Monday, December 17, 2018

Hunter - 13

Say it ain't so?!?!?!
Look how tall!

I think I am kind of being selfish over this one as I dont think I should be old enough to have a teenager!
Growing up so fast!

Besides his first 9 months of life, Hunter has been the a dream to raise.  I mean, the kid is just easy going, helpful, kind, and just quirky enough to be funny..
Swwet boys.  

He has shot up over this past year.  He is 5 ft 8 in!  He is wearing a man's 11 or 11 1/2 shoe. And he still has plenty of growing to do.  It is funny to watch your baby boy start turning into a well, a man.
Opening his presents... he also got  new phone.
He still wants me to tuck him in at night.  He laughs about it but will always wait for me to come with him.

Hunter lacks a ton of confidence which blows my mind because he has so much going for him... I think he is just feeling the result of having Ashton as a younger brother!  Hunter has started conditioning for soccer at the high school.  He has experienced, for the first time, being really sore.  haha!  I dont know if he will be able to make the JV team or not but the training is doing him good.
Some singing at Queenie's... We went to the Spiderman movie after dinner..


He works hard at school.  He had all A's and 1 B in Science the 1st 9 weeks.  I was proud of him but he was disappointed in the "B" (so unlike me).  He has worked even harder this 9 weeks and has a high "A's" in all his classes this 9 weeks.
Finally mowing!

Hunter is also in Beta Club and in MathCounts.  He says he is a Mathlete and likes to think of himself as an extension of The Big Bang.  He is so much cooler than he thinks... haha.
My boy

Hunter, you are such a great son and a wonderful brother.  I love you (in the high pitch voice we use at night.)

Happy 13th Birthday,
~Mom (I only shed a few tears the day before your birthday.)


Shepherd- 9

November came and went in such a flash!  My Shepadoodle turned 9.  I can barely believe he is just a year from 10.



He was actually trying to be silly in this one... too bad it turned out so good!  :) 


My sweet large- headed child!  The kid is strong as an ox... He can already pick me up and I'm not exactly a small thing.

Oh this kid is still quirky funny.  He is perplexing to some and funny to others.  His teacher said that when she is being funny and all the other kids are laughing, Shepherd is staring straight at her with a blank serious expression on his face.  If you know Shepherd, then you know the look and it is hysterically funny.  If you dont know Shepherd, then it is well... creepy.
And, this is typical Shepherd pic
I am trying to teach Shep when it is ok to be weird funny and when you just need to act normal.  haha!  Trials I didnt think about facing as a mom.

His favorite lemon-ice box pie... no candles so we used sparklers
Backseat riding with this crew
Shep's teacher also talks about how smart he is.  He and Ashton both had all A's the first nine weeks- the 2nd 9 weeks looks like it is going to be even better.  Shep's main issue in school is just being lazy.
Shepherd is still a pretty big whine, constantly saying SSTTOOPP to his brothers.  It drives me mad!  However, he is seriously the sweetest child and he would do anything for me.  He helps when asks and when I had a small fever last week, he took care of me. :)
Enjoying the snow day

Shepherd, you are a happy spot in my day.  You always give me big hugs which you really reserve for only me.  When I read to you at night, you always want me to lay down with you longer.  A few weeks ago, you came up with this song.  (Sing it to the Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood song.). "Close your eyes and think of something happy.  Like going to bed with your favorite son Sheppy."  It makes me laugh every time I sing it.
Enjoying some coffee before a Clemson football game!  My baby boys.
You got a new phone for your birthday which you love.  You have a daily time limit on it but you are enjoying it.

Happy Birthday Sheppy,
I love you more,
Mom









Ashton- 11

Ashton turned 11 in October.  It is funny to me, how for the most part, a baby's personality stays pretty consistent into childhood and so far into the double digit years.
He sits like a bird... perching... all the time.
Ashton with his loot.

Birthday brownies with homemade ice cream
Ashton is opinionated, strong-willed, mouthy, and a leader.  He takes life by the reigns and loves to be in the front to be first player to be the lead.  So far, at school, this has worked in his favor.  His teachers see him as proactive and responsible and a work horse.  His peers see him as a someone they should follow and listen to.
Charlee and Ashton''s Jr Beta Club Induction 

The boys... Bennett is pouting


At home though, oh at home.  He is in the middle of every little argument.  Even arguments he has no business being in!  He can get a reaction out of every single person and being in our house!  Even Moses will occasionally low growl at him when Ashton just keeps pestering him.  It really is a gift.
Example of Ashton bothering Moses.  Ashton kept taking Moses' toy and slinking it around.  Finally,  Moses pinned Ashton down.  He would not allow Ash to get up.  This went on for about 3 minutes.

