. She loves my kids in a phenomenal way and I know they are aware of that. I love that we are so close and I can share anything with her. She helps me to be a better woman, wife, mother, friend. She's always in my corner but doesn't mind playing the devils advocate too. I am lucky to have been born her daughter. I love you mom!

And of course, there is my husband. Without him, I wouldn't have these wonderful, fiesty, strong-willed children. I am honored I get to share my life with him, completely, unashamedly. We are a team. He makes motherhood bearable on the days it's hard because I know that no one else knows what I am going through like he does. We share the burdens, joys, pains, blissful moments of parenthood together. I couldn't do it without him. He is my rock, my best friend, my heart and soul.

Happy Mother's Day!