Catching Up

 

I realize that I may be the worst blogger in history. I take full responsibility. There just aren't enough hours in the day.

 

 

So Ashton is enjoying his Senior year. He was one of the Senior Escorts for the Homecoming Court and of course I think he was dashing in his tux. Quick note to younger parents, if you have a child that you think may attend every prom and be in every Homecoming, just go ahead and purchase a tuxedo when they start high school. You won't regret it and it will save you a ton in tux rental. I wish someone would have given my that very sage advice.

 

 



Just keeping it real and enjoying some IPad time. This girl has become the queen of the IPad. She is doing so well in school. I have no doubts that repeating Kindergarten wasn't the best thing we could do. She has just blossomed this year.

On the very first day of school, she noticed a little boy in a wheelchair. The thing she noticed most was that the wheels on his chair lit up. I knew that we were in store for something, but I had no idea just what. That little boy is in her class and she absolutely adores him. I told his mom on the first day that I knew that Emma would be the first one to point out that he was in a wheelchair and want to know why. I explained that she didn't mean anything offensive, she was just fascinated with it. I couldn't have been more right. She has driven me crazy with it. She has turned her baby doll stroller in to her wheelchair and is in it all the time. She can't stop talking about wheelchairs and why is Joseph in one and will he be in one when he goes to Heaven. It was cute for the first month or so. Now she is just driving me crazy most of the time! Oh, and she wants to help Joseph at school. I believe that she has been told that "I can do it myself" more that once. Joseph is her good buddy and I think it's an interesting bond that they are created. It makes me proud.

Soccer ended a couple of weeks ago and now we have started basketball. She had her first practice this week and I think it's going to be a hit. If nothing else, she loves her shoes and her Air Jordan socks. And really, isn't it all about the fashion.

There was a lot of discussion about what Emma would be for Halloween. Luckily she decided on Spiderman and I was so glad since we already own that costume. She changed into her cowgirl suit after being Spidey all day and getting way too hot. I thinks that was a good choice as well and I have to say I've never seen a cuter cowgirl anywhere!

This incredibly shaggy boy is my son Brady. I had not seen him in a month and apparently there are no hair salons in the area because he hasn't cut his hair since leaving for school in August.

He managed to come home for a brief visit last night and have dinner with the family. He has been working and going to school so we just don't get to see him much. His biggest issue has been poor gas mileage on his truck. We knew he needed something smaller and had been debating it. We finally bit the bullet this week and bought him a car. We surprised him with it last night and he was thrilled. Considering how much I "loan" him for gas, I think I may be even more thrilled.

I just love the look on his face when he realized that the car sitting at Nanny's house was for him. We had left if there because we knew that Ashton would never be able to keep a secret. You can quote me on that.

Of course, little sister was the first girl to get a ride in the car. She will certainly be the cutest girl to ever ride in his car.

Brady isn't too hard to please. He doesn't ask for much. He's really a simple guy. Doesn't care about clothes or stuff so much. His only requirements for his new car was that it had a really good CD player. Like I said, a pretty simple kid. In all honesty, he's just an old hippie. You gotta love him.

The kids are all just busy doing their own thing. Emma is currently raising funds for her run at Queen at school. Her fall festival in coming up and she is in the running for queen. Well, she will always be my queen.

Ashton is putting in his applications at the various colleges. He thinks he wants to go out of state and is scheduled to tour one school next month. He is getting very excited about college. He is also very excited about basketball starting in a couple of weeks. He will finally be starting and I am so happy for him. He has worked hard and earned it.

So that is a brief synopsis of our lives right now. It's a constant state of motion.

Playing in the Leaves

 

I know, I know, it has been a million years since I posted and I apologize. Here are just a few pictures of this busy, growing, beautiful girl.

 



A Little Fun in the Sun

 

 

I realize it has been about a hundred years since I posted. Sorry to the ones who like to follow along, but the summer has been busy and I have just not taken the time. I will try to do better but I make no promises.

 

We just spent a week at the beach and Emma is just like her mother and a total beach bum. The boys probably didn't spend a total of 3 hours all week at the beach but that's just them. The highlight of their trip was being in the water when a hammerhead shark, approximately 8 feet, swam right by them and everyone was yelling "shark". Yes, they are weird kids.

 

Emma enjoyed playing and got braver everyday and by the last day she just didn't think she needed anybody to help her in the water. I think after taking on a few waves she decided that maybe that wasn't the smartest choice.



I love this picture. It just looks like she is praying and meditating in the water. I think she might have been pouting instead.

Yes, I attempted to take some beach pictures the last night we were there and they stunk. She was mad about the dress and she wouldn't cooperate and the boys were not helping much and so being the determined parent that I am I said the heck with it.

 

Emma seems to really have gotten taller this summer. She is currently very interested in all things Super Hero and is convinced that she is Spider man, Batman and Iron man. She changes clothes so much during the day that I can't keep up. She bought a Spider man costume at the Disney store while we were out of town and wore it on the way home, including the mask and the "hand gloves". She calls herself Peter Parker all the time. This child is so not a girly girl.

School starts back in less than a month and to say that I'm ready, well let's just say that I am. She will be glad to get back with her friends and Miss Savannah. Nothing wrong with that.

