UP Party

     Well the party was a huge success. The kids had a blast and I measure the success mostly on the fact that my almost 2 year old. (officially 2 tomorrow) went strong from 7:30 A.M. until about 4 P.M. and he crashed hard. I finally had to go wake him up at 9 P.M. and change his diaper and clothes and give him some milk. I then rocked him and he went right back to sleep until 7 the next morning. Party Animal!! :) All the kids were so good and Grampy's UP house was a real hit! The kids had a blast and the adults too. Tanner loves the movie Up and he had such a great time with his friends. We are so thankful for our parents and family and all our friends for loving us and our kids.  It has only taken us 2 days to recover. Haha Tanner had his Feast and sing at school Friday morning and Friday night we had a fun couples date night with our MOPS group. We laughed so hard! I am learning not to take myself or life so seriously. On another note it never did rain on Sunday and I was o.k. either way. However, it has been raining all day today though. The boys have loved playing in their rain boots and Holden loves finally having his own umbrella. Two years ago on this night I was going to sleep for the last time as a mommy of just one baby boy and I was preparing to go in to have my second baby boy. Holden came to us on November 26th, 2012 weighing 8 lbs. and 1 oz. and a head full of dark hair. Tanner came to us on November 10th, 2009 weighing 7 lbs and 7 oz. I can not believe my baby boys are 5 and 2 already! I am so thankful for this past weekend and all the blessings God has given us. A few pictures from this weekend.

Unedited Version

          Life is overwhelming at times. It just is. I try to turn things over to God. Sometimes I'm great at it and sometimes not so much. Like right now I'm trying not to worry about the fact that we  have 80% chance of rain on Sunday. (the day of our boys big birthday party) Billy was sweet and said "Babe its going to go exactly the way its suppose to." That is true but I don't want it to rain. I want things to go perfectly for Tanner and Holden. I want all our friends and family to enjoy themselves and the kids to have loads of FUN playing outside and running around in the yard. I'm a planner. I just am. It's how I am wired. I like organization. I like order. I like things to go as PLANNED.  But see that's the funny thing about LIFE. It doesn't always go as planned. Being a mommy and wife I've learned that all too well. We've had a great month so far. My sidekick Tanner man turned 5 last Monday. I took cupcakes up to his school, I took him to the movies, and he got a few gifts. Holden turns 2 next Wednesday. The day before Thanksgiving. It seems like we were just having their party and they were turning 4 and 1. Tanner enjoys school and this week we have his parade and sing and Feast. Holden and I have been enjoying some new books at night and he loves going with me to the gym and anywhere else we need to go. Last night after bath time we played dress up in their room and had so much fun. They have a ton of dress up clothes now. I keep all their Halloween costumes and we have acquired other stuff too. Tanner said "Mommy this sure is fun. We need to this more often." I love these boys. Holden loves playing dress up too.  They both are so cute using their imagination and last night it was a real JOY to lay on their floor and not think about anything and just enjoy the moment. The unedited version. I get overwhelmed. I get tired. I get loud. I worry. AND things don't always go as planned. It may rain. So is life. I am so grateful that my boys are healthy and to be celebrating another year of sweet life with them. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BOYS!

A full life!

     We have been busy. The boys are growing way too fast. They both are celebrating birthdays this month and I can hardly believe it.  I spent the day with them last Saturday and took them to Coon Hollo, lunch, and the mall. It was a blast. I am so grateful I get to be these boys mama. It is tough, exhausting, and oh so joyous. Tanner is on the letter I this week at school and doing great. He loves going to lunch buddies whenever he can and is learning so much this year. We signed him up for a class at the Ocala Civic Theater and he loves it. He actually will be going soon as it is on Mondays from 4:30 to 5:30. His daddy has a love for theater and Tanner does too. He loves books and movies and using his imagination so much! He is a creative little boy. He loves playing outside and building things out of anything. Holden is a daredevil. I mean seriously. He puts his motorcycle up on the couch ready to do wheelies and then takes his plastic chair to the top of the slide ready for a "ride" down." He is a snuggle bunny lately and I so have enjoyed snuggling with him in the recliner while we have a fire going. He is talking so much and is so funny. He loves people and everyone loves Holden. These boys keep me on my toes and I wouldn't have it any other way. Billy and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary on October 21st!! God truly has BLESSED the broken road. That was our song on our wedding day and it fits us perfectly! We went out to dinner at Bonefish and ate Lobster and then walked around Best Buy JUST THE 2 OF US!! Good times I tell ya! :) Halloween was fun. Starting at Tanner's school for his parade and sing and party and ending with some trick or treating in our neighborhood. We had a great weekend of going to church, out to lunch the four of us, and then a friends birthday party. Our life is so full. God helps me in my weak moments. I could not do ANY of this without HIM. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 I mess up and some days are CRAZY but that's the beauty of it. I can cherish each moment and enjoy what God has blessed me with. Billy is so funny these days and works so hard for his family. He came home at 2 today and first thing he does is catch up with Tanner and I. His being in school hasn't really slowed him down and he does most of his work after boys and I are asleep. I am proud of him and his long term goals are to take care of me and the boys so I can be there for the boys. He would work 3 jobs so I could stay home. I know we will never regret that in 20 years when the boys are 25 and 22. :) I look forward to their party soon and celebrating 5 years of life with Tanner and 2 years of life with Holden. A couple funny things I need to share in the midst of all the chaos. Today I was getting Holden out of the sandbox and he did not want to get out. I said we have to go pick up Tanner man and he said "two minutes mommy" "two minutes"  Then Saturday after we got home from the gym Tanner asked me if he could have something out of his Halloween bowl. I said of course. Well as I proceeded to pick up things in his room and straighten up I heard him say "oh yea baby. You gotta try this." As he turned around to show me the wrapper from a starburst! That kid cracks me up. I'm sure blessed.