Mom and Son Bonding

Cullen and I had some quality pedicure time together.  He was fascinated when he found me painting my toes and asked me to paint his, so I did.  He was so excited!  Who says mothers and sons can't bond over simple things?

Cullen was so excited to show Andrew when he came home, "Look at my toes!  My toes are blue!"  Andrew just hugged him and laughed saying, "That's so cool, buddy!"

Cullen didn't even want to take a bath because he was afraid his blue toes would wash off.  He's too funny!  Love my little boy!  And he's still loving his 'blue toes.'

Good and Bad

Yesterday was just one of those days.  It started out good then went bad.

As I was cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast, I hear Jackson singing.  He's not just singing any song.  He's singing Journey!  My oldest was singing Journey's 'Don't Stop Believin'.  I had to stop and do a double take to make sure I heard it correctly.  Yes, I did.  I was so ridiculously proud of my child singing a Journey song and not some other stupid childhood song.  I felt like I was doing something truly good in raising my children because of that single moment.

After nap time, my day went oh so wrong.  I decided to take the boys to the pool because they had been pretty good.  Andrew and I took to the pool twice this weekend, and I was confident I could handle them.  I'm hurrying up trying to get everyone dressed in order to give us a good hour before we needed to come back.  I had everyone in their suits and ready to be coated with sunscreen when it happened.  I went for the pool bag when I realized Andrew has the pool key on his key ring.  There was absolutely no way for us to go because I couldn't even get us in the gate.

I had to break the news to the kids, who were super excited.  Jackson and Cullen were not happy.  There may or may no have been tears shed.  I felt horrible about it.  I got everyone all worked up and excited, and I couldn't take them.  In order to get back on their good side, I bribed them with slushies and french fries from Sonic.  And now, I have the pool key on my key ring.

Here's a picture I took of the boys when we were at the park.

I felt like Super Mom!

Yesterday, a very rare and unnatural occurrence happened at my house.  All 4 of my kids took a nap at the same time for 50 minutes!

After having to put Cullen back in his room twice, I had 50 minutes of blessed silence!

I didn't know what to do with myself.  This never happens!  I mean never happens.  I am so used to constant noise, bickering, fighting, laughing, someone asking me a question, or just general noise from children playing.

So, what did I do with my blessed 50 minutes of silence?  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  Okay, I'll admit I did use the bathroom by myself without interruption.  That, in and of itself, was golden.

It was wonderful!

And all to soon, I had to go get Cassidy for her mid afternoon feeding.

But for those 50 blessed minutes of silence when I realized all four children where going to sleep at the same time, I felt like Super Mom.  Pretty much because I accomplished a task that is near impossible, and I don't know if it will ever happen again.

And of course as I am writing this, Sawyer decided to run off with a cable or two form the desk.  He hit me with a piece of foam.  Cassidy is crying because Sawyer decided to use her as a floor mat, and Cassidy rolled over for the first time.  The only reason I wasn't interrupted by the other two is because they're at preschool.  That's life.

And to keep with the super hero theme, I present Batman.

Life is hectic

Since summer has started, life has been hectic and crazy.

I finally have Jackson and Cullen back in preschool three days a week for two months.  Jackson is doing great in his Kinder Ready program.  He's gotten very good at reading and sounding words out phonetically.  His writing is improving, and he's enjoying learning addition.  Crazy child constantly asked me addition tables.  Thank goodness my math skills haven't been tested as of yet.  As soon as he goes past algebra, I'm passing him off to Andrew.  It just not my area of expertise.

Cullen is constantly asking what letter every word starts with.  I know he's just picking it up from Jackson, but the barrage of questions gets a little old after awhile.  Cullen is enjoying is preschool class and all of the art activities.  If this kids could paint every day, he would.  I probably would let him too if I didn't have to constantly chase Sawyer away from the table and listen to the screaming, "AH!  No Sawyer!  Mom!"  Cullen is my dirt child as well.  He loves digging and finding bugs and shells.  He even caught a lizard not too long ago.  When he goes outside, I always find him in the dirt area behind the swing set digging up rolly pollies.

As for the younger two, Sawyer is quite happy to play with his cars, and Cassidy is just trying to survive.  Sawyer is still my sweet snuggler, most of the time.  He likes to cause trouble and get his two older brothers riled up by grabbing toys and running off as quick as he can.  He is a quick little man.

Cassidy is still my sweet little girl.  She loves to smile and coo.  And of course, she loves to be held which is a hard task for me to do a lot of the time.  I just don't have enough time and hands to hold her and take care of 3 other children.

