some sweet advisement

If you've ever met my kids, you know pretty quickly that Kid3 is much more mild mannered, quieter and MUCH more low maintenance than my others. He was born that way. He was always so easy, God knew I needed an easy little guy the third time around. When he was a baby, he would wait to eat, he had no problem waiting in his crib until I could get to him. If Kid3 was truly unhappy I could hand him a banana and all was well with him. I've always said if all my kids were like Kid3, I might have ten or twelve more!

Last night we had a meeting at the school for kid3 to talk about him being on track to graduate, his grades, what credits he will need next year, etc. I'll be honest, these meetings don't go nearly as well when Kids 1 and 2 are involved. Kid1's graduation was … stressful to say to the least and Kid2, although easily graduating, not super easy going.

Kid3's advisor obviously really likes him, she is super sweet and genuinely enjoys her job, which is always nice to encounter. While Mr. B read and signed forms, Mrs. teacher showed me something that reminded me just how sweet my Kid3 is. A goal sheet that he filled out at the beginning of the year, my kid said this-

goals for high school

1. get good grades

2. be a good student

3. get a job

goals for life

1. find a steady job

2. make enough money to support my family

I love these goals for a high school boy. I smiled knowing that my Kid3 is so sweet and I love that about him! It's always nice to hear nice things about high school boys… because they can be so BLECH!

;)

My sweet babies!

OH MY GOODNESS!

I haven't blogged in a month!

Have you ever met a REALLY REALLY sweet boy? I fear that boys get bad reputations from the "bad boy" type, but the thing is, boys can be THE SWEETEST! I own one of those super duper sweet boys and his name is Kid3… not really, he has a real name! My kid3 is so kind hearted. I have often said if I could have had twins I would have picked Kid3 to be a double because he is literally lovely to be around 90% of the time.

I encourage you to look at your boys, your nephews, your friends and seek out their kindness. Expect boys to be kind and sweet and they may surprise you. YES! They can be messy, rude and loud but they can also be kind, understanding and good listeners. Expect the best from the boys in your life and you just might be amazed at what emerges.

My sweet boy loves to love on his baby sister… isn't he a sweet thing? ;)

I have writers block but...

LOOK HOW THESE TWO HAVE GROWN!!!

our next adventure...

The

VERY

day

Kid4 and I got back from Chicago

we picked up Kid2, kid3 and Max and headed to New Orleans for spring break!

We were so excited and SO tired!

Bat Girl picked us up from the train station,

we headed home,

cleaned up,

repacked and headed south!

We had fantastic adventures with our dear friends in New Orleans.

One of the highlights of our trips was getting to love on our sweet Haylie!

She is Kid2's childhood friend from Mt. Perfect.

She just happened to be New Orleans for a wedding.

We met her downtown and loved on her for a few minutes!

Is she the cutest thing you have ever seen or WHAT?

I threw kid2 down on the filthy streets of New Orleans

so she could participate in a show with a street performer.

She was mortified.

Our dear friends may or may not have thought this was such a good idea.

I may or may not have thought it through before I volunteered her.

I may or may not have realized the filth before I shoved her out there.

I may or may not have taken my medication.

I may or may not think things through before I do them.

This may or may not be a blog for a different day.

:/

anyway……...

The art in New Orleans has pure eclectic beauty.

It's expressive art, I loved it.

I saw so many pieces that I would have loved to bring home.

I could have looked all day,

I enjoyed looking at the art first and then the artist.

It's interesting to me to study the art and then the artist.

Usually the artist never looks like you think they will.

This little beauty kept getting roses thrown at her… she loved it!

She was practically lost in all the buildings,

the color, the people.

She took it all in.

She wanted to look at everything and it's just not possible.

I wish I could have read her mind.

From Chicago to New Orleans…

WHAT a change!

She was enamored by the music, the street performers, but we all were.

I wanted to ask the young street performers a million questions.

I love to pick peoples brains- there are so many things I want to know.

There are just not enough hours in the day…

We saw SO MUCH water…

I had no idea how much water was in Louisiana…

I had always wondered and I want to say "now I know"

but I don't even think I can wrap my mind around it.

We enjoyed the beauty of the water, the swamps,

the wild flowers, the fish, the way the sky touches the blue water

and the way the trees twist around…. Louisiana is truly beautiful.

Some of us were a little crabby :)

But we all had a BLAST.

We made LIFELONG friends here…

family really.

