Life Lately

I thought that once school started and we settled down into our routines again, life would slow down a little bit and not be quite so hectic. That lasted all of about two weeks. It's not like I didn't see it coming, but I guess I was hoping for a little more quiet before the storm. Sometimes I long for the simple days of when they were all younger and we didn't have quite so many things filling up our plate. When we could go outside every night together and ride bikes, draw on the sidewalk, and enjoy being together. We still enjoy being together, it's just now on the sidelines of the soccer fields or in the bleachers of a middle school gym. As busy as we are, it's always nice to slow down and play in the grass. Then, when they all go to bed and I look at what's on the calendar for the next day, I can remember these down times!

Kelsie made the middle school volleyball team and has been busy every night with practices and games. I love going to watch her play and have so much fun cheering for her and her team. The boys keep me company as well as some of her friends from church. It's been so great to see her more confident as a result of volleyball. In addition to all the demands of her sport, she also has school, homework, young women activities, babysitting, and friends. She really doesn't have a whole lot of down time, but when she does, we love spending as much time with her as we can (even when it's waaaay past her bed time).

The boys have also started up sports again. We spend our Saturday mornings at the soccer fields, with Wally and I switching games at halftime to watch each of them play. Brandon is a natural at sports and is already starting out great on his team. He scored his first goal for the season during the first game. We are trying something new this fall with Brandon playing both soccer and flag football. We're hoping that we didn't make a horrible decision and that we don't go crazy between all the running around that is inevitably going to happen. He joined the Morning Miles club at school on Friday's and stays busy with Cub Scouts each week as well. He is very determined to pass off everything in his book as soon as possible.

Caleb was excited to play soccer again this fall and quickly made some friends after his first week. We're hoping that he'll have a great season as well and that he'll realize that he's got to kick the ball if he wants it to go anywhere. He loves kindergarten! There hasn't been a single tear about going to school. He has made lots of friends and always comes home with a big smile on his face. I am able to help out in his class once a week and he is always so happy to see me come. His new love is Lego Ninjago. It's pretty much all he eats, sleeps, and breaths. Even at school.

Isaac is just along for the ride. I guess that's how it is when you're two and the youngest of four busy kids. He and I get to spend every day together. He's my little shadow and is constantly narrating everything that I do (Mom washing dishes? Mom vacuuming? Mom reading?). He also thinks that he's just as big as his older brothers and can do just about anything they can do from running football plays with Brandon and fighting ninjas with Caleb.

So, yeah, we're busy. There is always something going on. We try to squeeze in as much family time as we can in addition to all the other balls we're juggling. The kind of family time that involved taking updated pictures which didn't go as planned the first time around. If I'm completely honest with myself, I really love to be busy. Even though it feels like I'm running a marathon for months, it's totally worth it to see all of my kids learning, excelling, and gaining experiences as they grow. There really is nothing sweeter. Except, maybe, bedtime for Isaac at 6 pm.

First Days of School

The kids started another school year about 3 weeks ago. We were all excited and anxious to start. We had an order of all new schools (again) this year, so there was quite a bit of nerves to go along with all our excitement as well. We also had a brand new kindergartener, which means a certain little guy misses all his older brothers and sister while they're gone all day.

Kelsie started 7th grade this year. She was pretty nervous about starting another school, but after we walked through her schedule a few times and made sure we knew where everything was, she was good to go. She has been able to see a lot of friends from church and has also made quite a few new friends as well. She is a great student and is working hard for straight A's again this year. Her favorite class and teacher right now is P.E., and comes home everyday with a new story to tell about it.

Brandon couldn't wait to see who was in his class when it was time to find out who his teacher was. He was so happy to find out that one of his best friends from church was in it with him! He loves his teacher and is making a lot of new friends. He has even made friends with the nurse within the first week of school after he tried playing football on the cement. Not his best idea. He came home with some pretty big bandages on both knees and hands.

