I'm BACK!!

Holy cow!  How has it been almost 2 years since I posted on my blog?  I think about it often, but I just haven't gotten around to doing it.  I have really missed sitting down and writing out my thoughts and feelings.

Here is what has been happening lately:

• We celebrated our third New Years Eve in Lubbock.  This is HUGE!  We have never stayed in one city this long, and we still love it!  Lubbock has been so good to our family, that we are not sure when (if ever) we will leave.
• Maddison is now 11, Gabriella 9, Brayden 5, and Paisley 2!
• Marco is about a week away from opening his new restaurant, Aspen Creek!  It is crunch time and he's feeling the pressure, but I am so incredibly proud of him!
• I love my job as a Parent's Day Out teacher, and couldn't be more blessed by the church I work for and the friendships I have made!
• We found a church home, for all of us!  Gabriella gave her life to Christ and was baptized last year, and Maddison gave her life to Christ this year and will be baptized soon!

Lubbock has really blessed us in many ways, a few we weren't ever expecting, and some are far better than we could have ever imagined!

So what have you been up to?

Naptime = Playtime 1 Painting and Letter Recognition

Since most of my day is spent catering to baby Paisley, I am trying to make an effort to do things with just Brayden.  This time comes in the morning when Pais takes her nap.  I have been working with him on his letter recognition and writing and also fun things like painting, coloring, foam, and anything else fun we come up with.  I think he has really enjoyed the time that is spent just me and him.  I am going to do a series where I show you fun things Brayden and I are doing, how he likes it, where I found the idea, and how he is progressing.

The first thing Brayden wanted to do was paint a Christmas picture.  I used green washable paint and painted his hand 6 times and we made his handprints into a Christmas tree.  I put lines on the bottom of the tree and let him use brown paint to paint in the trunk of the tree.  Then I asked him if he wanted to add ornaments to the tree and of course he said yes, but he painted them around the tree.  Silly boy!  I let him paint how he wanted with out correcting him since it was his picture.

 

 

With Brayden being 3 1/2, I also want to work on his writing skills.  I wrote his name on a piece of paper with yellow marker, and had him trace over it.  The yellow is easy for him to see and easier to follow than hash marks.  After we tried his name, we worked on the letter A. 

 

 

I don't want to push Brayden to do more than he wants, so this was all we did on this day.  His attention span isn't very long, so we moved onto something more playful.  I do think he enjoyed his time with me.  I know I enjoyed being able to focus on just him.

 

I can't wait to show you more of what we do! 

 

Any suggestions are welcome!!



 

Bring on 2014

 

1-1-14

A fresh start.

A clean slate.

A day for resolutions, and looking back on the past year.

My year had some high points and some VERY low points.

 

2013 was a very hard year for me.  I admitted to not wanting to be pregnant and to needing help mentally after giving birth, neither of which were easy to write out and share.

 

I had a hard time writing on my blog the past year due to repressing my true feelings for fear of what my readers would think.  When I actually spoke about my issues, I lost 2 followers.  Did I care?  I tried not to, but I did.  It is hurtful to think that how I felt affected them so much that they know longer wanted to read what I have to write.  Am I better off with out them?  I think so.  I should be able to write out my true feelings and not have fear of backlash.  This is my life, not anyone else's, and I just wanted to put it out there that life isn't always sunshine and roses.

 

2013 was also great to me.  My kids are thriving in Lubbock and God blessed us with an addition to our family.  With all my unhappiness about being pregnant and overly worrying about Brayden no longer being the baby, Paisley has truly added to our lives in ways I couldn't imagine.  I will save that for another post though.  She was definitely the HIGH for 2013.

 

My resolutions for 2014 are going to be simple so hopefully I can accomplish them.  I am not good at resolutions, so I will just call them goals for the upcoming year.

• Pay down some of our debt
• Build up our savings account
• Write more
• Play and laugh more with my kids
• Find a church home

What are some of your resolutions?

Did you keep last years?

Are you ready for a new year?  I sure am!

Bring on 2014!!!

 

Wishing you all health, wealth, and happiness.

Gone are the baby blues

What a difference two weeks has made in my life!

I am feeling like my old self again.

I am feeling more energetic.

I am feeling calmer.

I am feeling more patient.

I am feeling so much happier.

I am loving on my children much more.

They are so much happier.

 

I know in the past few months, maybe more, my children have suffered from my feeling down.  They didn't get as many hugs or cuddles as they wanted.  I pushed them away, especially my older girls.  I was down and I didn't want them around.  I was sad Brayden wasn't going to be my baby anymore instead of being happy that I was going to have a new baby.  I was down on life, and my kids suffered.

