Jaxon is in 1st grade

Jaxon's was excited for his first day of first grade.  The girls and I had a good day together.  We ate lunch outside.  Jaxon had a great first day.  After school we picked up Jaxon and dropped Hadley off with daddy at work.  Jaxon and Kaelyn and I enjoyed a playdate at a friends house.  Hadley enjoyed visiting with daddy at work.

The kids share the art easel and draw together. 

We took a spontaneous trip to do The VA Creeper trail.  17 miles downhill.  The weather was perfect and the views were amazing.  The girls road in the bike trailer and Jaxon rode his bike the whole way down.  He met a 6 year old girl on the trip.  Her name was Adley Noel and her birthday is in December just like our Hadley Noelle.  They hit it off and he was in love.  We kept seeing her and her family along the trail.  I think catching up with her was his motivation to go down the trail.  When we finished the trail we ate lunch and Jaxon seemed upset that he hadn't seen her at the end.  He was happy when they finally came off the trail and joined us at the restaurant. 

The last week of August Hadley ends up sick with a fever and we were stuck inside.  It was hard to stay inside.  Thankfully it didn't last long.  I took her to the doctor and she just had a virus.  Then Kaelyn got sick at the end of the week.  Thankfully we were able to confine her to her room and she watched movies all day.  She seemed to enjoy that.  We moved Jaxon up the attic where our guest bed is.  He loved it.  He said he liked it because it's so quiet.  I guess Kaelyn talks too much when they share a room.  I think Kaelyn milked it a little bit longer telling me that she was still sick and wanted me to turn on a movie for her.  Poor Kaelyn wants her brother to sleep with her but I think he likes it up in the attic. 

Labor Day weekend was when Kaelyn was sick and we were finally able to get on Monday.   I don't think I could have stayed inside much longer.  Thankfully Brian was home.  The kids were aggravating each other and it wasn't how I envisioned spending my birthday- with sick kids. 

Jaxon finished a full week of school and it seemed too easy.  But Tuesday came after the long weekend and here came the homework.  Hopefully we can get more in a routine before Awana starts.  Thats the only extra activity we can handle right now.  I'll be volunteering again this year in Awana and Brian will stay home with the girls.  I enjoy it and enjoy getting out of the house and around other children. 

Since school starts earlier this year I am trying to get more on a schedule.  It forces us to get out of the house earlier too.  We have joined the Y so I'm meeting friends to work out and putting the kids in childcare so I can get a break.  I am also helping with childcare for MOPS and getting paid a little for it.  It's only 2x a month.  The girls can come with me which is even better.  I plan on doing a bible study once a week and the girls come with me too.  Also I'm trying to do a fun day once a week (ie swimming, library, park) I am looking forward to cooler temperatures.  The girls still take naps which has been a lifesaver.  It never seems like enough time. Since we get up earlier to get Jaxon to school and pick up is earlier nap time is earlier too.  I usually put the girls down around noon and they sleep for a few hours.  I'm trying to pick up around the house and have my lunch and then around 2pm I'm trying to take a break from chores and read.  I love when its cool outside to just lay in our hammock on our porch and read or rest.  Its so peaceful outside and I don't get distracted with things that need to get done in our house. 

Hadley- She is still not really talking but I know its due partly to the fact that Jaxon and Kaelyn talk for her.  We probably don't take enough time to practice with her.  She is pretty fast on her feet.  She loves to take things from Kaelyn and Jaxon.

Kaelyn- can be pretty destructive with some of her things.  Already at almost 4 years old we have caught her lying. She knows how to really aggravate her brother and sister.  She talks all the time.  We love her to death but I have a feeling she will be my challenging one.  Brian says she will be the life of the party. 

Summer is almost over

August 2018
We've had a lot of fun this summer. We haven't really traveled much but enjoyed being at home. I can't believe its almost over.  We enjoyed some one on one dates with the kids.  Jaxon enjoyed going out with me and doing something special while the girls napped. We loved having daddy home with us.

