"Mama...Eight is Great!!"

 

 Oh, Bubby Biscuit...you are so right.  Eight IS great!  But it's not the age or the gifts or the cake or the cinnamon rolls or the tacos or the balloons or decorations that make it so great.

 

 It's YOU!!

 

Seth Jackson, you have brought so much joy into our lives.  You are so smart and handsome and have so much personality.  You are a hard worker and always try your best (except for that whole room cleaning thing.) 

 

 It's not always easy being the middle muffin but you know what?  A sandwich isn't a sandwich without the middle.  It's the best part with the most flavor and if that ain't you, I don't know what is!

 

Your favorites right now are wrestling, Alabama, Atlanta Braves, baseball, jumping on the trampoline, hamburgers, tacos, pizza, riding the lawn mower, Pop and wallering in your bed.  You love for me to sing camp songs to you at night and that brings my heart so much joy!  You are so special and I just know you're going to do big things.  Daddy and I love you so much and I pray that God blesses us with at least 50 more years with you so we can be there for them all. 

 

Thankful Thursday, Surviving to Thriving

The kids have been out of school for about 3 weeks and all I have to say is that I'm so glad we aren't committed to being a lot of places and doing a lot of things this summer.  I'm thankful that we are going to get lots of play time - free time, time to just be - these next couple of months.

I love making the summer fun list every year and watching it grow as my children do (2013, 2012, 2011).  I'm thankful that we seem to have hit what I call the "sweet spot" in the last year or so.  Don't get me wrong.  That sweet spot doesn't in any way refer to the fact that we've finally, after only nine years of parenting, gotten everything figured out.  Oh, no.  That couldn't be further from the truth.  What I mean is that after nine years of parenting, we are no longer carrying a diaper bag, because no one is in diapers (and hasn't been for a really almost 3 years.)  And we no longer have to break up our activities while on vacation to plan around naps because no one requires one anymore (sadsadsad).  And while we do still have to take food with us to some places (because my kids are picky), it's not necessary.  We can pretty much pick up and do and go wherever we want to, whenever we want to.  I am so thankful to be in that season of life.  What I've only realized in the last couple of months (the ones that happen to be our busiest) is that we are entering a new phase of parenting, one that if we don't grab it by the horns and commit to being fully there, we'll miss it.  It will go by as quickly, if not quicker, than the last nine years have. 

You see, for almost a decade, to get us to this point, we have been in that season of parenthood called surviving (can I get an Amen?).  We survived on fewer hours of sleep, fewer brain cells (no thanks, pregnancy), fewer left over dollars (if any), remnants of sanity fueled only by cheerios and bites of chicken nuggets or niblets of hotdogs that have been skinned and cut into a million pieces.  We've done our time wearing pee, wiping poop and smelling like puke.  We've tasted baby fruits and chased down bottles left in the van after the previous trip to Wal-Mart.  We've felt guilty for going to church only to have to leave early because a nap was needed and they'd only ever sleep in their own beds.  We've clapped over first steps and yelled over masterpieces drawn on walls.  We've made it and, somehow - surely only by the good Lord's hand - so have they.

But now, we have to transition from the season of surviving into thriving.  Oh, I know we'll still have some surviving to do.  I mean, we are on the precipice of those dreaded teen years (Lord, give me strength!)  I have realized that there will be a year when I have an 18 year old son (you know, the one who'll know everything and think he's so big because he'll be on the way to college), a 16 year old son (I just don't even know that the Alabama highways will ever be ready for that child), and a 13 year old daughter (drama & hormones...kind of like now, but on mega doses of steroids) all living in one house.  Please have mercy. 

What I mean is that when we first start out, I think we do a lot of "reactive" parenting.  Yes, there are some instances that you plan for.  You have to.  But really, until you bring one of those little cave people home with you...how much do you really know?  Nothing.  And we've all looked at our parents and their coy smiles and thought (or maybe cried), "Are you kidding me with this?  Why didn't you tell me parenting would be like this?"  Why, indeed.  It's because nothing could have prepared us.  And so we wing it.  We react and figure it out as we go.  We make mistakes.  We learn.  (It's totally why God makes kids so resilient.  They survive just like we do, lol!)

But you make it to a point to where all your kids know to rest when they're tired.  They know the "urge" when to go to the bathroom (and even when they can go alone in some places).  They know when they're hungry and can even fix SOMETHING to eat and drink on their own.  They don't walk out into the middle of the street completely naked or open the door to strangers. 