As for me, I'm hanging in there.  My kids are alive, breathing, being fed, and aren't causing any harm to society.  I must be doing something right.  I have been recovering from a partially torn muscle the past couple of weeks.  I partially tore my left oblique by awkwardly picking up Cullen one Friday night.  I haven't been in that much pain even during labor.  Talk about a new experience.  I ended up having to be taken to an urgent clinic after a few days because I couldn't function.  Andrew was a wonderful husband through it all.  He took a couple of days off of work to allow me to rest and recover.

We have just been busy.  Jackson and Cullen are in swim lessons and will continue with them through next month.  Andrew has hit a very busy period at work and has been working at night.  As with everything else, I just pray for patience and solitude.  Yes, I look forward to some solitude even though I have no idea when it will come.

As for a little humor, Cullen came up behind me the other day and said, "Look Mom, I'm big and strong!" while flexing his muscles.

"Yes, you are."

"I'm going to pick up you," he said then wrapped his arms around my legs.  Of course, he grunted then tried to lift me off the ground and said "You're heavy, Mom," then ran off.

"Thanks," I muttered.  I told Andrew this story when he got home, and what does he do?  He laughs and laughs.  I might need to work on this.

Cassidy is 3 months old!

Cassidy turned three months old this weekend.  It's hard to imagine life with only three kids since now, I have gotten used to four.  Cassidy is getting so big!  She is already wearing 6 month clothes and has been for a couple of weeks.  She smiles and coos.  It really is the cutest thing!

Cassidy is going to turn out to be one tough girl.  Sawyer is constantly climbing on or over her.  For some reason, he thinks it is a good idea to lay down on her as well.  If she can survive in this household, she'll be set for life!

8 years ago today...

To my amazing Husband,

Eight years ago today, I stepped up to the alter in front of all of our friends and family at Our Lady of the Lake Church and vowed to love you unconditionally and spend the rest of my life with you.  I vowed to love you through thick and thin, sickness and health, richer or poorer, through the good times and the bad.  I vowed to support you and be at your side no matter what the circumstances.

These 8 years of marriage have been nothing that I expected, yet everything I wanted.  You supported me through 2 1/2 years of graduate school, so I could earn my MBA.  I, in turn, gave you my unconditional support when you decided to go back and earn your MBA.  You supported my choice to stay at home and raise our rowdy children, no questions asked.

We started an amazing family together.  You are an amazing father to our 4 munchkins.  You gave me unconditional love and support when we decided to keep growing our crazy family.  I could not have asked for a better role model for our sons.  And when our little girl grows up, she will have a father who sets an outstanding example of how she should be treated as a woman.

I look forward to seeing your face and being wrapped in your arms as much, if not more, today than I did when we married.  Your presence alone calms my soul as though it knows a part of me has returned.

Happy Anniversary!

To many more years of happiness together!  I love you!

Love,
Emily

Starting them a little young

Andrew and I gave Jackson a few sets of learn to read books for his birthday. These are the same books his Pre-K class were sent home with this past spring. This is book 11 in the first set. When we got to these pages I couldn't stop laughing.  I would be taking lots and lots of naps if I had a keg all to myself too.

 

On a good note, Jackson did read all the words with very little help.  It's amazing how much progress he has made.

 

 

 

 

Limited Time

I've had limited time to write these past two weeks.  The kids finished preschool, so I have had two full weeks of four kiddos.  The Insanity!

Have you ever gone to the grocery store with four kids?  Let me tell you how I did it.  I had Cassidy strapped to my chest, Sawyer in the cart, and Jackson and Cullen running around like kids on crack.  OK, that may be an exaggeration.  It was more like they wanted to be helpful and kept picking up everything they thought we needed at home.  Including, but not limited to, leaves (aka bags of lettuce), cereal, peanut butter, cheese, bread, crackers, meat, and fruit snacks.  Thank goodness, I don't get fights about sugary cereal because I never, every buy it.  I only had to pick up some apples off the floor, and that was Sawyer's fault.  He leaned over, grunted, grabbed an apple, and I heard all of this while telling the older two to get back over to me.  Thank goodness, the produce guys were super nice about it.  And it was only two apples on the ground.

Luckily, everyone, including myself, has survived.

Jackson and Cullen started preschool again yesterday three days a week, so I have a small amount of down time.

I do have a bit to write, but I am having a harder time finding time to write.  It might have to do with the little hellions running around in my house.  So, enjoy a recent pictures of Cassidy.