spring in January

We had the most beautiful weather today. It got up to 73 and you'd better believe that we made the most of this beautiful Saturday! I used to hate how inconsistent Oklahoma weather is, but now I love the variety our weather provides, especially when the nice days fall on the weekend. It was so nice for the boys to be able to put on shorts and spend the entire afternoon outdoors (Connor goes out every day regardless of the weather, but Coby and Cale absolutely refuse to go out on cold days).

Coby and Cale had fun riding the truck together and then they played "Driver" where one is a police officer and one is a bad guy. They chase each other around in the tractor and truck. They had a blast!

Connor played basketball ALL afternoon just as he does every day. He plays for hours at a time and is really good at it. Darren and I played a few games of P-I-G with him and {not surprisingly} I got my tail kicked each and every time!

I. can't. believe. this. pic. Connor looks so grown up and so handsome! {I really hate that I cut off 1/4 of his face}

the boys had fun riding their bikes too. Connor and Coby biked over to GramPat and Papa's new house (they built just two blocks away from us and moved in today...we can actually see their house from our cul-de-sac) We're really excited about their new place and I just love that Connor and Coby can bike over there by themselves. I think that is going to be so fun for them! (Cale was pretty perturbed that I wouldn't let him ride over too....now that wouldn't be dangerous...not at all!)

Darren took the t-tops off the vette and he and Coby went for a drive around the 'hood. Then, I took a drive in it with Coby...so much fun! (I just can't wait until it gets painted and he gets all of the exterior parts put back on...it's going to look great when it's done!)

Darren told Coby he could drive it if he could start it (as D thought there was no way Coby could get it started...you have to give it gas to get it started). Coby had NO problems getting it started and was disappointed when he found out that he wasn't going to be taking it out for a spin. He was crouched down, giving it gas and was seriously all set to go! We're going to have to keep a close eye on Coby!

My sweet little bug was worn out by evening!

{Notice the lovely scab under his nose? Poor little thing, he got that while walking to class on Monday. To get to the pre-K classes the kids have to go through the main building and then walk outside to get to to their class entrance. Cale tripped on a rock outside and fell just outside his classroom. Luckily Cale's teacher had her door open and said that she heard crying outside her door. She looked out and Cale was lying down crying. It just broke my heart when I heard. I felt sick about it all day long! I am so thankful that Mrs. B heard him, but I just hate that he fell down like that and I wasn't there for him. :(}

Today was GREAT! I'm glad we took advantage of the fabulous weather because tomorrows high is 43! It was good while it lasted.

balance

Just found this pic from 1 year ago...what a reminder of how quickly the boys are growing (Coby has changed the most over the past year for sure)!

I am struggling so much right now with trying to find balance in my life. I told Darren that I feel like I can only concentrate on one thing at a time and do it well. I feel like some days I am an amazing wife, but my mothering is not so great on those days. Other times I'm being the mother that I really want my kids to have, but my house keeping is lacking. Sometimes my house looks terrific, but Darren and the boys are being neglected. I am desperately trying to figure it all out...how can I be good at all of these things at the same time? I want to and I know that I can, but I need to find a system that works for me. I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately on what needs to change so that I can be better in all areas of my life.

My time management has really stunk lately and I want to change it but honestly at times I just don't have the energy to do so! I want to get to a place where I feel proud of where I am and what I'm doing for myself and my family. I love my life, however, I feel like I need to find balance so I can enjoy it more! I want to learn to live in the moment, which is SO hard for me as I am a planner!!! I know I'll get there eventually because I feel such a strong desire to do so. With all that said, I have a few goals for the next few months.... To find balance. To live in the moment. To enjoy my boys in the stages that they're each in. To be here now and not worry about what happened yesterday or what is going to happen tomorrow. To spend quiet time each and every day reading my Bible. To be the best wife to Darren that I can be. To take better care of me (i.e. start working out again!).

I feel better now that I've written some goals for myself! Now that it's here, I have a reference point to see where I've been and where I'm heading....to look back in a few months and see just how far I've come.

I won this book at a Keeper's session that I went to this week. I'm going to read this daily during my "me time" until I make my way through it. I've already started it and it is really speaking to me and I know it's no accident that I won this book at this time in my life (let me tell you...I NEVER win anything!). It is all about everything that I've been struggling with over the past month. It's all about being the wife and mother that God created me to be.

bits of last week

Last week was the school Colonial Fair. Each year the fifth grade classes host the Colonial Fair. The kids break up into groups and plan and build a booth where they'll host games, sell cookies, marbles, root beer or other goods and also host an assortment of games. Connor's booth consisted of a guessing game (how much candy was in each of three jars) and also a shooting game. The boys didn't do a lot to decorate it, but they were really proud of the set up and that's really all that mattered! The proceeds from the Colonial Fair goes to Pennies for Patients and I love that our school does this each year. The kids always look forward to it and the boys always bring something home for me. It's so sweet...so far I've been given marbles, candles, and yarn. They are so thoughtful and I just think it's so sweet that they think of me while they're there.

