Thanksgiving

What a weekend! So much to do in so little time. But I think all the kids had a blast visiting with their cousins and being away from school. Here are some of the highlights:


* Crafts, crafts, and more crafts

* Food, beer, and wine

* Car races (wooden not real)

* Decllan's Baptism

* Christmas - all the kids with Grandma Susie and Grandpa Bernie

Everyone had a wonderful time and now we just have to get back onto a regular schedule. Pretty hard to stay on schedule when you are with that much family. Isabelle won the car race, her car ran the fastest down the ramp, even with Grandpa Don's silly starts.



Cooper did not feel good by Saturday and this is where he fell asleep. I just left him there because he looked cozy and I figured if he was asleep he needed the sleep.

Ornaments

In the tradition that has been carried on in my family for years, I started when I joined Ben's family the tradition of giving ornaments to the kids, so that one day they will have a ready made Christmas tree. Plus it gives them something to look back on and remember the holiday's from the past. I love to look at all my ornaments, and each year the kids get more, and so do we and we just need a bigger tree. Oh well, so this year I decided to personalize ornaments and make them myself. It was a lot of fun and they turned out cute. No I did not come up with my own idea but I stole and idea from this website. Very cute, and you can see that her picture is better than mine, go figure.

Happier note

My flowers are very confused. This iris just bloomed, I don't think it quite knows what to do after the horribly hot summer we had, and all the yo-yo weather we have had this month. At least it is pretty to look at for the short time it will be here for. Plus I got a little bonus iris action.

The Nerve

The nerve of some people, I cannot believe. Isa, Decllan and I are walking out of Target via the cross walk, and this woman talking on her cell phone barely stops in time not to hit us. As I'm walking and talking to her and Isabelle, we pass, she rolls down her window to ask me what I said. I told her that maybe had she not been on the phone she would have been able to stop sooner for the people who were walking and using the cross walk as directed. Then she had the nerve to suggest that I text when I drive and call me a bitch. Then she darted off before I could say any more. At least if you are going to insult someone let them defend themselves or make a comment back. I can hardly believe how some people act when they are driving. Well she can kiss my ass.

The Big Change

In less than five (5) hours Ben will be leaving his job at YRC for good. He has been with Roadway, now YRC for over 14 years and is finally cutting the apron strings and moving on. After the past three years and the stress that has been building due to poor management from the upper dudes, Ben has decided to take a position with a much smaller trucking company. I can hardly believe it! We are all very excited and a little nervous. Mostly me, because of insurance reasons but I think it will all work out in the end.

Ben must have been sending out I'm ready for a change vibe, because about a month or more ago, he had two (2) recruiters call in within 20 minutes of each other. Both wanting to have him submit a resume for review. He went through the process of interviews, phone interviews, and much more, before finally settling and deciding on one company over the other.

The new company is a family operated trucking business, and Ben hopes to help them grow their business and develop a stronger knowledge in the brokering side of trucking. Plus much more but I would hate to bore you with the details. He feels that this is going to be a great opportunity for him to let loose the reins and develop professionally as well as personally. He has equated this move to be more entrepreneurial than his previous position.

I know he is not sad to leave his post at YRC, since things have been completely different since we moved back to Texas. Especially after the move the company made to combine both entities. But that is another story best left in the past. Even though there are those who will be sad to see him go, I think it is for the best. Had it not be for YRC we would not of made our moves across the country and back. And we would not have met so many wonderful people and friends along the way.

So pray for us and send good wishes for our next exciting adventure that we are about to embark on, it can only get better from here.

So Cute

Look at Decllan, the other day Ben put him down for a nap and one of the kids handed him a toy. He actually fell asleep with it in his hands. Too cute! What is more precious than a sleeping baby.

My little crazies

My kids are so silly, somedays they take great pictures together while others they are just not all together. Oh well at least I have some funny memories of them being crazy, and silly together. I would at least like to get a semi-decent one for the Christmas card. Who knows if that will happen. One more try maybe at Decllan's Baptism. For now I just have a good case of the sillies.

