Bryan's Graduation

Bryan attended a Youth Challenge program that lasted for 22 weeks. This program was designed for at risk teens, who might need a little help getting their GED. Some kids are court ordered, others go voluntarily. Bryan was in the middle of his Senior year when he realized he was not going to be able to graduate in May. He thought this program would help him in reaching his goal of getting his GED. It was similar to a boot camp program, pretty rough, but he excelled at the program! We attended his graduation and we were so proud of his accomplishments!

Out of 200 kids, Bryan received the Outstanding Cadet Award, or Best Overall, not sure of the exact title, but he was the BEST! He didn't know and we were surprised too!

He gave an awesome speech, I am pretty sure that guy is wiping tears, I know I was! (A little background info, six weeks into the program, right before Addy was born, Bryan's mom passed away. He could have quit, no one would have been mad, but he was home for three days and went back. He could only write to us and he could make 2 minute phone calls once a week. We grieved with him and for him. We know his Momma would be so proud.) Of course he discussed all of this in his speech, (hints all of the crying!)

The Most Outstanding Cadet

(at least in my book)

Bryan did so well, they talked him into joining the Guard. I'm not so thrilled about that, only because we will miss him a lot, but I know he will do well. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!

Aiden @ Seven Years

Aiden Thomas, you are seven years old!

Birthday Boy

It is very hard for Momma to write this post, so hard I have been procrastinating for a while! We cannot believe you are seven! It seems like just yesterday you were Addy's age and now you are so big! You weigh 49 pounds, for months now you have been trying to make it to fifty! You are 49 inches tall. You are in size 7 clothes, all of your pants have to have an adjustable waist and you wear a size 13 shoe.

 5 years

You are very loving, although you don't like anyone to know. You think you are getting too big for hugs and kisses from Momma. Every now and then, I will be busy in the kitchen and for a brief moment I will feel your arms around my waist, by the time I hug back, you are done and back to being a big boy. These moments are becoming more infrequent but I sure do enjoy them while I have them.

 6 years

You are my BIG helper. Most days I would not make it without you! Four years ago you became a big brother and you have always taken your job very seriously. You look after your siblings' best interest all the time, and most of the time put their needs before your own. I know you will make an excellent father one day. You help out wherever I need you, and don't complain even if it is a "girl's job." You  like to teach your siblings how to help out too. You are very patient and kind to them. Your favorite subjects in school are reading, science and you love drawing. You are about to start second grade and it amazes me how much you have already learned.

7 years

You are your mother's child, you like things clean, neat and in order. You have shown these characteristics from a very young age. You can be a little bossy, but for the most part your advice is accurate and welcome. You tend to be shy, but once you get warmed up, watch out! You enjoy Bible time and are very knowledgeable when it comes to Bible stories. We are so proud of the boy you are and look forward to watching you grow into a young man (just please take your time). We love you more than you will ever know! Happy Birthday to our oldest son! WE LOVE YOU AIDEN!

Chattering Children-Aiden

We were out to eat and a mom and kids struck up a conversation with us. They asked all of the kids' names and picked up on the theme pretty quickly. The girl said, "Hey, they are kinda like the Duggars' except they use an 'A' instead of a 'J'.

We enjoyed a nice talk and they were called to their table.

Aiden: Mom, do they know the Duggars?

Me: Honey, I'm sure they don't know them they have just heard of them.

Aiden: Oh, so they don't know them like we do, they just watch them on T.V.?

Me: Aiden, we don't know them either we just watch them.

Aiden: But Mom, we KNOW them, we hung out with them that one time!

In his defense, we did see them at a campaign rally in Little Rock, but by no means, do we know them. Shows how much reality TV does for kids, now they have a whole new set of friends!

Later he was trying to describe the incident to Daddy. He described the boy with the family as "a boy that had a tattoo like Nana's." I asked him what did you say? He repeated, "you know the boy had a tattoo like Nana's." 

Me: Aiden, your Nana does not have a tattoo and I can assure you a 8 year old boy does not have one either.

Aiden: Yes, she does.

Me: Aiden, no she does not.

Aiden: Yes she does, you know that kind that is in her coloring books.

Me: Oh, you mean temporary tattoos! You need to be careful how you say things, it sounded like you were saying Nana had a real tattoo.

Aiden: Okay, next time I will say, the boy who has a tattoo like Nana has.

Chattering Children-Austen

We were eating lunch and Austen announced he was the only smart boy in the house. Of course this sparked a curious conversation:

Austen: I am the only smart boy in this house.

Aiden: Really? If you are so smart, what is 2+2?

