Father Please,

Grant me the
SERENITY
to accept the things
I cannot change

COURAGE
to change the
things I can

and
WISDOM
to know the difference

As most of you know things are not going well at home. Apparently my husband has been unhappy in our marriage for a long time. Funny I never knew it was so bad. I know it was never perfect. We had our problems but we also loved each other, or so I thought. I am having a really hard time accepting. Last night as I was trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life this prayer flooded my mind. I think it was God's suttle way of saying, "Remember me? I'm here to get you through this. JUST ASK!" My response, "Jesus, take the wheel! I know I can't do this on my own."

Christmas Spirit

SLowly but surely christmas spirit is filling our home. The tree is all decorated. Half of the lights are on the house. Christmas presents are stashed waiting to be wrapped. We found the 24'7 christmas music radio station. The tv playes christmas movies none stop. We went last night because we didn't have enough icicle lights or net lights, bigger house, more hedges. :) Then Jeremy decided we need to make the house look like the Griswald house. :) He wants to buy a train, some inflatibles, something bright. Pretty soon we'll start some baking. I sure do love this season! It's the most wonderful time of the year. The happ, happiest season of alllllllll! Hope you all are enjoying the season as much as we are. And don't forget in all the lights and commotion that Jesus is the REAL reason for the season!

My Little Man

He turned 7 yesterday. It's amazing how every birthday makes you remember the day they were born more vividly then ever. He was accomidating for a guy who came 3 weeks early. I got to get up at 5am that day after thanksgiving to go christmas shopping with my Mom. :) Then about noon I realized those suttle stomach tightinings I had been feeling for quite some time were porbably contractions. He came into the world at 5:30pm to a very awestruck Daddy(Jeremy haden't been there when Chey was born) and an adoring Mommy. He weighed 6lbs 13ozs and had a head full of dark hair. The most handsome little man I had ever seen. And to this day he still holds that title. Having a son I have learned that there is a bond between a mother and a son that is unlike any other. I don't think anyone will ever love me in quite the same way as my son. I thank God for sending such an amazing baby boy. I thank God for trusting me enough to give me the sometimes overwhelming responsability of raising a boy to be a man. Happy birthday to my baby boy! Mommy loves you.

Birthday presents and my new friend

We had cake and ice cream for Alissa. She didn't care that we were the only ones here either. This age is so easy. :) We also met another SAHMand had a playdate at the zoo then the park on Alissa's birthday. She had a ball playing with Brody. Here are pics of all the birthday events. Oh ya, after wanting the Dora bike so bad she won't even get on it. She's too short and can't reach the ground when she's on it and in her own words, "I scared!"

My baby is three!

It's hard to believe but my itty-bitty, tiny 5lb 6oz baby girl is now a 24lb head-strong 3 year old. They grow up way too fast! I so miss those baby days of snuggling with my tiny girl for hours, feeling her breath on my neck, watching her sleep and thinking how perfect she is and how amazingly blessed I am. I still think she perfect and I certianly still think I'm blessed but the days of peaceful baby snuggling are now gone. :( She's still just as amazing as she was the day she was born. Dylan has even grown to love her despite the fact she wasn't a brother. Somedays though I sure long for those baby days. I long to hold my baby for hours without her screaming at me to let her go. Never did I imagine when she was born that she would be so bossy and stubborn! She was suspose to be my good kid. :) HA! She's just as rotten as the other three. And still I love her so much that my heart is overflowing. Happy 3rd birthday to my baby girl and to her birthday buddy Ethan who was born the same day. Big hugs to Ethan's Mommy who was my bed-rest, drug hating buddy. There no one I would have rather shared it all with! Love to you all!

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween. :) It was definantly Halloween at our house today. First I had a dream that Jeremy was home when I got up to get the kids ready for school because he had been fired. Then I woke up to Jeremy standing over me! Boy was I worried to ask why the heck he was home...lol. Thank goodness they only sent him home because of the storms coming our way. Bad news was that he had to go to work at 7pm tonight. We ran out of black hairspray for our little Snow White. Jeremy went to 5 different stores before we finally gave up on finding any. We went and grabbed some supper and headed off to trick or treat. We one area early when not many people were home yet. Came home to drop Jeremy off and headed down our street. Half way down the block Jeremy calls to tell me he had a blowout on the highway. I had to get the kids back into the car and go pick him up and take him to work. Then we came home and the kids saw some lights on so we headed around the block again. We found out that 2 of Dylan's classmates live right here by us. Then we came home and they all dumped out there sacks full of candy, Dylan counted every last piece of his there were 96, and started stuffing there faces. I had to wrestle Alissa's away from her. :) Hope you all had great halloween's too!

