Yes, I am alive!

I haven't posted in so long.  I feel like a long lost relative in for an awkward visit.  I don't know where to begin.  Life is crazy.  Oh, so crazy!  My mom was diagnosed with ALS in 2012.  Life has kinda spiraled out of control then taken on some crazy kind of normalcy.  It's has been an emotional journey to say the least.  I home schooled the kids last year.  That was fun.  We bought our first ever home.  That was stressful!  The kids are in a great school.  My mom is not doing well, but she is hanging in there.  I have learned to take it slow.  Or at least I know I should and I am trying to do that.  It is hard with 4 kids!  Nothing is slow in a home with 4 kids.  Thaddeus is 3.  Ally 5, Christopher 8 and Evie 9!  Evie had Lyme disease last year!  That was rough.  We hope no lasting effects remain.  That's for another post I guess.  LONG story!  Christopher is still having troubles.  Another LONG story!  Ally has her own problems too! LOL  The only one without a long story is my youngest.  And he's just such a lil sweet heart that in itself is another long story!   We are definitely full of drama in this house!  But the point is I am still here.  Taking one day at a time.  Trying my best at this parenting thing.  Some days I feel like a horrific failure and other days I think "Wow I'm rocking at this"  Well there aren't a lot of those kinda days.  But many days that I'm ok with! I have learned one major lesson in all this.  I am the luckiest lady on the planet!  I am truly blessed.  My kids are a major pain some days but everyday they are amazing!  They show me so much and teach me more than I ever thought possible.  And yeah I make tons of mistakes, but that is ok too!  My husband is irritating sometimes, but other times he is of the charts awesome!  I thank God for him!  My mom is sick but she is still here and it has brought our close family together even more.  My brothers and sisters are frustrating to say the least, but they are also the best a girl could ask for.  I love my life and am so grateful for everything God has provided.  So Yes, I am alive and kicking!  

Smart Girl

Evie is growing so fast. Every day she surprises me with the things she says and does. She picks up everything like a little sponge. She never ceases to amaze me with the stuff she learns. She counts to 7 by herself. It was so cute the other day Christopher spilled his juice. I was frantically trying to clean it up, red Hawaiian punch! Evie started counting the spills, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7! I was so proud. She did that with out any help or encouragement from me!

I do it!

The three worst and best words in the English language. Good because finally you don't have to do everything for your child, but bad because now that you don't have to do everything for your child you realize that she is no longer your baby she's growing up way to fast! At the same time it is also so annoying because they want to do it on their own, but many times they just can't yet!

Evie is constantly telling me, "I do it, Mommy!" She can take off her shoes and put them on! I just can't wait for her to use the potty by herself. I have the worst time remembering to tell her to sit on the potty!

Birthday on Monday!

Evie will be 2 on Monday. She is so excited she knows what birthdays are and loves them. We ordered her Dora cake today. She keeps saying, "Mine Birthday!" I can't wait. I just don't know what to do. I want to take her to Chicago to the aquarium we will probably do that on Monday. I ordered the cake for Sunday so we will probably invite family over for dinner. I just can't decide. I know the aquarium will probably be expensive, and I don't want to go over board. Daddy already spent way to much on her.

Despite having a toddler bed already, a nice wooden bed that was my brothers, daddy ordered her a Dora canopy bed and Dora bed set. It is cute as can be, but what about the other bed. Daddy says, "Christopher can have it!" I don't think that is fair, and what if she won't let him have it! She has already claimed it as her own. Walmart had a baby stroller and clothes on clearance so I got her some. I thought this was fitting since she got the baby for her first birthday, and still plays with it.

Well whatever we do I know she will have fun. I don't know what my hang up is about it. Maybe it is because she is growing so fast.