Today is Bub's Birthday! Can You Believe He's 15?

What does a not so average 15 year old decide to do for his birthday?  Spend it with the family, of course!  I love that Bub would rather be with us than with anyone else in the world.  Did I mention that we are loud, and whiny, and annoying most of the time?  We are, and the boy still loves us, and doesn't think that he is too cool for us! 

He decided that we should go up to the Jemez Mountains, and to Fenton Lake, so we delivered!  Overall, we had a spectacular day, and made a lot of memories.

The first two pictures in this collage were views we saw on the way up the mountain towards the lake.  The left, just a picture of the rocks that form the mountains, and to the left is Soda Dam.  The picture really doesn't do it justice!  The formation is beautiful.  The bottom left is a picture of the store that we stopped at to buy Bub a fishing license, and I had to include it, because my sis's name is Amanda.  :) The next picture is Bub holding his first fishing license.

At the lake, we started off with a picnic, where Neen announced that the sun was waaaay too bright. I knew the complaining would continue, so I lent her my sunglasses. ;) see, I told you we are whiny.

As I started to think about it, this was Trin's first time to really fish.  It sounds so bizarre, because Anna was already a pro at her age.  We used to live on a lake, and fishing was a weekly occurrence.

Mason was not a happy camper at the lake.  It was pretty much a battle of wills the entire time.  He wanted down.  He wanted to play in the sand/ pine cones, and rubble, and I just didn't think it was safe.  So, he was either held or pushed in his stroller.  He was not Happy!

Close to the end of the trip Neen was complaining because we hadn't caught any fish.  She thought that if she held her pole like a light saber that she would have better luck.  It didn't help, but it sure was cute! Every time she thought she had caught a fish, she would reel in her line, and say "oh man, it's only allergy"  We told her many times it was called algae, but she continued to call it allergy! 

 We left shortly after and went back down the mountain.  We stopped and let the kids explore the Jemez river.  This was by far the best part of the trip.  The kids were able to walk across the river, and play and have fun. Trin always treks off with Bub, and Anna hangs back with us.  Those two are two peas in the pod and really enjoy each other!

Casey and Anna caught several minnows with a frisbee!  Anna was entertained by that the entire time.  Casey took Mason in the river, and tried to put his feet in the water, but he wanted nothing to do with it.  It was a little too cold for his taste!

Trinity did end up falling in the cold water, but said that Bub's birthday was the best day ever!!

I LOVE these kids, and my family!  I am so thankful for everyone of them, but today I'm reminded just how much Bub means to me.  It's not every day that you almost die during child birth. With Bub I almost did, and I told him I would do it again in a minute!  He is truly special, and I can't wait to see where God leads him!

HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY BUBBA!! WE ALL LOVE YOU!!

A New Tradition To Kick Off Summer!!

We decided to start a new tradition to kick off the beginning of summer break!  Yesterday morning, we headed to Durango.  We woke up early, and drove 3 hours to a beautiful place that we have been to once before.  Mason does so well in the car!! Neen however, not so much.  She has never liked car rides, and was the most challenging passenger in the car.  I can't tell you how many groans, and "my butt cheeks hurt" I heard yesterday. It went from me and Casey being frustrated, to almost dying laughing because it was so ridiculous! That girl likes to be comfortable, and obviously a 5 point harness is not her carseat style. ;)

When we first got there we stared off at our favorite park and river spot.  This was the Animas river, and the kids love to explore it. They found favorite rocks, tadpoles, and a snake. Ugh! They danced, flipped, and splashed the afternoon away.  We also visited the park that sits just up the hill from the river.  Mason loved walking around with Daddy, and swinging on the swings.

After the park we visited the fish hatchery which everyone but Anna enjoyed!  She thinks it's just well...boring.  There are fun little trails and bridges close by that we "explored"!  It is really so peaceful and pretty there! I miss green grass, and trees!  I miss seeing water flow! One thing I don't miss since moving from Tx is the extreme heat and humidty.  Everything else, pretty much!  Here in NM it's pretty much brown...just brown. :(

Lunch was a little crazy. We ate at a place called Zia.  They had taco bowls, and burritos.  The one thing they didn't have was high chairs, so that made things a little tricky. We did stop by Cold Stone before heading back to the park and river one last time, before heading home!  We had a great day!  We really need some bicycles though! They have awesome places to ride! And next year, well maybe we will go rafting. ;)

Wednesday was the last day of school...

Enough said!

I need to brag on my Anna just a little...

Anna won several awards this year at school!  She won two class awards that were presented last Friday.  One being the Sweet Spirit award.  Her teacher is always saying how kind Anna is to everyone, and how she has such a sweet spirit.  She says that she loves to see Anna with the little ones, and that God has big plans for her and that her sweet spirit is a gift.

Anna also won the "Gentleness" award voted on by her class.  The class has been learning about the Fruits of the Spirit, and they each had to vote for a person that represented each of the nine fruits. I thought it was such an honor for Anna to be voted for one of these awards.  She is new to the school, and it touches my heart to know that these kids care about her.

On Monday Anna was late to the pick up line. As she got in the van, she apologized for being late, and said that she was in the principals office.  My heart sank. I couldn't imagine what she had done. ;) She said, "I won another award, Mom!" I was beyond belief! This time she had won a school award.  The Principal's award was only given out to 2 students per grade.  I know there are at least 80 kids in the fourth grade alone.  I think I said "what, are you kidding me?" twenty times. Only 12 kids in the whole school got this award!!! Anna, my Anna won this most awesome award!  I am beyond proud! I am the proudest mom in the world!  Anna struggled this year with the demands of A LOT of homework and tests, tests, tests! She needed this, and I am so happy for her!