 

I know that.

I am not proud of that.

 

Now is my time to change it, now is my time to love being a mom again.

 

We laugh more, we hug more, we cuddle more, we love more.

 

I am not saying pills will work for everyone or that taking something is the way to go for everyone, but taking an anti-depressant has changed my life.  It is helping me so much more than I ever thought I needed.  I can feel it and I know my kids can feel it.  Our house has changed for the better.

 

I only wish I would have spoken up sooner.  I tried not to talk about my feelings, and when I did, what I was feeling, I felt, got pushed aside.

 

For now though, I am happy.  Which feels amazing!

 

 

Baby Blues

Sorry I have been MIA from the blog the past few weeks, I haven't been in much of a writing mood.  I have been dealing with some personal things. 

I have been very down, blah, and just not feeling like myself since Paisley was born.  I have been constantly overwhelmed with all the kids by myself.  I yell way to much at the big girls and strain our relationship greatly most days, and I let Brayden wither away in front of the tv for hours a day, all while feeling stuck on the couch with no energy or enthusiasm to get up and live life.  A lot of days I feel lonely, I overeat, and I sleep horrible, I am just not myself.  I feel trapped in some one else's body.  My mood swings are out of control.  I can go from happy and content to crazy angry and yelling to feeling like crying my eyes out all within a matter of minutes.

I know "baby blues" are always possible after you give birth, but I never thought I would have it.  I am not sure if what I am experiencing is "baby blues" or just really bad hormonal changes due to getting my tubes tied.  I did not feel like this with my other babies, at least not to the extent that I do now.  Doctors are quick to tell you that there is no relation with getting your tubes tied and hormonal changes, but based on my mood, I feel otherwise.  This past week, I finally talked to my doctor about how I have been feeling, and hopefully will be feeling better in a few weeks (praying for sooner).  We agreed the best course of action, in my case, was to go on Lexapro.  I hope it starts to kick in over the next few weeks.  I never thought I would need to be put on something, however, if the medication helps me turn this all around, then so be it.
It has been very hard with 4, much harder than I ever thought it would be.  I never wanted to have 4 kids and I stressed and worried my entire pregnancy, but it was obviously in God's plan for our family and he is never wrong.  I love Paisley and wouldn't change having her for anything in the world.  She makes me smile and I know she will bring so much love and joy to our world that we would be greatly lacking with out her here. 

I was worried about how Brayden would be with her, but he has been amazing with her.  He always wants to hold her and give her kisses; I think he is very proud to be her big brother.  However, he has become increasingly insistent on getting my attention any way necessary, whether that is being overly sweet or throwing mega fits.  Maddi and Ella also love and adore her and constantly want to hold her, and they also try to keep her from crying as much as they can, they are awesome big sisters.

I hope that the medicine kicks in soon so I can get back to feeling like myself with my amazing family.  They deserve so much more than I give to them.

I am sure postpartum isn't overly talked about or that if what I am feeling could be from my tubal, but I wanted to put it out there.  If you are down, I don't think medication should be your first choice, but sometimes it may end up being the best choice.  The main thing is that you keep yourself healthy for your family and talk to your doctor about your feelings sooner rather than later.

Terrific Tuesday #1

After my super honest Debbie downer post yesterday, I have to do something different.

I have to make a change from within to make myself get out of this funk!

I have to remind myself what makes ME happy.

I am going to start a weekly post where I am going to find things from the past week that were terrific.  Little things and big things, and all the terrific things in between.  I need to start looking at my days with a positive attitude instead of letting all the negative take over.  I am going to start today.  Terrific Tuesday post number one!

• Saturday Maddi played an amazing soccer game!  She was playing defense, which is not her favorite position to play, but she rocked it!  She was stopping balls from going past her, dribbling the ball and passing up the field really well, throwing in the ball,  and winning the ball from the other team.  I was one proud momma and couldn't stop telling her great she was doing!!  Even better, the whole team played a great and won the game!
• Brayden cracks me up the way he says things.  He says Hollypop for lollypop, sprinkles for the wrinkles he gets in the bath, and he calls Maddi and Ella "the grales" instead of "the girls."  That is all I can think of right now, but I know there are more.
• Gabriella had a hard time on her spelling test the week before last turning letters around and made an 80 something.  This past week, she worked very hard on practicing her words and didn't miss any!  She didn't turn any letters around, and I could tell she worked very hard.
• Paisley is a great baby!  She sleeps really well, especially if we are out and about (the girl LOVES her carseat), and is an overall very happy baby.
• I went to a Moms Group meetup and meet some new ladies.  One had a baby 2 days before I had Paisley and her hubby is also a restaurant manager.  It is weird that I hope we form a great friendship?

