Life is going by so quickly... OCTOBER 2010

I can't believe that it's already November, can you?  I really need to get back into my old blogging habit and keep up with all the Smith's goings on, but it's so hard when your life is going by so quickly.  So, what I think I'm going to do is try to break it down into the month of October and then get started on my November.  Otherwise picture overload is going to be going on, but don't think this is going to stop me because I have a ton of pictures to post.
 
First of all, Happy 13th Birthday to our Trae!  He's now officially a teenager!  I just can't believe that time has gone by so quickly.  He even went to his first haunted house with some friends this year.  It seems that it was just yesterday we were spending hours bouncing him on our laps because he could not sit still.  This is still the case, well not the bouncing him on our laps part anymore, but not being able to sit.  He loves activity.  















Mason's Fall Soccer Season:

Mason shaking his booty out on the field!  Ha Ha!

Jamison's Fall Soccer Seaon:

Trae's Fall Lacrosse Season:
Trae had an amazing lacrosse season.  His team made it all the way to the championships and conquered!  It was such a great challenging game and they really deserved their win.  

October marks our annual family hunting trip.  It was cold, rainy, snowy, and semi-miserable.  It was great spending the time with family and we shared some wonderful memories. 

Here are all my guys on the last day of hunting, and of course, the sun finally decided to make an appearance!














Trae's lean-to for a scout merit badge

What else is there to do when it's cold outside and you are stuck in a trailer?  Play dominoes or build with them.

Jamison on a short hike with Daddy and Trae

Jamison target practicing

Trae and Grandpa shooting the big gun

Mason taking his turn at target practice

Someone asked what has happened to my blog, why has it been left alone for so long, and you know, I'm not sure if I have a definite answer to that.  I guess it would be a accumulative of things; busy, tired, still having a hard time getting over Ellie, not enough pictures to share, trying to get my home back into some kind of order, dealing with a teenager, family reunion, camping, and I've been working on a baby blanket.  Is that enough excuses?  Haha! 
The dealing with a teenager part has taken over my life.  I knew jr high would take its toll, but who knew it would be such a challenge for both he and I.  He is actually pulling pretty decent grades now, but this is after lots of yelling, grounding, rule making, and threatening.  Thank goodness I can pull his grades right off the internet and the teachers actually update them pretty well, otherwise I would be lost in happy oblivion and completely side swiped when grades came in the mail.  Now to start planning his 13th birthday party... can I tell you how scared I am??  He wants to invite both boys and girls... AHH!  Not sure I'm ready for this.
My baby blanket project turned into a bit of a fiasco.  It was one of those projects where you wonder what next am I going to pick apart because I completely screwed up.  My family will be happy now that there will less fluff balls floating around the floor because I was able to wash the material and hopefully dispense with some of that extra fluff on it.  Still not sure what I think about it, but it is so soft and cuddly.  It will have to do. 
Front 

Back

Speaking of baby, I went to the "big" ultrasound the other day.  This is the one where they do all the measurements and make sure everything is growing that should be growing.  Let me tell you how pissed off this little man was!  The ultrasound tech was even apologizing for his painful little kicks.  He wanted nothing to do with her poking and prodding him, he just wanted to suck his thumb and take a nap.  It was amazing though, watching that thumb come out of his mouth so he could kick a little harder. 

I was a slacker on the picture department, but here are a few of my cute boys:

Summer is officially over and school has begun

I can't believe that my oldest baby is in jr high.  It just blows my mind.  How did he get this old?  Which leads to the question of how did I get this old?  It was so strange watching Trae walk off to the bus stop early last Wednesday.  He was so ready for this change and so excited for it.  I think it makes him feel more grown up.  I'm not sure I want him to feel like that yet.  I want to watch him run off to the playground to be the first on the slide and now those days are pretty much over.  Yes, I'm now starting over in that area with Mason, but there is nothing like watching your first born getting older.

















