This weekend

You will never guess what I am doing this weekend.

*drum roll*...........................

I am going away!! By myself!!! Without the kids!!!! For you to fully understand what a big deal this is, you must read on. I have been a mom for almost 12 years. And for the last 7 1/2 years, I have been pretty much continuosly nursing and/or pregnant. I absolutely adore my kids, but have kind of put taking care of myself on the back burner since becoming a mom. I know it seems hard to believe, but I have not had a night to myself (an overnight) since Colton was born! I have taken a few trips to Utah to visit family, but I have always taken at least one kiddo with me. So, for the FIRST time in almost 12 years, I am going to have a night completely to myself!!! Actually, I am going to have an entire weekend to myself!! I am so excited!! It is definitely something that is long overdue!!

I am not going completely alone. My dear friend, Tristan, is going with me. She is also in need of a weekend away and we are both so excited....we can hardly contain ourselves!!! We have been counting down the hours!! I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend of reading, chatting, eating, scrapbooking, eating, sleeping, eating.....you get the idea!

So, in less than 24 hours, I will be here...

Hyatt Resort Los Pines

I know I will miss Kyle and the kids, but I am really looking forward to some time to myself!!

Soccer!!

Another season of soccer is underway!! Both Colton and Caden are playing so we stay pretty busy!!

This is Caden's first season playing soccer!! It is so much fun to watch 5 year olds play soccer. Caden has really enjoyed it! He loves running after the ball and he gets so excited when he actually makes contact with it!! Although, I think his favorite part is flirting with the coach. Seriously, that boy is such a flirt!! His coaches are 2 college girls and Caden is loving that! He is such a hoot!! He keeps everyone laughing....especially when he does his signature *wink* at us when he's running past us on the field. Too funny!!

Caden before his first game.

First soccer game

I just LOVE his face expression in this one!!

We had some schedule conflicts with Colton's original team assignment, so they bumped him up to a U13 team that had doable practice days. He was a little nervous at first, but loves his team and loves playing on a full soccer field!! He loves soccer and it has been so much fun for us to watch him *grow* over the years of playing. His team is doing great!! They have only lost one game this season. The boys work so well together - great team work!!!! It has been a fun season!! Kyle and I look forward to watching the boys play soccer every weekend!!

Mason's 3rd birthday!!

On September 27, Mason turned 3 years old!! Even after 5 kids, it still amazes me just how fast they grow up! I have to admit, I am glad that the *2's* are over for Mason. He has been slightly more challenging than the other kids when they were this age. He is stubborn and knows what he wants....and when he wants it!! He has become quite the chatterbox, which I love. He is very temperamental, but has such a sweet side, too. I love when he smiles (which he practically NEVER does for the camera). He just lights up when he smiles. He has the most kissable cheeks - that get an overload of kisses every day. He loves Star Wars (courtesy of his big brothers) and Toy Story. He loves looking at books, coloring, building lego's....and also loves just running through the house leaving a mass of destruction behind him!! He is best buddies with Caden and is so excited when Caden gets home from school every day. Mason loves to dress up and it's not unusual to find him dressed up as a cowboy/knight/darth vader in his room long after bedtime when he's supposed to be asleep!! Mason adds so much excitement to our family and we definitely can't imagine our lives without him!!

Mason headed to preschool on his birthday. He was so excited because he was wearing his fire truck birthday shirt...and a fire truck came to visit the preschool, too!!

Mason in the birthday hat he got at preschool.

Mason and his Buzz Lightyear cake.

Present time!!!

Aren't these the cutest potato heads??!!!

My sweet boy!

First Day of School

It's hard to believe that summer is over and the new school year has already begun!! The kids were excited for school and have had a good couple of weeks. Here is Caden and Mia on the first day of school.

This was a hard year for me - watching my sweet little Caden head off to Kindergarten!! When did he get so big??!! He was very excited...and very ready. We got the most amazing teacher for him and I know he will do great with her.

~ Caden - Kindergarten ~

Kyle and I took the kids to school together on the first day. We took Caden to his class first. I was so sad to leave him. He was a little clingy at first but he found his locker, put his stuff up, and then sat down at his desk to color. As I was walking out, I noticed he had that *I'm trying not to cry look* and it just broke my heart. He just sat there, staring at his paper and coloring. We took Mia to her class next. She, of course, did great! She was sitting right next to one of her best friends and was so excited!! After we left Mia, Kyle and I went back down to Caden's class to check on him. We kept peeking around the door to look at him - being extra careful not to let him see us. He was still sitting there coloring. :) It was hard for Kyle and I to leave him, but Caden had a great first day! He LOVES his teacher (she is truly amazing!!) and we feel blessed knowing that he is in such great hands all day!!