Here Comes Summer

 

As hard as it is for me to believe, the school year is over. It just doesn't seem possible. I might have even said (more than once) in the last week, when will school start back? Dear Lord this girl never stops asking questions and saying Momma, Momma, Momma.....

 

 

We had a great year and the graduation program couldn't have been sweeter. I will eventually attempt to upload some video but considering how quickly I am getting pictures and posts on here, don't hold your breath.

This week we have had 2 afternoons of basketball camp and need I even say, it was a hit. Emma loves basketball and would play everyday. On the way home the first afternoon she was lamenting about how those kids "won't pass the ball." Crack me up.

 

We had our soccer party at Kids and Play last night and she had a blast playing with the other kids and the biggest kid of all, her coach. Coach Ray has been her coach since day one and my girl loves him. He has never handed out awards before, but last night Emma won the most improved player award after being nominated by the other parents and Coach. She had a great soccer season and although she didn't score any goals, it's coming. She has become more aggressive and never wants to come out of the game. She is all business now.

 

I took her to pick out a toy for doing so well at school and just being such a sweet kiddo in general and of course she went immediately to the boy toys and picked out a Hulk mask along with a new watch. Never even looked at the girl toys. When listing her best friends at school, they were all boys. She tells me everyday that she loves Andrew, Jevin and Austin is her best friend.

 

In the pictures that Emma looks like she might need to potty, they are actually doing a dance. I love the look on her face.



What, a picture with a girl? Yes, that is Riley and she is also one of our good buddies.

I love seeing how Emma is so intent while listening to Miss Cox give instructions. So serious.

I think the little shirts the kids made are adorable. Those sweet little hand prints and names will always be so special. I also love that Emma's hand is the most special of them all.This cute little one is Andrew, also on the best friend list.

This is Austin. Our best buddy in the world who recently taught Emma how to make toot noises underneath her arm. No wonder he is her best friend. Sure, a girl might teach you how to fix your hair or paint your nails, but toot noises are the bomb.

Miss Cox is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. We have been blessed by her this year. She is an amazing teacher with the patience of Job and the ability to reach kids at all levels and keep their attention. She is just the best and Emma worships her. She also listed Miss Cox as her best friend in her Kindergarten book.

We have had such a good year and come so far. Emma faces lots of challenges everyday. Our speech/language skills and our hearing are the most challenging of them all. 2 fingers, 3 toes, not that big of a deal! Sure, that has its challenges, but she amazing everyone at her abilities. I am probably the least amazed of all because I expect it from her and I am with her the most. She is just a really special girl with great determination and a very STRONG WILL. But, those speech/hearing challenges are really hard and even though she has come so far and continues to blossom, it was decided that it might be best to repeat Kindergarten. It wasn't an easy decision for any of us. There were meetings and discussions and maybe a few tears. However, in the long run, we believe this will be best for Emma. First grade is hard and the reading gets so much more intense and that is where we struggle the most. So we get to spend another year with Miss Cox and as much as I wish she could move up with her peers, I know this is best for Emma. She is excited that she gets to be with Miss Cox again and be her helper....I forgot to mention that Emma won the most helpful award!! She will also have another friend in there that she was in preschool with.

I couldn't be prouder of my daughter. She is special girl with a sweet disposition that just melts my heart. There are days when she tells me she can't do something because "my fingers not grow" and those are the days that mom reinforces the fact that she can do anything and we don't stop trying. I will not tolerate her having a give up attitude and lucky for us, she seldom has one. I wish we were all that determined.

In other children news.....Ashton is officially a Senior and I am about to lose my mind. He is suffering from a bad case of Senioritis. I have a cure for that but I'm not sure that I can post it here. Brady has gotten a job and actually worked his first 10 hour shift on Sunday. I LOVE IT. He looked a little tired afterward. Welcome to the grown up world.

We are hoping to take a math class this summer because unfortunately, Brady got my math gene and he stinks at it as evidenced by the fact that he has failed it twice now. It ain't pretty.

This Is What A Loss Looks Like

 

After a recent soccer game loss, you can tell that this girl was devastated. Just look at that face.

She Has Come A Long Way

 

 

There was a time when this girl would have NEVER touched a critter. The times have changed a little. We have some new baby chicks and bless their poor hearts. If they could speak I suspect they would be begging for some help.

 

 



And on another day of playing in the yard, we became the proud parents of a new worm. Look how serious she is while holding it. She was totally cracking me up.

Ok, We Just Skipped April

 

 

Once again, it is prom season. Ashton attended his Saturday night and despite the weather being a bit gloomy, it seemed to turn out well.

 

 



Emma just wants to have fun.

 

 

 So they were supposed to be looking up at something that was obviously not there but if you will   notice my kid is the only one not on the same page.

                                Oh, now he gets it and decides to go along with the other guys.

                                                          Ashton and his date, Bailey.

Ashton and his two good Senior friends that are about to move on, Bobby and Brandon.

                                                      The prettiest girl there no doubt.

                                            Yeah, he might favor me just a little bit.

                                               Getting in the picture with her favorite guys.

Brady has a new "friend" and she attended the prom with another guy who is just a friend. Brady was just thrilled that he didn't have to go.

                                                       My little boys have grown up a bit.

The weather was a bit chilly and the boys were nice enough to give the ladies their jackets.

                                            Emma and Jake, one of her basketball buddies.