Birthday Smiles...

Every year until they turn 5, I take each child to have their "birthday" picture taken. Since Austin's and Aaron's birthdays are only a few weeks apart, I took both of them at the same time to get it over with. I was pleasantly surprised with how well they posed and smiled for the camera. We were in and out of there in a half hour, which is a HUGE accomplishment with my kids! Of course, I will admit I may have promised them a few pieces of candy afterwards:) Enjoy!

My little pudge munchkin, Aaron... 

My little monkey, Austin...

And here are a couple of all my little munchkins together...

Chi Town...

For Valentine's weekend, I went on a little trip to Chicago with my sister Megan and her friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. On Saturday afternoon, eight of us piled into my car and set off for a night of dinner, drinks and lots of dancing. Once we got into town, we checked into the hotel and then headed to dinner. Afterwards, it was back to the hotel to get dolled up to go out.

My sister and I at the beginning of the night...

Dresden, Megan, myself, Amy and Megan M. all glammed up...

Around 9pm, twelve of us set off to go meet the 10 other people waiting at the bar, Lasalle Power Company. Once we got there, we made our way to our reserved table, which was right next to the dance floor. We spent the entire evening dancing and having a great time. My feet were definitely sore the next day!

    Me, Jenny and the "Megans"...

    Me with the birthday girl, Amy...

    Megan, Amy and myself...

 We stayed at the bar til close and then made our way back to the hotel to pass out. The next morning, we all got up and headed to breakfast and then to do a little shopping. Finally around 1pm, we piled back into my car and started our trek back home. All in all, it was a fun night out and perhaps the last one for me before I turn the big 3-0 in a few weeks. Thanks girls for helping me feel young again ;)

What a Surprise! Austin is 5...

I have no idea where the time went, but Austin turned 5 years old! Even though my fuse often runs short with him, I am very proud of the little man he is becoming. He's definitely more of my dare devil (most of the time to the point where it scares the heck out of me), but I love seeing that sense of adventure in his eyes. He's also quite a smart kid. Sometimes too smart for his own good. Case in point; one morning I told him to brush his teeth, and he looked at me said "I want to mommy, but my hands won't let me". I just about died laughing that something so comical and brilliant could come out of his mouth. And his imagination amazes me as well! The stories he likes to share and scenerios he comes up with as he plays Legos or Army Men are unbelievable. I can just see those little wheels in his mind turning. His preschool teachers think he's such a little ham and he is learning so much more than he lets on! Most days he comes home, I ask what letter or color they are learning, and he usually doesn't answer me. But then later on, I sometimes overhear him "teaching" Aaron or singing a song to his animals, and that is when I know everything is sinking in. He also has an absolute love for animals, stuffed or real! At night time he loves snuggling up with his favorite bear "Smokey" and frog "Hopper". And whenever animals are present, he is all about hugging and petting them. With how much of a handful he can be at times with me, I love seeing his gentle spirit and tenderness with animals. Don't get me wrong, there are many times throughout the day where he will just come up and snuggle or kiss on me, but most the time he just likes to sit and play on his own. Everyday he is growing more and more into this little independant person. And although there are days when I feel like I am at the end of my rope with him, one little smile from him makes all that frustration go away... such a charmer! Happy Birthday Austin!!!

Alexis' 6 Month Pictures...

I took Alexis yesterday to finally get her 6 month pictures taken. She did so well and smiled for every picture like an angel! Once again, I had a couple of outfits for her to be photographed in, but still love the one of her with barely anything on the most! Enjoy!!!

Alexis in the same 3 poses each of her brothers had for their 6 month pictures...

Snuggling with a teddy bear...

Her eating her "toesies"...

And lastly, here she is in the dress and bonnet her Nana Millard bought her from Dollywood...

In Gods Hands...

 "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

This past Sunday, my church did baby/child dedications. I had been wanting to do this for a while, and should have a lot sooner, but I can now say all the kids are officially dedicated to the Lord!
Usually when the kids and I get to church, I sign each of them into their classes and then head to the sanctuary for my service. Well because the dedications were right after praise and worship, the kids had to come into the regular service with us. For those of you who know Aaron, know how much he HATES a change in routine, so as normal, he ended up throwing a big fit. However, once he saw my mom and dad, he went to them and calmed down quickly and was fine for the rest of the service. Austin also did well in the service until he felt the songs needed to be over. At one point he even cried out loudly, "NOT ANOTHER ONE!", which got quite a few chuckles from people around us. Thankfully, Andrew and Alexis didn't have any issues with any of it which helped immensely! When they called us all up to the front, every one went pretty well... I held Aaron and Jason held Alexis, while Andrew and Austin walked on their own. But soon after, Austin didn't like all the attention and started to slowly inch his way back to his seat. Luckily the pastor was quick with everything! He asked Jason and I, along with the other parents dedicating their children, the questions about raising our kids in the Lord quickly and then did a short prayer over each of them.

All of us in front of the church...

Austin inching his way back to his seat...

He HATES being the center of attention...

Pastor Lee praying over each of them...

