To my sweet babies:

Jax, my big eight-year-old. I'm so proud of how much you have learned this school year. You've gotten so amazingly good at reading, you actually enjoy it now, which makes me so happy. Your spelling, math and everything else you have learned just amazes me. I absolutely adore the proud, sweet look you get on your face when you figure out a math problem all by yourself, or when get your spelling words (that are not easy words) right. The proud look on your face makes me unbelievably proud of you and it melts my heart. Your getting older now and don't need me quite as much, but when you wake up in the mornings and give me a huge hug the second you see me, or when you say "Mommy, could you please tuck me in to bed?" you make me feel like the luckiest, happiest Mom in the world! I'm so proud of the sweet, sensitive, smart little boy you are! I love you more than you'll ever know, Buddy! Love Mommy! My sweet, sassy Ella Jo, I love watching your animated facial expressions when you talk. You love to learn new things and make "art projects" you love to take your time and do the very best job you can. I love that about you. I love to watch you draw pictures or write things in your perfect, meticulous handwriting. You are completely content to just hang out with Mommy, or to completely entertain yourself. Just the other day just the two of us went and had some "girl time" and got our nails painted. I loved watching you sit in the chair like a big girl, with a smile on your face as they painted your fingernails and toenails. I loved spending time just the two of us. I love it when you get excited because I bought your favorite food at the grocery store and you come up to me, give me a huge hug, and say "Mommy, you did that special for me cuz I'm your special girl, huh?!" You melt my heart without even knowing it. You are such a smart, beautiful girl and you mean the world to me, baby girl! I love you sooooo much. Love Mommy! My sweet, chunky, kissable, happy little Noah, I can't believe you are a year old already! In some ways it feels like this year has flown by, but in some ways it feels like you've always been here with us. Probably because you were meant to be a perfect part of this family. Watching you grow and learn to do things is so amazing. I feel so blessed that I'm lucky enough to be your Mommy, and that we are lucky enough to have you as part of this family. Your big brother and sister absolutely adore you...and you adore them. Watching the three of you together brings me so much joy. You ate starting to say a few words and the grin on your face when you say a new word is so sweet and so precious, just like you! I love it when you sit on my lap and play with your toys, I love the way you still want to snuggle with me, and I love the sweet look on your face when Mommy or Jax reads you a book. You can just tell that that smart little brain in there is taking it all in! I love you to the Moon and back, little Buggy! Love Mommy! All 3 of you bring a smile to my face daily and make my days so much brighter just having you around. I'm so proud of the amazing kids you are! You are my little angels and I don't know what I would do without the 3 of you. Even when the day has been crazy and hectic, I wouldn't trade it for anything! I love you my sweet angels!!

Playing catch up

Now that it's been NINE MONTHS since I last updated this blog...it's probably time for me to get my act together! Shortly after Jax started second grade Miss Ella started preschool! She loved every minute of it and learned so much. I'm so proud of my big girl! She will be starting Kindergarten next year. She can't wait!! Noah turned one on the 31st...not sure how that happened so fast! But he is the sweetest, chunkiest little love ever! Jax's last day of second grade is tomorrow. I can't believe my Jax is 8 years old already and will be going into 3rd grade next year!! My little sweethearts are growing up so fast :( before I know it they will be grown up and won't need me so much anymore, so for now, I'm trying to embrace the chaos raising three amazing kids brings.

2nd grade!