Waiting to find out who Brandon's teacher would be. Caleb wasn't too sure about going to school anymore.

Caleb was so ready for school to start, that is, until it was actually going to start! He started school a day after Kelsie and Brandon did. He was nervous about meeting his teacher, but once he did and saw his classroom, there was no turning back--especially once he found the bucket of lego's! He did amazing on his first day, and there were no tears coming from him at all! I, on the other hand, may have showed my emotions a little more. He leaves every morning with a big smile and a wave as he gets on the bus and comes home just as happy. 

Getting ready to line up for his first day of school!

All in all, it's been a successful start to a new year. I still can't believe that Caleb is old enough for school and am getting used to having the three older kids gone all day! Isaac really is beside himself on some days. He is starting to enjoy this new found freedom he has while everyone is gone though.We have settled into a routine that starts pretty early now, but everyone is happy and learning again! Here's to another great year of school and happy kids!

Brandon showing some nerves, just before the bus came.

Another Year Gone

Summer has officially begun here in New Mexico. I can't believe another year of school is done and that we will have 3 (three!) kids in school starting again in August. I am so proud of our kids and all that they have accomplished this year.

To say Kelsie was a little anxious to start middle school would be quite the understatement. It didn't take long for her to realize that it wasn't as bad as she thought. In fact, this little smarty pants earned straights A's, 3 out of the 4 quarters in school and had lunch with the principal because of it! She excelled in all her classes and made some really great friends in the process. She may or may not have been the teacher's pet in more than one class. She is a little disappointed to start yet another new school (since we moved again) next fall, but I'm sure will not disappoint once she's there.

Brandon started off the year pretty excited and then wasn't quite sure about his new teacher so he had some stomach issues in the beginning. Once he realized that she wasn't as bad as he thought, it turned out to be a great year. In fact, when I asked him how his last day went, he said "It was really sad, I almost cried!". He also excelled this year in academics and even on the playground where he picked up 4 square like a champ. We are so proud of him and all the things he accomplished this year.

Caleb is so excited to start kindergarten this fall! He has been so anxious to learn and go to school like his older sister and brother. He practiced a lot over the last 9 months and is now able to read and write and is very prepared for the demands of a kindergartener. I am going to miss my little buddy next fall, I love having him home with me. He's as silly as ever and my prediction is that he just may be the class clown. I guess I should be prepared for that!

Isaac had a great year as well. I've write a lot about what he's up to recently, and he continues to keep me busy all. the. time. He's not really sure what's going on right now with everyone home, but he loves it! I predict a little loneliness once school starts again this fall, but we're going to live it up while we can with everyone home for the summer!

Hip Hip Hooray!

Five years ago, Caleb entered our lives and it hasn't been the same since.  His bright blue eyes and contagious smile win me over more often than not, along with his happy, go-lucky personality. He's a creative genius and loves to take apart and rebuild his lego ships from scratch (good thing we keep all those instructions!). His little brother idolizes him and copies almost everything he does. He keeps us all laughing at his silly jokes and funny impersonations. He loves Star Wars and anything to do with it. Caleb learned how to ride a bike this past year without training wheels, a big accomplishment especially since he also broke his elbow while riding it last summer. He learned a new sport last year, soccer, and even scored his first goal last fall. He's looking forward to kindergarten and going to school, even though he lets me know that he's not quite ready yet. We love this kid so much. Happy Birthday, little man! We hope this year proves to be even better than the last!

Blue tongue from his treat he got in Primary

My 3 Boys

These boys are usually running around all over the place and have so much energy. Half the time I feel like I don't know what to do with them! They definitely make life exciting and not always calm around here. It was nice to capture them during some down time. As rowdy and rambunctious as they are, I'm so glad they're mine. My life wouldn't be nearly as exciting without them!

First Days

I guess I thought that after the kids started school again, I was going to have a lot of free time on my hands. I was right, the first day anyway, when I realized how much time I wasted on the computer and just doing what I wanted to do for the day. That day was short lived however. It's already been a couple of weeks since school started and I feel more busy than ever! Turns out, it's hard work to keep a preschooler and a toddler entertained when my at home entertainment isn't at home any more. Sitting on the computer, addicted to pinterest just doesn't cut it.

I still can't believe that I have a kid old enough to be in middle school. Kelsie seems to really enjoy it though, despite the crazy nerves that invaded her body and mind the few days before school started. She's been great since the first day and realized that aside from all the peer pressure and that middle school is just plain hard anyway, it isn't so bad after all. Along with a sudden interest in her hair (what's next?) she still seems to stay pretty grounded to her old self. Picture day is a really great example (in her own words):

"On our way to get our pictures taken, all the girls had to, like, stop in the bathroom to make sure they looked all perfect and everything. My teacher came up to me and said, 'Kelsie, don't you need to go to the bathroom and make sure you're all beautiful before the picture?' I said, 'I don't need to because I'm beautiful just the way I am!' Then he started laughing really hard!"

That's our girl! :)

I swear it was just yesterday that I dropped him off on his first day of Kindergarten, but Brandon seems to be enjoying 3rd grade (mostly). He's had more than a few stomach aches since school started and has gotten even more upset when I won't come pick him up early from school. That only happened once and it ended in something like,

"Mom, I really like being home, will you just homeschool me? 

No. 

Why not?

Because I don't want to."  

I finally got it out of him that he's having a hard time adjusting to his new teacher and class and even that his sister isn't at the same school as him anymore. He's doing better now and after going to back to school night, I think he will end up really enjoying this year of school, but we'll have to see what happens.

Nerves on the first day

Caleb can't get enough of his lego's and is building and rebuilding all day long. He also spends a majority of his time during the day protecting his creations from his little brother who likes to tear them apart and put those small pieces in his mouth. Caleb has gotten pretty good at the command, "out!" signaling his little brother to spit out whatever he's snuck into his mouth. Caleb has completely remastered his two wheeler again and I'm trying to convince him to move up to Brandon's old bike. Sometimes it is really hard to move out of comfort zones. I should know. I've also decided that we need to add a little more structure into his life and have been trying to figure out a schedule for him each day. So far, it's not working out so well. Hopefully soon.

See? No more training wheels

Isaac, on the other hand, is wondering what happened to everyone. I think he's liking his new freedom around the house without so many eyes on him all the time. He runs outside any chance he can if a door is left open and loves to follow Brandon and Caleb around looking for lizards or drawing on the sidewalk with Kelsie. At 15+ months now, he's all over the place and it is getting harder and harder to keep up with him. He likes to think he's just like one of the big kids and has especially enjoyed bike rides in the trailer up and down the street we live on.

Another victory catching another lizard

Don't let that sweet little face fool you. This kid is a little spit fire and demands a lot of attention when he wants something. Oh, and Sunday's? They're pretty much a joke now at church. Only three more months before nursery...

He also needs a haircut. That's got to go on my to do list ASAP. He's sporting a wavy fro right now and adds to it at each meal with whatever he's eating. I don't think I'll ever understand why it always ends up in the hair.

I often wonder how I am able to keep up with it all and still have my sanity. I've got a pretty great partner who seems to balance me out pretty good. We're constantly adjusting to little changes here and there in our lives, but we're happy. Just as it should be.

photo taken by Kelsie

 

Cast Away

After all the craziness of last week, here's a quick update on Caleb's arm.  We went to the pediatrician last week and came away with a sling and a diagnosis of a "dislocated elbow that won't pop back into place". About an hour after I left the office, the doctor called, telling me that the official report came back from the radiologist where they saw some fluid in his elbow. He recommended that I make an appointment to see an orthopedic to have it further diagnosed.  We went the next day and came out of the office in a bright red shiny cast.  The doctor saw the fluid, but didn't see a fracture, but thought it would be a good idea to play the cautious card for a week.  We went back in a week later, they cut off the cast, did some more x-ray's, and we left the office in another cast, this time blue.  She couldn't see a fracture (her best guess is that it's in one of the growth plates in his elbow, but it's so small we can't see it on the x-ray), but Caleb still wouldn't move his arm once the first cast was off and it was hurting when she did her exam.  He's now in the blue cast for two weeks then we'll go back and repeat what we've already done.  He thinks it's pretty cool and especially loves the lightning bolts that his Dad drew for him. Hopefully it will heal completely so we'll be able to move on from this and enjoy our summer!  Thanks for all the concern on his behalf!

Pobrecito

You'd never know it with his cute little smile up there, but this poor little guy ended up in the doctor's office today with a diagnosis of a dislocated elbow.  Sunday night was a beautiful night with perfect weather. We decided to take advantage of it and head outside and enjoy it. Caleb learned how to ride a two-wheeler last fall while we were still living in Illinois. Once we got his bike out again after we moved, he learned all too quickly about hills and wheels. Just as quickly, he decided he didn't like riding his bike anymore. In an effort to help him not be afraid, we decided to put the training wheels back on his bike. He was doing pretty well until he got going too fast and lost control and ended up on the pavement.

The doctor tried to pop it back in today, without much success, but with more than just a few tears.  We had a few x-rays done which concluded that there was no fracture. We left the office in a sling and with a charge to watch it and call in a couple of days if it doesn't get any better. About an hour later, I got a phone call from the doctor telling me that the official report came back from the radiologist and there is some fluid around his elbow that they are worried about.  Tomorrow we head to the orthopedic office to find out what exactly is going on. Until then, we've got a little boy who thinks his sling is magical and is making his arm feel all better.

p.s. This kid has the craziest cowlik right in the front of his forehead.  I can't figure out how to cut it without it looking like he cut it himself.  Our most recent remedy is to comb it back and give him "spikes". He thinks it is so cool. Any tips on how to cut it would be very helpful at this point!

Lego Maniac

I can't believe this February marked four years since this little guy joined our family.  I was in on again, off again labor with him for three weeks and had to be induced.  He still took his sweet time.  When he finally emerged, he was perfect.  He has brought nothing but joy and lots of laughter to our family. He learned how to spell and write his name and ride a two wheeler bike this year.  He loves to put words together and anything to do with Toy Story, Star Wars, and Legos.  He is my little shadow during the day and idolizes his big brother.  He and Kelsie share a special bond where they just "get" each other.  He also loves to make Isaac laugh and smile and is quick to "shhh!" him when he starts to cry.  He's generally a happy little guy and can easily put a smile on your face.  We're lucky to have him as part of our family! 

We decided to throw him a lego party this year to celebrate his birthday.  He woke up to "green" oatmeal for breakfast, macaroni and cheese for lunch, and pizza for dinner.  He was able to go to Lego Day at the library and tried to be really, really, patient for his party. 

I got some good ideas from different blogs and tried to make these cake pops, but mine didn't turn out quite as well.  It was fun to draw the little faces on though.  I also got a lot of great ideas from this site where I was able to print off lego paper and find fun game and decorating ideas.  Kelsie was my "assistant party planner" and helped me get everything ready.

I think it ended up being a really good day for Caleb.  He loved all his gifts, especially the legos and has fun playing with everything since. 

I'm also convinced that at least one of the kids has to rebel every time I pull out the camera.  I think they talk about it behind my back.

Even Isaac got into the party.  He had no idea what was going on and loved being part of everything.  He would give us these silly grins when he wanted more to eat (no cake for him though, he's got to wait a few more months for his birthday!).

Happy Birthday Caleb! We love you lots!

One last look at my lego cake pops - I made a couple girl ones for me and Kelsie!