Family Update-and a Re-Commitment to Keep Up with this Darned Thing!

I know I didn't post ALL summer and I haven't updated this thing in FOREVER but we are still here!  Can I just say that this past summer was a BLUR.  Everything was so out of sorts that I am surprised we all made it through with at least most of our sanity in tact.  Let me start off by saying that we finally moved!  We are in an amazing home with room to spare and we LOVE it!  Getting to this point was DEFINITELY no easy task, but I am glad to say that we made it and are happy as can be.  Most of our summer was spent dealing with house stuff.  We spent time packing and searching and packing and searching.  At one point in there we were technically "homeless" but thanks to amazing friends, we had a place to rest our heads and call home for a few weeks until we found a home.  The Lord truly works in mysterious ways and even though I would have really liked our home buying journey to be less dramatic and memorable, if that is what it took to get us here, I am eternally grateful.  So here is an update on our family.

James is still working hard at his job.  We moved significantly closer to his work and he now has about a 10 minute commute (with traffic)!  This means that we actually get to see him for more than a few minutes before bed each day.  Sometimes he even comes home for lunch.  I love having him close by.  James was released from being the Sunday School first counselor and the Gospel Essentials teacher as we have moved into a different ward.  We are both awaiting new callings and are very anxious to serve.

I am busy homeschooling the boys.  This occupies nearly all my time, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I have also taken up Zumba and I LOVE IT!  I am still decorating cakes and have kept busy with that as well.  I miss my dear sweet Primary kids from our other ward, but I am excited to see where the Lord will put me next.

Alex is growing like a weed lately!  The kids keeps outgrowing his pants!  He is really maturing quite a bit and is a bright boy.  He enjoys Legos, books, drawing and playing piano.  He will be learning to ride his bike on two wheels soon!  We know it is a little later than usual for kids his age, but we finally have a nice LONG driveway and a quiet street for him to learn on.  He is getting more and more adventurous with getting dirty, picking up critters and trying new things.  He is excelling in school and piano and will be performing in the homeschool fine arts festival next month.

Eric is still a big ball of cute!  He too is growing up quickly and is starting to lose that baby-face he has always had.  He is still very compassionate and sweet.  he has a hug and a kind word for everyone.  he loves stuffed animals (and dressing them in fun costumes), superheroes, Legos, playing outside and everything else a boy loves to do.  He is enjoying being homeschooled and also enjoys participating in a Pre-K Co-Op once a week with other kids from the ward.

Josephine is growing up so much!  She is definitely transitioning into a toddler.  She is extremely vocal and busy.  She is into everything and keeps us all busy.  She loves her baby dolls and Little People toys.  She LOVES being outside and usually dissolves into a pile of tears when it is time to come inside.  She is pretty bossy and makes sure that everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing, especially her brothers and the dogs.  She loves our new cat Sarah and follows her around constantly.

That is my only update for now, I will try my best to update more often.

Here are some pictures from our summer.

Eric graduated from Tumbling!

Silly Alex on 4th of July

Finished swimming lessons

Sarah

Alex learned how to climb at tree at the farm we stayed at

Eric at the farm

Our Family at Sea World

James...being James

At the spalsh pad at Sea World

The boys got to meet the whale trainers at Sea World

Eric at the Alamo

Playing in the pool

Watching a movie at the hotel

Eric turned 5!

Eric and Bat-Dog

End of School!

Well, we finally made it to the end of the school year!  This has been quite a year that has literally flown by.  I actually called James on our way to Eric's Pre-K graduation crying and telling him that I didn't want to go.  When he asked why I just blubbered on about how I wasn't ready for this chapter to close in my life.  It really was pretty pathetic, but he reminded me that there is much more to the story and new adventures await us.  So, we went to watch him graduate and we said "See ya later" to many friends.  Eric's Pre-K is closing and it has been a heartbreaking experience but I am so grateful for the amazing women that have blessed our entire family and their endless devotion and love for my boys.  Alex went to Pre-K there and Eric went for two years after that.  Here are some fun clips and pictures from that night.  And yes, Eric was the ONLY kid to jump off the stage after receiving his diploma!  Man I love that kid!

First Day of Pre-K

Last Day of Pre-K

Alex also completed his first year of homeschool!  First grade was successful in both mine and his eyes.  We learned so much from each other and are looking forward to next year.  We didn't have any big clelbrations for the end of first grade, but we made plans for fun things in the summer and we can't wait to see what we learn next.

First Day of 1st Grade

Last Day of 1st Grade

ONE YEAR OLD!

