First Day of Pre-K

So I don't know if anyone still even checks this blog since I can't seem to keep it updated but.....I am going to try again to start blogging.  I always love looking back at the blog to see what the boys were up to and I'm upset I don't have that for Allie or much of anything over the last year.

I will not even attempt to catch up because its just to much.  I'll just start with where we are now!!

Last week was the boys first day of Pre-K.  I as always was super sad to see them go but I actually didn't cry this year!!  I just knew they were so excited to get back into school so I was excited for them and all that they are going to learn this year.  Here are our first day pictures!!

They wanted Allie in the picture!

Brothers and the best of friends!

Luke looking so tall and grown up!

Cade looking all cute and grown up too!

They had a great first day and week!!  They quickly found out that their teacher and another student in their class are GA bulldog fans.  They told their teacher and classmate that bulldogs were yucky and they should be tech fans.  They then told their teacher they were going to buy her a Tech tshirt and make her wear it....ohh my!  They got in the car telling me all this and I thought oh no, what have we daddy created!!! :)  I told them it was okay to joke with others about it but to make sure they were still being respectful....daddy on the other hand was just beaming with pride!!

Today they had their first project due at school.  It was an "All About Me" project.  They could choose to tell all about themselves however they wanted and they had to bring it in and share it with the class.  The boys chose to bring in some items that told about them.

Cade's Items:

a GT helmet because he loves GT and playing football
Toy Story Chutes and Ladders because that is his favorite game to play
Broccoli because that is his least favorite food
PB&J because that is his favorite food to eat
a pic of him and daddy because that is his favorite person to hang out with
a phineas and ferb ball game because that is his favorite thing to play with Luke

Luke's Items:

A baseball because that is his favorite sport
Hungry, Hungry Hippo because that is his favorite game to play
corn because that is his least favorite food to eat
hot dog because that is his favorite food to eat
a pic of him at the beach with cousins Micah and Matty because they are his favorite people to hang out with
a phineas and ferb ball game because that is his favorite thing to play with Cade

So this pretty much sums them up for right now!! :)  Basically they like to play games and don't like to eat veggies!! Sounds like most 4 year olds I know!

I will update on Allie next post.....really, I am going to post again!! :)

Catch Up

I don't know why, but I just haven't really felt like blogging lately....we've had plenty going on, just hadn't really taken the time to blog about it!! So, while there are many things I could catch you up on, I'm just going to start with where we are now!!!

Allie is 6 months old!!!! I can't believe we are already half way through her first year. Honestly, every time I go to the doctor I leave feeling kinda sad because I just realize how fast she is growing up! I am loving every minute of that little girls life and I don't want it to go by too fast! She now weighs 18lbs and is obviously loving her "real" food! We are still on medication and special formula for her reflux, but hopefully by her 9 month appt. she will be growing out of that. She is just a laid back, go with the flow baby, thank goodness because we always seem to be on the go!! Her brothers LOVE to hold her (especially Luke) and stay in her face constantly!!

They are quick to her side when she needs anything!! They just melt my heart with how much they love her and how much she loves them!! I just love seeing them interact together! She thinks the world of them and they think she is pretty special too!! Not only do I have 1 baby this go around instead of 2, but I also have 2 additional helpers to help with that 1 baby....so it seems much easier this time around!!! :)

Just as fast as she seems to be growing, the boys seem to be growing up that fast too!! Sometimes I just look at how big they are getting (physically, emotionally, and mentally) and can't believe what amazing little young men they are growing into! They are such a handful sometimes, but they are constantly bringing a smile to my face!! Having a new baby in the house really forced them to become a little more independent. This has been very helpful, but it makes me sad that they don't need me as much anymore. The other night Luke asked me to put his pajamas on and he thought I was crazy when I got so excited just because he was going to let me help him do it!! :) Again, there are many stories I could share about them from the last couple of months, but this one is my favorite....

