The gift of Giving

Lately Justin and I have really been talking to our kids about taking things for granted.  As adults we take alot for granted even when we don't think we are we all do.  So we have been wanting to do something to help our kids see things differently and see that even when they think we are the meanest parents or they do get told no from time to time that they actually have everything they could possibly want just having two parents that live in the same house that truly love each other and love their kids more then life is more then some kids have.  We have been looking and waiting for the right thing to come along for us to be apart of and it came.  Braden is part of the 4H and one of our moms thought it was a great idea to have a toy drive with our kids and donate these items to the Children at Buckner's.  What is Buckner's?  Buckner's has been around for more than 135 years, Buckner International has been transforming lives through hands-on ministry, serving the most vulnerable from the beginning to the ending of life. Buckner is one of the oldest and most unique faith-based social service organizations of its kind, serving hundreds of thousands of people each year in the United States and around the world.  I have heard about Buckner's through various benefits and I have never researched or looked into it.  There was  a group of us that got together and delivered the gift to the children's village and we got to see where some live.  I learned alot just in that little time I was there and asked questions.  I have never been the type to ask questions or really get involved I just sit back and listen but something about this place had my heart I wanted to know more.  

It broke my heart to hear some of the stories.  Made me realize that we take so much for granted everyday.  I am not sure how much my kids got out of it there was little questions asked but I know it is coming.  (The questions started the next morning during breakfast) I am praying that this will be something our family becomes apart of .  They explained things that we could do for these children that will help and I can see this happening in our future.  I am very proud of all of the kids for doing this.  We made some children have a Merry Christmas. 

Learning about fire!

This past week  Carter has been learning about fires and what your suppose to do when there is one at your house.  He came home from school and was so excited he was telling us all about what he learned ( we go through this lots of times with our kids at our house but I guess since I am not in a fireman outfit it doesn't sink in :))   he was telling Emma where we are suppose to meet at.  This is something I pray daily about that we never have to go through this ordeal.  I always always tell our kids to never come find us but we also live in a trailer house and the windows are not the easiest things to open I have a hard time so I know my kids will never be able to open them so we have fire bats that are placed by their bed and we tell them to bust their windows out with that and help each other out well I guess this part Carter did listen to because it had to do with his baseball bat so as I am listening to him talk to Emma and was telling her what she needed to do if there was a fire I couldn't help but smile. As I was tucking Emma into bed one night I asked her why she had a bat by her bed and she looked at me and shrugged her shoulders and said Carter put it there for me in case there is a fire I will be able to get out....WOW!!  I was so happy to hear this I always worry about Justin and I teaching our kids the right things and this just showed me that yes we are.  Our kids really do love each other and care about each other even when they are fighting.  Thank you GOD for showing me this simple act of kindness shown by my kids.

It has been awhile....

Well I guess you could say that we have been busy the last six months or at  least I can use that as my excuse for being MIA on here!!  Lots has happen since my last post!  We had sweet summertime!! Yes this momma loves summertime with her kiddos!!  We tried to do as much as we could those three months but it flew by and we are all so bummed!  We did lots of camping trips, went to the Frio River with some friends, waterparks, sleepovers, the lake, beach trips,  stayed up late and slept late!!  Agh I just want to go back to summertime!!  Emma turned 4 in July so we had her birthday at the bounce zone she had a blast!!  Braden turned 10 yikes in September!  We took him and some friends to play laser tag, bowling, and pizza!  Now we are trying to get back into the routine of school!  Braden started a new campus which he is loving, Carter is trying to like school but it has been a rough start but hey we will get there!  Just takes some time!!  Emma has started her mothers day out again at the church and she/we LOVE it!!  Hard to believe that sweet baby girl will be starting  Kindergarten next year (tears)!!  Carter has started fall ball and Emma has started tumbling and dance!  They are both excited and loving it!  Braden has taken this time off from sports we are currently getting things ready for our new pig which we should be getting in November so we are looking forward to that!  Braden played Allstar during the summer and we were super proud of him!  He did awesome!  Could go on and on and brag on him but I will just say he made us extremely proud!!

