Jet

Soooo....I know I recently posted about being excited about the boys and I finally meeting Koda.  Well, unfortunately about a week and a half after coming home, he had to go.  He flunked out of training and we were really sad {although we saw it coming...he wasn't very driven and he didn't want to be obedient to Darren which is sorta part of the job :( }.  I won't lie, it didn't surprise anyone more than it did myself when I found myself in tears over his departure.  I was starting to grow attached which was very unexpected! It was hard to say goodbye :(

The good news is that his replacement, Jet, got to come home very quickly.  I was crazy about him in no time! {Anyone who knows my fear of dogs knows how huge this is.  I am TERRIFIED of German Shepherds yet I now have one that lives in my backyard.  PLUS, I have been to known to hang outside with him all by myself (as in without the protection of Darren!).  I love this dog so much and he has been very therapeutic for me.  I am so thankful that Darren pursued his dreams even though I fought him every step of the way....it took 9 years for him to get this position, but I firmly believe that God knew it would take me this long to be ready.  I feel that this is truly a full circle moment for me.  I can't explain it, but anyone who knows the background behind my German Shepherd fears should understand.  Having  both Koda and Jet here have proven to me that I CAN conquer my fears.  For the first time in my life I realize that having this "extra" dog living at our house is a wonderful addition to our lives, and not the curse I always thought it would be.  Funny how things work out...no one is laughing at this moment more than me.}

Jet is so good with the boys and they just adore him.  Jet loves to fetch the ball and they love throwing the ball so they are all happy!!!

tug of war...pretty sure Jet would win this game EVERY time

Ellie Mae has even come to terms with the fact that there's a new dog at the house.  She probably wouldn't miss him if he left however :)  Jet is very patient with Ellie, who at times tries to get aggressive toward him.  He's nothing but kind toward her and he seems to really care less when she gives him attitude (he's such a SMART BOY!).  It is funny to watch them play ball together though...Ellie ALWAYS lets Jet have the ball even when she gets there first.  She must know he could tear her apart if he wanted to (SMART GIRL!).  They're funny to watch.

I have to add that Jet rolled over for me today.  He got in the most vulnerable dog position ever and wanted me to rub his belly.  I was SO happy!!!  He likes me as much as I like him :)  Now I not only have Darren to worry about while at work, but Jet too.  I'll just have to pray for Jet's safety as well as Darren's now.  That's really all I can do, the rest in God's hands...exactly as it should be. 

Cale and his lost tooth

Cale lost his first tooth tonight.  We first noticed that it was lose a few weeks ago and Cale was NOT happy.  He was terrified to lose a tooth which was new to us as Connor and Coby have always loved losing teeth and getting money.  So, tonight as I was wiggling his tooth I may have told him that I was just checking it out when I was really pulling it.  Then, he just started crying about being afraid to have his tooth pulled.  I told him that it was gone.  He felt with his tongue and cried harder saying, "Oh crap, oh crap!  I swallowed my tooth."  Then he started crying even harder.  I told him that I had his tooth and he just kept crying.  I called Darren in for backup and Darren asked Cale why he was crying. Cale said it was because he thought it was going to hurt.  Darren asked if it did and Cale said no.  I think it just scared him.  It was such a sweet moment from my precious boy!  My baby is growing up. :(

As you can see in the pic, Cale still wears footie pajamas!  Every year he begs me to get him footies instead of regular pajamas.  He loves these things and it cracks us up.  I guess they're just cozy to him.  He found these as I was getting ready to get rid of all of his footies from last year.  He immediately told me that I could not get rid of his footies and started to put them on to prove that they still fit.  That was a month ago and he's worn them nearly every night since (and we've had several 100+ degree days during that time!).  We think it's pretty cute, but sometimes I wonder if he'll be wearing them in college!  I wouldn't be surprised. ;)

off to school

The boys headed back to school on the 17th.  They were all really excited which made it easier to send them off (all of the arguing I dealt with over the summer made it easier too).  The boys are in 7th, 4th and1st grade this year.  They've been in school for a week now and they're loving it so far.  Here are a few pics from the first day....

