July

So, I haven't written a post in a while. But, here I am! Blake is about 10 1/2 months now, and doing great. He is still eating everything he can get his hands on. I'd say his favorite things to eat, as of late, are green beans and peaches. Here he is enjoying a nectarine.


He really won't have much to do with the pureed baby food anymore...he wants the real stuff. Last time I blogged about his "milestones" I think he was pulling up. A little over a week ago Blake was sitting in the living room floor and just stood up, without holding on to anything. He's been doing it quite a bit, and I just know his first step is coming soon. We shall see. He babbles quite a bit, but I haven't noticed and clearly spoken new words..."Dada" still seems to be his favorite. He seems to be the first, out of our four, that prefer David. His face lights up every time he sees his Daddy. He is generally really happy, but doesn't seem to smile quite as easily our others did. He really is amazing.
The other kids are doing very well also. We are just still enjoying Summer break, with NO rush for it to end. My only complaint is that with the older kids being home all the time, it is even more evident how MUCH they fight. They argue from sun-up to sun-down. It drives me insane. Any ideas on what to do? I have no clue. I will admit I have been lax on praying about that area of our lives lately.
Anyway, things are going pretty good in our neck of the woods. We are all healthy and blessed. What can I say? Life is good. Now, if the weather would just cool off...

This weekend

This weekend is the hubs and I's anniversary, July 3rd to be exact. We have been together for almost 17 years (which seems insane since I just turned 32) but we were together 6 years before we married. So, 11 years of wedded (most days) bliss :). He is a great, great guy and I'm so thankful to be blessed with him as a husband!
With all these children, it's hard to get away out of town or anything, so we will probably pick a day and do dinner and a movie, alone. Since this is a holiday weekend, it's too busy to try and sneak away. I think our plans are to go to the lake tomorrow...can you say HOT? We usually have the family over and cook out and do fireworks at our house, but I think we may be switching it up a bit this year. Either way, I plan on enjoying myself :) I am also thankful to live in America. I'm so grateful for our freedom. Thanks to those who have fought for and protected our country. So, happy Independence Day to you all. I hope you have a fabulous, safe holiday weekend!

Lazy days of Summer...

Whoever coined the phrase, "Lazy days of Summer," obviously didn't have children...or a job...or a house to keep...or a life. Kidding! But really, our Summer thus far, has been far from lazy. It is going great and I am loving Summer break, but we are still so busy. Granted, I have 4 children to keep up with, one being just 9 months old...so that alone would keep a gal kinda busy.
Speaking of Blake being 9 months...there is really not too much new going on since I updated @ his 8 month mark. He is pulling up a lot more, holding onto stuff and walking while hold stuff. He still LOVES to eat. His second tooth is starting to come in, even though the first one isn't quite in all the way (I don't think??). I'm not sure of all his stats, his 9 mo. checkup is later this week. He is generally really happy and he is doing fabulous.
Our other three kids are doing great as well. Joseph had his checkup from getting his tonsils out, and the doctor says he needs about two more weeks to fully heal, but is doing good. The kids have all been staying up a little later and sleeping in later, especially the two older boys. I am absolutely loving not having to set the alarm to get everyone up and going for school (though Blake is my "built in" alarm clock). It's one thing having to get up early, it's another having to rush around getting ready, and making sure everyone else has what they need to be ready and then be somewhere on time! Eek. I also am definitely NOT missing the parent pick up lines at the schools. I am really happy about a break from that!
We haven't really been anywhere yet. We did go to In N Out burger, a little over an hour away, to try it out. My Dad missed them from when he worked in California and had talked about buying a plane ticket to just fly out and eat at In N Out. So, for Father's Day we drove over and tried out one of the newly opened ones in Texas. I must say, it was REALLY good. This Summer, because of David's job, we really don't get a vacation. We do plan to go to Beaver's Bend a little later in the Summer. We may take a couple of water park trips or something like that. Who knows! :)
This week I am planning on getting this crazy house in order...it is so unorganized and messy. Blah. Oh well, at least it's Summer!

Tonsillectomy pictures

I'm back to post pictures from J's tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy. He did/is doing Super fabulous! One day we had a bit of a scare with fever and more pain than he'd been having, but he got through it like a champ. I am so proud of him. I am SO looking forward to a school year filled with throat infection FREE days! We were just so blessed with the care he received. Again...a "minor" surgery, but still feels great to have it go so smoothly! :)

"See those tonsils down in there? They are whack!"


Being wheeled back to the O.R.



Recovering...


Again, my handsome boy, recovering...


Getting the IV removed...we have a tough kid :)



So proud of my brave boy!!!

Tonsils...and it's Summer in Texas!

The terrible heat has started in Texas. Not that it won't get worse...I'm just saying it has officially begun! Our Joseph had his tonsils out yesterday, and is doing AWESOME. He hasn't wanted any pain medicine, and is his normal, busy self! Even though that is a minor surgery, when it comes to your babies, nothing is too minor not to worry. So, I am thankful that he did so well. I cannot sing enough praises about His doctor, the nurses that cared for him, and especially to God for His hand on it all! I will probably post some pictures in my next blog. My dad was there, and took a million pictures, so I will get them from him (my phone pictures are terrible).


