Things I need to remeber

• Weston (10)-  Total book lover. Can't keep enough books around for him to read. At 10:30 pm Tyler and I go in to check on him and he's still awake reading. We have to pull the book from his fingers!  Has Braces.  Is showing huge steps in maturing and for the most part, acts like he's 15. He's becoming quite the responsible, independent boy. He loves to babysit his brothers. I've left him at home for short periods of time and he does great. He knows how to start my car and I let him. Super tall and big feet. Size 12 jeans. Size 6.5 Nike. Has such a sweet heart and really tries to choose the right. He is always aware if I am upset and asks me how he can help out all the time. He's about to start 5th grade! A lot of things are becoming "uncool" to him. Which makes it hard for me to plan anything fun because he's not babyish anymore. I am learning to deal with his opinions and take it all in stride. He usually ends up having a fun time it's just getting him out the door that is the hard part! Loves all the types of food grown ups eat and hates if we make him order off the kids menu. Loves to yard work with dad.

• Parker (8)- Can't believe my blue eyed boy is 8! He just got baptized. He's obsessed with Nerf guns. Loves to swim and would stay in our pool all day if he could. He's often the last one out after I've yelled at him 1 million times to get out. Tends to pick on the twins and then tries to talk his way out of his wrong doing. He does confess easily after a time out and is quick to apologize. Super snuggler and still gives the best wet kisses. Has lots of big teeth growing back in which makes for an awkward-crowded -tooth smile. Still can't tie his own shoe. We've been working on it. He likes to give up after barely trying. We are trying to work thru it. I think it's a total personality thing. About to start 2nd grade! Still loves hotdogs and ketchup! Cheeseburgers come to a close second. Still super short and tiny. He gets mistaken for a triplet every time we leave the house. No joke. The twins are right behind him in size. Is turning into a great reader.

• Sawyer (5)-  Chicken nuggets and BBQ sauce. Bed wetter only at night. Especially if he eats watermelon or swims or drinks too much before bed. We take him for a sleep pee around 11pm every night. Speech Therapy on Thursday's is going great. Making huge improvements with therapy and hopefully will be at age appropriate vocabulary soon! Such a good swimmer. Sarah comes to our house Thursday's to work with him and we did city lessons for a few weeks plus I work with him on a daily basis. Loves to go under my legs in the pool or a flip. Went down grandma's pool slide and diving board without floaties this week. Still will take a nap a few days a week. Loves his bunk bed and still switches who sleeps on top every few nights. Been having night terrors for a few weeks now and has no memory of it in the morning. Loves to help clean windows or put laundry or dishes away. Has lost two bottom teeth.

• Judson (5)-  PB&J and he can make it all by him self. Some days he wants it cut and some days he will cry if I cut it. Loves to help me with chores. Loves to vacuum, fold laundry or do yard work with dad. He even gets the mail and pulls the garbage barrels out all by him self. Asthma. Really bad asthma and swollen eyes if he gets around grandma's dog. Loves to wear his goggles in the pool. He can't swim with out them. Is turning into quite the little fish. Loves to be in the pool. Does cannon balls like nobody's business. Is doing great in speech therapy and his language is more and more understandable.  Loves to sleep with his pillow pet. Is obsessed with time and the clock. He can even tell time and count how many more minutes till and event. He's got math skills like his daddy. Can write his name really well. Has lost two bottom teeth. Loves to buckle his own car seat.

• Tyler (31)- Still working at Cox. It has been over 11 years!  Just finished his Bachelor's Degree thru NAU (May 2015)! Is currently looking for a new position to better suite his career goals, in IT or computer anything. He hopes to stay at Cox. Sunday School President. Also teaches the almost missionary aged kids a mission prep class. Busy but manages to always have time for family.

• Andrea (30)- Busy entertaining all the kids. Has Landon during the summer. Primary Secretary. Just got hired at kids school to be an aide. 

A New Season Of Life

A new season of life is fast approaching -- all four kids will be in school full time!

I feel too young to be an "empty nester"!  I'm only 30!

I should feel happy, right?

While I am happy for this huge change; I wouldn't be lying if I said I had a huge pit my stomach.