I know there is more that made it a great week, but I will stop there for now.

Did you have anything that made it a great week for you?

Funk Funk Funk

I am in a funk!

I am in a stay at home, watch tv and cruise facebook all day kind of funk.

I am in a workout and eat right funk.

I am in a "I don't like my post baby body" funk.

I am in a mom funk.

I am in a wife funk.

I am in a find joy in the small things funk.

I am in a funk!

*The word funk is starting to look funky*

 

I have been in and out of this funk for about 10 months now, I guess it started around the time I found out I was pregnant with number 4.  I did not want a 4th baby, but there was nothing I could change at that point.  I never had a number in my mind of how many kids I wanted, but I felt overwhelmed and stressed the moment I heard I was going to have 4.  I thought I had it figured out with 3.  Two girls and one boy, that was perfect for me, that was my completed family, or so I thought.  God had other plans for me.  I couldn't (and still don't) understand why I am meant to have 4 kids.

Don't get me wrong, I love my kids with every ounce of my being, but lately I am finding it hard to find the joy.

 

I don't laugh like I used to.

I don't love on my older girls like I used to.

I don't engage with Brayden like I should.

I send my kids off to play away from me.

I yell, I am easy aggravated, I roll my eyes,

I am an unhappy mom.

 

I feel like a terrible mom and I feel sorry for my kids.  I find myself thinking that I would not want to have me as a mom.

 

There are good days, where I feel amazing, where I love being a mom to 4, where I find joy in the small things that we do together.  Those moments I try to take a picture of, those moments I put on Instagram and post to facebook, those moments are just a small glimpse into my life.  The funk moments, those don't make the posting cut.

 

I feel terrible knowing that their are women who struggle to get pregnant and want kids with every fiber of their being, and I was so disappointed and unhappy with my situation.  I have to realize that this is my journey and that is just how I felt.

 

I have to find a way to snap out of my funk, to find my zest for life again, to find joy in my kids and my husband, to figure out my destiny in life.

 

*This is a honest post with my honest feelings, please no bashing or being rude!*

 

Paisley's Birthday 9-12-13

With Paisley being 4 weeks old yesterday, and turning 1 month officially tomorrow, I thought I would finally upload photos from her birthday!

 

Paisley's due date wasn't till the 24th, but a sonogram on Sept 3rd showed that I had double the amniotic fluid that I was supposed to have.  Normal levels are up to 12 and I was at 24.5!  She was also measuring close to 9 pounds, so my dr. wanted to get her out as soon as we could.  We had the induction scheduled for Sept 12th.

 

My very last pregnant photo!!  I was huge since I had so much extra fluid.

I went in at 7 am to get my induction started.  We got back to my room around 8, and I had my water broken around 9:30. 

  

Waiting to get things going.

Paisley was so ready to meet us, because she was born 4 hours later at 1:36 pm.

 



8 lbs 14 oz and 22 in long



 

 

Chubby Cheeks

 

Proud Papa!

 



Big Bro!

 

 

Grani with the big sisters and brother!

*I will add photos of the girls holding Paisley, but first I need to get them from my hubby!

 

Paisley's Newborn Photos

 

This month has flown by and brought on lots of changes, but they have been worth it!

Happy 1 month sweet girl!

 

What we have been up to and baby update

Now that the girls are back in school, we are getting back into busy season.  This fall will be especially busy with a new baby added into the mix.  Both girls are in soccer, and they are very excited to be back playing the sport they both enjoy.  Brayden could have played in Tiny Tots, but I knew better than to push my luck having 3 in soccer with new baby.

The girls are loving school, and so far I am really liking both of their teachers, although I am not sure they can measure up to Ella's kindergarten teacher.  Mrs. Oliver was amazing!  I still try to talk to her several times a week.  I had a meeting with both teachers today, and of course the girls are doing awesome!  As if I expected any different.  I am one proud momma of my smart girls.

We took Brayden to Chuck E. Cheese's on his actual birthday (the girls first day of school), and of course he had a blast.  Even better, we were the only ones there for a very long time.  He loves guns, so his favorite games were Shoot the Monsters (with water) and Shoot the Spiders.  Then he found the game where you watch a screen and it takes you on a roller coaster ride, and he loved that as well.  Actually, I think he had a blast playing and doing just about everything in there.

