Celebrating Kaden!

It is totally not fair to this momma's heart that 2 birthdays plus the end of the school year all come at the same time!   I have one turning for and registering for pre-k, while another is graduating from pre-k and registering for Kindergarten, and yet another one turning 9 and finishing the 2nd grade!  There have been lots of happy tears and moments of reflection for this mommy in the last 2 weeks!

On Saturday we got to celebrate Kaden turning 9.  Wow, that sounds so old.  And as my precious husband reminded me...9 is halfway to 18.  Time certainly does pass quickly!

Where did this little baby go?

swimming without a life jacket!

First day of pre-k

T-ball time

Turning 5

Learning to ride a bike

Hunting trips

Losing your first tooth

The day you asked Jesus into your heart!

Daddy baptizing you

So many precious memories with my sweet boy!

He started his celebration with breakfast with dad and a trip to Academy to spend his birthday money.  After that we had presents, cupcakes, and most importantly...waterslide fun!

Dear Kaden,
I can't believe you are 9.  I still remember the day you were born with such detail!  You made me a mommy...the one thing I wanted to be my entire life!  I am so thankful for you.  You are so kind and tender hearted.  I often find you thinking of others.  Whether it is making a card for someone of offering to the dishes for me because you know I have a blister that hurts, you are always looking for a way to be kind.

You are also very athletic!  You have loved balls for as long as I can remember and now 9 years later you still do.  You are very talented at soccer but you also love to throw the football with dad and you are looking forward to trying basketball this winter.  I thought it was funny when we went to the park recently and saw a little girl from your school.  When she saw you she leaned over to her mom and said..."he goes to my school, he is SOO athletic"! :)
You are still our shy guy but once you get warmed up you are lots of fun and a great friend!  I am so proud of the way you have jumped in this year!  After spending the first part of the year homeschooling and then 6 weeks in Africa you were nervous to start at a new school but your bravery won out and you already made some friends by the end of the week.
You are continuing to grow in your walk with Christ.  Just recently you told me about how you talked to your best friend at school about the gospel.
I am so proud of you sweet boy!  I am thankful to be your mom and I know God has great plans for you!
Happy Birthday!
Love,
Mommy

Happy 4th Birthday to Kolson!

How is it even possible that today we are celebrating this sweet boy's 4th birthday?

I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by!

This little boy brings such joy to our family and I can't imagine the K-crew without him!  We had such a fun family day just celebrating his 4 years!

We finished our celebration with a trip to our neighborhood pool that is more like a water park than just a pool!  All of the K-crew members love to swim and it was the perfect way to celebrate Kolson!

I love these little boys so much!!

Karter racing Daddy and Kolson down the slides!

Dear Kolson,

Happy Birthday my sweet boy!  I can't believe you are already 4.  I tired to convince you several times this week that we could just skip your birthday and you could just stay 3 forever...unfortunately you wouldn't go for it and here we are celebrating your 4th birthday! 

 I remember being so scared when you were born that I wouldn't have enough love to go around for 3 little boys...you totally proved me wrong!  You are such a loving little boy and you are so easy to love!  You bring such a sweetness to our family!  I love the way you greet your daddy each time you see him by saying "hey buuuud" or the way you ask your brothers if they have had a good day at school.  I love the way you start each prayer with "God is good, God is great" and then you have to stop and think about what to pray next if it isn't meal time! :)  You are the most determined little guy I know.  You have learned how to do everything early just so you could keep up with your brothers, who you adore!  You also don't like taking no for an answer.  While I am sure that is going to be a great quality later in life, it does make for some interesting moments as your mommy!  I love that you are still a mommy's boy and you still love to be held and snuggled and loved on.  Being your mommy is such a joy sweet boy!  Like I always tell you...You are my favorite Kolson in the whole world...there is no other Kolson like you and given the choice, I would pick you every time!  I love you sweet boy and I cannot wait to see all that God has planned for you!

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mommy

Dream Girl

Several years ago I read this book...

It was fun, practical, and most of all inspiring.  I still keep it by my bed for a refresher now and then!  I am blessed to have won the heart of the man of my dreams and while I know that I have also won his heart I always want to make sure I am doing all that I can to grow our marriage.

One of the topics the author talks about is Creating Commonalities.  She says that your hubby wants to "laugh with you, play with you, and enjoy your company."  While us girls think it is important for our hubbys to do things with us that we enjoy, studies show it is even higher on the male wish list.

Nathan is so good to me...he has watched at least 1,000 chic flicks (he totally loves them), gone to tons of "foody" restaurants with me, and spent countless hours out shopping by my side.

A few weeks it go it was my turn to join him in something that he loves!

After 11 years of marriage I finally donned some camo and hit the hunting lease with my man!  While I will admit that waking up at 5 am to sit in a tent and look for Turkeys in the freezing cold is not my typical idea of fun...it was a great chance to sit by man and watch him take in something he loves so much!  We had some of the best conversations on the way to and from the lease and I actually have to admit that I enjoyed the evening hunts...this girl is NOT a morning person!  We laughed and joked and even if it is not the newest hobby to top my list I loved knowing that I was getting to be a part of what he loves.

Next time I want my own camo!!  Although wearing Nathan's camo kept me pretty warm!

Kaden was able to come with us and had the best time hunting with some seasoned hunters from Malakoff.

It was a great weekend full of fun memories! I am so thankful for my mom who was willing to keep my other kiddos!  I can honestly say...I am looking forward to deer season...this girl may just get her a buck! :)

Fun in the sun!

Texas weather...yesterday it was sunny and 85 degrees, this morning we woke up to temperatures in the 40's!! With weather like this you have to take advantage of warm and beautiful days when you can...before everyday becomes an oven!

So yesterday we did just that! We took our first trip to our neighborhood spray park! All of the kiddos loved it. And really is there anything more precious than Kenzi in her tutu swimming suit? :)

The day ended with grilled steaks and a family walk to the park. I am pretty sure today was my favorite day since we have moved here! I am so thankful for my sweet family and love our everyday moments together!

Spring has sprung!

It is finally warming up this Spring and we are loving some time in the sun!!

Jumping back in...

 Honestly I have a few "type A" traits and the fact that I have missed capturing so many moments and keeping up with this blog had convinced me to give up on it completely.  But I miss having a space to record our life, a place to go back and see how God has grown us over time, a place to spill my heart, and to capture the every day moments that I know I don't want to forget.  So I am jumping back in...

Over Spring Break the kiddos and I headed to San Antonio for a fun filled week...

First stop, Wreck it Ralph in 3D!  WE got there an hour early so we spent time taking silly pictures!

A trip to the park...

A visit to Fiesta Texas...

Cupcake time!!!

There was even a quick dip in the FREEZING pool!  It was so quick I only got a picture of this cutie!

Yes!! That is a microphone in my little singing girl's hand!!  She is too cute!

We ended our time at Nonnie and Papaw's with a backyard camp out!  It was the COLDEST sleeping experience of my life but SO worth the memories!  I am thankful that next time we camp out it will be Summer!

 

We finished up Spring break with a visit from our cousins!  These 5 little boys adore each other!  Hearing them laugh and play is one of my very favorite things!!  All 5 of them have huge imaginations and you never know what they are going to come up with!

And seriously...could a little girl get any more adorable!!  Kenzi loves being outside and really just life in general.  She is rarely without her bright smile!

 

Spring break was so much fun!!  I am looking forward to all the fun we will have this Summer!!