Grateful

I am feeling extremely grateful today for my life and the Universe and the blessings that God continues to give me and my family. Jax and I try to write what we are grateful for each day as it helps us to stay in check with our blessings and we don't let the negativity of the world set in so much. It's amazing how it works.

1 I am grateful for the rain we had today. We have had weeks of 100 degree weather and though I welcome it, I forgot how glorious the rain and no humidity is.

2. I am especially grateful that Ashton said "More Juice, Mama Please". His first real sentence. I just sat down and looked at him and Jax and I just smiled.

3. I am so grateful for Stephanie tutoring Jax and by loving me so much to fold my laundry and watch Ashton while I did simple things like, pee :), check the mail, etc...

4. I am so grateful I have the means to have Stephanie help me.

5. I am so grateful that Jax is doing EXCELLENT in his class. He is doing his homework and is very motivated. The Lord does answer a mother's prayers.

6. I am so grateful to make a Mom with 4 kids so happy to have our old swing set. We didn't use it and it's Great to see her so happy to have her 4 BOYS be busy with something to do.

7. I am grateful for my health. For my boys health. That I am not sitting in a cancer ward at a hospital devastated that myself or the boys are sick.

8. I am just happy to be alive.

I have always had water on the brain but lately I just feel the peace and joy I want consistently in my life. Little things bring me such happiness. Like Ashton talking, or my watching Jax read a book and seeing what a boy he is becoming. Sitting outside in the rain while the boys run nakkid in the back yard so happy they can't stand it. Just little things that bring me joy.

I am excited that my to do list is being worked on. It's amazing how "FREE" I feel by getting rid of stuff. Simple stuff. And I realize that simple stuff was weighing me down. For example. I love plants. But I had so many and today I was so happy to get rid of all them except for three. And then to get rid of the swing set, the broken washer sitting in the back yard, and the dog. Yes! I finally did it.

I have always been an animal lover. But I find that since I have kids I don't enjoy animals so much. Isn't that horrible? Or perhaps, it's just one more thing I don't have to do or take care of. Mercedes has moved a block away. We still see her and Jax was sad for a few minutes but later that night when I was reading him his bedtime story he told me he will miss Mercedes but he was glad to not have that responsibility. Whooosh! The guilt left me and man, I am glad she is gone. She was fun but she was a lot of work. It feels good to not have her here. I know! terrible, huh! No more animals!

The next things are dressers. If I was to use a dresser the way they should be properly used then perhaps I could enjoy them but I seem to be a hoarder as I have three dressers in my house and no clothes in them. I have the cutest plastic bins that the boys and I use and it works perfectly. My neighbors always come to me and sure enough in one my drawers I have that "thingy" or "this thingy". But I am glad to say that all the "thingies" are gone. I even found my self saying "but I may need this" but have had it for years and never used it. So, now dressers are going on Craiglist. I feel free!!!

I am realizing that less is more. I am grateful for that little lesson. In fact, I am feeling so "FREE" I may just run nakkid outside meself now that the boys are asleep. Whose got the bail money?

So Grown Up!

These pictures make me weepy. Jax is growing up so fast. He is so good looking, so cute, quick witted, funny, loving, kind, wild, silly with ADHD, naughty, hates homework, and jobs. A great son and kid.

Kellen is Jax's best friend. They have such a great time together and I LOVE when they laugh and act silly. They are the same age, are in the same grade, like the same girls, and have lots in common with sports and games.

I love the picture of Jax writing. So serious and grown up.

My big baby eating breakfast at Daycare

Ashton and Eston eating breakfast at Kelly's Daycare :) The favorite item on the menu is chocolate chip waffles with blueberries, strawberries and bananas. Ashton looks so grown up. He talks a lot now. Says two word sentences. He sleeps on the floor with the big kids on their sleeping blankets during nap time and pretty much thinks he is 3 instead of 19 months. He keeps up with all the kids.

The Look!

This is THE LOOK I get when I ask Ashton not to do something. Here he is eating blueberries and was throwing them on the floor. And, of course, I get this face and I had to document it. What a character he is. After he gives me this look then he smiles. Too cute!

1st Day of School~

Jax came home exhausted from his first day of first grade. He had a great day and had a great time telling me rules and what a SAFARI book is all about it. A SAFARI book is a book that he carries to school and home every day from his teacher and she puts a weeks worth of homework in it, etc.. and I can send notes and misc. to the teacher. Very cool. He was so tired from doing home work his first day (yes! first day) that he fell asleep on the table and Ashton was tired too so he fell asleep on the floor next to him. Ashton HAS to be where every Jax is. They are inseperable right now.

Mrs. Stephanie comes from 3:30-6:00 to help Jax with his homework and to be my Mother's helper and it's been very nice the last two weeks to have Jax's school work all done and I can spend more quality time with Jax at night. It's never fun doing homework with mom.

ASHTON LOVING HIS POOL GOGGLES... WHAT A SILLY BOY!

Jax has been throwing up this evening and Ashton has had a fever all weekend and since they are quaranteened in their room I thought I would come to a safer, non sick(I hope) area of the house and update the blog. I took them to the doctor and there are several bugs going around. One is the throw up flu and the other is a nasty cold with a high fever which my piglet has. I am hoping Ratatouille will help the aches and pains.

June and July flew by and it was soooo busy but very fun. Jax tracked in and we spent lots of time at the pool. Jax was way excited to see that the friends he "loves" the most moved up with him to his first grade class. So far so good with his new teachers and environment. I am so proud of him.

I am going to post random pics are I have too many.