So now what?  Now comes the really hard part.  Getting into a different mindset so that you can let them go one day.  We can't merely survive these next pivotal years. We have to figure out how to thrive so that they will, too.

I'm thankful to be done with some of the stress that comes with the tiny years.  I'm thankful that, right now, we get to experience the joy (and even heartache) that comes with trying new things and meeting new people in these little years.  I'll be thankful for all the frustration that has and will come with all of the years when they've left my nest because I have no doubt that they'll grow up and one day, finally get it (gasp!  My mama wasn't a complete moron!)

So while the foundations and routines and habits we've instilled in them to get here are important, these next years are even more so.  I have no idea how we'll survive it.  But I hope we do it while thriving.

I was chosen just for them.  They were chosen just for me.  I've lost precious friends too young, too soon, who've had no choice in leaving littles behind.  I don't mind sounding a little bit selfish when I say I want to be the one to experience the thriving years with these three who have been entrusted to the Mr. and me.  I'm thankful for last season and I'm thankful for this new one.  I hope the plan is for me to see and experience many more seasons to come.

The best of 2012 in pictures...

Happy 4th Birthday, Ally Claire

Dear Ally Claire,
Where to even begin my little lovely?  You are such a blessing, such a delight.  I've said it on here and I'll say it again so that you'll never question it.  I prayed you into existance little one.  I always wanted to be a mama.  I hoped I would be blessed and that I would get the experience of having both boys and girls, but if I'm being honest, and you know that's my way, I REALLY wanted a little girl.  You are ALLLLL girl!  Make no mistake about that.  You love all things girly and frilly and fluffy.  One of my favorite quotes from you this year was, "Mama...all it needs is sparkles and glitter!"  Pink and purple and glitter and crowns and princesses and nail polish and "spray" and bows.  You are sure to let me know when your "tip toes" get chipped and need to be redone.  You still cling to your purple Hippos that you've had since your "unfortunate incarceration" in the NICU (see links below), but you have allowed other animals to join the throng.  Not long ago, you fell out of bed at night and it was no wonder, you had so much in the bed with you, just like your big brother Luke.  I told you they pushed you out of bed!  You didn't seem to buy it.

But just because you are girly doesn't mean you aren't tough.  You give your brothers just as hard of a time as they give you.  You don't mind being a little dirty and playing outside and you still prefer that your hair look like a "cave woman's" most days.  All in your face and the bigger the better.

And smart.  My goodness you are so smart and verbal.  Luke's teacher thought you were older than you are because of how verbal and conversational you were when we went to have lunch with Luke's class at school!  You are really good at naming your numbers and can count to about 40, but those letters are giving you a hard time.  You're getting there, though, even if you DON'T want my help...with ANYTHING Miss Independant!

But sometimes being that smart has its downside.  You're also quite sassy in attitude and in speech!  You're my child so i doubt you'll outgrow it, but hopefully you'll learn to tame it a little and know when to use it to make people laugh or show boys that pretty girls can be smart, too!

I love you so much, Lucy.  I can't turn my back on you for a second.  Not just because you're into everything, but because if I do, I'll miss it and you'll be in school!  You'll be the hardest to let go of because you're the baby and because like I'd always hoped, we are so close. My hope is that you will continue to grow up strong and healthy, smart and sassy and that you'll always be beautiful and blessed.

Our family wasn't complete until you came along and I'm so thankful that you did!!
xoxoxo

for her hard beginning...start here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Just click on the numbers. the posts are pretty short.

take me out to the ballgame...

another baseball season has come and thankfully gone!  don't get me wrong...out of all the sports my kids play, this is by far my favorite.  but it is a huge time committment, especially when you have two in two different leagues.  plus, we live in the county, so our games aren't in one place.  they are all over and Limestone county is pretty wide!

we start practices in march and this year we had 4-6 practices per week between the two of them.  (and i'll admit, sometimes we skipped a few of seth's b/c no 6 year old needs to be practicing 3x a week.  i mean, hello?)  last year...before the tornadoes came through...we had a set schedule.  but that changed when some of our baseball fields got ruined and we are down a location in which to play.  that also meant less places to practice.  anyway, we made it through march and with april came our games.  TWENTY SIX OF THEM!  all over God's north Alabama creation.