~Mia - 2nd grade ~

Colton is in 6th grade this year. Am I really old enough to have a middle schooler!!?? We knew this was coming....and I have worried about it for a while. We love the elementary school our kids attend. It's a great school and Colton has found a great peer group there. Well, for middle school, almost all of the kids at our elementary school are zoned to attend the same school. Our small neighborhood, however, is zoned to attend a different school, one that Kyle and I aren't very comfortable with. We applied to transfer him to the other middle school and the transfer was denied. So, then we wrote a long letter of appeal, voicing our concerns, and took it to the assistant superintendent. Well, we were once again denied. I was upset, not as much because we were denied, but because I felt like our concerns were not taken seriously. Well, we knew going in to it that if Colton couldn't attend the school we wanted him to, then we would be pulling him out. It was not a decision that we made lightly. We spent the summer talking about it, praying about it, and seriously thinking about it. When all was said and done, we felt very strongly that this was what we needed to do for Colton. We don't expect everyone to understand our decision or to agree with it, but we are doing what we know is best for Colton right now. Having said all that.....the homeschooling is going great!!!! We are still adjusting (and tweaking) our schedule, trying to find what works best, learning the curriculum, etc....but I have to say, it is really going well. And best of all, Colton is having a great time!! So am I!! Yes, I am SUPER busy now, but I am enjoying it and it has been great to have all the extra time with Colton. He is truly an amazing kid.

~ Colton - 6th grade ~

Colton is taking 2 classes at One Day Academy, a really neat place that offers a huge variety of classes for all ages for homeschooling families. On the first day, he seemed a little nervous. To get to his classroom, we had to walk through a big *lounge* where kids were studying, hanging out, etc. in between classes. Colton seemed a little hesitant and shy (a lot of the kids were middle/high school age), but he had a GREAT time. He is taking 2 computer classes: Keyboarding and Computer Applications. When I picked him up on the first day, he was grinning from ear to ear. He loves the classes and can hardly wait to go back each week!

Last, but ot least....Mason!!! Mason started going to preschool twice a week. At first we weren't going to send him, but it has been nice to have those two days to devote to Colton and the homeschooling. Mason is doing great at preschool and really enjoys it. He looks forward to going and will wear his backpack around the house all morning until we leave!! I can't believe just how fast he is growing up.

Look who turned One!!!

I can hardly believe that my baby boy is already one year old!! His birthday was on August 19th. This year has gone by way too fast. I can't tell you just how much we adore this sweet little boy. He is so much fun and has the sweetest personality. He keeps us busy, but we love it. He is walking, likes to babble and is a little climber (just like Mason was). He tries to climb everything!!! He is almost always smiling and adores his older siblings (especially Colton). I can't imagine life without him!!

sweet, sweet boy!!!

His birthday cake!!

I was trying to have a solid background, so just ignore the wrinkled white sheet!! :) It took Micah a little while before he got in to the cake. And then it took a while before he put any in his mouth. But once he did......oh, boy!!! He loved it!! He sat in his high chair for the longest time eating his little slice of cake (well, I don't know how much actually made it to his mouth. He was covered in it...and so was the floor!!).

eating his cake....he really took his time.

Just some cute pictures! He is so happy and smiley.... I just love it!! Oh, and yes, we like to spike his hair! As the kids say, it makes him look like a "rock star"!! :)

Random Pictures - Summer 2010

The kids and I made our usual trip up to my dad's and enjoyed hanging out with Grandpa, swimming, swimming...and even more swimming!!

We were so excited when we found out that an official Lego store was opening in Austin!! So, of course, we had to go there opening weekend, where we could watch and participate in the building of a huge Lego Buzz Lightyear!! The kids LOVED it....and so did Kyle and I. Then we went back the following week when Grandpa came down to visit. It was hard to get good pictures since it was crowded and busy, but the kids loved the Lego Woody!! It was great...not only do we have a bunch of Lego lovers in our house, but we also are huge fans of Toy Story!!!

A life sized Lego Woody, from Toy Story!!

Here are the kids in front of a Buzz Lightyear made out of Lego's. Right behind them is where they were building (and letting people help) a huge Buzz Lightyear.

When we went back the next weekend, we were able to see the finished Buzz Lightyear!! It was awesome!!

We love the Witte Museum in San Antonio and try to go there at least once a year. Every time we go, we have the kids sit in the big dinosaur foot print and take their picture. It has been fun to watch the foot print fill up over the years as we have added kiddos to the family!! I remember when Colton was little and sat in the footprint (with plenty of room to spare). Now, we are overflowing!!!! :)

Here are some random pictures of the boys. Don't you love the "little old man" pajamas!! Thanks Aunt Janie!! :)