April Flowers!

What a great month April has been! We've been getting lots of sun, and the kids have loved playing outside! Anthony is loving the June bugs that come out at night, and I let him go outside with his umbrella and hit them! We are so excited for Easter, Adam will be performing a song, and it's beautiful! I'll try to get it recorded.

Benjamin loves the outdoors as well, and is a daredevil! Here is just one of his many stunts, climbing the slide. He's a beefy little dude, and takes lots of tumbles! He can also climb on the coffee table, and is working his way up to the couch.

Well, well....look who has "Bieber Fever!" She found this shirt at Walmart and totally got excited, so I had to let her get it. It's so cute! I don't think she even knows who he is, she just knows that her little girlfriends at school think he's cool.

This is Anthony's soccer uniform for this spring, his team is called the Rams! He scored his first goal in a game last week, and is really, really, loving soccer!

Just another pic of my stout little guy.....notice the adorable curls!

Skyanna loves to watch Anthony try and climb trees!

Oooh look! He made it up a tree!

Dry hair....

Wet hair!

Here we are at Anthony's soccer game. Ben is mad that he's strapped in the stroller, he wants out! Hahah!

Yard Work

Seriously the sweetest cats in the world, Princess here, and Sam below!
Ben's best friend, Sam the cat.
My least favorite stage, learning to feed themselves. Yuck!
Skyanna and Sophia, best friends from school, putting on make up!
Benjamin finally adopted a blankie! All my kids have blankies, and I was worried he wouldn't want one. This is his froggy blankie he got for Christmas, it comes with a cute matching pillow.
Curls, curls, and chubs!
Pretty Skyanna at Chuck e Cheese for her friends party!
Ben's first time playing on the toys!
Check out my little man's cute shorts!

Okay, here are some pics of our recent yard work. We hacked down dead trees, (one that had been killed by lightning) and hauled all the wood off. It was a big job, and really noisy.
The trees that we took down are in our backyard, so now it adds space to the yard, and takes away hiding places for snakes! We hope to get some hammocks out here.
Daddy and his girl! We've been busy here, ready for summer to come so we can go swimming. Although, we could go swimming now, it's in the 80's, but the pools not up yet! The kids have swam in the little pool a few times this last month. With Adam and I both working full time, this is a crazy time, yet somehow manageable. I'll keep ya'll up to date on what decide to do with our yard....it's slow going for us, just getting a hammock up would be a plus!

Zoo

We had an amazing time at the zoo this morning! This is Ben absolutely loving the goats! We spent a lot of time with these little buddies, and Ben loved on all of them. If the goat was laying down, Ben would lay on the goats belly and pet him, and coo to him.

At the playground, the kids love the sand and tractors!

I love you goats, you're my friends!

The Going On's of early spring!

Here comes freedom for Ben! His first year able to frolick and run in the yard, and you better believe he's running! It's waring up here, usually in the 70's most days, and he loves being outside!
We were invited to a really awesome bubble birthday party, (pic below) and here is Anthony being brave about all the bubbles!

Bubble land!

My two crazy kiddo's getting ready for bedtime! Dad works at night, so it's just me to get these kids to bed, somehow they make it fun! Anthony looks like a gnome. Speaking of work, my job at the bookstore is going so very wonderful, and may soon turn into full time. I'm still trying to master the crockpot, to save time on cook'n.
Notice the chopping of trees in the background, slowly doing our yard!
First trip to Jump'n Jacks for Ben! He loved it! He bounced everywhere, and loved to do the slides. Sadly, once he discovered he could leave the main play area and go find the shoe room, he was more into that.
Stage 1 of demolition of small shrubs and wees in the woods out back, not to hall off all this stuff!
Could you be....the most beautiful girl in the world?? Skyanna's new due, everyone wants to touch her hair now! She got it straightened, and it was really easy, and something I think I can start doing at home. She loves being tangle free!

A job for little'ol'me!

Well it seems the sun's shining on Helena today, I got the job at our church library and bookstore! What an amazing experience this will be, I'm in a whole new arena of work that I've never experienced!
My wonderful supervisor, Kattie, assured me that there would be no tackling shop lifters, no customers spitting in your face, no homeless people peeing in the aisles, and no beer cans hidden in the bathroom stalls! I can't believe my luck and good fortune! Upon times slowness in our little store, I am required to pick up a book, and learn about it. There are so many wonderful books that people may have questions about, and it's up to me to try and read them all! Oooh, the pressure and excitement, and it's such a lovely little store!
On the one side we have the bookstore, with many glorious Christian/Spiritual reads, as well as a selection of toys and other fun merchandise. On the other side we have the check out section, with books and DVD's, and music. I get to work in both sides of the store, and can't wait to increase my product knowledge.
There is no need for a "Service 6" call at this job, and no need to fear that used needles and syringes are hidden behind merchandise. This may be the first job I've had in over 10 years that I'm not having to make weekly calls to dispatch....and not constantly clearing checks to see if the account is real or fake. People come to the bookstore because they want to be there, not because they have to. There will be no pan-handlers to chase off, and no confiscating fake Id's. It's a happy little store, with a wonderful view of the church playground, where children frolic and sing.
Perhaps in the future I'll return to my crime stopping ways, but for now, I am allowed a peaceful job in a beautiful setting. Glorious days are ahead, full of birds chirping and and flowers singing, and I can't wait to buy some new clothes that will help me shine in my new job. Did I mention there's no chance of raw meat juices dripping on your clothes, or crates of milk falling and spoiling your outfit?
Cheers!

