Makenna's injury...

Day one

Day two

Day three

Okay, so I haven't blogged in a while, but I have several new blogs coming out with lots going on, but I thought that I would start off with the most recent thing that's been happening at our house.  We decided to go for a walk on Sunday evening with the kids.  Makenna and Cole wanted to ride their bikes and Ella wanted to ride in the wagon (which never happens...)  We decided to walk over to the far end of our neighborhood and just when we were at the furthest point possible from our house, Makenna fell off her bike.  She went to say hi to someone that she knew and when she turned her head back to look where she was going, she fell off.  Now, when I say she fell off, it's more like she decided to fall off and land straight on her face, no putting down hands to catch herself.  She just decided to let her face catch her.  She smacked her face right into the concrete.  I ran over to her and picked her up, she had a bloody nose and was screaming.  We got Ella out of the wagon and put Makenna in.  Adam ran her home (in flip flops...) and I walked back with Ella and the bike.  By the time that I got back to our house, her nose was already swollen.  It didn't look good.  By the next morning, her nose and eyes were swollen.  She could barely wear her glasses.  By that evening, her eyes were starting to bruise.  The next day, she looked horrible.  Eyes swollen, bruised, swollen and bruised nose.  She has been really brave.  I have tried to keep her home from school a couple of days this week because it has looked so bad, but she has wanted to go because of all the fun things that are happening the last week of school.    These pictures don't do justice to how bad it really looks...  and yes, I bought her that Barbie because I feel bad.  :(

Ella's whisper

Ella's new favorite thing to do is whisper in people's ears.  Although she doesn't quite get the concept of actually saying words it just ends up being the sound of whispering, if that makes any sense.  Anyway, today in church she finally actually whispered in Adam's ear.  She told him she needed to whisper two things to him.  So she leaned in and whispered in Adam's ear... "two things."  Yep, she tells the truth,  :)

Build A Bear

 Yes, it's true...  We took our kids to Build a Bear.  Makenna went for a birthday party a couple of months ago and she loved the bear that she made.  When she got money from Grandma Gina for her birthday that is what she wanted to do.  Cole of course decided that he needed to make one too, even though he has been saving for months to buy a lightsaber, but whatever.  If we were making one for both of them, we knew we would have to do one for Ella.  They loved going and looked forward to it all week.  We headed up after Cole's soccer game.  The kids picked out their bears and got to help stuff them.  They got to put the heart in and make a wish on the heart.  They all got to wash and brush their bears and pick out a cute outfit.  Of course, the girls picked out girly frilly dresses and Cole made his into a soccer player.  Ella calls hers pink bear.  They all love to sleep with them and snuggle.  It was fun for them to go and they loved it.  Now of course, they want new clothes for the bear.  Maybe when they save up some more money... 

Washing and brushing the bear

Rubbing the heart to get it started and making a wish

At home with their new bears!!

Makenna's Dance Recital

Ballet

Hip hop, they do some cute outfits for it!!

Jazz, dancing to Adam's favorite song..  Conga by Gloria Estefan...

Makenna had another dance recital last week.  This is her third year taking dance.  This year she took ballet, jazz and hip hop.  It was a lot of work for her and she is happy to have a break.  She really doesn't want to take dance anymore, but I am trying to have her take it longer.  I am hoping that she just needs the summer off.  Hip hop is my favorite.  It is so cute to watch these little kids up there doing it.  She danced to Billie Jean, which was perfect because she loves Michael Jackson.  She had to perform two days in a row and she did a great job!!  We are so proud of her!

Thanks to Adam...

Today I am thankful for Adam and all the work he does for us.  He is one of the hardest working people that I know.  I am thankful for that a lot. He always makes sure that he is doing everything he can to take care of our family. He has been with his current job for about a year and four months and has already been promoted three times.  Anyone that knows Adam knows that he works hard and does his best at anything he does.  He is a great dad.  Even after being at work for 12 hours, he comes home and lets the kids ride on his shoulders and plays tag with them.  He is great with the kids on the weekends and always does fun things with them and makes them a priority.  It's no wonder  that he is their favorite.  The kids love to hide behind the couch or under the counter before he gets home and jump out and yell surprise! 
He is the best and I am so glad that I married him almost twelve years ago and that we have three adorable kids together.  He is the best!!  Love you Adam!!

