Happy 10 Year Anniversary

This past Wednesday Kris and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary.  I honestly cannot believe it has been 10 years.  It has flown by and the addition of three boys makes it go by even quicker.  I honestly remember our wedding day like it was yesterday.  I still to this day cannot believe how calm I was.  I am a stress out person.  I had not one second of stress or nerves on our wedding day.  I simply enjoyed every second of the day.

I can honestly say I love him more everyday we spend together.  He takes care of me like no one else could.  He truly is the love of my life, and I am so glad he choose me.  We celebrated at our favorite restaurant in Seagrove Beach......Cafe Thirty A.  We walked in and he had already been there to put a dozen roses on our table.  After we ate, we strolled Seaside window shopping and watched the sunset on the beach.  A perfect way to spend an anniversary.  So here's to another 10 plus years.

Summer Project

We finished up school today....YEAH!!!  We have a ceremony tomorrow night, and then Hamilton will be done until Aug.  I am hoping to turn his room into a school room, playroom, living room for the boys.  The room is huge, with tall ceilings, and two awesome closets.  I will put Jack and Sam together and Hamilton will move into Jack's room.  It seems silly to have three boys, who want to be together all the time, to all have there own room.   So I thought the above pictures were inspirational and hope to get busy when we get home from the beach.  Any ideas on how to design on a dime would be appreciated. 

By the way, I just came in from playing ball with Jack.  He told me my knuckle ball was BEAST!!!  How funny is that.

Paradise Awaits

You got it!!!  In a little over a week we are packing up and heading to the beach.  I cannot tell you how much I look forward to this all year.  We always have an amazing time:  sunning, swimming, fishing, crabbing, shopping, eating wonderful meals, nice walks on the beach, oh I could go on.  We always stay in the same neighborhood but this year we are returning to the same house we rented last year.  I LOVED it so I am super excited to be staying there again.  You have the ocean in front of you and the pool behind you.  Oh it really is paradise.  My parents will be joining us again this year.  I love being with them, having a shopping buddy, having my dad for the boys to fish with, cooking delicious meals with my mom, and being able to leave to eat or walk the beach with Kris with my parents there to take care of the boys.

A beach trip also means our second year of homeschooling is drawing to an end.  There have been so many challenges this year schooling Hamilton, but I can honestly say we are finishing well.  He is one smart little boy.  Next year I pick up Sam.  Start praying now.  I am so proud to say every second of my day I am investing in my boys.  I am making the investment......  no one else.  Not only am I teaching them Math, English, Science, etc,  I am teaching them to live pure lives, to be men of honor and integrity, and to love the Lord with all of thier hearts.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to not only be their mother but their teacher as well.

Let the count down begin!!!!

I DID IT!!!!

Me before the race!!!

Me (somewhere) just crossing the finish line.....but check out the weather!!

I successfully ran a 5k Saturday.  We started in the downtown area, ran through campus, around the quad, and back.  Bands were playing funk music, people were holding up signs of encouragement along the route....if was just FUN!!!!  Not only did I run it, but I ran the last 1/2 mile in lightening, thunder, heavy rain, and police officers on the coarse with their megaphones telling runners to take cover.  I was looking at the finish line.  I wasn't about to let the fact that I was about to get struck by lightening stop me from crossing it.  I did really well.  I actually could have continued running and was not about to die crossing the finish line as I thought I would be.  It is also easier to run with a crowd of people running with you.  My back did very well which was surprising since I basicly took the two weeks off before the run to nurse a herniated disc in my lower back.  Anyway, I am already looking forward to the next one in June.

What to do with Myself?

I drove the boys to Birmingham this morning where my parents got them to take them to Atlanta for their cousins birthday.  I did a little shopping with my sister in Birmingham before heading home.  Now that I am home, my house is completely quiet.  I have no idea what to do with myself ( I should clean but I don't want to).  I realized today this is the first time since Hamilton was born that I will be in my house at night without my boys.  I am a little sad.  Kris and I however are about to head to dinner.....childless.  That is a very very rare thing.  And tomorrow morning Mama will attempt a 5k run through the downtown area and campus.  I am really excited and hoping my back will let me run the whole thing.  Breaks are really nice and I totally appreciate my parents taking on my 3 boys.  Off to have a wonderful evening with my hubby.