Emma sweet sweet Emma

Yes I think I left Emma out of the last blog but she has been a very busy little girl.  Lol she is ROTTEN!!  She is changing so much and I love it.  She is very much a girly girl but can be a tomboy to!!  She loves to get in the mud with the boys then come inside and put a dress on!!  I will share this funny but embarrassing story with you.  The other day Emma and I had to run an errand for Justin which was at a dealership so we go into this guys office and  he is speaking to me and Emma asked if she could go potty and I said yes it was right across from this guys office so I could see the door and everything. So as we are continuing our conversation the guy starts laughing and at this moment I realized I have done the mommy thing where you tune out your child and focus on this conversation in front of me, well this sweet little Emma was in the bathroom singing at the top of her lungs "I am pooping on the Potty, I am pooping on the potty"  I wanted to die!!  Needless to say I hurried up went into the bathroom to explain to her you don't sing this out loud in public places!!!  Do you think she understood NO!!!  But anyway I am enjoying all of the little things with her...we paint toenails and fingernails, put on makeup, cook, she loves to clean, we just planted some flowers that she had picked out, and she loves having her hair braided!!  

Time keeps flying by...updates from the past month or so!!

So these months are just flying by right now so this will be kinda of an update of what has been happening lately....

Baseball is in full swing and boy has it been a blast!!  The boys are doing amazing!!!  Yes I am bragging but I have bragging rights!! Justin and I are completely amazed at the boys and we are loving how they are growing so much and the pure joy we get watching them play ball and the excitement they have for the game!  Carter is loving baseball he wants to practice everyday and sometimes he is by himself having a full blown game going on out there, he wants to watch it every night on TV, counts down the days to his game we are just shocked by all of this but we love it!  His past game he hit the ball to the outfield brought two guys home and made it to third base (which is where daddy is coaching) and he was so excited I am so glad Justin was there and them to have that moment together, during this same game he made a double play and of course this momma was beyond excited for him!!  Bradens team is doing awesome just as well we are 7-0 which feels so good to Braden!!  He is on kid pitch and so these games are a little more intense....he plays second base which he loves and is very good at it!   He struggles here and there with getting good hits but when he gets a hit it is a great one!!  Love seeing him smile and enjoying it just as much, but he is a little more serious about it then Carter! He has only pitched one time this year so far and he did awesome for his first time very calm and relaxed!  If you have a chance you should take the time to come watch them play but then again I am there mom and so proud of them!! 

 

Lets see we had spring break some where in the midst of all of this which we spent some days camping with a great group of friends from out here.  We went to the KOA in Brookeland which they have lots of land to ride 4wheelers on and the kids had a blast.  It was muddy!!  They got to fish in the creek that ran through it and caught a lot of fish!  It was a great week!

School fire... the kids returned to school the Monday after spring break and that Tuesday morning I am awaken by several friends texting me telling us the school was on fire.  I thought Justin was playing a terrible joke on me so we turned the TV on and just watched in shock as our kids school was burning.  Tears filled my eyes thanking the Lord above that my kids were safe in their beds. To be honest this is a blessing after hearing the stories about the roof leaking in the kids classroom and teachers just place cups or buckets to catch the water like it is normal.   So not normal and not healthy at all.  The kids were out for another week and a half.  Braden lost his classroom basically he has been relocated to the middle school and Carter was returned to his regular classroom. Now the countdown to summer time!!

 

Wilbur....so if you have been following me at all you have heard about our sweet pig!  Boy have we gotten attached to this pig (yes a pig) I know I am totally shocked that I would get so attached to a PIG!  We could let him out and he would just hang out like a dog while the kids were playing or if he saw Braden he would take off in a dead sprint to him.  He was to cute! But anyways the Fair has come and gone and we are so proud of Braden!  He got out there and showed his pig very proudly!  The pigs are divided into classes based on their weight and of course Wilbur was at the top, he went in weighing around 272 was the last actual weight we have on him. There were a lot of pigs in this class and we were the last class to show which made for a very long nerve racking day.  Braden did not place during this particular show Wilbur needed more fat in his stomach area which we already knew was an issue so it was not a huge disappointment to us. Braden was very upset though and said he was done and didn't want to show again, which the kids do another show that is called Showmanship which is where Braden gets in the arena again with his pig and several other kids ranging from 9 to 14 years old (which I think is crazy because you have the new kids at 9 coming in and the more experienced kids at 14) and they show the pig but the judge is looking at Braden and how well he shows his pig and keeps total control of him and even making him pen his pig and unpen him with no help so after explaining all of this to you Braden refused to do this show which I understand he thought he would lose again and be turned away which I was scared that would happen again but we told him this all part of it.  So after some time and some grandparents talking to him and making some deals and some of his sweet friends talking him into it he decided that he would do it.