I didn't stay too long because Connor basically told me he'd like me to leave :( He said that I made him nervous by being there watching him do his thing....so I left! I'm sure it's only the beginning of many more moments like that. I just can't believe it's already starting!

I know that Connor is little, but it still shocks me when I look at pics of him next to his friends. He is the smallest in his grade and it pains him greatly. I hate it for him, but the poor thing really doesn't have much hope of being too tall with the parents he has!

Connor was SO good with the younger kids who came to the booth! I was so proud of how sweet he was with them.

On Friday Coby's class had a showcase. They each said what their dream for the future would be in honor of MLK. Coby said that his dream is that no one would sell drugs! (Can you tell that he lives with a cop?)....

During the same Round Up, Connor was recognized for getting a Broncho Brand. It was his second one in a month and he was so proud! I was so thankful that he finally got these because he has been trying so hard to get a Broncho Brand since the first time they started handing them out last year. He was so discouraged that he hadn't received one and that Coby had received a few (oh, how I love sibling rivalry!). I was so grateful to the teacher who gave him one! I doubt that she had any idea how big of a deal this was to him, but I sure do! It made him so happy.

Of course Friday was FFF! The boys had dot ice cream for an after school snack and then spent the afternoon outside with Darren until it got too dark and cold to play outdoors. Then we picked up our pizza and rented a movie. We all cuddled on the couch to watch Marmaduke which was such a cute movie. I just love spending cold Friday nights at home cuddled up next to all four of my boys! What a special time our Friday nights are...especially when we're all home (Connor is often spending the night with friends on Friday nights and Darren has to work on some Friday nights so we just make due with whoever is home each week)!

When Cale and I realized that we were wearing matching fleece shirts on Friday we just had to get a pic or two of ourselves :)

being silly while waiting for daddy to start the movie

I went to lunch with a friend on Saturday, but I promised the boys that I'd take them to see the twins when I got home....

The boys are CRAZY about these girls! I hate taking them with me to see the twins because when they're with me I barely get to hold them!!!! ;)

Cale likes the girls too, but at this point I think he likes his games a little bit more!

Christmas: part 2

We celebrated Christmas with my side of the family on the 26th (I just love that we are able to spread it out and not feel rushed to get from one house to another on Christmas day). We had a fun evening with the family and somehow I managed to not get pics of most of my family! How'd that happen!?! Here's a small glimpse of the evening....

all of the kids ate in the kitchen area while the adults were in the formal dining room...we had no idea what was going on with the kids (what a gift!) and we didn't worry since it was (relatively) quiet in there

after dinner we headed upstairs to open presents...the boys entertained themselves while waiting for everyone to make their way upstairs

this pic make me laugh because I told Darren to grab the camera as I just knew Cale would be so excited to get a DSi, but alas, he was more interested in the bubble wrap for a long time! Of course he was excited when he finally got around to looking in the box! Silly boy!

And that {finally} wraps up Christmas 2010! What a great time with family!

Christmas day

Well, I'm moving on with Christmas day after finally getting around to posting about Christmas Eve a few days ago...again better late than never!

the boys woke up to full stockings and gifts from Santa

It was a bit iffy at times this year, but I guess Santa decided to visit them after all! :)

ready to dig into their gifts

Connor got some cash...always a favorite gift at his age!

Coby read the letter that Tinsel (our Elf) left for the boys

busy boys (tired daddy who'd worked all night long)

Calebug got a new Scooby Doo DVD

the aftermath

Since Darren worked the night of Christmas Eve was also going to be working all night on Christmas, we let him sleep all day (which is the "norm" in our house anyway)! So, the boys got to spend all of Christmas day at home playing with all of their toys before heading over to Darren's parents house at 4:00. It was such a relaxing morning and afternoon.

during this time, the boys played with Nerf guns, put together their new Legos, Connor played his XBox games and read his new books

Before we knew it, it was time to head over to GramPat and Papa's house....

Cale showing Uncle Clint and cousin Braden his new DS game (it was SO funny because Cale got DS games from Santa, but didn't have a DSi which he was getting from my parent's the day after Christmas...so, he said "Well, I got a DS games, but I don't even have a DS!?) Luckily Coby shared his DS with Cale to hold him over.

Connor got a mountain bike from Uncle Clint, Aunt Michele, GramPat and Papa....he was a happy boy!

Coby and Cale got tons of Legos and of course Cale also got a lot of Star Wars things!

I love this...Coby threw away his wrapping paper as he went! I love this kid!!!!

after everyone else finished opening their gifts, Clint took Darren to the garage where a 1974 corvette stingray was parked with a red bow on top! Darren was thrilled! Clint had a brand new engine built for it, the interior redone, and new tires. All it needs is a new paint job and it will be a beauty! Darren is having lots of fun with it!

Even after getting way too many gifts Cale enjoyed playing with GramPat's duster more than anything! Isn't that just so typical!?!