Bad Blogger, BAD!

I have been so bad at updating this blog - it's not that I don't love to do it, it's just that I have issues - two, to be exact.

#1. TIME - need I say more here?

#2. Eric and I are now sharing an internet connect and half the time I don't have internet at home because he's taken it to the office. BOO

So, there you have it.... my somewhat legitimate excuses. :)

Here are some recent pictures we had taken by a friend, Christina Engle - Patchwork Photography. She did an amazing job. I'm saving the "best" photo for Christmas cards, so you'll have to wait....but here's a sneak peak.

ENJOY

"I play."

Kaleb started Hand and Hand playschool on September 7th. Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized playschool is just the beginning....and my little angel boy is becoming an independent, grown-up, not so innocent kid. As much as I want to hold onto him, the other part of me wants to let him free to spread his wings. It's a funny feeling, really. Bitter-sweet, to be exact.

Every day after playschool I ask Kaleb for a report, expecting to hear what they did in detail; activities, friend names, what they had for snack. But instead I simply get, "I played." And isn't that exactly what it should be for a 3 year old? PLAY. Let him be a kid for as long as he can because it will be too soon that he's faced with responsibility and adult stuff. Come on, don't we all long to be a kid again sometime and just.....play.

Better Late than Never

My baby turned one nearly a month ago. We had a small little celebration. Jaxon slept through dinner and woke up slightly on the cranky side for cake and ice cream. Had this been my first child, I would have been extremely disappointed that he didn't smash cake all over his face, etc.. But since he's #2, the expectations were just not as high. I rolled with it.
I realized afterward that he was cutting a front tooth, so the poor little fellow just wasn't in the celebratory mood - and that's okay. We still were able to celebrate for him and rejoice that he is in our lives; the unexpected gift that God blessed us with. We love you Jaxon Wyatt and happy belated birthday!
make a wish little boy!

Uncle Jon brings in big bear for the happy birthday song

earlier in the day - just being cute on his birthday

....it's a good thing I let him sample the frosting earlier....



I love how the frosting matches his eyes :)

The good, the bad, the ugle & the cute

Twin Bridges parade float: Madeline (the good) Kaleb (the bad) Eric (the ugly) Jaxon (the cute) :)

Jaxon finally gets Kaleb's gun away from him.

Clark Park in Butte - park and water park




Uncle Mikey and Jaxon watching big brother swim at the Sheridan pool.
Uncle Jon and Jaxon
Do you think this helmet will mess up my curl?
Kaleb and his new motorcycle helmet - practically tips his head over it's so heavy.

Ahhhhh summertime

What a fabulous summer it's been so far - once summer actually got here.
Our days have been busy and hectic, full of work and play.
Here are a few highlights with photos below:

-Camping trip with Eric's family up Wise River. It was fun to spend time in the hills with the Schuller family - something we hope to make happen every summer from now on.

-Kaleb's first WEEK away from mom and dad spent with Nammo and Papa in Sheridan. He took swimming lesson, went camping, did lots of swimming in the lake and didn't really seem to miss mom and dad too much, but did miss Jaxon a whole lot.

-Softball tourney and bounce house. Kaleb got to jump in the bounce house before I played softball all day on Saturday. Softball didn't go so well...but it was fun while it lasted. We did however, have a hard time getting Kaleb home from the softball field. He was having the time of his life with the other kids.

-Playdates and popsicles. Need I say more?

-Gunfight at Bannack Days. Kaleb took his six shooter with him and it was a good thing. We watched the gunfight and after it was over he asked me if they were shooting at him.

-Water balloons, sprinkler, water guns....anything water Kaleb loves. We've filled up quite a few water balloons this past July and I'm sure more to come.

UPCOMING EVENTS
There are a few things we have on our list that we want to do before summer is over:

-Sleep out on the trampoline under the stars
-Hit Fairmont and go down the water slide a bunch of times
-Experience the new splash park in Butte
-One more camping trip
-The Madison County Fair

We also have Jaxon's birthday party coming up in 3 weeks. A YEAR? Are you kidding me. How did that happen so quickly?

