Far too long

Well goodness Im terrible at this blogging thing. Blame it on everyone that has an Iphone and taking pictures but never sending them my way. So I have to rely on facebook these days. We have been busy- who isnt? We have done a significant amount of backyard planting...and love seeing progress. Basement is 99% done! SO happy about that. Details are just left. Finishing up the closets, getting the lights installed....but its functional...and we are using it for the most part. Noel came out for a long weekend. Not nearly enough time honestly. We love having her whenever- but it was a quick trip....we miss her so much. Jonathan had a birthday...37!!!!! the picture below is when he was way deep into his martial arts practice....a fun find. ;)Im not sure really what to say. Our lives are so hectic...the house is in the middle of demo ( we are redoing the pergo floors on the main level and redoing the boys bathroom. Then next on the list is the master bath. We have so many projects going on...its exhausting. However we are close to completing the main items on the list from when we moved in the home 2 years ago. We have a long way to go still- window treatments, replace all the doors, finish the backyard details, eventual full remodel of the kitchen( the lipstick on a pig thing will last a few more years) new carpet. So all in good time but once the main floors, and the bathrooms are done we can do things as time progresses. Work is a big challenge for Jonathan. Its a roller coaster of sorts- and not in a good way. Its been a significant issue for us and we are hoping that things will someday mellow out. Grad school is still plugging along. 3 more classes and his international trip and hes done! so hopefully by December it will be over and next up the student loans yipee! ;) Summer plans? Well other than our trip to canada we are staying around. we are so looking forward to the time off we can hardly stand it! Crossing fingers the weather will be divine. Jett is the cutest thing on the planet these days. Happy, healthy. He is a joy to us. Seriously I cannot express the amount of love I have for all my boys, but Im just so thrilled that our last child is a happy one. We just cuddle and kiss him non-stop and Im in heaven everyday being his mom. While not doing anything specific...hes eating solids, sitting up for the most part...hes just hanging around getting fatter by the day and watching his big brothers run around him. I guess thats it! The update for the last month. Hopefully Ill be doing better regarding updates here....Im still interested in capturing our day to day here and posting pictures so family- send them my way!!! xo

GOINGS ON...

Things are busy as expected with 3 kids, but with soccer coming to a close and school almost out...the lazy days of summer will begin. Jonathans been traveling a lot to SF and its been a lot of work finishing our basement. The final touches are being done and yippeeeeee- another project crossed off the list. The boys in all- are doing great. Tristan will be finishing up his preschool year and taking summer preschool...Jett is rolling around all over the place, starting to eat solids but much prefering his bottle and becoming quite the chunk. Elijiah is back into scouting for the summer, and maintaining his straight A's. We are starting a new chore chart process and I got it from the "Entitlement Trap" book which is excellent so Im hopefull that we can actually have him be motivated to do them, and be more consistant around here. We had a bit of a meltdown of great porportions with regards to computer time which was a pretty big deal and its been a concern of mine what we are going to do with preteens and teenagers and technology. Its a fact I cant get it out of the house...but I sure want better limits on use. Excited for the warmer weather and upcoming events/projects-a few weeks ago I got a really hankering to move again. When Im not happy with a house I tend to just move on...literally. This house has been a pain for us, and taking up way to much financial resources, however I mellowed out and decided moving wasnt in our best interest...we will continue to fix it up and when Elijiah moves out determine our next move. Id like to build- so we are putting that on our 10 year plan.

Boys Boys

I ran across some of these funny things on the internet the otherday...if you have boys you can relate...

 

You find yourself willingly holding a living creature that you would usually run away from screaming.

You have an unhealthy knowledge of the point/gem system for Temple Run, Dragonvale, Bakugan, Plants vs. Zombies, Cube Runner …

You can’t muster the brain power to recall what you ate for breakfast, yet you can inherently transform a Transformer (without the 30 pages of directions it came with). 

Your child asks you to marry him and you’re totally considering it. (so true)

You know what a Ripstik is and you’re not afraid to use it. 

You spend much of your days in a fog of fart odor  

A little penis seems to be constantly whizzing by (well, let’s hope that’s your sons).

You’ve actually placed yourself under a tree with the feeling that, if that kiddo loses footing you’ll at least be there to break his fall. 

You know the pain of stepping on a Lego … and may in fact, have one imbedded somewhere in your body right now. 

 

There’s a finger in your eye, your ear, or up your nose and it’s not yours. 

You understand what I mean when I say “bleacher butt,” as in, “My sits bones are literally numb, I have bleacher butt.” 

You’ve found yourself saying things like, “No, you can’t ride the dog.” and “Yes, you do have to keep your pants on in public.” 

You’ve had in depth conversations about who would win in multiple variations of match-ups involving Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, X-Men, Daddy … 

Though you claim to be an absolute pacifist, you’ve had a talk that involved you urging, “Sometimes you gotta push back.” 

At some point you notice the change in smell from “OMG sooo sweet” to “Get that tween some AXE.” 

You can use your keyboard, phone, iPad, but there’s a good chance your fingers will get stuck to it.

You can’t find a single pair of pants without holes in the knees. 

 

Some others I would add:

There’s a love you feel for your son that’s too great and sometimes too scary to fully explain or even comprehend.

 

You cant redirect a hobby, obession until they are ready to relinquish it.  Hello spoons, matchbox cars, star war figures, mini guys, halloween, legos.....