There is simply just never enough time!  Time has flown by!  On Friday we celebrated our baby girl's first birthday and then had a party with friends and family on Saturday.  I can remember the day that Josephine was born very clearly.  We were so anxious for her to get here, but she came when she was ready.  She definitely does things at her own pace and as she wants to...you can't force her into anything.  She is a stubborn one!  This year has been absolutely amazing.  She has taught our family so much in the short time she has been with us.  We have all grown together as a family and can't imagine life without her.  She is a ray of sunshine to anyone she meets.  We frequently have people who stop us in stores, parks, church, pretty much anywhere that just want a sweet smile from her and to oogle over her sweetness.  I hope she keeps that sparkle in her forever.  This morning she went to the doctor for her checkup.  She was all smiles as the doctor checked her ears and eyes and giggled as the doctor checked her tummy.  Then, as the doctor was getting ready to leave, Josephine reached out her arms to her doctor for a hug.  This brought tears to the doctor's eyes.  She said that she needed a hug this morning and she couldn't imagine getting a better one, especially an unsolicited hug from an innocent one year old.  That is the kind of baby Josephine is.  She knows how to make people feel important and loved.  Even after getting her shots she mustered up the courage to blow the nurse a kiss as we walked out of the room.  Words cannot express how much I love her!  Here are some fun pictures from her amazing photo shoot by Kat's Photography and from all the many birthday celebrations.

Showing off her outfit on her birthday

The kitty she picked out and made at BABW

What is a trip to the mall without playing in the play area?!?

Showing off her new shoes!

The table at her birthday party

She loved opening presents

I think she was excited about this outfit

She loved the cradle we gave her.  It was mine when I was a little girl and I restored it for her.

BIRTHDAY CAKE!

YAY for Sugar!

Oh my gosh!  I'm ONE!?!

Little Ladybug!

LOVE this one

Look at those eyes

 Here are some fun facts about our BIG girl!

*She is in the 65% for height and the 50% for weight!

*She is still cruising and has tried standing a few times.  

*She doesn't like to walk around barefoot and prefers to be in shoes to try walking.

*She loves to eat and will try anything if you are eating it too

*She cut two molars without me even knowing!

*She waves, blows kisses and nods her head

*She is BUSY and we frequently misplace her around the house (good thing our house is small)

*She loves baby dolls and giving them kisses

*She is a cuddler

*She gets scared around too many people and let's you know quickly (and loudly) if she has had enough

*She really doesn't like the cup much, but we are trying

*She needs to move up a size in diapers but I am determined to use up the ones I have 

*She LOVES ice cream and is furious if you don't share yours with her

*She is making listening in church more and more difficult...she just wants to go and visit EVERYONE

*Her brothers are her favorite

A Camping We Did Go, A Camping We Did Go...

Alex had asked that we go camping as a family for his birthday.  I was thrilled to not have to worry about the hassle of a birthday party while the house is on the market, so I jumped at the idea.  We picked a place that we had never been and decided to rent a cabin for the weekend.  We went to Caddo Lake which is located in east Texas.  It was absolutely gorgeous there.  Spring was just starting to come alive.  The Wisteria was in full bloom and the Red Bud trees were popping little purple flowers everywhere.  I have to admit that it was a bit chilly when we were on the lake (crazy Texas weather decided to send us a random cold front) but it was beautiful.  We spent a little time fishing (no luck in that department), hiking (our favorite part) and enjoying the quiet.  We completely unplugged from all electronics.  It was really nice not to worry about emails, phone calls, Facebook or anything else for a few days.  We also enjoyed learning about the history of Caddo Lake and the surrounding cities as well as learning about the Civilian Conservation Corps and seeing the things that they had built and had been restored in the state park.  We loved reconnecting as a family and decided that we need to do these simple little trips more often.  Maybe one day we will go to ALL of the state parks in Texas (that might be a bit ambitious...Texas is HUGE).  Here are some fun pictures from our trip.  I hope I will remember this time with my family forever, it was truly a blessing to have this time together.

Big as Yo' Face Pancakes!

Inside a Cypress Tree

It was COLD while fishing

Teaching Eric how to fish with his new fishing rod

Playing outside

On our hike

Love them!

My silly boys

Eric being Tarzan

My favorite memory from the whole trip.  I walked out of the bathroom after taking a shower and found them curled up together sleeping.  They had been reading a book by the fire and they stayed like that all night.

Our cabin

Playing outside

Alex Turns 7

Happy Birthday to my sweet boy, Alex.  It is hard to believe that he is already seven years old!  He is growing up so fast. This year Alex asked to go camping instead of having a party with his friends, so that is what we are going to do.  We did have a fun dinner with family on his birthday. Here are some fun pictures from his birthday   I will put up more after we go camping.

Birthday Breakfast

His surprise birthday cake.  He knew it was going to be a Skylander's Portal, but he didn't know I put the Skylander he had been asking for on top.

First time seeing the Skylander on top

Making a wish

Blowing out the candles