Our own little playground

The kids got a trampoline and a swing set for Christmas from both sets of their grandparents...and it has CHANGED my life. I love that I can send them in the backyard and they have stuff to play with. I mean, it seems like a no brainer...but it took us awhile to figure this out. Before our backyard resembled a neighborhood park, the kids would find trouble quickly...very quickly. It wouldn't be but a few minutes, before I would hear either crying or "MOMMY!" Not only have they gotten along so much better, but it has made for some really fun playdates...and made it SO easy to have other families over. Thank you Grandparents...you made my year!

Officially in 2010 now!!

We were headed to the car for church and I realized how adorable and color coordinated they were...so what could I do...but whip out my camera and snap a few pictures. Gracen had slept in some braids to see if we could make some waves...it turned out pretty fun.

And now, folks...this post brings me into 2010...officially. I'm so glad to be done blogging about 2009. I mean, that was SOOO last year...

Let's Do This Thang

Game Face

Don't mess around with a soccer player. They mean business. Especially 5 year old soccer players.

Delegation

Aiden's First Sleepover

Barie giving game instructions (Can you see Ainsley hiding in the tent?)

Life Long Best Friends....Aiden and Ainsley

They have SO much fun together

They were inseparable

Aiden, Ainsley and the birthday boy, Kade


So, Aiden had his first sleepover...and NO there were no girls. Well, there were girls at the beginning of the party...but the girls left, and the boys got to spend the night and do boy stuff...whatever that is. Ainsley and Aiden were pretty disappointed they couldn't stay together...they are such sweet friends. I was REALLY nervous for Aiden to spend the night with a friend...but Kade is our pastor's son...who we completely trust. So we felt like we could say yes, AND sleep that night. The AND was a big deal. Aiden had a blast, and wanted to know when the next sleepover would be. I avoided that question. Apparently, he did not miss us much.

Grace Harbor

1st day of Grace Harbor

Aiden with his homeroom teacher, Mrs. Turner.

We stumbled across this program several months ago for homeschool families, and feel like we found a jewel. The name of the umbrella program is Grace Harbor. Aiden goes once a week and he attends art, p.e., music, speech, Spanish, and character building. I love that he's getting exposed to all of these different classes, and making friends. He has gone two weeks now, and his favorite class is SPEECH. I can hardly believe it. He certainly did not get that from me. I'm still haunted by my college freshman speech class, where I literally cried every time I got in front of the class. Nope...he gets that from his Daddy...who is extremely comfortable up front. And his second favorite class is art. I love that. I just knew p.e. would be his favorite class. Look at my big kindergarten boy. I couldn't be prouder if I tried.

First day of homeschooling

He's just a little bit excited.

My super handsome guy

Here's Aiden on his first day of school...at home. He was so excited to start. I just had to do a first day of school photo like my Dad tortured me with EVERY year...same place...EVERY year. And now, it's my turn to do it with my kids...

The Summer Do

The Before-My favorite Mop Top

Doing some cutting prep work-Mommy's trying to hold it together.

Daddy working his shaving skills

Hosing off all that hair

The After-a much cooler head for summer...a much sadder Mommy

And I'm pretty sure we cut off the last of his red hair...okay, maybe not all of it...but most of it. *Sniff, Sniff.

Kindergarten...here we come!

My kindergartner
They were singing us "So Long, Farewell" from "The Sound of Music"...yeah, I was a crying mess.

Aiden's teacher, Mrs. Nicole, was going down the line, saying what each kid wants to be when they grow up. Aiden apparently wants to be a "House Cleaner". :)

He was so proud and such a little performer, concentrating very hard.

My handsome guy, excited about going to his graduation.

We had Aiden's preschool graduation a couple of weeks ago, and I still think I'm in denial that I have a kindergartner on my hands. He looked so grown up that night. They sang about 5 songs, complete with hand motions...it was awesome! Aiden was a very focused little man. He took his singing quite seriously...and it made this former singer, pretty proud. He really showed us his sentimental side, realizing that he wouldn't see his friends very often (or in some cases, ever again). I kinda got caught up in his emotions, which rarely happens, and doubted for a few days about our schooling choice in the Fall. But after much prayer, and talking it out with Blake, and some friends...I once again recognize God's leading in this area. So kindergarten....here we come!!

A Cooperative Model

I'm just goofing around, trying to figure out my camera...settings, lighting etc. I asked Aiden to help me by being my "model" outside for pictures. He was so darn cooperative...and I would venture to say he even enjoyed it a little.

Our First Tball Game

Go Aiden!

Run Aiden Run

Aiden with his good friend Tyler...precious!

