Thank You Mr Manning

I say this every time, so lets just get it out of the way:

1) It's been awhile
2) I'm the worst blogger in the world
3) I'm busy, please forgive me

There will be pictures at the end, so feel free to just scroll to the bottom if that is why you're here, because this post actually has nothing to do with the kids ;-)

In light of Peyton Manning announcing his retirement tomorrow, I felt this was a good time and forum to get all these "feelings" off my chest.

I wrote this little thought/note to myself on Oct 19, 2014.  I couldn't remember what happened that day to make me have the feels to write this, but a quick google search brought up the fact it was the day Peyton Manning broke Bret Favre's touchdown record.

This brings me to my point - This little blog post is mainly about Peyton Manning, the man, player, and role model, written by a fan and mother.  I'm not a writer (and if we are being honest, I'm terrible at English/grammar/spelling in general) so I don't really have the right words to express all the 'feels' going on inside me.  Like everyone else, I am feeling a variety of emotions ranging from sadness to pride...but let's not get too carried away on that tangent

Here's the note I wrote to myself:

~

Watching Peyton Manning tonight, along with getting an email update from Zachary's teacher, got me thinking a lot about my kids. Mostly their growth from helpless, perfect, newborns to tiny little humans. I see so much in each of them, that I am literally moved to tears thinking about who they are, as people. 

Peyton Manning was a child once, and he's still someone son. How proud I am of him as a fan, doesn't even scratch the surface of how proud his parents are of him. 

I got upset with myself tonight thinking about how I don't celebrate my kids accomplishments and hard work enough. 

Seeing Zach's school blog, seeing how much he does in a week at school.  Seeing how much joy is on his face in those pictures, makes me proud of how far he has come in the last few months/years. 

Walking home from school with Braden everyday, talking about his writing work, what books he is reading, how he is working on math equations before and after school everyday, makes me so proud of how smart he is. 

Spending every waking moment with Chase, watching him start to realize what language is. Hearing him learn new words, and using sign language to communicate wants and needs. 

They all move me to tears thinking about, and proud doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about them and their accomplishments, learning and growth everyday. 

I'm not in any way saying my kids are exceptionally smart or gifted. But I am just so proud of every little thing they do, and I think that maybe sometimes I don't show them or tell them that enough. Even watching them sleep makes me proud of them!!! 

It also makes me feel like I am not doing enough with and for them. I see it like this: if they are able to do this much with the resources they are given now (school, the work we do together, etc) I need to keep pushing myself to push them more, teach them more, and work with them THAT. MUCH. MORE! So that they become even better and stronger tiny humans! 

These little people are capable of so much greatness. They have the potential to one day break records that haven't even been set yet. I need to do everything in my power to set them up for those successes in life.  My value as their mother is to not just prepare them for life, it's to provide them with everything I possibly can to prepare them for a SUCCESSFUL life.  

Today that means teaching Zachary how to put on his shoes by himself and zip a zipper.  Teaching Braden how to put spaces in his writing, when to use a capital, and remembering to place a period at the end of every sentence/thought. Teaching Chase how to hold and scribble with a crayon (and not eat it). 

I don't know what tomorrow's lessons will hold. But I know I need to do more for each of them,everyday.  and take the moments each day where it's just easier for me do things myself (because we are in a hurry, and need to go now) and teach them how to do it better themselves, than I could ever do for them. I won't be around forever, and I know these kids are capable of so much more than I push them to be.  

They are each destined for greatness.

~

The moral of this sappy little message and post is this; 

Thank you Sheriff, you not only made Sunday's more enjoyable these last 4 years, you have done so much more for me and my life, things that words can't even explain.  I know that we will continue to see you, and you will still hold a large role in football and the NFL (and great TV commercials).  I am happy because I will still get to feel like you are a part of my life, and that my kids will still know who you are in a few years and can have you as a role model.  I hope as you ride off into that beautiful Colorado sunset you have no regrets, and you are as proud of your accomplishments as all of us are.

Now.....for those pictures I promised (in no order and not captioned because a) that's how they were uploaded and b) you're lucky you got a post out of me...with pictures, let's not get too picky and ask for captions too): 

Grocey Shopping

Uttering those words is like saying a curse word to me.  I cannot stand it.  I despise the grocery store.  It gives me anxiety, and it terrifies me.  I just don't like entering the forbidden place alone (without another adult).  And it doesn't matter if the boys are with me or not.  They are fine.  Taking them to stores is not the issue.  It's the grocery store and grocery shopping itself.

Anyways.  It takes me at least an hour (again with or without the kids).  I/we take many breaks, and probably walk a solid 2 miles while in there.

We even pull over and pause for photo shoots when things get a to be too much.

For those of you wondering when Chase grew up and got so big, it happened over night, I swear.  There is something in this Texas water.  It's doing strange thing to my tiny humans. 

 

And please don't let the overwhelming amount of adorable photos I am sharing fool you...

....And just in case you think I am joking - that ecard is 100% truth.  