The BIG 3-0!

Yep, today I turned the big 3-0! I have to tell you it doesn't feel any different then 29. I still have the same problems, insecuritys and aches. I didn't wake up to any limbs falling off. I checked...it's all still there! lol So, maybe I was wrong. Maybe 30 isn't the end of the world. If Alissa had her way I wouldn't get to have a birthday at all. She keeps screaming at me that it's HER birthday! She wants her presents too. She's just gonna have to hold her bruches and wait 2 more weeks. :)

Kindred spirit

I spent some time with Speedy the turtle today. He's no longer the fighter he was when we got him. He's more a quiet observer now. So I wonder is he content with his plastic bowl home and fake palm tree or has he just resigned himself to the fact that no matter how hard he struggles he is in no way in charge of his own fate. Has he just decide there's no point because no matter what he does his life is controlled by others decisions and in the end he just has to accept his situation for what it is and do his best to adjust? But as I write this Speedy, after many weeks of quiet observation, is once again trying to climb over that plastic wall. Of course I see that as God trying to tell me to never resign myself to the fate that other would like for me to accept. Keep on trying to get over that wall. I think Speedy is my kindred spirit. :) Can you tell I've had a very rough day?

My daughters a seahorse...My son is a genius

No, I'm not talking about Alissa! Cheyenne tried out for the 3rd grade play and got to be a seahorse. The best darn seahorse in the all the seas. :) The play was last night and even though she only had one line I do believe she was the star of the play!

Had a conference with Dylan's teacher this morning. It's unanimous! He's a genius just like his Mom! DON'T LAUGH! I really am a genius. I just don't want everyone to know. :) Anyway my almost 7 year old boy reads by the tests standard way above level. He also reads 35 words per minute AND he got a 105 on his spelling test today. :) Actually, all my kids are pretty darn smart but Dylan is an overachiever and a perfectionist, once again (honestly) just like his Momma. Scary, hu?!

Cassidy's calling

We have always known that Cass loved to eat food. Sunday we found out that she also loves to watch cooking show, retain the information and boss us around in the kitchen when we made what she saw. Definantly chef material. She watched Rachel Ray's 30 min meals and soaked it all up like a sponge. We headed to Wal-Mart and got all the stuff to make hotdog casserole and carmel popcorn coated baseball sundaes. Cass was compeletly into the cooking scene. Jeremy made it even sweeter when she said she was a cooker and Jeremy said,"No your the head chef. That makes you the boss." So now she has a big head and has been walking around for 2 days sayin things like,"Mom, put that magnet back on the fridge." or "Here put this butter up. NOW!" and my favorite, "Throw this trash away." She always ends her commands with, " Remember, I am the HEAD chef." Sigh! There will be no living with her now. :)

The Party

We had Chey's party on Saturday after her soccer game. She had 3 friends show up. We were all thrilled because we were afraid that no one would come and she would be disappionted. They played at the park and had a great time. She even invited a friend to spend the night. Here are the few pics I got before my batteries went dead.

9 years ago today

I was laying in bed, due to bedrest, watching a movie with my Mom and sister thinking I would be pregnant forever! Not because Chey hadn't tried to get out. They just wouldn't let her! I think it made her mad so she decided to make the most of her womb time. And then.....something happened. I won't go into details cuz I'm sure there are some people reading this who don't want all the nasty details. But we headed to the hospital anyway. I fully intended to be back home in a few hours. After an hour of laying in a bed on a moniter, which I wasn't paying any attention to, a nurse came in and asked if needed medication to help with the pain. "Pain?! What pain?! I will be going home soon." I'm sure you can imagine my surprise when she pointed out that I was having contractions 2 min apart and hadn't felt ANYTHING! Once Chey decided it was time there was no stopping her. She came into the world 2 hours later with a waiting room of adoring fans and a very emotional Nanny and Mother waiting for her. My wonderful, amazing baby girl weighed in at 8lbs., 6ozs and immediatly stole my heart....and many others. :) Most beautiful baby in the hospital as my wonderful Dr. said. You never realize how much that little bitty person will change your life. So, to Chey on her 9th birthday I want to say thank you for making me a better person, making me a Mommy, showing me what unconditional love really is. Thank you for being the best daughter a Mom could ask for. I love you bigger then the sky! Happy birthday baby girl!

