Wilbur

So as most people know I am not the biggest animal person, Braden has joined 4H and we got a pig and guess what his name is Wilbur!  We have gotten very attached to him, he is so sweet and so much fun! He has been a learning process for all of us! Braden has taken great care of him morning and night! 

Carter's 7th Birthday

Well I say this every year but poor Carter having a birthday around Christmas bummer!  It is always a hit and miss with everyone having family Christmas parties, but this year was good we had his party at Extreme bounce and Cartet had a great time! All he was worried about was playing some dodge ball!  

Christmas 2013

Whew we survived another crazy busy Christmas!  We had a great Christmas this year the kids loaded up on a bunch of good stuff! The boys got 4 wheelers and bikes, Emma got a new bike and a big kitchen she has been cooking up a storm! The boys have loved the four wheelers and that I am thankful for! I love seeing our kids outside playing and not sitting in front of the tv or game console. Mema and Pawpaw built them a big swing set and they love it. I am so blessed to have grandparents that love to build things that will last a lifetime for our kids.  We had Chistmas with Justin's mom and stepdad and it was fun played games drank some wine and lots of laughter!  I am truly thankful for our amazing family.

Deer season

So we missed out on opening Weekend daddy had to work so we went the following weekend! Braden has been so pumped about going hunting that he was super excited! We took him on youth weekend at my parents house and he was so nervous he told us that he couldn't sleep but they didn't see anything so he was really looking forward to our trip to west Texas!  So the first hunt they go on he and his daddy they had bucks all under their feeder so. Justin gets him all set up and ready to shoot and Braden told his daddy that he wanted to shoot the one walking up so Justin was kinda like what he had him shooting a nice 8pt but Braden thought the one coming up to the feeder had a bigger body and that was what he wanted so Justin told him ok so Braden did, he shot it and he hit the ground and he was so excited he was screaming I can only imagine the excitement Justin felt to! Braden had no idea but he shot his first buck and it was a10 pt!  I will never forget the text from Justin telling me he got it the tears came and I was so proud of him! I shot my first one and I know how excited I was and I was 29 years old!!  I am so blessed that we as parents and can witness these moments with our children!

Halloween!!

I love Halloween!! I always ask the kids what they would like hoping there would be something we could recycle for the previous years but Braden requested to be a warewolf, Emma was a princess, and Carter wanted to be a vampire! Pretty simple right!! I went out shopping looking for all of these Customes and came across a gorilla I thought maybe Carter would want to be this thought it would be so much fun!!! I got it and of course Emma was TERRIFIED so we end up returning it after I had a little fun scaring my own children with it (hehe)! But anyhow the kids looked awesome and we had a great Halloween!

Braden's 9 birthday

This year Braden asked once again to have a sleepover so we allowed him to invite some kids we started out at only five then it just kept growing we had twelve kids offer here and let's just say my house is not big enough! It rained on us so that messed up some of our plans but it did not ruin the fun for those kids! They had a great time! Lots of memories were made!

Big girl bed!

So Emma has made some new transitions and it has not been fun! I love my sleep that is all I can say about this I am sure this one of the deciding factors of having a fourth kid is do I really want to go back to no sleep with three other kids! I guess that is Gods plan for us but anyways she has gone from her crib to a toddler bed which was great for awhile then it was to the point she was getting up every night and getting in bed with us! I couldn't figure out what the deal was then I realized she kept falling out of the bed so I tried to fix that and she is so wild at night she flopped over her railing so we decided to get her a twin bed! Still she gets up several times a night and I put her back into her bed but this is ongoing and I am exhausted I just want a full nights sleep with nobody waking up! It is not that she wants in our bed either so for those that think she sleeps with us your wrong I just get up and walk. Her to her bed and get her to sleep and then she wakes up in a couple of ours and we start over! Maybe this is his way of getting me ready for another baby! Haha wishful thinking (I think)!

Fall ball

Braden is playing baseball at ford park, he moved up to kid pitch which has been a slight adjustment! At his first game he decided he wanted to give pitching a try and he did. He was not that great walked several kids but I was so proud of him just for getting out there and trying!  There is possibility that he will do good at pitching it is just up to him to decide if this is what he is really wanting to do he will have to work at it. But he Is loving baseball and having fun and that is all we ask!