The end of this day was the beginning of amazing...

the sunshine in my life...

My Dear Kid3, my boy oh' my boy how I love you. There are just not enough words to tell you how happy I am that you are home. I missed you like crazy while you were away at school. The house just wasn't the same without you. You give this house, our family and our hearts a balance that we just can't seem to find without you. You are so lovely, you are so kind and I am so proud of who you are. The way you treat others and the man you are growing into is something to behold. Your ability to know others; really really look inside of them and know their needs is unreal, it's a rare and admirable quality. You are a rare person, an amazing boy and I am honored to be your mom. You take my breath away every day. I still swoon at the sight of you every single morning when I see your smiling face. Thank you for being you, thank you for being extraordinary and thank you for being mine. I treasure you. You will always be my baby. I love you so much more than you will ever know.

Love, Mom

sisters, love and notes...

Sisters are so special. I absolutely adore a sister relationship. I thought my baby sister was a straight gift to me when I was little, I adored her- I seriously thought she was mine. I can still think back to her little toes and just see them in my mind. I still see her little fat feet after being shoved into her little pink Sunday shoes and how those little fat spots bulged out of those tiny shoes. I can still see her flaming red hair and her tiny gorgeous smile. Sometimes I close my eyes and think of her when she was tiny and I just cry because I wanted her to stay little forever… those kids- they grow.

My girls are NO exception! They mostly adore each other. They worship the ground my Big Girl walks on, we don't see her often but when we do, they are in heaven with her. My sweet sweet kid4 waits for Kid2 to get home from work so they can paint their toe nails, put make up on each and giggle while sipping hot chocolate. I love the way they love each other.

My Kid4 absolutely ADORES Weezy, she is sure that Weezy hung the moon and tells her daily how much she loves her. Weezy will be going back to the big city soon for school and my girls will miss her so much, I can't even imagine my house without her. Weezy is such a huge part of my heart. I found this note Kid4 left for her the other day and my heart melted- I love the way Kid4 loves others- it's perfect. I love it when people love each other and do kind things for each other. Isn't THAT what life is all about? If we spent all day doing things for only ourselves… what would we be but selfish empty skin and bones?

Love someone, tell them you love them, do something special for them. You'll feel good. TRUST ME!

the horror continued...

She killed that little matchbox with a more than likely bad transmission over and over and over as she eeked out into the busy road ahead…

Again, I felt like I should probably give her some confidence, I mean after all isn’t that MY JOB? So, in my most terrified and again high-pitched voice I shout out “D-d-d-DEAR GOD, pah-pah-lease m-m-m-ake it stop”…. And I seriously did not mean to say that. (I wish I were kidding) I really wanted to give her words of wisdom, like calmly saying “you're doing good, just a little more gas and a little less clutch”… but instead I was in full freak out mode now. (Have I told you that I laugh hysterically when I’m nervous?) When I realized I was shouting out things I didn’t mean to say I tried to fix it by calmly saying “honey, everyone struggles when they learn to drive a stick”…. But instead I squeaked out “y-y-y-y-YOUR doing g-g-g-great…. P-p-p-p lease don’t kill us”…. And I was shocked… so there I am laughing hysterically and tears start pouring down my cheeks because I am literally scared to death. I can’t stop shouting, she is shouting and laughing at ME… because as you know I am “such a hoot when I’m nervous”…. I covered my face because at this point I was too scared to even get out of the car, you know since we were hanging out in the intersection and all.

THEN, SHE PUT IT IN REVERSE and hit the gas and I was sobbing… because I don’t think she even looked behind her. It was ONLY by the grace of God that there was no one behind us. I grasped my purse and seatbelt and sat there begging God, or Scotty, to Beam us up, Id take anywhere but here at this point.

Finally, she got that car to move and we sailed toward the other lane. And well…. she looked at me with pride as she sailed off almost into the curb… because apparently her hands and head are controlled by the SAME THING…. I shouted “OH PLEASE …. P-p-p-p-LEASE….. I-I- I-I-I th-th-think you need to watch a little c-c-c-c-closer!

We got there. I cried. I lived. I haven't been in the car with her since.

home on break

first things first...

A. How did my little tiny baby boy grow up so fast?

B. WHY does my dad never age...? Is it weird to anyone else?

by the way- he comes home Saturday! We are so EXCITED! We're having his friends over- I can't wait to hug that boy! I hope he won't mind sitting on my lap while he's hanging out with his friends... do you think he will be embarrassed? (JK)

WELCOME HOME KID3!!

lacking lungs!

