Making my Lunch!

To say that Brandon has a sweet tooth would be quite an understatement. He loves everything sweet and unfortunately not too much in between. He has been obsessed with candy since Halloween and I never seem to be able to put it high enough since he is quite the climber. I caught him today packing his lunch for school.

I think he is going to be a disappointed little boy today when he opens his lunch box and finds that I replaced the candy with a peanut butter sandwich and a banana.

Toddler Logic

In honor of Brandon's 2nd birthday, I thought I would give you some of the toddler logic he came up with the other day.

He wanted something and was whining so I said, "Brandon say the magic word."

Brandon smiled and said "MINE!!"

I think he will fit right in the two year old world!

Happy Birthday to my very special boy!

The Momma Buys It and The Toddler Takes It Away

As I previously mentioned, I went several months this year without a camera. My camera just disappeared on July 4th. I haven't seen it since. I'm still not sure if some child got a hold of it or what. Anyway, I finally decided since school was starting that I needed to get a new camera. My camera that disappeared was not even a year old so that was a hard pill to swallow.

I spent quite a bit of time researching and finally decided to spend a little more money and get the camera with a bigger zoom. I love getting close-ups of my children. I haven't even had my new camera for a month and I'm sad to say - it is no longer working.

How can a camera less than a month old stop working you ask? I guess it would have to do with the purse being left on the table. A certain toddler found the purse, goes through it, takes camera and dunks it a glass of water. The camera still turns on but there is water inside of it and it will not focus on a picture. Do you think I can convince the guys at Best Buy that this wasn't my fault and should be covered under warranty? Yea, probably not.

I think maybe I'm supposed to be learning that I am not supposed to become attached to worldly goods. I should be pretty good at this by now. It seems every time I get something nice or new or clean my house, etc. one of my precious angels on earth finds a way to break, destroy or mess it up. Obviously, I still have a way to go because I'm pretty bummed about the camera.
Here's hoping the folks at Best Buy will take pity on me.

Garrett's 1st soccer game

I guess, technically, Garrett's 1st soccer game was a long time ago. Here he is enjoying one of the many soccer games he has been at through his 4 years.
Today, was the 1st day that Garrett got to join the rankings of a soccer player. Here are some photos of his 1st game.


Ready for action.



Put me in Coach, I was born for this game.
Watch me kick-off.

I'm fast, I can catch you.I can throw the ball in too.Whether Garrett becomes a true soccer player like Allison is yet to be seen, but it was fun to watch the little boy who has been sitting on the sidelines cheering his sister's on, finally get his chance!!

Email

I was working with Caitlyn on her formation this weekend. We started having a converstation about heaven. She proceded to ask me what heaven was like which, of course, I have no good answer for since her guess is as good as mine.

Her response made me smile though. "Momma, when you get to heaven, can you send me an email and tell me what it is like."

I'd like for someone to send me that email too.

MIA

I know, I know. I haven't posted in a very long time. It started out with no camera so there were no pictures to post. Then, it just became my daily life that didn't allow for much more than a facebook status update.

The sad state of affairs is that it has even taken me several tries to send this message out. I now have a new camera and hopefully will be able to find a few minutes to occasionally put a little bit of my life down for the blog world to see.

All in a Days Work

I don't know what it is with this time of the year but it seems like we are hopping from one kids activity to another. This Saturday was no exception as we had our 1st swim meet of the year and Brittany's piano recital.

Here are the 1st place 6 and under girls relay team getting ready for action.

Here is Allison edging out the competition on the breaststroke with an All-star's time!

Brittany on the last leg of her 50 yd breaststroke. Gotta love those 50's!

Caitlyn showing off her backstroking skills!

When then hopped out of the pool, made ourselves look beautiful and headed over for Brittany's piano recital.

Here she is playing Stars and Stripes Forever.

Some Like it HOT!