Jamison is loving 4th grade.  School was just what he needed.  He's starting to become himself again, though still more bossy, but I see things becoming more normal for him.  He's finally beginning the healing process of loosing our puppy Ellie.  He came home the other day with one of those shape bracelets and I asked him where he got it.  He proceeds to tell me that his good friend gave it to him, though when asked what this friend's name is he had to stop and think, but still couldn't recall this boy's name.  It just makes me laugh.  It's amazing how kids can just walk onto a playground or into school and instantly have 10 new great friends.  If only I had that ability, though I can't complain about the friends that I have.  He has also decided that he wants to have his ears pierced and even came home yesterday sporting some fake loops.

Mason's first day of kindergarten was today.  He has been ready since 7AM this morning and school didn't even start for him until 11AM.  He is just so excited.  I shed a few tears this morning watching the AM parents drop their kids off (giggled at all the fathers hesitating to leave their little ones, more so than the mothers), knowing that my turn was coming in a few hours, but I toughened up when it was my turn.  Mason looked so cute in his little backpack, but now insists that he needs a big boy haircut.  Ah, but that is one thing I know I will shed a few tears over.  His longer locks have defined him all these years, okay, well except a few months ago when he got bored and cut them off, but still, that hair do is my Mason.  I suppose later today we will be running to get that deed done.  Maybe... 

And finally for newest pictures of our littlest man.  Doctor said he's looking great and Mama is finally feeling great, well as great as someone who gets very little sleep, but at least the sickness is over!  Whoopee!
Firstly, the picture that shows it all for all of those doubters.... okay, maybe the only doubter was my husband... HAHA!  He is definitely all boy and those parts are not going away.

And here is one of him sucking his thumb.  Hopefully, you can make things out, but the upper left is his head and his skinny little arm (in the middle of the picture) leading his thumb up into that little pouty mouth of his. 

Last Weekend of Summer Vacation

I can't believe the boys start school tomorrow.  Trae will be getting on the bus and riding off to his first day of  jr high and Jamison will be walking on to be a 4th grader.  Kindergarten is delayed for some reason, and that means Mason will be starting next week.  We need to run tonight, get the last minute school supplies, new shoes for the boys, and they will be set.  I'm so nervous for them, okay, so mainly Trae, but I know he is going to love it.  He will meet so many new friends.  I guess my nervousness stems from the fact that he is getting so big and soon will pull away a little bit more because he will think himself too big.  Seriously, has someone found the no grow potion yet??

We had a great weekend, lounged on the beach, caught some sun, caught some frogs, and dug big sand holes/ "hot tubs".  In the evening we would sit around the campfire with our friends and roast marshmallows.  What could be better than that?   I'm not sure there is anything better than that.  The weekend makes me sad that summer is ending and there will be so little time to do more of these camping trips... not saying we won't because we already have 2 more planned next month, but I suppose I will have to cherish those moments all the more.

Trae, Jamison, Trayson, Mason working in the sand














Mom and Mason building a sand castle

Mason and Jamison next to their big sand tunnel/ person













Mason and a frog that he captured













Wakie, wakie Trae

Daddy burying Mason in the sand.

Summer is coming to an end

I can't believe this summer is coming to an end.  It feels like it should just be beginning.  So much has happened and I'm thinking not enough fun.  I want a do-over!  Yep, we should just do it all over... without my morning sickness of course and without loosing Ellie.  I could not do a do-over on either of those things.  Instead, I suppose we will keep looking forward, as well as just enjoying the present.

Trae on the 1st Roy Lacrosse float in the parade

Mason & Jamison floating around in Nana's pool

Mason learned how to ride a two-wheeler!!  He refused
to learn on his new bike, but instead wanted to learn on
Jamison's old bike... I guess whatever works!  Yayee!

And lastly, here is the newest scan of our little guy...
YES, GUY!
So much for our hopes for a little girl, but we'll take him.