Mother's Day out!

So we decided to put Emma in a Mother's Day out for only one reason she was missing the boys and wanted to have someone to play with besides me! Lol! The first day was great she was beyond excited, the second time (she only goes to Mother's Day out once a week) was awful she screamed and screamed even down the hall terrible I know but her teacher said once I left she was ok, third time this was daddy's turn she latched on when he tried to leave but once again she was fine, this week she was a little upset but not has bad and she was all smiles after I left! She had her first play date with a little girl she has made friends with today and we both had a great time! So we shall see if we still have tears next week!

First day of school!

Braden is in third grade, Carter is in first! So far so good! Things are going great for everyone! Been hard to get back into the swing of things!  Now I am counting down to next summer ;)

Learning from my children!

There is so much to learn in life and most of it comes from me just listening to my children! I have learned to have more patience even though I wish I had more with them, talking, being open with them! Braden was in a situation nothing bad or major but it was where i questioned him about defending himself when someone is messing with him because that is the way I am and he told me" Because God did not put him here to be mean to people but to be nice to everyone" wow! So we of course went into this long talk about his brother because they fight like crazy which is expected I don't think we all get along with our siblings all the time and how people might treat his brother anyways it was a very good talk!  Braden has such a big heart and makes me so proud and blessed to be his mom! I asked God today in church to help me have more patience and be a better mom or just to show me what I needed to do and he does, he teaches me through my children! Just thought I would share this moment with all of you!

Swimming!

Our kids have never taken swim lessons they have just learned! I said this year we were going to do it and we have not still but I must say the kids are doing amazing! I think they are way braver then me! Braden reminds me so much of my Uncle Clayton he can hold his breathe for so long that it kinda scares me at some moments! Carter is like a little puppy right now but is getting better! Emma has made some big progress! At first she would only swim with a little tube around her with floats on her arms now check her out!

Another little camping trip!

So at the last minute we decided to go on another camping trip! We loaded up and went to Lake Livingston and stayed at a park call Northshore resort it was so nice! They had a pool, splash pad, playground, pretty sandy beach area but the best thing was it was not the ocean!  We ate, swam, slept, rode bikes, and relaxed! Met new people and watched the kids make new friends! 

Emma Grace!

This child cracks us up constantly! Lately she has been showing her prissy butt which makes it very hard to get on to her because we laugh at her I know wrong thing to do! Yesterday I put her in Nana's truck and she told me to shut the freakin door, she loves "oh shit", tells the boys to shut up all the time! She is prissy and so tomboyish! Her mema bought her a dress which is now to small but she calls it her princess dress she wants to wear it everyday! So yes we have to wash this dress every night! She has also picked up some bad habits to!  We now pee in the yard where ever she is if she has to go she takes everything off spreads her legs and pee!  Lordy Lordy! This is her dress and I must not forget her high heels either ;)

Camping

So for the last year Justin and I have gone back and forth about purchasing another camper, well this summer we did it! We have gone twice camping and the kids love it! We went to the lake twice and the kids play from the time they wake till their sweet heads hit the pillow!  Makes my heart smile and just reassures me that we made the right decision! I love making these awesome memories with our family!  Already planning another trip in a couple weeks but we are going some where besides the lake!

End of school!

So for the last month or so of the school year it has taken everything we had to get up and get ready for school, especially Carter!  He hated the last month of school at least that is what we thought! Every single morning he had a stomach ache and it just got worse and worse now that we are into summertime he has not had a stomach yet! Kinda ironic don't you think! When he got home from school on the lag day he was so excited about going to 1st grade!  I have no idea what we will do with him!

Baseball

Our season has come to an end kinda bittersweet! I loved having the boys on the same team! I am very proud of both of them they have grown so much and are great ball players! They had a lot of fun and that is all that mattered! Our team came in third place! The team all together learned so much and improved a lot! Very very proud of all of our kids! Thank you to everyone that came out and watched them play they loved having all of you!

10 year anniversary

Justin and I decided it was time to go on a trip with NO kids! Yikes! We made plans to go to Hot Springs Arkansas and stay at a bed and breakfast. It was absolutely beautiful! Our place was off of a lake and our room had a balcony! I don't think I have been that relaxed! It was wonderful! We went and took baths on bathhouse row it is water from the natural spring and it was HOT! Had a nice massage and facial! We did not make any plans just went with it! I am so glad Justin pushed for us to do it. Something we need to do more often.