Kaleb warming up in the sun after a swim in the Ruby Lake

Cute boys in the stroller at Bannack Days. I'm pretty sure if Jaxon could talk he would be saying "I am so getting left out by not getting a snocone."

Could not resist this picture....two amazingly cute bums getting ready for bath time.

Jaxon crashed on the boat and I was wishing I could too!

I love the black and white feature on my camera!


Part of my softball fan-club.




Kaleb going down the big slide at the Bounce House.

C.H.A.N.G.E

There was a lot of change happening in our household this past week. For the first time since I've embarked on motherhood, I went to work outside the home as the new Executive Director for New Hope Pregnancy Clinic and Support Center (more about that in a later post). My re-entry into the workforce started off in a sprint, and though I thought I would be able to stride out a bit on the backstretch, I did not. I kept sprinting; and by Friday, the finish line, I found myself feeling like I'd been run over by a steamroller.

With the added bonus of having a sick husband, a sick 3 year old, and finally a sick 10 month old, it really rounded out the week nicely. NOT! What it did do however, is give me an AMAZING APPRECIATION for all mothers that work OUTSIDE the home. You literally got me through my first week. I just kept telling myself that if so and so can do it, I can do it too!

I'm glad to have my first week under my belt and hopefully the sickness mostly behind us. The only one to not get sick....so far....is yours truly. Maybe I'm more of a superwoman than I give myself credit for. Okay, now I've probably jinxed myself!



A few photos from the past couple weeks since I've been too preoccupied to blog regularly.


mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm carrots are delicious


2 very tired boys


swimming break at the Sheridan pool


did I mention Jaxon is mobile now? Yep, my world just got tougher and his world just got bigger!


finally mom, a sippy I do not have to tip


does this look like "little Eric" or is it just me?


carrot stained face, but sure a good view of those beautiful bottom teeth!

Ahoy!

I got my fix. Of water and boats and sunshine, that is. I've been dying to get out on a lake and if I had my druthers, I would own a speedboat and move somewhere with a big beautiful lake. But since I don't have either of those opportunities, I joined up with my folks for the day and got my fix on their boat at the Ruby Dam.
To my surprise, Kaleb even jumped on the tube and got pulled, with daddy right there for support. He absolutely loved it! Eric and I even jumped on the tube too.

3's a charm

A child's birthday is a joyous event, sprinkled with a dash of bitter-sweetness. The one year birthday was tough for me because my baby was no longer a baby. The two year birthday was a little easier, filled with a feeling of "oh my gosh I hope I can handle the terrible two's." This year the three year birthday was the easiest yet. There is no doubt my baby is growing up but the hint of sadness I felt was overrun with Kaleb's deep involvement with party planning and excitement. Somehow the sadness just kept turning into smiles and feel good moments.

I enjoyed getting feedback this year about what kind of party he wanted, what presents he wanted, the decorations, help with filling the party favors, coloring his invitations.... His involvement was fun and it made his party personalized and special for Kaleb of course - and for me.

But anyone I talk to who has been there, done that, keeps reiterating "enjoy every moment because it goes so fast." I am not taking those words lightly because if everyone is saying it, it must certainly be true. So I did just that. I took it all in. I not only breathed in the aromas of strawberry football cake and cream cheese frosting, but I remembered to inhale the look on Kaleb's face while we stuffed bags full of tootsie rolls and bouncy balls, the excitement in his voice as he saw the decorations hanging up, the anxious way he walked as he waited for guests to arrive. And I remembered to exhale a breath of thankfulness to God for my special son. He has brought countless happy moments to my life in his short three years. My cup runneth over with blessings as a result of his arrival into my life.

Kaleb and cousin Luke in the sandbox
Opening the first present
Pizza party with cousins Hannah, Luke and Maddy
The Western Rifle
Guests: Christina and Liam, Sarah and Landri
Our happy family
All the kids are wrangled for a quick photo: front L to R: Jaxon, Landri, Liam, Hannah and Cohen, Back row L to R: Ian, Kaleb, Maddy and Luke
Papa Tom and Jaxon