7 days after Brayden's birthday, it was time to celebrate Maddi.  She turned 9 this year, and I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by.  I had a dr. appt. scheduled with a sonogram, so we got the girls out of school early, so they could be with us when we saw the baby.  Maddi had soccer practice that night, and we ended the day with a cookie cake and presents.

Things are about to get even more crazy in our house.  My due date isn't till September 24th but we are inducing this Thursday.  When we got the sono last week, the doctor noticed that I had a lot of extra fluid (double the amount I am supposed to have) and that baby girl is already big (measuring 8 lbs.) so she bumped up my induction date by a week.  I am nervous and not quite sure I am ready to go through everything, but it is happening whether I am ready or not.  Luckily my mom is still able to come in and help which will be a HUGE life saver while Marco and I are in the hospital.

The great thing is the kids are very ready to meet their baby sister.  Brayden has been loving on my belly and talking to it (more like yelling), and he wants to buy the baby something at every store we go to.  I have been loving on him all that I can before his "baby" card is handed over.  I know that once he gets used to her being here, he will be a great big brother!

38 weeks has crept and flown by, I have had many mixed emotions (some high and some very low), and one thing is for sure, by the end of the week, I will be a mom of 4!!

Summer is almost over

I can't believe the end of summer is this week!  School starts Monday for the girls.  Maddi will be going into 3rd grade and Ella into 1st.

In some ways it went by way too slow, with six (yes 6!) kids under one roof I was ready to throw in the towel most days.  By 6 kids, I mean my three plus Savannah, plus the two kids I was babysitting.  The four oldest were girls (ages 10, 8, 6, and 6) and then two little boys (2 and 3).  My days were spent breaking up fights, consoling Ella (who was always crying and nothing was ever fair), being the bad guy by making the kids play outside, and telling the boys to leave the girls alone.  All those kids plus being huge and pregnant, made for some very long days.

In some ways it went by way too fast.  It feels like yesterday that it was May and the girls were just getting out of school for summer.

I hate the feeling that I didn't do enough with the kids while they were out for the summer.  We didn't go on vacations, we didn't stay up late watching movies and eating popcorn (most days I was ready for the kids to go to bed at 8), we didn't swim as much as I wanted to, we didn't do any cool crafts, we didn't get out of the house to do as many fun things as I wanted to do (Science Spectrum, dollar movies, etc.), and I didn't take very many pictures at all.  The list could truly go on and on.

With the start of school, our busy schedule comes back.  We have 2 birthdays to plan for.  Brayden will be turning 3 next week and Maddi will be 9 at the beginning of September.  Then we will be having a baby some time in September.  Plus both girls are starting fall soccer next month.  I am not sure what else we could fit into our September schedule.

I wanted to post more and update throughout the summer, but all my posts would have been very negative.  It was very hard for me to see the good most days.  Marco was blessed with a new job, Savannah was able to come in for the summer, and I made extra money by babysitting, but honestly, most days I was negative nancy.  I let my frustrations get the best of me, and I did not enjoy the moments that I should have.  I regret that now.  That is time that I will not get back.

Since I was so blah over the summer I think it is best that I figure out what I am looking forward to in the coming months.

Finishing school shopping
Meeting the teachers on Friday
Brayden's birthday party and my baby shower this weekend, which will hopefully include my mom driving in for the week
Getting back on a school schedule
Maddi's birthday and her birthday party
Start of fall soccer for the girls
Hopefully a baby sooner rather than later in September

How was your summer?  Did you do everything you wanted to do?

What are you looking forward to with the start of fall?

 



Summer Catch Up

Wow!  I have really neglected my blog the past month, I am so sorry.  I am not sure why it keeps happening where I go through phases of not wanting to update, but I do. 

 I wish I could say it is because we have been so busy that I haven't had time to write, but that would be a HUGE lie.  I am babysitting 2 kids, so we tend to stay at the house.  Boring, I know!  But going out with 6 kids in tow is not really the greatest option.

My step daughter has been here for the summer, and the girls go through their moments of loving and loathing each other.  Almost daily (or hourly in most cases) there are serious laughs and playing great together, then fighting and arguing over a toy or where some one was sitting!  It seems very hard for the 3 of them to get along for more than a few hours.  This drives me crazy!  Just get along!  They are all 2 years apart, so I guess it is just a girl thing.  So I mainly spend my days sorting out fights and yelling at the kids.  I would love to not be involved all the time, but none of the girls ever budge so a fight could honestly last forever.  "Ain't nobody got time for that."

