Not Me Monday......Stellan Style!!!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to check on precious baby Stellan.

Ok, so this week will be my first attempt at Not Me Monday....so, please be kind! And given that this week is "Stellan Style", I thought, what better time to start!? So, here goes. This past week while trying to keep up with my hubby and 4 kids I did not go to my computer at least once an hour to check on Stellan. And I for sure did not check on Stellan so much that my kids starting asking me why I was always on the computer and when were they going to get to talk to me? I mean, I am always focused on my children. And I did not get up in the middle of the night and sneak out to our living room to get on the lap top to see if MckMama had posted any updates in the middle of the night. I mean, if you know me, you know that my sleep is very important to me. And this past week happened to be mine and my hubby's wedding anniversary and I most certainly did not come home from our date and head straight for our computer to check on updates about Stellan. All the while, my husband is standing there going, aren't we supposed to be spending time together!? I most certainly did not tell my husband that I would be there in a minute....after I checked on Stellan. And I for sure did not hope that some day I can meet MckMama and her wonderful family in person....because if I did not know these people in person, I certainly would not be planning my day around how I can check on Stellan. So, what did you not do this week in honor of MckMama and precious Stellan??

Camping and Hanging Out In A Drawer

Hello to all! I thought I would do a quick post as I am sitting here watching the rain.....I'm pretty sure that it was raining the last time that I posted. Hmmmm, anyway, Jon and the 3 older boys went on a day hike and overnight camping trip this past weekend. I was released to pick up Corey again and that same day, everyone left! Ha Ha. They had a wonderful time and made some great memories. They just LOVE to be outdoors and go camping with their dad. And I have to say that Jon likes it a lot too, really he would go camping every weekend if he could. And I thought that I would put some recent pictures of Corey on here too (even though he didn't go camping) for all of you to see. He decided one day to climb into one of my drawers and well, I decided to let him! I thought, why not!? It will make a cute picture. At least, I think it did. And then there is the one where he is in boxers and I feel that one especially needs explanation! He went into his brothers drawer and got out his boxers and put them on all by himself! I took a video of him running around in those boxers......he was so proud!! Other than that I'm just trying to get back into a normal routine after surgery and I'm looking forward to summer vacation! I get tired of the kids being in school around Jan. time every year. I really do like having them at home with me. Ethan is playing baseball again this year and as soon as I get some pictures of that, they will be on here as well. Hope you all have a good week....until next time!! 

I think that as soon as I saw this sign, I would have gone back to the car.....seriously!?

                 

 They had the best time!!!

Ethan would live outside and I really mean that, he would! 

This picture totally cracks me up! It was cold this past weekend and Austin got as 

close to the fire as he could without being IN the fire itself!!! 

My sweet boys.....and yes I know they are boys and they were being rugged, but

I can still say that they are sweet. :) 

Isn't it amazing what entertains a baby!? 

Ha Ha!! "I'm so proud I got these on!"

Breakfast on the beach.....

Hello to all out there in Internet land.....I am still alive. I had my gall bladder removed last Friday and have had a slow recovery. However, I am feeling much better and thought that I would do a quick post for those of you who actually wonder where I went (which actually may only be one person, but oh well). Anyway, I am sitting here this morning drinking a cup of coffee (sorry Am!) with my oatmeal and watching the rain. Now, I love rain. I really do. But today, today I would rather be on a beach somewhere. Any beach. It has been much too long since I have felt the sand between my toes, the sun on my face and  heard the waves crashing on the shore.  9 months to be exact and I am in withdrawal. I decided that today I will plan our family vacation......to a beach of course. Probably to Charleston, SC. to visit family. We go there every summer and stay with Jon's parents and have the best time. I am looking forward to time away and time with my family.....laying on a beach. If I could, I would pack a bag and head straight for a beach right now. Much like this one that I have been to before and long to go to again:

                                     

                                                                         And this one:

                                                                         And this one:
Ahhhh......to be on a beach. There is nothing else like it in the world. 

