Winter is here

Well, after reading my last post (nearly 6 months ago) it put me in a bit of a funk! It appears we were enjoying a beautiful summer. Now, we are smack dab in the middle of winter and the frigid air, and snow dusting outside is bringing me down a bit!

Fall came and went quickly this year! The kids did great in their first half of the school year. I continue to be amazed at how much they learn, and how fast they learn it. I was quizzing Brevin on the skeletal system this morning for his oral quiz at school. While it is only the major bones of the body, I don't remember touching on anatomy until high school, let alone 4th grade! Delaney has developed a love for reading, and her scores are showing it! She reads every night before bed (just like her mommy) and even though she is only a first grader, her reading level is testing at that of a 3rd grader! I'm so proud of the effort my little ones put into their school work. Now, if we can get them to focus that effort on keeping their rooms clean and being nice to eachother we will be in perfect harmony!!!!

Brevin finished another successful (and injury free) football season. Last year, he played with all 3rd grade, but this year the 4th and 5th graders played together so he had to adjust to the fact that the 5th graders were bigger, faster, and stronger. Last year, he was a running back and defensive back, and played both ways nearly every play. This year, he was able to start on offense as the split end, but didn't get to play a ton of defense. He was able to catch quite a few nice passes, thanks to his "new gloves" and some great throwing by our young, 5th grade QB. He even capitalized twice on those passes for a pair of TD's. I love watching him score, but it is even more rewarding to see him excited for his teammates as they put points on the board. Jamee was the head coach for another great season and the boys finished it out 6-1, and the one heartbreaking loss was a close one! Couldn't have been prouder of those little guys.

Laney decided she wanted to take a tumbling class this fall. The year started out strong and she was LOVING it, but as time wore on, she was getting headaches and stomach aches after every class (they spent a lot of time in back bends and standing on their heads). Normally, we wouldn't let the kids "quit" anything they started, but after 2 months, it wasn't getting better and we let her throw in the towel. I started helping with the JV and Varsity Cheer teams at our high school and she has enjoyed being the "manager" for the girls. She even got her own little Pirate cheer uniform. She was so excited to wear it to that first game, but now refuses to wear it to the basketball games because she is "embarrassed." She certainly didn't get the "shy" gene from me!!! She loves shooting the ball around with her brother and going to open gym, and she asked her Aunt Lindsay if she would teach her how to pitch this summer. While I love to cultivate the "girly" side of her, I'm excited to have a little girl that loves sports too. I love that she paints her finger and toenails, wears bows in her hair, loves the color pink, and plays with dolls, but is a strong little thing that can play just as hard as the boys! I can't wait to see how she develops into a young lady.

Well, as it's January, basketball season is here! Jamee was blessed to have another opportunity to help coach our boys varsity team, and they are looking pretty good again this year. Looking forward to another successful post-season run. As I said before, I'm helping out with our school's cheer program. It's been a lot of fun so far, and I'm very excited to be a part of it. Can't wait to see what 2011 will bring...

5 months, really?

I can't believe it has been 5 months since my last update. It was literally winter the last time I wrote! We are now smack dab in the middle of one of the hottest summers I can remember for a long time, and while I hear so many complaining of the hot, humid weather, I'm LOVING it. Of course I have central air so I have a respite but I'll take hot and humid over snow and ice any day!

Jamee, the kids, and I jetted up north for the weekend to spend some time with friends at their cottage. We had such a relaxing time just playing cards, sitting by the fire and making smores, playing ladder ball and watching the kids dance their little hearts out. I truly LOVE Michigan summers (if you haven't noticed). Unfortunately, we came home to a mess. UGH! Apparently there was a small storm during our two nights away and our outdoor glass top bar was shattered into a million pieces and the umbrella bent in half. Oh well, I guess it's just "things," but I can't help but be a little bummed. Lesson learned: don't forget to take the umbrella down when leaving for the night!

Baseball season came and went and Brevin's team did great. They ended the season in 2nd place and lost in the second round of tournament play. I remember wrapping up in blankets last summer to watch him play which was definitely NOT necessary this year. Wednesday we play eachother in the Mother vs. Sons game and we've been picking on eachother all last week, so the Mom's better win or I'm in T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!!

Last but not least, I'm "between jobs" at the moment. I'm looking forward to finding a new job, but I'm also thoroughly enjoying my time home with the kids this summer. I haven't had a break like this since I was in high school and although I realize that is how it is for grown-ups, I'm trying to make the best out of a bummer situation! In the meantime, I've begun to fulfill my childhood dream of starting my own photography company. I've done a wedding and I have some senior portrait sessions coming up and I've had great feedback so far, so this is a great time in all our lives.