Today was Benfer's annual field day. It was Brittany's last year and Caitlyn's first year of field day. Although, I still miss the way we did field day in my day - three-legged races, potato sack races - you get the idea. I must say a good day was had by all. Even Brandon was a near perfect Angel. Here are some of the pictures from this hot, fun day!

What's field day without a little tug-o-war!

According to the kids, the best part of field day is the water!!A few push-ups to get us ready for the rope climb.

Even Garrett took part in the rope climb.Gotta love the obstacle course.

Of course, one of the best things about field day are the friends.

Boy, field day can be so exhausting!

Where, Oh Where Did My Baby Go?

I learned after Garrett got his 1st hair cut that boys just don't look like babies anymore once their hair is cut. I just wasn't quite ready to face this with Brandon so I have been putting off getting his hair cut because, well because, Mommy just didn't want to.

I was starting to get a lot of questions on when I was going to cut Brandon's hair and comments about how he needed a hair cut so I decided it was time Mommy got over it and took him in.

I was a little nervous on how Brandon would do. He can be known to throw quite the fit and really doesn't like other people touching him so I wasn't sure how it would go down. Well, let me tell you -- he was almost perfect. It is amazing what the bribe of a lollipop will do. He only fussed at the very end when they were using the clippers in even out the back. He sat on mommy's lap like a champ. I wish I had some pictures of the actual hair cut but he was on top of me so they didn't turn out.

But here he is with his new nickname "Mr. Handsome Man".

Enjoying the last of the lollipop in the car on the way home.

Sitting on the kitchen cabinet while I finish dinner.Gotta have my milk fix before I go to bed. (Yes, it is pink cup - I lose all of the new boy sippy cups but manage to always find the girl one's left from Caitlyn)The day is done, Momma, gotta take my new "do" and hit the sheets.

These are the Moments

There is a country song out and the chorus has this line:

These are the moments when I thank God that I'm alive

That is how I felt this morning at 3:30 am. It was a simple gesture of love from my 3 year old that reminded me that life is good and I'm glad I'm living it.

Garrett came into my room and said he had to go potty. He went and then requested that I carry him back to bed. I obliged although I was secretly cursing my wasted sleep as I staggered half asleep into his room. I laid him down, tucked him back in and was walking out of the room when he called out.

"Mommy, you're my best friend"

I don't know why it struck me so much at that moment but it just reminded me that even though my children drive me crazy this is really all I've ever wanted and I have been blessed enough to have it and I could not ask for more.

Each Of Us Is A Flower

I have been to Kindergarten Round-up 6 out of the last 7 years. I, basically, have gone twice for each one of the girls. Once for when they were going into kindergarten and once when they were kindergartners so I can hear them sing. The same 3 songs have been sung at each one of these round-ups but I have to tell you I don't mind. I love them. Even though, I hear this song in my house all of the time (since all 3 girls know it) I still had a few tears when Caitlyn sang it today.

Life sometimes amazes me. I mean, Caitlyn was just a little baby the first time I heard this song. I was taking Brittany to her kindergarten round-up. But here she is singing it herself to the kindergartner class of 2010.

Anyway, here she is singing "Each of Us is a Flower". She is kinda hidden. The mommy in me wanted to go on stage and move the girl hiding her but I did refrain.

I guess I only have "4" kindergarten round-ups to go!

Benfer Choir Performance

Brittany had her choir performance last night. I thought it was so cool that she sang a song that I sang in the Elementary School Choir when I was a kid. She is on the 2nd row on the left side.

Here is Brittany showing off her ribbon skills.

A few weeks ago the choir performed at the Children's Music Festival. This is Brittany showing off her trophy that was won for the school.

While the Cats Away . . .

I sometimes do wonder how babies make it to adulthood. Today, I was trying to help Garrett find his shoes for school (still haven't found them by the way - had to wear dress shoes to school). I had left Brandon downstairs while I searched Garrett's closet. This is what I found when I got downstairs a few minutes later. Crawled up there all by himself.

