Summer is almost over.......

Can't believe summer is coming to a close.  This has to be one of the best summers I can remember in recent years.  It was so fun this summer watching the kids grow and swim and explore new things.  I love how they love the beach and swimming.  We've had fun at the zoo, museums, camping, painting, eating lots of popsicles and playing with the pups.  We have missed daddy a lot though and wish he could have had a little more fun with us. For Mommy and Daddy good concerts with great friends just put the icing on the cake. 
G is swimming full on underwater with no floaties as is LM and I am like one of those beaming crazy moms just bursting with pride that we accomplished that. 

farmer's market where we spent some time

School starts within a week and we look forward to that although I amsure I will cry my eyes out on the first day both are at school.  It's just all gone so fast...people tell you it will but you don't really believe them when you are sleep deprived and tired all the time and then you blink and they are off to college.  I am enjoying watching the people they are becoming with their opinions and seeing mine and daddy's tendencies coming through although not my temper flaring in them both but hallelujah they have daddy's temperament sometimes too ..he's way more mellow than I am.  So excited to see what this school year brings and watching them bloom.

G finally started liking the beach

This one makes my heart melt

G spent a lot of time in her cowboy boots this summer

Sophie provides the perfect subject, she doesn't run away

Now I lay me down to sleep

When G doesn't want to say her prayers LM says them for her and it goes a little something like this:
"Now I lay G down to sleep, I pray the Lord her soul to keep
May angels watch her frough the night, and wake her wid the mornin light"
So very sweet. Personally I think she feels special when her brother does that and so she refuses on purpose so he will say them for her ;)

Some of my favorite things in G.'s room

There's just something about having a girl...the fun girly things we get to pick out, shopping for a girl is so fun and sharing all those special moments with a daughter is just so wonderful. I have never been one for themes in a bedroom. I like to kind of do the shabby chic eclectic mix of things important in my life. Actually, my whole house seems to be like that....a hodge podge of things that may not all match but have some significance to us and where we were at that point in our lives. And as you all know photographs are one of my favorite things to display because they make me happy. Taking them, framing them and hanging them is one of my delights. Anyway, putting G.'s room together was such fun for me..no , it's not fancy but just a mix of things I love that make me smile. I tried my hand at photographing some of them and did okay I suppose but here they are:

Pile of tutus

This belonged to my mom and aunt growing up and I always loved it

Jennifer found this for G.'s room and it matched perfectly

My bargain finds

Just love this...makes the colors all come together

Mom and Dad brought this on a plane from AL to WA for the kids--handmade by a friend

Another of my favorite things in G.'s room, her sweet watchdog

My clearance find at PB

Another of my mom and aunt's things-loved this growing up and it became G.'s recently

:

Beach fun

Beach  and summer fun

It's been a while now.....

I am not sure why I just can't keep up with the blog...I used to enjoy doing it nearly every day or at least once a week but for some reason it seems so hard to me.  I feel so bad for not keeping up with baby girl the way I did LM but it's just overwhelming but just for the family I will hit the highlights.  We have had sucha  busy summer.  After G cut the tip of her finger off in a baby gate she had surgery , has been recuperating beautifully and has a nice little pink nub and even a nail growing on it.  She was such a trooper and still has been but sometimes reminds us to "be caful" with her finger. 
School ended for LM and I cried my eyes out like a baby because I have grown to love that place mostly because he loves it and the teachers are so nurturing and wonderful.  What a blessing to have found it!  But both my little munchkins will be there next year and that poor preschool won't know what hit it with G although it's so familiar to her now she will do just fine.  I will be a wreck on that first day they both get dropped off together.
Miss G changing so fast --in just  a few short months my sweet baby has turned into a full fledged tall toddler. She is talking so much...but her favorite thing to say is No of courseand to copy anything her brother says which are nice words like "butt" and such.  We're working on that and trying ot expand her vocabulary a little more ;)   Both are swimming like fish, diving off the diving board, underwater and the works .....mostly with swimmies on but sometimes not so I hope by the end of summer they will be ready to do it all on their own.
Miss G has a complete mind of her own.  She does what she wants and just is so pretty.  I am partial but when she's that stinking cute it's hard to stay mad at her for long.  The relationship between the two of them is coming along and having more sweet moments than before.  Mind you not more sweet moments than I want to claw your eyes out moments but it's getting there.  Starting to play together and enjoy each other a little more.   She tells me "don't talk a me"  which is don't talk to me when I am tryhing to correct her or she gets in trouble.  Copies everything he says and another favorite is "ummm, i don knowwwww". 
Daddy is in and out  a lot these days and it makes for long weeks but plenty to do for summer.  Fall will be hard as we gear up for yet another long deployment.  I am so grateful that this time it's not boots on ground somewhere in Afghanistan --that means less sleepless nights worrying.   The kids are adjusting ok but everytime he leaves the first few days LM wakes up w/ nightmares or just upset but then settles down. 
We've had quite the exciting summer already even with a couple surgeries to boot with G.'s finger and my appendix.....but so much fun in between all of that we didn't notice too much.  Now we begin new injections for Beau to help with his arthritis and give him a little relief to give hima little more quality of life these last few months or so.  Will post pictures soon.....

