I am a failure at blogging :(

I am sad with myself for not keeping up on my blogging.  I don't really have many followers.  My mother in law used to read it to keep up on her grandkids and us since she lives a couple of hours away. My aunt used to read sometimes to do the same.  Other than that I had a few fellow blogger friends that checked in w/ me from time to time-we have all seemed to dwindle off our blogging.  The reason I started this was to keep an online memory book/journal of our lives.  I am sad that I just stopped one day.  I haven't even taken any pictures with a real CAMERA since I got my Iphone!  I heard that happens but never believed it, but it's TRUE! I don't even know where our cameras are in the house.  Poor Claire, I better step it up :) 



I haven't blogged since July. Here are a few pics since then!

Tutu Princess

All Star baseball (Taylor in his daddy's baseball number-26)

Nothing more beautiful

Lake time!  Gracie loves water like the rest of my bugs!

Super sweetness

First day of 3rd grade!

The beginning stages of not staying in her bed!

Nana's 80th Bday!  (her and BFF Ginny)

Sometimes we swim in our clothes!

My girls

First day of Kindergarten!

I haven't blogged since July.  Here are a few pics since then! 

I can do it! I can do it!

I hearby promise to be a better blogger!  Since May we have been to the lake TWICE, gone on vacation to Virginia Beach, enjoyed our summer doing nothing in particular, even though I made a 2 page list on all the great stuff we SHOULD do.  If time would slow down I might be able to do more.  How inconsiderate of it.  Claire has become POTTY TRAINED and now sleeps in a big girl bed (sniff sniff, where have all my babies gone?), I've picked up a couple of jobs,  and consistently failed at being a domestic goddess! I think that's a pretty good summary, here are a few pics for now!

Not crazy, I promise!

Soooo.....we were going to go on vacation as a family for Spring Break, but then Todd realized he didn't have enough vacation time, but I still wanted to go to the beach and get away for the week.  So, once everyone said I was pretty much crazy to take the kids and drive 18 hours by myself, I decided that is exactly what I would do!  I took our babysitter (and family friend) with me.  She is a very responsible and mature 17 year old whom the kids adore.  We had a lot of fun and although the drive was LOOOONNNGGGGG and the worst part of the whole experience, friends of ours that were vacationing in the same spot helped me out with driving and we also hung out with them down there, so the kids were entertained.  We went to North Redington Beach, FL.  Nice place...a little busier than I would like because the beach was so crowded, but it was fine!  It is far enough south (St. Pete/Clearwater area) that the ocean was warm and the temperature was PERFECT with no humidity!  Lots of sunshine. 

Everyone raves about the pretty water and beaches in Destin, FL so I would really like to take the family there sometime.  But Spring Break is just too risky that it could be colder than we would like. 

Here are a few snapshots from our trip!  We missed having daddy with us, but are going to Virginia Beach this summer and he gets to go to that one! I am going to try to do better about blogging.........since I have been averaging one post a month, which is unacceptable! 

 No comments about the flat bill.  This is a battle-I do not like it at all!

 Claire loves the beach!

 At Bubba Gump's with Makayla!

Me and my babes!  (again pretend you do not see a flatbill hat....)

St. Patty's Day

Am I Irish?  Nope!  Do I have a particular interest in being Irish?  Not really.  Do the Irish know how to celebrate on St. Patty's Day?  Um, ya, pretty much!  Oh, but I have been to Ireland, that should count for something!  What's not to love about green, leprechauns, gold, parades and beer?  Every year for the past 5 years my brother Scott and friend Cheryl have put on a fun day of romping around downtown for the day on the day of St. Patty's Celebration.  This is the first year I was able to go and it was a blast! Todd was supposed to come meet us but had to work too late to make it.  Also that weekend we had a birthday gathering for my friend Becca.  The weekend in it's entirety was fabulous!  Spent with the best friends EVER!

Connor is 5!

My dear middle baby boy, Connor is 5 years old!  There is something about the transition between being 4 and 5 that makes five seem so old!  He is going to Kindergarten next year-I will have TWO kids in elementary school.  WHAT?  It doesn't seem possible....but I've always known time flies.  Goes by so quickly.....

Connor is the most thoughtful little boy.  He is always thinking of others and wanting to do things for other people.  The other day he wanted to give Taylor $10 to buy him (Connor) a birthday present.  When we go to the bank or doctor's office that gives out stickers or suckers, he always has to get one for Taylor too, even though Taylor isn't there.  If I hurt myself, he wants to be there to kiss it and make it better.  He is an ornery little booger, and tests my patience on a minute by minute basis, but I have so much love for his personality!  He is so excited about everything.  His voice raises, his eyes pop open, his smile is big and he jumps up and down.  He has always been this way, starting with his hands an feet when he was a baby; they used to go crazy back and forth in excitement. 

He is smart and even though he doesn't want to show you how smart he is by what he knows...he proves it in the way he acts every day.  He remembers thing from two years ago that I barely remember.  If he has been somewhere or done something he can get you there or recall the event in detail.  I barely remember yesterday. 
He loves his blankey and his thumb. I can't say anything about the blankey b/c I still sleep with mine.  The thumb we should work on, but he really only sucks it at night when he is sleeping. And part of me likes that little bit that keeps him toddler-like.  He is starting Tae Kwon Do next week and is very excited about it!  He did not enjoy T-ball or Soccer last year so we are hoping that he finds this an activity he enjoys doing.  I would prefer he liked something cheaper than martial arts, but if that is what he likes, we will figure out a way to do it. 
I can't imagine my life without this energetic little boy.  Sure he drives me crazy with his high maintenance attitude and his constant booger picking.  But all the good and happiness that he brings to my life is worth all the little imperfections.  He is my child that looks most like me, although I have no spitting images...our baby/toddler pictures are very similar.  He, like my other two children, is my heart and soul.  My job in life is to love him with all I have, and I can promise that I do!!  Happy 5th Birthday my Connor Jackson!  Mommy loves you sooooooo much!!!!

My Wish

This song is for my kiddos.  From the moment I heard it, the lyrics made me think of what I want for my kids.  How I feel for them and their future.



Lyrics:  (From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rascal-flatts-lyrics/my-wish-lyrics.html)


I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow


And each road leads you where you want to go

And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose

I hope you choose the one that means the most to you



And if one door opens to another door closed

I hope you keep on walkin' til you find the window

If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile

But more than anything, more than anything



My wish for you

Is that this life becomes all that you want it to

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small

You never need to carry more than you can hold



And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to

I hope you know somebody loves you

And wants the same things too

Yeah, this is my wish



I hope you never look back but you never forget

All the ones who love you and the place you left

I hope you always forgive and you never regret

And you help somebody every chance you get


Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake

And always give more than you take

But more than anything, yeah more than anything


My wish for you

Is that this life becomes all that you want it to

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small

You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to

I hope you know somebody loves you

And wants the same things too

Yeah, this is my wish, yeah yeah

My wish for you

Is that this life becomes all that you want it to

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small

You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to

I hope you know somebody loves you

And wants the same things too

Yeah, this is my wish

(My wish for you)


This is my wish

(My wish for you)

I hope you know somebody loves you

(My wish for you)

May all your dreams stay big

(My wish for you)

It's a bird, It's a plane, It's ????

Happy Valentine's Day to the lucky little girl in Connor's class that got this special Valentine.  Ahem.....