My poor Kid 3 was TERRIBLY sick when we saw him last. I knew he was sick when I got there because his voice sounded like a 6 year old girl which means asthma for him and he could barely talk he was struggling for air. His face was swollen and his eyes were all droopy.... I was definitely concerned the minute I laid eyes on him!

Bat Girl is the one with the information about asthma in fact as a little kid I had no idea why he was so sick so often and she's the one who made me take him to the Dr and diagnosed him with asthma... she is a very good google Doctor, I seriously always trust her opinion.

We took poor Kid3 to the urgent care clinic where they promptly got him a breathing treatment and prescriptions. We headed back to my parents and he crashed. I got special permission to keep him at my parents to let him rest but he seemed to be getting worse. Finally Bat Girl and I gave in and took him to the ER and he was diagnosed with bronchitis... poor kid.

So... we left him with 6 prescriptions and 4 over the counter meds and an appointment with the infirmary at school 4 times a day for the next ten days! Poor kid...

He is much better now and on the road to being healthy once again! Thank goodness!

but seriously... isn't he the CUTEST?!

a mamma-wha.....?

My sweet boy (kid3) is truly such a light in our lives. We adore him, he is funny, handsome and one of a kind. While we were visiting him last weekend he was very sick. When I got there his breathing was terrible, he is suffering from dreadful asthma. After two visits to the ER we found out he also has serious bronchitis- poor kid! The Dr. prescribed him LOTS of medicine and requested that he come back on Tuesday for a check-up. I worked it out with the school for the school to take him and I headed home, back across the country...

TODAY I got a call from my sweet Kid3, he was at the Dr ALONE. The school took him to the Dr's office and told him to "go thru the lobby and right at the hallway" he called me of course, he doesn't know his Dads social, birthday, etc. so as I was on the phone with him walking him through filling out the paperwork he asked me about the date of his tonsillectomy, the date of his last Xray, how long he had asthma and THEN... he said....

"What is the date of my last pap smear?" I said "Oh ... um... honey you haven't had that". He said "MOM, I just need the date of it". I laughed and then said "SON, Im serious, you have never had one"... THEN he said "Okay then what about the date of my last mammogram" I assured him that he also had not had one of those and he was probably he was in the "female question part". He just said "OH, okay".... such a boy! (imagine the person sitting next to him in the clinic- they must have been dying of laughter)

Anyway, I spent my morning laughing because my 3rd born is so wonderful, he is sweet, he is cute and he says the best things! I adore him!

my boy

Kid3 is doing good.

(he really says he hates it- Im trying to be in denial)

He is adjusting well.

(not so well actually but Im trying to ignore it and hope it gets better)

We miss him.

(thats the truth-no denial there)

Doesn't he look handsome?

(also true- cute as a button!)

We enjoy every minute of being with him in New Mexico.

(not always true, but we try)

We do not enjoy every minute of the drive, I cannot tell a lie...

(now THATS all true)

It's a bear of a drive.

(true- no denial)

So worth this handsome face.

(yes true, worth his little smile)

So worth his unforgettable smile.

(yes, yes, true)

I love him.

(FOR SURE)

(please disregard the frizzy hair, thank you very much)

weekend lovin'

We are lovin' up on this boy this weekend!

How wonderful it is to hug him.

How marvelous it is to see his smile in person.

How magnificent it is to hear him (he's not great on the phone)

How glorious it is to watch him move.

How fantastic it is to kiss his face.

We're in heaven lovin' up on this kid!

we...

WE

drove 2690 miles

hugged my baby

saw my parents

visited the zoo

kissed my baby (till he probably wanted to run screaming)

saw our other favorite kid in the whole world

saw a GIANT spider

got great gas mileage

listened to a million CD's

WERE

sore

tired

a little sad

ready to sleep for a week

thinking of never getting in a car again

GUESS WHAT?

We'll do it all over again in 17 days

just to hug my boy

AND

drive another 2690 miles

BUT

he's worth every mile :)

Happy birthday baby boy, I miss you.

My Dear dear Kid3, my baby,

Happy Birthday to you. I can’t believe you’re 14. Last night, I looked at pictures of you just one year ago and it is completely unfathomable that you have grown so much. I showed your big sister and we laughed at your little boy face just one year ago and talked about how your body must have hurt this year from growing so much. I seriously think you grew a whole foot! Remember last year when I made you brownie hamburgers and sugar cookie fries?

