February Begins

February started out running late. We are all so exhausted that it is becoming the norm for us to be late. This is not something that I like to be known for. I have always been the one who was early and I would like to go back to that.
When we got to school, just three minutes late, we signed in and the boys' headed to class. Today was Mass Day so I stuck around and read for a little while and then headed into Church. I love this day, through the rain and everything it was great to spend time with my boys' and with Jesus.
After Mass I headed to the church office to pick up something for my mom. To St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and to The Diocese of Birmingham, thank you for helping my mom in this time of need. It means so much to all of us.
I came home to work on laundry, registering the boys for school, still putting up Christmas, and just trying to accomplish anything. I was not very successful, but it wasn't because I wasn't trying. Maybe tomorrow will be better. I doubt it though, like today I have too much to do. I need a serious system, if anyone can help with this I would be so appreciative.
We had cub scouts today after school. I decided that we would take the time and start to work on the scout closet. The boys helped a lot and then played Chess and Checkers. It was a good meeting overall. They seemed to have fun, which is what matters most to me.
So the boys still will not clean their rooms. I am so over trying to get them too. I have so much to worry about right now and I just do not know what to do. It will get better. Of course is someone could send me $5000 that would be great. Of course who wouldn't like a good deposit or who doesn't need it. Maybe one day finances will be on the bottom of my worry list. That day is not today though.
Katie Fleming made dinner for my family and it meant so much and tasted great. Thank you so much Katie for everything. You are a great cousin, and even better than that you are a great friend. You amaze me with all that you are able to accomplish and just what a genuinely good person you are. I am so thankful that are children are growing up together. Anyway, thank you. It was delicious and again meant a lot to us all.
Well I am off to bed. I have a feeling that I am going to break and I do not like it at all. Hoping some sleep will do me some good. Good night.

Back to School...and Homework....and Baseball

Spring Break was great while it lasted, even though we did not venture out of Birmingham, which is pretty sad. We knew that it had to come to an end and now the countdown for summer officially begins! I love summer and unlike Spring Break I will not neglect the duties I have at home. I am working on making up for that, but more later.

The boys were no fun waking up this morning, even Brandon and I slept later than the norm for a Monday. All I know is we were on time though and that was the goal. We did get them out of bed and ready for school finally, with pop-tarts being toted to the van for breakfast. Yes, I know I should have made breakfast, but there was no time. That is the goal for tomorrow.

Well, I had a few errands to go run and then it was home to work. 2 loads of laundry done, dishes done, the living room is almost back to pre-Spring Break condition. I also had to finish up a paper for school, and work on some pictures. There was also a letter for baseball that had to be reviewed and 2 for cubscouts to be sent. Dinner had to be cooked, I had it ready before I left to pick up the boys and finished it up when I got home so that we could eat and get to the ballpark.

Brandon got Danny for me, he had Chess today so he stays a little later than normal. They got home, that homework got done and we ate, changed clothes and headed out. Watch out ballpark we are on our way! Danny had practice today and the boys did great, it was a shorter practice than normal but they worked. I am so proud of the progress that he has made already this year. Opening Day is April 2 and we cannot wait. It should be a fun day and then we will spend probably more time at the park, but it will be a blast as my Yankee and Tiger go to the fields on game days. As we were leaving the ballpark the sky was truly amazing, and I was glad to snap a shot or 2 for the blog.

Well, we are home, baths have been given, the boys are finally asleep and I am headed there myself. I am tired and 4:30 comes early. Hopefully I will get up on time without any problems. I am asking all of you to continue to pray for Baby Jemma, she is making great daily strides. Also, please say a prayer for my mom whose birthday is tomorrow. I want her to have a great one! Before I go to bed I will be praying for all of my friends and family. I hope that all of your wants and needs are met and then some!

I was thinking today that there is so much we do that we stress about. I know that I am guilty, but as I have started to make sure I embrace the things that normally stress me out, I am able to feel more relaxed and truly enjoy life. We can only do what we can do.

Family Movie Night

Tonight was Family Movie Night. We have very few nights when we are not running and tonight was one of those nights. The boys have been wanting to see Eclipse from the Twilight Saga so that was what we watched. Well, what we are watching. I love family movie night just because it means we are spending time together and enjoying each other.

We try to make sure we take one night a week and do nothing, but with Chess, basketball, baseball, choir, cub scouts, homework, and everything else that is jammed into one week that is getting harder and harder to do. We are staying determined to keep it up. This week is actually slower with basketball just ending and baseball not quite started yet. We actually have the rest of the week off until this weekend which is jammed with activities but they should all be great.

Danny gave it up early and was sound asleep. John Michael is still going. Hopefully he will go to sleep soon so that momma and daddy can go to bed. We want to get to bed early. It helps us all function better in the mornings.

Well it s before 9, but with John Michael still awake I cannot imagine when we will actually get into bed. I am hoping sooner than later, but we shall see what he is thinking. Before I go to bed I will say a prayer for all of my family and friends. Family is so precious and that is why I cherish mine. I hope that you all do as well.

John Michael is 5

So today my baby boy turned 5 years old. I cannot believe it! It does not seem like five years has gone by since that sweet newborn cry surged through the house in the middle of the night, since I changed those tiny diapers. It seems like yesterday I was convinced he would be headed to high school in diapers because he did not want to use a potty. I thought the pacifier was going to be stashed in his pillow case for college, because he loved it. The waddle walk does not seem like years ago, yet now he can run as fast as lightening. He is almost done with pre-school and is headed to kindergarten this fall. He plays baseball and cannot wait to add soccer and chess to his after school activities. Five years seems like a long time, but in all honesty if you blink it is gone and all I have is amazing memories and some great pictures!

We had a great day. This morning he woke up in the best of the moods. He wanted Cheese Whiz and Chicken Biscuit Crackers for breakfast so that is what the boys had. I do not think I could stomach that before 7 am. Brandon took a half a day at work so was able to surprise him when we picked him up from school. He is so used to it just being mom. He took blue and yellow batman cupcakes to school, and he was blue after school. I love icing dye. It was so cute. Danny took a blue one for snack and he even had a blue mouth after school. He was quite surprised to have mom and dad there on a Wednesday too! We went to Party City to get goody bags and just random party supplies for this weekend. Books-A-Million was added to the stops and he got a Super Mario Brothers Yahtzee game and Danny got a new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. Dinner at Cici's was the next stop where the boys spent abut $15 in the games. He wanted desert at Logan's with a Yee-Haw and he got it. He even had a surprise visitor, his Aunt B and her friend Katie! He loved it. They even brought him a few surprises, including a balloon which he loves! Now if we could get him to sleep. He has had a bath and yet he will not give it up, and momma and daddy are ready to go to bed! I guess the sugar high is still in effect. I am just thankful for an amazing day with my family. I am also very thankful that John Michael had "the best birthday day ever." It made my day when he told me that!

Well, it is definitely not before 9, in fact we are creeping up on 11, but a day like today was well worth a late night! Before I go to bed I will remember all of my friends and family in my prayers. I hope that you remember what a gift each day is that is why we refer to it as the present. Cherish the little things and always hold onto all of the memories!