Simple things

Its been a long while since my last post and my life and taken a lot of twists and turns. It seems as though "life" gets in the way of the simple things sometimes, even when it is just blogging. I feel I get too busy with "stuff" to enjoy my life. So, I will vow to slow down and take things a little slower.

My son has started school, he is now in the 7th grade. It seems like just yesterday I was getting my little one ready for the first day of Kindergarten. Helping him brush his hair, and tie his shoes. I don't dare do that now! hahahahaha.. JonCollin has started football - which sometimes really scares me. This is his first year to play and he seems so unsure of himself. He is always so confident in every sport he plays. This will be a challenge for him and me I feel. I hope to not become one of "THOSE" moms - yelling from the sidelines about fairness... but I am sure I will. I love watching and cheering my son on in every aspect of his life. This is a simple thing I enjoy. I vow to savory each and every moment of it.

We have had a death in the family that has brought on some changes. As I watch all the events play out I am reminded to slow down, and enjoy the people in our lives. We seem to take people for granted that they will always be around, and we forget we are not in charge - for God has a greater purpose. The simple things in life seem to go un-noticed; the people who make you laugh when you are down, the friend that calls for no reason, your child who just walks up and gives you a big hug, your spouse telling you they love you at the end of each day. Nothing else really seems to matter more than the people in your life if you just take the time to enjoy them. I vow to make sure every person in my life knows what they mean to me. Because we are not promised tomorrow.

pictures.

I love taking pictures with my camera...I am learning how to use it now. I took all the boys and took their pictures for a Fathers Day gift. We had our nephew with us for a couple of weeks so I took pictures of him too. He looked like a model. All the boys did so great. I know their fathers will be surprised. Here are a few of my favorites.

Bedtime

This is the converstation I had with my 12 yr old last night at 10:30...

me: You need to bed down in about 15-20 mins...
JC: MOM! come on..
me: 15-20 mins... and i mean it mister!
JC: Mom.. how about 18 mins...
me: Uh.. Ok. I can live with that..
JC: YES!

I walked away trying not to laugh out loud... BOYS!

Playing catch up...

I cannot believe it has been so long since I have posted something... so I will catch up with this entry... it will be a long one so be warned...

First, the cousins came to stay with us. They only spent one night, but it seems like they had a good time.

This is Noah... I snapped this picture when he fell on the floor from laugter...

....and this is why he is laughing... JonCollin has a whoopie cushion.... Boys and fart noises!

McKenna is NOT amuzed... looks like Jake isnt either....

They finally bedded down for the night in the livingroom..... dont know what time they went to sleep though ..or even if they did!

McKenna and I made a cake for a snack... it was homemade. She read off the ingrediants while I retrieved them.... eggs, milk, some teaspoons and cups, chocolate, an xray mixer, sugar and thats it... I asked if we needed flour... she said...No.. wait, how do you spell flour.. I spelled it out F-L-O-U-R .. she giggled and said... Oh I was looking for the other spelling of flour... flower!

Baking is hard work.. so you get to lick the beaters!

Two of the three boys relaxed on the couch all day long playing video games... the other one was outside with his dad all day long.

Seperate Vacations:

For memorial day, B and I decided to spend memorial day with our own boys, so we took seperate vacations with them. I only have pictures from mine and JonCollins vacation for some reason....I guess he didnt take any...

Jon-Collin and I traveled to Houston to visit my parents. While we were there we got to see my sister and her family. We went to the Astros v. Rangers game, went swimming at the pool, and Jon-Collin got to spend some one on one time with his granddad.

My mom and dad taught us to play Texas Hold 'em the first night we were there. Thats my mom and I think....Jon-Collin beat us all!

Jon-Collin checking out if Grand-dad was bluffing..

All the grandkids love taking a bath in grandmommy's tub... they ALWAYS use too many bubbles!

Rangers v. Astros game

Jon-Collin had a BLAST!

Grand-dad and Jon-Collin

The day that Jon-Collin and grand-dad had one on one day, Grand-dad took Jon-Collin to the skate park where he got to show off his skills... I dont see a picture of Grand-dad skateboarding..umm...

That night my sister came over with her 4 kiddos.. This is Austin he is the baby.

This is Damion, he is next in line...

This is Cristion...the oldest boy

And the Oldest of all Grandchildren... Jordan.

Jon-Collin giving Damion a ride on his shoulders.

All the girls, Mom, me, Melissa (my sister) and Jordan in the front...

The next day we took all the kiddos to the pool and had a cook out at my sisters house.

Baby Austin at the pool...so cute!

The boys, Damion, Cristion and Jon-Collin, waiting to get to swim.

This is really a funny picture. Damion got his cape stuck on this truck and all I could do was laugh and take a picture! What are Aunts for! hahahahahaha!

Austin was so tired by the end of the day he was just laying around anywhere he could. So, Aunt Sissy to the rescue! I got him to sleep in less than 5 mins!

Jon-Collin and I had a great time with my family. Of course, we missed Joshua and Brandon. But it was a good time to just spend some one on one time with my boy! He sure is growing up too fast!

Mothers Day Plans

Here is the conversation I just had with my husband regarding Mother's Day...

