Just January

So far this year I am glad I have not made any resolutions.  I am pretty sure at this rate I would not have kept them.  There are no major life changes over here.  Some things sure could use a change but most days I am just in survival mode. I wonder when this will ever change? I did see through reading a prayer book for the boys and now am on to another commitment of 21 days of prayer diving in deeper with what I originally read. I guess that would be a little bit of a resolution complete.  I always think its a success getting through a book. I hate starting off the year with the craziness and not being able to make progress in the things I have in my head as possible resolutions.  These boys and this house seem to keep me busier than I ever imagined though.  They also make me happy and blessed not just busy.

 

Taking down Daddy.

Squeeze hug picture.

Alone time to play. A must being the baby and he could stand for some more moments like this.

 

The second Friday of January I co-hosted a little baby shower for two pregnant moms at my Mops table.  When I say little I mean, it was just three of us and the two moms of honor. It was so nice and quaint though. 

My banner I made in an hour before I walked out the door.

  

Faith is expecting her fourth girl and Shelia is expecting her second boy.  I wish these two moms the best of luck and pray for them each completely differently.  Eeeek! I have no clue what Faith is going through and am glad I can not relate to her at this moment.  Shelia, on the other hand, I remembered myself in her situation.  The transition from one child to two can be tough in the unknown.  She actually asked me, “What do I do when my first needs to take a nap and be put in the crib and I am holding the baby?”  Bless her heart.  She is nervous for the unknown but thankfully so many before her like myself have gotten through this time.  Now Faith and I refer to that as the “easy days”  and would welcome the chance to go back to that if only for a day.

Me, Shelia, Mary, Faith and Alexis.  I have been honored to get to know these women this year.

 

Saturday we enjoyed the park after getting some Dilishi froyo.  It was Brad’s first time and now he is hooked. The weather was 75 or something like that this day.  Beautiful!

 

On Tuesday, the boys had a double dentist appointment after school.  This is Gavin’s second or third time and I still have to have him sit on my lap and lay him over and hold his arms down.  He screams and chokes on his spit but it needs to be done.  He really could hurt the nurses or I if her were not pinned down.  Trust me, it is torture for me too, not just him.  He made it out unscathed.  Traumatized, I am not sure?  He was a proud member of the No Cavity Club though.  Bradley is a pro now and got his name on the tree too.  He also confirmed he has his first official LOOSE TOOTH! The subject of the tooth fairy came up and Gavin said “Mom, I want chocolate coins!” I love his enthusiasm for what will happen years down the road for him.  Also, he has is completely wrong, the tooth fairy never can leave candy or chocolate.  I think he is brilliant though for thinking it is still money.

On Wednesday, Mimi and Great Granddad came to visit overnight.  They were on there way back to Brevard from a trip.  We had to take them to Dilishi of course!

     

Daddy’s little helpers.

Our crazy sweet mess Easty! He had us sitting there for 30 minutes longer until he finished.  He was taking his precious time and he would scream if I suggested he be done.

Granddad telling all sorts of stories!

Easty loves to come up in mine or Brad’s lap these days and he says “ I sit down, momma, sit down!” He can be very bossy with what he wants ;) I try and soak in all the snuggles I can get as I know moments like these wont last forever.

They left the next morning but we are so thankful they stopped to stay. The boys love the attention when family comes to visit.  After this it was life as usual for them though.  Daddy left today for a little over a week long work trip. They are already missing him and asking for him a lot.  Easton is such, I repeat, SUCH, a Daddy’s boy.  We hope it goes by quick!

A New Year ~ 2013

It has been pretty uneventful in the Woodward house so far this twenty -thirteen. Pretty much the only news to report is we have all been sick and are trying to get better.  Brad and I are both on antibiotics for a nasty upper respiratory infection.  Pretty much a bad cold.  The boys after I was thinking they were in the clear came down with the stomach bug that I got on Christmas day.  It happened over a week later though and it also happened the exact night before Bradley was supposed to return to school from his 17 day break.  So, with the weekend included we got to have him home for 4 more joyful days.  Making that 21 days with all three boys!! Mommy is ready to pull her hair out so I am glad tomorrow, Monday, starts a new week of school and productivity for us! Here is a few pictures of what we have been doing since New Years.