Beach and Jam session

Jennifer and G

Seriously, how many wrinkles do I have??

Before......

during......

and after........

updates and fun stuff

So I'm way far behind.

We've done so much I guess it's impossible to catch up but I'll just give a few highlights.
LM finished soccer, ended up loving it and being sad the season was over although I amsure his coach was awaiting the end of the season anxiously with all those 3-4 yr olds ;)
G. is just into everything. Do I say this every post? I think I do but maybe I am just trying to reemphasize how active she is. wow, she wears me out. But God doesn't give you more than you can handle right? She is full on talking in sentences and just has the cutest little voice, these beautiful blond locks and smile to melt your heart. ANd she is learning to pout quite effectively, bottom lip out, head tilt and all. It's fun watching the growing relationship with the two kids too. They are able to play together a little more and have fun with things together which is a day I often wondered if it would ever come.
Beau still doing okay, he's getting old, hobbling along and an occasional gallop and we see glimpses of our old boy. BT showing age as well, not able to run as far and as hard as he once could with me. Mattie just thinks the pool in the backyard is her personal lap pool, she does a few lazy laps around a couple times a day but it is helping her keep cool which helps a lot in the heat w/ her laryngeal paralysis.
We've been berry picking, jam making, swimming, easter egg hunting, bird watching, beach going and many other activities as long as it's outdoors we are doing it. After 4 yrs in WA with a lack of sunshine we are soaking up all the outdoor activities we can and making up for it. Now that spring is nearly over we are looking forward to summer, summer , summertime in my best Will Smith ....

He is RISEN!!!!

Man , this spring is flying by.  We've been outside as much as possible since we missed so much time outside the last 3 yrs we are surely catching up on it.  I have been a picture taking fool lately and driving my minions crazy.  Just love taking pics of these little monkeys and their furry siblings. 

LM just warms my heart (most days) with his silliness and reminds me a lot of my Paw paw...always making up silly songs and words.   Miss G is a BUNDLE of energy....into EVERYTHING.  She wears me out and don't know what to do with her except keep those little chubby hands busy.

What a wonderful Easter week we had.  I reflected a lot on Christ and tried everyday to discuss with the kids his sacrifice and the happiness we feel of  his resurrection.  It was a rather emotional time for me this year as I reflected in a way I never had before and really felt the burden Christ felt and the elation at his freedom for our sins.  What a blessing indeed! Highlights of Easter week:

• LM got a goal in his soccer game, sort of , he was assisted heavily but take a look, he's #10 

Conversation over Cream of Wheat

(and yes, Cof Wheat is a fave in my house as we're trying to up the boy's iron intake)
LM: I don't want to talk to my sister
Mommy: Does that make you feel good in your heart to treat her that way?
LM: (shakes his head yes)
M: Surely not b/c that would mean you didn't have Jesus in your heart and I KNOW you have Jesus and God in your heart. 
....silence, contemplation.......
LM: But I don't b/c God lives in the sky, in heaven
M: Well, you're right but he also lives in your heart......
....silence, contemplation......
LM: You're right Mommy b/c when HE lives in your heart it warms your heart and warms your tummy like when you drink hot chocolate and apple cider.

