5 years ago

     Five years ago today I gave birth to our little boy Holden Russell. He was a sweet baby with a head full of soft dark hair and weighed 8 lbs and 1 oz. We were so excited to meet him and hold him for the first time. I can not imagine our family without him. We spent the day celebrating him. We went to church, lunch at Firehouse Subs, to see Santa and finished it off with the movies and steaks on the grill. Some days are special. Holden is a joy and outgoing and fun. He loves people. He is brave and full of energy. We love our little boy. I am so thankful!!! I can not wait to see what is ahead in life for him.

First and Last

     FIRSTS are BIG! First word, first step, first time riding a bike with no training wheels, and the first time pooping in the potty,(SORRY if you're a mommy this is HUGE). First kiss, First car, and first baby. But what about the last? The last time breast feeding, the last time rocking your baby to sleep, the last time walking them to class at pre school, and the last time that you put them in a car seat. The last boo boo you'll mend, the last lunch you'll pack and the last carline you'll drive through. Today is Tanner's last day of being 7. 7 has been such a FUN age. He loves dressing up and pretending. We still LOVE reading and are currently reading WONDER. Tanner is such a kind and loving kid. He doesn't necessarily have to be the best at everything and is happy to just be a part of. He is helpful at home and loves going to Cub Scouts with his daddy. He loves drawing and riding his bike. His teacher this year is Mrs. Rajala and he gets smileys everyday. He is just a great boy. I am so so proud to be his mommy!! I can not help but reflect back to when we were trying to get pregnant and we prayed for a baby. God sure answered our Prayer BIG and gave us Tanner Man. Billy has the day off tomorrow and we can't wait to eat lunch with our baby boy and take cupcakes to his class. We celebrate Saturday with family and friends at the boys party. Holden's birthday is coming up too. But tomorrow is all about our sweet Tanner. Happy Birthday sweet boy. You'll always be mama's sidekick.

The Wonderful with the Wounding

     Yesterday morning on my way taking the boys to school out of the blue Holden said "You know Easter is Jesus birthday." And Tanner said "No Christmas is Jesus birthday." Holden asked "Well how old is Jesus anyway?" (four year old brain in full swing) Tanner replied immediately with "Well when we get to heaven we can ask him." I LOVE THAT my children know the Lord. I am presently in a Beth Moore study on Thursday mornings and we are studying 2nd Timothy. SHE BRINGS IT TOO. She talks about some of her friendships "circling the drain" (HYSTERICAL) so she can be a teacher, mother, wife and doing what God has called her to do. That phrase has been stuck in my head. It is SO true you can  not be all things to all people. ONLY GOD CAN! Choosing quality over quantity so to speak. On the other side of that though we need people. We are designed to be in community with each other and that is where the wounding and wonderful go hand and hand. Yesterday I had a major headache in the afternoon. Holden still wanted me to push him on the swing, Tanner still needed help with his Kid BIZ and dinner still had to be cooked. Billy worked an 11 hour day and came home and after dinner told me to rest. He cleaned the kitchen, swept and mopped, walked the dog, and read to the kids. I was so thankful!! He was so thoughtful! These are the impressing things to me. But is he always thoughtful? UMMM NO BUT NEITHER AM I! :) BUT I think that is what Beth Moore meant. Life is HARD! Friends get sick, loved ones die, our kids make us crazy!!! But that's embracing the wounding with the wonderful. The boys are growing so fast!! I get choked up thinking of so many wonderful memories of them being in our lives so far. Riding on the mower with me while I mow, playing in the mud in their rain boots, learning to ride with no training wheels on the same day because Holden gave his big brother courage to do it, going out on the boat, baking muffins, and climbing in our beds on weekend mornings and kissing and hugging us. Holden is so BRAVE and outgoing. He loves to be near me and doing whatever I am doing. We go to lunch and the park. He even helps me shop and loved going to Home Goods with me. He drives me crazy at meal times but I LOVE being with him. Tanner is really into drawing and loves going to Cub Scouts with his daddy. He is most happy when he is playing by himself or reading. He loves Captain Underpants Books and loves to put on a cape and run around in his underwear and pretend  to be Captain Underpants. He has a vivid imagination and loves learning. I love reading with him. We have a new favorite author Gary Paulsen. We just finished Mr. Tucket and love reading about the Pioneer Days. There sure is something very appealing about those days!! The simplicity of it. THE HARD WORK!! Maybe its because all the covered wagons looked the same. :) Although I think I would miss my washer and dryer. :) I am so very thankful!! Today I embrace the wounding with the WONDERFUL!! AND THERE IS SO MUCH WONDERFUL!!!

