Hello it's been a long while"

Wow it has been a crazy long time since I have been on here life of two has taken over and I don't have a lot of free time like I use to! Now where to begin I am now a mommy of a FOUR and TWO year old! It is so crazy how much time flies and how big they are getting! Ayden is loving going to school full time and he is also loving playing baseball and mimicking movies that he watches, his speech is getting a lot better and he is really starting to hit his milestones and he LOVES picking on his little brother and wrestling with him!

Clayton is really starting to talk and that is music to my ears with all the issues with speech with Ayden and I am so glad that he is thriving with this it was such a very hard hurdle to go through with Ayden. Clayton loves coloring and playing games on the iPad and loves singing his AbC's. and pointing out shapes and different type animals he sees while driving in the car. He is also my very full of energy RED head! Ayden is hyper but Clayton has him trumped on hyper ness! Lol didn't think that was possible but with these two I am Always surprised!! Hahaha two boys will keep you on your toes constantly!

We have also had some major changes in our family as well Brent got offered a Job at the beginning of February 13' and we accepted the job offer and we then packed up our house in Fort Worth in two weeks then moved to Terre Haute Indiana. I honestly don't remember a whole lot of February it was such a whirl wind. I was coaching at Image still and leaving the girls was by.far the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Especially when at my last practice they threw me a surprise going away party and got me a sweatshirt that they all signed. One of the most sweetest things that someone has ever done for me.  Settling here in Terre Haute was hard at first especially with the weather! I am from Texas with 80 degree weather during the winter with some freezing days but not really and some rainy days. Well it snowed and rained snowed and rain and we have just had a handful of days of 70 degrees weather but now we are back to the 40-50's and its APRIL! Lol we have bought a home here and we are so in love with it we are loving the huge yard the boys have to play in and really making this new house our home. We are till in the process of trying to sell our house in Texas hopefully we will sell it soon! Ayden has started school here and it's been an adjustment it's not the KELC where he went but he seems to be thriving and that's all that matters! We have also had to say goodbye to our dog Boomer. He attacked our niece the day before Good Friday and we had to put him to sleep. That by far was the worse day of my life the day he attacked her. I still feel so responsible for what happened and how I should have prevented but in the grand scheme of things I know I did everything I could. I never in a million years thought he would do something like that!  Our niece is okay she is healing nicely. She ended up with 8 stitches in her cheek, 7 staples in her head and a puncture wound just above the tear duct on the other eye. I thank god everyday that boomer didn't get her eye or attack the boys or our other niece who was also outside when this all happened. I am also thankful that I found the strength to pull him off of her and get between them so I could get her out of harms way! Easter was nice and quiet we went to see Brent's parents and see how our niece was doing which was so good to see her smiling and in good spirits!

Brent is also settling in at his new job very nicely and is enjoying learning all the new things and meeting his new colleagues. I think that he is really enjoying hanging out with his best friend! He also is starting his new project with his new company and its in Arkansas so he is traveling a little bit which is hard but it will only make me stronger!

I am going to stop rambling and I promise I will try and write more often! Til next time

Elizabeth

Brotherly love.....

Well it's been a while since the last time I have been able to get on and blog but with 2 small kiddos that are constantly on the go it gets a little challenging to do somethings :). Well these past few weeks have been hectic and interesting it seems that sibling
Rivalry is hitting our house full force sometimes i feel that I should get my whistle out of my coaching bag and play referee :) the boys are fighting over toys places to sit you name it we have probably had an argument over it. I have had a hard time teaching them to share cause they both think everything is there's and their theory of of Sharing is taking the toy away from the other and saying share :) only of it were that easy. Lots to work on in that department but with them both being so young we have a while before we finally grasp that concept. There are times though when you can tell that the boys truly love each other cause they give each other hugs all the time an sometimes it turns into who can throw who down to the ground first like a surprise attack it's quite cute but sadly Clayton always looses he are does try but he isn't quite that strong yet. One thing that I love is the fact that Ayden's nickname for Clayton is baby and he NEVER says Clayton it's always lets go get the baby, no baby, he is my baby, love you baby, have a good day baby! It's quite humorously keep telling Brent that Clayton will be in high school being a line man and Ayden will be yelling from the stands go baby! Hahaha!!! Both of them are finding each of their individual personalities and this is how I see them right now Ayden is very loud always on the go I call him my little live wire :) Clayton is ver quiet and sweet but don't let him fool you he is just as lively like his brother just quieter both of them put together is a massive ball of chaos!!! Hahaha they try and pull me in two directions but I usually do pretty well of managing the mayhem! well I am going to get off here and spend some quality time with the family Til next time :)
Elizabeth

School Days!

