Sunday

Merry Christmas

30 days of gratitude

day 10 - 4 day weekends

So it is official November is my new favorite month because the children have so many breaks from school! I love having all the children home with me. Although today didn't go quite how I pictured it I wouldn't have had them anywhere else but here!

30 days of gratitude

day 9 - day at home

Today was the first day that I can remember since school started that Luke and I have come home after dropping Kai off at school and just laid around. It was WONDERFUL. I am so grateful for my sweet Luke who might be the best snuggler I know. I am so grateful that I have the luxury of taking an afternoon off every once in a while. Today from 1-3 was perfect!

30 days of gratitude

day 8 - my church calling

I currently serve with the Young Women in our ward. It has been fun and challenging all at the same time. I have been learning so much both from the YW and the amazing leaders that I am serving with. I have also been learning so much about myself. This calling has me constantly evaluating my life and my roles specifically as a wife and mother. Boy, I have some serious work to do!

30 days of gratitude

day 7 - raked leaves

This weekend Brian raked 16 bags of leaves from our yard. We have both been so busy and I was trying to find time to do it, but he insisted that I not worry about. I am thankful they are all picked up!

30 days of gratitude

day 6 - daylight savings time

"Falling Backwards" has historically been one of my least favorite days, but this morning I woke up at 4:30 am. I got loads of stuff done before anyone else woke up and I LOVED it!

Sunday

30 days of gratitude

day 5 - seneca valley super bowl

Today the Seneca Valley Arrows WON the super bowl! What a special day it has been for Ethan and our whole family. We are so proud of all the hard work that he and the boys put into this season. What another great example of how these awesome moments are direct results of HARD WORK. I think he is starting to get it! It was such an amazing day that I know he will remember for the rest of his life!

CONGRATULATIONS SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!

30 days of gratitude

day 3 - math facts

Every Thursday after we drop Kai off for Kindergarten Luke and I head into the school and to Olivia's class for math facts. I love being in the school while the children are there. I love running into them in the hall. I love seeing them with their friends. I love getting a chance to visit with their teachers. Math facts allow me to do all those things, and I love every second of it.

Also, Luke is something of a celebrity at the school. It is hilarious how many children know his name and who be belongs to. Today he had to go to the bathroom before we left, and when we walked in to the girls bathroom all the girls came right up to him talking to him and hugging him. I didn't know a single one of those girls but they all knew he was Ethan's baby brother Luke!

30 days of gratitude

day 2 - pumpkin cheesecake

This morning when I was checking my email I had a sweet invitation from my friend Natalie to come over and enjoy the leftover pumpkin cheesecake from book group. After Luke and I dropped Kai off at school we headed over to Natalie's and spent the rest of the afternoon talking, laughing, and enjoying each others company. These days I feel like all I do is run from one place to another, but today I got to slow down and enjoy every second. What a blessing!

30 days of gratitude

day 1 - books

Tonight was book group. I didn't attend because I am currently, as in slowly but surely, reading a non book group book. It made me so grateful that I am able to read what I want and when I want. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to get together with women who I adore, and hear their thoughts, ideas, and perspectives on all types of different topics.

Wicked

This weekend some friends from church got tickets to go see Wicked here in Pittsburgh, and Olivia and I were lucky enough to get to join them! Olivia was so excited but not sure what to expect. One of her greatest joys in life is torturing the boys, so the fact it drove them crazy that she got to go and they didn't just made it that much sweeter to her! Add that to the fact that Emily and Carlie were going too, and she was one happy lady! We didn't get any pictures are the theater, but here are a few before we left!

Olivia's First Softball Game

Today was the first of many crazy busy Saturday's to come. We went to Ethan's football game and had to leave early to go straight to Olivia's Softball game. My parents are visiting and wanted to make sure to see everyone play. We decided that they would stay at Ethan's football game and I would take Olivia and the boys so she could get there early. Well, I got lost on our way to the game and Brian, Ethan, and my parents ended up beating us there! It was so annoying! HA Anyways, she got over to her team and put in the game and all was well!

This week they played Ambridge. First of all these girls were all 10-11 year olds who had clearly been playing together for years and years. In the Zelie league there were so few girls that signed up for Fall Ball that they had to combine all ages 11 and under into one team. So it was a little bit of a rough go, but I think you learn so much from game situations that you can't learn in practice.

Here is my little #3 (my favorite number!)

This is Olivia's friend Alyssa up to bat!

Ollie walking up to bat for the first time ever! I knew she was nervous!

Getting ready to swing!

What a great day! I can't wait to watch Olivia learn and improve as a player over the season!

Week in the Life - Day 1

I have decided to post a week of posts that is all about our routine at this point in time. A few weeks ago I was looking through all the children's past school work trying to organize it better, and I found an old schedule that I made for us to follow each day when the children were very young. What a special find it was for me as found myself, if for only a moment, back in the days of having 3 little babies at home. I had forgotten all about making that schedule and everything that was on it. It made me realize that I don't want to forget what we are doing right now, this week. So I decided every couple months I would dedicate a week to Week in the Life posts.