First communion!

Yay we did it! I could not be more proud of Braden! I have to say this is not something we pushed him a whole lot into doing it is something he wanted to do but also part of being Catholic! He has learned so much and I have enjoyed our talks about the things he has learned. It has brought me a little closer to my faith and has really made me start to think about things! As I tucked him in tonight he asked me if we would be making it to church next Sunday and I said of course and he was actually excited! Made my heart smile! We had lots of family that came to celebrate this special day with him! I want to say thank you so much Gran, Mema, Pawpaw, Grandpa Lulue, Nana, Aunt Lee, Aunt Helen, Diana and her kiddos, Nicole, Adam, Bay, Addie, Travis, Katrina and the kids, Jim, Roya, Makenna, Sheri, Aunt Carolyn, Candace and Drew for taking time out of your day to be there! Braden hardly ever ask me where anyone is after events and today he wanted to know where each of you were that is how special each of you are to him! Yes he is a kid and I am sure some of you think he doesn't know or ask but he does and today it showed! He was very proud and so was I! Love all of you so much and we are very blessed to have each of you in our lives!

Baseball!

So update in baseball the boys are doing great! Braden is knocking the fire out of the ball and he is playing first base (making some errors but he is learning from that), Carter plays third and outfield the other day he caught his first pop up and I think mom was more excited then he was then got two unassisted outs at third! He was on fire! He even got his first game ball!! They are both so much fun to watch!! I love that they are enjoying and learning so much!

Carter lost his first tooth!

Carter has had a lose tooth for some time now but it was to the point where it was just hanging there! Gross! I know! I do not do teeth makes my stomach flip flop! He would get in the car after school, and show me his tooth it would just lay there with his tongue ugh made me sick! Justin tried pulling it one afternoon with fishing string and it didn't work! The tooth was driving Carter crazy! He even told me at one of his baseball games that he wanted to get hit in the mouth with a ball to knock it out! So we went and got his teeth cleaned and the dentist pulled it out for us! Yay! All he wanted from the tooth fairy was a lollipop! He was one happy boy!

Potty time!

So we have tried many many times to do the whole potty thing and just never seems to go well, so I decided I would wait for Emma to tell me when she was ready! She woke up last Monday and said she didn't want to wear a diaper and I was not to thrilled but decided here we go! Amazing enough this little girl has done AWESOME! I am so proud of her! I am so glad that this is behind us!

Spring break

Yes spring break! It flew by! We spent the week at our camp doing some much needed work! We worked our butts off and I am more then thrilled at the progress that we made! We got it repainted, got countertops down (made from concrete), painted a wall inside, did odds jobs that have been put off!! So next on our list is floor, roof, and trim!

First Reconcilation!

So as some of you should know that Braden will be making his first communion this April so we are going through the process to get to that big day! We had first Reconcilation and wow not sure which of us was more nervous! As a family their are things we have to do One of them is to bring the gifts on a Saturday or Sunday during mass (piece of cake right) no! Justin is so nervous about this part like literally sick about it! He does NOT like to be in front of people period and if any of you remember our wedding he was a basket of nerves sweat was pouring off of his head that day as we were standing there saying our vows! Next is First Reconcilation for Braden but parents are allowed to do it also (piece of cake) yes for Justin!! Lol. Me and Braden were so nervous I have not gone to confession in over 20 years prob since my first communion so I just said that I was not going to do it Braden and Justin were on there own for this one! Justin was not one ounce of being nervous I was like are you kidding me! I would walk down and bring gifts ever Sunday then go to confession! Well the day of first Reconcilation came and Justin finally started to crawfish out of it! I told him I don't think so! So needless to say the three of us walked into church nervous as all get out because we were all three doing this together (I actually thought Braden was going to throw up in church because he was that nervous) when we walked out we were so proud of each other! We did it together! It was an amazing feeling to walk out of confession and have your 8 year old come up to you and hug you and say momma I am so proud of you! I can honestly say I am truly blessed beyond words that God gave me three amazing kids and an amazing husband that even when we are scared or nervous we can get through anything together!