My prayer for Ashton is two-fold.

1- Be Humble.  Apart from the grace of God, we are nothing.  Ashton has been given much and the Lord will require much.  I pray Ashton will realize his depravity apart from a gracious Savior.  I love seeing Jesus work in Ashton.  Though apologizing his hard for him, I see the Holy Spirit working it out in him.

2- To know when to stand up and when to lay low.  Whether at home or school or work, I pray Ashton will have wisdom and when to fight and when to lay it down.

Ashton, I love you.  You are doing so well in school.  It makes me laugh how much of a dumb blonde you are though.  This is one of those times I wish I had recorded some of the hysterical things you thought that were just not right.  You have had us rolling on numerous occasions this past year.
My skinny blonde baby!

May this next year lead you closer to Jesus.  Focus on Him and His path for you.


Happy Birthday
~Mom

Books...

When is the last time I did a book post?!?!?  I tried to go back and look... was it really 2016?  

The one thing that has taken the biggest hit with me going back to work is my amount of reading.  I think once I get home, my eyes have already been working- reading, staring at a computer screen- that by the time I am home, I am just not in the mood to read.

I still read to each kid at night- sometimes it is 4-15 minute sessions if they are all on different books.  Sometimes it is read to Bennett and then the older 3 for 30 minutes.  So any little bit of reading desire I have is spent of them- it is a good thing I love young adult/ children's fiction.  Seriously great genre.  :)

Here are some things that I am reading either on my own or to the boys or some things that I have already read. 

Ok, so this stack was from March.  I was reading all of these at the same time and finished all but 1.
I will just summarize from the base of the stack.

Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist.
   I read this book with some friends for a Wednesday night book club.  Out of 10 stars, I give it a 7.  It is ok.  My friend Jodi loved it so, like with any read, it will speak to you where you are.  Though I am super busy, I dont feel overcomitted or feel like I need to go out of my way to reign my family back in.  

  I love the Enneagram.  This book though didnt do much for me.  If you want to learn about the enneagrem, I would recommend starting with The Road Back to You.  I read that last one last summer and it was oh, so good.

  I wound up reading this on my way own.  Ashton and I were going to read it together but the little snot got so caught up in it, he got so far ahead of me and finished before I did.  I do like this series a lot though.   I think Ashton has already read the 3rd too.  He is way ahead of me!

Age of Opportunity - Paul Tripp
  This book is good.  Parenting books and the likes are slow reads for me.  I think my brain will only absorb so much at a time.  I am still making my way through this one but not because it is not good but because I read a couple chapters and then put it away for a bit.  I highlight and underline and make notes so it will be a good reference for me as my kids all approach these teen years.

Chasing Francis - Ian Morgan Cronn
  Read this book!  Loved it!  The author of The Road Back to You wrote it but it is fiction.  It is about a pastor who just hit a roadblock in his faith.  It is about his quest to follow the teachings of Francis of Assissi.  Really good book to just to stop and think and marvel at our God.

The Last Ballad - Wiley Cash
  My mom recommended it after telling my GrandmaDean about it.  It is based in a mill town in the late 1920's.  It mentions in great detail the mill town where GrandmaDean grew up.  It is historical fiction and it feels personal to me because of where it is based.  

North! or be Eaten- Andrew Peterson
   This is book 2 from the Wingfeather Sage that my sister-in- law Anna recommended for the boys.  I read book 1 to Hunter and Ashton a year or so ago. Shep and I just went through book 1 this past spring.  We bought book 2 a month or so ago and are making our way through this (the older 3 and I).
These books have great conversation starters as it refers to the "Maker." 

And forgive me if I have already mentioned these books for boys.  I tried to go back on the blog to see if talked about them and I dont think I have.

Prince Warrior Series- Priscilla Shirer
  I think I mentioned this amazing series in a birthday post but these are great first chapter books for elementary age kiddos.  We read these when we were still in Clover.  Hunter and Ashton read them on their own and I read to Shep (we would have been 6-7 at the time.)  Though Bennett is not quite on listening to chapter books, he is getting close to being able to pay attention to this as I read it.  
  We had some great discussions on the Armor of God and on the unseen world.  Highly recommend.

   I loved Hunger Games so when I saw the Suzanne Collins had written a children's series, I was all over it.  Hunter and Ashton flew through these books.  Shep and I read the first 3 together.  He will probably go back and finish on his own this year (but his brother's did tell him a spoiler so who knows?)  We all enjoyed the action, pace, and characters in this series.