Just like Bubba!

Alissa is so silly! The other day she insisted on wearing Dylan's shirt....and her winter hat!

Sports pics

Here they are pics of my babies at their games. Was too busy coaching Che's game to get pics. I will do that next weekend when they have uniforms. :)

Counting my blessings......

Isn't it sad how we can see all the crazy, horrible things going on around us, devistation, lives distroyed, families seperated, and still get so caught up in our own insiginficant problems that we forget to count out blessings? Sometimes life just gets too hard and I wanna run away. Then I put a little thought into it and decide it would do no good because I couldn't live without my kids and I don't want to live without my husband. We may not always be albe to pay the bills on time but at least we have a steady income. We may not have the nicest house on the block but at least we have a roof over our head and warm, comfy beds to sleep in at night. We may not eat gourmet food, sometimes it's even over cooked or simply done wrong cuz contrary to popular belief, I am not REALLY perfect, but at least we have food on the table. I may not have the best behaved kids in the world but I was amazingly blessed with four wonderful, loving, compassionate little people. Jeremy, contrary to some peoples belief, isn't the perfect husband but he's my husband and I love him with every fiber of my being. I thank God for my sometimes over bearing Mother, my pain the butt little sister, my not always as strong as I believed big sister, my Mother's off-beat side of the family, who may not always get along but is always there to back you up and make you laugh. I may not always like the cards I have been dealt. I may feel like my heart is broken in a million pieces and will never be whole again......But then I look at my kids and I realize how wonderfully blessed I am. And I remember what I have always been told, "God will never give you more then you can handle!" And I bow my head and talk to My Savior and let Him pick me up in His powerful hands and carry me through the hard times.

On a completly different note, I have football and cheerleading pics that I will post as soon as I can find my camera.

Buried

Two weeks into school and we're buried knee deep in homework, practices, school meetings, laundry, ect... Who knew 3rd grade would be so hard. I certainly don't remember it being so serious. Must be those stupid standardized tests the idiots in Austin mandated. :) So, our completely child consumed fall begins. We have 2 soccer practices, 1 football practice and one cheerleading practice a week. Starting the 10th we will add 3 saturday games to that already busy schedule. I will post picture of my little athletes as soon as I get some. Two solid months of games and practices on top of school, throw Chey's 9th birthday, my 30th(UGH!) birthday and numerous extended family birthdays in the mix and we have a thoroughly exhausting couple of months ahead of us. If I am not heard from by Thanksgiving send in the hounds! lol :)

First Day of School

My babies started their first day at a new school today! They all did well and no one cried, not even me. I thought it might be an embarrassment to Dylan. He and Cheyenne stood outside Cassidy's classroom while I took her in. She did so well. Only looked like she wanted to cry right before I walked out. Luckly she was distracted gettign the papers out of her backpack before I walked out so we were good. Dylan said, when I came out, "Mom, some woman was ALREADY cring!" Made a mental note not to do that in his presence...lol He went right into his room and was ready to go. His teacher is really nice, as are Chey and Cassidy's, but Dylan's teacher has a spark. Something in her presence that tells you that she must be an awesome, fun teacher. Very much like Mrs. Giles for those of you who know her. Chey's class is in a portable. Not a good thing today due to the continual downpoor. (EVERYTHING! is flooded) I took her out and she put all her stuff up. Let me take her picture. Talked to her teacher, who told me that I have the sweetest kids! (Ya, I know!) She said that she knew it wouldn't take long for her to move Chey to a desk close to her cuz she is such a sweet girl! I do like that teacher...hehe. Then I turned to go and Chey stood at her desk with that look that says, "I KNOW you are not really gonna leave me here!" *sob* But I did leave her there and I know that she is going to love it. Now lets see how may time I can replay the whole morning in my head before I start to bawl uncontrolably. :)

Big accomplishment!

