An Empty Carseat

Easton started pre-K last week. I had dreaded that day since the day he was born. The day he would be big and no longer a "little" boy. The day that the changes start...new words (not usually nice ones), new attitudes (not usually nice ones either), and a different outlook on life in general. When Britton and Landon started I worried also. How would the "outside" world treat them and how would they respond? Are they big enough to stand up for themselves if they need to? I had been able to control what they saw and heard up until they went to school and just like that...I have no control. I am not complaining...don't get me wrong...I have been so blessed to be able to stay home with each of them for their first 4 years and many parents don't have that luxury. But it also makes it so difficult to "let go" when I've held on for so long.

Easton had been dreading preschool almost as much as me since his birthday back in March. He woke up the day of his birthday crying because he didn't want to turn 4 because 4 meant preschool. After a few weeks, we were able to convince him that school didn't start until Sept.

Sept. 8: Crying for 2 hours before bed. "I don't want to go to school tomorrow. I want to stay home with you. You will be all alone. I DON'T want to go." Over and over and over again until he cried himself to sleep.

Sept. 9: We got up and got ready. He kept mentioning he didn't want to go, but as long as I kept him moving and his mind on other things, no crying. Chad went with me to drop him off. No crying. He went in his class, hung his backpack on his hook, took out his folder and sat at his table and colored. Just that easy. I was sad and relieved and happy all at the same time. I saved my tears until we got out the door and thank goodness for really big sunglasses.

Chad drove me back home and went on to work while I sat in the living room and had my breakdown (which only lasted about 30 min.). I spent the rest of the morning on the phone, so my mind was occupied. Getting in the car to go pick him up was so strangely quiet. I turned around before I left to make sure he was buckled and realized for the first time in over 10 years I didn't have a child in the carseat. I've always had someone with me. Britton was born 10 years ago and then Landon came 18 months later. Then Easton came when Landon was 4 before he started preschool and there hasn't been a break in all that time where one of my babies hasn't been in a carseat. For me...it has been a sad realization AND a nice retreat. He's only at preschool for 3 hours a day, 3 days a week. It's not like he's gone all day, every day. One of those 3 days I take a class, but on the other 2 days...it's just me. So far...I've shopped. I need to be home cleaning the house or doing something productive, but to be able to go to a store and not have to drag someone out of the clothes racks or listen to complaining about "can this be the last store" is like a little gift. I miss my kids terribly when they are gone, but this quiet that I have discovered is becoming a really precious treasure that I look forward to each week.

I picked him up and the first thing he said, "The playground is HORRIBLE!". I couldn't help but laugh. He said is was so "babyish" and he would never play on it. So far, he still hasn't. He doesn't talk in class, but he will shake his head yes or no. He wouldn't sit on the carpet during storytime the first 2 days, but I bribed him with a sucker and he sat on it Mon. and today. He's so stubborn that I wonder if he will talk to his teacher at all this year. One thing I don't have to worry about with him is talking too much!

The Fastest Summer EVER!

Wow! It's been a while since I've been on here. So much has been going on...and just like that...summer's over. Today, the first day of school for Britton and Landon. Britton going to 5th grade and a new school; Landon going to 3rd grade and thinking he's grown. Easton will start preschool in Sept. I can't even talk about that yet.

It's been a good summer. We went camping at Buffalo National River, Chad officiated Arena football and got in the SEC as an official, swimming lessons, baseball season, swim meets, Baton Rouge, VBS, triathlon, Britt's birthday, Chad's birthday...I'll have to go back and look at some pics to remember everything. We've been busy and had a lot of fun.

I'm going into this coming school year with high hopes and expectations...both for my kids and myself. More organization, more quality time, more routines. This will be difficult for me since I'm more of a fly by the seat of my pants kind of person. I think for all of our sanity, we need a little more structure. Chad will be officiating football basically every weekend until Thanksgiving, both boys are playing soccer and I'm not certain what Britt will be doing yet, but I'm sure something that keeps us all on our toes. Schedules and routines will be good.

I plan on getting some pics posted soon of our summer adventures.

I hope everyone has a great school year!

His first 5K!