I didn't have a sister growing up, and I am sure to my older brothers, I was just the annoying little sister.  I played by myself or outside with the neighborhood kids.  I didn't have to share a room with anyone, so my stuff was MY stuff.  My brothers wanted nothing to do with my barbies, and I wanted nothing to do with their toys (whatever they were). 

My girls, not only share a room, but when Savannah is in town, they also share their beds.  They take turns sleeping 2 to a bed and 1 alone.  I understand how hard it must be, but there is really nothing else that can be done, especially with the arrival of the new baby.  Her crib and stuff is in Brayden's room.  It is a tight squeeze, but one that we have to just make the best of.

Speaking of baby, I am now 32 weeks and I have a HUGE bump to show for it. 

For more pictures of the bump, follow me on Instagram @ mamavsqz.  I know I haven't posted anything really on the baby, and I promise to soon.

While we haven't really done much this summer, besides a trip to Dallas, it has been pretty interesting.  Marco finally gave Carino's his notice and quit.  While Carino's was great and brought us to where we are today, he definitely needed a change.  He is still in the restaurant industry, but he is now with BJs.  I think he has really enjoyed the change of scenery, even though he is still in training.

Wow!  This post is all over the place!  I know I should update more often! 

Here are the key points:

• We have had a boring summer.
• I normally have 6 kids in my house.
• The girls fight constantly and I yell constantly.
• My bump is now 32 weeks.
• Marco got a new job.

You are now caught up.

We have BIG news!!

Are you ready for my news?

 

Are you sure?

Are you sitting down?

 

I guess you probably are sitting down if you are reading through blogs.

 

Our big news is:

 

At the end of September, we will become a family of 6!

 

Yep, that's right.  We are expecting baby #4.

 

You are probably as surprised as we were.

 

A baby that must sense I am talking about HER (yes, I said her) because she is kicking me right now.

 

Our family will be adding a new baby girl around September 24th.

 

We are not the greatest with planning these things.

 

Birthdays will now be as follows:

Savannah (step daughter) August 15th

Brayden August 26th

Maddison September 3rd

Baby Due September 24th

Gabriella October 20th

 

It must be all the moving!!  Maddi was born in Dallas, Ella was born in Waco, and Brayden was born in Frisco.  The hubby and I seem to grow "closer" with each move.

 

The girls disagreed on what they wanted me to have.  Maddi wanted a girl and Ella wanted a boy.  When we revealed to them what we were having, Maddi was overjoyed and Ella cried bawled.  It was heart wrenching to see my little girl so disappointed.  She seems to be better, but we haven't really talked about it much.

 

Brayden is going to be a big brother soon, and I am not sure he realizes what he is in for.  Sometimes when you ask him if he wants a baby, he says yes, but most of the time he says no.  He will stay the only boy, and I am sure be as spoiled as ever.  But, I am hoping he will be a great protector of his sisters as they grow up.

 

I will write a post soon on how I am truly feeling about the whole pregnancy, because it will take me a whole post to get my feelings out there.

 

Plus, I promise I will post some ultrasound pics soon!

 

I just wanted to let you in on the secret that I have been keeping for months!

 

Till next time!

 

 



GIVEAWAY TIME

Yes, it has been a long time since I had a giveaway, but I just couldn't resist when I was contacted.

I am giving away something fun for the whole family, brought to you by Hidden Valley!

Now I know some of my true friends are gasping in horror since I don't eat regular ranch dressing, although, I do cook with it in my stepmom's chicken and rice recipe and my delcious buffalo dip {that is sinfully addicting}.  Plus, I have fallen in LOVE with the seasoning packets!!  They are so good on everything from pot roast {a family favorite} to popcorn!

Use Ranch dressing instead of mayo or sour cream to spice up your tacos or chicken salads and use the seasoning packets to pack a punch of flavor to marinades or breadings. 

Mix up your week night routines with Hidden Valley!  I know I have, and my family loves it!


Now onto the fun stuff:  the giveaway!!

Hidden Valley is giving 3 lucky winners Family Movie Kits!

The kits include:

One-month Netflix Membership
Popcorn Popper {A super cute 50s style air popper}
Popcorn Bowl
Individual Popcorn Holders
Popcorn
Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Packets
Recipe for Hidden Valley Ranch Popcorn

How to enter:

• Be a follower of my blog
• Tweet about this giveaway
• Facebook about this giveaway
• Pin this giveaway
• Follow me on Pinterest
• Follow me on Instagram @MamaVsqz
• Leave me a comment letting me know your favorite recipe with Hidden Valley Ranch, so I can get some new ideas.

Leave a separate comment for each item (and the web link for Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest), plus your email address so I can reach you if you win!  That is all and you will be entered to win 1 of 3 Movie Night Kits!!

