PIcture Overload

We have had a lot going on in our house recently.  With the start of school and soccer I feel like I am always loading up the car to take/pick a child from somewhere.  But we have been having a lot of fun! On Tuesdays it is just Audrey, Stephen and me for a few hours so we play Candyland and read books to this precious little girls heart is content. 

 Stephen LOVES having Audrey read to him and you can tell she really enjoys getting to be the big sister once and awhile.

Stephen has been trying to sit on his own this past week and has been successful in doing so "tri-pod" style.   We have fun practicing on the bed and couches =0)

 Michael is so in love with his baby brother...the picture says it all!

Lizzie has been growing up a ton!   She turned 4 today!!!!  This past Thursday she got to celebrate at her preschool with some butterfly cupcakes.  It has been really neat watching her branch out at school.  It is the first time where she has something that is just hers to go to and I can already see what a confidence booster it has been for her.  Dare I say she is beginning to spread her wings.... =0)
I will post pictures from her Art Party soon!

Stephen wore some big boy clothes...he needs to stop growing so fast.   I cherish these chubby, cuddling baby days where being in mom's arma is the best place in the world.

Life is good and we are abundantly blessed!

2 Interviews

Name:  Michael
Age:  5 1/2
Best friend:  Ezra & Wyatt
Favorite color:  Blue
Favorite Book:  Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!
Favorite TV Show:  Doc McStuffins
Favorite Movie:  Cars 1 & 2
Favorite Food:  Mac N Cheese
Favorite Cereal:  "Cheerios...the honey kind"
Favorite Sport:  Baseball
Favorite Game:  My sheep lego game (Shave a Sheep)
Something you want to do this year:  "Play baseball and soccer"
What do you want to be when you grow up:  "A police man so I can work with Ezra"
Favorite thing about school: "I learn stuff"

Name:  Lizzie
Age:  4 (in a week)
Best friend:  Michael
Favorite color:  Pink & purple
Favorite Book:  The Belly Button Book
Favorite TV Show:  Doc McStuffins
Favorite Movie:  Care Bears
Favorite Food:  Mac N Cheese
Favorite Cereal:  Cheerios
Favorite Toy:  "My doctor stuff"
Favorite Game:  Hide and Seek
Something you want to do this year:  "Put stickers on paper"
What do you want to be when you grow up:  A Teacher
Favorite thing about school: "Making stuff for my mom"

I am hoping to make this little interview idea a fun tradition to see how my kids likes and interests change over the years.  I tried to ask some other fun questions like "what 3 words describe you" but anything that required more than a one word answer was a bit over their heads =0)  As far as being able to do the 1 thing they want to do this year...piece of cake!  Sports and stickers...I can handle that!!!

1st Day of Preschool

Lizzie's first day or preschool went just as we expected...she LOVED it!  She had a smile on her face  the entire drive there and kept telling me about all of the things she was going to make.  She was a little shy entering the classroom but had zero separation anxiety.  Joe and I had to ask her to come back and give us a hug goodbye =0)  Her teacher reported that she is ready for school and can already tell she will be a great student...music to my ears.

Lizzie wants to take part in homeschool too so I have been busy making some independent learning folders for the kiddos.  I am having so much fun!  One day I will post some of the great products I have found on here =0)
I can't believe I have 2 kids in "school".  Being a taxi cab driver is a new job for me.  I am seriously afraid that I am going to forget to pick up a child because I loose track of time or fall asleep.  I can see full homeschool almost being easier because you don't have to be anywhere by a certain time...maybe one day =0)

1st Day of Kindergarten

Tuesday was Michael's 1st day of Kindergarten!  He is part of a program that includes both homeschool/classroom instruction so in a way he gets the best of both worlds =0)  He goes to School Tue-Thur and I get to be the teach on Mondays & Fridays.  Dropping him off for a full 6 hours was a little emotional for me.  He is still my baby and it is hard to hand him over to other influences that are now out of my control.  I actually had a bit of a panic about it.  After going to an orientation the reality of unknown/outside influences became very apparent.  I don't know who he is going to meet, what they are going to say, or how he is going to feel.  My mama bear instinct kicked in and wanted to just shelter him a little longer.  He still has such a sweet childhood innocence to him and I don't want anyone or anything to burst that bubble just yet.  While we have certain rules/standards in our home I fully realize and see children whose families don't share the same values/beliefs that we do.   Michael doesn't even know that "bad words" exist, yet some kids his age have quite an expansive vocabulary.  I know one day he will be exposed to these realities and more... but at 5?
Cue realization of how much more I need to pray for my children.  Prayer is huge.  We have watched it work miracles in our lives and this moment of "panic" opened my eyes to the opportunity I have to pray for my children through each and everyday.  Unfortunately I can't sit next to him and protect/help him in class and throughout the rest of his life (thought that would be nice) but I can pray constantly that God would protect his spirit and give him the courage and strength he needs for each day.  It will be my goal this year to develop a better prayer life as I continue to learn to trust God with life's unknowns and stop worrying so much.
As for Michael he LOVES school and has 2 of his best buddies in his class.  I of course wanted to hear a long story about the day but got a few ingredients:  everyone is nice, Ezra and him are in the Orange group, I need to pack 2 drinks next time, he got to play games on a computer, there is a listening center where he gets to wear headphones, and he didn't need to raise his hand because he had no questions because he knew what he was supposed to do.  I love it.  I don't want to be the prying mom who asks too many questions so for now I will be content with that.  I look forward to volunteering in the class in the future so I can have a better clue what goes on =0)
Here are a few snap shots of the day...

Tomorrow will be Lizzie's 1st day of Preschool!  She is so excited.  She tried to live vicariously through Michael's experience last year.        All summer long has been a count down for her and the day has finally come!  More on that soon...

The Party

Joe & Kim aka The Parental Unit

Happily married since December 2004

Joe is a Pastor of Student Ministries and loves to read, play sports/watch sports, read, spend time with his family and read.  According to the kids Kim's job is to feed Stephen and stay home.   She is an imperfect perfectionist who loves her family and drives a minivan.
We look to Jesus Christ for our strength and want to raise our kids to follow his teachings.

Michael Man

Our energetic, sweet, sports minded son.  He would spend every second of the day outside playing if he could.  He loves USC Football, Angels Baseball and watching ESPN with Daddy.  He is sweet and sensitive and takes incredible care of his siblings.

Lizzie Bear

Elizabeth is her mother's daughter.  She has a huge heart for others and loves to share, serve and help out...but can also be a bit of a diva/hypochondriac.  She is fun and silly and has a vast imagination.  She is also a girly girl.  She loves dresses, hair bows, purses, and jewelry...but doesn't mind getting dirty while in them.   

Audrey Pearl

The face says it all!  She is adorable and charming and can almost smile her way out of anything.  She loves to read, color and wear everyone else's shoes.  She is very animated and almost always has a smile on her face.  She is sweet and sassy and keeps us on our toes!

Stephen Joseph 

Stephen is our little heart hero.  He was born with a serious congenital heart defect and has already undergone two open heart surgeries.  He is an amazing little guy.  He steals the hearts of many with his precious smile and big blue eyes.  His life has blessed our family greatly and has reminded us of what is truly important.  You can read more about his story here www.ourspecialheart.blogspot.com