She's 7

So we've celebrated our second November birthday now as well. I am really feeling OLD. I think I feel older about Gabby being 7 than I did about me being 30. It scares me to think that the adolescent and teeny-bopper years are really just around the corner. My inadequacies as a parent will be magnified that much more!! AGHHH!! Don't you just wish there was some way to suspend time.

Gabby is doing fantastic. She's a sweet child - a little on the quiet and shy side at first (while little sis does all the checking things out), but once she gets comfortable, watch out! We're still dealing with fear issues on and off, but it has quieted down since Halloween is over. In addition to soccer and horseback riding, she shocked me this weekend when she requested to play basketball. I never would have even mentioned it except for she's done with the other 2 activities for the winter and was asking what she could do. I was pushing indoor soccer since I figured she'd be comfortable with that. But she said no. In passing I said "You could play basketball." She jumped right on it! I may yet have a child who plays! I volunteered to coach her team, but I haven't heard yet if I will. Part of me hopes I will - then I can teach the fundamentals and have good mom/daughter time - part of me thinks maybe it'd be better if not - no temptation to push her for selfish reasons, she listens better to outsiders, etc. We'll see how that one pans out. She got a basketball from Gigi for her birthday. Along with clothes, an MP3 player, books, etc. She is reading really well. I can remember in first grade just starting like the Dick and Jane books. She's way past that and reads with a lot of expression which is really cute. What can I say, I'm a proud mom:)

He's 1

In 365 days, Casey Jared has grown from a little 9lb 4oz pip squeek into a ~25lb lovable, soon-to-be monster. His first year has been unlike the girls' in that I've actually had and taken the time to enjoy it. It's been so fun watching him go through all the various stages. At this point he's just starting to walk, a few steps at a time. He prefers crawling because then he can cruise. He has 7 teeth which he will occasionally use as mini-weapons. He's already learned where all the good toys are - his sisters' room. He likes all foods, except Jello which is too complicated. We're having a little family party for him next weekend (couldn't be this weekend since he's a deer season baby - everyone's in the woods once again). Can't wait for year #2!

Obligated

So I'm feeling obligated to post the always-popular Halloween photos. Despite the fact I'm feeling rather Scrooge-like towards said holiday. I feel like my mother, but honestly what's the point? Cute pics, yes; stealing kids' good candy, oh yeah; pumpkin carving, fun enough. But I guess I just don't get that into it. I bought C.J. a dragon costume which was pretty darn cute and the girls were both cowgirls since we had stuff around the house. Gabby survived the middle school costume parade again. She pulled her cowboy hat way down over her eyes and I basically guided her through the halls. No trick-or-treating for her. She has no interest. Rylee went for a little while with some friends.
Check out C.J.'s pumpkin on the right - 4 teeth on top and 3 on bottom. Like the eyes? Rylee actually carved her own pumpkin for the most part with one of those pumpkin knives. She did a great job!

Survivor Plainwell

Yeah, I'm back in survival mode. I'm playing the single parent thing...again. Military wives, I give you major props because it's only day 5/10 and I'm getting irritable. I don't know how you manage for months-years. Or moreso, how single parents can do it.
Steve is gone hunting to Wyoming for antelope and mule deer. He actually got an antelope today. Yes, he had the courage to call and no, I did not bite his head off even though it was oh so tempting. It's just a busy week - lots of kid activities, boss is gone so I'm in charge at work too, and plenty of fall clean-up stuff left to be done around here. Lawn to mow (mower is broken, so I had to get one from friends), garden to clean out (I've started a little), I just found a very leaky roof down at the barn, house is close to being put on the national disaster area list (thankfully housecleaner comes tomorrow. I love her!), a nagging slow leak in my truck tire that requires air every day or so, etc. Needless to say, I really haven't done any of the clean-up stuff - I've been lacking the motivation completely. Maybe on the weekend, but I doubt it because I've really been having an outlet mall craving that I may have to fix. Wow, great priorities, huh!
So this post was just to make sure no one had the false impression that I have my life all in order. I guess if you know me well enough, you're just laughing. Me too!

She's Home

Just for those of you who follow my blog but don't follow my cousin's CaringBridge site, I forgot to let you know that Chloe came home last weekend! She's over 5 1/2 lbs and off oxygen and all other support. She's doing excellent! This is not to say that her caregivers aren't already exhausted, but it is definately a miracle. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Keep them going.

Happy Hubby

This one's for you Stevie. Congrats on your team making it! Don't forget how the Tigers helped make this happen for you. You can show a little love towards them for being an utter embarrassment and failure considering they have one of the highest paid rosters in the MLB. Now you can also resume happiness since you decided to get progressively grumpier last week as your team tried very hard not to make the play-offs. (I know you are insistent that you were in a perfectly great mood, I respectfully disagree:)) I do find it interesting how we allow circumstances that we have little or no control of to have such impact on our daily moods. Like how our sports teams do (Spartans and UofM both won Saturday - a great day!), politics, the current economic "crisis" or lack there-of, traffic, the line at the grocery store, weather, etc. Why do we let these things have any control of our attitudes? My day can be ruined by a traffic jam - how petty is that! Or I can be on cloud nine because I hit all the traffic lights just right and got somewhere early (oh wait, I'm never early. just less late). Our Bible study group has been studying "JOY" for the last 5 weeks and it has been a great lesson for me not to look to my surroundings for happiness, but to have an inner joy that is so intense (due to my relationship with Jesus) that even in less than ideal circumstances where I may not be happy, I can be joyful.

Go Sox!!!

Soccer Chicks

Steve finds it funny that I very commonly call girls "chicks." I'm pretty sure I picked up the term and usage from my dad. Be sure, coming from me, it is in no way derogatory. It's just a fun word. And I've got two little chicks who are tearing it up on the soccer field. All of you with little kiddos, this is when it starts really getting fun (my opinion). Take that with a grain of salt from one who is a huge fan of organized sports. They can understand the game and play it pretty darn well. Rylee has scored 6 goals in 3 games, and Gabby just scored her first last weekend. That is quite a feat for her, since she plays in the older and more competitive division. She really likes playing goalee because "then I don't have to run so much and I can just wait around." Rylee is actually "playing up" too, since her birthday is past the deadline, but she would have either been super bored or killed the younger kids. I'm very proud of her for last week's game when she had a sweet pass for an assist. She tends to be a little of a ball hog if left to her own devices, so I keep having to instill passing into her brain. Here's a few action shots - I need to find my good camera, because this one is too slow and I'm way behind the action. This was before this camera got soaked and now doesn't take pictures....DUH!

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