Crossing the finish line

The view from the stands

Today Landon ran in his first 5K. He came in second. He did so awesome! It was only a fun run, so no times or anything and they had a choice of running a 1K or 5K....he went for the 5! They did one lap around the track and then around the neighborhood behind the high school. We sat in the bleachers and watched for him to come down the street and he looked so strong coming back into the stadium. Another lap around the track and across the finish line. No medals or trophies for this one....just a ribbon and goody bag. He was proud that he did it and we were proud that he did his best(not to mention getting 2nd place!). Great job, Land!!

Light Blue!

She picked a color....light blue. Not exactly what I had in mind, but it turned out so cute. We bought these cute cast tattoos to put on, but she still wanted to save some room for signatures so we just put the panda and bamboo around her wrist. The dr. said only 4 weeks with the cast and then she'll get another splint for a couple of weeks. She's doing great!

So much for planning....

Those who know me very well, know that I'm not much of a planner. I'll just decide we need to take a trip and a day or so later we're off. This week, for Spring Break, I decided to plan the whole week out. Monday, relax and rest up for a fun week, Tuesday...go to Jump Zone since it was supposed to rain, Wednesday...go hiking at Petit Jean and picnic, etc. Well Monday evening when Chad got home we decided to go walking at the Tucker Creek Walking Trail. A really nice Walk/Bike trail just a few minutes from the house that the kids enjoy going to. So off we went for our 3 mile walk. We had a great walk and were about 10 feet from returning to the car when Britton and Landon decided to take off running and race each other to the car. Britt was in a slight lead and Landon edged her way a little bit to slow her down and and sure enough....she slowed down...all the way down and fell. She was crying and I could tell she had scraped her knee pretty good and then she said, "I think I broke my arm". As soon as I looked at it, I knew. I was praying she was just holding it funny, but in my heart, I knew. Chad came over and said, "Everyone in the car we need to head to the ER." Off we went to the emergency room and she was crying a little, but nothing like I thought she would. We got checked in and they asked her about her pain...1 on a scale of 1-10. Not much pain, but they gave her a tiny bit of Morphine anyway. The orthopedic doctor finally got there and they gave her some "twilight sedation" and set her arm back in place. She broke the radial bone right at the wrist. Thankfully it was only that one bone and he feels like it should heal just fine. He put her arm in a splint and she'll wear that for 10 days and then she'll go in and have a cast put on for 6-8 weeks. She did fantastic through the whole process. A little nervous, but not once did she cry or get upset. It took a long time for her to wake up from the sedation, so the boys kept talking to her to make her say goofy stuff, but other than that, it went as smooth as possible.
Swim team will be on hold for the next couple of months, as well as playing on the trampoline, but she is already wanting to go and do.
I think I'll just go back to my spur of the moment planning and not "plan ahead". The plan this week....hang out at home and relax and heal and thank God for all that he has done for us..it could have been so much worse.

I can't believe he's 4!!!

With my baby, the time has flown! I've tried to treasure each and every moment with Easton since he was born. Now don't get me wrong, I treasured it with Britton and Landon also, but with them there was always the possibility of having another baby so each special moment wasn't like it would be the absolute last time I would get to see one of my baby's do this or that. With Easton, things were a bit different. We knew that he was the last. So each time I put away a toy he had outgrown or moved him to a new carseat or gave him that last jar of baby food...I knew it would be the last time I would do it for one of my own kids. I've treasured each step...the cuddles in the middle of the night, the first "I wub you", the giggles when his brother and sister would give him zerberts and even the sleepless nights, the screaming in his carseat for hours on end, the constant spitting up until age 1. I've tried to soak in each moment. And today he's already 4. It seems like it was just yesterday that I found out about having an antibody and there might be a problem with the pregnancy. It seems like just yesterday some really wonderful friends joined hands with me and prayed for my baby because we were so uncertain about how things would turn out. It seems like just yesterday I saw one of the many ultrasounds with him giving us the thumbs up. It seems like just yesterday that a perfect and beautiful 9 pound 4 ounce baby boy was born that would change our lives, again, forever. Time flies.