Welcome Family & Friends!!!

This year was the first year I decided to send out a family "newsletter" to some people.  I am not sure if you can really call it a newsletter, it was really just a couple bullet points on the previous year.  The main point of the letter was to give those whom are not on facebook the link to this here website :) So hopefully we have some new family and friends following along on this journey of mine I call life. 

So, for those of you newbies (or even oldies who would like to sign up for the emails) I have provided some instructions on how to do so.  I don't post very often, maybe once or twice a month.  But this way, when I do post something, the post will just be sent to your email and pop up and you wont have to visit the site every day looking for something new.  You also will not miss anything ;-) You can read the nonsense I write right on your email screen like so:

Super simple to sign up - on the right side of the page....scroll down until you see "swim along" enter in your email address and hit submit:

A screen like this should pop up:

Fill it out....THEN....go check your email and click on the confirmation link!!! Check your junk mail folder too, it may have gone in there.  You should get this email within a matter of minutes. 

Hopefully this works, and y'all "Swim Along" with us!  The buttons on the top right of my page will link you to other various sites of mine.  I post lots of photos on Instagram (mostly all of my children).  So if you are looking for some daily cuteness in your life, you can check out that page too!

I look forward to keeping you updated on our crazy lives and I hope you enjoy!

Oh! And PS! I LOVE reading comments too, so feel free to leave me a little note on the posts too :) 

Lucky Number 7!

Happy 7 Month Birthday Little Bug! 

*Sad day - I updated my computer and my photo library will not open on this new version.  I am working on updating the photo software so that I can access the photos....so I will have to post the usual "photo journal" in a couple days.  I do have a few photos from the last week or so that I can share with you for now....just check back soon to see more pictures :-)*

Height:
Weight:
Head:

Teething - You still only have the 2 front bottom teeth WTH??  You love to suck and chow down on your fingers, and every toy you get your hands on goes straight into your mouth.  Other than that, no signs of teething from you big guy.

Eating - As always, you're a champ.  We bumped you up to 3 solid meals (most) days.  I say most, because with my new work scheduled (more on that in a minute) sometimes we just don't have time for a solid meal, and you are totally okay with that! 

Sleeping - We are back to sleeping through the night! Woohoo! Growth spurt over!  We lay you down around 7/8ish for bed.  You're up at 9/10ish for a quick snack before I actually go to bed.  Then up at 6/7 for a milk breakfast, and a diaper change (100% of the time there is a poop in there...good thing that's right when Daddy is waking up to get ready for work).  Back down for a little bit, then up around 8/9ish with your Brothers to start our morning.  That's how we usually like things at least.  On mornings I have to work, we just keep you awake and start our day around 7ish. 

Adventures - Mommy starting working at Lifetime Fitness part time, and that's been an adventure for sure.  I am working in the child center 10-15 hours a week, just a little extra cash and a free gym membership for me and the kids, you can't beat that!  Also discounts on daddy's membership and everything else (including the lessons and kids classes!)  So we have all be adjusting to that new scheduling.  I am not on a consistent schedule yet, but all the kids are adapting very well.

I also took all 3 boys on a preschool field trip with Zachary's class BY MYSELF!  That was a bit rough.  In summary, Braden was all over the place and sneaky Zach would wonder off while I was trying to chase down Braden.  Overall I think the big 2 had a great time, and Chase just hung out in the stroller most of the morning/afternoon.  He is such a great baby! 

I tried to take the boys on a walk to take a photo for our Christmas card too - that was horrible.  1 hour, 90 some photos, and not 1 decent one :-/  Just wait until you see how horrible they are :(

Milestones - You are are rolling and moving machine.  You're getting pretty fast too.  You're not crawling on all 4's yet, it still an army crawl, but you are very good at it.  You can't go from laying/crawling to sitting just yet, but you can roll out of a sitting position in half a second!  It is pretty funny.  Sometimes you will just crawl around the ottoman in the family room a few times....you're "crawling laps"  it's so cute.  You round the corner and see us, and just grin.  You can also let us know what you do want, by growling at things you don't want.  With that being said, you have found your voice and are exploring different sounds and noises you can make.  Your favorite being this growling thing.  Braden swears you say "bubba" and daddy swears you say "dada" but this mom says that there have been no actual works said yet.  You do "reply" sometimes when someone says 'Hi' to you with a little squeak.  

Loves: Brothers, Mommy, Daddy time, fruits, walks, your stroller, the papoose (aka baby carrier), the jumper, mamaroo, food, playing with a spoon while I feed you...You've been a little more clingy this month (I think that has something to do with being at lifetime so much lately though), your caterpillar toy...

Non-Loves: ...I really can't think of anything.  The obvious ones, when you get dropped (by your brothers) stepped on, kicked, balls kicked at you, or forgotten about (this is becoming less of an issue now that you can move). 

I think that is most everything this last month...If I think of anything else in the next few days I will let you know in the photos post to come ;-)  Here are a few fall photos I took there other day in the meantime (these were not the attempted Christmas photos).