   I read this when I was little.  Some books just leave a mark on you.  This was one of those books.  This was a book H, A, S, and I read at night this summer.  It is set during World War 1 in Poland.  It follows a young boy and his journey to stay alive while maintaining his faith.  


My goals for the boys.  
Bennett- He picks whatever book he wants at night.  He then does a page of The Reading Lesson.  He is on Chapter 14 - it takes him about one month to make it through a chapter since we are only doing a page a day.  
Below is one of the stories from Chapter 10.  Bennett needs a few prompts but for the most part, he can sit and read this level of material.  
     "burt said, I am big.  I am bigger than you.  Then he said he can run faster then me. Then he said he was taller than me. Stop it Burt, you brag a lot."
We then read a Bible story.  The Action Bible is still one of my favorites for boys.

Shepherd is on book 4 of Harry Potter.   I also really want Shep to read the Mr Benedict books.  I think he would love them.

Ashton probably read at least 15 chapter books (most of them big) last school year.  He has gone through the Percy Jackson books as the well as the Harry Potter Series.  He read all of the Gregor books last school year.  He does love to read but it also helps that it is a competition at his school.  haha.  He is currently go through the a big series that I cant remember the name of.... something about fairy tales with a modern spin.

Hunter reads the Bible at night. He actually asked his English teacher if reading books of the Bible count for the reading challenge... little did he know that made him an immediate teacher's pet!  He is reading the Maze Runner and he and I are reading Ender's Game together (reading it to Ashton as well.)

So, book world for them is good.... Book world for me is non-existent.  But, as I often tell myself, this is just the season of life I am in.  Live present.

What? A post....

 So, blogging has not happened in the last few months.  If I showed you my calendar then you would understand.  I dont anticipate it getting any better but at this moment, I have a moment.

This blog started when I was staying at home raising little ones.  It was a creative outlet and one that I treasure.  I wish that I still had time to document funny sayings and adorable pictures, but sadly, I dont.  Those who have never blogged probably dont realize that amount of time it takes to put together a decent post that is not only grammatically correct but formatted nicely with pictures and a pleasing appearance.  It would be nothing to spend an hour on a post. 

I have never done this blog for any other than myself and my kids.  I know at one time I had people I didnt even know checking in.  I dont have the heart to just stop the blog all together though.  It is still the best memory book platform.  So, I will post when I have time and/ or energy knowing that I am the only who will know this is here. 

So, lets see some old posts!


Thursday, August 16, 2018

The Summer in Review

Well, I blinked, and then summer was over.

I had a ton planned for this summer from things for work to places to go with kids to things to do at my house, I knew it was going to busy.

Here is our summer in review.
1- Phoenix, AR- For work, I was able to go to the National Career Development Conference in Phoenix with 2 of my co-workers.  We had such a good time and the conference was pretty good too.
In the distance is Mexico.
Suzan and me right before a Kenny Chensey concert.  Love this lady!

Traci, Suzan and I "snuck" in for the last 20 minutes of a WNBA game.  

2- Carowinds.  We went ahead an got season passes this year.  Did NOT get our money's worth.  We only went twice.  I know it is opened until Christmas now but still the fall is always super busy.  Oh well, lesson learned.  We did have fun when we went.  They loved the water pack... I took a bunch of pics but dont feel like going through them all

Little vegis

Taking a snack break at Carowinds

3- Of course, the beach.  Blogged it here.

4- Trip to Cowpens with Mantis.
The cannon picture

monument outside of Cowpens visitors center

5- Mom and I went to Gastonia over the 4th to hang with GrandmaDean

6- Hunter went to youth camp for a whole week and then had a sleepover and then went to one of his best buddies bday parties.  That 9 days was super packed for my recluse of a child- however, he loved it!

7- All the half birthday dates... blogged here

8- Lots of yardwork... blogged here.

9- Riggs watchin'
Riggs did me wrong... we brought him back with when we went to Carowinds.  He was a bad dog and chewed the seatbelt in half (in the new car).

My boys

Riggs loving on Charlee and Ashton

10- Spend the night with A-ville cousins.
     Anna took the picture... and I dont have it!
11- Hours and hours spent playing Legos.  Funny story- First, I love legos..... I was playing with them and look around and realize that I was by myself and had been for almost an hour!!! haha

Massive lego city
12- Numerous pool activities at both grandparents "pools."

