It was bound to happen sometime

The end of summer came and boy was I sad! We had the best summer ever. I think there was at least 3-4 days a week spent at the pool, discovery center passes got used to the max, park dates were at an all time high. It was a time that made me certain I could handle this mom-of-four gig I got myself into.

Gracelyn started 3rd grade. Why is turning 8 AND going into 3rd grade so monumental? I guess because I never taught those ages or grades so it seems so OLD to me. We were blessed with Mrs. Smith as her teacher. I know that she is the perfect teacher for Gracelyn


Cannon jumped into public school this year. Pre-K is proving to be awesome (according to Cannon). He was made for school. He loves the rules, structure, and routine of the school day. He loves his teacher just as much. Mrs. Kutin is so sweet and loving towards Cannon. the first time she met him she looked him up one side and down the other and said, "Wow, we have a leader on our hands!" I knew right there that she was going to do great things for my sweet Cannon!


Mason attends St. Mary's Montessori 4 days a week. After being in a MDO setting I (along with Mason) was ready for more structure within his routine. After the first 6 weeks he FINALLY stopped crying at drop off. It was brutal every morning but he loved Ms. Jennifer and wanted to see her every day.


And this little guy is happy that he gets me all to himself in the mornings. We have tons of fun running errands, going to bible study, play dates (these are more for me than him), grocery shopping...

Turning into a big boy

Cannon is 5!! Can you believe it? I sure can't . Grace and Cannon's birthdays are only 2 weeks apart so we barely are able to come off the birthday high from one child before we start on it with another.

For MONTHS Cannon has expressed his desire to go to the beach for his birthday. Well it wasn't happening because honestly the beach is about 19-22 hours from here. And there was no way I was going to just hope in the car to fulfill his desire when surely I could come up with something to satisfy him right??? Well this year it was hard but we did it! I did something that went against every mommy code in my head. We went to the beach. Greenbelt Lake's Sandy Beach.
I have not one single physical picture of this trip but I have tons in my head. It was the absolute best thing our family could have done for him.

I didn't step foot in a party store, order a cake, ponder over balloons, wonder how many little friends were going to show up. I just fulfilled my little boy's wish of going to the beach. I dealt with the guilt of course because planning parties is very much who I am. I really get into them. Gracelyn's first 3 were productions that I am mighty proud of. As the years have passed I have slacked or let some aspects go to a degree because of cost, reality, and my children's desires but for the most part every child has had a party with attention solely focusing on them for the day.

Saying all that it was truly my favorite day with Cannon. He loved floating in his life jacket and just being in a space that was bigger than he could imagine. We played in the sand, built sand castles/figures, floated for hours, splashed and did tons of jumps off daddy's shoulders. No one was ready to leave but alas all good parties must come to an end.

Here are a few pictures of Cannon this summer. He got a new bike for his birthday and couldn't wait to show it off.He seriously has the most angelic face I've ever seen.

Dear Cannon,

Your sweetness is greatly appreciated. Although at times we wonder if you will ever get "tough" secretly I love your gentleness and sensitivity. You are going to make a wonderful husband because you are so in tune with other people's emotions. You genuinely care how people feel and if they are happy. You tell us a million times a day that you love us and in turn I just can't help but kiss all over your sweet face and return the sentiments. You are such the snuggler and I pray that never goes away. I love how you love your daddy but you have gotten a little more attached to me. You are always up for a car ride and ask a million questions that keep us on our toes. You are VERY smart and although your speech wouldn't show it at times your words are thought out and precise. We love your stories and wish we could understand 100% of what you tell us. We are getting there sweet boy!

Love you to heaven and back,

Momma

My oldest is 8!

If she is 8, how old am I?? Never mind don't answer that!! After many years of planning parties and such at our house I outsourced! We had don't it the previous year and I decided it was NICE! So a swimming party was born. Macy and Grace have birthdays 2 weeks apart so we (the mommas) decided to help each other out and do a combined party. It was a huge success. The only problem was that we didn't get to spend much time with each other's family but it was so much fun and a change from the past.

We had a wonderful time celebrating Gracelyn and how special she is.

Dear Gracelyn,

Each year I say this is the best one yet. I mean it. You bring such joy to our lives. I am so proud of your heart and sweet spirit. My favorite memories are when it is just us girls doing girl stuff. God carefully orchestrated our family and putting you first was just brilliant. You are such a little momma to the boys and they love you so much. We both know they have mastered the term pesky little brother but the love between you all is strong.

Much love my sweet angel,

Momma

Cuchara, CO

Back in college I met a girl that has forever impacted my life. Well let me back up and say that I met two girls at two different colleges that have forever impacted my life. This story is about the 2nd girl at the 2nd college I attended. Amy and I have known each other forever it seems and instantly we were friends. There is only one other person who knows me as well as her and truly gets me. I don't think I am complicated or anything but I am definitely not the normal, everyday, run of the mill type of person. I tty my hardest to make my friends feel special and if there is one thing I hope I accomplish in my lifetime it is that I made people feel loved and valued. Because without these fabulous people my life would be boring and beige. I hate beige. I am more of a red or pink type of person.

