Its been six months sinced I last posted and it has been on my 'to do' list for 5 months. Our computer is on its last leg so to download pictures takes more time than I have so I have continued to put it off. So I still hope to post pictures to go with the updates but for now I will journal what the last several months have looked like. Although some days if I'm honest I want bed time to come sooner than it does, the other part of me grieves how fast these days are going of having todlers and kids at home. Yes they can be hard, and exhausting, and crazy but I would not trade them for the world. I love who each of them is becoming even if that means some tears and frustrations in the process. I use to wonder how I could love each of them the same amount but now I look how God created each child so differently and uniquely and I love who each of them are and value how our God has molded me in the process of trying to parent three different personalties. I took a long blog break over tax season and past (reading blogs of other moms) and I must say it was good for me. I'm not sure anyone reads my blog but want to say that although I mostly highlight the really fun, exciting, proud moments of parenting there is so much more between those lines. I think as moms we can compare and look at other blogs and think, "I'm not doing enough, look how creative they are, I wish I thought of that...etc, etc." So just as a disclaimer, there is a lot I don't blog..I want to print this one day and let me kids read it, so hence I have to be careful to not embarrass or humiliate my kids or myself :) But I am so thankful for God's grace and forgiveness for all the mistakes I make along they way. So here goes our last six months..of the things I can remember... Jan-March - Pierce and Holt both played basketball through Upward. This was Holt's first official sport he did and it went great. He is an athlete for sure and it has been so fun to see his enthusiasm and drive. We loved this organization and the way they handle sportsmanship and encouragement. Pierce improved a ton and was a leader on the team. Camden often tried to join the cheerleading squad on the sidelines with her pom pom in hand. The other part of the game we tried to entertain her to have her sit still and watch the game, lost cause :) February - I had lasik eye surgery. I am now seeing 20/20 and it is wonderful!!! I got to go to the beach to celebrate my grandmothers 90th birthday. She looks amazing and it was fun to be able to be with her. I started working tax season. I worked for the expat group this year. I thought as the kids got older working part time would be easier but I was wrong, having them one at school an 2 at preschool and two playing sports was tricky. However, I learned a ton this year and it was thankful to my parents, Jason, and a great sitter who allow me to do this each year. I got to spend a weekend at the beach with Amy and some of her closest friends. It was awesome and great to have time with her with out the kiddos. She continues to fight this cancer with bravery and grace and humility that can only come through Jesus. I am thankful how it has brought us closer than I could of imagined and that she has encouraged and witnessed to me in the process. Keep praying for complete healing for her and her mom and dad. Its more than anyone should have to face. Holt turned 5. 5 always feels big to me, I guess because they are old enough to go to Kindergarten. No, i'm not ready for this. Holt is a joy, he is happy, and easy, and so full of life. He loves to be with me and I can't get enough of him. He is passionate and hasn't lost that cuteness. He loves to eat (esp my chips and salsa, cheese sticks, chick-fil-a, and just about any snack), loves toads, Pierce, and legos). He had a bday party at chuck-e-cheese with a few of his friends from school and his cousins, Aidan and Brody. Of course he hung out with Pierce the whole time. Pierce and Holt started soccer and both love it. Pierce was on an undefeated experienced team and Holt was on a young team who improved a ton over the season. We played lots of soccer in the street in the afternoons. March- I can't remember much, I think we just tried to stay afloat with me working. I will list some of the cute things that I have managed to write down that Holt has said. I'm sure with my first I would of captured more these but here are the ones I did get down.. I told them one day we should go out to eat, Holt responded "Mom, can we go to Mexico?" He was asking for mexican. I don't even remember what he was talking about but he wanted to give something away, "Mommy we could give it to Chase, you know the Chase that lives in Lego Land." So Chase lives in San Diego but Holt just associates it with Lego Land. Pierce and Holt both told us Barney got arrested. When we asked why they said, "Barney was blowing cigarettes." What?? where did they get this from? Today Pierce said it was really humid outside and Holt said, "that means there is a lot of humans outside." Tonight Jason said I was frugal and Holt said, "so she eats a lot of fruit." April - Holt had beginners day at Smithfield. He did great, I forgot how they whisked the kids way so I really didn't have time to get sad. But don't worry the tears will come in August. We had an awesome weekend at the beach with the Patwas and Stewarts. My children now have a skewed perception of a beach house, but is was wonderful while it lasted :) We had a 'camp out' with our small group from church in the Wylies back yard. It was a really fun night. The Lattas were a little ill prepared for the camping part but we made it through and since have purchased a real tent and air mattress. We cooked out, did smores and guitar by the fire, and pancakes in the am. May- We celebrated Camdens 3rd birthday with another princess cake (at her request) and a few friends to play. The girls dressed as princesses. This was the first party we have done with her and I was in shock how differnet it looked from a bunch of boys. At first they all just stared at me and were quiet. We managed to get them in the jumpy and play with the toys but it definitely had a differently dynamic from a bunch of boys. Holt graduated from preschool. Once again the day was crazy so no time for tears but my heart is aching to think he will be gone 7 + hours a day, ughhh. He was one of three boys who decided not to sing in the program, not his thing but thats ok. He enjoyed his friend Brady this year but Holt could take or leave preschool no problem. Hoping Kindegarten will be more of a hit for him. We went to the Columbia zoo over memorial weekend. We debated which zoo but felt like we needed to redeem our last trip to Columbia (it was a hot and super whiny day with the boys). We had a great time.