Jax started 2nd grade on August 22nd. Second grade?? Really? When did that happen!?!
Last year in 1st grade he had some anxiety the first week or so of school and wasn't sure how he felt about it, which was even harder on me. But, this year he loves it! He loves his teacher and has quite a few friends in his class, plus he is used to being in school all day and going through the lunch time routine. He loves riding the bus and he has even made a new friend in the neighborhood and they ride the bus together along with one of Jaxson's best buddies Sam. It is so sweet to watch my big boy out at the bus stop (which happens to be right on our corner) and just start chatting with his friends. And when the bus comes he casually looks at me and waves. It makes me so proud and so sad at the same time, very bittersweet.  I told him yesterday that he is NOT too old to give me a hug before he leaves, but, that if he felt more comfortable giving me a hug before we walk out to the bus stop that's ok. Just as long as I get my hug before my big boy goes off to school for the day.
He informed me the other day that the teacher that teaches PE is lame because she is "old" and she plays lame music during PE. I wonder what he considers "old" it certainly better not be someone my age!! He has a couple of girls that he says are "cute" but there is one girl in particular that he has had a "crush" on since 1st grade. He says he likes her because she is pretty and sassy. That's my boy!!
So far he seems to like it, hopefully that will continue!!
I love you, sweet boy! You are growing up so fast and I am so proud of you! I know you are going to do great in 2nd grade!


                                                My big boy all ready to go! Sniffle sniffle

Jax and one of his best buddies

They got the "red carpet treatment" on the first day!!

Lake Powell

We went to Lake Powell a couple of weeks ago. We had such an amazing time!! We decided to take Noah and Indie since they aren't crawling or anything and since we have a houseboat with A/C and any other amenity you could need, they did so good! They were little troopers the whole time. They had little life jackets and we did a pretty good job of keeping them out of the sun and keeping them cool by dabbing water on them, fresh water, not nasty lake water, we will wait until they are a couple years older to expose them to the lake water :)
Jax, Ella and Gabe had a BLAST swimming in the water, they were little fish, we couldn't keep them out of the water! Jax and Gabe wakeboarded and surfed with Uncle Duh and Uncle Obi, go on the waverunners and even kneeboard!
Jax caught a baby lizard one day on the beach, he name it "Canyon" because we were in a canyon...pretty fitting huh?
Lake Powell is honestly one of my favorite places on this Earth, I have been going there since I was little and it never gets old. It is so amazing and so beautiful and I'm so glad my kids get the opportunity to go to such an amazing place.

It was so nice to be with my family for the week, I just wish it wouldn't have gone by so quickly. We got back the night before Jax started school and it was the perfect way to end his summer vacation. Cant wait for next year!!!

 

Miss Ella Jo!

Jax loved to jump off the boat into the water!!

Derek and Colby cliff jumping

Jax and Gabe looking for lizards

Jax swimming back to the boat to show me the lizard he caught. Such a sweet boy!!

Jax and "Canyon the Lizard"

Noah kickin back on the boat

AMAZING!!!!!

My sweet princess

Kneeboarding!!

Noah snoozin

Uncle Obi and Jax on the wakeboard

Jumping off the top of the houseboat

Sweet Noah and Indie!!

Uncle "Obi" surfing behind the boat

Nicky surfing!!

"Uncle Duh" and Gabe surfing!

"Uncle Duh" and Jax surfing!

Sweet boy!!

Ella turns 4!!

My Princess, Ella Jo turned 4 on August 7th! I cannot believe my baby girl is already four and will be starting preschool in September!
We had a Hawaiian themed party for her the week before her birthday because we were camping on her actual birthday. She loved her party and had so much fun! She got a new "big girl bike" along with many other presents!
She weighs 33.29lbs and is 3ft 6in tall which puts her in 36% for weight and 97% for height. In other words...tall and skinny!!
Miss Ella Jo is still the sassy little princess of the family. She knows what she wants, when she wants it, and if she doesn't get her own way...LOOK OUT!!! She is still our stubborn, hard-headed little girl and, as my mom puts it, she does not give her love away easily, you have to work for it, but, when she does, she absolutely melts your heart with those big blue eyes of hers. One minute she can be as sassy as they come and the next, she can curl up next to you, lay her head on your shoulder and tell you that she loves you soooo much. You never know what you're going to get with her! She loves being a big sister to baby Noah and she looks up to Jax so much.
She gets more beautiful, sassy, independent and stubborn everyday! We love you, Miss Ella Jo!! Happy Birthday, my beautiful girl!

