Soccer

Soccer season is going strong. Taylynn and Preston are both playing this year, they are the Barracudas. They have played two games already. Taylynn says she scored a goal, but to be honest it is really hard to see who kicked the ball in because it's a pack for ten kids surrounding the ball in a huddle. I bet she did score because she goes after it! Preston holds back a bit and likes to take lots of breaks, that was Taylynn her first year too!

For our first game I dressed Alayna in the same colors as the team, but this made her think she was on the team. I had to explain that she was the cheerleader and then fill my bag with distractions so she wouldn't run on the field.

 

Taylynn in action. Looks like she is having fun!

 

Preston waiting........

It's a little blurry, but who knew they'd have such a good lookin' coach!!!!

Starbucks after the game!!!!


Chandler and I were there too, just no pictures to document it :(

GOOOOO BARRACUDAS!!!!!!!

Big Girl!!!!

Alayna is 26 months old and potty trained!!! I never thought I would say that. Taylynn and Preston were right at three when they were potty trained so this was unexpected!

I can't take any credit, Alayna did it all on her own. I just took her and put her in panties and that was the end. We did have a couple accidents, but I can take her out in panties and she can nap in them and we're good to go!

So proud of her!!! It has been a big couple of weeks around here!

Walking

Chandler is walking!!!!! He started about two weeks ago taking one step here and there, but now he has left crawling in the past and chooses to walk everywhere. I am loving it, although if I sit and think about it as I am writing this it makes me sad. I love this age, so it's wonderful but I struggle with enjoying the moment because I know it slips away too fast.
I love this verse from the Message, Matthew 6: 34

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, 

and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. 

God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

I worry so much about missing out on this moment, the moments of chaos. I love it and I am going to miss it. As stressed as I am, I try to still live in the moment and enjoy because I know more than anything I am going to miss this. I can't imagine sitting in this house while everyone is at school, quiet. That time will come, and as nice as it sounds, I don't want it to. I enjoy the noise.....most of the time :)

 

Anyway, back to the walking of my big boy!!! He is so proud of himself and is such a happy boy. I have never had a baby walk before 13 months so at 11 months this is pretty exciting!!! Wearing shoes and walking has been a different story, but we found one pair that he seems to like walking in.

We'll be celebrating a big birthday in two weeks!!!!! I can't believe how time goes, so thankful for a blog so I can record my memories.

 

Baby Keian

My good friend Lara just had her sixth baby and her first boy! If you remember the gender reveal party I did this summer that was for this family.

Some girlfriends and I went to visit the baby last night. He is adorable and I could have taken him home with me, but I am pretty sure the security is tight there :)

Congratulations Lara, you now have 6 beautiful children!

Grandparents day

A week from last Friday was Grandparent's day the Taylynn and Preston's school. The school had a special breakfast planned and from what I hear it was very nice.

My mom came into town to see the children and go to the breakfast. Aaron's mom got to come too.

Since my mom was in town we spent the rest of the morning shopping and then picked up Chick-fil-a for lunch and took it to Taylynn's school.

That night Aaron and I went on a date. Thanks mom for letting us go out, it was a much needed date night!

Then in the morning was the Marion trip that I posted about a few days ago. Such fun!

Thank you mom for the great visit, it was so much fun!

We love you!

Trunk

My mother in law passed down a really cool trunk and I was so excited to fix it up. First I had to sand it really good, this took a long time, but I am so happy to now have an electric sander. Oh how electric things can save so much time!

BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

I also did a little something extra in the inside. I am going to use this for a place to put Chandler's gifts for his party. The original idea was to use it for seating, but gifts would look so cute in this trunk, don't you think?

Lots of party planning going on. I need to get invitations out next week. I don't have too many to make because we're not going to invite too many people. I didn't want to plan activities for kids, so I am just making it a smaller party.

Have I mentioned this party is going to be in a magazine? It is and I am so exited! My plan is to begin an event planning business one day and the publicity is going to be great for that business one day. The magazine is a local one called XYZ. And one of the best parts are the gals that are coming to write and take pictures. They are awesome at what they do and I am so happy they'll be covering the party. Lacey is the writer, you might have seen her blog on my side bar, but HERE it is. Megan, is the photographer. You have seen a shot of Taylynn that she did HERE, but you can go HERE and see some more of her awesome work.

Lots to plan and lots to do, but it's time to put Chandler and Alayna down for a nap and possibly mommy too!

Antique weekend

This weekend was filled with goodies.....antique goodies

Friday night Aaron and I went to the art walk for a fun night out, thanks to my mom!

We found a piece, that I loved and really had to get. I think we stood in front of this piece for 20 minutes on two different occasions having conversations like....."honey, where would we put it" and "will it even fit in our house". We walked away once, then came back to it and once Aaron mentioned that we could move it into the basement and I could use it for my crafts, he convinced me.......no, not really, I already had my heart set on it. I did use his idea and ran with it and he bought it for me. I am such a lucky girl.
Here it is. It's an old mailbox divider.

 

We went and got some ice cream after and had some great one on one time.