The pics are from our outing to Potter Park this year. Lin and the twins joined us and we had a blast but were all very exhausted at the end of the day. I thought Lin was going to have a stroke watching the peacocks stalk us during our lunch break. The peacocks are obviously fed by visitors at Potter Park.

Busy Bees

It's been much too long since my last post, but it just seems like time is slipping away so quickly these days, so I thought I'd do a quick update of the past 6ish months or so...

Brevin finished up his first season of rocket football this fall. It was so adorable (and slightly nerve-wracking) to watch those little guys run around in football gear. It seems football is just genetically engraved those little wee-wads because they sure seemed to know what they were doing. Since Daddy was the head coach, he was able to get some extra practice in on the side which was nice for him. He ended the season with quite a few yards rushing, a few receptions, 4 touch downs, and a 2 point conversion (oh, and I shouldn't forget the tackles too). I was a proud mama to say the least. School is going very well and he is learning SO much this year! He is a manager for the Varsity Boys Basketball team this winter and has spent a lot of time on the road with the team, but it has been a great learning experience for him, and I've watched him grow up and mature so much.

Laneybug is growing like a weed! I can't keep pants that are long enough on her little legs! During Brevin's football season, Laney had her second season in soccer. She is much more interested in playing than hugging this year, but the hugging is still pretty prominent! She just loves the socialization of soccer, and her aggressiveness on the field is still "developing." She has been such a fun companion for me this past year. She loves the color pink, shopping with mommy (and grandma) and adores princesses. She started the AR reading program in school and is progressing in her reading skills at an astounding rate! Again, I have to play the proud mommy card!

Jamee and I have managed to stay on top of our busy schedules and still spend time with family and friends. I was able to pick up a flex schedule at work so I only have to spend 4 days at work, which has been great for us. I'll be starting my master's classes this spring but it will be at a much more relaxed pace than before and I'm really looking forward to beginning (and ending). Jamee is still driving many miles to work for the furniture company, but we're are just very appreciative that he has work at all. He is staying extremely busy as an assistant coach for the boy's Varsity Basketball team, but it has been very rewarding for him, and I'm very proud of the work he is doing. It has also brought many new people into our lives that I truly believe will be good friends for many years...

Til Next Time

Athletics

I decided it was time to get active again. Jamee has always been involved in sports whether it be golf, basketball, or just plain running. I, on the other hand, have tried my best to refrain from anything that will increase the chance of showcasing my innate clumsiness. It's really more safe for myself and those around me. This week however, I decided to throw the past ten years of avoidance out the window and get my feet moving again, and boy did I jump in with both feet!

It started with golf on Sunday. Our church organized a doubles scramble, best ball and I was paired with a gentleman that did quite well. Together, playing best ball, we recorded a 36. I was thrilled with it. I hit the ball great and felt completely at ease. No pain. The next morning I woke up and I felt a little tightness in my shoulders but just figured I slept funny. So, Monday night we started the co-ed volleyball league. I had a blast and surprised myself with my lack of falling, tripping, and getting hurt! I'm definitely not ready for the Olympics, but I don't think I embarrassed myself too much. The next morning, the "tightness" turned into just plain OWW! My shoulders hurt, my wrists hurt, my knees hurt and I had two bruised forearms. I guess I didn't learn my lesson because I talked Jamee into playing tennis that evening. I lost 6 sets to 3 sets. No big surprise since I haven't beat Jamee once in our 12 years of togetherness. The pain was just compounded the next morning and my body was screaming out loud for a break. I took a couple Motrin and didn't do anything for two days. I was so rested in fact that I jumped on board when we had the opportunity to kayak down the Chippewa on Saturday. After 4 and 1/2 hours of rowing, one minor tipping, and a rain storm we ended up on shore...

Today, my shoulders feel as though I'm 90 years old and my knees must have something ripped or pulled in them. My back is stuck in one position and I have a bruise/bump the size of a golf ball on my thigh. I have a minor poison ivy reaction going on that had something to do with using the "restroom" half way through our kayaking adventure, and I'm certain one of my two wrists are broken. I'm a mess. The silly, sad part is that I'm going to start doing it all over again tomorrow night. Volleyball here I come!

Prayers needed...

My little sister Lindsay is pregnant with what is believed to be identical twin boys. She has done an amazing job with all that has been put on her plate these past 3 years. After suffering a miscarriage, she was blessed to find out (nearly 7 months ago) that she was pregnant. Then a few months later we were even more surprised to find out that she was having two boys and they seem to be identical! Her and the hubby have picked out the perfect names...Hudson Leon and Koen Alexander and now we are anxiously awaiting the boys. She has researched every twin site out there and registered for the most efficient baby gear available for a mother of multiples. Our entire family is bursting with joy...