Anniversary Trip

We finally went on our 10 year anniversary trip this past week. We had rescheduled from November when Jason had back surgery. We went to Turks and Caicos. We loved it!! By far our favorite place we have been. The beaches are beautiful and the resort was amazing. We spent most of our time on the beach, we ate lots of yummy food, and were really able to relax and just enjoy being together. My parents were gracious enough and brave enough to take have the kids while we were away.

Eating dinner one night..

This was our favorite place to be at night, we usually sat here every night before dinner and then headed back afterwards.

Our chair by the fire pit.

One final lunch before heading to the airport.

Christmas 2011

Decorating cookies at our neighborhood Cookies with Santa party

Camden was eating as she worked.

Camden loves dogs. This dog was at the clubhouse and she kept walking up to it and loving on it. She told Santa all she wanted for Christmas was a real dog and a basketball (random). Maybe one day her parents will come around, but for now we bought her a stuffed one.

My boys have never been very interested in going to see Santa. We actually don't ever go do it(gasp), but Camden warmed right up to him at the party. Holt even sat on his lap to make sure he knew he would like a ds.

This is how I found the boys on Christmas Eve when I went in to kiss them good night. I stood outside their door that night when we put them down. They were precious talking about what time Santa would come and what time to get up. Then Holt said Pierce "can I sleep with you tonight?"

All ready at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning. Pierce first woke up at 5:15, we told him he had to go back down. Camden slept in until 6 am, so after that we went down.

I love this look on Pierce's face when he got a new lego set.

We headed to Philadelphia the day after Christmas. We all rode together in the minivan with my parents. I was dreading the drive but they did really great overall. We had a really fun visit seeing all our family.

Camden drying Rachels hair.

Love us some Rachel, she took the boys to the aquarium one day. They loved it. We are still trying to get her to move down here with us. CA has nothing on Charlotte Rach :)

These two were roommates while we were there. Camden got up around 6, Rachel about 10 or 11. Very similar sleeping habits.

Jimmy brought the handcuffs over, I think I could use a pair of these on a wild afternoon. We also had a fun 'game' night at their new cute house.

Trouble, Trouble, and Trouble. Bill is convinced that I should put Holt on a plane and send him to CA to surf with him.

We (Camden, Holt, Mom, and I) went to see the bears with Charis and Amy. The girls are in front of the gingerbread house at the Ritz, we stopped on the way to the bears.

Every year we go to the live nativity at a church near us, the kids love it. Holt decided after seeing the kids in this nativity that we wanted to do the one at church this year. He had previously decided not too since Pierce had aged out of it.

My Marathon!!

I completed my first Marathon in November in Savannah. It was an Inaugural Rock n' Roll marathon. I started training in July with two friends I had met through a class at the Y. There is no way I could of done this alone and am so thankful for these girls and their encouragement and support over all the months we trained. We started in the heat of the summer, and I remember on my 14 mile run (which was the farthest I had ever run at that point) thinking there is no way I'm going to be able to do this. However, the training paid off. My goal was to make it under 4 hours, and I did 3 hrs 52 minutes so I was happy. I was so nervous before the race. I had been sick a week prior and then Camden threw up on me the day before we left so I just wanted to feel good. I felt amazing through mile 20, at that point I couldn't imagine hitting the wall. I even said to Sarah, I think I'm going to take it up at mile 21. And THEN I hit my wall. I had hit walls running in half's but nothing compared to this. We hit the highway at this point, uphill, and against 15-20 mph winds with no spectators. I think it was the hardest thing I've ever done. The next three miles were mental. Once we hit 24 and were off the highway it got a little better for the final two miles.

