Lucky 7

As I mentioned in my last post we had a pretty big event not too long ago. My oldest, who I typically refer to as the "big kid" turned SEVEN years old. First off can we stop for a second and absorb that...I.have.a.seven.year.old. What??!?!! It seems to have FLOWN by.

So to my big kid, happy belated buddy. We had a great day, I made his favorite (cinnamon rolls) for breakfast, opened presents, and had a celebration dinner at his favorite place, played games, watched movies - overall it was a great day.



Daddy was out to sea for the big day, so we waited until he got back to do our BIG family fun day - which was a trip to Busch Gardens. Thanks to the military appreciation day, the tickets were "on the house" - BONUS. I love a deal. The kids had a blast and our big kid rode every ride that he was tall enough to get on, which at 52" is a good amount. I took him on his first big roller-coaster ride which was a great moment for me. Growing up my parents always took us to theme parks every year, and I remember going on all the roller-coasters with them. Such great memories still - glad to (hopefully) pass those on to my kiddos.


He's having a party later in the month with some of his friends. We had to make sure the hubs would be around before we planned anything, so for him this is more like a birthday month, but as you imagined he's not complaining.

In his seven years he has already done so much, and I can't believe how grown up he seems these days. So, to my big kid once again...happy big 7 dude!!!

6 month-aversary

Yes yes, late posting again as usual. But at this point, I've posted all of these about a week late so really I'm right on time. At least that's what I'm going with.

Baby girl: I can't believe you are 1/2 a year old! My oh my how time flies. First things first. Your doctor appointment went great. You are 19 lbs and 27 inches, which keeps you in the 90th percentile. You did great with your shots, and the doctor said you were just "perfect"and doing all the things a 6 month old baby should be doing. Being that you are 19 pounds its no surprise that you love food.
You've been eating all sorts of new foods, so far you love everything we've given you. Some of your new foods are apples, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, squash and bananas...oh and you love to "eat" apples. Really you just slobber all over them, but you're happy doing it.

You wear size 6-12 month clothes and are still wearing the size three diapers. Last week you had another tooth break through (top/front/left). I can't believe how fast you are growing and changing. You are still the happiest baby in the world and give smiles to all. You are such a joy and daddy and I just can't get enough of your sweet smiles. This is one of our favorite faces.

And this one as well...

You can hold yourself up now when sitting, and you want to move so badly.

I see you crawling in the near future. When that happens there will be no stopping you. You are determined to be able to keep up with your big brothers. You still LOVE your bouncer seat and I'd say it's your most favorite past time (other than being loved on). You also seem to really like going for a run with mama. After we drop the boys off at school we take off for a few miles. Mommy goes on foot and you take in the scenery from the jogging stroller. Usually you fall asleep sometime along the way, but while you are awake you just babble away. That's another thing - you talk ALL THE TIME. All sorts of new sounds. It seems like every day you come up with something new. I love it.
Thankfully you are still sleeping through the night just fine. You go to bed around 7:30 and wake up about the same time as your brothers (6am) which is fine with me because I'm already up. You greet me with a big old smile and we get our day going. As I already mentioned, you like to go running, bounce, eat and play with your brothers. Now that I think about it...if that's how I spent my day, I'd be a really happy baby too! That's all for this month girlie. As always we love you more than you could ever imagine and are blessed to have you in our life!!

That about wraps up this month. More posts to come, because we had another big milestone here - big kid turned SEVEN!!! Pictures and stories to come!! We also have this guy back.

Don't worry - we made him shave the goofy 'stash shortly after he got home.

field trip love

Oh boy are we in trouble. We have always joked that our little "munchkin" (middle son) will be quite the heart breaker when he grows up. There is just something behind those blue eyes and that sweet grin.
Let me back up.

Wednesday I was lucky enough to join my munchkin's class on their first field trip. We went to the zoo. Running around with a class full of 4 year olds was quite the adventure to say the least, but it was such a good time! I love getting an "inside" view of my kids in their school environment. It's so fun to watch them interact with the other students and to hear the teachers stories. Not surprisingly there were some pretty good ones when it came to my little guy. He has a way of winning over anyone he meets.

It was while I was observing all this that I noticed M&M (my name for the cute couple).

These two followed each other around the entire zoo, never more than a few feet apart. They ohhed and ahhed over snakes, searched for the tigers, watched tortoises eat some lunch, even enjoyed a post-zoo snack together.


It.was.adorable. Her mom was there as well and we just watched and laughed at the sweetness of it all. Ahh...young love.

rained out

Well, I started this post on Friday - so if part of it sounds off, that would be why. I am sorry to report that there are no soccer pictures, not a one. This would be do to the fact that there was no soccer - so (this time) it wasn't me slacking on the job! It rained.all.weekend. No joke. I don't think it ever stopped on Saturday. And, this weekend has been just the same so far. I feel like we might need to locate an ark!

The kids and I still managed to have a good weekend, even with the downpour going on outside. Here are a few shots, just hanging around the house. Ignore the mess, but they were just so cute all playing - little sister was LOVING being included with big brothers.

I tell you what, this week - last week - seemed to drag on. It hasn't been bad, just long. Monday was an absolutely perfect day - which works out well because it happened to be my birthday. The weather was AMAZING - just imagine the perfect fall day and you would be there. I went to lunch with my beautiful daughter and not only was my sandwich free (rewards points put to good use) BUT it was free brownie day to boot for rewards members...talk about a great birthday lunch. Free always makes it taste better I think! Then we went shopping until it was time to pick up the boys. They were super sweet to mama as well and gave me dozens of birthday hugs and kisses. The only thing that would have made it better was if the hubs was here to celebrate with me. But he did have these delivered - such a thoughtful guy.