Contest ends Saturday Nov. 3rd, winners announced Nov. 4th!!

Traditions

I realized today that our family doesn't have very many {if any} traditions of our own other than standard holiday traditions {4th of July fireworks, Santa, trick or treating, etc.}.

We don't do anything special for the kids on their birthdays every year, we don't have a Friday night pizza night, we don't do a family game night every week, we don't have a family movie night/pj night, we don't have a special vacation spot that we go to every year, we don't take family pictures {haven't since Ella was a baby}, and we have missed blue bonnet pictures 2 years in a row {that is a HUGE deal in Texas and the life of a blue bonnet is SHORT}.

I have really been thinking, with all our moving around, what it is our kids can look forward too, things that will never change. 

What will they remember when they grow up and start their own families?

I can remember several things that stuck out to me as a child.  Every year, Santa put fruit in the bottom of our stockings, that we always had to give up to my mom so she could make a fruit salad.  We always opened one present the night before Christmas.  We always trick or treated with pillow cases.  We were only allowed to eat a small number of candy Halloween night.  When I was old enough, every spring break was spent at a church camp.

I know there are lots of things that we do do, like carving pumpkins, having huge birthday parties, not traveling Christmas morning, baking Santa's cookies, decorating the tree, and the list could go on.  But like I said before, those are all holiday related.  

I am thinking traditions need to be started in my house!

What are some of your traditions?  Did they start when you were kids and you keep them for your kids, or are they new?

Let me know!

Moving, The Conclusion

If you missed Part 1, check it out here.
If you missed Part 2, check it out here.

The rest of the week went by in a blur. We took a day off to rest from the trip, and then we started the daunting task of packing. I had a lot of things I did not want to take with me, so while I was packing on Tuesday, I decided to have a moving sale as well. Like I didn't have enough to do already.
We rented a UHaul on Wednesday and began to load up. We hired movers to get all the big stuff out of the house for us while we tried to finish packing, and my mom and dad came over helped us finish loading everything! We were packed full!!

Packed and ready to go

The Uhaul was full, Marco's car that was on a trailer was full, and the Expedition was full with the exception of a spot for two car seats and the drivers seat. The dogs rode with me, and Brayden. Ella and Maddi took turns riding in the UHaul with Marco.

The trip was LONG! It took us over 8 hours to get into town. We pulled in close to 1 AM, did I mention the trip was long?

The best thing that we could have done, was set up a hotel room for us to stay the night in. We unloaded stuff that we would need for the night, and crashed out!

The next morning, we drove to the house to begin unloading everything. It went by fairly quickly because we had lots of help. A guy from the Carino's and 2 of Marco's cousins came to help. It was great having all the extra hands and guys to get out all the big stuff. My job, get everything out of both vehicles, and stay out of the way!

I started unpacking and getting together all the paper work to register the girls for school immediately, and tried my hardest to get us settled in as quickly as I could.

Now that we are settled in, unpacked, and in a school routine, I can say that I love it here. I love the neighborhood, I love being so close to people we know, I love the school and the girls teachers, but most of all the kids LOVE it!! The have adjusted well, and I am so happy because they are so happy. Maddi said she wants to go to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade here. I hope for her sake, we will stay here for more than 1 or 2 years.

Don't get me wrong, I miss where we used to live. I miss being minutes from my family and friends. I miss work. I miss the girls being able to go to my mom's if I am having a hard day with them. I miss having dinner on the weekends at my dads. I miss it! But was this the best move for my family? I would like to think so. I prayed so very hard for God to put us where we needed to be. For him to point us in the direction that would be best for our family. I am 100% positive, at least for now, that we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Plus, there is skype, facebook, texting, phone calls, and even emails that can keep us connected.

Besides the stress of moving and trying to get settled, I am very happy! The kids are very happy! Marco is very happy! We as a family are happy! We have started a new life here in Lubbock, and I am excited to see where we go from here.

Moving Part 2

If you missed Part 1, you can find it here.

Trying to find a decent house, with all the college students moving into the area for Tech in the middle of August, was hard.  It also meant that our realtor was spread pretty thin, and did not help us much.  The lifesaver for our house hunting trip was one of Marco's cousins riding along, helping us navigate the town, and telling us where we did and did not want to be. 

We drove around a lot, and found a few possibilities and a lot of big fat no's!  The no's were very obvious! 