This pic CRACKS me up...apparently Ellie decided that 

she should be in kids back to school pics!  (I did not

invite her to sit there and both the boys and I were 

laughing so hard when we noticed her!}

Cale was so excited about taking his lunch...it's his 

first year to go ALL day and actually eat lunch AT school!

pretty sure the boys were over having the before school pics taken by this point :(

Cale at his first DESK.  I missed my buddy SO much....it was

hard to send my baby to school and the emotions caught me off-guard!

 Coby at his desk

I just had to add this  pic of Cale's shoes because he REALLY likes them.  In fact, the other day before school he very seriously said, "I'm not wearing these shoes to attract the chicks.  They really don't care about shoes anyway."  haha  Why is even thinking about attracting chicks!?!  I'd better keep an eye on this boy!

The boys first day back to school was tough on me.  I knew that Connor and Coby would be fine, but I was concerned that the seven hour day would seem like forever to Cale.  Thankfully all of my concerns about him hating 1st grade were put to rest as Cale ran to my car at the end of the first day.  He had the biggest smile on his face.  He immediately told me that he loved school and wondered if I could sign him up for Saturday and Sunday school.  And not only that but could I please sign up for summer school!?!  He just kept saying I just love school soooo much!!!  I was thrilled and that really eased my mind.  I am finally getting into the groove of having all my boys in school. ALL. DAY. LONG.  I think know I'm gonna like it.  I might actually get caught up with the laundry and housework for the first time in twelve years!  

This is worth documenting:  The boys have been back to school for a week and so far I have made TWO batches of homemade blueberry muffins for the boys breakfast, plus I even made eggs one morning!  Who have I become?  This is abnormal behavior on my part and Darren wants to know what has happened to his wife!  I am normally a Eggo and cereal type of mom.  I always say that I like to set the bar low so the boys won't have many expectations which makes Darren laugh...only because he knows it is true :)  I know there are many moms who make their kids warm breakfasts everyday.  I've just never been one of them and I'm OK with that.  There are a lot worse things I'm sure!

5 weeks

{I just wanted to put this out here so I can look back and remember how I felt in this moment....I may feel completely different next week!}

Last week one of my friends mentioned something about there being 6 weeks until school starts.  Initially I felt excitement and then panic quickly set in.  I couldn't help but think to myself, how can we be down to 6 weeks and we haven't even begun to do everything we've planned to do this summer!?!  Now I sit here a week later and we're already down to only 5 weeks until the first day of school (yep, we start on a Friday)  and I'm already thinking about buying school supplies!  This summer if flying by for the most part...however if I were being completely honest, I'd say on that on some days it feels as if  it's going at a snails pace (like today when the boys fought ALL DAY LONG...thank goodness mom and dad watched the boys tonight so Darren and I could have a date night.  I was able to regain what little sanity I have left!).

What I'm about to admit will surprise no one more than I surprised myself when it happened!  Over the past week I've found myself in tears and losing sleep over the fact that Coby is going to be in the fourth grade and that Cale is going to be a first grader (I had my tears over Connor going to middle school last year so I'm OK about him at the moment!) in FIVE short weeks.  When it comes to Coby going to 4th grade I just can't help but worry.  Fourth graders at our school actually rotate between classes.  I feel like it's at this point that things get REAL in hurry.  School is no longer just fun and games.  My biggest concern is that because the kids rotate, I feel that the teachers don't really get to know each child very well.  I remember so well that Connor's 4th grade year was the first time he had a teacher that I didn't really get to know (the 4th grade teachers in our school don't necessarily welcome the parental volunteer help that the lower grade teachers do).  It feels like the teachers have so many expectations at this age and they are a little bit less tender (for lack of a better word) with the kids.  And I hate this for Coby.  Coby is the only one of my boys that really needs compassion/sensitivity and a teacher that understands him.  He is such a special boy and I just want him to be treated as such. I SO hope that he gets a teacher that understands and appreciates who he is.  That's all.  I'll just have to keep praying about this because I'm so unsettled about this right now.