Austen: 4

Aiden: Okay then, what is 10+10?

Austen:4

Aiden: NOOOO, it's 20. Because 5+5=10, so 10+10=20....(add lots of rambling comments and mathematical equations)

Austen: Okay, Bub you just need to be quiet cuz your making my head hurt. Fine, you can be a smart boy too!

Chattering Children-Ava

Random cute things Ava is saying:

hobby bobby=Hobby Lobby

monk=milk

raisin friend=Raisin Bran

baby tail=pony tail

happy monk=Happy Meal

bank it=blanket

paciturn=pacifier

bumblebeefs=bumblebees

rock-a-moni=macaroni

singers=fingers

We are working hard on potty training, but she is stubborn. We have explained big girls use the potty, and babies wear diapers. The other day she followed me to the bathroom.

Ava: Momma, you pee-pee on the potty?

Me: Yes, Ava I did.

Ava: Oh, Momma, you such a big girl (clapping) yea, yea, I so proud of you!

Addy @ Four Months

Addy Kay, you are four months old!

You are wearing white edge pre-folds and medium covers. You wear some 3-6 month clothes and some 6-9 month. You are still wearing a size two shoe. Your hair is getting thinner by the day, but is still very long in the back. I get very offended when people refer to your mullet. A hair cut may be in your near future.

You smile a lot, especially at your big brothers.

You can get up on your hands and knees and rock but you haven't quite figured out how to crawl. You love to kick your legs and when you are in the floor it looks like you are trying to swim.

This week we took you in for a doctor's appointment. You weighed 15 pounds and 2 ounces and were 24 inches long, maybe longer but you would not be still!

You helped Momma and Daddy celebrate their anniversary by going out to lunch with us. You helped Daddy celebrate his first Father's Day as a Daddy to four.

You are still sleeping through the night and prefer to sleep in your crib. Every night you get very fussy until you eat and are put in your bed. We jokingly say you turn into a pumpkin every night at 8:00.

We debated for four months on what to do about your immunizations. In the past we have always vaccinated, but we got behind with Ava's shots. She was due for shots in December of 2009, and our area had a major outbreak of the swine flu and the doc advised us to skip shots until the spring. That spring Ava had her febrile seizure and we decided not to get her caught up in case she ran fever with her shots. We did lots of research and decided we were not going to vaccinate. So you only received a Vitamin K shot at birth because you came so fast and had lots of bruising. But after four months, much debate and lots of prayers, we decided it would be better to vaccinate you and your sister to prevent you from getting an illness that would cause a febrile seizure as opposed to the low risk of running fever with shots. We are being picky about which shots we get, some are just not necessary. This week we took both of you in to get caught up and it was no fun. I pre-medicated both of you with Tylenol and gave it around the clock (alternating with Motrin for Ava) for the next 48 hours. Your stomach was not right from the medicine but other than that you handled them much better than your big sis. Next month you will be completely caught up.

You are so happy and loving, but are definitely a Momma's girl. I am enjoying every minute because I know it will go by too fast. We love you Addy!

Peek-a-Boo

Ava's new favorite game is peek-a-boo!

Can you find her?

There she is under the clothes! She actually fell asleep like this in her brothers' closet. Surely her bed would have been much more comfortable.

Now she's teaching Addy how to play!

These girls are going to get in so much trouble together!

Just Pics

These are just some random pictures, I have so many I want to post, but I am having a hard time getting caught up. (dial-up makes the process even slower!) Enjoy!

Addy hanging out in the floor, her new favorite spot!

I love hair bows!

Who knew a laundry basket could double as a race car, sled, tractor, ski boat...the list is endless!

Addy is so happy in the mornings!

First clue we should put up the bouncy seat! She did this while she was fastened!

New plan, high chair!

Look at those cheeks!

More morning smiles for her big brother.

She was being too quiet. I found her asleep in the living room floor, she had been playing and talking just 2 seconds before these pictures.

What a sweet little face!

Happy Anniversary!

Five years ago we made a plan to spend this anniversary just the two of us away for the week. Fast forward and neither one of us wanted to go anywhere without our kids! I cannot imagine leaving all we have to go somewhere else. No matter where we could go, we would be heartbroken leaving our babies behind. I am so glad we have this life and Jake feels the same way. A quick lunch together and back at home with our kiddos made for the perfect day!

(Picture taken by Aiden)

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband! I cannot believe the Lord has blessed us in so many ways. Our love grows stronger every day and I am so thankful for our relationship! Thank you for being a wonderful husband and father to our children!