Me: So, what do you and JonCollin have planned for me for Mothers Day Weekend.
B: Me and Collin are working on it.
Me: So, you have NOTHING Planned do you.
B: We are in the planning stages right now..
Me: No your not!
B: How do you know we are not.
Me: I asked Collin.
B: Shut up your not the boss of me.. (hahaha)
Me: seriously you have nothing planned do you?
B: We rented out the expo center and will be decorating tonight.
Me: Whatever -- Oh lordy..

Baby missing...

Has anyone seen this baby? He seems to have disappeared.

He was so loving and thought I ruled the world. I was the center of his universe and he mine. I love you mommy would pour from his mouth. It seems like only yesterday I was helping him with his costumes and he would play his guitar while I danced around the room with him singing so loudly. Now instead of seeing this baby I am seeing this.....

and this.........

He doesn't wear the cute costumes anymore, and doesn't seem to want me to dance around his room like we used too....

I cannot remember the last time I saw this baby......

... or exactly what happened to make him disappear.... but wow... what a man you are turning into.

Check out my other blogs...

www. christi-scrapbookingandreceipes.blogspot.com

www. mylovedare-christi.blogspot.com

Flash Backs

As I type this I have tears in my eyes. Tears of joy and of sadness. Last summer, Jon-Collin had a terrible illness that almost cost him his life. But God was completely and totally in control and my son recovered pretty quickly. The after math of the illness we still deal with today, but it is very minor in comparison of what it could be. He goes to counseling for PTSS, and he goes to Speech Pathology 2 times a week. So, three out of the 5 days he is in some sort of therapy. To speak and inter react with Jon-Collin you would never know anything is wrong. God is good.

Last night I noticed, actually for a couple of weeks now, he isn't wanting to go to bed. Last night was the first time he told me he was having what he called "flash backs". He doesn't remember a lot of what happened to him, which is a blessing in disguise really... but it seems like small pieces of memory are starting to come back to him and they are starting to scare him.

While he was in the hospital they inserted a PICC line for easier access to give medications, and due the fact the medication they had him on was "blowing out" his veins and every couple of days they were having to reinsert a new iv line. They sent us home with him still having the PICC line and I was trained to give him an IV every 6 hours. After 21 days of home treatment the PICC line was removed and he was allowed to keep it. We bagged it up in several zip lock bags - gallon size - and stored it in his closet for safe keeping.

For some reason, last night he got this bag down from his closet and was looking at it. He then brought it to me and told me I needed to put it up somewhere safer. I didn't think anything of it until later I heard him crying in his room. I went in and asked him why he was crying and he told me because he was scared he would get sick again. I told him that God is watching out for him and that he would keep him safe, and with that, I said, now it is time for some sleep. Tucked him in and turned off the lights.

I stayed up a hour later, and went to bed. I wasn't in bed 20 mins when he was screaming for me. I went into his room and he was crying once more. It was then he told me he was having "flash backs" of the night he got sick. He then proceeded to tell me how he could hear everyone talking but he couldn't talk back and how it scared him. I just laid down in bed with him and cuddled him until he fell asleep. It was then I could tell that my tough almost teenager boy who tells me how unfair I am- still needs his mommy. I too had flash backs. At that moment I remembered when he was a toddler and I would try and lay him down for a nap, and how I would have to lay down with him and cuddle him until he was a sleep. I would try and sneak out of the bed without waking him up because I had a ton of housework to do... only to wake him. He would raise his little head and say, mommy where you going? So, I would just lay down again and nap with my toddler - because nothing was more important at that time than cuddling with my baby.

After about an hour, Jon-Collin finally fell asleep, and his twin bed just isn't as big as it used to be. So, I slowly got out of his bed trying not to wake him.. but as I was leaving his room he raised his head and said, "Thanks mom, I love you." And that, is worth all the stomping and huffing and eye rolling in the world. I love you too son.

Spring Break

This year we didn't have a lot of time to take off work for Spring Break, and both the boys have different weeks off so we decided to do a few things around here instead of taking a vacation somewhere. So, this week was JonCollins Spring Break, so we took off Monday and Tuesday to spend with him and will do the same for Joshua next week. We took JonCollin and his best friend Keaton to a skatepark in Dallas then headed over to see the JFK memorial -- and took the boys to eat at HOOTERS, which I think was the highlight of the entire day for both the boys and Brandon! The next day, we went to Robbers Cave in Wilburton. They climbed and hiked, and climbed some more. The weather was prefect for both days and I couldnt ask for a better time off with my son. Here are a few pictures.

Indoor Skatepark

Hooters

JFK Memorial.. facing the building where the shooter was.

Robbers Cave

The greatest sneak of all!

About a week ago we explained to JonCollin that we were taking away sugar in our home -- really, we are cutting WAY back. To him this must have been like the world was coming to an end because he started stock piling candy everywhere in the house. Not only that, but he has a facebook account (with only family on it) and begged his grandmother (my mom) to make him cookies... which she so loveingly did. He originally told her to make 6 dozen, my mom settled on 2 dozen. The package came in the mail today and when I got home this is what I saw.

My scrapbooking area!

Inside my basket chair!

My entertainment center.

Whats that?

Bag of candy!

This is what you see when you walk in my door.

Bottom drawer.

yes.. Inside the pillow.

YES... thats right

Slash hat on the wall.

Inside the hat!