Easton is in every meaning of the words, the baby of the family. He's by far the most aggressive of my three kids, but at the same time, the most shy around strangers. He loves to be home and playing outside. He loves sports...any sports. He is the first to defend his brother and sister and the first to call them a name if they upset him. He's big and rough and the sweetest 4 year old you've ever met...once he warms up to you. He's been such a blessing to us.... regardless of what his brother might tell you. God has blessed me beyond measure.

Happy 4th Birthday, Easton! I love you sooooo much!!!

Busy Days

It's been busy around here. Not much time in the day to update. Fridays are our "down" days. No practices or games or homework to have to hurry and get done. It's our day to just relax.

Britton is still swimming. She hasn't had a meet in about a month and I think she is just enjoying going to practice a couple times a week. She has a meet this weekend in LR, so I'll update on how she did next week. Landon has had a great basketball season. He has made major improvements and really gotten a lot more aggressive. Tournament starts tonight and and will end next week. Although it's been a great season, I'm ready to move on to the next sport. Spring soccer started last week and he had his first game last Sat. He scored 4 and his team won, so he was pleased. Baseball season will start in a few weeks and he is already excited about that. Easton will start soccer in a couple of weeks and he can't wait. I was really hoping for tball for Easton, but it appears that they are very strict about being 5 before they start. He won't be 5 until next March, so I guess he can wait another year. Chad will be heading to his Arena football clinic this weekend and then the season will start at the end of March. I have resigned myself to not being able to sleep in on a Sat. until at least the end of July. That's ok though. We are all healthy and happy and strong and having a great time. What more can you ask for?

Necklaces and Flowers

Don't you love a 3 year old? They are the funniest people on Earth. They are trying to figure out the world and are so curious. Ages 3-5 are one of my favorite phases that kids go through. Anyway, Easton and I were in Wal-Mart the other day and he was in a particularly inquistive mood. He was sitting in the basket and examining each item I threw in. On this particular visit I had to buy some "feminine items" so as we are strolling down that aisle he points out that I really need to get that pink box because it has a necklace inside (the Pearl brand) and it would look so pretty on me. I explain that I don't really like that kind of necklace and grab my particular brand and throw it in the basket. He then thoroughly examines the box and gets so excited. I asked him what he was so excited about and he says he can't wait to get these home so he can plant them. I asked him, "Plant what?" and he says, "These grow into flowers and I just love flowers!". I grab the box to see what in the world he is talking about and sure enough....flowers. Go check your boxes ladies. I'm not sure about all brands, but mine sure does have "flowers" inside.

All out of Love

For Landon's birthday, we got him an MP3 player. He has loved it! Now, Landon is not your typical 8 year old boy who listens to boy bands and alternative music. He is exactly like his father (and mother for that matter). We love the '80s! Especially 80's pop and love songs. (Yes, Chad loves Luther Vandross and Lionel Ritchie and Whitney.) Anyway, as I walk down the hall yesterday, I hear him in his room belting out "I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you, I know you were right, believing for so long" with all his soul. I laughed and laughed and laughed. It was like he had experienced this personally and had to share his remorse with the world. I love my kids and those little moments that will stick with you forever. This was one of those moments. I'm sure as I'm retelling this story to his high school friends in about 10 years, he won't find it as humorous though.

Happy 8th Birthday, Landon!

Doesn't it seem that once your kids get out of diapers, time flies?! That first couple of years can be so trying. Don't get me wrong, I loved when my kids were babies and they were completely dependent on me for everything......but then there were those days when it seemed like they would never grow up and be big enough to put their own clothes on or wipe their own bottom or get their own poptart out of the cabinet:)! But now that they can do those things, it seems like they are growing up too fast and no longer want help with anything, except cleaning up their bedrooms and doing their homework for them.


I can't believe my Landon is turning 8. He is such a special boy. He is so talented in so many areas...sports, reading, writing, math...I could go on and on. He is what I call that typical middle child, who feels like he has to compete for attention from a younger brother and wants to have the same privileges as his older sister. It's a tough place in life to be in and he is slowly figuring out how to balance that middle position.


Landon is a wonderful student and friend. Ask any of his friends or teachers or anyone except his siblings. His is that kid that everyone likes and wants to be friends with. His that kid that every teacher dreams of having because he never causes a problem, always has the right answer, and doesn't disappoint. He puts a lot of pressure on himself and I always have to remind him to relax a little and enjoy today. I have no doubt that he will grow up to be a wonderful Christian man, who loves unconditionally and gives unceasingly. He is all boy right now and his temperment makes some days challenging, but that same temperment will one day pay off into a very driven, strong man with unlimited possibilities.


