Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Quinton

our big boy is 3

Q-dog is the best

sweet as can be

fun to love on

adorable little face

full of energy

happy all the time

busy all day long

kind to others

protective of siblings

loves to help mom and dad

great kid

happy day

It's a party...

this is a crazy week

I tend to get overwhelmed by everything that "needs" to get done
I realize I place my priorities in the wrong place many times

I need to "give" my kids memories -
not a clean house

Yes, they need food, and clean clothes to wear, and a tidy home to live in,
but I need to find a happy balance between the daily tasks and my children's needs.

It is such a struggle to try to do, be, and say everything to everyone all the time.

I tell myself that this won't last forever.
Someday, I will yearn for these years, again.
I want to remember good times,
and not have regrets.

So, I am off to making memories!

pure sweetness

oh, the sweet smell of a newborn babe

we got the pleasure of visiting our new baby niece

she is precious

reminds me of when my children were babies

I loved the smell of their breathe

it is the most wonderful smell there is

makes me want another baby

I will never grow tired of the beauty of babies

and the miracle of life

I've been thinking...

that in a few months we will have our 1st teenager in our home

the first one we got to bring home from the hospital

the first one who had bumps and bruises that broke our hearts

the first one that taught us how to be mom and dad

the first one that taught us the joy of being parents

the first one that is showing us what it is like to "be growing up"

the first teenager in our home

Mixed emotions

sending them back to school brings feelings of sadness
reality that with every year, we are one year closer to them being an adult
each year that goes by gives us greater awareness that we are losing influence over them
it makes us question have we been and shown them enough good
have we taught them right
will they make good choices

but then we look at the beautiful person they are growing into
and the feelings of sadness turn to joy and happiness

Away

she has been away for a while
spending some time with papa and grama
getting to be the only one
feeling extra special

one of our children alone 6 hours away at papa and grama's

away for 14 days
it must be strange to feel like an only child
i'm sure she misses her family
i am certain we miss her

Can you guess?

A little of this

A lot of that

A few of these

A lot more of those

A purple one

a few red

several orange

green, lt blue, blue

several sticks

a few bottles

many boxes

a couple packs

Can you guess what we have been doing?

school shopping for supplies

It is hard to believe it is that time of year again!