Oreo Cookies and One Shoe Missing

My son LOVES Oreo cookies. Example: Here he is at my dad's house chowing down on some Oreo cookies. Funny thing is, the only time he has ever had them is at my dad's house. Maybe 3 times now? But trust me, he knows what they are. And as I was going through my pictures I saw this one where he only has one shoe on!!?? Ummmm, I really don't know what to say about that one. I do know that he is the sweetest 18 month old I know! (Well, all my kids were/are the sweetest 18 month old I know).  He really is so sweet though.....I mean, just look at him! 

12 Years......Almost

Austin recently attended his first dance.....it was a Christmas dance and honestly I can't believe how grown up he is starting to look. He is my first born, my baby. I am so blessed to be his mom. Really. I'm not just saying that. He makes being a mom easy.....he really does. He will turn 12 years old in April and honestly I am kind of sad about it. I know that in about 6 years, he will be going to college and "coming into his own". And I know that I will miss him greatly. I will miss how he talks with me now, how he wants to spend time with me and how he tells me all about his day when he comes home. I know that he won't stop talking to me, but it will be different. We all change as we grow up and become adults. And we still love our parents and talk with them, but it is in a different way. And I will miss the way it is now. Don't get me wrong, I most certainly want him to grow up and become the wonderful man that I know that he will become. Lately I have just been realizing how fast time really does go by. How it really does seem like yesterday that he was a baby in my arms. And how sometimes we take things for granted......like how wonderful our children are and how we should cherish every minute. I am so proud of my son. He is the most wonderful 11 (almost 12) year old that I know. He is the most responsible child, he never gives up, he is understanding, compassionate, loving, sweet, smart, and always has a heart to help others and do his best. A lot of the time I sit and wonder how I ended up with such a child. All 4 of my kids are this way, exceptional. And I know that most mothers say this about their children, but I can guarantee you that I really believe it. It is a truly humbling experience. I am so thankful to God for allowing me to be their mother. My heart swells and I get a lump in my throat when I look at this picture. For so many different reasons.........because I am proud, because I have an overwhelming love for him, because I am sad at how fast he is growing up, because I will miss him when he goes out into this scary world, but most of all......it is because of the overwhelming love. 

Mr. and Mrs.

Today I have been thinking about when my hubby and I weren't Mr. and Mrs. yet and we were still in that "gushy" stage. You know, where you can't wait for them to call, you hope it's them every time the phone rings, and your heart melts when you see them. I have to say that sometimes I miss that. When you are married and have kids life is always so busy and you can easily get caught up in the day to day and forget those wonderful things that you used to always think about your spouse. I think that it is important to reflect on those times, to remember why you wanted to spend the rest of your life with this person. To ponder on the core of this person and all the good things that drew you to them in the first place. Today, I am pausing to remember all of those things about my husband. The friend that he was to me. The man that I fell in love with. The man that I married and the father of my children. I do miss those days now and then, but who he is to me now is all of that and so much more. And that only makes me look forward to our future and how deep our relationship will be in the years to come. Here is to you honey, I love you. 

It looks like we were really thirsty, huh!? This was about 5 months before we got married and we had taken the kids to the park that day. So, we had a water for everyone. I remember this day very fondly and I look at this picture often. 

Papaw and Nina

This is a picture of my Dad and Mom with my 4 kiddos and Evan's son Brant (Evan is my brother) at Christmas. Austin (my oldest) is the one that started calling my mom Nina when he was about 8 months old. We hadn't told him anything to call her yet, but he just came up with it on his own. It was very sweet! So, that is how she is known now with all the grandchildren, as Nina. And my dad's dad was called Poppa, so my dad wanted to be called something close to that....so Papaw it was. My kids love their Nina and Papaw so much! They pretty much hung the moon in their opinion. Here is to Papaw and Nina, we are VERY blessed to have them!!