The rest of the week was been pretty low key. Sadly the fall weather was just a one day deal, the next day was hot and humid again, and the rain is back. But I sure am thankful for that one day.

Last night I got a sitter for the boys and baby G and I went to have a girls night in with some of the wives from the boat. It was my first time really hanging out with them, so it was nice to get to know them a little better. The ones that were there were real sweet gals. I'm glad I went. Oh, and I took these bad boys...WARNING they are dangerous!! Like you can't eat just one (or five) dangerous. If you check them out, get ready to drool...I'm just saying.

With that I'm off to bed...or at least get myself headed in that direction. Catch ya later.

quick update

What a wonderful day!! We had some cooler weather move in and it was amazing! I took baby girl on a run with the jogger after dropping the boys off, and could have run forever, but we stopped after 4 miles to meet up with a friend for coffee. :)

Sorry I haven't been around much. No real reason for that other than I was just busy soaking up all the family time we could manage in the few moments the hubby was home with us. Well that and going to soccer practices, dr. apts, bible study, play-dates, etc.

So I guess we have been a tad busy, but with (mostly) good stuff. Lots of stuff started this week, and I'm very excited about it. The boys both started soccer - always a good time. They have their first games tomorrow! My bible study started up this week as well. Can I just say how much I LOVE CBS!! If you've never heard of it, it's "Community Bible Study" and they have groups all over the country. Check it out and see if there is one near you, I promise you won't be disappointed. I'm so blessed to be near a group again and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us this year.

Crazy as it sounds, the boys had their first FULL week of school this week. Between holidays and hurricanes every week has missed a Monday up until this week. I took full advantage of my time while they were at school to get things done, so that when they got home I could have some fun time with them.

My oh-so-big four year old had his check up (complete with 4 shots and a squirt up the nose of flu mist) and did FAN-TAS-TIC!! He was a champ about the shots and he's growing just fine. 75% for height and 50% for weight. He's a healthy happy kiddo. The soon-to-be 7 year old had his check up today, and checked out AOK as well. He's still TALL - 90%. Thankfully no shots today!

They are growing up so fast

Tomorrow is soccer and then I think we are going to settle in early, get the baby off to bed, and then the boys and I are going to have a movie night. Complete with popcorn and "party soda" (that's what the boys call pop). Should be a fabulous time. Hope you all have a mighty fine weekend. I'll try to post some soccer pics before Monday rolls around.

toot toot

Hey folks!! I hope you are all enjoying your Labor Day weekend.

Yesterday was a big day for me. I ran my first post-baby race, a 1/2 marathon no less, and it was fabulous. I ran the VA Beach Rock 'N' Roll Half. I've never ran any of the RNR series before and really enjoyed it. There are bands all along the course, which is thankfully very flat, and a lot of other entertainment from the spectators. We finished up along the boardwalk at the beach. If you ask me, there isn't a better place to run than along the water.

I ran, I finished, I am ecstatic!! I didn't break any PR's, or even come close, but I had such a great time, and finished feeling so blessed! Blessed that I have the ability TO run and blessed that I had my family there to cheer me on.

Family pic after the race. There is one missing...you will see why below. And yes, those are porta-pottys behind us. Scenic photo spot it's not, but a good picture all the same!

Me and one of my biggest fans

I'm proud that I was able to finish 13.1 miles just 5 months after having a baby via c-section with minimal training, the hubs gone for most of it, and only one double digit run. And I'm happy that this morning I'm still able to walk. If this all sounds like I'm tooting my own horn a bit, well you're probably right...TOOT TOOT!!

I also got to spend some time with some of our good friends from GA that were also running the race, and even spent the first 8 miles running with one of them. It's nice to have some company when you're spending 2 hours out of the road.

Me with Johnathan and Marc

And a HUGE THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to my hubs, parents and kiddos. They are always there for me to support me and I am so thankful. It was an EARLY morning (everyone up before 5am) and they were all troopers and didn't complain one bit. Although there was one that didn't make it to see me cross the finish...

Poor kid...he was just plum worn out. And finally, just because this picture makes me giggle. The little one taking her bottle from Daddy...on the back of a beer truck no less - classy I tell ya!

Sometimes that's just how we roll around here. With that I am off.

5 month-aversary

Can it be?? My little girl is now 5 months old??

Baby Girl: You had a very eventful 4th month of life, but first things first. You are in 6-9/12 month clothes and your size 3 diapers. I don't know how long you are or how much you weigh, but I can tell you have gotten longer because it's time to raise up the seat in your favorite new place...
You LOVE LOVE LOVE to bounce. Especially when your brothers stand next to you and jump while you do it. You laugh and giggle until you give yourself the hiccups. It's adorable.

You have worked through your cereals (rice, barley, and oatmeal) and so far have loved it all. Soon we will start introducing veggies! Yum. You still sleep through the night and are starting to take a (somewhat) predictable nap in the afternoon. Such a blessing for mama!!

You also had not one, but TWO teeth pop through a few weeks ago. They are so cute, but mama has to be careful before she lets you chew on my fingers!

Can you find my teeth??

You are still just the happiest little thing. You are so social and love to be around people. You smile at anyone who talks with you and are just such a joy to us!! You also still love baths, stories, and grabbing your toes! This is your new favorite thing to do, and you work to grab them wherever you are.

Happy Baby

You took another road trip this month, however this one was not planned. There was an earthquake (small - but present all the same) and a hurricane all in the same week!! My oh my. Mama decided to head out of Irene's way, so we packed up the car and drove down to stay with Grams and Papa's until the storm passed. It was a long trip for just a few days, but we had a good time. You went swimming and got lots of sugars from your grams and papa.

That wraps things up for this month. You are just so much fun, we can't get enough. We love you to the moon and back sweet little girl!!