10

late to post but are we really that surprised??

my girl. my heart. ten. years. old. UGH!!! 

well sweet girl, ten things i love about you:

1-your laid back, go with the flow nature. 

2-your laugh. Gah! impossible to not laugh along with you. 

3-your kind, sweet, caring heart. i love how much YOU love your friends. 

4-your growing faith in Our Loving God. such a joy for us to watch you learn and grow. 

5-i love our talks and hugs and kisses and snuggles. i pray they never stop. 

6-i love your passion for cheer and i love to watch you compete and excel at something you love. 

7-i love that you still want to hold my hand. 

8-i love that your brother is one of your best friends and hope that you stay as close as you are now. 

9-i love your silliness. such a ham :)

10-your independence. as frustrating as it can be when you're little, it will serve you well in the future. 

abbygirl...you are my heart. i love you so. happy birthday!

12

twelve. how did that happen? because last time i looked, you had at least 3 nooks in your hands and one in your mouth, you were playing with or watching thomas the train, and sleeping in our bed. ugh. 

but i adore the awesome boy you are growing up to be. so, for a new tradition, 12 things i love about you:

1-your awesome, witty, sarcastic sense of humor. don't ever lose it. 

2-your faith in our Almighty God and your strength and confidence to profess and live that faith at what can be a tough age to do just that. 

3-your sweet, tender heart. especially for those who may not be treated kindly by others because they are different in some arbitrary way. 

4-your brain power. simply amazing. never stop thinking outside the box...and daddy's friends will always count on you for any kind of sports stat or news. :)

5-your artistic, creative abilities. incredible. 

6-your athletic ability and your love of the game...almost ANY game. i love to watch you play. 

7-the way you laugh so hard you stop making noise and tears roll down your face. 

8-most of the issues we battle now will serve you well in the future. so it's a love/hate thing really. 

9-that you are your father's son. i know it means you will be an amazing, wonderful man...just like him. 

10-your unexpected hugs and i love you's. i hope they never stop. 

11-you still call me mama. see #10

12-you give me hope that mostly i'm doing ok at this parenting thing ;)

happy birthday j man. love you so. 

winner winner chicken dinner

well i think i've actually outdone myself in the "completely not blogging" department. my last post was from the first of the school year??!! seriously. pathetic. 

i don't do resolutions. but i sincerely hope to blog regularly now. i really am going to regret relying on my defunct memory to recall all of the little moments that actually are the big moments. 

i will admit that i let the fact that 2013 stunk like a stinky sock jelly bean keep me from jotting down all of the little warm fuzzy, funny and wonderful moments that did find their way into our lives. and as craptastic as the past several months have been, i am more peaceful than i've been in a long time. my faith is stronger, my trust is (mostly) unwavering, and the big guy and i spend a lot more time together. our home is happier. our kids are less stressed. so, silver lining and all of that. :)

biggest moments that have passed: the cutest babies known to man turned one, a friendship of five years became a lifeline for me and MY HOT HUB TURNED 40!!!

some pics to help document and then hopefully i'll get back on track. 

school 2013-2014

jake...6th grade. advanced academics. plays the trumpet. survived a "break up". playing football. rabid aggie fan. further honing his quite advanced arguing skills. still loves to spend as much time with daddy as possible. still snuggles with me on the couch. has a good heart, a sweet smile, and I love to hear him laugh. 

abby...4th grade. handling an unexpected new school like a champ. makes friends so easily I am amazed and proud. cheering like the rock star she is. has the absolute best giggle on the planet. believes sleepovers should be a mandatory nightly event. is my rock when I have bad moments, with just the motion of reaching for my hand to hold. keeps her daddy safely wrapped around her finger. hud's biggest fan and best friend. the girl is still my heart. 

hudson...2nd grade. advanced academics. 92 lb seven year old with 6.5 size shoes. playing football. excited new bike rider. most hilarious kid I know. best snuggler on earth. heart bigger than texas. man, I beyond adore this kid. 

BLESSED.