The GYM

I never realized how much going to the gym affected my life, until I was unable to go until just a few days ago. Ok so right after having a baby is understandable about not being able to go and I was prepared for that. I had to wait until the doctor said that all things were looking good and I could proceed with normal activity. Then I did not anticipate the gym making me wait until Decllan was three (3) months old. That is just crazy! At least it is to me.

I have never been a good work out from home person, my kids wake up too early or they just don't take a long enough nap. Or I find that I have one million other things to do during nap time; laundry, cleaning, laundry, facebook, laundry, and more laundry. Not really I try hard not to do laundry everyday but some weeks it just happens.

Either way, I figured I could get Decllan into the gym when he turned 12 weeks, that's three (3) months right, after he was born? Yea no, they actually would not let me add him officially to the account until November 5th. Good thing I did not add him before he was born. I thought about that, because they were having a special, add a new member for free. Luckily I did not have to pay to add him to our account but still I had to wait. And of course the 5th fell on a Saturday, and usually we don't go to the gym on Saturday because we have a million other things to do like laundry.

The gym for me is more than just a time to work out and stay fit. It is my little break from the kids on a daily basis where I can gain back some of my sanity and work out my issues in my head. That is always what I have done when I run, and I really need that. Not to have had that over the last three months was a struggle. Sadly I missed going today because of a meeting and when they let the babies into the gym. I have to wait an entire hour after they open the child center to take Decllan. That really messes with my day.

I had it all worked out that I was going to go to the gym right after drop off, so I could get there usually by 8:15am do my thing and be home a little after nine. We could do school and life would be good. Oh no, I can't ever get Decllan into the gym until 9am and I have to make a reservation for him every time I want to come in with him. So if I don't go to the gym one day I have to call and I can only make an appointment two days in advance. I think I could at least make a weeks worth in Utah, I don't remember. At least right now they have been open and I have not gotten a "no you can't come in at that time for that long."

I guess I just have to figure out a new schedule and make it work, because I need to go to the gym for the betterment of my mental health. I'm sure my kids will appreciate it if I do. I don't feel like I have been a very good Mom since having Decllan and the very, horribly hot summer we had. Needless to say I am way past ready to get my workout on, since I have not been very successful at home. I think when I workout at home, I keep thinking and seeing all the other things I could be doing at home, instead of working out.

Hopefully this too will pass and I will feel better about where we are all at and I have a regular workout scheduled, to help save my sanity. Who knew I needed it that much?

The Onesie

Now my last child has finally worn "the Onesie" I no longer have to worry about keeping it super clean, after all it is white. So hard to keep clean with boys. Anyway, I would like to present Decllan Jude in "the Onesie."



For those of you who don't know one of my college friends thought it would be funny to give me a baby onesie as a wedding gift. He said to put all my kids in this onesie and to be sure to send him a picture. So each of the kids have worn this onesie and have had their picture taken while doing so. They all looked too cute and it was a very clever idea. I should send him one as a late wedding present, and hope that he does the same with his kids.

Marble Painting

This past week for school we painted with marbles. Very cool, easy way to paint and have little mess to clean up. Plus the boys just loved the activity and trying to figure out which way to make the marble go so that it would run into the paint. Both boys are very proud of their art work and I think we might submit them as pieces to The Modern. Do you think they would take them?

Halloween

This year was too much fun watching the kids go trick o' treating. Cooper was just adorable, as usual. I tried really hard, sort of, to get all the kids to do a theme costume set, but Isabelle really wanted to be an Angel so I only had her and Cooper relate.


And then there was Decllan. What can I say about that baby boy, other than he is too cute! I found this fabulous idea on Pinterest, to have him as a candy corn. Well I guess I should have looked at the link sooner, because she had knitted the costume. I could have done that too, if I looked sooner. Oh well, we ended up coming up with a different idea and it worked at the last minute. As in Monday afternoon I was sewing up his costume. I really wanted the whole outfit to be fuzzy but they did not have that material in all the colors I needed, so he ended up with an outfit made out of jersey knit. He still looked really cute and people of course oooh and aahh over him.


That is a very short version of my craziness that was Decllan's costume. He still looked super cute and next year, I was thinking while we were walking around, he will actually be walking at Halloween, so watch out.