 

 

 

 

old and new pictures

we have so many photos that we have taken over the last few months but ZERO time to download and post. I finally got Jonathan to download some on a rare day off and here are a couple olds ones, new ones and stuff in between lol. Life is always going at a breakneck pace. Not sure when or how that will ever change...so its our new normal. Basement is 99% finished, some small finish things to do, paint patchups, a couple lights to hang and cleanup....so we are pretty excited about that. When its all clean i'll specifically put up those photos. Jonathan really has been a rockstar when it comes to juggling school- job that is beyond crazy bad, and endless nights working on the house. Ive decided no more. I dont care what it costs, the aggravation and fights over remodels arent worth it. Next up is our master bath and I totally want someone else to do it. All the boys are growing fast and Jett is super cute. I literally want to eat him. I kiss him all day and am so in love. The school year is coming to a close and summer approaches. Noel will come out again in a few weeks and we are all so excited to see her again. In all we are doing great...

Letter to my boys

My dear boys:

A while ago, while on facebook I was befriended by an old schoolmate. One that I think I might have spoken to a couple of times over the course of 12 years. I remember him because he was different. He was poor- wearing the same clothes over and over, hand me downs, and smelled funny. His older brother was weird, and they often were teased, bullied, and in general left alone. Oh I think they had a friend or two…although I cant be sure who…I didn’t see the brothers often as I tended to stay to myself with my handful of friends, but it always made me sad when I was around them. We would ride the bus home together and often I found myself looking at them but never really interacting. Ive had a soft spot for outsiders my whole life. But here was a situation, where I could have extended greater kindness but I didn’t. Not really. Not in the way that I would want to today…or hope you would if you were in the same situation. I thought about this person over the years honestly…hoping he was okay or that he grew up to be happy. I was lucky enough through facebook to get a peak into his life…and I can say he seems happy. Married with children who have huge smiles and a wife that loves him. But I was brought back to my childhood and realizing that Heavenly Father was speaking to me when my heart was being tugged….compassion flowing through my body and I sat there doing nothing. I was ignoring a prompting to do something, anything…extend kindness. Heavenly Father uses us on his behalf and I ignored the feeling time and time again when it came to these boys.

My biggest hope above all else is that you each become protectors of the weak, innocent and downtrodden. That you may be an instrument in Gods hands when he needs you and that you will recognize when you are needed by the small promptings in your heart. That you may see a kid sitting alone, or left out and offer words of encouragement, or kindness. Invite them to sit with you at lunch. Play with them at recess. Whatever you can do to put some sunlight in their lives or a smile on their face.

Your dad and I don’t care if you become the star basketball/soccer player, or get straight A’s, but we hope hope that you become to recognize your place on earth, make it better for those around you, and love all of Gods children. Each of you are unique individuals with specific purposes here on earth, with talents and gifts all to your own, but the one thing we want most of all is for you to know your loved- more than you can ever know. FIRST by your Heavenly Father, and SECOND by us. We have been given you to our care to raise and teach and guide you but only temporarily. You will soon grow into men with families of your own.

May you all learn to see the good in those around you, seek to help those in need and be compassionate when called to be-knowing Gods promptings for what they are…and act on them.

I love you all more than you will ever know….be good boys…..

Love,

Mom

Happy birthday Tristan!

Tristans bday streched out over several days...i think 5 was the best one yet for this one....spoiled rotten I say! ;)
Family party Sat and lots and lots of great presents that felt like Christmas for him....but in our opinion -TINK is the best present ever!  His own little kitty that hopefully will be with us for a long time.  She has a few eye issues which we are going to check out tomorrow- crossing my fingers they will be okay.

Tristan wanted a spider cake and I did my best-- stay tuned for more pictures of his happy happy day!

Thoughts today

Todays thoughts:

 

If we could be guaranteed a baby free of colic, that was healthy-that would be a good sleeper….id do this again.  If I could be guaranteed a pregnancy free of horrible mood swings, morning sickness and overall misery I would absolutely do it again…and if I could get my body back I would have several more.  It is not to be.

 

Jett has been such a breeze lately.  Hes a happy baby.  A cuddly baby.  Lets me kiss and hold him and love him up.  I am in heaven.  But the time with him is fleeting and I know within a few months this will pass.  Jonathan and I are doing our best to live in the moment.  Savor every minute and appreciate this time.  With Tristan we wanted time to speed up.  To get us through the most difficult times in our life and marriage.  We hoped that he would grow up quickly and move through each stage that left us overwhelemed and exhausted as parents.  The never ending screaming, and sleep that didn’t come.  The tantrums and inability to be in the car – EVER.  No kisses, no cuddles, fiercely independent and no need for me specifically.  There did come a time around 3 years old that at night right before bed, or first thing in the morning he would come lay with me.  I remember holding him so grateful I had that minute with him before he would bolt back up and run away.  He turns 5 this week.  I am struggling so much with my boy.  My big beautiful little boy.  Who hasn’t much need for a mom these days…dad serves him well.  His clumsy, however coordinated, adventurous, loud, curious and live without fear attitude little boy.  5 years old!  Learning to read, obsession with Halloween( that we cant redirect however much we try) binders full of hundreds of scary pictures, legos, trash packs, star wars, MONEY, sugar addiction,( that we have to be on top of ),scooter riding, container loving, going going going every minute of every day till he drops at the end of the night, little boy.  Little man who fights me to get dressed, brush teeth and hair UNLESS he gets paid ( and at the moment a penny will do) sleeps with as many pillows and stuffed animals he can fit on the bed, thinks BOB is his personal baby to be carried and held, has the biggest blue eyes and dares you to staring contests which he wins most of the time.  Friends are of utmost importance, as well as nightly show watching and video game playing with dad, hands in pants pockets when hes nervous or unsure, and snack time is anytime.  This is our boy who we love so very much, that we worry about, pray about, adore.  Tristan is turning 5.  I want to rewind the clock.  Go back to the beginning…tell that 31 year old mother that this one needs you, sooo much more than you know, and he will sleep through the night, he will eventually be able to take a car ride without screaming the entire time, and that he will grow up way too fast.