Greyson Turns 1

Somehow before my eyes, Greyson turned 1.  It is just not something I can quantify with words and do justice.  Maybe because he's our third…I let go of the worries you often feel with parenting the first time around…maybe it is because I didn't venture back to work after having him…or maybe it is because of his sweet little personality and amazing demeanor.  But this first year with him was a blast from beginning to end.  It was busy and crazy as I learned to navigate the waters of 3 kiddos…but he is just flat out a fun baby.  He is very happy.  He goes with the flow.  He loves to eat and play and boy does he communicate well.  God definitely knew what he was doing when he gave us our 3 babies.  And I'm blessed everyday to call them mine.  And to have the chance to enjoy the last year of snuggles, smiles and love with Mr. Greyson Oliver.

We kicked off the morning with a donut breakfast at our favorite little shop…me, Grey and Coop have taken to making this a weekly venture when everyone is well.  Such fun memories I know I'll always cherish!

Chocolate donut for the birthday boy!!

His birthday was on a week day which meant school days for brothers and the usual busyness that goes along with it…but we were in the middle of kitchen renovation so we headed to dinner at our local Mexican place.  

After dinner we headed to DQ for an ice cream treat…a favorite in our house!!  Here is a video of us singing him a Happy Birthday song with candles and ice cream…a little non-traditional…but I have to say one of my favorite birthday candle blow-outs!

On his birthday weekend we invited our loved ones over for a party!  I decided for his party I wanted to make it small, thoughtful and surround him with the people who love him most!  That's exactly what we did!  A little Bubble Guppie balloon action (a new favorite of his), some delicious cupcakes and family family family!

Here he is opening presents:

A little brotherly help

And a little living room dance party to cap it all off never hurts!

A big thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate this little guys big day!!  We are such a blessed family!!!

First things first...

January 2015 Cell Phone Photos

This kid loves all things food.  Rarely do I hand him something he doesn't eat.  This occasion happen to be oranges.  Mandarin oranges are now a fave addition to his PB&J's at lunchtime!

 Love this face!

He loves things that light up and make noise.  Also musical things…like this 3rd generation ant on stilts bell shaker from our B. drum from Target.

 Walking legs

Killing some wintertime blues with a fun Christmas present.  These are the create to destroy dinosaurs from Crayola.  They love them!

 We had a family photo shoot for Greyson's bday.  We did it in the Ameristar…it was pure genius by our photographer Sherry…and the boys thought the fountains were amazing!

After pics we hit a place called Max and Erma's for lunch.  It was so kid friendly and delicious for the whole family!  Can't beat fun atmosphere, food that caters to adult and kid palettes and ice cream all around at the end!

 We don't always have the same idea of the rules…but he's a momma's boy at heart.

 This kid is getting so big and so awesome at listening and behaving through meals and everything else.  Can't believe he's going to be six soon!!

 A sneak peak from our family pics. Pics by Metropolitan Picture Company.

 I grabbed up a Groupon for bathtub refinishing.  It's beautiful!

 Prepping for a certain someones first birthday…and who needs the party store?  We've got one in our storage! It pays to be an unused party supply hoarder…and maybe a little of an over buyer too…ha!

 Bedtime stories!

Window stacking.

Enjoying coffee in a mug I absolutely adore!

 We celebrated Christmas with the Cincoski's…fun was had by all!!  By the truckload!!! I love all the faces.  Pure hilarity!

 What happens when you live with a 3 year old named Cooper.

 All smiles.

 Playing a little Pop the Pig with the O man.  And little latte never hurts ones competitive edge either.

 Math problems.  There are 60.  They are not hard.  There is just a lot.  Yes…we're still only in Kindergarten.  Am I the only one who is wondering why???

 A sick Mr. Greyson.

 Feeling a bit better!!

 Feeling a lot better.  

This made me crack.up.laughing.

 Dinner at Red Robin.

 Isabel turns four…sniff sniff!! Tinkerbell style…with party hats and everything.  It was too cute!

 A game where we knock cars out of the circle with other cars and collect more cars.  I live with boys!!

 My hubby came back from a work trip with this.  This guy makes all the cutting boards for the Food Network.  I have a major crush on it!

 One day recently I decided to have Cooper be my helper for the day.  We did laundry, a little cleaning and made some cupcakes.  He loved helping and actually asked me a few days later if we could do "waundry and make cupcakes."  It was pretty adorable.

 Milk bubbles...

 Ok and wine bubbles too.

 I recently did some dabbling with 3D mascara.  I love the results!

 A little mantle love for Happy Heart Day

 Ever had a sticker just not come off??

