Catch Up Post

Oh my goodness. How is it that we are into mid-May already. I've been pretty bad at keeping this blog up-to-date. It's just been crazy, crazy and I know that's a weak excuse, but these little people have lots to do are busy, busy! This post will be all over the place-fair warning.

We celebrated Mother's Day last Sunday and it was pretty good. We all went out to breakfast and I spent the rest of the day not doing much. M had a work trip that afternoon so the boys and I ordered in dinner. Easy-peasy. We have our traditional picture with mom after Mother's Day breakfast. This is the only gift I want from them....

Mark had a lot going on at school. His QUEST class worked on a project about habitats and they capped it off with a Habitat Showcase on April 23rd. This is where they get show off their hard work researching and building a model of their habitats.

Mark chose the open ocean habitat where the orcas live. He did such a great job. I had a chance to talk to his QUEST teacher and she told me that he was the only one to think to turn his box height-wise to get the depth that he wanted of the open ocean. She also said that he was detailed oriented and whatever he used in his model had to be "just right." At the showcase, his classmates and parents were invite and he got to talk about the Orca and its habitat. He had a booklet with fun facts ready.

My little researcher explaining his project to classmates.

Morning With Moms 2019

I got to spend some time with my little guy at "Morning with Moms" this morning. It was chaos, but the fun kind of chaos because he was so proud that I was there. The food was terrible (day-old donuts)and mark refused to drink the orange juice (nothing but fresh squeezed orange juice from Central Market for him-haha), but I am so grateful to the dads that took time to make this event special for the moms. It is the best to see your child excited to be with you and to finally give you that special gift that they've worked so hard on.

My darling little boy who still loves to be with me. I will not take that for granted....

This is one of my favorite Mother's Day gift. I LOVE it so much.

YMSL Banquet 2019

Last night, we attended our 2nd YMSL banquet to close out our 2nd year of service. It was a very pretty ceremony. Michael was not happy about attending because he is after all a 16 year-old boy, but as a parent it is my job to keep pushing in the direction that I feel will give him growth. I won't lie - it's a struggle to get him to serve, but I know that one day he will look back a appreciate what he did for others. At least that is my hope.

He served over 30 hours this year so he received the Outstanding Service Award. Matthew will also start serving this coming year so I may have some more weight to push, but in the end, I hope these boys will remember the times we spent serving together.

Field Trip to See The Wizard of Oz 2019

Mark had a field trip with his 1st grade class to see the Wizard of Oz in Fort Worth yesterday. It was a pretty long show without an intermission, but I think he and the other 1st graders really enjoyed it. I know I did! I drove with my friends and it was a good time!

The moms definitely had a great time at the field trip. Lots of laughs on the way there....

 This is one of my favorite pictures. These 3 are just so adorable!

I love this boy so much!

We drove back to the school after the play. The original plan was to go to the park and have lunch but with all the rain we've had, the plan was flooded. So back to school we go!

Then me and some moms went to have a margarita at Chuy's before we had to go pick them up from school! Fun times!

Easter 2019

We had a pretty quiet Easter this year. The older boys have really outgrown the Easter egg hunts. I can't even bribe them by putting cash in the eggs anymore. So this year, it was just my little Mark hunting for eggs.

The day before Easter, we went back to our old neighborhood for their neighborhood Easter egg hunt. Even though we haven't lived there for almost 4 years, we still have great friends there and they always welcome us back year after year.

This year, Mark was super excited because he finally moved up the age group. When you are in the older age group, you get to hunt for eggs in the creek area. It was a big milestone for him. Haha!

There's always the popular petting zoo that he enjoys...

He still loves the pony ride. I'm not sure how much longer this will last. As long as he wants to ride a pony, I will oblige.

On Easter Sunday, we had our own Easter egg hunt at home. Again, I will fill those eggs and hide them for as long as he wants. I will miss this so much when he feels that he's too old for this.

Daddy even helped hide the eggs.

 So much joy in this little body....

Later that afternoon, we went across the street to Grandpa's and hung out. The boys got little gifts from their grandparents. Another Easter in the books!

(Bitter)Sweet 16 - I Love You Big Monkey

My oldest just turned 16 yesterday. How is it that it's been 16 years? I am excited to see him grow and but I am more sad that he is no longer little boy. I look back at pictures and can't help but miss him as a little boy. I miss being with my little boy so much. I miss the thumping of little feet as he runs into our room in the middle of the night and sneaks into bed with us. I miss his easy laughter and his cuddles. I miss holding his little hands. I miss his silliness.

As I look back and my heart breaks for all the things I miss, but at the same time, I know that there are big milestones to look forward to. He's got so much life to live still and I pray every single day that he will live that life the best he can. There are so many things waiting for him - driving, graduation, college, falling in love, getting his heart broken, falling in love again. All these things that make life exciting and scary. Though it all, I hope that he knows he's got the unconditional love of his mom and family.

But for now, we will celebrate this milestone. We will celebrate him on his 16th birthday even when he says that he doesn't care to make a big deal out of it. He is the one who made me a mom and despite his objections to making a big deal of this milestone, I hope he has a story to tell his kids. I hope he says,  "I remember my mom had a banner made for me and hung it for everyone in our neighborhood to see on my 16th birthday when I told her not to."

Happy Sweet 16 to my Big Monkey!

His Texas cousins came to help him celebrate.

Sparklers! I didn't know what to expect from these, but it was pretty cool.

Messy hair, don't care because I'm 16!!

 I wish there was a better picture of me with him and M, but whatever - they look good.

Lucky Number 7

My little guy turned seven today. Like every year, I think how can this be? He's no longer an baby, but he will always be my sweet little baby.

To my dearest Mark- you are my little angel. I love you so much! You can drive my crazy but when you are sweet, you are the sweetest. I am so proud of how precocious you are. I know that every mother thinks their child is smart, but you truly are so smart. You are doing division and multiplication in 1st grade! You understand concepts that most children older than you struggle with. You are quick-witted and have a great sense of humor.

You have a big personality - good and bad. You are quick to anger, but also quick to forgive. You can be stubborn and willful, but you are so loving and sometimes very sweet.

I am so lucky to have such a smart and lovable baby. I get comments from your teachers all the time on how bright you are and it makes me so proud.

Happy 7th birthday! I love you to Pluto and beyond.