13- Circque du Soleil on Ice with Grandma, Uncle Tommy, Aunt Sandee, Charlee, Sami, and Joey
About to find out seats

cousins

Such a fun summer, now time to hit it again.   Kids start back to school Monday and I started back this week. 
Soaking in the last few days of summer

Monday, August 6, 2018

House Happenings


We have lived in this house a little over a year.  It is easy to look around and feel kind of frustrated with updates and progress.  I am a doer when it comes to yard work and house projects however since I started working again, plus add in 4 kids who all have after-school activities then the amount of time I would like to spend on the yard and house has been greatly divided.

But, I was looking back on house "stuff" that we have done then this year and I must say, we did ok.

Here are two posts from last summer
First and Second- Compare these to now... pretty crazy!

Let's start with the house.
Since last summer, my dad has replaced all the lighting (except for the fixture in the sitting room as I have found what I want and the light on the staircase because I dont hate it.)
Most of the lighting was that horrible brassy stuff... sorry if you have and like the brass. :/
All bedrooms minus Bennett's got these fans.
Love this fixture from Lowes

The current state of the rooms....
Sitting room (I have actually moved this around a bit since this picture was taken)

Workout room... I love this odd little room off from the garage


Master bedroom (it has a different/ darker rug now but everything else is the same)
Upstairs den

Shep's room... which he only sleeps in half the time.... see below
Ashton's/ Shep's room.  Shep has loved playing musical beds- sometimes sleeping in his room sometimes sleeping on the top bunk in Ashton's room


The rest of Ash's huge room.


Hunter's grown up room.  This bed is so comfortable.  I take naps here when I can!

Love his working sled desk


Bennett's dino room- no changes here
The other rooms- kitchen and living room and bathrooms havent seen much charge besides the original painting when we moved in.  I am constantly have the debate in my head about painting my kitchen cabinets.  I also desperately want new countertops but trees (See below) took that money this year.  \


The YARD

So, extorior has also see huge changes this year.

I tackle the outside of the house this spring.  I have fallen in love with Iron Ore (Sherwin Williams) paint.  My shudders, all door, and now proch railings, mailbox, and garage door are also this color.

Before painted railings

These things were in desperate need of paint.  I had gone back and forth between a creamy white and a dark color.  Mom finally told me to go dark.... and, I am SOOOO glad I listened.

The house has a moody, masculine feeling to it now.  Just love it
Garage doors got Iron Ored too!


Moses got a dog door... thanks Mantis.
Mantis and Uncle Zach hung my swing which I adore.  It is 6 ft long so even my tall self can stretch out!
 Let's talk trees.  So, we literally live in a forest.  So Many Trees!  When we moved in, we knew that some of these trees were going to have to come down.  In June, we had 3 really bad storms come through.  By the time it was all said and done, we had trees down everywhere in not only our yard but our road.  Two neighbors had trees fall on their houses.  We had trees fall on our fence.

Below is some of the damage.  It does even begin to show the scope of trees that fell though.







We got a few quotes to have the more dangerous trees taken down.  By the time it was all said and done.  The best quote was 11 trees (8 big ones and 3 medium ones) for $7000.  Three trees in the front yard/ close to the house came down and the rest were on the right side as we are hoping to clean that section up.  My mom has always said to treat your yard like your house.... "Break it up into rooms and do one room at a time."  With the yard we have, I have to do this or else I would be totally overwhelmed.

As luck... AKA GOD, would have it, the crew cleaning up our neighbor's yard offered to haul off all the mess (around 10 trees that had fallen during the storm) for free.  These trees were not technically on our lot but since I front yard was already torn up due to our trees coming down, we gave them access.) So, the vast majority of the mess is picked up as well (we had gotten a quote of $3500 for this but decided we didnt have the money so for these guys to just show up and do it was a God-wink for sure.)  Our front yard looks a HOT MUDDY MESS but nothing some grass seed, plants, and pine needles and time will not fix.
This is from this winter but the bigger trees in the front part of this picture are now gone. 
The big leaning tree is the last one to come down and it coming down today.  Since I took this picture, we have had bigger tree equipment come through which has taken the little bit of moss/ weed/ grass and just made mud.  :) 

This spring I also conquered this bank.  For $300, mom and dad brought over some beautiful shrubs from a local nursery.  These things have grown so much
Before

After planting in April
And, a few weeks ago.  The pine needles are holding and I have bricked in the base.  I plan to continue on the sides in time.

 So, I look back on this and realize. Eh, we have done a lot.  But so much more to go. I head back to work in just 1 week so it will be a busy for sure.