We abandoned our neighborhood to go to somewhere else, because one, people drive to fast down our street, and two I don't think they get started until later. When we left there were no kids on the street and once we arrived at our destination, there were tons of kids. So much of a better choice. The kids did wonderful and no complaints when we said it was time to go home. Cooper and Bear were done, and I think Isabelle could have kept going, but she follows directions so well. Our trick o' treating fun, was great and the kids had a blast.

The Phone

My little girl is growing up. She is all ready starting to ask her friends for their phone numbers and to call them. Yikes! She was too cute talking to her new friend, and trying to plan a playdate with her for over the weekend. We'll is if that happens or not since Mommy has stuff to do. Now I just wonder where I should put all of these phone numbers she will be collecting, in my phone, a separate address book just for her? Who knows! I wonder who she will be calling next? At least right now she is not calling any boys. I'm sure that will come with time. I might actually have to get a home phone for that one. No cell phones yet for this little girl, I just don't think they are necessary at age 6 1/2.


Even though she is growing up I'm glad that she is making new friends at her school. She is so full of life and such a sweet kid that I hope everyone will see her goodness. I love that kid!

Fall Break

The kids had so much fun on Fall Break, and I think that was all because Oma came for a visit. Really how much fun is Mom all by herself. Add Oma to the mix and everyone is in for a good time. The kids had lots of fun playing together and visiting different places while Oma was here.

Customize your own free photo slideshow

Two of our favorite stops were, the Pumpkin Patch and the Zoo. I really wanted to update my pumpkin patch pictures of the kids, and get some of Decllan as well, so off we went to enjoy the pumpkins and the lovely Texas fall weather. I think the day ended up at about 86, not exactly fall weather but oh well. The kids had lots of fun, checking out the pumpkins and they did sort of ok with taking pictures. I think it was a good think I actually got a really good picture of Bear last year, because this year not so much. Decllan, did pretty well too and he even busted out with his great big Decllan smile. So precious!

Then of course we hit the zoo as well. All summer long the kids kept asking to go to the zoo, and I said we should wait until it was cooler, and oh yea when I was not pregnant. Who really wants to walk around the zoo, when it is overly hot, and you are starting to waddle. I told them we would go on Fall Break so Isa could go as well. It worked out great, we had a wonderful day and lots of fun at the zoo. This time we visited the Dallas Zoo. I had never been so it was a nice change of pace to go somewhere new. The kids of course loved to check out all the animals and wildlife. We did a zoo scavenger photo hunt, and checked everything off on our list. One of my favorite zoo moments was when the kids got a chance to feed the giraffe. Too cool!

Overall our week was great, I got one of my big Christmas projects completed and the kids had a great time. I was glad to be able to spend time with my mom and Isabelle all in the same week.

Volcanoes

Today Isabelle's class did a little science experiment with baking soda, sand, red dye and vinegar. You know the one, volcanoes. She was very excited and I was so excited to be able to come up there to take pictures for her teacher. Cooper and Decllan went along for the show as well. And I must say both of the boys did a great job. Cooper was fabulous and even helped Mommy out when we had to take care of PTO stuff afterwards.


Of course Decllan just went along for the ride and everyone asked questions and commented that he was so cute. Back to the volcanoes. I think the parents sent up the volcano and then the kids had the chance to pour in the vinegar. Isabelle shared her turn with Cooper since he was right by her side. Not sure what that kid will do when she goes away to college.


All the volcanoes were a huge success and the kindergarten class had a chance to come and watch the action. I do think some of the first graders had some expectations that were a little out there but they still enjoyed themselves. Even the Assistant Head of School made an appearance to help out and watch the kids.

First Rangers Game

Well Decllan is officially the youngest kid in our household to go to a Rangers game. He even went to his first playoff game at the same time. I think that he really did not notice at all what was going on. He did stay awake for the first 5 1/2 to 6 innings, which is pretty good I think. Then he pretty much slept the rest of the time. So since he has gone to his first game that means I got to go to my first playoff game as well.