I have been thinking a lot about how every stage we are in, in this life is temporary. The good and the bad. I remember feeling so overwhelmed when Brian went out to sea the second time and left me with a 2 1/2 year old, a 1 1/2 year old, and a 6 week old baby. Now I look at my life, that stage over and way to temporary, and I wish I could remember every second. So here is my attempt to freeze time, so I can read this years from now and be pulled back to this time in my life, if only for a moment.

6:45 - Family Scriptures - This is a new move that we started this year. With sports, activities, and church callings we are never home together in the evenings. After lots of prayer and Brian and I talking it to death we decided that the only time that would work is mornings. It has been so wonderful to start our day together as a family (minus Luke, I am not brave enough to have him awake that early) gathered in the living room for prayer and scriptures. It hasn't been easy, and I know how tired the children are but I know, for now at least, it is what we need to be doing.

7:50 - Ethan and Olivia leave for the bus

After Ethan and Olivia are gone I do dishes and clean the kitchen, do laundry, study my scriptures, and then take a shower. Then Luke, Kai, and I play outside until 11 when we get Kai ready for school

12:30 - Drop Kai off for school and then Luke and I run errands. Today we went to Dicks to get Olivia a new softball mitt, and Kai some new cleats. Then we went to Walmart for a few lunch items and Pizza for dinner.

3:30 - Ethan, Olivia, and Kai get home from school

3:35 - Leave for Piano. Ethan and Olivia eat dinner in the car on the way.

3:55 - Drop Kai and Luke off to Brian in the parking lot at work. He brings them home and they eat dinner and play.

4:15-5:15 - Ethan and Olivia have Piano

After Piano we drive straight to Football where we meet Brian and the boys. Ethan has to change in the car before practice starts.

6-8 - Ethan football

6-7:30 - Meet the Teacher night (Ethan's Teacher) I left everyone at football and went to meet Ethan's teacher. LOVED HER!

8 - Second dinner because everyone is starving

8:30 - Prayer and Bedtime

9:15 - I drag myself exhausted upstairs to bed

*as a side note. Today was Luke's first day potty training. He did GREAT! He only had 2 accidents and we went to Dicks Sporting Goods and Walmart after we dropped Kai off. And he spent 2 hours at football practice where he had to pee in the woods! I am super proud of him, but if he is anything like the other children he is going to give me a run for my money at least 1 day this week!

Sunday

The Beginning

This afternoon was Olivia's first EVER softball practice! A few weeks ago I was taking with our friend Keith while we were cleaning the church about signing Kai and Olivia up for Fall Ball since Ethan would be busy again with Football. He mentioned that he was signing his son up for Fall Ball and then his daughter Alyssa chimed in saying that she wanted to play. Olivia already wanted to play but thought it would be fun to play on the same team as her friend. So Brian and I decided to put them in the Zelienople League.

On the way to practice I could tell Olivia was a little nervous and it made me so grateful she would know someone on her team when we got there! She has a great practice and had so much fun! I am so excited to watch and practice with her this season!

Sunday

Capture the Flag

Our Summer days are numbered and we are trying to squeeze in as much fun as we possibly can. Today we had our friend Kaden over to play and Zack and Nate come out to play. It ended up in a Capture the Flag game Nerf gun style. They all had a great time and it was so fun watching them running around the yard dodging and rolling.

All the while Luke drank water and played games on my phone while I read my book!

This was a perfect summer day!

Scrimmage vs. Keystone Oaks

Ethan was #52 in this scrimmage against Keystone Oaks. It was a beautiful day and the boys played a great game again! After these 2 weeks of scrimmages everyone is ready to get going with the regular season and see how the boys do!

Ethan blocking

New Pictures

This morning I decided to take the children out for an impromptu photo session. Olivia has just turned 7 and I was feeling like everyone needed an updated picture. We went out to the field near where Ethan practices football and we had a great time! I can't believe how big they have each gotten.

I am so in love with these babies!

Jersey Party and Meet & Greet

Tonight they ended practice early to go meet their Cheerleaders. Basically they boys go to watch the girls do a cheer for them and then they exchange gifts.

Here is a picture of all the 8-9 2011 Seneca Valley Arrows Football Players and Cheerleaders!
After the Cheerleader Meet & Greet they boys headed to the pavilion for their Jersey Party.
Ethan #56 with Coach Rocco

GO ARROWS!

It's Official.... Football Season has Started!

Today the Arrows had the first scrimmage. It was an "in house" scrimmage meaning that they played other Seneca Valley teams. The boys looked great and neither of the teams even scored on us! Ethan is playing middle linebacker and offensive line. Which means he is playing the whole game, and it is still pretty hot out here! Brian is helping coach again this year and Ethan LOVES that! Here's to a great season for the Seneca Valley Arrows!

It was a fun day and the best part was we were home by noon. So maybe the Football Season isn't official just yet!