Pack Meeting Work Out!

We had a blast at pack meeting tonight, running, doing push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, the running long jump and standing long jump, throwing a ball for distance (which brought a few laughs from me...I'm the worst aim and throw!).  

Connor placed first amongst his Webelos in the timed run, push-ups, and sit-ups.  He earned some belt loops and pins as well! 

Aiden placed first amongst the Wolf's in the timed run and sit-ups!  Aiden also earned his Bobcat and many loops and pins!

I was the only adult participant, may as well get a second work out in right???  I won the OVERALL award!!! Woo-Hoo!!!

These boys are growing up and getting so motivated as they move up in cubs...and soon to be Boy Scouts for Connor!  Who knew raising boys would be this much fun?

You like the Cub Scout bags they happily pin their academic pins to and place their derby cars, books, belt loops and badges in?  I made them primarily for Cubs (blue ticking fabric). I already have red tickling fabric that will serve as the Boy Scouts bags for them!  

This is living! This is fun!!!

Truth

When the lungs miraculously meet at a critical exchange point....where the lethal carbon dioxide is exchanged for life sustaining oxygen...a chemical attachment is formed between a structure called a heme. Not until oxygen attaches, can we call it the all too familiar hemoglobin. This is what gives blood it's brilliant color...and in turn gives every centimeter of our bodies shades of life. The heme molecule has a strong affinity towards oxygen, it will take it above so many other substances that we breath in.  Though, sadly, there are substances that the heme will have a higher affinity for, and those chemicals, such as carbon monoxide will win its fight over oxygen and rob our beautiful bodies of healthy shades of life. 

Sometimes, we feel like we are being robbed of life!

It's funny how everything around you seems to move forward, on, and upward. I have some friends who struggle...who open up with their struggles...and by golly gosh, I've been there. I personally play a nonpity party in that statement, though I ache for others who have been, or are, there.  I have been to the depths of utter despair in most areas of my life. What have I learned?  That the girl and boy next door may be experiencing very similar things. It is hard to have your entire life fall apart, but sometimes necessary...in order to be humbled to see true happiness.  Still...life is really, in the end, hard. You may feel dull and ordinary...and even with all your effort, kinda ridiculous and unattractive.  It almost feels that the beautiful colorful world around you moves forward, while your lifeless shades stay put.  (A feeling all too familiar when we lost our son). 

I like to remember that even when the world around me or you is full of color and life, the world of my mind is kinda sad and confused, weary and lost. When I look at another who is vibrant with color, I recall that there is still a small part of them which may be lonely and confused as well. And that's okay.  It is my philosophy that it is okay to be honest and allow your pain to be seen... Grace is a beautiful thing as well, but I have seen many graceful women with tears in their eyes.  Those tears...are full of color and life, the color that gives meaning to life. And still...we move forward, up, and on!

Aiden...in Hi-Def!!!

My Angel Aiden turned 8 in May.  He remains an angel through the entire eight years I have had him in my arms...and the 9 months he as in my belly!

On the morning of his Birthday, he got up EXTRA early, all on his own, and he showered!  He looked handsome for his Birthday!  It was a school day, so I had stayed up extra late, using the products we had in our house to make brownie chocolate chip cupcakes for his class.  Yes...it was a creation of mine with what we had, but they happened to be a hit!

 I worked terribly hard to make his room immaculate, organizing all of his Lego's and every crevice of his closet, and even under his and Connor's beds!  I didn't have much of anything to give him on his Birthday, and he knew that...so when he came home and saw an immaculate room, I received the tightest hug from my angel!

His Aunt's, however, had something in store for him.

So, after school, we went to run some errands!

SURPRISE!!!

We ended up at the park with all the cousins (minus the PA ones) for a mini Birthday celebration! 

With ice cream on his chin, and a new notebook, he let us know that it was the best Birthday!!!

 When Daddy got home, we ended up celebrating his Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese!

My angel Aiden...

You have developed an even firmer love for people as you have grown.

Your favorite thing to do with me is cuddle...your eyes light up when you wake in the morning and I happen to be the only person up with you--we end up cuddling together for a good while!

You have faced a lot of obstacles lately....from lacerated corneas, to in office removal of a mole, to a hospitalization for T&A removal.

Your teacher said that you grew so much in the last year.  You started as a shy and scared boy in second grade...you even ran away from school the very first week.

By the end of the year, you had opened up and expressed a LOVE for school...I really believe that your teacher aided in that love for you!

Your favorite color is still green.

Your favorite pass time activity is absolutely Lego's.

You LOVE being active and running and riding your bike.

You adore the callick in your hair...the one on the right of your front hairline...you think it's pretty cool!

You NEED distractions in order to stay on track;

for example, you need to play and do homework all at once, it is quite exhausting for me!

BUT...I wouldn't change that for the world.

Your favorite food is cereal...you can eat is morning noon and night!

You wanted to eat school lunch all year long while your brother wanted a packed lunch!

And ever since your T&A, you have grown, my dear...you are such a beautiful child!

I love you Aiden Obadiah "Obii"...you make me smile, every single day.  You may have a little anger built up in your pre teen body, but it's nothing I can't handle.  I know how to make you smile in the midst of that anger...and it usually comes in the form of a big hug!