New Years day we spent with friends in Southern Pines.  I did the cupid shuffle in the cold and we missed the “pine cone” drop at 8 pm! Laugh now!! There was no countdown from 10 so literally if you blinked you missed it. 

We have done a lot of laying around…

 

We went to Fun Gym and the boys both climbed the rock wall for the first time. 

 

We have been watching lots of Football together.

Playing…….

And going to the park…..

Racing Daddy on the slide is so much fun!

The boys love to watch Brad punt the soccer ball or football really high up into the sky and then chase it and catch it all to have him do it all over again.  They think it is the coolest that he can get the ball that high in the air.  Well, there is a funny story this time.  Gavin, being the social creature he is went up to another couple at the park with their two boys and said “my Dad kick the ball way up high….” anyways he is talking a mile a minute to this couple and demonstrating and he went to show a kick and kicked his own legs clear out from under him and landed on his back.   He got up and said “whoa!” and giggled at himself and then ran away.  The couple any myself were busting out laughing!! He is a trip I tell ya, A trip!!

Remember God loves you this New Year as he always has! Look for how he shows you and count it as that instead of brushing it off.

I am excited for the possibilities this new year brings as I take the steps and aim for change to happen with God to lead the way and help me when life is tough.  We all know the tough stuff doesn’t fade but the good part is that God doesn’t either as long as we don’t let him. He’s got my back in 2013 just like he did in 2012!! Thank you Lord!

Our Christmas 2012

This Christmas was a blessing in spite of me being sick.  I got sick and came down with a nasty stomach bug literally 15 minutes before the boys woke up to see that Santa had arrived.  Thankfully since then I have been the only one that received that gift.  My mom was visiting as I mentioned before so she took all the pictures while Daddy got down on the ground with the boys and helped with everything.  I just sat in a haze and watched.  At one point I even threw up in a small trash can while opening my stocking from Brad. The boys knew something was up, even Easton, and pretty much stayed away.  It is the cutest thing though because along with his brothers, Easton was saying “you okaaayy mommy?” Here is the madness and memories that ensued….

 

Santa was here!

We did something new this year.  I did three gifts each.  It goes with the symbolism of baby Jesus getting three gifts from the wise men.  Some people take it further and with those three gifts you get one “gold” gift, the big item they are longing for; one “myrrh” gift, which is for their body, such as clothing; and one “frankincense” gift, for their spiritual growth. I don’t know if I will do it like that every year since normally in their stocking I try to put a spiritual gift like my mom always did when we were growing up.  Also, Gavin and Easton needed nothing clothing related at all this year.  I am sure as they get older and like the styles of clothes/shoes maybe I can do this. Also, I told them that this was Santa who brings the three gifts tradition so I did actually have one extra gift from mommy and daddy for each of them.  Santa can’t get all the credit!! 

I has gotten this for Gavin and then swapped and gave it to Easton.  Brad and I were laughing because it kind of looks like him!

He loves his horned dragon and gave him kisses!

Bradley asked Santa for 4 jets.  He specifically told me he wanted two and he wanted to give one each to share with his brothers.  That just melted my heart.  He was already giving before he even received.  Sure enough, he opened that pack of jets and gave one each to his brothers. It was exactly what he wanted.  Santa isn't cruel though so in knowing this would happen they all got lots of little jets in their stockings.

Imaginext T-Rex Dinosaur.

Blocks.  He loves his Trio set of blocks that click together so we thought we would try something new. 

Excited about a toothbrush!

Best Buds.

Grammy got Gavin Goldilocks and the three bears.  Have I mentioned this is his favorite?  I have to recite it for nap and bed.  Twice daily!!

 

The place was trashed!!

Grammy got Bradley and Gavin both Power Rangers costumes and swords which are a hit of course!

Grammy got the annual Christmas morning picture if front of the tree instead of Mommy and Daddy this year.  There was no way I was taking a picture!!

 

I spent the remainder of the day in the bathroom and bed.  The boys played with all there toys and jumped on the trampoline.  Brad made Chicken and Dumplings from scratch for all of us as our Christmas dinner.  My mom had to get on the road that afternoon to be back for work the next day.  It was a great Christmas for the boys!! They may have rather liked it that it was a complete free for all and Mommy wasn’t around to stop anything.