Chuck E. Cheese

Celebration Station

We enjoyed sleeping in.  Jaxon loves to get up before everybody and have time to himself.  He can fix his own breakfast.  But he also watched way too much TV.

We had lots to do to get ready for family to come and visit.  My cousin Ally graduated from PA school at HPU on August 11 and we dedicated Hadley on August 12.  We loved having all our family here and thankful we could celebrate both in one weekend. I did a little bit each day.  Jaxon helped me clean and we cooked some and froze it so we wouldn't have a lot to do while our family was here.  My niece and nephew spent the night in Jaxon's room on the bunch beds. Jaxon slept in our room, Hadley was in our walk in closet and my parents slept in the attic.  My sister and her husband were at a hotel.  We were so excited Aunt Celeste, Uncle Jim, Aunt Wendy, Uncle Joe could come.

My parents came a few days early and we were thankful we could spend time with them.  The boys went to the lake and the girls went shopping and enjoyed Duck donuts.  We also took my parents to the pool while daddy worked.

We had a babysitter come to watch the girls while we went to graduation and lunch.

We dedicated Hadley to the Lord on August 12.  The verse we chose was Psalms 86:11 "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth." So excited that our family could be there to celebrate with us.  We took up several rows at church- Jaxon and Kaelyn,my parents, my sister, her husband, niece and nephew, Aunt Wendy and Uncle Joe, Aunt Celeste and Uncle Jim, my inlaws, Aunt Susan, and "Uncle" Eric.
We are so thankful for our church and the way they pray over us and support us and come alongside us as we raise our children.  Our church dedicates children instead of baptisms.  All that it means is that we as parents promise to the Lord to raise our children in the church and teach them what it means to love God.  The church promises to support us and come along side us.

They had so much fun with their cousins.

After everyone left we were pretty pooped but really enjoyed hosting.

We decided before school started we needed to make a change for the kids.
Finally decided after Hadley has spent 20 months in a pack n play in our guest room and Kaelyn has spent 45 months in a crib it was time for new beds and new rooms. Kaelyn was excited to test out Brothers bunk bed and Hadley was excited for a real room. 

I got princess sheets for Kaelyn and Super hero sheets and pillows for Jaxon to help with the transition. Jaxon was away spending some time with my inlaws and so we decided to give Kaelyn a chance to try out her new bed.  Surprisingly she stayed in the bed and did real well.  The real test was when Jaxon came home and they share a room.  I don't think Jaxon was real excited at first because he said Kaelyn will keep him up and talk too much. I was surprised at how well it went.  Kaelyn is still not potty trained but she likes to give an excuse before bed of needing to go poop because her tummy hurts.  But this really helps because it helps Jaxon get settled and almost asleep before Kaelyn gets in bed.  We have to separate them for rest time though and Jaxon goes in the attic.  In the morning Jaxon hasn't gotten used to Kaelyn waking up too.  He misses his alone time.

Hadley has done well in the crib.

We met Jaxon's first grade teacher (sub).  He's excited to start first grade and he has alot of friends in his class.  We are starting off first grade with a sub. because the teacher he was supposed to have resigned a week before school starts.  I'm not really happy about this but Jaxon seems ok about it.  He went through 3 teachers last year. So I just need to trust God that it'll all work out. I know he's going to have a great year.

The kids love the car shopping carts at the grocery store.  This time it was a 3 seater.

spontaneous small group playdate at the children's museum

father daughter time at breakfast



Mother son time at the arcade

As the summer comes to a close I think we are looking forward to school starting and to getting on a more routine schedule.  The kids love to aggravate each other and bicker.  Hadley even gets in on the action.  The girls love to squeal and Jaxon and Kaelyn will melt down when something is not right in their world.

What I hear in the back seat
J-Kaelyn you are so mean and selfish
Me- do you even know what selfish means
J- I don't even know

Kaelyn-I'm going to marry my brother so he can give me a ring because I don't have one for my finger