After that, the kids were able to go back to their own classrooms and I was able to enjoy the rest of my service as well. After church, we took the kids out to breakfast with my parents to celebrate. All in all, it was a wonderful Sunday and I am excited to see the kids grow stronger in the Lord each day!

Having a Ball...

Andrew started his first season of basketball a few weeks ago. He's definitely more of my "sports" kid, and I love watching him give it a shot at each new one he tries. Since 1st grade is the first year you can sign up to play bball, Andrew was a little hesitant but is slowly getting the hang of it. Coaching the kids are the boys G-A Varsity and JV Bball teams. They spend 1 hour every Saturday showing the kids the basics of the game - dribbling, passing, shooting and defense. After that, the kids get 15 minutes to do a little scrimmage against each other.

Practicing dribbling...

Passing...

Going for a shot...

Working on defense...

Finally game time...

It's all quite humorous to watch and makes me anxious to see if one day he will be the one "coaching" the little kids in the years to come!

Bouncing Around...

The last Saturday of the kids break from school, my friend Arlene and I decided to take our total of 7 kids to Bounceland for the afternoon. It was definitely a great way for them to get out some of their energy they had been building up over the last few weeks. While Alexis and Arlene's daughter Denise enjoyed a napping playdate together in their strollers, the rest of the kids climbed, slid and bounced the afternoon away!

Andrew and Austin racing on the obstacle course...

Austin coming down a slide...

Andrew taking a break from climbing and sliding...

Aaron and I at the end of his first slide ever...

Us coming down the slide head first...

Me sliding down with my boys...

Aaron and Austin all tuckered out after a long afternoon...

Alexis' World of Wonder...

My little girl is half a year old already! It seems like her first year is just flying by and there is nothing I can do to slow it down. I took her to the pediatrician the other day and she is weighing 13lb, 4oz and is 25 1/2 inches long. She's still on the petite side, only in the 5th percentile, but is steadily growing. I'm starting her on baby food soon so that should help her gain weight a little faster! Her milestones these last 3 months have been minimal, but nevertheless, she is becoming her own person more and more everyday. Recently she has started to laugh when being tickled. It's so funny because at first it sounds like she is getting ready to cry, and then her face lights up and you realize she is cracking up. She is also starting to roll side to side and turn around when she is having "tummy time". She especially loves eating her toes too when she is just chilling in her crib or on the floor. For Christmas she got an activity center she sits in and one she can lay under and loves them both! She spends quite a few hours during the day playing in them. She also loves to watch her big brothers in action. There is such a special little bond there and I look forward to seeing that strengthen as they get older. With how demanding she is now with me, I am going to assume soon she will have her brothers wrapped around her little pinky soon too! At her 6 month appointment, Austin already freaked out when the nurse gave her some shots. After the last poke Alexis started crying and Austin said to the nurse "umm Nurse, you REALLY hurt her!". Already such love!

Alexis playing in her activity center she got from Santa...

And her playing underneath her other new activity center...

Little Lexi having "tummy time"...

Going crazy in her activity center...

Getting ready for bed...

Out with the Old, in with the New...

Happy New Year and hooray for 2010! I'm sooo looking forward to this year and all the changes it has in store for me and my life! Every year I try not to give myself resolutions because deep down I know I won't follow through with them. Instead, I am going to have the outlook of "strive to be better today than I was yesterday"... a better mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, etc. I want 2010, and the years that follow, to be about not living in the past, only looking towards the future with high hopes and great expectations! Cheers to the beginning of a new year, new decade and new start!!!

Our Holly Jolly Christmas...

The kids woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 6:30am Christmas day and scurried right into my bedroom begging me to get out of bed so they could open their presents from Santa. After stalling them for a half hour so we could all get around, we finally made our way out to the living room to see all the goodies that the big guy left. This is what the kids walked out to in the living room...

Every year Santa is generous enough to write us a little letter telling the kids how great he thought they were through the year and what they need to improve on throughout the next year so they don't get coal in their stockings. After reading that letter and the cards from mommy and daddy, we let them open up their presents. All the kids each get 5 individual gifts from Santa (one big, one medium, one small and a video game and movie each) and clothes from mommy and daddy. In their stockings, they usually get cool toothbrushes, toothpaste and bath stuff. It seems to be getting a little more chaotic every year the kids get older and another child is old enough to rip into their own gift, but I love it! There is nothing better than watching their faces light up as they finally tear the last part of wrapping paper off and what they got is revealed. Even though they know some of the stuff to expect every year, they still get excited as ever!

The kids anxiously awaiting opening their gifts...

The boys each opening a few of their gifts from Santa...

Alexis even enjoyed opening a few of her own, inbetween trying to eat them...

Andrew and Austin proudly displaying their stockings...

After the kids got done opening up their presents from Santa, my parents came over to give them the gifts from them. Here they are getting ready to rip them open... 

Andrew, Austin and Aaron each got a Joshua (from the Bible) costume and Alexis got a musical Lamb. Before my parents left, I was able to get the kids to cooperate for a few minutes to get a picture of all of them with their Santa hats on...

All in all, it was a great holiday filled with love, laughter and most of all, happiness. Hope all of your holidays were just as wonderful, too!