While waiting for the realtor to meet us, we decided to drive around town and check it out.  We passed by a house that looked amazing and had a For Rent sign out front.  We called the number and while that house was WAY out of our price range, the lady gave us a couple more addresses of rent houses to drive by.  One of the houses happened to have a man working on repairs, so we were able to go in and walk around.  The house was nice, but the yard was TINY and the only entrance to the back yard was through the master, not totally ideal.  But the gentleman working on the house gave us an address of another place for rent in the area and told us to go check it out and he would have the landlord meet us there.  We did.  The house did not meet our requirements, so we thanked the gentleman for meeting us, and drove off. 

Leaving the house, we drove by an amazing house on a corner lot, 2 car garage, HUGE backyard, and with a For Rent sign in the yard.  We called the number and set up a time to see the house.  We fell in LOVE!  The house wasn't clean or ready to rent because the previous tenants had just moved out, but the landlord assured us that he could have it ready to go in less than a week and it was perfect for us.  He needed us to fill out an application and he would get back to us on Monday as to whether we would be approved for the house.
*Talk about nerve wracking!  

We were invited over to TJ's house (Marco's new AD) to hang out, cook out, and relax before heading back home the next day.  That is when I knew Lubbock was going to be a great move.  TJ and his wife Jamie live in a great neighborhood, just minutes from the house we wanted, and they have some amazing neighbors!  They live on a cul-da-sac, hang out in the front yard, and the kids just run around and play.

All the kids hit it off right away (there are 10 total between our family, TJ's, and the 2 neighbors), and the neighbor's are amazing!

Almost all the kiddos, we are missing a few boys :)

Saturday, we loaded up and headed back home.

Moving Story Part 1

I know it has been several weeks, but I wanted to make good on my word that I would write about moving to Lubbock.  It was a crazy quick move that took less than 1 week from start to finish.

It was a normal Wednesday morning and I was on Pinterest, as usual when I got a phone call from my hubby.  He said he had been asked to move to Texarkana, and wanted me to research the area and see what I thought.  I wasn't sure about moving, but I was open to the idea so I started researching.  I wasn't impressed.  The city itself, may be nice, but it is not represented well on the internet.  I searched schools, rent houses, things to do, etc for a few hours when I got another phone call saying never mind about Texarkana, Marco was really needed in Lubbock.  I was sort of relieved, since I couldn't find anything in Texarkana that would make me want to uproot my family and move there.

I was told that I only had that night to look up information on Lubbock, since Marco needed to tell them ASAP.  He came home and we talked about it.  Lubbock was 6 hours (at least) away from where we were, and I really felt like I needed more time to think it over, but I didn't have it.  Marco and I weighed the pros and cons, talked to the girls, and ultimately made the decision to move to Lubbock site unseen.  VERY SCARY!!  
*I think if I had more time to think about it, we probably wouldn't have moved.*

Marco went to work the next day, and called early morning again, and told me we were set up for a house hunting trip that day and we needed a sitter.  I told him, the only way we were going to move is if the girls had a say in the house we were going to pick.  I wanted them to see and experience the town with us first hand, and be involved in the ultimate decision making.  So instead of me and him taking a 50 minute flight, we took a 6+ hour drive with all the kids.  

I was scheduled that Thursday to close at Carmax, and I ended up having to go in and quit.  Very hard to do, I really loved working there!  Then we loaded up the car, and headed out.

The drive was long, I am not going to lie!  I had a lot of thoughts running through my mind.  Was this the right move for my family, would we be happy, would the girls adjust to yet another move, another town, another house, different friends, being away from family/friends that are just right up the road?  I was really worried for the girls.
*FYI- Marco and I have moved 8 (I think, maybe more) times since we were married and Maddi was 9 months.  We are sort of like nomads, with no real place to call home.  Most of the times were for Carinos, then the others were from one place to another in a city that we moved too.

Snack on the drive in

We drove in, stayed at a hotel, swam, ate out and really treated the first night as a vacation day.  It was really nice, since we didn't go anywhere for the whole summer, or for a few summers for that matter.  We realized that Brayden had never been to a hotel, needless to say, he went crazy!
  

Climbing on the beds.
You can't tell from the picture, but he really went crazy!

The hotel cart that carried the kids more than baggage :)

Friday, we got up bright and early and headed out to house hunt.  We stopped by a realtor and got a list of houses in our price range and addresses, but since the guy that helped us was busy, we were only able to drive by and look at the outside of the house and get a feel for the neighborhoods till he could meet us later in the day.

*I will end it there for today, and write more tomorrow, be on the lookout!*

To My 8 Year Old

My sweet Maddison, who turned 8 years old yesterday, I just want to let you know how much I truly love you.