Dylan can ride his bike without training wheels!! WOOHOO! We tried to teach hem, you know holding onto the bike, wakling with him, but that didn't work. Next day he picks it up and just takes off! My little genius. :) We signed him up for flag football. They don't have 2 seasons of baseball here. I'm sure you all can imagine his disappiontment. He is really excited about football though and did amazingly well in the tryouts. Cass, my little drama queen, is going to be a cheerleader. She will get the whole outfit, pompoms, a megaphone and face decales. Right up Cass' alley. She is tring to learn how to ride her bike without training whells too. It's not going as well. She still gets scared when she thinks on one is holding on. Chey, my little mother, will still be playing soccer. We are hoping it goes much better with Jeremy not coaching her. She got kinda lazy being the coaches kid and all.

Essa!

Silly girl! The other day we called Alissa Alissa Jordan. She hollered back, "I not Essa Jorken, I just Essa!" Think she's gonna be a bit stubborn. Can't imagine where in the world she get's it from. :) She has grown up way too fast and become way to independant. She doesn't like to be helped with anything cuz she can do it all by herself. Don't know where that comes from either. HEHE Here are the few new pictures I have. Alissa was going to play ball with the kids. If only she would have let me turn the helmet upright.

It begins

We went thursday and registered the kids for school. They got to see there new school. They will be Bassetti Bears. Yay! It seemed like a very nice school. The teachers we met were all nice. They were very excited about our 3rd grader, they are running short. :) Of course, like everything with us, there were a few obsticals. First, I couldn't find cassidy's birth certificate. Had to call and have Mrs. Kline fax a copy. Then I didn't have any proof of residence. Sigh! But after everything they are all registered and ready to go. Their are a few things we will miss about Carver, especially Mrs. Christy, Ms. Giles and Mrs. Escabedo, but we are very excited to start this new journey. :) I did like the school supply list much better here. No more fighting people over dry erase markers...hehe! Per Aunt Pam's request I will be adding more pictures when I can get my kids clean and dressed well enough tonot look like orphans...lol. Anyone who knows my kids knows that may be awhile. :)

Speedy

Tonight we got the kids a new pet. Speedy the mini turtle now lives in a little oval plastic tank in our living room. It's not just a tank, it's an island getaway. Our tiny friend has a small plastic platform with his own little plastic palm tree in the middle of his little pond. Speedy walks around and around in the pond, occasionally stopping to look out at his surroundings, sometimes tring fruitlessly to climb up the wall. Everyonce in a while he hits a bump in the road and flips on his back. Poor little turtle struggles with all he has till he gets up on his feet again. Sounds like my life. :) I go around and around in my little bitty world, sometimes stopping to look at the things that are going on around me, sometime tring to climb out of my hole and then I hit that bump in the road and fall flat on my back. Unlike Speedy I don't always struggle to get back on my feet. In fact, many times I wallow in my mess and give up. We could all take a lesson from Speedy. Sure he knows when he gets up he's still gonna be in his little world walking in circles but still he struggles to get up. Not just sometimes but everytime. Who knew you could learn so much from a tiny little turtle. Makes me feel like Elliot in ET....lol You know, when he runs through the school letting all the frogs go. If it weren't for the fact that poor little Speedy wouldn't make it 30 minutes I'd run him outside and holler, "Run, Speedy, run! Your free!" Ya, I know, I really need to get a life. :)

Unpacking

As you all can see the unpacking is going extremely well. Alissa enjoys it so much we are going to let her do it all. I, on the other hand, never want to see another moving box again for as long as I live.

Hi, all!

I have a few friends who blog, and they are very good at it, so I decided since we moved so far away from everyone we know I might should do it too. That way all of our family and friends can keep up with us at their convience. I won't have to worry about e-mailing pictures of my wonderful children and clutterng up your inbox. So, here we go! Hope some of you enjoy sharing our life this way. :)