School is OUT!!

Wow.  I now have a kindergartner, a second grader, and a third grader.  Augusta 2013, I for the first time in over 8 and a half years will have no children in my house from 7:30am-2:30pm.  Wow.  One thing is for sure, I won't be sitting around eating bonbons every day (I have possible "alternative" plans that may or may not come my way).  I am excited to see what this new chapter holds.  Until then.. SCHOOL IS OUT and it's time for SUMMER FUN!!

Happy 5th Birthday, Nathan!!

I guess with the arrival of Nathan's 5th birthday I have been overwhelmed that what was left of Nathan's "babiness" is now quickly fading.  He isn't baby talking hardly at all.  His sentences are coherent (mostly) and complete.  He knows his letters, their sounds, his numbers, how to write some sentences, and can even read a few words.  These past 5 years have happened so fast.  To think that so much has happened in his short fives years.  Moving, growing, losing a grandmother, starting school, more growing.. so much.  How it's been 5 years in what feels like mere months I don't know, but boy am I trying to squeeze every moment out of it I can while I still have him little.  Because I know how quickly they grow.

Happy 5th Birthday to my last baby boy.  The boy who still loves to cuddle with his mommy and give sloppy kisses.  Thank you for completing our family and filling my heart to the point of bursting.

Love,

Momma

Valentine Weekend- 2013

A month or so ago I told Kent that I didn't want to exchange gifts for V-day.  I just wanted to have a nice night out with him.  Kent agreed and said he would plan the whole thing.  I figured he would eventually ask my opinion on the date night, but he never did.  He told me it would be a surprise.  If you know me, you know I do like surprises, but it's really hard for me to enjoy the leading up to it because I have no control over the situation.  Anyway, about a day before the big weekend Kent did tell me that we would be going to a movie before our dinner, but that we would have to come home to change before eating since the restaurant was fancy.  Little black dress and heels fancy.  Hmm, ok.. My daddy came up for a few days to help babysit the kids for us and he was in on all the plans as well.  We went out to the movie (Safe Haven) and as we were leaving Kent broke the news on the next part of our surprise.  We were not going home to change.  Instead, he had made reservations for us to eat dinner at a fancy restaurant that was also inside a hotel.  We booked us for the night.  What??!!?  No going home and getting kids ready for bed?  Getting to sleep in the next day?  Yes, please!  He had went earlier in the day to check us in and had hidden our bags in the back of the car.  To say I was shocked would be an understatement.  I had absolutely no clue.  He did so good and I am glad he took the time to plan it all out and surprise me.  We had a great time and it is definitely a date night I won't soon forget!

View from our room

Heading to dinner

Us being goofy.  I am sure something fun was said about the time I snapped the picture.

Snow Day

OK, so it wasn't REAL snow, but it was cold and wet so the kids didn't care.  A local church brought in a bunch of snow for a snow day on President's Day.  The kids were out of school so we thought we'd head over and check it out.  The kids only got to go down the hill once because it was so crowded, but they each said it was fun.  As for any real snow.. I am not holding my breath for any this year.. which is fine with me!

Upward-2013

We are heading into our 4th year of Upward.  Jon Kent and Nathan are playing basketball and Zoey is cheering.  They all 3 love it and I am so glad we have a chance to do this sport as a family.  Kent coaches 2 teams and refs.  I coach Zoey's cheer squad.  It's truly a family affair.  So here's to a wonderful new season of Upward Basketball!

Christmas- 2012

This Christmas the kids didn't get out of school until the Friday before.  That Friday the kids all had their parties at school.  They were all excited to be able to wear their pajamas to school and have a fun, free day.  All was going well until Zoey threw up several times at school.  I think by the time I got to the school she was up to three times.  Not the way I wanted to start our Christmas break.  So we came home and she rested the rest of the day.  No more throwing up either, which was good.

I had a few things planned for the kids to do leading up to Christmas Eve.  Gingerbread house building  baking and decorating cookies, doing some "elf training", special Christmas books, etc.  We had a great time just spending it together as a family.

Christmas went well.  The kids enjoyed all their gifts.  Jon Kent was especially excited about a book he received (at last minute purchase).  He read it in about 2 days.  Zoey loved her new iPod and furby, and Nathan loved his new 3DS.  Kent and I spoiled each other with some new clothes and other special gifts.

Mostly, I am thankful for the down time.  Just time to spend as a family.  Since we live 4 hours from family we always stay home for Christmas.  We don't have to run from one family function to the next.  We just get to enjoy each other, talk, play, rest.  It's nice, especially since January starts what seems to be a non stop of activities for us.  I think our next "break" will come with summer.

A couple of days after Christmas we headed to Alabama to spend some time with family.  Sadly, while there Kent got a stomach virus so he was out of commission for about a day.  We had several gatherings to be at and enjoyed seeing family.  My kids, without a doubt, were extremely spoiled.  They are truly blessed with wonderful family members who love them greatly.  And of course, Kent and I were too.  My favorite surprise was a nice monetary donation that my daddy gave to me for an upcoming mission trip this summer that I plan to be apart of.  More details on that later.

After a few days in Alabama, Kent and I came home alone for some reconnecting and resting of our own.  The kids spent a few extra days in Alabama with the grands and great grands.  It was the first New Year's that we haven't spent together as a family.. I think.. ever.  But it was nice and I know my kids were all well taken care of and of course spoiled.

Christmas 2012 was great and I am thankful to have celebrated another year on this earth.  There is always a realization that we aren't promised another Christmas let alone day, so we should enjoy it while we have been blessed with it.  My momma reminds me of that each year that she is no longer here.  This Christmas marked 3 Christmases without her.  And each year I think her absence is more prominent, at least it seems that way for me.  But she is celebrating with the whole reason we have the Christmas season.  Jesus Christ.

I hope everyone's Christmas and New Year was as blessed as our's.

NAGA- North America Grappling Association

Jon Kent and Zoey participated in their first BJJ (Brazilian Jujitsu) type tournament December 1.  Jon Kent had a much larger group to compete in and he came in 3rd place.  He did a great job with it being his first tournament, but he was still disappointed.  I was just proud of him for doing so well and being brave enough to compete.  And he lasted the whole time except for one round where he had to tap or get his arm injured.  He came in 3rd place for both competitions.. "no gi" and "gi".  Zoey had a smaller pool of competitors (as girls aren't as wild about "wrestling").  However, she came in first place for both her competitions and got a sword for each win.  She was proud, we were proud.  It was a good day for Zoey and a great "early" birthday present for her.