You mean more to me than you could ever imagine, and more than I can put into words!

I love you with every ounce of my being and I am so glad that you are you!

I love that you are a sweet, sensitive, silly, sassy, frilly, wear your emotions on your sleeve, high heel wearing kind of girl.

You make me laugh with your silliness, you make me smile with your kindness, and you can warm my heart with a hug.

I love that you love stuffed animals and cuddly blankets and that you don't want to grow up too fast.  I love that you love to sing, even though you may not know all the words.  I love that you love to dance to music turned up loud.  I love that you make your own fashion designs and proudly display them on your wall.  I love that you love to help cook, even though I don't always like the messes that comes with the help.

I love the moments when you are an amazing big sister!  When you play with Ella with no judgement or harsh words, or when you love on Brayden when he is having some not so lovable moments.  I love how much you help with Brayden, and I really appreciate every bit of it you give.

I love how smart you are, and I never want you to pretend not to be!  Be proud of your gift of knowledge!

I love everything about you, please don't forget that ever! 

You are the perfect you and the best first born I could ask for!

Love,

Mommy

Brayden turned 2

With all the craziness going on with the move, not having internet set up for the computer, and school starting, I totally forgot to post about Brayden turning 2!!

I can't believe my boy is already 2.  He is a lot of things, but baby is not one of them anymore.  Of course, I will still call him my baby boy, but him growing up is just a part of life I have to deal with.

He is VERY into Mickey right now, but calls him "mouse."  He knows all the other characters and loves singing along to the opening and closing of the show.  He, however, does not really like the old Mickey cartoons.  He loves the Mickey Mouse shaped cheese, his Mickey undies, pj's and shirts, and his new Mickey toy that his Pappy and Granny (my dad and step mom) mailed him for his birthday.  That boy is obsessed with "mouse."

He loves to push things.  His NeNe (my mom) sent him a rolling suit case and he has been pushing it all over the house. 

He is still sleeping in the crib, but it is mainly because he has not once tried to climb out!  I am going to leave the crib together as long as I can.

He LOVES my iPhone and iPod.  He has his own apps, and he knows how to work my phone just as well (if not better) than I do.

He is a VERY picky eater! 

He is mostly potty trained!  He wears diapers or pull ups for naps and bedtime and most of the time if we leave the house, but if we are home or going on a short trip, we are in undies!!  He sits on the potty backwards and loves to flush.

He is talking a lot more and copies just about everything that is said.  He loves singing, and is so super silly!!

He loves talking on the phone!  We are just getting into Skype and I am sure he will love that too.

He loved swimming this summer and had no fear of the water.

If you ask him if he is two, he will say three. 

He is growing up so fast, and I am loving every minute (well except for the throwing himself on the floor in a tantrum like manner to get juice or cheese) of being his mommy!

First day of school

I know I said that I would post about our super quick move, and I promise I will, but I have to talk about something more important today.

School.

We have to say goodbye to the summer fun of late nights and sleeping in, swimming and popsicles, lounging around all day, and trade it in for back to school clothes and supplies shopping, early mornings and early bedtimes, and homework.

Yesterday, Maddison started second grade and my sweet Gabriella started kinder.  I was very surprised that I didn't cry, because I felt like I wanted too.  I kept it together, I guess, because my hubby was with me.

I wasn't as upset that Maddi started kinder, because I knew she was very, very ready to be in school.  She is so smart and flourishes in school.  She is the oldest in the class, since her birthday missed the kinder cutoff by 3 days.  She was almost 6 when she started, and now she in second grade and has less than a week till she turns 8.  She is a very advanced reader, and is able to pick up things she doesn't know very quick.  Her new school teacher seems like she will be great at challenging Maddi, and even try to get her back into Talented and Gifted.

Gabriella is very different.  If I could, I would keep her home forever.  I feel like most days while Maddi was at school and I was home with Ella and Brayden, that Ella didn't get nearly as much attention as she needed.  I truly loved having her around me, but I took for granted the time I had her home.  I truly am upset that I let the computer (facebook, blogging, pinterest) come inbetween our relationship.  The tv became her babysitter while I dealt with Brayden.  The time that flew by is time with her that I can never get back.  I will miss her terribly every single day, and I will try not to make the same mistakes with Brayden.

Thinking about this, has actually brought tears to my eyes as I reveal to you that I have made mistakes.

I hope my girls both thrive in class, make lots of friends, and have lots of fond memories to take away from this school year.  I will cherish the stories that they tell and I cannot wait to hear about there days at school.

Here are some pictures from my girls' first day of school: