Time to Catch My Breath

 Holy Cow, life has gotten crazy busy around our household.  Some days it is hard to catch my breath as my head is spinning out of control.  There are a lot of demands that need to be met every day around here and I just had to tighten my seat belt a little more for this crazy ride. 

Fall is always a time for adjustment to a new school year, new work schedules, and of course this year a new addition to the family.  Honestly, I can say that Gracie Mae is sure like a new baby and it some ways even harder.  So far I have lost a coffee table and an ottoman to her tiny but sharp little teeth.  She is growing at a rampant pace and after her last vet visit, they predict she will be about 80 lbs..  She is going to be a big pup. 

I do enjoy her and all the joy she brings to all of us.  It is fun to watch Grandpa Al and Jon with her.  She LOVES them and they LOVE her.  They cannot wait until she can go hunting with them next fall, (Secretly, I cannot wait either...but shhhhh don't tell anyone!)

On top of getting adjusted to a new puppy in our house, the kids have all been having a great time at school but this has been an adjustment as well.  I had not clue that when we decided to put them in three separate classes for 1st grade, how crazy it would be with three sets of homework coming home every night. 

It is hard to keep it all straight but so far, I think Jon and I are doing a good job. E's teacher told me the other night at conferences that she has no idea how we do but Jon and I are really doing a great job with the kids.  It felt good to hear that because on days when my head is spinning from such crazy schedules, it is hard to see the big picture.

I do realize though and often what gets me through all these crazy times is that someday in the not so distant future, I will look back on these crazy days and truly miss them.  Life is going by so fast that it feels like we just went from FF x2 to FF x8.  Every year seems to go by faster than the past year. 

Today the kiddos did not have school so I tool K and A to the Children's Museum and E had a date with Grandma Mary.  We all had a great time and it was fun to slow life down a little and have some fun together.  Looking forward to a couple of fun days ahead just relaxing and hanging out with the kiddos and Gracie Mae. 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Girls and Their Dolls

Wordless Wednesday ~ Like Father, Like Son

Soccer Games, Birthday Parties, and Play Dates

This is what our day consisted of yesterday.  Can we just say busy busy busy!  We started out with Soccer all morning.  The girls and K both had games so that took up our Saturday morning.  Gracie was lucky enough to attend K's game with us but we brought her home before the girls game as she was wore out.

After Soccer, the girls came home to get dressed up for their Birthday party at the American Girl store.  They were so excited and wanted to dress up just like their dolls.  They loved it.

K had a play date with one of his favorite new friends from school.  they had a busy day playing football, board games, wrestling, and break dancing.  It was a full day for the boys.

Tonight as I tucked in all the kids, we talked about their day and how much fun we all had.  The weather has been great, the leaves are changing, and it is just awesome outside. Thank you God for being so good to us today.

Walk A Thon 2011

This past Friday at the kids school, they did a walk a thon for their fall fundraiser.  The parents were invited to join their kids and walk along with them.

Friday Grandma Mary and I, headed over to the school to join the 1st graders in their Walk a Thon.  It was a blast.  We had a ton of fun walking and talking with the kids and the parents.

This was the first annual Walk A Thon Fundraiser for the school and it replaced the Gift Wrap and Pizza sales.

It was a HUGE success.  The fundraising goal was $15K and they raised over that. 

What a fun and successful event to be a part of.  The money raised is going to go to support the additional computer equipment, along with some playground equipment for the school. 

So happy the event was a success and we are looking forward to partaking in the 2nd annual event next year. 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Sister and Brother Love

Gracie- A Chore Luv'in Pup

Gracie has been very helpful around the house lately.  She loves to help me with the dishes, finding and testing out the cat toys, keeping the floor clean, retrieving (shredding) the morning paper, finding all of the kids shoes and hats that are left out, helping the kids with their homework, and her all time favorite chore is to help with cleaning up the cat dishes (eating the left overs) so they are clean for the next cat feeding.  See below for some pictures of our helpful, chore loving puppy!

Yup this cat toy is tested and approved for the cats.

A great listener to beginner readers.

Hmmm...where did all the food go?

Daddy will be so proud I got his paper for him!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Fantasy Football Shop Talk

Our Seperate Ways

Yesterday, after we spent the morning at church and then doing our home school lesson for the Kids religious education, we all went our separate ways (well almost).  Jon dropped K and A off at Uncle T's to watch some football, he dropped Gracie off at Grandma and Grandpa's for some extra love and attention and Ella and I wet on our errands and hung out together.  A eventually got sick of watching football so she ended up at Grandma's house too.  It was great for each of the kids to have their own "dates" with family members.  I know K had a great time watching football with Uncle T.  They love to spend time together and play their own game during half time and before and after watching the game.  A had fun with Grandma as she loves to have Grandma Mary all to herself.  As for Ella and I, we really bonded and I am so impressed with what a sweet and polite girl I have.  I bought Ella some new clothes while we were out.  As we left the store and we headed to our next destination, she squeezed my hand and said "Thank you mommy  for buying me those treats"  This warmed my heart so much as it was one of those moments where I knew Jon and I are doing "something right" with our kids.  I think as a parent you just never know but this was an ahh haa moment for me.  We truly had a great afternoon together.  Next up is A's turn to have some mommy time.  I can't wait. 