I love you so much Landon! You are a fantastic son and I wish you a life of joy and success and fun and happiness. You will always be my "Pilly Pedro", and I hope you have a wonderful 8th year!!!

Firsts!

Lots of firsts going on around here. Chad killed his first deer, Britton swam in her first swim meet, Landon had his first basketball game of the season, and Easton is cow racing champion (gotta love the Wii)! As for me, all of my family's accomplishments feel like firsts for me as well. I guess that "living through your child thing" is true. I get more excited than they do at their competitions. It really is a lot of fun.

Another busy week here. Landon has a basketball game tonight and Britton has her second meet this weekend in Jacksonville.

That's Britt on the blocks. She didn't place, but she did so great!

Little Lumberjacks

I LOVE our fireplace! But it sure is a lot of work. My wonderful dad (with some encouragement by my mom) brought us a load of wood a few weeks ago, but with as cold as it has been, it's disappearing fast. So, last weekend we headed to the woods to cut some more. The kids did pretty well, considering it was WORK. A little bribery goes a long way sometimes (a Coke from Mamaw's house).

Chad's "determined" face
Everyone thought they could split the wood like Daddy

Love the expression

Landon trying to carry as much as he could so it would be fewer trips

It was a long walk back to the trailer to load

No Snow!

Well we didn't get any snow, much to the displeasure of the kids, but we sure did get plenty of sleet. Yeah, that is 3 1/2 inches of sleet. It is beginning to melt off some today, but the kids have been out of school for the past 2 1/2 days. Maybe they will be able to get back to school tomorrow. Not looking forward to making those days up next June!

Front yard
Driveway and backyard

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I have to say that I am one of the lucky ones. I was blessed with a wonderful, Christian mother that would do anything for anyone. She is THE most hard working woman I have ever known. She gives 110% in everything she does. She loves her family with a passion and has been a wonderful example of what a Christian wife and mother is supposed to be. Thank you, Mom for all you do and for loving us so much! Happy Birthday!!!!

Holiday Visitors

We love our family! It has been so nice over the past few weeks to be able to visit with family and see some loved ones we don't see very often. It's always great to spend time with all of them. There are so many different personalities, backgrounds, and traditions, it makes the holidays so much fun!

My nephew, Ben and niece, Grace

We have Christmas with them at Thanksgiving every other year.

Hugh (Chad's brother) and Chad watching TV

My brother, Rusty and sister in law, Tiffany
Easton calls Rusty "Uncle Soft Hair"!

Uncle Hubert and all the cousins, Alana, Houston, Britton, Victoria, Landon, Easton and Felicia

We missed you, Misty!

Britton, Landon and Easton with Uncle Elroy (Chad's brother)

We missed you, Terry!

Don't you love this time of year?

A pic of the front yard from last winter. It just seems to sum up my feelings today.

This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love decorating for Christmas and putting up lights and searching for just the right gift for everyone. I love searching all the Black Friday ads and planning out each stop I will make and at what time according to the priorites of the gifts and prices. I love the kids excitement trying to figure out what are in all those wrapped gifts and making their lists for Santa. I love that they believe in Santa and the "magic" of this time of year. I love sitting in front of the fire listening to the wood crackle and the smell of the wood burning. I even love going to church smelling like smoke from the fire. I love the cold weather and putting the electric blanket on the bed and crawling into bed on a cold night. I love seeing family and friends that I don't get to see very often and spending time with the ones I see all the time. I love when people are nice for no apparent reason and they want to help others who are less fortunate. It's just a great time of year. Why can't it be this way all year long? I guess it would take some of the "specialness" out of it if it were always like this. There are things about the holiday season that I don't care for, but I don't want to think about those things today. I just want to LOVE this time of year, if only for today!

My husband is a Hall of Famer!

