Happy Anniversary to Me

A year ago, I started this blog. Not sure how it would all turn out. Yes, it has become a minor addiction. Okay, a moderate addiction. But I love it...and it is free (in the money sense of the word). And I like being able to look back at events over the past year, reading about my family, especially the kids. I've discovered a creative outlet for writing that has lead to one article being published...not bad for a stay-at-home-mom with four kids.

Anyway...there's not much else to say, except, "Happy Anniversary to Me!" I only get to celebrate here...no cake or candles, but really hope I get to keep going.

The Big Ten

Joshua is officially ten years old today. Wow. Double digits. Just 3 years shy of the "teens." Turning 10 was bad enough, but I literally shudder when I think about our oldest child reaching this milestone.

June 27 also happens to be our wedding anniversary. Yes, Joshua was our one-year-anniversary present to each other. He wasn't due until June 30, but thank God he came early...he weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and let me tell you...it was a feat to get him out (and that's all I'm going to say about that).

This morning, Joshua bounded into our room, and wanted to open his presents. It was 6:45 AM. Of course, like any good parents, we told him "no," but he could turn on the TV until everyone else got up. We're great that way ;-).

When he finally was able to tear open his gifts, he loved the new slip-n-slide, and 2 mega-sized water guns. David figured you had to have two for a proper water gun fight. Good thinking Dad!

The last thing we gave him was an official looking certificate (made on the computer), good towards a brand-new-bicycle. He's outgrown his old one...no thanks to him growing nearly 2 inches this year already....geez.

Later on in the morning, we all went to Main Event. Joshua had one friend who was able to come, Andrew, and the boys had a good time.

After some bowling...

laser tag, and arcade games...

we had pizza, and then went back home for cake. While I frantically frosted cake, the boys tried out the new water guns in the back yard, and declared them to be "pretty cool."

Joshua had requested a chocolate cake, but it had to be rectangular or square, with blue frosting. Hmm...okay, no problem. One square blue birthday cake, coming up!

Oh, and it had to have Bakugan: New Vestroia pictures on it. (Please don't make me explain, you'll just have to google it).

I am glad Joshua was able to have a friend over today...he still doesn't socialize very well, but he and Andrew seem to get along all right.

After cake, David and Joshua took Andrew home, and then went back out to spend Joshua's birthday money. Ahh...the joys of being a kid with birthday money!

(Last year, we had a big party for our 10th anniversary. We didn't want to do anything grand this year of course, but David had heard about this restaurant downtown, and made reservations for us. We had a really lovely meal...it's so awesome to have dinner, just the two of us :-).

Happy Birthday Joshua, we love you! (Hey...we forgot about those 10 birthday spankings!).

More Pictures

In case you haven't seen them all yet, here are more pics from our photo session last weekend. It was a race to get to the portrait studio at 4PM, but it was worth it. Last time we all sat together, I was pregnant with Gabriel, so I felt it was about time we took some nice photos. (Don't forget to turn off my playlist to hear the music that accompanies the pics).

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Latest and Greatest

I haven't posted anything about the kids in a while...so I thought I'd let you all know what they're up to.

Joshua finished third grade with the best grades he's ever had. We will truly miss his teacher, Ms. M...she was phenomenal. She heaped positive praise on Joshua, and pushed him just enough to help him work harder than ever...but without making him frustrated. Our oldest son, shy to the bone, quiet as a mouse, and tucked away in a world of his own finally emerged from his shell this past year. He became a voracious reader, memorized his multiplication tables with NO help from us, and even made friends with another boy in his class.

We put him on the neighborhood swim team this spring, and he is loving it...although he says he doesn't want to do it next year. But what else am I supposed to do with a hyper, ADHD kid who's as skinny as a rail? He came second in the breaststroke at yesterday's swim meet, and finally didn't get disqualified either!

I'm just in disbelief Joshua will be TEN in 2 weeks. I mean...that's double digits! That means I'm getting old...and he really isn't a little boy anymore. Sigh...and I just love the sprinkling of freckles he has across his cheeks and nose. He might be gangly, but he is an awesome kid.

Rebecca cannot seem to stop writing, drawing, coloring (not always on paper), but she is definitely our creative gem. She is always showing me something she drew or a poem she's written. I really don't know where she gets it from...because I am not an artist at all...I can't even draw a stick figure. I can always count on her to read or play with Gabriel if I'm trying to get dinner on the table. Rebecca has also shown a desire to cook more and more...I hope the summer gives us more opportunity to be in the kitchen together.