All I've done for days (and years) is wish I could have some quite time during the day. Or clean without one or two kids beneath my feet. Or meet my friends for a quick lunch date. Or go to the Temple. The list goes on...

But now as this reality is coming closer and closer, I am scared.

All I know how to do is juggle nap time with lunch time and cleaning time and laundry time and wiping other peoples' bottom time....

What on earth am I gonna do from 7:50 am - 3:10 pm?

So, since I couldn't justify having that much free time (insert sarcasm), I decided to get a job and work at the very same school all four of my kids will be attending!

You are looking at the future cafeteria helper and reccess aid right here!

I am thrilled to be putting my extra time to good use and to be making a little bit of dough also.

I will only work a few days a week but it's better than nothing. I will still be able to get all of my usual household duties done and get to see my cute boys in action at school. Win win situation.

I may even cry when I get home and fold laundry in silence. Or clean the toilets without having to explain what that blue stuff is. Or when I sweep and no one is there to step in my pile of crumbs while I shew them away.....

Motherhood is hard and emotional. I didn't know I'd have all these waves of emotions. I mean that's what I've been practically waiting for since the terrible 2's hit...

Brother

  
This little monkey has a serious case of big brother anxiety.

He's got such a tender heart and such a yearning to guard and protect his little brother. And having Parker attend the same school as him just amped that up about 10 notches.

He's afraid Parker will get lost at school or get bullied or won't get to the bus on time.

The past two days I put them on the bus and followed the bus to the school just to verify that everything went smoothly.

Weston was great at leading and helping his little brother.

I love the bond that they have. They are best buddies and get along most of the time.

I hope my sweet Weston will get over his fears and anxiety because Parker is Mr. Confident and isn't scared of kindergarten at all!

One day, I'm sure he'll back and always know how much he loved his little brother!

Cow Udders

This boy keeps us laughing a lot!



While we were eating at the mall last week, we were watching the Chick-fil-a cow dance around. We had just gotten our food so all the boys were just watching the cow pretty intensely.

Parker arose from his seat and proclaimed, "MOM , where are that cows gutters?"

HUH? What?

"You know, the things that milk squirts out of? His GUTTERS!"

I'm pretty sure I laughed real loudly at this point.

Can my baby just stay little forever?

I didn't even want to correct him.

He's just so darn cute.


Of course he was talking about the cows udders not his gutters.

Preschool x's Two

These little guys started their second year in speech preschool today.

They have missed school all summer long and consistently asked all summer if it was a school day.

They are so smart and I sure do miss my buddies (and helpers) while they are busy three times per week from 9:30- 12:05 pm .

Judson (L) Sawyer (R)

Kinder

This little guy is headed off to full-day kindergarten tomorrow and my heart may just break, a lot.

He's always been my side kick and my constant pal. He keeps me laughing daily and busy with his board gaming skills.

He did a Pre-K last year and I think he'll be ready for all day this year. I just don't know how I'm going to do without my two oldest around to help me and talk to me all day .

My stomach is all in knots thinking and hoping that he gets on and off the bus fine. That he makes it to lunch on time and actually eats his lunch. That he won't get lost.

I know it's all normal . And I know he'll be okay. But it is my job to worry.

I know Parker will have so much fun. His teacher is an older grandma and she seems very very sweet!

Third Grade

My big boy is going into 3rd grade tomorrow! I can hardly believe it!

We met his teacher this morning and she couldn't believe he was a third grader. She said he was the tallest third grader that she'd ever seen . He is about a head and half taller than most 8 year olds. Of course he got all embarrassed and shy as she told him that.

I'm fine with that. I hope the odds are in his favor because Tyler isn't tall and I just naturally assumed that our kids wouldn't have height on their side!


This morning Weston asked me why almost all teachers aren't married. I was confused at first till he explained -- He's had;  Ms. Willis, Ms. Kemp, Ms. Rother and now Ms. Phillips. All of his teachers are single! Weird coincidence, huh? He's a smarty to even realize that.

I know that my Weston is destined to do great things. He's so smart and so driven. I hope that 3rd grade treats him well.