So happy I can cry...

Last night Makenna brought home a bunch of papers from school.  There were several tests in there and one test was on counting money.  Makenna only got 2/5 right.  This is not normal for Makenna.  I think I can only remember one test that she has brought home all year that she has missed one on.  Anyway, so I asked her if she understood how to count money and she told me no.  That made me feel terrible.  I wish that I would have known and then worked with her at home on it.  Anyway, I got out some change and we started counting.  At least the first ten times, she didn't understand at all and was just guessing.  I kept explaining it to her and couldn't understand how she didn't get it.  Finally, the lightbulb went on and she understood it.  Next thing I know, Makenna is crying.  I ask her what's wrong and she just said that she was so happy because she finally understood it.  She is a sweetheart and I love her so much.  She is definitely all girl!!

Cole playing soccer!

Trying to keep those big shorts pulled up...

Cole and his friend Alex

We decided to sign Cole up for soccer this year.  He had his first game on Saturday and it was cute to see him play.  He hasn't played before, so he is still trying to learn all the rules and keep up with the other kids, but he says he likes it and we hope this will be something that he will continue to want to play.  Makenna has dance, so we are always looking for something extra for Cole to do as well!!

Happy Birthday to Makenna!!

Makenna turned seven yesterday!  I can't believe that it was seven years ago that I became a mom.  She had the roundest little face and I fell in love with her right from the beginning.  Makenna was the best baby ever, she was a great sleeper and always took long naps and was a happy baby.  She was an easy baby and has always been a great kid.  She is a great helper around the house and a great sister... (most of the time.)  :)
Makenna takes dance and right now she is taking hip hop, jazz and ballet.  She loves to read and do crafts. She is an excellent student and I don't ever have to worry about her being in trouble at school.  She always listens and is a great example to the other kids.  Her teachers always tell us how great she is and that they wish all their students were as good as her.  She is a kind person and always wants to be everyone's friend and make sure that everyone is included.  We love her very much and are so proud of her.  She is a wonderful daughter!!  Happy Birthday to sweet Makenna!!
It was a weekend of festivities...  I officially don't care if I see another piece of birthday cake, cupcake or slice of pizza for a long time.  On Saturday Makenna has her birthday party for her friends.  This is the first friends party that I have done, I know I am terrible...  anyway, about a week before the party Makenna was stressing about if anyone would come to her party.  She even got up out of bed and asked Adam what would happen if no one came.  She must get that worrying gene from her mom.  :)  Anyway, we had eight girls here plus Makenna, that was a lot of girls.  We had lunch, decorated cupcakes, did a pinata, painted fingernails and opened presents.  Makenna got plenty of craft projects and jewelry making stuff so you know what we will be working on for the next several weeks.

Friends party

On Sunday we had the family party and she got a brand new quilt from Grandma and Grandpa Osborn.  I don't know what it is about my kids, but they love their blankets that my mom made when they were babies and drag them around everywhere.  We figured it was time to get Makenna a new one and it turned  out really cute.  I am so grateful for my mom and all the time that she put into the blanket.  Makenna didn't seem too excited about what Adam and I got her.  We got her some new earrings, a new outfit, some makeup and a set of Lego friends.  Makenna really loved her present from Grandma and Grandpa Pace.  They gave her a box of kleenex that had money in it and a note that said "don't blow it all in one place..."  She has already decided that she wants to go to Build a Bear and make another bear.  So, I guess I know what I'll be doing soon! 

 

Snuggling with a new blanket!

Money!!

Pinata!!

No more excuses...