Although Rebecca is a non-stop talker (and yes...I know...she got it from me...I admit it), and it wasn't always a good thing at school...she truly understands what it means to be like Christ to others...being kind, considerate, obedient, and not be afraid to stand up for herself if necessary. Even when she gets mad or disagrees with me, she will stop, check herself, and say, "Okay Mommy...", and then go do whatever I asked her to do (not every time...but she shows amazing self-control). Of course, sometimes she loses it too...especially if she's tired. And we have been more tired lately, since she is also on swim team...and by Saturday night she is a mess.

We have had countless conversations, just her and I...and sometimes it still amazes me that she can comprehend the world the way she does. I wish I could hide her away and preserve her innocence for just a little bit longer.

Christina finished up her last year of preschool in May...and cannot wait to start kindergarten this fall and ride the bus with her brother and sister. Turning 5 means everything to her...she is always saying, "Mommy, when I'm 5, I can..." She's already asked me if she can have new clothes, new shoes, and a new backpack for her birthday too. Now, she's not a fashionista by any means...so her request made me laugh and laugh. I believe she is a rather quirky little girl...she always has her head tilted to the side...and you can tell she's always thinking.

I think Gabriel will really miss her this fall, because this past year, she has been the best playmate to him...they practically never fight. Sometimes, they will disappear upstairs, and I won't hear hardly a thing for an hour or more. She always comes running if he gets hurts, wants a drink or snack, and willingly shares almost everything with him...even a piece of candy.

My only worry about our sweet Christina is that she is still not fully potty-trained...with #2. I am praying she will get her act together by this fall, and realize having an accident in kindergarten is not the cool thing in school. I'm praying...because we have done all we can to get her ready.

Gabriel is just as sweet as ever. He is a typical two-year-old, always laughing, smiling, and eating! I constantly have to make sure the fridge, freezer, and pantry are locked down, because that child thinks everything is free for the taking :-). Well...I guess it is...but he thinks ice cream is okay for breakfast, and we all know it's not, right?

Unfortunately he has become a bit of a runaway...notorious for taking off the second he is free from Mommy's grip. When I got bronchitis and pulled a muscle in my side, running after him at top speed wasn't so funny or cute anymore...it hurt! So I bought a cute toddler harness about 3 weeks ago...and I wish I had bought it 3 months ago. I feel so much better knowing he can only get about 4 feet away, instead of 3/4 of the way down the street!

Ironically enough, even though he is our little runaway, Gabriel has also become quite cuddly...he is constantly carrying around his blankie and wants to crawl into my lap (sometimes he's so tight against me, I think he's trying to get back into the womb) and just snuggle. I'm glad he still loves to be held so much...because I am not not quite believing he is nearly 2 1/2, and technically not a "baby" anymore. I am happy to hold him whenever he wants :-).

Our little angel is not crazy about baths, so I was a bit nervous about our first outing to the pool a few weeks ago. Well, wouldn't you know it... Gabriel LOVED it. He splashed around in the baby pool to his heart's content and developed the most gorgeous tan...especially noticeable when I changed his diaper ;-). He is also very camera shy, and puts up a fuss whenever I try to take his picture. Of course, we went and got family pictures taken today...and he just plopped down, did whatever the photographer asked him to, and smiled like a ham!

Speaking of diapers, Gabriel showed NO interest whatsoever in the potty, but yesterday and today, David pulled out the little potty chair, and Gabriel has used it successfully 3 times! Wow...and I wasn't even thinking about starting any training until this fall. I sure hope this kids trains himself...it took 9 months to fully potty train Rebecca, and we're STILL working on Christina. Please God, please be kind!

Well, that's about it...we are enjoying our summer...time off from school, plenty of fun at the pool, and having fun with the kiddos. Coming up, we have a family reunion, another reunion with David's college housemates, a convention in San Antonio, a trip to Dallas to see family, VBS, 2 science camps, choir camp...and somewhere in between, squeeze in a trip to the children's museum, the beach, the new cathedral, a baseball game, the water park, and lunch at Daddy's new office...whew! Is it just me, or is our summer sounding as busy as the school year?

That's all for now folks! Tune in about 3 months from now, and I'll try to have another update about the family.

The Pill Kills

I realize many people who read my blog already know this; taking the birth control pill and other contraceptives greatly increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancer. If you want a good resource about how to spread this message, this website is well organized and very informative:

http://thepillkills.com/

As women, we have a right to know EXACTLY what the side effects of birth control pills are...and none of them are good.

We've Been Invaded...

The past 2 weeks have been insane...end-of-the-school year activities, swim team practice, 2 picnics, service project for the kids, awards assemblies, and baking a TON of goodies for the bake sale our mom's group holds every year in the spring.

But nothing prepared me for the invasion I faced today in my back yard.

To see what has now taken over my life, click here.

Not Exactly My Angel Today

This is what happens when I forget to lock the refrigerator...

Thank goodness he'd only broken one egg...it didn't even get on his blankie!