Dec. is crazy busy but super fun!

I have been meaning to post so much, but can't seem to find the time. Earlier this month we went on a tacky light tour with my Mom and her clients. Hey, we are one of her clients too. She is a realator and helped us find our first home. Pretty soon (it better be soon) we will be using her expertise again to find a bigger home. The kids had a lot of fun and Zachary is still talking about eating on the bus and watching movies.



Nicholas is too busy looking at the lights to smile at the camera!


Jacob, our ten year old nephew, had a Christmas program at his school. We took the gang to see him sing. He did such a great job. He even had a speaking part and did awesome. Way to go Jacob!



After Jacob's concert Adam took the kids home and I went out to spend some quality time with "the girls." I am sad that I missed this moment, but was glad that Adam had the camera. Adam spotted the coke truck with Santa. Adam found out that there are only 5 Santa coke trucks and they got to see one. What an awesome moment for the kids.




Speaking of Santa, we took the kids to the mall to see him again but this time to tell him what they want. They have made their lists months ago. We don't go out and buy our kids random toys throughout the year. They need to wait for Christmas or their Birthdays. You can call us mean, but they have way too much anyways and it is so easy to say, "put it on your list." Their outfits came from Adam's parents this year. The boys looked so grown up and Lindsay just loves her "Santa dress." Once Adam scannes the picture of the kids sitting on Santa's lap, I will post it.



In our house, you can't celebrate Christmas until the gingerbread house is made. I think the kids did a really good job this year. What do you think? Nicholas was more interested in eating the candy, then helping. I think he may have my sweet tooth.




It is rare that VA sees snow, but this week we got 9 in. in our area. I will admit that it is pretty to watch fall, but I am not a big fan to go out and play in it. Adam and I have been buddling the kids up (a 30 min. task) to take them out to play. Nicholas is a lot like me and does not like the cold. He cried the first morning we took him out because he couldn't walk in it. By evening, the snow had settled some and he could walk on top of it without sinking too much. Lindsay and Zachary could probably stay out all day and play. I wish snowboats and snow pants weren't so expensive because I would buy them some each year. However, sometimes we see snow and sometimes we don't. I had bought the kids gloves for Christmas so they got that present a little early. Adam informed that fleece gloves were not good snow gloves and to not buy them again. I wasn't thinking snow though, I was thinking warmth. Now Adam is in charge of buying the kids gloves. :)

Let the fun begin!

I have been wanting to set up our Christmas decorations since Halloween. I honestly would have done so if we weren't planning a late costume party for the kids. However, if you read my last post that was not meant to be and the party was canceled. Finally, we had a free weekend and we were able to decorate our home. The kids had a blast helping me decorate the tree this year. I always get a little uptight though when the glass ornaments come out. I am fearful that one of the kids is going to drop one, step on it, and then we will have to dig glass from their foot (no fun). Well, guess who dropped the only ornament and broke it? Yep, that would be me. I couldn't believe it. I am glad I didn't step on it though.

Not meant to be...

Over the Halloween weekend our family was hit with the swine flu. I was heartbroken for my kids because their costumes have been hung in their closets and staring at them since Sept. We don't take the kids trick or treating, we take them to the fall festival at our church. There they receive a bunch of candy and play a bunch of games. I enjoy it a lot more. We didn't tell the kids that they missed the fall festival until after it was over. They are still too little to keep up with the days and the time, luckily. Once we told the kids they were really upset. However, I told them that we would have our own fall festival in our backyard. Each child was able to invite two friends. I have the goody bags filled, the games planned out, the food bought and mother nature decided that it should rain for 3 straight days. Well, our house barely holds enough room for our family of five, so I knew we couldn't move the party inside. Plus, where would we play the games? I haven't had the heart to tell the kids that now their party is going to have to be canceled because our backyard looks like a swamp. I might have the kids dress up in their costumes anyway and have them eat a Halloween cupcake.


We did have all the kids put their costumes on last Friday at my Grandmother's house.

So Sweet...

Yesterday was a beautiful Fall day, so I decided to take the kids outside for a bit. I know the cold weather is coming soon and fast and outdoor play will soon be vanished from our routine for a few months. Zachary immediatly found a dandelion and picked it from our yard. He came running to me and said, "this is for you Mommy because you are so sweet." If I could have melted into a puddle, I probably would have. He is my strong willed child and we tend to battle it out quit a bit. It has nothing to do with me being strong willed myself, I promise. :)

Pumpkin Patch!

This year we decided to drive to Ashland Berry Farm due to the fact that Chesterfield Berry Farm, the patch that we have been taking the kids since Zachary was born, raised their admission price to $12.00 per person and that doesn't even include pumpkins. It was kind of sad to take the kids to a new place, but we fell in love and will go back next year. We probably picked the worst weekend to go because it had rained the previous day and it was really cold. However, this was the only Sat. in October that we could go due to other commitments, so we packed our lunch and headed out the door. Becca brought Brandon and Jakob and Sarah brought her two kids, Kayla and Jacob. Nicholas was the cutest because he kept calling all of the pumpkins "balls". We had a blast slopping around in the mud picking our pumpkins out. We were able to get 8 pumpkins for the price of $20.00. Now you can't beat that! :)

















You can pick as many pumpkins as you like for $20.00 as long as one person can carry them and take three steps. Adam did awesome!



Our pumpkins with the kid's muddy shoes. We had a great time.

