Fall Is Here!

Well, according to the calendar it is. But the weather here tells me different. Yes the trees are starting to change color and leaves are beginning to fall, but it's still 90 something degrees out! Fall is, no question, my most favorite season so I hope it starts acting like it soon. :) Our family has a lot of fun activities in the Fall that we enjoy doing: pumpkin picking, leaf collecting (and tracing it's pattern on paper with crayons), nature walks, picking apples, making pumpkin bread, watching the leaves turn colors, and feeling the cooler air. Hurry up Fall and get here!

Soccer - Fall 2010

August was the beginning of Fall soccer season. Games have been in full swing since the 8th of September and I haven't had a lot of down time to write about each one, so here is a compilation of her 1st four games.

Game One: I wasn't able to attend her first soccer game this season due to not being able to be at two places at once. I was pretty bummed about that to say the least. It was preschool orientation night for Jocelyn but I did manage to take a picture of Aubrey before she left for the game with her friend. They won 3 to1.

Game Two: We were in charge of bringing the drinks for this game. Luckily the game started at 10am and it wasn't too hot outside yet.This summer has been miserable heat wise! Aubrey got in there and played really well. They won 4 to 2.

{This moment was cute...Jocelyn was yelling out on the field to get Aubrey's attention. I told her that sister and her team was trying to focus on the game and we'd talk to her when she was done.}

{She must have heard her though because not a moment later, she was waving to us at the sidelines. :)}

{Andrew got into the soccer spirit with his shirt! lol}

{And he kept me plenty busy during the game. It's a miracle I actually watched any of Aubrey playing out there. He kept throwing his sister's shoe out past the white line and then making a mad dash for it - which in turn made ME make a mad dash to bring him back behind the lines. Silly boy!}

{Yummy after game snack!}

Game Three: We were literally being attacked by hornets while watching this game. Someone spilled a bunch of sticky stuff by the garbage cans next to the field and they were all over the place driving a lot of people crazy. So I snuck a few shots of Aubrey and grabbed the kids to find another place to hang out until the game ended. This gave Jocelyn the opportunity to play on a huge rock next to the restrooms. Whatever keeps her occupied! They lost this game 2 to 0.

{Aubrey - throwing the ball back into the game}

{Aubrey - blue shirt 2nd in from the left}

{Wearing mama's shades to block the sun-in-the-face. What a cutie!}

{Jocelyn ran up to Aubrey to snuggle up to her to see if she could get her an after game snack too. Usually if there's left overs, the little kids get offered snacks as well. I don't believe this was one of her lucky days when it came to that though. But Aubrey shared a little of hers anyways. I love these two girls of mine!}

Game Four: This game was first thing in the morning - barely 70 degrees yet. Jocelyn was shivering until I told her to run around but I was taking it all in. The 70's are a perfect temperature in my book! (Of course Andrew started running around too seeing that Jocelyn was and then we got into the game of me running him back off the field. Those darn white lines!) The team played awesome out there and gave it their all but in the end, lost 5 to 1.

{The white line dash! Stinker!!!}

{Aubrey - middle, kicking the ball}

That's it for now. There are four more scheduled games, not including if they go to play-offs. Go team!

Tired!

I have to say, I have many intentions on keeping things current on my blog. It is something I truly enjoy doing and preserving our family's memories is very important to me. But let's face it, it's not always going to be ideal (or easy in any sense of the word!) to stay up to speed with 3 young and active children! With me now 15 weeks pregnant and taking care of my very busy monkeys, well, I'm literally wiped out with no extra energy left to do what I want when the day is said and done and my children lay their heads on their pillow.

I love my kids very much and I love being a mom so I don't say that lightly that I don't have time for me. I wouldn't trade my job for the world. Being a mom is the best and most important job ever! I am honored and blessed to be the mother that I am to the children that I have. And I'm sure not having much time for me is just a normal case of being a mother. Although, getting lost in the shuffle isn't what I had in mind. I need to carve out time for me so I don't forget who I am. Even walking at the gym for 30 minutes would be idle. Or taking up cooking again. Or that photography class I've been eyeing for awhile. I want to make it clear that I wouldn't trade any of my motherly responsibilities for anything! It's who I am and I love it! After having my third child, I have started to feel like I have lost my identity somehow. Other than being a mother, daughter, sister, friend...I don't really know me anymore! What are my hobbies? "I don't have any" is my usual answer. Regardless...if I'm not happy and healthy, I'm not doing the kids a favor one bit! I believe it's now time for me to reset some priorities and jot down some goals.