A few weeks ago we went to Zaxbys for dinner. A large group of teenagers were there all decked out in there prom gear!! Their bus had broken down so they had to eat at Zaxbys for dinner...bummer for them!!! Anyway, the boys were fascinated by all of the pretty girls and their "dancing clothes." They could hardly concentrate on dinner (especially Cade) for checking out all of the "pretty girls." So this started a conversation about when you get older you go to a dance at your school called prom. Joe and I explained that we did this when we were younger and they would do it someday when they were older. We even had to show them pics when we got home of when we went to prom...well Joe didn't have any but I did! Anyway.....ever since then they have really been into this whole dance party thing. So the other night, the boys start randomly asking how the boys and girls would dance together at the party....so that night when they were getting ready for bed, Joe and I showed them how you slow dance.....they were all smiles from ear to ear watching Joe and I dance. Joe showed them how you twirl a girl around and how you can "dip" a girl. (I thought we had a while before we had to show them all this!! :)) So, fast forward a couple of days and me and the boys are playing outside. We had the music going and Luke asked if we could have a dance party....out in the backyard.....with our bathing suits on (we had been playing in the water hose). So I said sure and just started messing around and dancing. The boys both said "No, I want to dance with you!" Luke then came up, wrapped himself around my legs and started swaying back and forth. Then he said "Mom, you have to get down here!" His head was at my waist and he just couldn't slow dance with me like that!! :) So I got down on his level the best I could and he just held me tight while we danced. He had to twirl me around and dip me while we were dancing all while having a huge smile on his face....and mine!!! Talk about melt my heart!!!! Then of course I had my turn with Cade and he twirled me and dipped me too!! They asked me to dance...out in the backyard....all sweaty and in our bathing suits!!! I just wanted to soak up that moment. All I could think of was one day I would be doing this again except they would be all grown up, taller than me and marrying the love of their lives..... Until then I am going to cherish the sweet moments like this when they just want to dance with me in the backyard!! I just can't even express how much I LOVE these boys!!!

My Big 4 Year Olds!

Wow, I can't believe it has been 4 years since the boys were born...and we are all still here and alive!! :) Honestly, now that I just have 1 baby I seriously look back and wonder how we did it. Most of their baby days are just a blur to me. We just went day by day and somehow we made it!

So last week the boys celebrated their 4th bday and were so excited. Luke for whatever reason woke up the day of his bday and very proudly stated that now that he is 4 years old, he can do whatever he wants to....he was very disappointed to find out that that was not the case! :) This statement pretty much sums up Luke! He is mr. independent and VERY strong willed (I don't know where he gets either of these qualities....)!! While these can be great traits to have at times....it makes for some long days around here. Luke is much like his daddy in the fact that he can sometimes look like a big ole' meanie on the outside, but he is really just a big ole' snuggly teddy bear. That boy loves to snuggle and I just eat it up!! He is constantly asking me to rub his back or his belly and he will often say "mommy, you wanna snuggle!" Of course I do!! I love this boy and his big brown eyes and dimples. He can be so sweet sometimes to be so defiant other times! At home, he is definitely the loud, dominant one of the two boys, but he completely changes out in public. Once again like his daddy, he becomes very reserved and often acts shy. He is quite the observer and he observes a situation for a long time before he becomes comfortable in it. Once he gets comfortable though....game on!! Of course I am biased but he is one smart little boy. The things he comes out with and remembers are just amazing to me. Luke is such a special little boy and I wouldn't change anything about him. He is perfect and I am so happy God blessed me with him!

Blowing out his bday candles at his Bounce U party!

So Cade is pretty much the opposite of everything I just said about Luke! They really are very different and I am glad. Cade is very much a rule follower...much like his mother. He wants to make people happy and proud of him so most of the time he does exactly what is asked of him with no trouble. Much like Luke this can be a really good trait, but I do hope as he gets older he will know when to stand up for what he believes in even when it is against the "flow" of everyone else. Cade is very dramatic and will let everyone know if he is hurt in anyway. If he just stubs his toe he screams like his toe was completely cut off!! Everything is a big deal to him and he wants everyone to notice. Although Luke is the dominant one at home, Cade just shines when he gets out in public. Most of the time he likes to be the center of attention and he has learned that being and saying silly things will get him a lot of attention so this is what he does. Cade just has the cutest face and it is very hard to resist when he wants something! He is very determined and if he has his mind on something...he is going to go for it! This definitely shows when Cade is playing sports. Cade is definitely a natural at sports and has been since his was wee little. He loves to play pretty much any sport and he would play it all day long as long as someone will play with him. Again, I know I am biased, but he is a great little ball player. We are constantly amazed at how good he can hit and throw the ball! Cade is such an amazing little boy and I wouldn't change a thing about him.

Blowing out his candles at his Bounce U party!

I am so thankful God chose me to be their mommy! What an honor to get to raise these 2 incredible boys!! I can't wait to see what God has in store for their lives. I know they are each going to do some amazing things!!

Happy 4th birthday guys!! Mommy and daddy love you Luke and Cade!! You mean the world to us!

At home the day of their birthday

Celebrating at Bounce U!

Words of a 3 year old

I have more wise words to share with you....

Luke was in and out of the bathroom many times yesterday while he was dealing with the stomach bug. About halfway through the day, he walked out of the bathroom, threw himself on the floor and said " Mom, when is Jesus going to heal me. He sure is taking a long time!!" Aaaa to have faith like a child...although he was getting a little impatient with Jesus he knew he was going to heal him he just wanted him to move a little faster with it!! I loved it!! I am so glad they know and believe that Jesus can heal...even the little things like the stomach bug! I am happy to say that as of today Jesus has healed him from the stomach bug!! :)

Happenings Around Here

As you can see I am still having a hard time staying caught up on the blog...been a little busy! I thought I would fill you in on what has been happening around here!