Gosh I miss you. I’m counting down the days till I get to put my arms around you, until I get to see that gorgeous smile of yours and hear your laugh. I can’t wait to see you hug your sisters and see how you’ve grown.

Son, 14 years ago today, you were born and I distinctly remember every amazing detail. You were truly the sweetest baby I had ever met. From the minute you were born, you were patient and peaceful. You somehow knew that you were kid3 and made life so easy on us all.

I can’t think of one single word to describe to you just how much I love you or just how much I miss you. I have never missed anyone this much my boy. Some days I just want to hop in the car and run to you, some days I just want to call the school and tell them to send you here to me, to your momma. But…. Most days, I know this is best, I know this sacrifice is worth it. You’re worth every bit of it all. I hope you love it, I can’t wait to hear all about…. 10 more days. TEN MORE DAYS…. And I’ll wrap my arms around you.

Until then my sweet sweet 3^rd child, I love you immensely, I love you more than you’ll probably ever know, I love you to the moon and back a million jillion times.

Happy 14^th Birthday sweet boy.

the view

This handsome (and somewhat moley (see yesterday's blog)) young man

now resides here, at an elite Military Academy.

This is his view to the left,

and to the right.

I miss you my boy.

You'll do great!

holy MOLEY

Getting Kid3’s head shaved was full of mixed emotions for me. I was excited for him because this meant a rite of passage into NMMI, it was something every male cadet had done before him and a tradition they would surely continue. His long hair thrilled the barber, she was eager to get a hold of his long golden locks. She said, “I heard about you, I have been looking forward to THIS all day”. I felt like she was a little too enthusiastic, but she peeled his dome with outstanding respect! She took her time whittling away at his noggin, allowing his father and I to entertain each falling lock. With every pass of the shiny clippers my heart sank because this impending hair-do meant my baby was growing up and leaving home. I’d like to say “the end” right about now, I’d like to say that we all three shed a tear about the missing mane but the truth is; When the pea was pod-less I was horrified at Kid3’s head. I really wanted this moment to be only nostalgic, full of letting go and to be honest I couldn’t look away from the mole covered skull that belonged to my baby boy. Do you think we cried? No! We laughed and pointed instead. I know, I know! This is not one of my finer parenting moments, but it’s the truth and I’m all about validity folks!

My dear poor unsightly son, I sincerely hope your unattractive cranium sprouts something soon…. Or someone rushes you to a dermatologist for a mass molectomy. If not, for goodness sakes, go with a large hat!

P.S. dear readers, I am not giving you a close up for a REASON... (ewwwww!)

goodbye

Goodbye my boy.

Goodbye my 3rd baby.

You will never know how proud I am of you.

You will never know how hard it is to tell you goodbye.

This gift, the gift of education, belonging, and being part of a bigger picture

will change your life.

Your already amazing.

Good luck my son.

I love you.

traveling stories

We are having such a lovely time traveling along here and there and everywhere... ( I wont lie though, we are a little tired of driving)

We've been to Texas to visit friends and had a wonderful time with Linda's family.

We got to see Mr. B.'s sister, niece, dad and his wife. We had a GREAT time! We always love visiting with Mr. B.'s sister and our lovely niece!

We're in New Mexico now with my parents about to drop my little tiny baby boy (kid3) at boarding school......

Will I make be able to do it?

Stay tuned!

a mothers love, a 5 am explanation

I haven't been able to sleep well lately, and tonight was no exception because I can't stop thinking about saying goodbye to my kid3. I watched him sleeping for a little while earlier this morning and I just keep thinking that this little boy, MY little boy will no longer be a little boy when he comes home at Christmas. I keep thinking of how I will miss the transition ... him growing up, becoming who he is destined to be. Im going to miss it...

I think this is probably why Im not sleeping lately.

My dear dear baby boy, you will never understand a mother's love and thats okay. You may never be able to wrap to your mind around the fact that you are my true baby and I have loved honestly just about every single moment with you. You are truly not the annoying pre-teen that so many kids your age are. You have been an absolute joy and I will hold my breath until I get to see you again, and wrap my arms around your broad shoulders and run my hands over your bald head, I'll miss you every single second, we all will. Baby boy, I love you, I love you so much more than I ever thought possible.

I can't wait to see you in a few weeks!

I love you, I love you, I love you!