Update Hamilton

Hamilton is such a first born.....likes to be in charge and telling people what to do.  Before I can punish or correct his brothers, he is doing it for me.  He sees the world in black and white and absolutely NO inbetween (just like his Daddy).  I adore Hamilton though and he is such a big helper to me.  I expect so much more out of him than I should for him to only be 7.  He is just so stinking responsible that it is hard not to set my expectations of him a little higher.  We are about to finish our second year homeschooling.  Hamilton is very smart.  I only have to teach something once and he gets it.  Even if it is something new.  He loves Science and Social Studies.  He HATES anything that has to do with writing.  He is a great writer, he just hates anything that involves using a pencil. 

Hamilton and I are working really hard dealing with sin in his life (and mine for that matter).  He has such anger issues (gets it honestly x's 2).  We are trying to take dicipline a step further and help him deal with sin and turn from evil.  We are studying the book of Proverbs Sunday night in a class Kris and I are teaching at church.  It has been wonderful in teaching him how to walk in wisdom and characteristics of the wise.  Wise men not only turn from sin but HATE sin.  They also accept discipline as discipline drives out folly.  Hamilton will accept forgiveness but he also wants specifics on how to rid himself of sin.  Unfortunately that is a battle we have to fight everyday.  He hates that and I do too.  But I praise God that He saved Hamilton at an early age and that Hamilton is sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  That kid may just be president one day.  His name would fit that well.

Sam Update

Sam...where do I even begin.  First of all, we got a great report from our doctors at Emory in Feb.  Images showed that he was stone free.  Praise the Lord.  Our doctor also said that his kidney's looked prestine.  We are about to order another big urine catch to check his oxalate levels.  Keeping him hydrated, especially with the hot summer months coming coming up will be key to keeping him well.

Sam continues to be our crazy, fun, loving, son that makes us laugh harder than we ever thought possible.  He is playing soccer this year also which has been so good for him.  He undoubtedly is the biggest kid on his team.  He scored four goals last night and made his Mama super proud.  Sam loves playing on the computer, ds, and wii.  I am glad warmer weather is here so I can push him out doors to play. 

Sam continues to be very challenging to parent.  A year ago we began testing for Asperger's.  We stopped short of getting the diagonsis.  Partly because we were dealing so heavily with kidney issues then.  And not to mention we could emotionally and financially only go in one direction at one time.  Kris and I both know he has it and may look into seeing a neurologist  in the near future.  Sam has a lot of sensory issues:  loud noises, crowds, fire, steam, and blood from himself or anyone else.  We couldn't even put birthday candles on Kris's birthday cake back in Feburary.  All of that with social issues that just comes with Asperger's .  I hate it.  Right now my struggle is helping his brothers understand that "yes, Sam is different".  Sam does drive you crazy.  He screams and yell's and is totally irrational.  It will make anyone crazy, especially if you are with him ALL day.  But I have to remind myself that he acts this way for a reason and what makes him irrational and moody also makes him the most loving little boy ever created.  Weird mix huh.  We love Sam.  He definately keeps me on my toes. 

Jack Update

I can hardly believe my baby Jack Jack will turn four years old the end of June.  Wow, time flies.  As you can tell from the pictures this child continues to reign as my baby and can melt my heart in a split second.  He is a mama's baby through and through and I just love it.  He may be tiny but this child can pack a punch.  He takes nothing from his brothers and is often found on top of a fight pile.  He is playing soccer this year with Samuel.  He loves it and for three he isn't half bad.  He still adores his brothers and loves to copy them to make them mad as fire.  Jack truly is a delight and I love being his mother.

Down and Out

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I have blogged.  We got sick about 2 1/2  weeks ago with a horrible stomach bug.  Just when we would think it was over, it would start all over again.  Kris has been the only one spared.  On top of the stomach bug, Hamilton had a sore throat and fever that has latest for about a week and a half.  Kris took him to the doctor Monday morning (I was in bed sick).  After some blood work that came back negative for mono and other things, the doctor just thinks we have had a really bad stomach virus.  I have cleaned more bathrooms and washed more clothes in the past two weeks.   I must say Kris did his share of laundry and even took off all day Monday so I could rest and get well.  I do love him.  I think it is safe to say we are ready to be well and ready for warm weather to be here to stay.