Our soccer star and dancing diva

Zachary was blessed with his Daddy's soccer skills. This year Zachary is playing 3 on 3 games and he is having a BALL. His first game he scored 4 goals and his second game he scored 5 goals. He has complete control of the ball and can even turn the ball around to face his goal if it happens to get kicked in the other direction. Zachary can really run fast so if he gets the ball, it is rare that another child can catch him. Way to go Zachary!


About ready to score!



He gave us a thumbs up every time he scored!

Unfortunately, I can't say Lindsay was blessed with my dancing skills because I never took dance lessons. She looks so incredibly cute wearing her leotard and ballet slippers. I know that she will probably not be in dance long because that girl loves soccer like her Daddy and brother. I don't really care what her activity is as long as she is happy.



Notice how she is standing on her toes!




Kayla and Lindsay at their first dance lesson...they are at the same dance studio but in different classes

Pics of the kids

This week the craziness...if life can get any crazier...began for us. I told myself that I was not going to work at the church this year. I wanted to focus on Zachary's homeschooling and try to get a routine down, you all know I love routines and structure in this house. However, with Adam losing his job, I thought making a little bit of income was better than none. My first week back I was stuck in the two year old classroom where a child was crying at all times. Gotta love those two year olds? After hearing screaming babies all day, I decided that I was going to start Zachary with his homeschooling. Right now I am kind of "winging" it because I couldn't purchase the curriculum I wanted...due to the job lost. Anyway, Zachary has learned the letters Aa and Bb this week. We are going to start with letter recognition, letter sound, and manuscript. I am excited and feel like I am using my degree again.

Here are some updated pictures of the kids!



Nicholas is getting so big!



Lindsay on Zachary's soccer field being silly!



Zachary focusing so hard!



Zachary with spiky hair!



A camp out in our back yard!



A family photo taken at Maymount park!

I know I have been slacking...so sorry

Life has been crazy busy for us. I thought I would be able to keep up with this blog, but since Brandon naps in our bedroom where the computer is located it gets very hard to blog these days. I have so many things I want to say and write about, but am just too exhausted by the time evening strikes. Plus, I enjoy sitting and talking to my husband while the kids are in bed and the house is a quiet. :)

Things have been very difficult for us during the past few weeks. Adam was laid off from his job. This was a total surprise to us. We were about to put a contract on a much bigger and a much needed new house on Adam's lunch break and then his boss pulled him into his office and let him go that day. The company is restructuring and doesn't need Adam anymore. I was really upset about Adam losing his job because we have three kids that we have to feed and cloth, Fall is just around the corner, but I was really upset that we couldn't buy a new house. I got attached to that house, and was enjoying the thought of having more room. Right now we will make our little house work...thank goodness I am very organized person. I am also glad that the Lord was looking after us because there is no way we could afford that house on unemployment. We have also been blessed with great friends that have been helping us out. Next week when I go to the grocery store, I am pretty sure I won't have to spend any of our own money. Friends have given us gift cards and money to help out. Thank you guys for praying for us and helping us during this difficult time of our lives.

On a more positive note, Zachary had his first soccer practice yesterday. He is loving soccer and living out Adam's dream. For those of you that don't know, Adam played soccer most of his life. I can't wait for Zachary to score his first goal and for me to see his face light up when he does.

Lindsay is enrolled in dance this year. I am pretty sure she will want to play soccer also, but I had to try to enroll her into something "girly" just for me. You should see that girl kick a soccer ball though. If she hates dance and wants to play soccer, that is fine. At least I know I tried. Her first practice is next Sat.

Nicholas is our little joy these days. He is starting to say some words and gets very frustrated when he can't say what he wants to. He can climb onto the sofa all by himself...for some reason this was a huge milestone for all of our kids. He is only taking one nap a day, which is after lunch the same time Lindsay and Zachary nap. Can anyone say, AMEN? We have truely been blessed with three amazing children and we are very thankful that we had paid for all of their activities before Adam lost his job. We don't want the kids to feel our pain or struggle during this time.

Easter fun!

It is getting harder to blog these days. Nicholas is now walking all over the place and Brandon, my nephew that I watch during the day, is becoming more active and wanting more attention. However, I will say we had an excellent Easter. The kids went on four different egg hunts and we now have way too much candy in the house. They had a blast though. Nicholas even walked around and picked up a few eggs. He loved to chew on the egg and had no idea that there was candy inside. That was probably for the better though because most of the candy he can't have yet. We went to church on Sunday and Zachary learned a new song about Jesus rising. He sings it everyday now. I am convinced that he is an audible learner because he can hear one song at church and memorize it, but he still mixes up some of his colors. Lindsay just looked adorable in her Easter dress that her Grandma got her. She got many compliments on it. We are very blessed to have three wonderful children and to be able to celebrate our savior rising with them.

Happy Birthday Zachary

On March 7th Zachary turned four. I can't believe that our 'baby' is four already. We started the day by going to Krispy Kreme to watch the doughnuts be made. I was surprised that Zachary didn't want to watch more; all he wanted to do was EAT the doughnuts. Now that is my boy! After our bellies were full of way too much sugar we headed back home to get our fill with more sugar. Well, first Zachary opened presents and then we had lunch and cake.

The following Saturday we had Zachary's birthday party. I had my heart set on a train party, but Zachary had HIS heart set on a soccer party, so soccer party it was. This year I decided to make Zachary's cake and to my surprise I might have found a hidden talent. The cake turned out great. We had fun celebrating Zachary's party with family and friends.






A store bought cake that we ate on his real birthday



Zachary testing out his new bike that Adam and I gave him.



It was rainy and cold on the day of his party so we had to hold the pinata up ourselves inside the house.



My first decorative cake.




Zachary looks so grown up



Opening presents.....YAY!!!