Saturday morning we had a girl's trip planned. My mom, Keri, Pam (Keri's mom) and Cyndi. All headed to Marion to do some antiquing.  

 

I had to take this picture because who actually puts hand sanitizer on the tables?????

Mollie and Jack joined us for a while, that was a fun treat!

 

I walked away with a globe, old roll down projector screen, two milk bottles, and two baskets for my new mailbox divider. 

It was such a fun day. When we got home I spent the evening working on sanding the mailbox and cleaning it. I am blessed to have a husband that lets me spend the day out then spend the evening working on a project. I just get excited about things and can't wait to fix things up. He is so great dealing with my impulsiveness.

Thanks mom for the date night and thank you ladies for a great Saturday!

11 MONTHS

Chandler your eleven months old. For me this has happened all too fast, but you're loving it. You took your first step on September 2. The first step for me is the first mark independence in your life. As much as I want you to rely on me for everything, you have to become independent so you can become dependent on God. I know this process all to well, I have gone through it three times before you and the end result is fabulous, but it's the baby I feel like I am losing.

Here is a song that I pray will always bring me back to the moments you would lay in my arms and lay your head on my shoulder....

JJ Heller, When I am with you

Listen to the video HERE.........BE PREPARED TO CRY

When I hold you
In my arms, love
Somethin' changes
It's the strangest feeling

The things that
Use to matter
They don't matter
To me

When I see you
And you're smilin'
How my heart aches
So full it is about to break

You make me believe in love

I could never count all the ways
That you change me, baby
Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue
When I'm with you

When I hear you
And you're cryin'
It resonates, dear
In a place I didn't know was there

You make me believe in love

I could never count all the ways
That you change me, baby
Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue
When I'm with you

Beautiful, baby
You're sweeter than strawberry pie
Just like the morning
Your smile brings the sun that shines

I could never count all the ways
That you change me, baby
Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue
When I'm with you

I could never count all the ways
That you change me, baby
Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue
When I'm with you

Chandler, I love being with you and holding you on my hip. You have no idea how YOU have changed me. You are the happiest baby ever! You love when people are laughing around you, you join in and don't stop. You smile pretty much all the time and you wave to everyone as if they have been in your life forever. My prayer is that you will always be happy and treat everyone that comes along your path as if you have known them for years.

You also talk more and sing more. You will sing Elmos World with us and a If all of the Raindrops. You can say, momma, dadda, no, cracker, night night, a few other things if I ask you to say them.

You have 7 teeth, almost 8. Your teeth have not been fun! You feel a lot of pain and you cry a lot. You still wake up in the night, but with your teeth it's worse. Your daddy is their hero in that area because he gets up with you most of the time.

You weigh 24 pounds and you wear size 12-18 months clothes size 4 shoes and 4 diaper.

Next month you're going to be one. This has been the best year, I had you and completed my family. So many blessings right there.

I love you!

Mom

Full gear

I don't have any pictures today, I have been slacking on taking them. Taylynn is really enjoying school. She doesn't like the lunch lady, but that is the only complaint I have heard so far. She will not get a hot lunch and she will not go get milk because of the lunch lady. One day I forgot her water and told her to get milk, but she didn't she said she just did without.
She loves going to the library and bringing home books, she has always loved book. All of my kids do and infact they all sleep with books in there bed. Sometimes 10 or 15  books.

Preston seems to like school also, he always asks me before what order we are going to do things. And then he tells me that he is going to go to the bathroom, wash his hands, get his book bag, I need to pray with him, and then I give him a kiss and he is off. I love that he wants me to pray with him, I am not sure he knows the importance of prayer, but I am thankful he wants to do it.

His teacher had a birthday last friday so we went to a local cupcake shop and Preston picked her out a big chocolate cupcake and he got a card for her. I enjoy doing things for the teachers. I plan on working in Taylynn's room once a week or every two weeks, or just when I can. I want to start to get to know some of the children Taylynn is with everyday and I want to be as much of a help to her teacher as I can.

Alayna and Chandler sleep while Preston is in school. Pretty much the entire time. It gives me a chance to breath! School has really taken a lot out of me, I think next year will be easier because Taylynn and Preston will go to school at the same time. The mornings will be crazy, but I can handle an hour of crazy.

Chandler is 11 months today, I will have a separate post for that soon! I need to take his pictures, but he is asleep on the sofa right now, he is a tired guy!

Right now Preston and Alayna are playing in the girl's room and it's quiet, which means they are getting along.....this seems to happen when Taylynn is at school, they just get along better.

I just got back from MOPS and it was a our kick off meeting. I am Co coordination for creative activities and a small group leader, I am excited. This should be a great year!

Youth group starts up again this week. I am the middle school girl's leader, really looking forward to this. I know this is a critical time for them and I am so excited to see how God is going to impact their lives.

Zumba is going great. I have had three classes so far and it seems like everyone enjoys it.

Soccer practices started two weeks ago. Taylynn and Preston are on the same team and Aaron is the coach. Pictures and video to come!

Aaron and I are looking for a new house. This process will probably take a while because I am a bit picky, but I don't want to move again so I'll wait!

Life is in full gear here and it's only speeding up!