Two months old!

Baby Noah was 2 months old on July 31st. Two months?!?! How did that happen so quick?? I swear just yesterday I was as big as a whale and couldn't get comfortable no matter what I did, and now he is already two months!
Baby Noah is still just as precious and cuddly and sweet as he was the day he was born...but, he is DEFINITELY not as little, he weighs 13lb 15oz and is 23 inches long, which puts him in 92% for weight and 75% for length. He is my sweet little chunk! He has the chubbiest, most kissable cheeks that I just can't get enough of, absolutely adorable rolls on his arms and legs, and a chubby little tummy.
He has the sweetest little toothless grin that melts me everytime I see it. He has figured out how to coo and loves to hear the sound of his voice. He has, for the most part, figured out how to get those chubby little hands up to his mouth and sometimes prefers them over his binky, although when he really wants to fall asleep, he wants his binky in his mouth, a blanket around him, and to be snuggled as close as he can possibly be...this does not hurt Mommy or Daddy's feelings!
He loves to lay in his colorful bed, or in his swing and watch the mobile with all the animals and colors, but he kicks those little legs and grins when he sees me coming to get him out and snuggle. I wish I could freeze him at this age because I don't want my baby growing up so fast. I love this stage he is in, although I find myself saying that I love every stage my kids are in! He is much more aware of what is going on around him and he sleeps really well at night. Such a big boy! In other words, he is a perfect, happy baby and I can't get enough of him!!

Song to my sweet babies

Your baby blues, so full of wonder

Your curly cues, your contagious smile

And as I watch, you start to grow up

All I can do is hold you tight

Knowing clouds will rage

And storms will race in but you will be safe in my arms

rains will pour down, waves will crash all around

But you will be safe in my arms

Storybooks full of fairy tales

Of kings and queens and the bluest skies

My heart is torn just in knowing

You'll someday see the truth from lies

When the clouds will rage

And storms will race in but you will be safe in my arms

Rains will pour down, waves will crash all around

But you will be safe in my arms

Castles they might crumble

Dreams may not come true

But you are never all alone

Because I will always, always love you

When the clouds will rage

and storms will race in but you will be safe in my arms

Rains will pour down, waves will crash all around

But you will be safe in my arms, in my arms

Baby Noah Update

Noah is almost 6 weeks old :( sniffle. Where does the time go??? Our little guy is so much fun and as his big brother puts it, he just gets cuter and cuter every single day! He is starting to smile, which absolutely melts his Mommy, and is just so much more alert everyday. He weighs 11lb 3oz already! Which means he has been gaining an average of just over an ounce a day! His sweet little chubby, kissable cheeks just gets chubbier and more kissable everyday. He is such a little cuddle bug, when he gets fussy he likes his binky, a blanket right by his cheek, and he wants to be held as close as possible (Mommy has no problem with this) I'm pretty sure he got in the "cute line" (as my Mom puts it) and the "melt Mommy's heart" line several times!! What did we ever do without this sweet little boy?? His Brother and Sister still think he is the cutest, sweetest thing ever and they can't get enough of him!! None of us can! Jax and Ella are such big helpers with Noah, they have absolutely no problem wiping up his spit up and if he looses his binky in the car and starts crying, they fight over who gets to give it back to him. When I don't have time to sit and nurse him, they love to be the ones to feed him a bottle and they hold him as much as they can during the day.
I can't believe how fast he is growing up and to be honest...it makes me a little sad. Everyday I tell him not to grow up too fast, but, I also say that to his big brother and sister and none of them seem to listen to me! As hard as it is to see them grow up so fast it's also so amazing to watch, it's very bittersweet. I love all three of them more than anything in this world and I hope they always, always know that. Yes, I know im being a little cheesy, but, im allowed to be when it comes to these three cuties!!!
Here are some recent picures of our little Noah

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