That is my new motto...  I have really been struggling lately with working out.  After I had Ella I worked out six days a week for about a year. I even did P90X!! Then the kids started having school in the morning and I would make an excuse here and there not to work out.  Sadly, there has been weeks where I only work out once or twice, but I have decided that I need to make time for myself.  I feel so much better after I work out.  I hate it while I am doing it, but I know that it helps me release stress.  I love to workout to the FIRM and have a ton of their DVDs.  Today I did this DVD called Calorie Explosion.  It has a dread factor for me.  I hate it while I am doing it, but love the way I feel when I am done.  It has actually gotten easier the last few times that I have done it.  Anyway, at the end of the workout during the cool down, the sweat was running into my eyes and burning and I thought to myself... "now that was a good workout!" 
I have also come to the realization that I eat horrible food around the house when the kids are stressing me out or when I am bored.  So, I am really going to try to not reach for the chips or candy.  I bought a bunch of fruit and vegetables at the store so I am hoping that I will reach for those.  I know that I am not overweight, but there is definitely some toning that needs to be done and since I workout almost every day with weights, the food is the thing that needs to change. :)  Anyway, I know that this post doesn't have anything to do with the kids or Adam, but I am hoping this will motivate me to be better so that I can be a better mom. 
I think that sometimes as moms we put our needs last above everyone else.  We make sure the house is clean, we make sure the laundry is done, that dinner is made, that the kids are happy, and the list goes on and on.  I am trying to take a little time out for me each day and this is one thing that helps me.  Anyway, that's my thought for the day!! 

Thought of the day...

The last couple of days have been rough. I go through phases where I don't know how I am going to get through the day. Adam works a lot, which I am extremely grateful for because it allows me to stay home, but the days get long and the kids can be hard, especially Ella. :) She is still super hard and I keep hoping that the terrible twos will end, but I know that they just go right into the threes. Anyway, we had to go to the store this morning to buy a few things and get a birthday present for a party for Cole. Cole decided that he wanted to hold the wrapping paper and continued to use it as a walking stick. Repeatedly, I had to ask him to stop and explain to him that if he did that, the one end would be all ruined. After trying to wrangle the two kids in the store, find a present, tell Cole not to ruin the wrapping paper, and make sure that I got everything I needed so we don't have to go back again I had had enough by the time we got to the check-out. Sure enough, Cole had torn open the wrapping paper with all his "walking." I know, I should have just taken it away, but sometimes you do what you have to do to get through the store without being labeled as "one of those moms..."
Anyway, we get in the car and I turn around and ask Cole when is he going to start to listen since he is almost six years old. His response... "I don't know, maybe tomorrow." Yep, that made my day and made me laugh. Thanks Cole!!

New motivation...

Today in church they talked about how important it is to keep a journal and I said to Adam, it's only been about six months since I updated our blog. Maybe I needed to hear that. I always find excuses not to update it and justify that no one reads it, so I might as well not do it, but it's important for me to update it so that I can remember the things about my kids. My new goal is to do a blog post once a week, so we'll see if I can do that. :)
I have been a little sad lately. My kids are growing up too fast. Makenna turns seven in a week and is almost done with first grade. She is not the same little girl that headed off to school at the beginning of the year. Cole is almost done with preschool and getting ready for Kindergarten and I know that soon he will be moving into that independent little boy phase. I have enjoyed this last year with Cole so much. I was nervous at first about being home with him pretty much all day without Makenna. He is such a sweet boy and always tells me how much he loves me and still loves to give me kisses and snuggle. I don't want to think about the day that he is grossed out by giving his mom a kiss. Ella is almost three and she starts preschool in the fall. I can't believe how fast the past three years have gone and yet it seems like forever ago that I had her. I can barely remember being pregnant with her. She is no longer a baby, but a stubborn little girl that is more independent than I like, she reminds me everyday of patience and how I need to work more on that.
I love my kids so much and I hope that they know that they are the world to me. I am thankful every day that I have been able to be a stay at home mom and that I get to enjoy this time. My parents are always telling me to enjoy this time, and I am really trying even though at times I want to cry because it is hard. I am trying to enjoy more time outside with them and doing things I know that they would love to do.