Paper Clips

          The kids are back to school and we Spivey's are in a nice routine. I am so proud of all 3 of my boys. Billy has taken a new detail as supervisor and loves it. I have always said he is definite LEADERSHIP material. He is such a smart guy. Tanner loves second grade. He gets to do so much this year. Dance, Drama, and TV production are just a few of the things he does every week. He also started Cub Scouts and is looking forward to the adventures ahead. Holden goes everyday this year!! My Big preschooler is officially in Pre-K and could not be more excited. Monday was his first day and as I was holding his hand and walking him to the car after pick ups he was telling me all about his day. "Mommy we got to do play doh, circle time, and kitchen. Also our teacher told us all about the paper clips mommy." Me, "The paper Clips? What about them?" Holden, "Mommy you know the Solar System. There is a Paper Clips today." :) Me, "You mean the Solar Eclipse?" Holden, "Yes mommy THAT!" HAHA He is so funny and I love his little words for things. The other day he kept saying "There is a moss in the house." HUH??? He meant wasp. He will figure it out soon enough. We did have the special glasses and got to watch the Solar Eclipse with them and it was really neat. The boys were impressed too. I am loving so many things about this year with my boys. Last Saturday we went to Blizzard Beach with my dad and rode all the big rides and swam. It was such an awesome day. They are big and independent this year. They love their friends. Tanner and I still read every night sometimes for more than an hour. It is one of the most relaxing parts of my day. He loves it too!! He is such a tender and curious boy. I am so grateful for this life I have been given. I was running the other day through Ocala like i love to do. :) and  I saw 2 different church signs that stuck out to me. The first one said Things in life that are worthwhile are difficult. The other one said if it's not moving you towards God then cut it from your life!! Both have stuck with me. Both say a lot. God has a plan and I am so thankful I can turn it all over to HIM. Back to school is awesome too so now I have time to blog and read and run and other glamorous things like clean. Living the DREAM people. Just over here living the dream. :)

Making Memories

     Often we don't realize the sure Magic of the moment until it becomes a memory. We had the opportunity to take the boys to Disney and stay at a hotel for a few days and boy was it so much fun. Some of the highlights were laughing at O'Hana's at our slow waitress Debbie all while Billy was making up a song and cracking us up, Holden riding Splash Mountain and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for the first time with all of us riding together and him NEVER letting go of my hand, swimming in the rain after 10 o'clock at night, floating on the lazy river for an hour and being together, seeing shows and singing songs, and my favorite part was watching the boys earn their badges and learning so many fun facts about animals. WE had our fair share of the boys wrestling on the bed and putting each other in headlocks but I am so thankful for the memories we made and the laughter we shared. I always say over and over that Billy and I have our moments like anybody else but one thing for sure we will break down and pray together anywhere and everywhere, even DISNEY!! Raising Rowdy boys ain't for the faint at heart but I'm prayed up and ready for the challenge. I'm enjoying it along the way. I never ever heard a mommy say "I wish I would of spent less time with my kids when they were little" NOPE I never heard that! It is usually the opposite. AND so I will always appreciate these crazy and humble days of being at home with these boys.

Cheetah Face and Family Fun!!

     I love going to Disney with the boys. Billy does too. It is quiet possible that Billy and I love Disney even more than the boys do. :) We took them to Animal Kingdom on Saturday. Now that they are 7 and 4 and interested in more things it was a whole different experience. They became wilderness explorers. They had to earn badges all through out the park and we learned so many fun facts along the way. We had a blast. Holden loved getting his face painted and Tanner LOVED getting his Mickey Mouse ice cream. We rode the safari ride, the river rapids, petted goats, and LOVED the live performance of The Lion King show. AMAZING!! We always work up an appetite and most of the time end up at Red Robin. It's our family tradition I guess you could say. I LOVE me a good burger. We are having such a great summer and I sure love my boys.