{15 weeks to the day!}

Until I can get this blog of mine back up-to-date though...here's a snippet of what we've been up to:

1. Aubrey's running for Student Body Secretary at her school.
2. Jocelyn turned FOUR years old two days ago (the 14th)! She too is growing like a weed! But a cute one.
3. Andrew is one busy 20 month old! In fact (and unfortunately), rolling down the stairs has been his current past time. Such as today. A HUGE green goose egg on the side of his forehead. Poor guy! Not only is he giving me those scares but he's climbing on the back of the couches & tables & recliners & desks...well, you get the idea! He about gives me a heart attack every time he pulls these crazy stunts of his. He also loves to turn on and off lights (over & over & over again)! He's everywhere! It's fun to watch him active and busy though. He's such a sweet little boy too. I now know through personal experience this past year of his life that he runs the show a whole lot different than the girls ever did. Wow. It exhausts me just thinking about it!
4. Aubrey is in the midst of fall soccer. She's doing really well! And piano practice too. She alone keeps herself (and I) busy!
5. Jocelyn started preschool on Monday. She's nervous but when I pick her back up, she's ALL smiles!
6. Besides being 15 weeks pregnant and being tired from the daily routine, I'm feeling great! No sickness thankfully. This pregnancy feels a lot like when I was pregnant with Andrew. I have no desire to do much cooking. I have been plagued with this problem since finding out I was pregnant. I don't know if it's the said lack of energy or not wanting to be around a ton of smells. So usually dinner is quick and easy. I really need to dig out my crock pot again and also start double batching meals again so I don't have to cook every.single.night! Leftovers=awesome!
7. John's very very busy working. He also graduated on the 11th with his Bachelors Degree! So proud of my husband!

I'm far behind in blogging and posting pictures but I'm stubborn and WILL get it done. Look into seeing a post from me at least daily for a while. :) Until then...

Good night!

We Have A Preschooler!

Jocelyn's first day of Preschool has finally arrived! 

We found the PERFECT backpack too (princess, of course!)...

only to find out that backpacks weren't going to be allowed at school. 

So an easy solution, because she was heartbroken over this news, was to keep an after-school-treat inside her bag and left inside the car to have when I picked her back up. It also conveniently stored her school papers.

After breakfast, we made our way to Lutheran Redeemer Preschool. 

You would have thought she thought I was never coming back to get her. She clung to my legs, didn't smile or talk to anyone and was in tears when I had to leave. Heartbreaking, I tell ya! And to make matters even worse, her pal and little brother of two years, wasn't going to be staying with her. He was going home with his mama and she was super sad about the extra separation she was already dealing with. It was a hard morning, let me tell ya! 

But I was so excited for her and the new experiences she was going to have. :)

After signing her up for Preschool back in February was it? She had been literally counting down the days until the school year started.

 Here she is watching her two best friends play with play-dough. I tried getting her involved, but it was like pushing a stubborn donkey that wouldn't budge! :) 

 Ugh! My heart sort of broke knowing how hard this was for her! For me! For her brother! Also, my heart broke knowing how hard it must have been for her to not have her Daddy there to share her special day with her. Two weeks since he left on deployment has been quite life-changing for this little girl! (For our whole family!) But she made it. She had a good day and we were both happy to be reunited 3 hours later when I picked her back up. 

Here's to a long school year. And may every day get a little bit easier while their Daddy is temporarily away! xoxo

Jocelyn Turns FOUR!

Hello Birthday girl!! :) Can you really be turning FOUR years old today? It's hard to believe that you'll be old enough to start preschool tomorrow. This year, Daddy is away for work and isn't able to celebrate with us - but he DID see you on Skype and wished you a happy birthday as well as sent you a card in the mail with stickers. You were so happy about that. For your birthday, we ate dinner and ate cupcakes and then opened up your gifts. Boy were YOU excited! We love you sweetie! Thanks for being our little girl! xo

Things you LOVE:

* Reading

* Playing outside

* Anything princess

* Dress up

* Pink & Purple

* Dora

* Helping me cook and clean (favorites: fold laundry & dust)

* You make your bed every morning - and you insist on picking out your clothes for the next day

* Your friends (and us of course!) :)

  On Skype with Daddy