I can't believe that the school year is over! I have mixed feelings.  I'm happy, excited, sad, and scared!  Did I mention this next year the girls are homeschooling?  Eek!  Wish us Luck! Say some prayers! ;)

Mason's First Birthday and Easter

This past year has flown by so fast!  Life with Mason has been such a smooth transition. He is so peaceful, patient and content.  It almost seems unreal.

With Bub, his first year was full of crying and reflux and sleepless nights.  With Anna, we were fearful, and on edge about her hydrocephalus and what kind of life she would live. She was not a good sleeper.  With Trin, she was demanding, unpredictable, hated the car and cried A LOT!  They each brought joy to our lives, but had their own challenges.  Mason, well...he's just fit in.  No big adjustments, few sleepless nights, and minimal crying.  He has truly been a dream, and we are so grateful for him! We have loved getting to know him, and sharing our lives with him this past year.

Mason got to celebrate his first birthday on Easter!  My mom came in town, and we just had a small celebration at home.

Every morning when Mason wakes up, he comes to my room to drink his bottle.  The girls got up early this day and came to my room, so they could share this time with him, and be the first ones to wish him a happy birthday!

After looking in his Easter basket, he decided he would rather have the candy from the girl's baskets.

After Easter baskets, Nana made us dairy free (he is still allergic) cocoa and biscuits.  This was Mason's first time to have this breakfast and he LOVED it!  After breakfast, Mason was pretty grumpy the rest of the day.  I joked with Casey that Mason gave us a great first year, and that it was his party and he could cry if he wanted too. ;)

We had a pretty relaxed morning, and  let Mason open his gifts after our Easter lunch.

For Mason's birthday, we gave him a water table for outside.  Nana gave him books, a fire truck, a slide, a picnic table, and bath toys.  I told Amanda that Mason needed some bath toys, so she picked out a lot of Miles favorite bath toys, and bought them for Mason. They also gave him an awesome Vtech helicopter.

After presents, we went outside for some pictures before our Easter egg hunt.

I could tell that Mason was not feeling well. He was just not himself most of the day. He was very attached, and cried a lot.  I felt so bad for him, and wanted him to enjoy his day.

I really love this picture. It's us.  It is our family. Four kids, with four very different personalities. I had no clue that when my mom took the pictures that the kids looked like this.  I knew Mason was crying, and I told my mom to just take the picture.  It was the moment, and what Mason was doing that day. He was crying.

 The rest of the kids...that is "the moment" for them too.  Anna is always trying to look older, drawing attention to herself.  Neen is very sensory sensitive, and Bub is looking at the ink stains on his hand. Casey and I are living it...just in that moment, loving our family.

 

Mason entertained all of us while eating his birthday cake.

He dug his hands in right away.

He didn't eat much, but he flung the cake everywhere.  He would dig in with his hands, grab it, and fling it around trying to get it off his hands.  It was so funny, and such a mess.

I love the icing on his head in this picture.

When he was all done, and we took the cake away, I asked Anna to take a picture of us.  When I got close to him he decided to share the cake with me, and wiped it on my face!

He was very proud of himself, and gave himself around of applause.

Happy First Birthday sweet boy! Mama and Daddy love you!

Mason loves Nana's necklace. I think this is such a sweet picture of him and my mom.

I wanted to get one more picture of my Mister boy before bed.

I thank God each day for choosing me to be Mason's mom.  He means the world to me, and I feel privileged to have him!

Sleeping pictures are some of my favorites. I try to soak in these tiny moments, because I know that with each day these moments change. I never want to forget them.

About a week later we realized that Mason had been crying the whole day because he is allergic to wheat.  We fed him biscuits with wheat, and his cake also had wheat in it.  Unknowingly, I caused him to be miserable on his special day! Sorry Mister boy, we didn't know!

More...

This picture isn't from today, but it's still super cute!

This is one of those days, and moments I don't want to forget.

Today was an exciting day! After two months of me consistently using the sign for more, Mason got it!! He signed more, and used the sign to tell me more at lunch. He also signed more in the car for more music. He was bobbing his head with the song and I turned it down to hear Trin in the back seat. Mason signed more and Anna excitedly said "mom, he just signed more. Turn the music back up!" I did, and he went back to bobbing his head.
 
We repeatedly asked him "more" all night! We are so proud of him.  He is pretty excited himself. I honestly just didn't think he was going to sign at all. Anna and Trin both already had a handful of signs at this age that they were using.
 
I think this little boy is going to be the type that sits back and soaks it all in. When he figures it out by himself he's just going to do it. No practicing just going to go full force :).
 
As I was holding him tonight in his room in our favorite chair we did our usual bedtime routine. We read 3 books. I sang him a song with the lights out, and said a prayer. When he had finished what he wanted from his bottle he looked up and smiled at me. I smiled back not knowing what had pulled him from his lulled state, but right after the smile, still looking into my eyes he slowly took his tiny little hands with his pointers slightly out and  he rhythmically tapped his hands together. He was showing me once more that he was happy and proud of his new "trick" that he had been working on for months inside his head.
 
 That folks is the reward of being a mom. It's nothing fancy...just a smile and a sign for more. :) I sure do love this little Mister Boy!