Living the Dream

Wow!  I have been out of touch with the blogger world for awhile now.  So much has happened and I can't bore you with all the details of the last 5 months, so I will sum it up that life has been moving at lightning speed and is as crazy and fun as usual.  Tonight as I packed 5 lunches (right after cleaning the kitchen from tonight's dinner), I laughed as I told Matt that I was "living the dream!"
In all seriousness, I  feel like am.  Sometimes "the dream" feels a little repetitive.  Sometimes "the dream" feels unappreciated.  Sometimes "the dream" feels exhausted and worn out.  But, what a gift from God that I have a wonderful loving husband and 5 healthy children that we love so much.

People always, and I mean ALWAYS, ask how do you do it all?  And I laugh because I don't do it all! 
I have learned to say "No, I can't volunteer to be room mom" or "No, I can't meet for dinner tonight" or "No, I can't bake 100 cookies for your bake sale".  We eat cereal for dinner!  We order pizza!  We don't take baths every night!  We watch T.V.   I send my kids to public school on a bus!
You know what I like to call it.?...survival!
Most nights, by 9:00, I am crashing! I try to read that book on my bedside table, but I fall asleep after 2 pages!  After the end of the day rush of homework, sports, baths, dinner, cleaning, packing lunches, and bedtime routines that run too long....I long to just sit and breathe.  Well, this usually means I sit and fall asleep within a few minutes.
So, life with 5 is just the same as life with 1 or 2 or 3 or more.  Busy.
But, I wouldn't change a thing at the end of the day! 

So for an update: Wills is in 3rd grade this year.  Owen is in Second.  Kate is in First.  Gray is in 4 yr old preschool.  And Avery is 2!
I am still a stay at home mom with a part time job of a trainer, Spin instructor and group ex instructor.  I love both my jobs!
So, here I am to try once more to keep up with this blog that I truly love so much!  I love what it will hold for my kids down the road.  A glimpse into our life and what is was.  Since I can barely remember yesterday, I figure I need to journal it because I for sure won't remember all those special memories years from now!

 first day of preschool

first day of MDO...not liking the pics

 First day of school 

 (from left to right)  Owen, Wills, our neighbor, and Kate

Firsts

We took Avery to my parents lake house for the first time over Memorial Day weekend.  The drive up to Hiawasee Georgia is always a long one, but so worth it once we are there.  It truly feels like a "get away".  We spend most of the days on the water.  taking out the boat, riding jet skis and swimming.  3 of my sisters were there with their kiddos, so we were a packed house and it was a blast.  My kids love being with their cousins more than anything.  I am so thankful for this.  Because we are in Birmingham, it is extra special when they get to be with their cousins. 
Avery really enjoyed it too!  She got lots of attention and had lots of fun on the boat and the jet ski.  I couldn't help but think that less than a year ago, she was in China and had no idea that in 9 months she would be riding a tube behind a boat in the mountains of North Georgia!  Isn't God amazing and faithful?
We laugh because Avery's personality would be great for an only child family....she demands attention!
I love that God has a sense of humor too!  He chose us to be her parents and for her to be the youngest of FIVE!

No More Teachers, No more Books!

Schools out for Summer!  I have mixed feelings on not having any alone time, but we have so many fun things planned for this Summer that I kinda feel like a big kid myself.  I met the kids at the school bus with Popsicles...a special end of the year treat!  Good bye to kindergarten, First, and Second Grade!

Field of Dreams

Wills team got to be part of a very special game during the SEC tournament here in Birmingham.  They were asked to go out on the field with the players at the beginning of the game.  It was so cool for a team of boys, who love baseball, to get the chance to experience their very own "Field of Dreams".
The game was Auburn vs Florida.  The boys got to be out on the field with the Florida players.  We were pulling for Auburn of course!
Here are some pictures from a very cool event that I am positive Wills will never forget.

Gray wrapped up 3 year old preschool!  They had a precious program in front of the school and parents.

Please take notice that I forgot about the program and let Gray wear his batman t-shirt!

Gotta love that!  Everyone in their Sunday best and Gray as Batman!

Baseball has come to a close, but not without us winning the the 8 yr old championship game!
What a season and what a team to be on!  Cardinal nation.  I never thought I would be much of a baseball mom, but it is hard to not get into the game when your team is really good.  Some of the boys out there looked like major leaguers.  I swear they were playing ball in the womb....it is crazy.
Wills had a good season.  We were hopeful for him to just have success and have fun and he did both!
Here in Alabama, you just don't miss a season of baseball!  you pay for it if you do.  He chose to play Soccer last year and because of that really was behind in the game.  BUT, we had a great coach and he got better and that was fun to see.
I am naturally a pretty competitive person!  Wills is not so much.  We need to find a balance...He needs some of my competitive drive and I need some of his relaxed personality.  After all, we are talking about 8 year old baseball, right?

 In full gear to watch his brother play!

Kate turned 6 this past week.  It is hard to believe that 6 years ago, I was holding my little girl!  She is such a blessing to our family.  We had a fun build a bear party, where I am reminded to never have a party there again.  I spent most of the party saying "No!"  Ugghhh....not want you want to do on your child's special day, but I had to draw the line that I was not going to spend 100$ a kid on a stuffed animal.
We showered her with love, attention, and fun presents.  She was so giddy that it was FINALLY her birthday!

So, she went from this....

 To this!