7 Months Already

Dear Lexi,

9 months ago I was in the hospital being told I had to stay until you were 36 weeks and that wa 2 weeks away. I never knew how much I loved you then or how you would brighten my days. You are the happiest baby in my world and you make me laugh and bring so much joy to all of our lives. Sweet baby girl how has 7 months come and gone already. I am sad that you are already 7 months but I am so looking forward to many more months and years with you. I love you darling girl:)

love, Mommy

Schools out for the Summer

I know that I haven't blogged in a while (it seems all of my posts begin this way) but we have been so busy with the end of the school year. I am a little sad because I think this year has gone by in the blink of an eye and my Ashley is now a first grader {when did that happen}. I am so proud of her. This last week we had her graduation and awards and I couldn't have been more proud of all that she has accomplished this year. She made effort honor roll all 4 semesters and she got a special award for being the child in kindergarten who read the 5th most books(that is our of 150 kids). She loves school and her class and I am so happy that we will have the same kids and teacher next year for first grade too.

We will be starting reading camp on the 15th just to keep Ashley used to schoolwork (i know I am a horrible mom :0))

Ryan has had some major improvements since my last post. We have started routinely going to the bathroom on the potty. He now tells me BEFORE he starts which is a major answer to prayer. He has started swim class at the YMCA and although he is the youngest in the class, he is the most daring too. He loves to jump in whenever possible. He is getting so big and will be starting preschool 3 days a week in the fall.

Lexi is getting so big. She is over 6 months old now and is wearing 9 month clothes. She tries to scoot every time I place her on the floor and grabs for anything in front of her (loves my cell phone). She is so even tempered and smiles at anyone who talks to her. She is such a tremendous joy to me. Since she is big enough now Ashley loves to carry her around the house. She is such a great bog sister to Lexi (ryan is another post all together).

Well it is almost time for swimming class- round 3. Check back in for our Sun in the Summer posts :)

A bloggy hiatus- unintentionally

It has been a while since I have had enough time to sit down, think through what I want to say, and remember to actually do it. Our house is always full of excitement. Ashley is almost finished with her first year of school-kindergarten. It has been amazing to watch her go from shy to confident in ten short months. She has mastered writing and reading (which she is gifted in) but she also excels at math and science too. She is exceeding all of the benchmarks and has only gotten a yellow light for behavior once the whole year (which went back to green before the end of the day). She is so stinking smart that I don't know whether Dave and I will be able to help her with her homework :) We are looking forward to summer and sleeping in (does 7:30 count as sleeping in?).

On to Bugga Boo- Ryan. Hmmmmm! Ryan and I have been working on potty training for a while now and everytime I think that he has it- we have an accident. We do not have many peeing accidents but oh my goodness the POOP! I have tried just about everything to get him to use the toilet but he is a stubborn boy so it is still a work in progress. Tomorrow I am going to sign him up for swim class so that he has a class to attend over the summer too. He is probably the funniest boy that I know and he makes me laugh so hard every day.

AHHHHHHHH Alexis. When I first gave birth to Lexi, people would ask me all the time, is it harder with 3, and I always would say, ask me in 6 months. Well folks, this next week Lexi will be 6 months old. I am so sad that half of her first year is already gone. She is still the happiest, smiliest baby that I have had. She is now teething and showing a little seperation anxiety when I am not around. She watches me all the time to make sure that I am still there. She eats EVERYTHING (hallelujah) and i do mean EVERYTHING. She is such a blessing!

Push Yourself

I don't know if I have mentioned my love for excercise or not but I truly do LOVE it. There are a few basic reasons...makes me feel better, makes me stronger...but I also want to set a good example for my kids.

I love the biggest loser, I do, but the contestants make me a little sick sometimes. When I started watching the show I just couldn't believe how these people had given up on themselves and their families by allowing such poor behaviors to take over their lives. How does an 18 year old boy get up to 390 lbs. and then I looked to his father who weighed in at 430 lbs. WHAT?!?!?!

I have already stated my views on Ron but I can not believe how he failed his kids.

Since I have mommy guilt over leaving my kids in a childcare facility while I work out I have daily dates with my best friends Bob and Jillian. I usually do one workout during naptime and another once the kids are in bed. This allows me not to feel guilty about the time I am spending on myself. The biggest loser DVD's are great. I think I own them all and I rotate them so I don't get bored. I also rotate in Jillian's 30 day shred (which totally kick my hiney!) and I am proud to say that I feel awesome. I am also showing my kids that to be healthy you need to push yourself. Push the boundaries that you set up for yourself and believe that you CAN DO IT as long as you are willing to work hard.

I couldn't leave a post with out a pic of my motivation...

The Loser

Ok, so I never thought that I would actually get around to writing a post on my favorite show- The Biggest Loser. I have been watching since the first week and it amazes me how far these people have come. Mt sis in law and I honestly text throughout the entire show. This week was no different and the ending made me a little angry but now for the reason one might think.

I have always loved Tara. Since Day 1 she was my pick and I decided that I would root for her.

BUT as much as I like Tara and have been following her, Mike has won me over.

Love that kid and all he has worked for.

Can not wait until next week since it is their last week there.

Busy, Busy

It has been non stop going since the New Jersey invasion happened on Thursday afternoon. My in-laws are planning on buying a home within 5 miles of us so the last few days we have been visiting houses and I think they have finally narrowed it down to 2. We have also been doing "Easter" things: cooking, Easter eggs, egg hunts, and let us not forget shopping. It has been a lot of fun but I am so tired.

We watched a movie together last night (minus the kids) and it was pretty good. We watched Slumdog Millionaire and it was really hard for me to watch and not know that those kids actually live that way.

Today we went to the Easter Eggstravenganza at church this morning and the kids had so much fun riding horses, trains, and bouncing. Tonight we are going to see Hannah Montana the movie and Ashley is really excited. We are making it a girls night- ha! Well, almost time for me to go get my hair done (AHHHHHHHHHH! alone time for the mommy).

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

BLESSED