this little girl was there for every practice and every game (some how we avoided them being at the same time all but once i think!) and do you know that they had the nerve to complain when i made them skip games to go to her little 1 hour end of the year preschool program?  i think i may have given them a right good guilt trip.  i've been that little girl and it's not always fun being dragged here and there, but she went and didn't say much to the contrary (unless i haven't brought the appropriate amount of snacks.  that's a different story.)

the boys did really well this year.  luke only struck out during his first game and he got hits every at bat, every game after that.  and he could really crush it!  he's actually going to baseball camp week after next from 9-2 M-TH and I hope he likes it and learns a few things because next year he'll move up into the kid pitch league.  (how did he get that old??)  he played 2nd base and really loved it and did a great job.  his team was set against several of the number one teams around the county so he got worked hard, but he never complained (they only won 2 games, bless 'em!)

seth played short stop...sort of.  it was his first year at that position and i kind of feel like no one really worked with him on what to do (plus the fact that there is a pitcher that stands right in front of him) but he did what he could and was a go-to hitter, earning the nickname of "crusher".  both coaches wondered what was so different in these kids from last season to this.  the only thing we know of is that they were a year older and had been doing kung fu for several months.  they are learning to move their bodies in different ways and their cores were stronger going into the season (which now that we're back in KF, i can tell that they lost some of that strength during baseball).  but who knows?  (i am certain it has nothing to do with the fact that their mama can still get out there and pitch to them help them with their batting stance and throw with them in the yard!)

now...for any of you mama's out there who get sick and tired of ball park food and hate burning up...i have a couple of things to talk about.

first of all...see that little red wagon and that green sportbrella? 
STOP.
GO GET ONE OF EACH.
TRUST ME.

we have at least 4 chairs to haul around with us to any ballgame.  plus equipment (bat bags or buckets, etc.)  i'm not a pack mule.  enter the best wagon ever.  it is made of a sturdy canvas, it folds up, has a cover and two drink holders, and will pull through the deepest gravel even all loaded down.  we're going to try it at the beach this summer, too!  i found mine at Sam's, but they also have them at K-mart.  we could fit our chairs, the sportbrella, a bat bag, an activity bag, a small cooler and a picnic basket in that thing and it just kept on going!

that part umbrella-part tent thing...got it at Sam's, but you can get them most anywhere now.  SO worth it.  especially if you DO have two games in one place and don't have anywhere to cool off in between (or if the game is at 1 and you have to be there at 1230 and you won't leave until sometime after 2!)  seriously...

and lastly...out of all of those games, there were three in which we ate something from the ball park or picked up fast food.  the rest of those games (23 for those of you still reading and keeping up) i took food from home and saved a jillion dollars by doing so.  do you know that those crazy people charge at least a dollar for a bottle of water and you can buy a case of 48 at Sam's for less than $4?  it ain't rocket science folks.  i won't drone on and on about what all i took, but if you want to know, you are welcome to email me.

we made it through another year and next year they both move up in age groups.  can't wait to see how luke does learning to slide and steal bases and let kids throw balls at him (while his mama cringes.)
ps...Sam's did not pay me to endorse their store or these products, but dang it if they would send a gift card for doing so, that would be awesome b/c we shop there at least bi-weekly!!

Summer Fun 2012

before i give you a rewind...here's what we'll be up to this summer.  make your own list.  b/c see, even if you buy shaved ice every single week, it you put it on a list and let them check it off, only then does it become an event and more special!  outsmart them while you can, sisters!

mom challenge...

sorry...i know y'all have been looking at my chili recipe for a month now. no excuses other than to much...muchness going on. i DO have another chili recipe, though. or i actually thought it was more like a mexican chicken stew. anyway, not the reason i'm here today. found this on my love Pinterest. thought i'd share b/c it surely spoke to me and how i could do better in our muchness.

source

(go to the source or click for larger)

cooperation...

every day...

we woke up...

and went to the beach...

and played in the sand...

and when we were tired...

we went to the pool...

and then after lunch and rest time...

we did it all again...

vacation officially rocked this year!

Ally Claire is Three!!

so, waaaaaaay back on June 10th, Ally Claire turned 3! So hard to believe! Time sure has flown for this little girl who's not so little anymore! I wanted Micah to post the NICU videos, but we just haven't had time to get around to it. Maybe next year. In the mean time...

We decorated (even though we didn't have a party).

She wanted "pank" cupcakes...and she got them, along with her requested supper of cinnamon rolls.

She got a new princess bike (and I don't have a picture of that for some reason).

