Thanksgiving 2010

So this year for Thanksgiving, we did ALOT of eating! On Thanksgiving day we went to my moms and ate an early lunch so that her bf could have some before he left for work. And then the afternoon was spent at my MIL's! More food, more family, and more fun!
On Saturday we did the Carroll family Thanksgiving over at my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Alex's house! They are so generous to let us have it there every year. I got to see alot of family I hadn't seen in a long time! It was so much fun catching up!
I am so incredibly thankful for so much in my life! I am thankful for a wonderful husband, who works so hard to provide for our family. He is my best friend and my love and I appreciate him more than he'll ever know.
I am thankful for my kids, who not only light up my life but make me realize what life is all about! Without them I don't think I could breathe. They are so precious, all 3 of them. They have such unconditional love and an innocence that only shows in a child. They are my whole world!
I am thankful for great family and friends who spruce up my life and make it a more enjoyable place!
I am thankful for a warm home. I am thankful for reliable cars!
I am thankful for so much, but here are the hightlights!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!

Fall Festivities

So every year when fall comes, I get so excited for all of the fun stuff that there is to do, but also the change in weather, the Christmas shopping, and the time with family. It's still such a magical time of year for me, even though I'm all grown up with kids of my own!
We took the kids the the pumpkin patch at Tolmachoff Farms this year and it was fun! It was a little warm that day but we made it feel as much like Fall as possible. The kids got to play on the bouncy house, ride a little train, pet animals, and just run around! It was a great family day!Daddy with the kids!!
Hadley checking out the baby chicks. She didn't know if she liked them or not!

The kids playing in the corn!
The boys checking out the chicks! LOL


The boys had so much fun on the little train!
Mommy and the kiddos!


For Halloween this year, Austin decided to be a vampire, Stratton was a fireman, and Hadley was a little witch! We went trick or treating around our neighborhood with the Thurman family and got a good amount of candy, and a good workout!
Hadley would not keep her hat on for anything! And the funny thing about it is that she wants to wear it all the time now that Halloween is over!Thaddious, Gabriel, Austin and Stratton! (the ninja, GI Joe, vampire, and fireman)
My cute little witch!
ooooo and my scarey vampire!
And there goes the hat!
And my sweet little fireman!

Catching Up!

So it has been a while! 8 months to be exact. And alot has happened since! Let's see, we've moved twice, (not fun at all). The kids are all getting so big! We've celebrated birthdays! Austin started 1st grade! Summer has come and gone! And the holiday's are here! I love this wonderful time of year!

Well we decided to move out of Buckeye and give it a shot living somewhere new and also being a little bit closer to my family, ( who are all in Mesa). So we did! We waited until Austin finished Kindergarten and headed into Phoenix! I liked the house, not so much the area, and I DID NOT like Austin's new school. It was way to busy for us country folk. He was not really making friends very easily and if any of you know Austin, he is the sweetest little boy and sooooo easy to get along with. 2 months after we moved in we got a notice from the management company stating that the owners were in foreclosure and it was confirmed by a letter on the door a week or two later. At first we were so mad and then we realized, we didn't like it there anyway and this was just a blessing in disguise!

So we picked up and moved back into Buckeye! It was such a relief to be back. The slower pace and better schools were what we needed. Austin had to switch schools but he has jumped right in and made a bunch of friends! He is a happier kid when he comes home! I am so glad we came back.

Stratton turned 3 in February of this year, and it's hard to believe that February is almost here again and my little man will be 4! It's going to fast!

He is my little sweet man, always telling me he loves me and making sure I say it back! And if I don't hear him the first time, he WILL tell me again! He always wants to give kisses too!

He LOVES going to work with daddy and riding in the big truck. He would rather spend any day with his dad instead of me! I'm ok with that, cuz sometimes daddy could use the company!

Austin and Hadley celebrated their 6th and 1st birthdays in July! We had a great turn out of friends and family!

Austin had asked for the entire set of My Little Pony's, and that is exactly what he got! I have never seen him so happy!

Hadley turning 1 happened so fast! I couldn't believe another year had gone by and my baby was 1! She is such a fiesty little thing! She likes to have it her way and she doesn't like help. She wants to do it on her own even if she gets so frustrated. My dad says that's exactly how I was so I guess it's called PAYBACKS!

She is running all over the place and trying to keep up with her brothers, at which she does a pretty good job. She does somersaults already, she loves when they take her for rides on the quad, and there is no place she would rather be than outside! I am praying she doesn't turn out to be a tomboy but if she does, oh well!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Kids

It seems like everyday I tell myself that I'm going to be more patient with my kids and make it a better day than it was yesterday. Somedays are really good and then somedays it seems like I'm getting onto them all day. So when they make me upset, I do the breathe, count to 10, walk away for a minute, then come back and address the problem with a clear mind, thing. Only I don't do it every time. Consistency is cruetial I've learned. In every aspect. Discipline especially. Following through.
But it still seem like I have to tell them at least 4-5 times to stop, quiet down, or whatever it may be and by the 4th time, I'm yelling!
It's hard being a mom. I wish there was a parenting manual that came with each child, to address their specific needs according to personality.
I remember my mom telling me that she could have spanked Krista until she was black and blue, and she still would have turned around and said, "That didn't hurt stupid." Every child is so different!
Austin is pretty much my easy one. He listens fairly well, and rarely talks back. When I ask him to do something, he does it. Stratton on the other hand... I could tell him 10 times and he'll only do it if I'm standing over him telling him everything he needs to do. He's one of those, "it's too hard" , "I can't walk", "I have to go to the bathroom" children, when I tell him to do something.
Oh but I guess that's life. Bad days come with the good. You can't give up or quit. So you push through and enjoy every moment as they grow and learn, because it goes by way too fast.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Life Is Good

I am so happy in my life right now! I am married to a wonderful man, Nemo, who is more than I could have hoped for. He is an awesome dad and his best quality, is that he loves his family more than anything. He is such a hard worker and there is nothing that he wouldn't do to make our lives better. We have 3 beautiful kids together. Austin is 5 and in Kindergarten this year. He loves loves loves school! He would go 24/7 if he could. And he's very smart. He loves reading, writing, coloring, and drawing. He's a great big brother! He's always very willing to help me with anything that I need. I just love that kid. Stratton is 3 and he's my all boy child. Cars, trucks, tractors, dirt, rocks, he loves it all! He'll climb anything, which is not so good sometimes. But we have been lucky so far, to avoid broken bones or stitches. He is a daddy's boy! He loves when he gets to go to work with daddy. He's a sweet boy. And Hadley! Oh i'm so glad i got a girl! She's 8 months old and crawling all over the place. She has such a fun personality. She loves getting her picture taken. When the camera comes out, the smile goes on! I've enjoyed having a girl to dress up and buy cute hair bows for. I think everyone should get at least one daughter! We want 1 more baby! So when Hadley gets a little older, we'll try for another. I am so lucky to be able to stay at home with my kids, and take care of my house. One of my favorite things in the whole world is a clean house! Doesn't stay that way for long but I love it while it lasts! I don't think it could get any better than this!