18 Months

 

Our Elijah is 18 months old. He makes me smile so much my face hurts. This little guy finally has some teeth and is ALL BOY! He loves tools, preferably real tools, which he obtains by digging in his daddy's tool bag and trying to carry an 18 volt drill around the house! HA. Unfortunately, as happy as he is, he can get just as mad, and has a bit of a temper. He does not like to get in trouble, it crushes him.  We finally moved him into his big boy crib at night in the boys room. The boys love having him in there, and he is adjusting well. I think that was the last step of mommy trying to hold on to my last baby. He still isn't talking a lot, but can most definitely get his point across. We love this little boy and are so blessed by having him as our son!

Extreme Eagle

On April 9th Jack was selected as the Extreme Eagle for his class. It is a weekly citizenship award that is given by his teacher. I am so proud of this little boy. He has many little friends, both girls and boys, he is reading several words, counting to 30, and working very hard on coming up with rhyming words. Way to go Jack!

Eme and Minnie

April 13th was Emorie's 3rd birthday. I can't believe that it has been 3 years since this little one was born. She is incredibly full of overflowing energy and a joy for life.  She definitely keeps us on our toes and she is incredibly smart. One of our favorite things she does right now is a little "he or she" game. Pick a person, ask her if they are a he or a she and she will answer, "he's a she" or "she's a he" or "she's a she" you get the idea. It is hilarious to listen to her, because there is a look on her face as she says it with such confidence.

We had a toss up on what the theme of her birthday party would be because she loves Minnie Mouse and the movie Tangled. In the end I chose Minnie Mouse. I went with hot pink and zebra, along with Minnie. We had cupcakes, zebra marshmallows, and thumbprint cookies with hugs.

Easter 2012

Our first Easter Sunday in Oklahoma was beautiful. The weather was perfect and remembering what our Savior sacrificed for us was wonderful! Of course, y'all would worry about me if my kiddos didn't dress up and coordinate on a holiday, right? Well, just so I don't disappoint...

The kids before church and before getting to check out what the Easter Bunny brought!

I let them get their baskets and put it in front of them, but not get into it! Mean right? Well, everyone complied except Elijah and Emorie!
The kids at church after our church egg hunt!
The boys! I think they are so handsome!



















My beautiful girls!




And just too cute not to post! Elijah caught on very quickly to the egg hunting. He would get one egg and a time and take it to Richard, who held his bucket, and then go back for another! He loved it and became VERY possessed with his bucket!








We hope this finds you all having had a blessed weekend and a very Happy Easter! Praise God, He is Alive!

A lot of Catching Up To Do

Well hello my blog reading friends. I know, for those of you who check on us, I have left you disappointed lately, but here is a complete update from Christmas until yesterday. I will post an Easter post soon. So there are a lot of pictures, I tried to get at least one from each event.

In early January, Michal Kate received the Extreme Eagle award (citizenship award) again for her class. She is a smart little girl. She is reading up to a 6th grade level and just earned 200 AR points last week. She also got new glasses in February so look for those in later pictures.

In early February I started potty training Emorie. What started out as an easy adventure has turned into a mess, literally. We are still working on it, but we have back tracked a lot.


Just before Valentine's day it snowed and school was canceled. We took advantage of a sled that was given to us and went down to the little park in our neighborhood. We all had a great time and as always the beauty of the snow reminded me of the purity of Christ! Beautiful!Our Valentine's Day Shot!



Noah's school program! He was one of the chickens.
Though hard to believe, Michal Kate turned 8 on February 18! Gram and Papa were able to come in for the party which was at a self serve yogurt bar called Cherry Berry. Snoopy was the theme and several of her new friends were able to attend!
On February 24, I finally took Elijah for his much needed first haircut. I can't get over how much they grow up just by cutting off some of the hair. He started out okay, but ended up hating it!

Michal Kate and her friend Avery Kate at their program about Space. (MK's new glasses)

Just before Spring Break we had Noah's birthday party at the local YMCA. The kids swam for a long time and then we enjoyed cake. As you can see Connor, Noah's cousin and BFF was able to come along with his family , Gramma and Gran Gran, and Richard's sister and her family!
I can't believe he is 7! Harry Potter was the theme!
For Spring Break the kids and I went to Dallas to visit my family. Gram planned some fun things for us while we were there which included a trip to Legoland!


While we were gone Jack's team played the first game of his first soccer season...oops we missed it. But, the next week we were ready to play! He loves it, and plays hard for the most part and crazy enough, talks a lot of smack!
This past week, Noah began his 4th season of baseball, but first season of machine pitch! Okay, there...whew....are you tired! Things continue to be busy around here but we love it. Emorie's birthday is this week, Easter today, ball games, dance, and some long awaited trips are in the near future. I will try to be better about keeping this updated!