Yes, sometimes we just have to stop and take a picture!
And what did Brandon put in the gallon of milk.Foot Loops, of course! Anyone want a glass of milk?

Who Needs Underwear?

I have been trying to get Garrett to get himself ready in the morning for quite awhile. He usually puts up quite the fight but he had been doing better the last few mornings. Garrett is quite creative when it comes to his "chosen" attire. He can be spotted most mornings with his sister's shoes on, two different shoes on, different colored socks, etc. I have pretty much gotten over the fact that he doesn't match and thinks pink is his favorite color. I guess this is what happens when you have 3 older sisters. What happened today; however, is where I draw the line.

We were on our way to school when Garrett informs me that he has on NO underwear. What, no underwear - how did that happen?!?! And then I remember that he got himself dressed today with no help from me and without me even being in the room. So, there was a strong possibility that he did have NO underwear. What to do, what to do? I then remembered that I had his bag with a change of clothes in it. So, we stopped, put his underwear on and he got a big lecture on that he couldn't have an accident at school today because we had just used his underwear in his bag.

Well, apparently, the lecture took because Garrett told ever adult at the preschool today that he had NO underwear and his mommy told him he better not have an accident. Oops! The good news is that we still had the same pair of underwear on when I picked him up. Lesson learned - check the 3 year old to make sure the underwear is on before leaving for school!

What 3 Year Olds Say

This morning, Garrett was in bed with Andy and I (accident in the middle of the night - but I wont go there). Anyway, he looks at me and says, "My tummy has a headache."

Gotta hate those tummy headaches.

Crusing the Carribean!

After about 3 years of dreaming, Andy and I finally got to take our long awaited 10th anniversary trip. We went on a 5 day cruise just the two of us - no kids and I must say it was so nice. We got to talk, read, relax, sleep and be waited on hand and foot. No noses to wipe, home work to check, meals to cook, fights to break up. It was a little piece of heaven. Here are some of the highlights.

Nothing like a good book on a cruise.

Time for some lobster on formal night.

Get ready, get set, go - on our mini jeep tour on the beach.

Love the view from the lighthouse in Cozumel.The ship behind me in Progreso, Mexico.

My dream - riding horseback on the beach.

Relaxing on the beach in Progreso!Enjoying a drink on the last day at sea.Our cute towel animals that greeting us everyday!

Happy 11th Birthday Brittany!

It is hard to believe but it has been 11 years since my first born child was born. Where does the time go? I guess the answer to that would be the raising of 5 children!

I started the tradition of taking lunch for my kids to the elementary school on their birthday when Brittany was in kindergarten. I have to admit, I was so not feeling it today. I waited in line for an hour to register Garrett for preschool next year, Brandon was fussy and I have so much to do before Andy and I leave on Saturday. Part of me was just cursing this tradition that I started so many years ago.

Then it hit me. This was going to be my LAST Birthday lunch with Brittany at Benfer. Last time I checked, middle school kids were not to hip on their momma's having lunch with the them at school. So, I decided to not worry about what was not getting done and how grumpy Brandon was and enjoy my moment with Brittany. I must say it was hectic but the best birthday lunch ever. So, happy birthday to my precious Brittany Marie. Thanks for having lunch with me.

The new 11 year old!

Brittany and Mom at lunch

My New Dishwasher

I have been without a dishwasher for over a week now. I will be honest, I DO NOT like washing dishes by hand. My philosophy is that EVERYTHING goes into the dishwasher. Okay, I will admit I do wash my crystal by hand but that is it everything else goes in. If it doesn't survive, then it doesn't belong in my house.

So, you can imagine that the past week has been quite difficult. The kids have all been helping out. Tonight, we just had a few dishes so I thought I would let just Caitlyn and Garrett do them. Well, in the end, I had more water on the floor than in the sink. It is probably a very good thing, my real new dishwasher will be arriving this week.

My dishwashers

Mommy's helpers?