The loss of Ellie

Little Ellie El:  December 14th, 2008 - July 27th, 2010
The loss of my little puppy girl Ellie has been so great.  I never knew you could have this kind of love for a pet.  Yes, I've lost cats, but nothing this painful.   I wonder if it is my pregnancy hormones that are making the loss of Ellie so much more, but I'll never know.
There are so many what-if's and why's surrounding her death, I want to be angry, but know deep down that that isn't really fair, so instead I just want to crawl into bed and find her scratching at the bedside waiting for me to invite her up to cuddle close to me.  I listen for her in the mornings, she was always the first one up and I would hear her little paws clicking across the kitchen floor waiting for you to let her out.  She was always the last one to come in at night.  I would get the boys and our other dogs settled for the night and then go retrieve her.  She would always meet me halfway across the yard, where I would pick her up and carry her inside.  I look for her when I come home from an errand and miss how she would get so excited, jumping up and crying to be held.  I miss how she would howl when she was tickled on her tummy.  She was just so happy to be alive and loved.  Her death was just so useless.  I know, I know, she was just a dog, but please tell that to my heart so that it may finally heal.
I am just so thankful that we have had so much support and love shown to us.  Mary and Wess were so wonderful.  They had a little funeral for Ellie and read the boys the Dog Heaven book.  The boys tell me that is where she is, playing with all the angel children and eating cat biscuits.

Another week of summer gone by.  Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my cousin Stacey's death and ironically, the due date of her little sister Jana's baby.  She's still holding that baby girl in though or maybe it's that baby girl is being stubborn and has decided she wants to stay in there for awhile longer.  I feel for her though, Trae was 8 days late!  Anyway, it's sad to reflect on all that Stacey has missed sharing with her family this year, but I just have to believe that she has been watching all of it and guiding her family as best she could.  I still watch for her at family functions; waiting for her to burst through the door with a huge smile on her face, dragging along her little ones and husband.  She left us all with so many memories and I'm so thankful for that.  Miss you still Stacey! 
The boys have wasted a few days in front of the tv; playing video games or just plain old vegging.  I'm afraid I'm not a good motivator this summer.  They have been getting in our little pool almost every day, so at least they are getting some exercise and fresh air.  Mason's locks are turning the summer blond, so I must be getting them out just enough.
I have had a few great days and was able to finally get my house in decent condition and clean my carpets, but sadly, it was short lived.  I guess if I can keep up with at least the dishes and laundry then, eh, everything else will have to wait.  There's always the next time I'm feeling better to get things back into shape.  I just hate wasting those days on cleaning when there are so many other fun things to do.  Oh well, this too shall pass.  I should just be thankful that I have the good days mixed with the bad after my pregnancies with the boys, which were filled with sick, after sick, after sick days.

Hope everyone had a great 4th weekend!  We stuck with tradition and went to the Murray parade.  It was perfect weather for a parade this year, not too hot, not too cold.  Baby Isaac slept through the entire thing!  The boys stocked up on candy, but I'm sure it's all been eaten by now. 
After the parade, we headed down to the park for the little fair that they hold to let the boys play a few games.  Trae and Jamison did a tug of war and it was hilarious!  Spry little Jamison won with the most points that round, but Trae came back to defeat him in the 2nd.  Trae realized that if he pulled the rope all the way to his side that Jamison would be stuck against the center divide and not be able to move anywhere.  Little stinker. 
That night Brett and Cynthia took Trae and Jamison to the rodeo.  Sounds like they had a lot of fun.  Mason and Grandpa got a box of fireworks and worked on setting those off for their own little entertainment. 
Oh and did I mention we went to Leatherby's??  My most favorite ice cream place on earth.  Yum!  I'm so thankful my family put up with us for 3 days because it would have been a long week with Jamie gone otherwise.  I'm afraid I have hardly any pictures this week, but looks like the boys took a few that I'll post.  I'm either sick or I'm just so drained that lifting my arms is strenuous. 

Baby Isaac tuckered out from tummy time

Not sure what Trae is doing...

Typical Jamison look...

Mom and Dad surprised by Mason.  Can you tell we are all worn out??

Mason playing on the elliptical

Baby's ultrasound from 6/29/10 
Baby was moving around a ton!  It's so strange to watch their little arms and legs moving around and not being able to feel all that movement going on in there.  Baby is growing well, even said a little big.  He checked for the sex, but didn't dare say.  We'll be able to tell at our next appt.  Keep thinking pink!