I'm alive...

I'm alive, I swear!! Sometimes weeks pass & I don't even realize I haven't blogged at all! Things have been pretty uneventful lately. The kids are all doing really well. We are currently still working on potty training Delilah. She is so hard headed & so stubborn. If she doesn't want to do something, she's just not going to do it! Slowly but surely she's getting there, and I'll be SOOO happy to have my last one out of diapers :)  . Tuck is doing really well in 2nd grade. He's had a couple of rough patches but his daddy has been cracking down & making him finish all uncompleted work on the evenings, then adding extra work for not doing it in class. This really seems to work for Tuck & I am VERY relieved that his grades are improving. His grades usually are comprised of 100's & 0's . If he does it he gets a perfect score, but there was lots of work he wasn't finishing at all. Ever has been quite the easy child lately. So often she gets lost in the mix because she's so easy & I hate that! She's so mild & well behaved often she just blends right in. I realized most of her negative behavior is for attention & that's our fault. We're really trying to make sure we are giving her the attention she needs, not just when she's in trouble.

The End of Summer....

  So many changes lately! Tuck went back to school recently, 2nd grade!! I can hardly believe it, he is growing so fast. I also went back to class full time, and its been quite an adjustment. Everyone is doing so well, and though we're sad the summer is over, we love the winter too! We hope to take the kids to see real snow this winter, and I love Halloween, while Chris loves Christmas. We went & spent this past weekend at my parents house on the lake & enjoyed some time on their boat. This was the first time we took the girls out & they loved it! Of course they did, they love the water park and swimming in general. Delilah is also getting over being sick. She has a nasty little cold that turned into a respiratory infection, but she is doing much better. We also had a very sad incident happen today. A local school where we live (and our children would go later), had an act of violence today that took the life of one student. Its always sad when violence occurs at a school, a place where children are supposed to be safe. Its even more devastating when that moment of anger and one STUPID decision takes the life of a child, and ruins the life of another. I just wish these children would know NOW, what they will realize when they are older. A fight is not worth throwing your life away, and taking the life of someone else.

My Momma & Granny having TOO much fun on the boat!

Delilah touching the waves with Daddy.

Only 2 of the kids made it into this shot, I tried.

Sick Delilah.

Tuck is Seven!

Where does the time even go? My little prince turned 7 today & in less than 3 weeks he will start 2nd grade. I don't care if we have 10 kids, this little guy will always be so special to me. His adoption inspired me to go back to school, work harder & to be a better person. Recently he asked my sister how old her son was when she "got" him. She told Tuck she didn't, she grew him in her belly. Tuck told her that was "weird". Haha, the differences in an adopted child are endless. Since we had a joint party we took the kids our to a special day at Chuckee Cheese on her Lyla's birthday. We are taking Tuck bowling this weekend for his special birthday day. He is the best little helper, and an awesome big brother to our sweet ladies. I pray he knows everyday how he changed me as a person, and he course of my whole life! Happy Birthday Tuck!

Happy Birthday Delilah!

Today, her 2nd Birthday!

I can not believe my little baby turned 2 today! I just can't even say enough about the grief this child gives me, Every. Single. Day. She is by FAR the toughest of all 3. She is so stubborn & so wild. She has NO fear & is a true dare devil at heart. I thought Tuck had a free spirit, until her. She is also the most like ME. She laughs at the same wicked things I do, and that makes me laugh, and it makes me scared! She was such an easy infant, she slept through the night right away, she loved to play independently in her playpen or in her bumbo on the counter while I cooked, cleaned, or studied. When she got about 18 months all that changed! Once she learned to walk & talk it was ALL over! She is a little tornado of destruction & mayhem! If she makes a mess & I fuss at her, she tells ME to "clean it", or "ahh mess! Clean up!". She still bosses around her brother, Daddy & anybody that she can. She makes me laugh the hardest. She is so bright, funny and sweet. She leaves me exhausted & swearing we are DONE! As soon as this little mess learns an ounce of self control I will be SO happy. I thought in honor of her birthday I would share some of my favorite photos.

First time at the beach!

Her favorite napping spot.

FOOD!

I was trying to wean her from a bottle, this is what happened when she SAW her milk in the sippy cup.

Trying out her big girl seat!

First day home!

So silly.

She loved rubbing Daddy's beard.

Look how big she is!

Best. Sleep. Ever.

Drinking her "coffee".

That time again..

I can not believe the summer is already half way over! My little nugget Delilah will be celebrating her 2nd birthday in a week! Man how time flies. It seems like just yesterday she came home so tiny, so sweet! In many ways I miss those days but I love seeing her grow everyday. She really is an amazing little person. She is so funny, smart & wild. Just 10 days later my Tuck turns 7!! Oh my goodness, this breaks my heart just a little. He is so big & so grown. When I look back on pictures I can't believe he was ever so small, and impish. We are planning a little pool party at our house for the two kids. It is a luau theme & I'm sure they will have tons of fun! Chris put sod down in the whole yard last weekend. Our back yard is VERY shaded & the grass has slowly died. He also dug out our side patio which is made of cinderblocks. They have been unlevel since we moved in. The blocks lead down the side yard to our big back patio in the back yard. Hopefully this upcoming week he will replace them & level them out so we have a nice little patio right outside the back door. I'm currently on the lookout for a little iron bistro set to paint & put on the side patio. I'll post photos when the improvements are all done!

Movies & 4th of July!'

I can't believe the summer is almost half way over! We recently ventured out to take the kids to the movies to see Despicable Me. The girls hadn't been before & our son really loves it! It was a nice little treat for them. I made the girls little dresses & our son wore a matching shirt. Last week was also our sons favorite holiday (besides Christmas), July 4th! We always drive out to a local show & park to watch the show. We get there a couple of hours early & enjoy a little picnic. Last year Lyla slept through the whole thing in the car. This year she sat with us & loved it! She tried ripping off her ear covers & pointed the whole time. Last year Ever was afraid & made me hold her hand the whole show. This year she was in love with it! Also the bookends (Tuck & Lyla) have a birthday coming up! Their birthdays are only 10 days apart so we have their party on a weekend in between. I can't believe it's already that time again! They are growing too fast! Sad.

Sweet Summer..

One of the biggest pit falls of me staying home during the summer is the kids stay home too! It's been challenging to entertain them many days & we've had temperatures well into the 100's lately. This made me think to get the kids a little above ground pool. If you know me you know our house in tiny (1180 square feet), & our yard is even smaller. It was quite a squeeze but we fit it in a corner back there. The kids are loving it. We remove the ladder every time were done. We bought a lock for our back door that attaches to the TOP, so the kids can't reach it. We also have a narrow side yard you have to walk down to get to our back yard so we are also putting in a little locked gate as an extra precaution. We are already getting ready for back to school, the girls don't start the year but Tuck will be entering the 2nd grade. I buy clothes all year long to ease the pain! Ther than that things are well. The girls are doing good with the exception of one small thing. Everly seems intent to push me over the edge by constant emptying everything out of her closet drawers (all 12) and throwing it all around her room. It wouldn't be so bad except I keep it organized by shorts, skirts, pajamas etc. I don't know why she insists on doing this in a near daily basis! Why!!?! It takes me 30 minutes to fold & organize every time. I know what you're thinking, buy a LOCK!! I would except their room has the big sliding doors that cover the closet. We're working on figuring out a way to keep those closed so I don't go completely insane.