Ally Claire, I love you so much it pure hurts, little girl! You have a head full of wavy hair and could care less if it's all in your face or not. Otherwise, you are the epitome of all things girly. You adore dresses, dressing up, high heels, purses, "jewels", and "Pitty tip toes". You will NOT be seen without your toe nails painted.


I don't think they have been bare for the last two years, to be honest. I painted them for the first time before going to the beach two summers ago! Your brothers are your best friends and worst enemies, but they love you just as much. (You are able to get them to play house, school and costume party.) You are a big daddy's girl, but love time with me, too. We had a blast this summer at camp, just us girls! You are braver in the pool this summer, paddling everywhere in your float. Your best friend is Jackson and you love church day! Unfortunately, you also like to call your brothers names and work the word "butt" into nearly everything you say. Some favorites these days are "chicken noodle weenie head" and "booty butt". I have no idea...

You are a delight, full of sweetness and sass in equal measure. I can't wait to see how you grow this year!

i have no idea...

within the last two days seth has said some funny stuff. here is your laugh to get you through the end of the week. warning, you may never look at intimate apparel the same way again.

while walking through walmart, we pass the ladies undergarments. while spotting a padded bra...wait...get the image in your head...he says:

"Hey Mama, what is that?"

i keep on strolling, not thinking twice about it. "It's a bra, Seth." To which he replies:

"Oh, like you could wear it on your face while you mow the grass?"

i had to stop the buggy and lean over on the bar i was laughing so hard. You see, Micah has terrible allergies and wears a mask that looks like this while he mows...so...you get it.

I've also been working on trying to write down some House Rules, some sort of physical reminder of how we should act and how we should help (more to come on that later.) so after church tonight i asked the kids what they thought the house rules were. the one they had to learn the hard way today was "keep your hands to yourself." i knew that one was coming. then seth said:

"and no kicking...except if you are wrestling or doing karate on each other."

clearly he gets it.

after a few minutes had passed they were telling the same mind-numbing joke over and over so it was obviously time for the quiet game (which i'm sure luke would like for me to tell you that he always wins.) after a minute or two of being quiet (and constantly reminding sissy what quiet actually means), seth apparently had something really important to say because he whispered,

"Hey Mama, can we pause this game for a minute?"

seriously...it's why i keep him around.

buying time rewind

i posted this before, but in my crazy life, sometimes i just don't even know what to say. i am lucky to have a complete thought most days. we have 3 kids with 2 in soccer, one in 1st grade, one in preschool and one into everything! our house is back up for sale, which isn't all that great considering the state of the housing market right now. but hey, He will provide, right? oh, did i mention that i was asked to be a substitute school nurse? how cool is that? i hope i'm able to do it a few times a month. it would be a seriously awesome way to get my foot in the door for that when all of the kiddos are in school.

so, when you know you need to pray for these little ones, but you're not even sure what to say, here is something you can stick on your fridge when you are fixing the umteenth sippy cup of the day or standing there by your microwave cutting those hotdogs into itty bitty bits.

it's a calendar for praying for your kids.

ps--if you'll notice the date, i started this post 2 days ago. who wants to tell me an easier way to get my pics to upload to this piece of you know what?

AC 360 + a 5 minute craft

we have 5 days until ally claire's birthday. and being that i have a warped sense of humor, i decided a while back that since i call her AC on the blogs, i had to do a post titled AC 360. (if you don't watch the news ever, that is the name of anderson cooper's show. i thought it was funny.) anyway...what better way to start your 360th day with some fresh 'O's...

and freshly painted toes?? just in time to sport them in the sand little sister. well played.

try not to eat her...

and for your craft...do you have a million of these around your house? i'm certain we have them in every room. and while they are convenient...they are ugly. and you know i have a slight love affair with a can of spray paint, right? (it can right so many wrongs!!) why not take a few minutes, a wipe box, a can of spray paint and a paint pen and go from this...

to one of these???

i copied this "T" from the towel giveaway i won from Joy last week.

('member when i was trying to decide what color to use on those thrift store end tables? this is the cappuccino that i didn't use on them.) and you could peel the sticker off, but i'm obviously lazy and didn't. that's so much prettier than nemo in my bathroom.
i also won that fantastic handpainted tray from simply seleta's giveaway. i am waiting anxiously in the mail for it. i never win anything, but after the craziness that has been trying to sell our house, i sure was tickled about those. go make your house pretty. i'll see yall next week!!