 Um…sometimes my kitchen looks like this till I find time to do what needs done!  5 people in one house make a lot of dishes!  

 Grey has been going to the Chiropractor for chronic ear infections.  We had a good run but I'm not sure it was what he needed.  Even still it was worth a shot!  And he enjoyed visiting Dr. Ryan.

 Something to remember...

 He thinks he's an acrobat…maybe he is!

2014 - The Year of My Blogging Hiatus

It wasn't on purpose…and I'm still trying to let myself off the hook for the guilt I feel over letting it slip. But 2014 was the first time in 5 years of blogging that I just simply couldn't keep up with it.  I probably could have…maybe if I watched less Netflix after the kids went to sleep (so tired!)…or woke up before the kids in the morning to make time for it.  But for a number of different reasons all combined…this blog went neglected.  I still love to write.  I miss this habit.  But so much has changed since I quit work...and it took awhile for it to all settle out if you will. In all honesty it is still settling out. And I know I am going to kick myself for the lost year on our blog.  I have a plan in place to try and work through some of the unblogged material…but inevitable some things will just be memories in our mind…without a freshly remembered/penned story and picture from the blog to remember it by.  That being said…I am starting fresh. Because it is a new year.  And that is what you do when the year is new right?? You take all the clutter left over from the year before and organize it, donate it or throw it out completely and simply move ahead. It is 2015…a new year.  A new start to several things in the way I'm living my life…and that includes my blogging habits.  I will be going month by month from the months I missed last year and recovering photos (we still took lots!) and include stories. But I'll be doing it a little at a time. While I work fervently to stay on top of the here and now! Everyday around these parts is an adventure and I don't want to miss another moment! So I'm starting from right now.

What is going on today??  Well this is my allotted get crap done time.  Daily I am getting up before the rest of my house and doing a myriad of things including email, drafting blog post ideas and looking over the calendar and getting set for the day.  Also, quite frankly enjoying some peace in the house.  Because boy do these guys keep me busy!!!

Annnnnd...I'm already running out of my allotted time slot so before I officially run myself late (another reason for the early rising) I'm going to hit save and post!  Wish me luck on this new journey.  I really want to work to get this habit back on track for me and my family!  Stay tuned for good things coming!

Getting Back to Real Life

School is officially in session for two of my 3 kids. Summer weather is set to take a dip this weekend.  I'm working hard on getting back into the routine of real life.  No more lazy mornings turned into zoo tripping days or splash pad visits just because.  I think Labor Day Weekend we actually took our last outdoor dips in the swimming pool.  My blog even took a hiatus this summer.  Heck since Greyson was born I sort of dropped the ball.  But like I said...school is in session, life is beginning to return to a familiar rhythm and so too shall this blog.  I'm not quite sure how I'll catch us all the way up...but over the next few weeks that's my plan.  I have a few things on my mind to share and then I'm going to spend a week or two updating this place...without further ado...my random thoughts:

It's all finally clicking!
Something I noticed about me over the summer...or something I realized I guess (and I'm sure it's the same for many people as they add additional tiny people to their family) is that one at a time, each member of your family enters your life and as they enter there is a change.  At first it feels foreign.  This new baby instantly fits because you love them and have a fierce desire to care for them.  But the rest feels foreign.  The rhythms of the house change.  Leaving-the-house routines are uprooted.  What you need to leave the house and have a successful outing is different.  The sounds in your home at night are different.  Heck the simple act of bathing, feeding and putting little ones in bed changes.  Everything feels different.  New.  After bringing home Greyson it was no different than when we brought home the other two.  There was change.  But this summer, it all clicked.  Getting out the door with 3 kiddos no longer frightens me.  It exhausts me some days.  But most days it's no big deal.  Getting 3 kiddos dinner, baths and even finding time to play with 3 kiddos isn't near as daunting a task.  We're growing and grooving in a way at first I was never sure would happen!  Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of days when my head hits the pillow and I'm thankful to lay my tired body down and get some rest. And there are plenty of days when leaving looks like a circus, going out in public is a circus and the simple act of being in our house is a circus.  But, as a mother of 3 for now, it's finally all clicking.  Routines feel good.  Life feels comfortable and though we don't have our act completely together...as the saying goes...together we have it all.  So now God, that doesn't mean we need to mix things up and learn some hard life lesson this year ok??  I'm thankful and blessed and would love to feel like this for a little while longer if that is in Your plan.  Thanks.  Jess

Summertime was awesome!
We spent so much time this summer soaking up the fun.  I think I was finally able to embrace the beauty of staying home with my kids.  The first year after I quit, between pregnancy, house renos and bringing home a new baby...there wasn't much time for anything but surviving each day and hitting milestones.  This summer we just gloriously soaked up 3 months of sleeping in, playing with friends and making memories.  I wasn't an exhausted pregnant mom trying to muster enough motivation to swap laundry and get everyone dressed.  I was just me.  Enjoying snuggles on the couch.  Bucket list making and the amazing fun of checking off nearly every item off our list!