It was great fun to see Ben so excited about the ball game. He was just like a little kid. It was kind of funny. He yelled really loud and gave lots of high fives like he had done the work. Although I guess it is lots of work being a fan sometimes. Plus I would imagine that it helps the players, play better to hear all those fans cheering for them. I know it helps me when I hear my kids yell when I play soccer.

Anyway, the series is tied one to one and today is game three. I believe they will be back in Texas for game five for sure. We'll just have to watch and see what happens this post season for the Texas Rangers.

Ice Cream

My kids are all getting bigger and developing their little personalities. Which some of you might know but it still amazes us as we watch the changes. I really noticed it the other day when Isabelle's school had an ice cream social. Besides ice cream, there were several bounce houses set up for the kids to play on, and really only one for Cooper. Now Bear at the same age as Cooper was a flight risk, Cooper not so much. But I'm sure he'll prove me wrong later today. Anyway our chairs were set up close to the bounce house, we could see the line if we were sitting down, and he did such a good job of waiting and checking to see if Ben was still close by. Since I was walking around taking pictures. It was too cute, one time I came over to check on Ben and Decllan and Cooper was standing in line with his little hands on his hips, like why are you guys not going faster, I'm waiting.


I think that all the kids had a lot of fun and a lot of ice cream. I'm pretty sure that Bear got at least three cups, which he was not suposed to but hey they actually over planned how many they were going to need. Isabelle just had a lot of fun runnning around and playing with her school friends, at school but outside of school as well.

Applesauce

Today for part of school we made applesauce. Let me just say with the help of my kids, we make some pretty good applesauce. In a couple of weeks Isabelle and her Girl Scout troop are going to visit an apple picking location, I think we might get some "farm fresh" apples to make applesauce with. Homemade is so much better, than store bought, you can flavor it anyway you want and plus you know what is all in you sauce. Nothing but apples, cinnamon, lemon, vanilla and water for ours. Isabelle really wanted cinnamon flavored, so I let Bear put the cinnamon in and he did a fantastic job, it tastes wonderful.

While getting it ready each of the kids had to have a turn at the apple; peeler, corer, slicer job. Each one was able to complete the task all by themselves including Cooper. I just had to help hold it in place since I was having trouble getting it to stay in one place.


Anyway, they had a lot of fun creating a healthy treat for themselves, and I know we will do it again. Plus it is pretty easy and quick, since we sliced everything up before taking Isabelle to school.

One Month

Decllan is one month old, already. Where does the time go. I'm sure that means he'll be in college in just a few years. At least it will seem that way. Who would have thought that I would ever have four kids? Surely not I, but they are each a wonderful blessing and who could ask for more.

He has finally made it past his birth weight and came in at 9 pounds exactly, and I think he was 22.5 inches, which seems short to me but I could be remembering this incorrectly. He is getting stronger everyday and seems to be fitting in to our daily life well with little complaints.


I had a hard time figuring out what I wanted to do for his one month pictures so this is what we have for now. I have a really cute idea I want to use on him, I just need Ben's help so maybe this weekend we will knock that out. Until then here is a litte bit of cuteness.

Labor Day Fun

We decided to spend Labor Day in San Antonio. I think I had not been down for a visit since Spring break in March. At least I had a good excuse! Either way the kids were very excited, because that meant they got the chance to swim to their little hearts content. They have each come so far this summer and are all swimming like champs. Cooper being the youngest I think has improved the best. He is not coming up to breath before reaching his destination and of course swims mostly under the water to return. Bear is a dolphin, he can hold his breath for a really long time and he dives beautifully. Isabelle really worked on her strokes and can now keep her but up instead of dropping down every time she comes up to breath.

Cooper shows off his skills.

Decllan got his first taste of the pool as well. I think I should have gone in sooner with him since by the time we made it into the pool it was a little cooler. Although as long as he was close to Mom he seemed to like the water. He should be swimming in no time.


Isabelle and Cooper are my little shutter bugs, and had to take pictures of each other and I must say they both did a pretty big job. Especially since my camera is about as big as Cooper. It's too cute to see him try to hold it, but it makes me very nervous.


We did have lots of fun and had some really good food as well. Which of course is always the point when traveling, even if just to visit family.

Isabelle shows off her skills.