Getting Ready for Preschool:

Both Brighton and Maverick will be starting preschool after Labor Day.  

I'm hoping that will mean that my days will start to get a little easier (at least some of them!)

Brighton will be starting his last year of Preschool.  I can't believe it!  I know he will enjoy it as he loves learning and playing with other kids.  He will have one of the same teachers that Chandler had.  I know it's going to be a great year for him.

Maverick will be going to a Mother's Morning Out program like he did last year.  This year he will attend two days.  His beloved teacher, Miss Beth (pictured below) will hopefully be there on Fridays.

It's a little inconvenient that they go to different schools, but that's how it happened to work out.

Phew...now I'm finally caught up!  Hopefully with preschool starting soon I can start to get back to some sense of normal and a routine.  I will enjoy that.  I will miss my boys, but it will be nice to get sometime to get some projects done that have been on the "to-do" list for quite awhile now.  I'm sad to say goodbye to summer, but fall will be a welcome break.

Family Pool Time!

We love our pool!  We actually don't get in it as much as I know we'd all like to, but it's quite the production with this big crew!

I cannot have the boys in the pool by myself unless Jamison is napping.  It's just too much for me to handle.  Sometimes we'll plan a morning swim when I know Jamison is napping, but in the afternoons when Dad is home or on the weekends, we love to take a dip.

Jamison on the big float:

 Brighton loves his puddle jumpers that were a hand-me-down from a friend:

 Chandler is a better swimmer this year, but we really need to work on stroke improvement with him.  It's just hard to find the time.  

Maverick's favorite thing to do is sit on the steps and squirt everybody with the shark:

 Not sure how well you can see the dragonfly on Derek's finger, but he's there.  The dragonflies are always over our pool and pond during the summer and will land on your fingertips if you are still.  The boys think this is so cool and so do I.

We've had several friends over for swimming playdates this summer, but I've hardly taken any pictures.  It's just too hard when I've got so many little ones to watch.  I can't wait till next summer when hopefully I will have three swimmers :)

First Grade!

 Wow!  We have a first grader!  Actually, school started 3 weeks ago, but I'm very behind...playing catch up today, if you can't tell.

Here's Chandler ready to go on his first day!

 Mom, Dad, and all the brothers walked him in to school.  It felt like (and probably looked like) a parade.  

Here is Chandler with his lead teacher, Ms. Carroll.  She is a 22-year teaching veteran, so she definitely is experienced.  I was a little worried, not knowing her before-hand, but so far she seems to be a good match for Chandler, and for our family.  She only gives one assignment a week that takes about 10 minutes, so I'm good with that.  I want my kids to be kids and I certainly don't need to repeat school and homework myself.  I have enough to keep me busy, thank you!

Here's to a good year for 1st Grade!

I-Phone Dump...

So here's a few pictures to sum up the last few weeks:

Grandma came over for a swim:

We've enjoyed walking around Lake Lynn:

(notice that Maverick is actually in Jamison's car seat....he was tired of walking and we

didn't feel like moving Jamison)

Jamison is learning to sit up (at not quite 5 months!):

Bros:

L&S with Zachary

A few weeks ago we headed over to the L&S Museum after dropping Chandler off to school to meet up with one of our friends, Zachary.  

 Here we are on the dino (with random boy in yellow shirt)

By far, our favorite thing that day was "Into the Mist"

What a great way to cool down on a hot day!

The only problem is that Maverick tends to fall down on the wet hills and ends up looking

like a drowned, muddy rat afterwards.  Oh well.  They had fun!

Look Who's in Undies!

Yes, Maverick has made the switch to undies!  He is doing quite well, and he's actually the first one we haven't rewarded with candy, stickers, or anything really (other than lots of praise!).

Maybe that was the trick because he will HOLD it.  Seriously, this boy only goes about 3x per day whereas the others would go pee two drops to earn their M&M.  

Here's Maverick modeling some new undies>

Love that tiny hiney!

 The night before we made the switch, I took him to Target to pick some out.  I left all the other brothers at home and he got to go shopping with me solo.  It was only 20 minutes, but he felt so special and was so happy to go by himself.  He would have picked every package of underwear they had if I would have let him.  

Yes, that's what you think it is...his first poop where he came and told me he needed to go.

Normally I don't photograph this, but look at his face and how proud he is.