An exciting school year!
We just embarked on our first official year of real school for Owen and I'm nervous for my little boy.  But I know I need to let go.  He's strong and resilient.  He is going to do this and do it well because he likes doing well.  He also loves school.  But prayers for us as we navigate these waters would be great.  Owen's story isn't the simplest and our journey is truly just beginning.  I need strength to trust his teachers.  Patience as everyone learns and grows into these changes.  And more strength to be the parent Owen needs.  Last night as I watched him exhaustedly complete a math page just before bedtime I felt sad.  He's only 5.  We're asking him to give up TV time, playtime with his brother and simple freedoms of being a kid a.l.r.e.a.d.y. Ugh. But I want him to know homework is important. It's something we have to do.  But part of me feels like he's so little to start talking about this.  So like I said...prayers as I navigate the emotions I've got going on as well.  They are tremendous.

Also, as this is all taking place, Cooper began preschool.  He is loving it.  And doing great!  I LOVE that he is at our church preschool.  There is so much love there.  The familiar faces of church family are wonderful greetings and I'm so excited for him!  Also I never want Cooper to feel like his milestones are overshadowed by the things that encompass Owen's schooling.  Cooper will probably never have an IEP or deal with the same obstacles that Owen faced.  For that I am so very grateful.  But I need prayers to make sure that we always make him feel like we are as involved and concerned for him as we have been for Owen.  We absolutely are.  I just never want him to feel as though we aren't.  So praying folks who are still out there occasionally checking this blog?  I appreciate anything you send up to the big guy!

I think that's about it.  We have a wedding to celebrate this weekend and lots to do.  But this blog is being pushed back up in my priority list!  There are too many memories I don't want to miss!  Stay tuned.

He's All Set

I haven't blogged in just about two months to the day...and I could spend some time getting into the reasonings I think that has happened to me...but that is for another post. Right now, all the other updates that are in work are being put aside.  They are coming.  I am not letting myself off the hook.  I need to share our amazing summer and all the things the boys and I did together.  It was just that.  Amazing.  We had so much awesome fun. We seized the day.  Every day of this summer was chalk full of adventures if there were any at all to be had.  But again.  That is for another post.  Or several other posts actually.  Today is about Owen.  And his next big step.  Kindergarten.  He's ready.  Oh man is he ready.

His backpack is here...complete with his initials and a little baseball patch he picked out all on his own.  We got him a cool new lunch box too.  Also with his name embroidered on the front.   His school supplies got dropped off last night as we saw his classroom and met his teachers.  He has his own cubby with an elephant on top and his name underneath.  His school days are here.   They are really happening.  The real deal school days.  With lunch boxes and cafeterias and pencil boxes and crayons and libraries and teachers and...the list goes on.  And like I said...he is ready.   He has asked every day for a couple weeks now when school started.  Yesterday he asked all day when Grandma was coming so we could go visit his new school.  He is so darn excited he can't hardly sit still when he talks about it.

So why aren't I?  Usually his enthusiasm spills over and fills me up too.  But this?  I can't share with him.  All I keep thinking about is the pit in my stomach.  The what if's.  The things I can't even bring myself to type up because well...it hurts too much to think them out loud.  Doing so makes it hurt worse.  This little boy that I love more than life itself.  Who has been through hell and back learning to talk and whose journey learning is just beginning...who loves school and life more than any kid I know...what if all this changes him?  I guess I should say...how will all this change him?  And how is it that I've agreed to let someone else take care of him for so many hours in a day.  WHY do we do this??  There is so much trust in people I don't know at all.  It's scary.  And right now...that's the only place my head can go.  I know there will be amazing experiences and learning and growing and fun.  But for now I hurt for the baby I'm letting go.  The first of so many bittersweet changes that life throws our way as we learn to let our kids fly free.  Wow it is powerfully hard to do.

Most importantly though I just want Owen to know how loved he is.  How much I admire his beautiful spirit.  How much I'll miss the time at home we won't get to spend.  How proud I am of the kid he is becoming.  How his Dad and I will be there every.single.step of the way without fail.  We love you buddy.  Go rock Kindergarten little mister.  I already know you are going to so here goes nothing!!