Erin, Me, and Sarah...I think this was at mile 8 or 12?

My parents were amazing and caught us four times during the race. My mom made this sign from the kids crafts supplies, too cute!

Sarah, Me, Kristin, and Aml...I had a girls weekend with my friends who did the half. We celebrated with a yummy meal out that night! Laurie is missing from picture, I will try to post one later from dinner. These girls did amazing in the half!

My cousins did the half too so it was really fun to have family there as my aunt and uncle came down too. Me, Alexis, Rebecca, and Jordan

Sarah, Erin, and Me

Fall

These too have become close this year, they 'battle' together and their favorite is to play 'doggie' together when Holt chases Camden like he is a dog and she squeals. Whenever I have Camden in the car alone she calls for Holt the whole time.

I had got the winter clothes out on this day and they both wanted to try on their mittens and hats.

This is how I would describe Camden, she LOVES her princess dress up clothes but also tries to shoot her brothers down with their star wars guns.

This was our first Thanksgiving with just the five of us. Jason had surgery the week before so we couldn't go to the beach so we had fun family weekend. Aunt Patricia I hope you notice the hats, I did this from your suggestion. The meal was pleasant for oh..about 5 minutes, one cried the whole time that the food was gross, Camden was up from the meal in about 3 minutes and ate nothing, and the 3rd complained about how he didn't like it. But this is our reality and we are thankful these blessings and the noise, even if it isn't always as we would have it.

For my memory sake..on the fall-

Pierce played flag football and enjoyed it for the most part, he really loves to just be outside in the cul-de-sac, I think if he could earn trophies for that he would never want to do a sport.

Camden and I have done a parent/child gymnastics class at the y all semester. She loves it! She wants to walk on the highest beam, do flips on the rings, swing on the rope and jump in the pit. She also loves the jump up and down song at the end. But her favorite part is the stamp at the end. If only I knew I could of saved the money on the class and bought a stamp and stamp pad :)

Pierce and Holt did Tae Kwon Do for a couple months, but also decided they would rather play with their friends outside then have a week day commitment. They were adorable, especially Holt with his eyes open wide watching the big kids at class. They did enjoy it when they were there. The instructor was great, a great combination of fun, structure, and respect. Maybe they will be interested down the road.

Pierce's Birthday

Pierce turned 7! He had school off the day after his bday and we had his laser tag party. The boys all loved it!

Pierce and William, these two have been buddies since they were born. Laurie and I started having 'playdates' when they were only days old.

We love this boy. He is super silly (as he is entertaining his friends at his party), Mr. social, a leader, loves to learn, an amazing lego builder, creative, bright, a great brother, and has a great heart. He loves to dance (shake his hips), watch Wild Crats and Inspector Gadget, play Mario, build legos, talk silly, play tag, and be outside with his neighborhood buddies.

This is how the party ended, 10 wild boys wrestling, his other favorite thing to do. Holt is right in the middle with a bunch of 7 year olds.

October

This is my climber. Holt will climb anything. Walls as seen is this picture, trees, furniture, people, fences..you name it. We keep saying we need to take him to a rock climbing wall, but for now he just climbs our walls.

Halloween. A picture with our neighbors Gabe and Piper. Camden loves playing 'big' girls lately. They entertain her and keep her happy much better than me most days.

Can you tell everyone is screaming!

Camden giving Charis love. It has been so fun watching these two grow up. Camden talks about Charis all the time. And Charis..well her favorites at our house are Holt and Putter, but she tolerates Camden who sometimes thinks she is much older than Charis. I keep trying to get Charis to give her lessons on good eating, sleeping, and behavior :) I love that God gave both of us girls at the same time and we get to watch their friendship grow as they grow up.

Amy, Adam, and Charis came trick or treating with us this year. The boys took off with my dad to get as much candy as possible and I got to take Camden with the Patwas. It was a fun night!