Basketball!

So basketball has come to an end and we could not be more proud of our boys! For it to be their first time to play they did AWESOME! We were so surprised by Braden we actually thought he would not like it but that little boy got out there and played with his heart and was so aggressive! There was no fear when it came down to him and the ball! Carter had a blast! We laughed so much because he might not have known what he was suppose to do he got out there and gave it his all and never gave up! The boys are looking forward to playing again next year! Now time for some baseball!

Chickens!

We were sitting on the steps the other day and we let our chickens run around the yard and our rooster does that cockadoodledo thing all day and night , so he walks up (the rooster) to us on the stairs where justin, me, and Emma were at and does that cockadoodledo thing and Emma looks at it says " shut up chickens" so I guess the cockadoodledo is getting on Emma's nerves because she was not very nice about it either!

Family time!

We have been so crazy here lately and have not had a chance to go to our camp so finally we just said we are doing this we need to get away! So we packed the kids up and loaded 4wheelers and golf cart and took off! We rode most of the day Sunday on my parents land and it was so nice! Brought back the old days just with a bunch of kiddos enjoying it to! It was nice to be in the middle of the woods with no tv...no iPods....no Xbox....no iPads....nothing we told the kids even on the drive there no electronics period! It was awesome is all I can say! There is so much going on right now that has us on emotional roller coaster that it was great not to see, hear, or think about any of it! There will be more of these days to come because it was just that AWESOME!

Ribs!

We went and celebrated our nephews birthday in kemah and we picked Justin's mom up along the way she owns a bar b q place on the way and the kids love her BBQ . Had a great time at the party and on our way home Carter ask Gran (Justin's mom) if he could get some BBQ on a leg when we got to her house. We laughed and laughed he wanted ribs! Duh who would have thought BBQ on a leg!

Monkey!

So a few months ago I thought Emma was ready for her toddler bed so we put it up and took down the crib and she did awesome and loved it! But she was getting up at 6 in the morning and climbing book shelf....playing in the wipes pretty much destroying her room because she could not open her door! So up the crib went figured we needed to wait a little longer! Well I should have known she would get out of it soon! Sitting in the living room last night and I hear her light go on so I open her door and she stands up and says with a huge smile on her face "Good Morning Mommy" I was like no no no it is 8:00 at night it is bed time! Put her back to bed and she went to sleep!! We are so in for it!

Tea party

Emma loves her tea parties! They are all day everyday! She collects everything tea pot, tray, cups, spoons, and babies and she sits in the play room and has a party all by herself! I love watching and listening to her!

Last hunt!

Bittersweet we love going to our deer lease! We love our deer lease family have made such great new friends and love each of them! It is always a great time out there! This trip was COLD and rainy! Not to excited since ME personally have been sick for what seem like months was finally feeling great so I was a little nervous about us being in the cold and rain but we made it and had a great time even though I felt like the kids were bouncing off the walls in our small trailers! But like my mom said they are kids making the best of a rainy situation! We usually just ride around the lease looking for deer but we all decided to go hunting Emma and Me went and sat in a blind, Justin and Braden went and Pawpaw and Carter went! Emma and I were ready bundled up, heater, books, food, drinks, ipad, baby doll, pacifier, blanket hell you would have thought we were staying the night but we had fun just the two us and and didn't see a darn thing!! It was great!! I loved it!

New Years!

Yay!! We made it another year! So looking forward to this year! We enjoyed our New Year at our deer lease! No stress just relaxation! So this year we are making goals or at least I am first one is to finish our camp yes this on going project will be complete this year keep your fingers crossed! Second is the start of our home! It will be one step not a big one but big enough for us, third is to better our health we got a jump start last year but this year will be way better!

Snow!

Yep snow can not believe it! Sitting here at the lease watching it snow out the window! We are waiting for it to start sticking (hopefully) so we can go play!! The kids are so excited so are the adults!! Hehe!! So on day 2 of all the snow we were suppose to get it actually was not to much where we were but up the road there was lots more! Kids were disappointed when we went home and saw it all the side of the road at 2:00 in the afternoon and it was still 38 degrees outside! Yes to cold for momma! Home bound we were! Don't get me wrong I like COOL weather not cold!! I am not an inside person by any means so bring on SPRING?