Today I had the awesome idea to go to Walmart and pick up a ten dollar plastic pool for Blake to splash in, out on the patio. Let me just say that A WEEK AND A HALF AGO my sweet ALMOST 9 month old got so sick with a virus. It wasn't a 24 or 48 hour virus like I am used to people around here getting...this thing lasted for 5 days! I mean we are talking "the works" when it comes to the symptoms he had. It. Was. Terrible. Then, just as those symptoms were subsiding, the runny nose, cough and watery eyes started. I'm not sure if it's a cold, or if it's allergies...but we are going on day 11 of my baby boy NOT being himself :( He has been happier the last two days, though, so back to the pool. I thought it would be something fun for him to do. I decided to get the $15 dollar size once I got there...only five more dollars, right? I mean WHO CARES if it was gonna fit in the back of my SUV. The problem started when I wandered OUT of the lawn and garden section. He needed sunscreen. Well, we had some at home already, so maybe "need" isn't the right word. But, the Coppertone Water Babies was on sale AND I had a coupon, so I felt like we should have another bottle. Oh, he needs little swimmers! We don't want the diaper to get wet and break apart and make a mess, so over to the baby section we went. There, I did find the swimmers, plus an outfit, and a toy. I then realized he didn't have his own beach towel. Don't worry, I found a reasonably priced one. On the way back to the Lawn and Garden section I passed the outdoor dept. where they have life jackets. Don't laugh at me. I wasn't going to put him in a life jacket for the baby pool, which I would be sitting right there with him the whole time. But, we like to go to the lake, where he really will need one. And, it's a super cute life jacket.
So, I really should not and will not post what my "supposed to be $10 trip to Walmart" turned into. Don't judge me, you know you've done it, too. For some reason that book, "When you give a Pig a Pancake" is running through my mind.
Anyway, here are some pictures of baby Blake and his first swim. Forgive his sad eyes, again he just isn't back to feeling 100% yet!

My desire...

I'm sure the title of this post is a little dramatic. Anyway. I guess if we are all honest with ourselves, we always have something to work on, always a way that we can improve our life, become better people. The fact that I am a Christian has a LOT to do with that. I want to be better not just for myself, or my family, but for my Father. My desire is to be a Proverbs 31 woman. Look it up if you don't know it.
The woman sounds too good to be true. I know in my heart I will NEVER be that woman, but that doesn't mean I can't desire to be that woman. It doesn't mean I shouldn't pray about and try to be that woman. When I am really honest with myself, I know I fall short as a Mother and Wife. I always feel like my husband and kids deserve better. Not because they are perfect. But because that is my personal conviction.
I love the Lord. I want to honor and obey Him. I know if He were sitting here with me, He would tell me the truth, that I have much room for improvement. The thing is, I am your typical female. At least I guess I am. Some days I feel like I fare pretty well. Others I know I don't. Some days I put on love so well, that I feel like I could overcome the world. Other days I wallow in self pity. Only, is this typical? Maybe it's not. Maybe it's my analytical nature. Maybe it's my ADHD. I jump from here to there, and back.
It's confusing, it's not satisfying...to be always knowing I should be more. Then again, when I do put forth the effort, I know God notices. That IS worth it.
Do you follow? Maybe not.
I desire to be the woman who forever has her family's best interest at heart. And, for the most part, I do. But I definitely have my selfish moments, too. I don't want to have selfish moments. The proverbs 31 woman works herself to the bone, but never complains. She's a stay at home Mom, but she's "earning" for her family. She makes the most of what they have, instead of complaining to her hard working husband about how badly she wants a vacation, or even just a break, or...cute new shoes. She is wise. She is noble. Her husband praises her...and her children call her blessed. FYI, my children have never called me "blessed"...just sayin'.
So, to be a Proverbs 31 woman is my desire. I would say it's my biggest desire as far as Earthly things go. Anyway, there you have it, blog world.

Oh, and it's Memorial Day! Thank you US service men and women...you ROCK. May the Lord God bless you and keep you!

End of the school year

Today I went through my kids "Monday folders" for the last time this year. Their Monday folders come home every Monday with graded papers, weekly reports, citizenship info, newsletters, etc. They have four more days of school left. Then, Summer Break. I am SO excited! The one thing I am sad about is that they are getting so old. I mean, I'm happy they are healthy, thriving children...growing like they are supposed to...it just seems like the months/years are racing by. Ok, actually there are TWO things I'm sad about...the other is that we don't get a "vacation". this Summer. Because of the changes in David's job, he won't get any PTO this year. Hopefully, next year, if things go as planned, he will be back to his three weeks of PTO and we can take a super fun family trip. I hate that the kids work so hard all year, and now we do get to go anywhere while they are out of school. But, we will do a couple of short, closer to home trips, I'm sure. They all did great on their test scores and qualified for flex week. So they will get out two weeks earlier than those who didn't.

I think this year flew by even faster, for me, because of baby Blake. I am always So busy with him that it seems I never have enough time to focus on the three older children. I feel like my mothering skills have gone down the tube with those three. It breaks my heart, but right now I don't know how to fix it. So, here we are at the end of another year.

When school starts back up in August I will have a Kindergartner (Isabel did Kindergarten this year, but her Dad and I decided for maturity purposes it would be best to have her do Kinder again), a 5th grader, and...a high schooler! I know I was young when I had Andrew, but seriously, how can I have a high schooler? 9th grade! In a few months he will take Drivers Education. Eek. Ok, that's a whole 'nother post. Later Folks. Have fun ringing in the Summer!!