O.k., maybe not NFL Hall of Fame, but a very distinguished honor. Last weekend Chad was inducted into Arkansas Tech University's Hall of Distinction. That is the highest honor anyone can receive from that college. Arkansas Tech is where he played college football and was drafted from by the Pittsburgh Steelers. This weekend they inducted all athletes that had, in any sport, been All-Americans. There were 35. We had a nice luncheon and great video of each athlete and then awards. The stories of each athlete were amazing and to be included in such a talented group of people was really something special for Chad. I always knew he was a great athlete, but his football years were before I met him, so I never actually realized how talented he really was. It was really a special time and I am really proud of him!

Receiving his award
The kids were so proud of their Daddy

Maxie Mathis, just one of the many talented athletes

that Chad had great memories of.

Back in the day (as Chad would say)

A Witch, a Mummy and a Zookeeper

These posted backward, but I'm not going to go back and upload them. Poor Landon threw up the entire night before and missed school on Halloween. He was miserable, but still wanted to go trick or treating. He only made it to a few houses and decided to sack out in the car while Britton and Easton continued their candy hunt. Thankfully, the next day he was better and was able to make his last soccer game. Here are my little trick or treaters.

Easton after trick or treating

My sick little Mummy, Landon

Halloween 2008

Don't they look excited?

Run, Baby, Run!

Easton ran his first race! And Landon ran his 3rd! It was a fundraiser for a local youth ranch for kids ages 3-13. Britton signed up, reluctantly, but decided to go on a hayride instead. So the boys and I went to the Country Club for the run. Easton's age group (3-5) ran 1/4 mile and Landon's group (6-8) ran 1/2 mile. Poor Easton was a basket case with all the little kids running around. We had talked about it all week and he said he would do it even though I would be standing on the sidelines. Of course, as he was waiting for his group to go he got cold feet and said he wasn't going to do it. So, I, along with a few other parents, ran with him. Thank goodness I put my tennis shoes on before we went. I could have used a better bra though!! I must have been a sight with me going one way and "the girls" going the opposite way! (All you large chested women out there know what I'm talking about!) Anyway, we made it to the finish line and Easton got his medal. There weren't any "places" since it was just a fun run, but we didn't come in last. Landon did well. He tripped and fell after they took off, but made up a lot of ground. My camera battery went dead after Easton's race, so I didn't get any pics of Landon running. The boys before the race
Easton looking a little nervous
(Doesn't he look like Landon in this picture?)

Run, Easton.

I'm trying to take pictures as I'm running along behind since Chad was in Birmingham at a football game.

Telling Daddy he finished the race

Two proud boys!

Loosing the game and getting lose!

Another good weekend around here. We spent Friday afternoon at the park. The Arkansas River is only a mile from the house and there is a small park beside it that the kids enjoy going to. We can all swing for hours.

Saturday, Landon had a game and scored 6, but they still loosed. He gets so frustrated when the coach takes him out. He wants to be in the middle of the action all the time.

After the game, I took the kids to Woolly Hollow State Park and we went for a hike. It is really nice out there and we just hiked around the lake. Everyone did really well the first 2 1/2 miles, but that last mile was long. Easton was scared that it was going to get dark the whole time and Britton ran out of steam the last 45 min., but we made it and had fun. I'm hoping once football season is over, we can go back as a family and camp.

Yesterday was Easton's last soccer practice. Although they haven't really played any games, it has helped him tremendously to be around kids his own age and participate with a group. He is so shy around people he doesn't know very well. At church he sits in the same seat, will not talk, participate in activities, just sit and color. Preschool next year is going to be a rude awakening for him I'm afraid.

Here are some pictures of Easton last week at soccer practice. Chad was able to leave work early and come "play" with him.

Letting lose!

Poor Landon can't stand sitting on the sidelines watching Easton. He wants to be out there also. He finally found something to keep him occupied, shoe football. It's not very clear, but he is going in for a touchdown....with his shoe. Letting lose, with all that speed!
Don't loose that shoe, Landon!

Here are the kids at Woolly Hollow. I could barely get Easton to get on the bridge without holding my hand. That was as far out as he was going to go.

Please don't let lose of me.

Sorry, Magen! I just couldn't help myself. For those of you who don't read Magen's blog, disregard all the loose/lose mistakes. For those who have read Magen's "Pet Peeve", enjoy! By the way, it drives my crazy too!