Well we are in the middle of our second week of Ayden going to school for 3 hours a day at Keller Early Learning Center and I have to say the transition of him going to school and being separated from me when I drop him off is going quite nicely the first few days were rough but that's to be expected. He loves going to school! When ever we try to go anywhere now he is set to take his backpack and will get very upset if we dont take it. One thing that he ABSOLUTELY enjoys is riding the bus home every day! At first I was hesitant and it was because I am in trusting a stranger to take care of my child and drop him off to me safe and sound. I am having him ride home the bus cause he gets out of school at 3 o'clock and that is right smack dab in the middle of Clayton's nap and if
You know me that nap schedule I DO NOT mess with! So he rides the bus home and then comes in we talk about his day then he takes a nap for an hour hour in a half! I am sad that spring break is next week cause I don't want to regress any in our new routine but I have faith that we will get back into it in no time! I am so thankful that we live in a district that has such will power to help those kids who need a little bit more guidance and assistance before they go to kindergarten! I am already seeing a little bit of a difference and I know we are doing exactly what Ayden needs and that makes me feel good! I was struggling with this at first, but now that we have started I am at peace with this and I am okay with whatever this journey might bring us! I will love this child no matter what he is such a light in my life no matter how crazy he makes my life seem its such a blessing that god made me his mommy! Well I've got to get to Cooking dinner next post I promise will be about Clayton! Til next time!
Elizabeth

Here are some pics of Ayden's first homework assignment! It was a family project of decorating a dinosaur!

Happy birthday!!

Ayden has officially turned 3 today! I can't believe how fast these last 3 years have gone by!!
Here is a pic of the birthday boy!

Ayden is turning 3!

Wow I cant believe I just put that as a title! Yes my baby is no longer a baby but turning out to be the sweetest most loving little boy! Monday is going to be a big day for Ayden! He is going to be celebrating his 3rd birthday, going to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate and going to be starting his first day of school at Keller Early Learning Center in their PLCD program and speech program! This makes me a little sad cause he is growing up so fast and is truly such an amazing little guy to be around and I am going to miss him while he is at school!
We have also already done his 3 year check up and I have to say it was an appointment that has really stuck in my mind lately and I am having to have faith that everything will be okay and that we are just facing an obstical of him just being immature with some mild behavior issues and not autism which If it turns out to be autism it's a very very mild form of it. I am so incredibly grateful that we are able to get Ayden the help he needs within the school district And also find him a behavioral pediatrician that can also guide us on this little unknown journey we are currently taking. As of right now Ayden's doctor is calling it PDD which means Persuasive Developmental Disorder which is an umbrella to ASD Autistic Spectrum Disorder. So we will find out more when we get him evaluated with the behavior doctor and also see what the school is saying. We also got Aydens stats while there he is 34 lbs and is 40 in and is in the 75% for weight and 93% for height! He has hit a major growth spurt we were in 24 month clothes the day he turned 2 and now we are in 4t crazy huh! I sure think so! But some good news that we got from the doctor is he sees a major difference in his speech he is still delayed but improvement has been made!!!

Ayden is also going to be starting baseball here probably within the next week and I am so excited and nervous all at the same time! Nervous in the aspect of I hope he will be able to focus and follow some direction while out there :) I do know and try to relax that god doesn't give us anything that we can't handle and that no matter the out come Ayden is and will always be my child who I love and cherish with everything I got that will NEVER change! And I also got to remember that none of this is my fault I struggle with this in the fact that I am an at home mom and maybe it's Something that I did or that I didn't do and should have done. I just keep telling myself to breathe take it day by day and everything will be okay no matter the outcome!

Ayden is a very active and vibrant 3 year old and sees the world as a fun and exciting place full of adventure! I can't wait to see what this next year brings and to seer how much he will grow! I can't wait to see the progress he will make at school and in his speech! I can't wait to see what kind of role model he will be to Clayton and the new tricks he will show him! Ayden makes my heart smile and feel whole and has been doing that for the last 3 years I am truly honored and blessed to be his mom! Happy 3rd birthday sweet heart! I love you with all my heart!!

Elizabeth

Happy New Year and Whats Happening In Our Corner :)

