So last night I snuck out to Target for a little shopping trip alone. Through her tears, I promised Josie a pink pack of gum when I returned. She fell asleep before I got home and this morning she got to have piece and decided to share...
Josie: "Mom, you want a piece of my gum?"
Mom: "Sure, I'll have a piece...mmm...it's very yummy!"
Josie: "Yes, it's very very yummy! It's very very pink! It's very very mine!"

Josie

Remember the "no more diapers thing"? Well, Josie changed her mind and is wearing them once again...not quite ready yet:) She continues to grow in so many ways...she has turned into a sponge and is quickly soaking up all kinds of information, lately letters and numbers! She loves Barney (thanks to her Dad's influence), books, and singing. We've been going to the library, and she really enjoys that. It's hard to get her to leave without every single Barney item they have!

She also LOVES her kitties. The other day they snuck out into the garage when we were bringing in groceries. She was so afraid they were going to run away (even though I quickly shut the overhead door and they weren't going anywhere). She started crying and said very loudly, "I NEED MINE KITTIES!" Needless to say she was very relieved when they were in the house once again! Here is a picture of her giving her kitties a treat:)

Kaden

Kaden is doing great in 4th grade! He's loves spending time outside doing just about anything, and is big into reading lately. He also loves drawing and any kind of art. He recently started painting a Packers logo on a canvas to hang in his room! Like all the other kids, he is growing like a weed, and is outgrowing all of his clothes!

Kaden was glad to get his braces off a couple months ago and now just needs a retainer at night. After getting his green belt, Kaden has decided to take a break from his Taekwondo for a while at least. He is such a sweet big brother, you should see him with his little sister:) He has the patience of a saint with Josie (and no one but her!)

Here he is before crazy hair day at school with Kristen (from next door). Notice the handsome metal free smile!

Brendyn

Brendyn is changing and growing in leaps and bounds! He is working hard in 5th grade and is proud to have improved in many areas. He spent some extra time at our house over his spring break and was a big help, always asking me what he could do to help.

He loves playing with Kaden...and while sometimes they fight like brothers, for the most part they can't wait to spend time together. They love playing their video games together, making a fort out of their bunk beds, and making tracks with sidewalk chalk to ride scooters on. Brendyn also sometimes gets to have an air soft war (air soft guns are like bb guns with much lighter bb's) with Jordan, which he loves!

It sure is a different story than it was a few years ago. It's amazing to watch him maturing and becoming more and more responsible.

Taylor

Taylor also just turned 14 last week! She is happy to have contact lenses now too and loves her new look:) For her birthday she got to go to the Trace Adkins concert and had a blast. She is a typical teen and loves music and texting her friends, you should see how fast she is at it!

Taylor is a smart, sweet, laid back girl who loves life and is easy to please. I remember dancing with her at a wedding when I first met her dad...she was just 9 years old then. We use to talk about little girl stuff like toys and dolls, now she likes to talk about make up and boys! It is a joy watching her growing up.

catching up...Jordan

So it's been a while since I blogged, so I think we'll do the catching up thing one person at a time, and I'll start with Jordan...

Jordan turned 14 last month, and he is now as tall as me! I knew it would happen, but still, sometimes I just stare at him and wonder where the years have gone. He recently got contacts and loves them. He only wears his glasses when he has to. He continues to get straight A's in school and has every intention of keeping it up as he starts high school next year.

He is a very good kid who, of course, loves spending time with his friends. Lately, air soft wars with the guys has been the thing to do. And he is still into video games. This week is spring break and he will be spending a few days with his Grandpa and cousins up at the "shack" and he can't wait! He is looking forward to getting a new cell phone and is working on saving up the money for it. He has recently informed me he wants to get a job this summer and already has all kinds of plans for his income. He's not sure what he's going to do exactly, he might work with his Dad, he might look into being a caddy...I'm sure he will figure it out:)

I am so proud of Jordan, he is making it so easy to be the mother of a teenager. He is so responsible and never makes me worry. I'm not even nervous about the years to come, not with him. Here he is on his birthday with his cousin, Bella.

photo tag

The Rules:
1) Open your first photo folder
2) Scroll down to the 10th picture in your folder (if you don’t have 10 pictures, go to the next folder that does)
3) Post that photo and tell your story behind the photo
4) Tag 5 friends to do the same

I think you all know the story behind the picture:) But the reason it's still on my computer in the first folder is because I still haven't printed out any of our wedding pictures! I know, pretty bad...but it's on my list if that means anything!

Amy S, Ashley P, Sterling A, your it!

and just like that...

No more nuk, and no more diapers! Last week, I lost Josie's blanket with her nuk attached (for real!) She did fine during nap without it, so when I found it, I quickly lost it again. She has not missed it nearly as much as I thought she would!