A little basketball

This fall, much to my excitement, Noah wanted to play basketball again! I love the sport, my favorite by far, so it thrilled me that he wanted to play. Even better, we now have an awesome YMCA in town to play through. I will admit, the games were comical most of the time, but I really did see Noah improve each game. He can dribble down the court, and in his best game he scored 8 points and had 2 assists. (of course, who is keeping count at this age) His team won almost every game(again who is keeping track but me!) He loved it, and Jack wants to play next season too! I love it!
Noah shooting his first bucket at his first game
Taking it down the court
Noah's picture for ball 2011
Back row: Coach O'Neill, Jacob, Jacob, Noah, Coach Lyman
Front row: Jackson, Oliver, Noah, Bert, and Carter

Christmas Part 2

On Monday we headed further South to Houston for the Castleman Christmas. For the 2nd year in a row we were all there for several days and had many family get togethers which with 13 grandchildren, is a very exciting event!
I initiated some picture taking and my only fail was not getting one of all 13 grandkids or each individual family. Though I did get a shot of each couple except us...oops maybe next year!
The Castleman 6

And the Castleman 10
Kids with Spouses11 of the 13! Christopher wasn't with us yet and Elijah was attempting a very short nap! But back row first Sean 15 holding Zane 5, Collin 14, Michal Kate 7, Cade 12
Front: Carlee 2 Emorie 2 Cambri 4 Jack 4 Noah 6 and Connor 6

Thursday night Linda and Kirk kept 8 of the grand kids with help from 2 of the older ones while the 8 of us went on a quadruple date to the Cheesecake factory. We laughed harder than we have in a long time and though we waited nearly 2 hours, we really enjoyed ourselves.

Santa

A week before Christmas we happened to be in OKC for something and ventured to the mall in hopes of getting the kids picture taken with Santa...well FAIL. Only because the wait was and hour and half. We were willing to wait, especially since they give you a pager and you can go about your business in the mall, but we had plans an hour from then and couldn't wait. After trying to figure out when we would go because I didn't want to miss a year, we decided we would try at Firewheel in Dallas the Thursday before Christmas. I went knowing the wait was going to be forever long and horrible. Much to my surprise we waited 5 minutes and got the picture quickly. I learned several years ago to assure the photographer that I am buying the picture screaming or no screaming so just take it.
Emorie was not a fan of Santa at all! There was actually a shot where they were all looking and smiling except Eme but she had her face completely covered, so we went with this one. I love that it looks like Elijah is laughing at her!
Santa took a few minutes after the picture to discuss with the older three what they wanted for Christmas. It is funny to me to watch my three VERY OUTGOING kids clam up in a shell and speak so quietly and timidly to someone. I was holding Elijah by this point and Emorie was as close to the door as she could get with her daddy with her head a deep in his shoulder as she could get it!

Christmas Part 1

Wow! I can't believe that Christmas is already over! The holidays flew by it what seems like no time. I really got into DIY things this year and enjoyed making gifts and decorations for myself and others. The wreath in the center is a deco mesh wreath that my sister found on Pinterest so I made it for her for Christmas. It was Richards favorite thing I made and he didn't want me to give it up! I also made the JOY with the bell in the center and did the ornaments in the vase with ribbon.
You also get a little glimpse of a HUGE project Richard and I have been taking on for several months and that is redoing our fireplace and building a mantle and word from the mantle up!

There are two new additions to our Christmas decor this year. One being my gingerbread tree in this room and the other being a stocking for Jackson. I have never felt right about not having one for him and after praying for 3 families over the last year or so that have walked this same road I added it for him. I love that it is a gingerbread man and that he is included in our stockings.

The kids in their Christmas clothes! 1st shot I took by the way! I can't believe it.


The Sunday or so before Christmas again the first shot I took!
We had some of Tracy and Jeff's dear friends with us on Christmas Eve this year so we actually got a shot of the entire family!
The traditional 9 grandkids on the stairs
Our family in front of the tree
and just the kids
Christmas Eve in their Christmas PJ's in front of Gram's tree
And Christmas morning. Richard and I have taken this picture every year except one since our 1st Christmas together!
Best gift of the year would be Jack's light-saber that has a big and little light-saber on it. He jumped up and down and all around for several minutes!

Growing Up

Oh, my baby girl, Michal Kate! She has sucked her fingers since she was born. Almost a year ago Aunt Tracy promised her a trip to the American Girl store to get the doll of her choice if she would stop sucking them. It took the better part of a year but she did it. (still catching her every now and then at night and if she is really exhausted, but other than that, she has quit) She spent the year researching exactly which doll she would choose and Emily it is! So on Friday, December 23 MK, Eme, Aunt Tracy, Gram and I went to the American Girl store in Dallas at the Galleria. When we got to the store she even took a minute to pick exactly which Emily was hers.

MK and Emily

Aunt Tracy with MK and Emily
I really wish I could describe the moment in words, but there aren't any. She was so excited and had PURE JOY! Her reaction made Christmas in and of itself.

MK with Emily out of the box for the 1st time.
Aunt Tracy let Emorie pick a bitty baby for her Christmas present from her and Uncle Jeff.
We also had a reservation at the American Girl Bistro for lunch. We had so much fun and ate way to much.
To top off the day, Granny Betty surprised MK with a new gigi which was complete with instructions that this was a big girl gigi for girls who don't suck their fingers.
Gram bought MK and Emily matching pj's also.
This was so fun and a day we won't forget. We are so proud of you MK!