Allie was still such a good little baby up until she turned about 3 months old....

Then all of a sudden she just became a very irritable little girl. Although we had only known her for 3 months it just didn't seem like her little personality. I didn't know what was going on and just thought we were maybe going through a rough spot. Long story short....after about 2 weeks of this I just knew something more was going on. I took her to the doctor and they said she had a little acid reflux and was probably not getting enough to eat (she is a big girl :) ) After adding some medicine to her daily routine, changing to expensive formula and adding cereal to her bottle...our sweet baby girl is back!!! Thank goodness!!!! She is sleeping so much better and just so content. She is wonderful and her brothers are still in love with her as you can see!!!

Allie has been enjoying her exersaucer!! Thank goodness for

2 older brothers with hand me down toys!! :)

I was sooooo excited to see the weather report for this week!! I had such great things planned for outside....

We got to enjoy some of those things on Sunday, but then it all went down hill after that! Since Monday we have been battling a stomach bug around our house. :( It started Valentine's Day morning with Cade (so romantic) then moved on to Luke today. I would love to think the rest of us will be spared, but I'm sure we won't be so lucky. Here are some pics of us playing outside before all the nastiness hit!!

I think Allie is still a bit of a momma's girl, but she sure does love her daddy!

I had cute little outfits picked out for all the kids for Valentine's Day,

but with all the sickness I only got pics of Allie in her Valentine's outfit.

This is the look I get when Luke sneaks into the room and makes eye contact with her...

she loves her brothers! :)

Now, I'm off to wash more clothes and clean up more mess!!

Wise Words of a 3 Year Old

So I have decided I am going to start a new segment for the blog called "Wise Words of a 3 Year Old." The boys are forever saying hilarious things that I want to remember, but inevitably after a few days I forget what they said. That is why I am going to start this segment so I can document the funny things they say and look back on it someday! So here is the first one:

About a week ago me and the crew loaded up in the car to take the boys to school. It was a very cold morning and they boys did not want to get in their seats because they were cold. I quickly convinced them to just sit down and told them their seats would warm up soon... A few minutes down the road, Cade very seriously looked at me and said "Mom, I know how you can warm your seat up...just toot in it." I started cracking up. Then I gained composure and asked him if he had tried this and if it worked. He quickly replied "Yes I tried it and it did work!! I told Luke to just toot in his seat too so it would warm up." I couldn't help but hysterically laugh for a few minutes and enjoy my stinky, warm seated :) ride to school!!! Gotta love the things kids come up with!! So next time you have to get in your cold car with a cold seat...just toot and it will warm right up!!!

Allie is 2 months old!

Well we survived all the craziness of the holidays and had a great time celebrating Jesus' birthday!! As usual, I took way to many pics and could spend hours posting them all, but I just don't have the time! :) Just know that we had a wonderful Christmas with our family and Joe and I spent a wonderful New Year's Eve having a nice dinner without children!!

I can't believe we are past all of the holidays and Allie is already 2 months old! Time flies!!

Allie had her 2 month check up yesterday and here are her stats:

weight: 12lbs, 4oz (90th percentile)

height: 22.5 in (50th percentile)

Whoa she has gotten so big!!! I had to already box up her newborn clothes because they don't fit her anymore. I was so sad to already be done with that phase. :( It goes by so fast and I just want to relish in every little joy of her being a baby. A few nights ago, I walked in the boys room to check on them before I went to bed and I just sat there watching them sleep with mixed feelings. I was sad because they are just getting so big and growing up so fast, but I was also happy to think of all they have become and will continue to be! I am excited to see the little person Allie is going to be, but I sure don't want to rush it!!! Anyway....

Allie has been the greatest baby. She rarely gets upset or cries, but when she does...she makes it loud and clear!! She has been sleeping through the night for a few weeks now and I am so thankful for that! She likes to take small naps during the day, but if you know me...you know I am already working on getting her on a napping and eating schedule!! We have the eating schedule down pretty good, but the napping is a little harder! We'll get there!! She is really starting to smile and laugh which just melts my heart! Her favorite time to "talk" is when she is laying on her changing table. For some reason, she always has a lot to say after her diaper is changed! Her brothers are still madly in love with her and still continue to tell me that they want to keep her! (Thank goodness because I think I want to keep her too!!) Now that she is 2 months old, we are starting to take her out with us a little more. Every time we leave the house now, the boys ask if Allie can come and if she can be around a lot of people yet...I think they are just so excited to show her off! :)

She watches their every move!

(BTW - I realize the flower on her head is the same size as her head and looks a little silly...but I still thought it was cute/funny!!)

Love this smile!!