You've got your hands full...

I hear this statement at least a couple of times a day from people I come in contact with! ( those I know and complete strangers). And we do have our hands full, definitely! I know everyone is curious if we are surviving 3 kids under 2 and the answer is yes, we are making it!! It is VERY chaotic, but there are moments of peace. I would describe my day like a roller coaster, mostly peaceful, times of calm when everyone is happy, playing, or sleeping. And then, BOOM! Everyone is crying, needing something and it's complete madness! I just handle them one at a time (easiest first), and we get through it!


I'm really surviving because I have several things...


First and foremost (i know i've said it before), but I have the best husband! He works so hard at his job, and then comes home and works twice as hard here! He has been switching off nights with me so that I can get some sleep, which makes all the difference in the world! With a good 6/7 hours, you can accomplish anything! He is so sweet with Caroline and so much fun with the boys, and helps out with anything around the house!! I'm so grateful for him!



I also have wonderful in-laws! They are a HUMONGOUS help! They will run pick up and drop off for me with the boys at school and take them to their house a few times a week for some fun! The boys love being there. It's like Disneyland to them. Sean and I are perfectly happy with the fact that the boys would rather be with Grandma and Grandpa than us! In fact, we encourage it!

Seriously, though, we tell them this often, but we would not survive if they didn't live around the corner. We are so thankful and grateful to them.



I also have my mom who helps with my sanity and lets me call her at least once a day so that she can give me a pep talk! She listens as I go on about various illnesses and things the kids are doing! I know no one else would be as interested as she is! (or at least pretends very well to be!). Also, when she comes to stay it is like a mini-vacation for me! I love it! ( Only about 30 more days until the next visit!)



Also, Mother's Day out 2 days a week for the boys... Need I say more??



Finally, and most important, lots of prayer. Let's see, I pray for patience about 50 times a day and I especially pray to remember to be joyful and present even through all the chaos! I know it's going to go by so fast and I will be sad about it!

It took us so long to have this big of a family, so we really are thrilled! So, in the end, yes, our hands are very full, but my cheesy response is, our hearts are even more so!

Pumpkin Days!

We went to the pumpkin patch in Celina last weekend! We had the most beautiful weather and our favorite company of Grandma and Grandpa! The boys had little colds, but still had fun. They loved looking at the animals and eating hot dogs! Collin could not understand why we had to sit on the hayride, so I spent most of the time trying to distract him (not very successfully!). They also loved just walking around on the porch at the little house! I guess I could have saved some money! We got some good pumpkins and some good pictures. I still can't quite believe when I look at the one of the five of us! How we've grown in a few years!

OOps!

Okay, two of my pictures didn't upload. Here they are... Jack wasn't playing on the climby thing when we were taking pictures! He'll have his moment later!

Up, up, and away!!

Thanks to our granny, we have a new, very fun climbing place!! It has a slide and everything! The boys love it and now love to go in the backyard! Here are some pictures!

Here's a new one of Caroline too. She's almost smiling...

Also, a HUGE thank you to Grandpa Neil for accompanying the whole crew to the pediatrician! The boys had their 18 month checkup and Caroline had her one month! It was quite the ordeal! We made it out alive though.. shots and all... Grandpa was so patient and great with the boys, as always! What would we do if they didn't live so close???

Caroline is 9 1'2 lbs.! Growing, growing and my monsters are about 25....

They've grown quite a bit since their 3 lb. start!

Baby Caroline Picture

I think we finally snapped a good one with her eyes open. Go Horns

Football!

Here's some pictures of the boys in their Appalachian State jerseys that their uncle Kyle sent! They look like little men in these! And yes, the one picture of the two of them shows a typical play session. Just your usual toys, a costco box, a spatula, and a random star!! The most fun!

Collin and Jack are still loving school and have learned to pray. It is the cutest and sweetest thing. They will put their hands together and Collin says "Amen!". They will do it with me before meals and before bed. They love it! I'm so thankful to their teachers for this wonderful lesson. I pray they keep it up lifelong...

Caroline is a month old tomorrow! She is getting so much bigger! She is so strong and can already hold her head up when she lays on me and turn it side to side!

A very special name

My sweet Caroline is named after another very special Caroline. Her mother, Monica, (in picture), graciously let me use the name after her precious daughter. My mom and Monica grew up together in San Antonio and have known each other for many years (dating back to high school pranks and all!). We lived in San Antonio for 3 years and became very close with Monica and her family. We spent lots of time at their house, took vacations together, and blended our two families alot! Monica has 4 children and Caroline is the third in line. I so remember when she was little just falling in love with her. I held her ALL the time and just played with her like she was my own little doll. She loved this as well and we were very close. We moved away and we would see the family about once a year as we got older. Caroline grew up in to quite a young woman. She was very active in church, volunteered, and enjoyed her friends. She also had a gift for reaching out to others, particularly those who were hard to reach. As I understand it, in high school when everyone forms cliques, Caroline's only requirement to be her friend was that you were genuine. Very sadly, Caroline died in a car accident several years ago. It still just breaks my heart to think of her pretty smile and sweet demeanor. God has a very special angel by His side. Sometimes I think He thought Caroline was too sweet for this earth of ours.

Her mother, Monica, is also very special. While this is extremely difficult, she always manages to smile and have kind words for others. I'm so glad she got to come visit last weekend and meet "baby Caroline." It was so sweet and I treasure seeing them together.

There's a picture of the two of them and my favorite scripture for difficult times...

Psalm 23: 2-3

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.