Then, two days ago, Josie decided that it was time to put on her big girl undies and say goodbye to diapers. It's the third day of potty training today, and she is doing awesome. Very few accidents anymore! She's so proud of herself:)

To me, it seems as if she is growing up overnight. At 2 and a half...I couldn't be more proud of my little girl! (and relieved to be done with diapers!)

and then there were two...

Yesterday Brett brought home a playmate for Maggie, a Tortie Point Siamese kitten. She is so friendly and is happy to have found a home! Josie insisted on calling her Bella, so we named her Isabella (Josie already has a cousin named Bella). As you can see, the kitties are getting along great, as you can see:)

our new addition...

Yes, we now have 5 kids AND a kitten:) She doesn't have a name yet, but she does have a home...we are all very excited to welcome her!

And check out the picture below...it's me when I was 2 with my kitty! I vaguely remembered pictures of me with a kitten when I was little and was inspired to find them. But I had no idea that the kitty looked almost EXACTLY the same as the one I had just picked out! Freaked me out a little!

bye bye, crib...

...hello, big girl bed! Well, it's just a toddler bed for now, but so far Josie is loving it and doing GREAT staying in it! I'm so proud of her!

splish splash

One night a couple of weeks ago, someone else was in the bathroom and Josie was desperately in need of getting cleaned up from head to toe, so we improvised. She loved it so much, that now she asks all the time to take a bath in the sink!

backyard bunnies

They're back! We have baby bunnies in the backyard again this year. Thankfully, there are only 6 of them, not 15 like last year! The kids love to hold them...poor little things.

after bath shenanigans

Josie just doesn't want to stay inside, especially since we got the play house from Grandma and Grandpa! We have it right on our deck. The other night, after her bath, Josie disappeared right out the door before I could even get her pajamas on. Here is where I found her...peeking out of the door:)

May birthdays!

Brendyn turned 10 on the 10th of May, and Kaden turned 9 on the 31st. Brendyn's cake was a 'dirt' cake, and Kaden's is a Nintendo DS. They were both surprised with new DS Lites:) Happy birthday, kiddos!

a day at the zoo

Here's a slideshow from our trip to the zoo yesterday...

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

two years ago...

Two years ago, our little Josie was born...two very short years ago. The time has gone by so fast, but I've enjoyed it so much, every minute of it! As we've gone from teething rings and bottles, to dollies and slides, I've soaked it all up realizing how precious this time was. While a tiny part of me is a little sad that my baby isn't a baby anymore, a very big part of me is so happy and proud of the little girl she is becoming. She is a loving, curious, talkative, energetic, cheerful, and sweet little soul. She is our daily reminder that miracles do happen and we thank God every day for her. I don't know what we ever did without our little Josie! We look forward to many years of watching her grow, learn, and live...

Here are a few pictures of her birthday...

booga

So I went into the bathroom this morning and here's what I found! When I said, "Josie, why did you do that?" She gave me a one word reply..."booga". Well, that answers that!

catching up

Here's what we've been up to...

• Kaden continues to do well in Tae Kwon Do! He just got his "high yellow" belt (yellow with a white stripe) at the end of January...and he's still loving it. Go Kaden!
• I brought Kaden to a Valentine's Day dance at his school. Wow, was that a busy place to be, but he had a lot of fun dancing with his friends.
• I am still doing child care at home and it's going very well. The kids are definitely growing closer to each other, and to me as well. They get so excited to see each other, and I love the little "I love you Julie"s that I hear on occasion. They really are all sweethearts. Oh, and the parents are wonderful to work with, too. Really, it couldn't be going better!
• I've been watching a lot of Joyce Meyer lately...I find her very inspirational!
• Josie is adding new words on to her vocabulary every day. She's now 21 months and growing up so fast. Her hair is getting long, too and every day she looks more like a little girl than a baby. Although I asked her yesterday if she was a big girl or if she was still my baby. She pointed to herself and said, "baby Josie". Good answer:)
• Jordan is doing his 30 hour famine at church this weekend. Yes, they go 30 full hours without any food! The kids don't have to do this, but it is an option and can fill a requirement for confirmation. They have an overnight lock in with lots of fun activities planned...and all the juice they want. Then, of course, they have a feast planned to break the fast after the time is up. It makes me nervous, but I know they take precautions and have food there if needed...I'm thinking of doing it with him from home.

Well, that's about all I can come up with for now...I'll try to be a little more consistent with updates!

my son, the teenager

So somehow, it happened! My first baby turned 13 on the 20th! Does that make me feel old? You bet it does, but most of all I feel very proud. Jordan is a very good kid. He has not given me a reason to fear the teenage years at all. He has straight A's in school (he's in 7th grade), he is a very considerate friend, he's happy and outgoing, he's respectful, kind, and responsible. I am very lucky to be able to say that he has made being his mother very easy! I have enjoyed every day with him and I look forward to many more. I love you, Jordan!