Happy Mother's Day & wear your coat!

Isn't there a rule somewhere that states something about the weather no longer being able to dip under 67 degrees past April 31st...much less plummeting into the 50's!? I mean come on--this is Tennessee it should be in the high 70's by now! But it was COLD outside today, then again this IS Tennessee and the weather is completely unpredictable. So I had to breakout the long pants and jackets today, but that's ok it will be 80 something tomorrow I am sure hehehe!

So Happy Mother's Day!! I had a good ole' day--got to sleep in, til I was awoken by screaming children (playing screams) thru the baby monitor. At which point I realized I was not smelling breakfast cooking and I layed in bed for a while longer sulking that Robert had done nothing and had the kids do nothing to celebrate "my" day! Now I will say that I bought myself some clothes recently and I told him that could be for my birthday and mother's day but that the kids had to do something for mother's day LOL. So I got up ready to be "angry" and instead found 4 cards sitting on the table---3 homemade ones from the boys and a store bought one with a sweet little homemade message in it from the good ole' hubby. So good for them! We then got up and headed out for breakfast which was of course yummy! Waffle House is ALWAYS yummy LOL! After that we made a quick trip over to my grandparents house to say hi and grab the lawnmower--and of course make the kids let me take more pictures! (which I will post one or two--no worries haha). Overall we had a good day--didn't do much of anything! Works for me!

Yesterday I helped shoot pictures for a second wedding--this was my good friend Jen's wedding and it was so fun and they were all so cute and fun! I had a great time and I am so happy for her--for both of them! The wedding was "squeezed" in between Zachary's baseball in the morning and Jakeb's baseball in the evening. Zachary's doing much better! He of course said he did not want to go but had a good time once he got there. They did a practice scrimmage and at this age they don't keep score or even have outs...so basically each kid gets a turn hitting and the other team throws the ball all over the field while the batter runs the bases. Zachary hit off the tee AND when he was pitched to--and yep he RAN the bases! Once took some pushing from the coach and the next time he took off, so YAY for Zachary!! Poor kid is SO shy, but he's coming around.

Jakeb's team lost their game by 4 pts. but they did very well playing and Jakeb did great...stopped a ball hit his way, made a run in and got on base the other times he hit! They are having lots of fun with it!

Good weekend here...hope everyone else had the same!

And here's a few pics...

Here are my cards from today so sweet!

This picture CRACKS me up...the boys hopped up on the swing (as told of course LOL) and I stepped back to snap some pics and Maddie was running all around having a big ole time in the tall grass but then hopped up there by them just watching me...so I had to include her and I think it's so darn cute!The next 2 are just Zachary (obviously) he was have the best time in this grass/hay it is taller then him and today was incredibly windy so it was loads of fun LOL!

Holy Guacamole...

I will be THIRTY in TWO years!?! Wow seriously I do NOT feel like I could possibly be that old, I really feel about 20! My 10 year reunion is this summer, but I think I just graduated like 2 years ago...not TEN. I mean so incredibly much has happened in the past 10 years of my life but it feels like very little time has passed. When I think back to the last time I saw people and find myself saying that it's been 10 years ago I am blown away...really TEN years, wow. I saw someone at the mall the other day that I thought I recognized from...ten years ago but wasn't sure really...then realized it's been TEN years since I had last seen this person so I have no clue what this person would or should look like. I mean I look essentially the same (+25 lbs--darnit!) but other people of course may not. Anyway wow, I will just stay in denial I think. I AM only 20 and I am not real sure where these kids came from that call me Mommy.
Anyway yeah Happy Birthday to me...my 28th birthday was yesterday hence my nonsense rambling about age and 10 years etc etc.
My mom was so very nice and took the boys and I out for dinner at TGI Fridays and then we shopped around the mall a bit, for some much needed clothes for yours truly. Since I have gained +25lbs over the past 10 years---15+ being over the past 6 months I am in dire need of clothing. It was nice to be able to get a few things, granted I am positive it would have been nicer without a fit throwing 2 yr old, and rowdy 6 and 4 year olds in tow...but beggars can't be choosers, right? So a big ole' thank you to my ma for putting up with ME and the kids and getting me some clothes---and food!
Robert got home last night and will be home the rest of the week, he's actually talking to customers on the phone directly behind me. When he isn't traveling he's often working remotely from home, which is nice to be able to do.
Rainy Thursday here, hope everyone stays dry!

Cinco de Mayo!

About 8 years ago today would have been a wonderful excuse for some partying...but here we are now 3 kids later and I totally forgot that it was Cinco de Mayo til this afternoon LOL!

We had a really good weekend, it was really nice out both days and I of course love the springtime weather so bring it on! Robert's brother graduated from MTSU on Saturday morning so we headed to that which was as most graduations are....boring! BUT I did happen upon my friend Susan from high school, which was super cool. There are only a few peeps I am interested in keeping up with from the 'ole high school days and she is definitely one of them. We were inseperable for a bit in high school and all I remember is having great silly fun with her! So I am stoked to have run into her (actually saw her mother first). Hopefully we can catch up sometime soon.
After graduation we headed to his parents house for some BBQ and to visit with the fam which was nice to do for a bit. We didnt' get to stay too long because Jakeb had another baseball game that afternoon...another game that they WON! AND Jakeb crossed home plate TWICE and hit other players in so go Jake!! I was so excited for him! Because of the way the line up has been he has not had a chance to actually run home but they changed it up on Saturday and he was able to get home! He also was given a game ball for doing so well, which he of course was super siked about, so go Jakeb!
Sunday we just hung out really, took the boys for ice cream and enjoyed the gorgeous day.
Robert is in Chicago this week, and after being home for 2 weeks it will be a bit of an adjustment for us I am sure. We both love his job and the perks of it but we also really miss each other and I know he misses the kids like crazy as they do him. We talked about this job for a great while before he ever even applied for it and at first said no way...but money talks LOL and we changed our tune and felt that he should take it while the kids were still young and the opportunity was available. He's home a great deal really but never enough for him to do all the things he would like with them. It's a fun job for him though and that is important for sure! Sometimes I get a bit jealous that he gets to travel so much--I am all about it--which is one of the reasons I love his job because we get to travel so much more AND it's cool for him to get to :) Anyway yeah...not sure why I got on that tangent.
I am trying to get caught up on editing some pics from a wedding I helped shoot a few weekends ago as well as just random pics we have. One of the neighbors must be having some sort of shindig so I am jamming to my yahoo music thing (to help drown it out!) and working on some pics...and obviously taking a moment to blog :) Hope everyone had a fab-o weekend...enjoy the weather, it's rockin' this week!

Can we get a HAPPY BIRTHDAY?!

Happy 2nd Birthday to our Gavy Gav!!! I seriously cannot believe "our baby" is 2! He's not a baby anymore :( We all still call him a baby though so it's ok, he's so itty bitty he still seems like a baby even if he doesn't act like it. He's Mr. Independent for sure, and wants no help doing a great many tasks! He's talking up a storm lately...his latest is telling us "that way" when we are driving or saying things like "Sit. Mommy. Lap." He has his own little words for things--lala=water, gaga=Zachary, lao=lay down...I guess things he just can't quite get out. He likes to end most peoples name with -ey, like Evie=Evan, Jakey, Davey=David etc. It's so cute listening to his little voice and hearing him talk--he is talking later than Jakeb and Zachary did so it's interesting seeing how he is coming around to it. He said the other day when he saw Robert getting dressed...Daddy. Stink. Bot. which was Daddy stinky bottom had me cracking up! He is a little pistil for sure! His personality certainly does not fit with is little body. He has a mind of his own and does not hesitate to let people know what it is. He struts and marches just about everywhere he walks esp thru groups of people. He is of course still a little sport prodigy (IMO LOL) He is quite full of himself lately and it is just amazes me! He's so gosh darn sweet and cute and I really can't believe he's 2!

We had an awesome day today...first off it's Gavin's birthday so that is cool in itself! But we started off with Jakeb recieving a Star Stallion award at school. Which is awarded to students who are doing well and what not, I think it seems that she has alternated every 6 weeks with him recieving one. So that was fun! We had lunch with my mom and Gavin got a birthday ice cream sundae. BUT tonight Jakeb had a baseball game---and they FINALLY WON!!! This is their very first win after 5 or 6 losses! So this is VERY exciting for the kids...and parents!! We were stoked! AND Jakeb HIT the ball WITHOUT the tee!!! He has always done well hitting the ball and has only struck out one time but has always used the tee to hit but tonight he did so awesome and hit without the tee! We were VERy excited for him! He made it to 3rd base and the boy after him got out :( So no run but he still hit it!! So yay for him!

Gavin's Birthday Party was this past weekend. He had a fun rainy party at the park. It was decked out basketball themed and we even brought basketball goals for the kids to play on and they all seemed to have a good time with that! I wish we could have had a dry party but it turned out pretty well all things considered :) Gavin had a good time and I guess that's what matters most :) Here are some pics from his Partay...

And these 2 pics are from this past Wednesday at my grandparents house...I love this one of them! Gavin is trying to be all posey wosey cuddly with them LOL. And here is ALL the boys...Jakeb, Alex, Zachary, Gavin, and Evan....crazy kids!

Do the Humpty Hump

'tis Wednesday. Oddly enough Wednesday is my favorite day of the week, maybe it's the odd spelling or simply that it's the middle of the week and is the day that pushes over into the 2nd half of the week! OR {and a reason I haven't considered} it's the day I was born---which I might remind you that today also marks exactly one week from my birfday ;) Please refrain from any renting of party rooms or expensive gifts, I really would like to keep it simple this year.
So yeah, anyway. We had a good busy day today. This morning I picked up Hope and Evan and we headed out to grab some flowers, 2 haircuts for 2 little boys (Evan and my Zman) and then on over to my grandparents house to weed and plant flowers! My Aunt is out of town this week and my grandfather is staying at the VA while she is gone so I thought it would be fun to have a little surprise for them all when they get back. My grandmother has flower beds all around the house and yard and it's so very much for them to keep up now, so I hope it helps out some :) I know she really loved working in the flowerbeds and it's just a neat thing for me to be able to work in the same soil she did and see the things how she left them. It makes me miss her :( but at the same time makes me feel closer to her. I really hope they are happy with what we have done. The kiddo's had a good time and were worn out! We hit up Olive Garden for dinner and it was yummy as usual. We have a busy rest of the week and hopefully will be able to chill on Sunday!
Robert's brother graduates from MTSU on Saturday morning, Jakeb has a game on Friday AND Saturday. And I have a bachorlette party as well Saturday evening....so busy b we will b!

Have a great few days!

Slacker---slackerson

Well one day I will get this "posting everyday" think down pat....someday.
Things have been pretty well since Monday. The boys had school and what not and really nothing of too much excitement to blog about. Maddie girl is doing well and is currently barking at the cat behind me. We are still of course struggling with the gosh darn potty training but she is doing A LOT better...she does know to go outside but hasn't figured out that she can ONLY go outside and of course how to tell us she needs to go. She's getting bigger and a little rougher in her play so we have to help teach her to be gentle, the boys when we first got her loved to have her chase them...and I knew then that that was not a good idea because when she's big and trying to chase, right you get the idea. SO we have got to stop that habit on all fronts because she thinks anything running is something to chase, particularly little children and cats LOL. She's a sweetie though, so far no regrets!
Jakeb had a game tonight....he is doing A LOT better, still not catching or hitting far BUT is catching on in other areas. I am so proud of him for actually getting out there and playing, I really am. Now after saying that...I will add that I wish he would put some effort forth! Jakeb thinks that if he cant' do it right he's not going to try until he feels like he can...problem with that thinking is that as he gets older there are somethings he isn't going to get without practice--a bit of a catch 22, I guess. He'll get there though, I know he will. I hope our encouragment helps and he see's it as that and not nagging LOL! oh...and they lost the game :( BOO!
Jakeb didn't have school today so we headed to the zoo for the first time this year, it was really nice out today so that was a fun trip. We pulled up and about died because it was SLAMMED with field trip kids, but I think we timed it right because we never saw them past the first few exhibits. It was a nice trip :)

We ll we have a busy weekend. Gavin's 2nd Birthday party is Sunday at the park...pray for SUN!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

It's Funday Monday!

So ok we didn't really have a super Funday Monday but we or at least I feel like we had a relatively fun day. Of course my moood is quite often determined by the weather and our weather today was superb in my opinion :) We got up and going early this morning and headed over to my grandparents house to spend some time with my grandfather. I am his official "hairdresser" so I gave him a haircut and did a little bit of gardening in one of my grandmothers beds. Their house is one of my favorite places to go ever...I swear I could sit on the front porch on any given day and just chill for hours. Hot, cold doesn't matter one bit I LOVe it! And with all the spring colors out I just couldn't have been happier hanging out there today. Makes me miss my grandmother so much because I know we would be talking all about how pretty the Lilac's look this year and about what things are starting to come up in all of her flower beds! So while being there makes me very happy it also makes me very sad :( Not to sound too "cheesy" but the beauty of our day seemed to comfort me I guess because really that's what I felt while I was there today...just comfort.

Zachary and Gavin came along with me and Robert met me out there about mid morning. The boys also love it and were pretty good...til nap time and then Gavin was spent and it was time to head out!

Jakeb had baseball practice today and he's moving along...if we can get the boy to CATCh the ball he would do ok. One cool thing is they are implementing a new skill to work on and that is running the bases because our players are SLOW...so Jakeb took off and ran the bases in 18sec. Which puts him as the 3rd fastest runner on the team. The 2 fast boys are the 2 best players on the team so that was no surprise hehe, but I keep saying "at least" he can run! And it was nice to see I was right! So go Jakey Go!

And Oh.MY. Our little Gavy Gav is talking like crazy lately. He is repeating everything and telling us all kinds of things now, it's so cute! He still has got the pronouns figured out but he's getting there! He even will say his name...Gavy! He's super a wild heathen boy but man is he a cute wild heathen boy...he cracks me up!

Alrighty so here's a few snaps from today...the Lilac's are from my grandparents...I wanted to grab a few pics of them because they are SO pretty this year and much to my excitment walked up to this GORGEOUS butterfly! Lucky me!

And look at what else I found while there! That is a real nest and real birdy...isn't mama bird cute up there!? This is right under their carport.Jakeb at practice...he gets to have Daddy this week! And of course the Zman for his 365...which I thought I forgot again...but I didn't and actually took a couple of him at Pappy's but I liked this one better :) And yes he sleeps with his eyes 1/2 open LOL!

Little bit of catch up!

Haven't a chance to post...well that's a lie, I have but I am bad at managing my time--secrets out, anyway I am posting finally about Zman's very first baseball practice and our very first trip to an air show...and various events in the week. So right now that you have a summary...feel free to read on...

So yeah Zachary's ball practice last week...very cute! He has been so excited about starting, however when we met his coach a month or so ago he would not say hello and in fact hid his little self behind me. So I have been very anxious to see how he would do, his response was a little better than I anticipated so that was good! He warmed up pretty quickly :) Surprisingly to anyone who actually knows Zachary, he is VERY, VERY shy. He rarely will talk to anyone he doesn't know and even those he does know it takes him a few minutes to warm back up to them. His teachers at school always comment how quiet and serious he is...I questioned if they were talking about MY child. The very loud, very rowdy little boy I have is rarely quiet and even less serious at least around us :) So knowing all this I expected him to be hesitant...but he did good walked out with everyone (granted he did have Robert with him the whole time). The coaches had all the kids stand on home plate and then told them (very excitedly) to run to 1st, 2nd, etc all the kids took off running...except...Zachary. He started to walk, then stood there looking as though he would burst into tears. Robert grabbed his hand and tried to get him to run but all he managed was a walk, but he did go around the bases. Then they busted out the bats and let him go first...this time he did RUN the bases...holding Robert's hand, and did this several more times and finally ran the bases all by himself. So he did come out of his shell finally! So yay for him. And man oh man were those kids CUUUUTE! Zachary was of course the cutest, IMO. I am excited for him, for both of them.

This was his response when all the kids took off running for 1st.

Jakeb is coming around...we just need to work with him quite a bit more. He's afraid of the ball now soooo that makes things a little tricky for him. But he will get there, after-all he IS only 6 and never been one for sports.

Now Gavin as posted previously is ALL about it. He again tonight wowed us all with his mad skills on the field. Jakeb's coach even pitched one to him for him to hit (which he did) and then ran the bases with him (which was adorable), after which he had a coughing fit. Poor kid! He's sick this week and his asthma is flared up like crazy. Zachary also got in on the action and hit several pitched to him and even ran the bases. We are having fun with baseball this year!

Now for the Air show :) We hit that up this past Sunday...yes the Sunday in which it barely got over 40 degrees. It was a complete last minute decision, I knew I wanted to go but knew Saturday was out because of other plans. So we rushed up there Sunday, the show was very cool but it was also very cold. So we had a nice time but hopefully next time we go we can enjoy it a lot more. It was just SO cold! Anyway here are a few pics from the show...We had Caroline with us for it as well. Her and Zachary are so nuts about each other it's well...nuts.

Gavin the Allstar

Seriously I think the kid is a natural athlete...I hope his uh pint sizeness isn't an issue when he's not quite so pint sized!
He had me in tears today at Jakeb's practice. First off the poor baby (who I am realizing is fast approaching "little boy" status but that's for another post!) has a cold which has resulted in his asthma acting up and a ear infection...all of which are now being treated. So we are at practice and he's tossing his baseball at anyone who will play with him and has his little glove on...the right hand I might add, all be it backward a few times. He was impressing him with his skills with just that but then the stinker picks up the bat...the bat which he barely can get up on his shoulder. But with all that determination he has he manages and starts swing it at the ball. Then he walks up to the team's tee (which they weren't using at that time) pops his ball up on the tee and whacks it (about 1 ft hehe) and THEN he drops his bat and takes off running. I about died! He took off and circled back around to the tee, we all cracked up and decided he needs a jersey. He just loves all of it, he was so very serious about it too. It was classic.
We hit up the air show this past weekend in Smyrna...it was very cool both the show AND the weather. I will throw some pics up in a day or two from it. Zachary also had his first ball practice on Saturday but I want to wait and post about that after I am ready to load up the pics...so really I am ending it now! I just HAD to post about Gavin tonight...I feel like I haven't had much to say about my little baby boy :)

365ish

So I posted a while back that I have been wanting to do a "365 Project/Project 365". I wasn't sure when I wanted to start this OR what I wanted to do...I didn't want to be my own subject well because, yeah the same reason most people wouldn't want to take a picture of themself everday for a year. So then I started thinking of other subjects, I wanted it to be something I am passionate about, something really love...I thought of all kinds of things, trees, outdoors, sunshiney days, music, friends, etc etc but nothing that would really change...so of course my mind came back to the kids. I really wanted to do something more reflective of myself however, at this time in my life they are my life. So all signs began to point to el bambino's...now just had to figure out how I wanted to tackle it. Do one of the 3 of them together...uh no thank you. Pick one kid...that didn't seem fair. So long story...long...my plan is starting with each ones birthday to start with that child. So Zachary's 365 project started on his 4th Birthday (February 12th), Jakeb's began on his 6th (March 20th), and Gavin's will start on his 2nd (May 2nd) and each one will end...you guessed it exactly 1 year later. Which in Zachary's case in theory would be 366 days because of the leap year. Now the catch is that I have already forgotten about 3-5 days for Zachary and 1 day for Jakeb. So so much for that, but darnit I won't give up just because I left out a day or ten! I think it will be a neat collection of photos to put in an album from day 1-day 365. There will be a great many of them sleeping because I several times already have gone "Oh crap!" and run in there and snagged a photo of a sleeping 4 or 6 year old. It also helps me keep my camera in hand and hopefully will get some "creativity" running around a bit more. We'll see!

Anyway my point of all this was to share the photos I snapped of Jakeb and Zachary today...not sure which I will use just yet but they were WILD this afternoon. They kept sliding down the slid on their tummy's riding on each other's backs or pulling the other down by of course nothing other than their pant legs. Which of course resulted in Jakeb in his skivvy's and them cracking up about it...like it was a complete accident that they didnt' see coming haha. I was watching them and pretty quickly knew where their game was going to end. LOL

Anyway on with the photos..and surprisingly I have more of Jakeb from today...but I will toss in one or 2 of the Zman posing his star wars men and himself yesterday.

A hot faced Z.
Total cheeseball here but a dagum cute one!More for real smiles here...gotta fix the pink pj pant in the corner...hahaAnd of course can't leave of the G-baby...attempting to blow bubbles today.Also today, ubber shallow DOF so I missed the focus on his eyes... but this photo is CUUTTTE!

Take me out to the Ballgame...

We had our very first baseball game tonight! Jakeb our little leaguer has started baseball/teeball this year and his team--The Marlins--had their very first game tonight! Man was it exciting! It really was, those kids were so darn cute and just had no clue what to do at all, they all were so nervous but man did they look cute out there! They didn't know which way to throw or if they should run or go or what to do--they lost 18 to 6, but at this age who really cares. All that matters is that they had fun and I think for the most part they did. Many of us parents ended up pacing the fence row wishing we could run out there and tell them what to do, but I guess there are rules against that so instead we had to sit back and watch our wee ones try to figure out what the heck to do. I think Jakeb really hoped the ball came no were near him--kinda like when the teacher starts calling on people and you slide down in your seat trying to hide--he just went on digging in the dirt pretending he didn't see it. He made it all the way to 3rd base and 3/4ths of the way home but another kid got out so no run in for him. He did-and this is big for him-manage to stop a ball hit his way. It was a grounder and poor baby didn't know what in the world to do with it once he got it...he looked so confused and turned to look at us instead of his coach. With about 10 people telling him to throw it but he didn't know which kid to throw it to, he didn't throw it (which was probably the best thing!) but I was so proud of him for stopping it! So yay for Jakey boy! Can't believe we are this point already--baseball. So cool. Here are a few pics of him today!

All the boys before the game...aren't they cute!?Jakeb showing one of the coaches where we were...he's left field..First swing on the tee...Nervously standing on 2nd base after his hitAnd all the kids after the game...Jakeb is the 2nd one from the coach in the white shirt--he has on the hat. And because she's cute...Maddie Girl...who thinks she belongs on the couch already..tsk, tsk!

I hate Cancer

Blogging mid-day shocking I know but I just have to post about this poor sweet little boy whose story I have been religiously following for many many months now. It's of Ethan Powell who was diagnosed with cancer at 2 months old (in late 2006) he has since been at St. Jude Children's hospital with his parents fighting. This morning however he passed away :(. I am so heartbroken for this family and every family out there fighting these battles. I can't stand it, I can't stand that we can't find a cure for this....and even more importantly WHY is it happening. WHY are all these children, adults, babies...getting Cancer. It terrifies me! Anyway check out Ethan's blog his parents have diliginatly kept updated. ALso check out the many friends listed and their stories. It's just heart wrenching and makes me want to help in this crusade. Something I wouldn't know about had I not kept up and read these sites. No matter how sad they make me feel it helps me see the struggles of other people instead of pretending they aren't there, it helps me want to help them. ANyway take a moment and say a prayer for Ethan and his family, I know they are devasted, absolutely devasted.

A few favs from our trip

I finally have managed to get thru some of the pics from our trip to SC. I have them loaded to our website for anyone that is interested to see 150+ pictures. In my defense that is for family and is the entire month of March...well at least the ones I chose to load :) Anyway for those of you who don't have the time, energy, or cares to look thru that many photos of my boring...but cute little fam here are a few of my favs so far that I snagged.... the above picture is just well funny...if you notice Zachary is crying, Gavin is crying, and Jakeb has his head in his hands--the work of a big brother is so stressful! LOL

My Uncle Fred trying to show the boys how to catch a ball..

The picture below is of Gavin at the Zoo in Columbia..

This one is of Jakeb at Waterfront Park in CharlestonZachary at Waterfront ParkZachary on the boat on the way over to Fort Sumter...his expression cracks me up!This one is Jakeb on the top of Fort Sumter..annoyed and ready to goZachary on Fort Sumter Both on Sumter again...striking a pose...or responding to hey look as I snapped LOLMr. Attitude walking to the car one morningAnd a cold unhappy Gavin at the Beach. It was windy and sandy (of course) and he wasn't happy about either. So there you have it....a few of my favs...notice there is nearly none of Gavin well if you have read previous posts you will remember I said he was not happy camper much of the trip...be it 2 year old-ness or just out of sorts I am not sure but that left me with very few shots of him. Jakeb on the contrary was quite the ham and Zachary always is!