As for Cale...I cannot believe my baby is in first grade already.  First grade is the hardest year for me to deal with as a mom.  I'd be lying if I said I'm not excited when each of my boys go to school all day, but it always makes me sad for the boys when they have to face going to school 7 hours a day vs the 2.5 hrs they went in Pre-K and Kindergarten.  That is a HUGE difference and I worry.  I know Cale will be fine and will quickly adapt to the longer school day just as his brothers did, but I just feel sad for him.  It's going to be an adjustment for the both of us.  He and I have spent the past few years hanging out from 10:30-3 all by ourselves.  He's definitely a mommy's boy and I think he (and I) will miss our time together.  I know he'll be alright in time...it's just those initial first weeks of the school year that I really dread.

This is such a weird time for me.  All of my boys will be in school all. day. long.  What will I do with myself?  haha  I have PLENTY to keep me busy while they're in school, but it will be odd having seven hours of quiet.  Maybe I'll finally get and keep caught up with the house and laundry.  That would certainly be a change...one that Darren would welcome I'm sure!  We'll see... :)

meeting Koda

Today was a long time in coming. Darren took me and the boys to meet Koda. Darren and Koda have spent the past few weeks bonding, but this was the first time for the boys and I to meet him. I was concerned about meeting him (I have it in my head that all GS's are vicious and mean), but all my fears were washed away upon seeing him. He was everything Darren told me he is...an absolute sweetheart that acts much like Ellie.  Now my concern is that Ellie and Koda won't get along.  It won't be the end of the world if they don't because Ellie Mae will continue to live the good life indoors and Koda Kai will be living outdoors regardless. However, it would be nice if they could have fun together and wear each other out on a daily basis!  While I do have some reservations, I truly believe that before too long we'll be one big happy family.  Time will tell....but oh, how I hope I'm right!

excuse the iphone pics...it's all I had with me for our impromptu visit

{D would kill me if he saw this pic}
He is in love with this dog!

Poor Koda watched as we left him. :(  I can't believe I'm saying this about a German Shepherd of all things, but he really is sweet!  I can't wait to bring him home.  Let the adventure begin.

fifteen years

Fifteen years ago today I married the love of my life.  At times I simply can't believe that it's been 15 years since we said "I Do" but then there are other times that it seems like it's been longer (we've been together since the summer before 8th grade...that's 22 years...WOW)!  We've had our ups and downs and in between times, but I can honestly say that there is no one else that I can imagine doing this life with!

Darren and I celebrated our anniversary a bit early last month with a vacation.  We spent a week in Rosemary Beach, FL.  It was our first real vacation without the kids and it couldn't have been more PERFECT!!! {I wish I was there right now!}

More on our Florida getaway to come, but for now I'm off to a date night with the hubs a quick dinner with all four of my boys (Swadley's BBQ) and then we're heading to Cale's baseball practice.  Our anniversary date night will have to wait until next week.  AHHH, such is married life with kids!  :)

bike rider

Cale learned to ride his bike without training wheels today.  Over the past year we've asked him a few different times and he just wasn't ready (or in the mood) to learn, but tonight he looked at me out of the blue and said, "I want to learn to ride my bicycle without training wheels."  SO, I immediately looked through Darren's tools until I found what I needed to get the "trainers" off.  From there it took all of five minutes before he was riding with confidence.

We ran inside to tell daddy to come watch (he had NO idea what we'd been up to) but he immediately guessed as he was coming out to watch.  So much for surprising him!  

Don't let his picture fool you.  I am the one who taught Cale how to ride! :)

Cale and I went to get snowcones to celebrate and then I told him we should ride our bikes over to GramPat and Papa's house to show off his new skill (his brothers were already over there...they like to bike over there and have ice cream after dinner and poor Cale has to stay behind because he isn't old enough to go without mommy and daddy).  When we were getting ready to head out,  Cale sincerely said, "Please Jesus, let this go well."  It was precious.  It went okay...he fell down a few times on the way, but that is to be expected.  He reluctantly got back on after each fall and we eventually make it over to GramPat/Papa's house.  Cale had a snack and then GramPat took pity on him and drove him home.  The rest of us had fun racing home to see who could beat each other on our bikes and also GramPat and Cale in the van.  Darren won, Coby lost and obviously Connor and I were somewhere in the middle.  We all beat GramPat and Cale. :)  

Proud little guy.  He was doing his Johnny Bravo moves (Don't ask!!)

I'm so proud of my little Calebug!!!