Well let me just tell you that I was a nervous wreck.  I was standing there with my dad and we were watching Braden and I think we were both surprised how that little boy got out there and had total control of his pig .  He did everything he was suppose to do and Wilbur never left Bradens side. I was so proud of him and was so amazed that he went from being so upset about the first show to getting out there and held his head up and showed his pig to that judge.  When your showing pigs you want the judge to pen you which means you go to the pens and you and your pig are together and they let the other pigs go (they must leave the arena) then they bring the top ten kids back out again.  Well I was standing there with my dad and Braden was the last kid to be sent to the pen with his pig and I was overwhelmed with joy and I just looked at my dad and wanted to cry.  I was so happy for him and I was so blessed to have my dad next to me during this moment.  Braden was sent back out but they only pick one winner for showmanship but he did get in the top ten which is so awesome for a 9 year old.  But he deserved it.  I want to say thank you to my Mom and Dad for helping us during this very long weekend.  I am glad to have shared this time with y'all and the kids. Also thank you to those that came out on your Sunday to support Braden it was a very long day and we really appreciate y'all being there.  And most important to my mom, dad, and Marurice for buying Wilbur from Braden we are truly blessed to have each of you in our lives. 

Fishing/camping!

Yes finally camping!!  Much needed relaxation from the stressful weeks!  Things have been hectic since school has started back, baseball, and trying to get our pig ready for the fair!  I should have known after last year that after Christmas break school is no longer fun (as Carter is stating)!  But his teacher just went out on maternity leave and trust me when I say this I told myself that my child would have no problems with this transition and boy was I WRONG!!  He loves his teacher and loved going to school so this has became a MAJOR issue for this momma come morning time!! He begs and pleads for me to let him stay home with me and that school is no longer fun and I know what it is, he misses his teacher terribly and I have no idea how to make things better for him.  I have reached out to the principal and the substitute teacher (which there have been a few things that  have upset him with her and like I said he loves his REAL teacher so this is hard for him) and I am now hoping things will get better but I honestly don't think he will be happy until she returns!  So this has made school morning terrible because my poor heart just wants to keep him home and make him happy but I know I can't so then I just worry and stress all day about him and how his day is going and can't wait to pick him up and pray that he had a good day and made the best of it. Then baseball has started which we love our kids playing and Carter is super excited about it so that has made things a little better for him gives him something to look forward to after school, Braden has also started and is doing great!!  The boys are on different teams unlike last year so things have gotten pretty busy and very fast! But everyone is excited and looking forward to the season!  Braden and Wilbur (his pig) have been working hard on getting ready for the big show next at the end of March!  I think daddy is more stressed out about the pig then any of us!  Which there is a lot that goes into this not just feed your pig and show him!  We have to be a certain weight and he cant' go over or we can't show so then we lose out on all of the  money we have spent on him and trust me it has not been cheap!  But Braden has done great and has kept up the responsibilities that have came with the pig (which was a reason we are doing this)! We are looking forward to the show and pray that Braden does great and that our pig will make the sale!  So after all of this and that fishing/camping trip was well needed here!  We had a great time and enjoyed some great weather!  Can't wait to go camping again!!

Snow day?

Seriously???  I recently told Justin that I would love to live where it had four REAL season (fall, winter, spring, and  summer) but now I think to myself this is crazy!!  Last week we had a snow day (this is when we have something fall from the skies here in southeast Texas that is not rain or hell and people here don't know what to do so the whole town is canceled) which was no big deal we had sleet and frozen ice everywhere and my parents had snow at their home in Woodville ( very pretty) but we had another snow day yesterday and ok really two days in a week time is not fun! For one I do not like to be INSIDE and neither do my kids!!  I was hoping for shorts and flip flop weather not gloves, hoodies, and snow outfits I mean seriously! I am over it!! I do not want to live where there are four seasons I want to live where I can wear shorts at Christmas time, not really but you get my point! 

Bradens first pig show

Braden had his very first pig show (jack pot show), these are small shows that are given to all the kids in the surrounding areas to allow the kids practice showing their pigs and getting ready for the big show, which for us will be the Southeast Texas State Fair.  It was a great experience for us and Braden! We learned a lot and had a great time. We have a great group of kids and parents and I am amazed how helpful everyone has been.