Tonight Lin is in the hospital at 27 weeks in labor. I can relate to the feelings of excitement, worry, and downright terror she is experiencing as I went into labor with my first baby at 27 weeks. Thankfully, they were able to stop my contractions. She is in the hospital fighting for the same thing right now. Each baby is just over 2 pounds and both need to "cook" just a little bit longer. The message I've received is that the contractions have slowed but her cervix is softened so there is some concern still. They are going to keep her for 2 days for certain and possibly longer if necessary. If there is anything I've learned in my short life, it is the power of prayer. Please keep Lindsay, Alex, Koen and Hudson in your prayers and ask God to watch over and protect them. Only He knows the master plan and we can only pray that he keeps the boys healthy and Lin safe. Thanks to everyone.

Is Life Running Me?

Lately I feel as though life is running me instead of me running my life. I have this great summer schedule since graduation. No school and I'm working 4 days a week at 10 hours each and I get a 4 day weekend every other week, but I feel more rushed and unrested now than I did last semester taking 22 credits and working 40 hrs a week.

Don't get me wrong, I love the things I'm doing to rush around, but it just seems like as soon as I accomplish one thing, I have two more on the back burner. Needless to say, blogging is not at the top of my priority list. So here is a quicky about the past few months:

1. Grandpa had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance due to breathing complications (all is well-no worries). Unfortunately, Laney was there at the time and I was not. Everyone was spectacular in explaining to her what was going on. Even the paramedics were concerned with making sure the five year old little wee-wad was comfortable and not frightened. As the ambulance began to pull away from the house, Laney looked at Grandma and in all seriousness asked "Well, aren't they going to throw us any candy?" I guess she wasn't too frightened.

2. Brev has been BUSY! He just finished up the regular baseball season and their team finished in 3rd. This was his first year in Pee-Wee and they keep score and strike out now so the first few weeks were very frustrating for him. He went from being one of the biggest kids to one of the youngest and baseball became a game he had to work at rather than enjoy. At the end he started to get the hang of it and finished the season with a boatload of walks, a couple of RBI's, a couple of runs, a double and a triple. Not too shabby for his first year. The down side was that there were a few games when striking out resulted in dug-out tears, and as the famous Tom Hanks line goes: "THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!!" So we have to work on that...

3. The first week after school ended, Brev had basketball camp for the first time. That is HIS sport. He loves everything about it. He and Jamee were in the basement each night working on skill drills and shooting techniques. His ball handling skills definitely improved over the course of the week. The next week he had football camp for four days. He liked football but wasn't to excited about the pain that comes with it. By the end of the week he was complaining about both knees, his ankle and his shoulder. I'm not sure if it's pain from the game or from growing since he's nearly 4 inches taller since last summer.

4. Jamee has been helping with the boys varsity basketball team. It's something he really enjoys and I'm glad that he's getting the experience.

5. Laney has found her voice! She talks nearly non-stop. It doesn't even matter what the topic is, she jumps from one to the next and barely takes a breath. I can't keep up with her the majority of the time and often I have to ask her to let Brevin have a turn to talk. Nearly every sentence begins with, "mommy..." I love hearing it but I have to admit there are times I really enjoy my quiet ride home from work.

6. Last but not least, I'm working on planning Lin's baby shower. If you can call doing absolutely nothing to date, planning. I'm hoping to go shopping today for some stuff since I need this planned by next weekend when 30 some people will be showing up expecting a shower. Oh, and I'm trying to redecorate my bedroom but my husband refuses to move our 2 ton bed so I have to figure out a way to paint around it...real classy. AND, I want the family room to be downstairs drywalled this summer and Jamee doesn't want to mud it so I'll be doing that as well...UGH!

Graduation accomplished

Well, I finally made it. I knew it would eventually be over but the sense of accomplishment is finally settling in. I had one crazy graduation weekend. My dad flew in from Washington for the event so we were all excited to see him since it had been nearly a year and a half since the last time. On Saturday, April 18th, I accepted my diploma with my husband and families watching. It was such an emotional moment for me after working so hard for the past 5 years. We all went out for a bite to eat at the local Pub and then Dad drove us home to play with his grandkids. I was ready for a relaxing evening at home, boy was I wrong...

Jamee and my friend Kate planned an amazing surprise party for me. Up until the moment I walked up to the building, I really thought I was going to "stop in" for a quick drink for Angie's "going away party" (one of the best things of the night was when I was informed Angie wasn't even moving...Yay!) I walked into a room packed with all my close and extended family and friends. It was such an overwhelming experience and I still can't put it into words. My cousins from the U.P. were there, a few of my aunts from the Byron side came with my Grandma and Grandpa Byron and dad, all my siblings and most of my cousins. All the pregger women in my life (Kate, Kerri and Lin) even scrounged up enough energy to make it happen. I was so thrilled.

So, I owe a HUGE thank-you to each and every person that contributed or just showed up to show their support!