Enjoying a post game snack

A wee bit bored



Well, we went to our first Tball game today, and it was SO much fun. Blake asked off today, so we actually got to have Daddy at the game, and for the WHOLE day. Aiden played great and really tried to do his best...I loved that. He was pretty funny...both times he was up to bat, he hit the ball and ran to 1st base, then to 2nd, and so on until he was home...the funny part was that he passed all his other teammates on their bases. He didn't get that you have to wait for the person in front of you to run to the next base...he was HAULING! I'm thinking track and field might be his thing. He loves to run, that's for sure.
It was the perfect day for me. First of all Blake took the day off, so he got to spend a Saturday with us...Wow! He made us all french toast this morning. We just had a relaxing, chilled out morning, then went to the game. Afterwards the kids came home and took naps, and Blake and I hung out and listened to a sermon online by Frances Chan...which I'll blog about later, b/c it was SOOO good. We made homemade pizza tonight, and had a picnic in the living room watching "Bolt"...it was so great. I can't wait for the day that Blake doesn't have to work on Saturdays. That is my idea of a perfect day with my family!

Pre-Game Photo Shoot

So stiff

Breaks into dance, once Gracen comes on the scene

She helped loosen him up

No idea why he's pointing at her.

She makes me laugh with all of her faces.

We took some pictures before Aiden's Tball game...before he was all red and sweaty, because it was HOT today. Aiden was so stiff taking pictures, and then Gracen walked out the front door and declared that she wanted to be in them too...and suddenly Aiden was relaxed and ready to take pictures. It's interesting to me how Aiden and Gracen bring out the best in each other, and give each other confidence...but in a blink of an eye, they can bring out the worst in each other...siblings.

My Guys

I walked out my front door today, and this is what I saw...my guys' shoes...and I just couldn't resist snapping a picture. I love them...the guys that is.

Batter Up

Look at the focus and attention of my boy! (Notice the boys in the background :))

That smile is for Mommy!! I'm a lucky lady!

Check out that form!!

I'm not a proud mama am I?! Well, we entered the "world of sports"...finally. I have wanted to be a sports mom for as long as I can remember. I always wanted 4 sons...and I pictured Saturdays spent on the field or at a ball park. So needless to say, I am thrilled that the time has come to introduce Aiden to organized sports. Now, that I think about it, it's kinda strange that I'm so excited. I'm not sporty, nor do I understand most sports...but it just seems so "All American". Aiden is a pretty athletic kid...definitely gets that from his Dad....so he has picked up Tball pretty quickly, and LOVES it. And I LOVE that. I hated PE as a kid...so I'm glad that Aiden has a totally different attitude towards all things sporty.

Flashback

Announcing our pregnancy with Grier

Fall '07

Turning 1 & 2

A sweet moment...Spring '07 -turning 2 & 3

Moving to Austin...saying goodbye to our Dallas home

Simple Pleasures

Bath time

I'm not real sure what the point of this posting is...I was just feeling sentimental. Aiden and Gracen wanted to look at old pictures of themselves. They love that. Do your kids? Anyways, they wanted to see pictures of us in Dallas, and so we started scrolling through picture after picture...and I got sentimental. It was a sweet time for us. While we were there, it seemed so hard. Blake was so busy with school and all of his jobs. I was pretty much pregnant the entire time. We had very little money, and very little space for that matter. We lived in an old house that was about 1,000 square feet. I just couldn't wait until we graduated and "moved on" to something better. Well, now we have been "moved on" for almost 2 years now...and life still feels pretty much the same. It is actually busier now, with the kids getting older, and needing more from us...and of course we've added to our family as well. But you know, life was pretty simple. When you don't have much, life is pretty simple...and we were blessed. The last year of seminary God opened our eyes to see how blessed we were. We started keeping a list of the ways God had blessed us...and we were overwhelmed. It got to be really exciting. We would be doing something like yard work, laundry, or studying, and one of us would blurt out a blessing. It was constantly on our minds. It's amazing how your perspective changes when you look at your day this way. We are truly blessed people. We have so much to be thankful for. God has lavished us with many good things...a relationship with Him, a pretty great marriage, 4 healthy children, a roof over our heads, food, 2 running cars (one of which was a gift to us), a church we love and can openly worship at, good friends, supportive and loving family, health insurance, a working washer, dryer, and dish washer (seriously!)...our list goes on and on and gets much more specific. It doesn't matter what season of life I'm in or what I have or don't have...it's about living in the present (not dreaming about the future), making a choice about being content, and thankful for ALL that God has given me today. What are you thankful for?