I almost melted--how sweet and wonderfully said by a three year old.

A great big Shark.....

Wonderful birthday full of surprises!  Got to go to the spa w/ Jennifer and had facials and pedicures and even though our pedicure gals talked a little too much and a little too graphically about their lives (thankfully we cracked up and tried to be nice as they had our feet in their hands w/ little sharp sticks and such )  we had a great time and relaxed and laughed.  
Then had dinner w/ Jen and Clif --ate too much and came home for cake which Daddy made and presents. 
Daddy and Jackson had picked out a beautiful white gold cross and chain for me, complete surprise.  And I got a steam Shark mop.  Now those of you who know me know how I love to clean, my house isn't immaculate by any means but I love cleaners, cleaning products, breathing fresh air , etc.  So I have been pretty excited and dying to use it and finally did.  LOVE IT!!!!

I also got a few other fun things that I am loking forward to using as well.  Pictures included and were taken courtesy of my camera by photographer C. Coleman ;)

Finally finished staining and decorating the table in the playroom

Cream of wheat ALL in her hair

27.......plus a few

As we got up to have breakfast this morning (muffins that J. made) Jackson asked how old I was.  To which his daddy replied "27 plus a few buddy".  Thanks honey for not reminding me.  Actually I must say it's not the aging that bothers me...age is just a number , right?  Not sure why , but there has been much anticipation for my birthday this year.  Maybe b/c it's the first one J. has been around for in 4 years, maybe b/c I have two toddlers and three geriatric dogs that need me every second and i wonder if I am living up to it.  I have been through so much in the last couple of years really that sometimes it feels like a blur.  This lifestyle doesn't allow you to relax for a second b/c you never know what's coming. I just hope I am getting it right, that I am setting a good example for my kids...that I continue to be a better wife andamso grateful that along the way God has held my hand.  When I thought it couldnt' get any harder, I can remember falling to my knees in prayer and saying I can't do this.  Each time he picked me up and gave me the strength to sometimes just make it through the day.  There have been so many times I felt so alone and He comforted me in that loneliness and I take a look  around now and just hope that I am doing something right...getting better as each year comes, more patient, more understanding, more compassionate.  So in my 34 years I hope that I have progressed and continue to do so ...much more to learn.....but for today I am so thankful for such wonderful blessings in my life, health, family, friends.......and now , let's party.  Celebrating with a day to the spa with Jennifer.  And then to dinner for something J. has planned.  I know it's going to be great if Jackson can just keep a secret....the boy is like me, can't keep birthday secrets. 

Soccer practice...

or should I say soccer chaos.  That's pretty much what it is with 3 yr olds.  LM's first practice was in 40 degree weather w/ a wind chill of 14, that's right I said 14 and snow flurries.  He just stood there frozen for a while and then finally participated a little and got the hang of it.  And then as if on cue while he's doing not much of anything except turning into a popsicle G runs out on the "practice field" to try and kick the ball.  Guessing we wont' have any trouble getting her to go out and join the crowd.  We'll see how practice and game go this week.  Pictures will come when I can whip my camera out and the hurricane force winds won't rip it from my freezing hands.....

Becky Home-ecky....

Ha, not really.  I have stolen a few ideas from a few people lately and modified to my own.  One of them being this great idea from Darby on her blog http://www.flythroughourwindow.com/ .  Thanks Jennie for sending me her blog a long time ago...
So anyway, I made these white chocolate cupcakes..or cupcake shaped molds modified from one of Darby's posts.  I attmepted the candy cane hearts but burned them and that didn't do so well. 
Then I decided to make my own iron on shirt for LM instead of buying them and spent a whopping $7 instead of $27 w/ shipping and all from one of the websites who does them.  ANd best part , it took me all of 10-15 seconds which is how long you hold the iron on the image to make it stick.  AWESOME!!!!

    

     

I think he liked it

The chocolate and peanut butter lollipops I made for LM's Valentine's party

I know this picture is terrible and I did take it using a flash as well but I didn't like the shadows it cast and well, I just loved the way my BT looked in this one, yellow and all

This is what my computer area in mykitchen looks like, just imagine that I have a desk upstairs too that looks even worse--ha ha