Just a side note, Jon had to work yesterday so he missed all the fun.  Big thanks to Grandma Mary, Grandpa Al, and Uncle T for helping to make our individual dates happen if it weren't for all of you, we would not get the opportunity for those special dates that are so important.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Gracie Mae

Picture Day At School

Today was picture day at school.  Sadly, I had to leave the house before the kids were up this morning for work and so that left Jon in charge of getting the kids ready.  The girls wanted to wear their hair curly for pictures so we had to give Jon a lesson on how to use the curling iron.  I got the report tonight that daddy did a great job.  Jon told me that E was encouraging him the whole time.  She would tell him "nice job daddy, keep up the good work"!  So cute.  It is nice to be married to a guy that is not afraid to take on two little (slightly becoming high maintenance) girls and a boy who does NOT like to wear "church" shirts to school.

It sounds like Jon did a great job and from the pictures he took before school, the kids looked awesome too for their 1st grade pictures. 

The Corn Maze

 This past Sunday, we decided it would be fun to check out a local Corn Maze.  We found tickets from Groupon that were half off the admission so it worked out perfect.

It was a nice Sunday afternoon of the five of us hanging out together and making memories.  We spent a long time in the corn maze finding all of the letters of the alphabet.  We learned all about space and the kids worked on their map skills.  Also, at this corn maze they had live animals, pig races, air pillows, and the most favorite and unusual thing to the kids was the ginormis bin of corn that they could play in.  Kendrick let us bury him in the corn.

Oh and just so it is documented.  E threw Jon into the corn pit with her.  She worked and worked and worked at it and finally got him to fall in. 
Jon and I have vowed to do more things together as a family.  This was a great kick off to that idea.  We all really had a great time together and have vowed that we will go back again next year for more fun.

Wordless Wednesday ~ The Corn Kids

Week full of Excitement

Wow!  It has been a crazy week for all of us.  The kids started 1st grade on Tuesday and they are all in their own separate class from each other this year.  They LOVE it!  I knew we made the right decision about splitting them up when they came home from school the first day and they all fought over who could tell the next story at the dinner table.  It was awesome.  Jon and I have our work cut out for us since all of the teachers are very different in their rules and processes but I am sure we are off to a good start and the kids are so happy.
This past weekend we had crazy times with a church festival, soccer for all three, a fun neighborhood party, church, and Birthday parties this evening for Jane and Uncle T.  WOW!  Now I am sitting at my computer trying to catch my breath.
It was a fun fun fun weekend and great to see all the kids thriving so well at school and activities.  They are all doing awesome at soccer and they each scored a goal on Saturday.  They were all pretty excited about that.

Now its time to hunker down for a crazy busy week.  We are lucky this week because we have Grandma Carol and Grandpa Ronnie coming for a visit.  They can't wait to meet Miss Gracie Mae!  Oh and speaking of that cute lil thing, she gained over two pounds in a week and I swear we are watching her grow during the day.  She is doing well and so far we have only had 3 accidents in the house.  Not bad for a week and a few days.  I will post some more pics soon but I especially love the one below of Gracie playing with the cat toy.  Let's just say Toby and Dexter are not Impressed! 

Wordless Wednesday ~ 1st Day of 1st Grade

Puppy Love

This weekend we dedicated to bringing home our new puppy.  Her name is Gracie and she is so cute.  We have bonded, Gracie and I.  To my surprise, Gracie has chosen me as her "safety" person.  I can't believe it as I was the last one on board to adopt her, I do not know much about dogs in general and well to be honest, I was just down right scared.  She loves me and I have to admit, I love her.

She has really warmed up to us and seems to be making herself right at home.  She is in the "teething" mode and well she is biting everything and everyone right now.  The kids have all shed a few tears but we are trying to train her not to do that right now.

Gracie is very smart as she really seems to be "getting" it most of the time.  We owe a lot to the Jones family as they did a tremendous job with all of the puppies.  Gracie is almost potty trained.  She had an accident in the house today but that was because I did not let her out right away when she was whining at the door.

I am amazed at how quickly she can pick things up.  Jon is already starting to train her on some stuff and he is so good with her.  He has always wanted a dog and he is such a natural with her that I can see why.
The kids are all a little different with her right now.

E is thrilled about her and cannot get enough.  When we were at the fair on Sunday, Grandma Mary was dog sitting for us and E asked every 15 minutes if it was time to go home because she missed her.  A likes Gracie but at this point, is not all thrilled about the "teething" part.  K likes her and wants her to chase him but she is still a little young for that.  He does not like how she bites at him either but Jon promised him that in no time Gracie will love to play fetch, K is anxiously awaiting that day.
Toby and Dexter our two senior cats are not impressed but so far they seem to be handling our new addition well. 

Toby and Gracie had a stare down today and Toby won as Gracie decided to go back to her "Safety Zone" after that happened.

I feel bad for the cats as this will be something that is not going to be easy to get used too.  Toby has been snuggling at night with me and so has Dexter so they are both getting good attention. 

Gracie chose us to come and live with and we could not be more thrilled about it.  I realize that she will bring more work to our daily schedule but I know that we are all crazy about her and that she will soon be, if not already, all of our best friend.