Way to go Maverick!  You're on your way to being a big boy!

9 Amazing Years...

You get to be treated to a guest poster today!  Today is a special day, and just wanted everyone to know my thoughts on our ninth wedding anniversary....

Pictured above, my amazing wife...

Lindsay,

You are absolutely amazing!  You make everything worthwhile.  The attention and organization you provide for our family continues to stun me day in and day out.  You have blessed me with 4 beautiful boys.  That task alone is truly amazing.  Our days are never easy and we are often very tired and grumpy, but your laser focus on the health and well-being of me and my boys always shines.  I am truly thankful for everything you do!  On top of all of that, you are truly a beautiful woman!

I think I'm starting to understand the age old statement about love growing stronger and stronger as time goes on.  When we were first married, I couldn't imagine loving you any more than I did at that time.  Man, was I wrong.  My love for you continues to grow even more solid every day.  

I want you to know that you are loved so much, and I cannot get through my days without being with you.   I so look forward to what the future holds for us, for the family that you have so carefully and lovingly nurtured.

I love you!

Derek

4 Month Stats

Jamison is 4 months old!

Weight: 15 lbs 11 oz (50%)

Height: 25.5" (70%)

Head: 44.5 cm (98%)

Well, at least his head is on the charts this time!  He's actually in-between the weights of Chandler & Brighton (who followed the same growth curve) and weighed about 17 lbs at this point and Maverick who was 14 lbs.  I was reading over blog posts to compare and Jamison sleeps about as well as Brighton and Maverick did at this age, so I guess you forget.  I just want my sleep back :)

Jamison takes three naps a day and they are almost like clockwork.  He still naps in the morning, afternoon, and dinnertime (probably my favorite nap) although I like my quiet-time in the afternoons too.  Once Chandler starts school we'll see how this all gets messed up with the extra car trips here and there.

I've had to get over Jamison sleeping on his stomach because that's just what he's going to do, like it or not.  The pediatrician said it's fine and actually prefers the use of a bumper in the crib to contain legs...etc...

As shown in the picture, he is always putting something in his mouth.  Maybe teeth are coming soon!  He is generally a happy baby and loves for you to talk to him, show him toys, read to him, and go outside on a walk.

Speaking of...he's waking now, so until 5 months...

Mom, Wife, Oh...and I'm Lindsay too.

Looking back through old pictures today.

Wow!  So much has changed in the 8 years since this picture:

Here Derek and I celebrating our first anniversary.  How young and naive we were.  

Too bad we hadn't heard of Dave Ramsey, or taken his class yet.  We would probably be in a better position (financially) than we are today.  Not saying where we are is that bad, but it could be better.  Certainly wouldn't have racked up credit card debt like we did.  Thankfully we have taken the class, and are on our way to being debt free.

Here's our class pic taken less than two weeks after Jamison was born.  We started the class with debt on four credit cards and I'm happy to report we have paid off all but one and closed the accounts.  We had bits and pieces of a financial plan in place and were doing some saving, but now we are truly living by our budget and that makes me happy.  Not to say that I wish we didn't have to budget, but that's the way things are right now, and with four growing boys will be that way for many years to come.  

Back to the title of my post.  As a mom, I know that I need to put things in this order:

1. God

2. Me

3. Husband

4. Kids

Unfortunately, shortly after this picture was taken in 2006...things changed!

Our 1st Ultrasound ever.

 Fast forward to now.  2013.  Four kids later.

Wow!  Things are hard for me.

I think my order right now is 

1. Kids

2. Husband

3. God

4. Me

Way out of whack!  Hopefully soon they will get back into the right order, but for now, I'm in survival mode.  Everybody needs me, seemingly endlessly, all the time.  I'm doing my best juggling all these "balls" in the air, but sometimes I drop them and things fall apart.  Like when Derek was gone for 8 days to Brazil, and I got sick, and it took almost two weeks to recover.  I'm just so worn-out.  I need a me break.  Unfortunately, many things have to happen for that to occur.  Like Jamison taking a bottle.  

Like I always tell myself...things will get easier and better.  For me, the first year (after having a baby) is the hardest.  The sleep deprivation, crying, nursing, and nap-schedules wear me out!  Thank goodness babies are so stinking cute because otherwise...well, I dunno.

So this is what I really need to work on for now.  I need to find peace with living in the present.  

It begins with me.