Aiden, let's make the next phase a great one!

We love you little guy!

My Children, Gaining Ground on Momma!

My children are growing like weeds!

E-Hem...I am too, but for sad and unfortunate reasons!

But seriously, I went to take out the trash and saw Connor's shoes there by the door.  I slid them on and they fit, perfectly!!!  He recently got a pair of heelies, and now I want some, since I know they will fit.

They say boys grow out of hugging and loving their mothers...

i am determined to keep that alive in our home.  I want them to love and hug me so that they will in turn be the husbands that their sweet wives will deserve, one day!  A man will eventually treat his wife in the manner he continues to treat his Mother...and they adore me at this rate!

Aside from them gaining ground on my height, hand and foot size...but not the weight....grrr...if my body stayed it's natural way (without disease), they'd be there too...they are gaining strength to match me as well.  Connor was a tough fight, but I still conquered him!

Aiden was actually a tougher fight...but I indeed won again!!!

Lest we forget, not only did Aiden have a baptism recently...he had a wonderful Birthday...that and more of my journey with health obstacles to come...

For now, enjoy the image of my beautiful Aiden, the morning and afternoon of his special day!  He IS one amazing and good hearted boy!  Aiden, Obii, Hi-Def, and the list goes on...

I will pay tribute to your fun 8th next time!  

Maya at 3! Golden Day for a Very Golden Belle!

My precious little Maya Ruth turned THREE on June THIRD!!  That's a Golden Birthday in my book!  I was so happy to have her turn three, and so sad all at once.  Every new stage is the end of another, and my heart is so very tender when it comes to advancing in those moments with my babies. It is such a joy to see them become amazing and beautiful children, however!

Maya was determined to wear her Princess dress, Rapunzel for her Birthday.  I allowed it to be, and curled her hair like a princess too!  I dressed myself in a purple top I had worn many times in her pregnancy...purple is Maya's favorite color.  

As a matter of fact, Maya has been saying, for months, that she wanted to go to build a bear, and get a purple build a bear, get purple presents, and a purple cake.  Mind you, she adores the color purple so much that at preschool one day this year, she told her Aunt Sunny that her hair color was purple!!!

This little gal makes me so happy to be a mother.  She was not an expected baby!

I went into the doctor in September of 2009 to get an IUD, that very day.  The doctor required a pregnancy test prior to placing an IUD...turns out I was pregnant!  I am so glad I was because Maya has been the most precious bundle of joy we have had. 

This year, Maya has...

Overcome her infant kidney reflux disease...YAHOO!! 

Learned to love princesses and any thing that allows her to look more like a princess.

Will wear play princess heels that are way too big for her...to the park, to the store, and even running and hiking!

She adores my make-up and will spend my entire make-up routine fixing up herself at a pretty princess speed!

She adores when I place pony tail holders in her hair...she actually likes braids and pony tails.

She LOVES food--she will eat just about anteing you place in front of her.  She will devour her plate and sit next to Steve or I and beg for bites from out plates which are always more complex and delightful looking.

Her favorite lullaby is Dora...yes, the cartoon song!

She has recently ventured into singing Jesus Loves Me and I Love to See the Temple more often.

She adores her Mimi, and desires to see her and be with her often, but when she is with her...she gets shy and puts 90% of the time we are with her.

She has started called her Grandpas (Grandpa Fultz, Papa, and Grandpa Roy) Grandpa Roy...to which I have to explain the rational over and over again to her sweet little mind.

She went from loving nursery to needing one special person there to calm her...Sister Newey!

She has gone from shouting in church and when the other children are sleeping to understanding the importance of a whisper...and her whisper is a sound that makes my heart melt.

She has learned t go for runs in the jogger without screaming 90%of the time, but she loves to get out and run with me...so I b=never really get a good run in when I tag my children with me!

She has said goodbye to the bottle, which she started requesting as her bottle with syrup for weeks prior to the cold turkey method of saying goodbye.

She will still remind me daily, "I your baby huh Mommy?"

Yes, Maya YOU are my baby!!!

I could go on and on...but know this, she is perfect!

We had a special Birthday lunch with Mimi and Papa...it was wonderful!

And Maya continued her pout through the lunch, but we still celebrated her and her beauty! 

Her purple build a bear was a no go, since there were NO purple bears there!  So, she chose her next favorite character, Hello Kitty!  And...she immediately found a matching Rapunzel dress for her as well! 

Daddy picked up her perfect purple cake...and after his long work day, we celebrated the last moments my dear baby would be saying goodbye  to 2, and hello 3!

 We ended up catching a glimpse of what Maya has learned in her twos...her tiny index finger goes straight into her nose when people start giving her extra attention...it's almost a nervous tick!

She went for the blow... 

And nearly missed her golden locks! 

Of course, Daddy, who hadn't seen our baby girl all day was thrilled to cuddle her and carry her like a true princess should be carried!  At least a princess who is only 30 pounds! 

 A few gifts were opened and she received what every girl should have...new clothes from Nonna!

My only child born out of Pennsylvania, yes, my Louisiana Belle...you amaze me daily.  I thank my Dear God for you...you make me better daily!  I love you Princessa...

Mommy!!!