So after finding that more than a degree was in common we decided to hook on to each other and we haven't ever let go. 8 kids later we are still laughing at each other's jokes and "getting" each other.

We decided to take the kids on a vacation. As predicted Cameron's summer was FULL so time off wasn't on the books. But that didn't stop us from loading up and heading to Cuchara, CO. It was the BEST.TIME.EVER! I seriously could have stayed there for weeks. The kids were awesome and so well behaved. The babies managed well and no one got snappy. That is a huge plus in my book. Check out Amy's post about our trip because there were way more pictures to fully see the fun that we had.
Melsey Vaca 2010 was just the beginning of many years worth of memories we will be making!

Around the time I left off.

There is no way I can go back over each even that happened this summer but I will try to do a little catching up for my own sake. (note to self~NEVER let 4 months pass on your blog again!!)

Cameron's business is ever changing and growing. He evaluated each year things that will make the next season more productive and lucrative. It is a never ending cycle that at times can be frustrating but in the end it is something I really admire about him. He just wants the best for us and if he is constantly investing time and energy in the business then the outcome is better and better. One of those changes was getting a box truck to house all his equipment instead of trailers. We have GREAT plans for this truck. 1. We no longer require a shop to house anything other than his mustang. Which in the GRAND scheme of things is huge. There aren't many houses in town that have shops that we can afford so if we can have a truck to house the equipment then we don't need the shop we currently have. We aren't looking to move this month or even this year but it will happen eventually. I don't know when but we both desire more space and different features than what our current house provides. 2. Cameron will be able to advertise mobiley without having to pay a monthly fee on anything. The yellow pages are OUTRAGEOUS. Did you know that? Trust me they are! Any advertising is over the top expensive actually. Eventually there will be paintings/wraps on his box truck. He is open for spaces to advertise for other companies as well so if you know anyone that is interested send them his way! 3. His workers won't have to use their own truck. Cameron compensates them for their personal truck use but he also knows it is hard work on a truck to haul around a trailer all over town so this way his guys aren't putting useless miles on their personal trucks and can just use this. 4. People think they are getting a delivery when really they are getting their lawn mowed. (this made me chuckle because I would totally think the same thing)

So here you have the box truck story. Next time you see it it will be newly painted/wrapped and sporting all kinds of fun graphics.This is just a random picture of my 3rd child and his super happy mommy!! Mason puts smiles on my face daily. I need to revisit this picture often because right now we are on the downhill side of the "Terrifying Threes". If anyone ever tries to mention the "Terrible Twos" they have no idea what they are talking about. Give me a two-year-old any day over a child in the middle of age 3! But alas I think I can call it as almost over. We have just 3 1/2 months until the magical age of 4. I love 4! I mean really love it. I don't know if it is really because 4-year-olds are all that special or if I am just living on a high of making it through the past year. Either way I love age 4! Gracelyn and Cannon woke up on their 4th birthdays totally transformed. I am ready!!!
July 4th we went to Plainview to visit my Dad's brother and family. After getting in the car extra late for the drive home I immediately started wondering why we don't see them more often. I know why really, because we don't MAKE time. It is that simple. We let time pass until months become years and then when we gather again we soak up all the fun and enjoyment and let it rest on our souls. We think it will carry us until next time and it never does. We think we are too busy but we never are. We think that we we will get together more often but we never do. Such a shame really. I didn't get one single picture of my Aunt and Uncle but when this fella came out (dragged was more like it) of hiding you can bet your booty I was taking a picture. He was huge! I bet he weighed at least 40 lbs. I picked up Mason, 37lbs, and then the cat and they were really similar. Of course a cat holds himself differently than a child. So who actually knows but seriously I have never seen a cat this fat before!

Great things are happening

Hello...is this thing on? You guys(all 3 of you) didn't know I was going to drop off the blogging bandwagon did you! Well I did take the summer off. What can I say I still think in teacher mode. But I have missed sharing about our lives. I have kept up with many of my friend's blogs and I have decided after getting much inspiration from this blog, this blog and this blog that I would take on a new direction of my blog. I really would like from here on out for this to be more of a recording of our daily lives. Before I got discouraged from blogging because my postsI formed in my head would be short or I would just want to share a picture without anything to go with it. This blogging business is big time stuff. But like I said I want to change things up a bit and just post our daily lives. Grandparents love that stuff, right mom??

The biggest thing about today is that it is Reece's birthday. I can't write much more or my keyboard will short out. *sniff sniff* I am so blessed by this baby and it is hard to let his 1st year pass. More (lots more) to come about Reece, his birthday, his siblings, his daddy, and what we have been doing.

Mother's Day 2010

I had a fabulous Mother's Day! :) It was spent loving on these people.

And enjoying these...

And getting a mani/pedi with my sweet 7 year old. All in all a fabulous day in my book.