            Well the holiday's are behind us and life is settling down quite a bit! I love the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and getting to spend some quality time with family but by the new year I am pretty much worn out! Hahaha! We had a wonderful Christmas holiday it wasn't exactly the way we wanted to spend it but we made it work. Ayden and Clayton had a wonderful Christmas and got some really cool and amazing toys from Santa it was so fun to see there faces on Christmas morning to see the new toys Santa had left underneath the tree! They loved there new toys and they are still enjoying them to this day so I guess Santa did a great job! We still have 2 more Christmases to do at the end of January in Indiana and Chicago we were slated to go for a week over Christmas and come back after the New year but there was a huge change in plans with Barents project that he is on and we had to reschedule. Our schedules are CRAZY busy lately during the weekend with Brent either having to work or me coaching volleyball at a tournament. I started my volleyball season this year a whole month earlier than when we usually start since the team I am assistant  coaching is a national team. I am super excited to see what this season will bring but with coaching a national team I am traveling a little bit more as well during the weekend. We thankfully aren't traveling too far away and its only 2 tournaments that are in Austin and in Houston. Brent and I sat down tonight and looked at our schedule coming up and we were both shocked when we realized that EVERY weekend is booked for us after this weekend until MARCH.... you read it right MARCH! So I am going to take full advantage this weekend and relax cause this will be the last weekend for a while where I can just sit down and relax. I just wish Brent would be able to sit and relax with me and the kids as well but he is working all weekend long since the project he is on has to be completed on Monday for the Stock show. As you can tell we have lots and lots going on but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way cause no matter what I am still getting to spend quality time with the boys and also do the one thing that I love to do which is coach a sport I absolutely love playing as a teenager and getting to share my passion with teenagers that have the same passion that I had for the game. I look at it as a win win cause with my love for coaching I also love staying home with the boys and getting to witness on watching them grow I truly am blessed that I have the opportunity to do that. We are also going to be adding baseball to our busy schedule.... Ayden is fixing to be turning 3 on the 27th of February and he is old enough to play baseball this season at RYA I am super excited to be able to watch him play the game! My dad is super excited to be able to come watch him play as well cause baseball is his all time favorite sport! This makes me super excited but it also makes me kinda sad I can remember like it was yesterday that I was ginormous pregnant with my first child and was so excited to become a mom and also a little scared since I am going to be a parent and provider for a small child. That small child that I was so anxiously awaiting for almost 3 years ago has been the biggest blessing and light in my life. He is the sweetest little boy and has so much love and joy that just radiates off of him. I am so proud to be his mommy and there isn't a day that goes by where I thank god for blessing me with him and also Clayton. Speaking of Clayton he is still growing like a weed. We have hit the 14 month mark I don't have any stats since we don't go back to the doctor for a checkup and shots til he is 15 months old but he is growing by leaps and bounds! He has found his personality and it is just too cute. He is very laid back and goes with the flow, but when he has had it he has HAD IT and watch out! He has mastered the art of throwing him self down and screaming yes it does get quite loud at times in my house especially if both boys are throwing a fit.... So around meal times you can guarantee that someone is ready to eat right then and there and isn't having it by having to wait. BOYS and FOOD! He is still an amazing eater and has found a love for grilled cheese sandwiches and bananas he starts grinning and getting very excited if he sees any of these items. He is also still mastering by the day the art of climbing I have two monkeys and I am ALWAYS on my toes. Like I have said before there is NEVER  a dull moment in our house.

Well I am going to leave you with some pictures to look at in closing this little book out. So until next time!
Elizabeth

Santa came MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The boys playing with Daddy's new toy!

my little cheeser!



getting ready for Grampy's house!



It's my favorite time of year!

This is by far my most favorite time of the year! Family has always been extremely important to me and I always love getting to spend time with as many family members as possible during this time of year and through out the year. And now the holidays have even more meaning to me cause I have an amazing husband, and 2 handsome boys to make many new memories and traditions with! We have started one tradition of always going up to Chicago to see Brent's aunts, Uncles and Grandma the day before Christmas and Christmas Eve. Then we hop into the car Christmas Day, and then drive to Ferdinand Indiana to see the rest of Brent's family. Then spend the remaining time with his mom, dad, sister, and the boys get to play with there cousins!!! I cherish this time with family cause this is the time that Brent gets to take off an extended amount of time off of work, and the boys and I get quality time with him and get to see family that we don't get to see on a regular basis! Another tradition that we enjoy doing is going to Ice at the Gaylord it's is so much fun! We tried to go last year, but it just didn't work out. We are going to try again this year. I have to say I am pretty excited to see Ayden's face since one of his favorite movies is Shrek! The other thing that I enjoy doing is reflecting on the past year. There have been some amazing moments this past year, with Clayton learning how to roll over, crawl, walk, run, climb, and say his first words. Ayden has learned how to talk better, use better self control, show empathy towards others, jump, and being able to start understanding cause and effect, and using the potty! Brent and I have grown more and more closer together, we enjoy our time alone and date nights! We have had some ups and downs with loss of family members and having to say goodbye. We have also gained some new Members of our family as well! Looking at everything that we have been through this past year makes me so grateful and blessed with what the lord has provided us this year! We are happy, healthy, and we have two very happy children who bring us so much joy into our lives. Our lives right now seem complete and just right and it's a really good feeling! Not to say that within the next year or two we will possibly start trying again to add to our family but right now Brent and I are exactly where we want our family to be! I can't wait to see what the next year brings will Ayden be 100% potty trained? Will Clayton be potty trained? Will Ayden be in school for speech therapy? Will Clayton be talking? How big will both boys be? Will Brent and I decide we want to start trying for baby #3? I can't wait to see what the next year brings and where our 2012 chapter will take us but I know that with my husband by my side and Ayden and Clayton long for the ride the chapter will be amazing!

Elizabeth