Catch Up!

This year the goal is to update our family blog more frequently! I am still trying to figure out how to get more pictures and cute stuff on my site, but that will come with time.
As February rolls in, we began to deal with the sickies, (do they ever end?). Skyanna has the flu with possible pneumonia, and we've got all three kiddos on tamaflu, to reduce their chances of catching it! Skyanna is a champ, and has beat the odds already! She is keeping fluids down this morning, and her fever is much lower. She got two shots yesterday, and barely batted an eye! We were advised to put her in the hospital over night, but vetoed that idea, preferring to keep tabs on her at home. She did great!
We have made out sun room into a second playroom, complete with rocking chair for mom, pillows for the kids, and art supplies. Once spring hits, we will be in that room daily!
Right now I am looking for some possible work outside of the home, it's not fun job searching! Grandma and Grandpa have generously offered to watch Benjamin if I find work, and I'm hoping to work days to be home with the kiddos after school. Best scenario would be to find work in a daycare, and bring Benjamin with me, but we'll see what opens up. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
This year as a family and as an individual, we are focusing on laughter, honesty, and perspective. How silly it is to get so caught up on the petty things in life, or the injustices of being human! The best things in life, and the most rewarding, are things that you work for, and the people you laugh with! I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I am free to be myself, laugh, and not conform to the mold society often places on people. I think this freedom also makes me a better mother, and able to laugh more with my kids. It is important to be very careful who and what you let into your life, and never forget, this life is meant to be lived victoriously!
More for later!

Well it looks as though Fall has finally found us, the cool weather feels amazing! Yesterday Adam and I spent a big chunk of the day on the trampoline with the 2 oldest, (Ben was napping)and listened to the wind blow! It's like a July day back in Washington....
This month has been so amazing, let me elaborate:

My mom came out last week, and stayed for 7 days, and Skyanna was in Heaven! She was a little sick on her visit, but managed to keep up good spirits for the kids! We spent some time walking and talking, and took in the CCC sale, which was awesome! We got Ben clothes that actually fit his big belly, and got the kids some early Christmas gifts.

We had an ARD meeting at the school, and changed Anthony's IEP, and now things are going smoother at school! This year is different for Anthony, and we love watching him change and grow! Soon he will be able to see an awesome counselor once a week, and she will work on social skills with him, and just get to know him! Adam does lunch 3 days a week with him, and the other 2 he does fine on his own!
Skyanna is a gem, loving school, picking her own outfits to wear, and continuing her speech program. Benjamin continues to grow, nearing the 25 lb. mark, and we are preparing for his 1st birthday with much excitement!

God has really showed me these past few weeks that "Things are not always as they seem." When we try to control people or situations around us, even with the best of intentions, we fail to let God work. Also, when we are so busy worrying and trying to fix those around us, we can miss out on God's "still small voice." I have learned this month that I am not all powerful, or in control, and cannot fix everything to my liking. God is working in the lives of those around me, and in me, and I cannot see his ultimate plan. In order to truly love my friends, I must let go and let God. My heart brims over with love and concern for many around me, and my nature is to pry, pry, pry, and try to fix and appease everyone around me, but God seems to be closing that door on me. I am learning to turn to Him, and in so doing, give my friends that best gift I can,which is prayer.

I have met the most wonderful ladies here in TX, and I love them all deeply! My job as a friend is to love and pray for my girls, and support them AND their family in the process. I love all my girls and their significant others, and look forward to seeing what God is going to bring about in their lives! I want my door always to be open, and I want my heart to be open as well, to receiving, understanding, and loving those around me. As women I feel strongly that we need to pray for, and support each other, in our roles as mothers, and as wives.

Please know that my door is always open for anyone who wants to chat, joke, cry, throw fits, talk deeply, just sit, read God's word together, eat, walk, or whatever! I'm so excited about the future, what God is doing, and watching those around me grow, especially my family! Also, I hope to be posting more pics once our camera gets fixed, or replaced!