The blog has been updated! Photos are current, according to all that information Kenley was in Kindergarten. Happy to say everything is up to date. I can't believe I am about to schedule Christmas Card photos!!! Hope everybody has a wonderful week.

I am becoming...

Dare I say it....my father.

You see it. You see your child act differently around other kids. They pick up on their behaviors. This can be good and it can be bad. But, what's the Golden Rule? I'm your parent, not your friend. Many have told us and it is true. Some say it is because of the discipline and training of competitive cheer, maybe it is because Kenley was an only child for 7 years, but she is not an average 7 year old and is very mature and is capable of understanding and handling herself usually at a 9-10 year old level. She is usually mistaken for this age. However, she is my precious 7 year old. She needs to be 7, she is 7 and is still learning all the things 7 year olds are learning about handling themselves in social situations etc. 

We all remember when you knew your parents weren't keen on certain friends. You could tell, you would ask to go sleep over and they would say no. You would ask if they could sleep over and they would say no. When I was a kid, this would make me soo mad! Well, perceptive Kenley quickly picked up what was being thrown down. We tried to redirect, come up with other distractions, but she caught on. 

This led into a discussion about respect for our parents. The conversation went something along the lines of when your with certain people and you speak to Mommy or Daddy in the very disrespectful tone they use with their parents your not remembering the way you have been raised, "but, I try hard not to do it". You have to remember the difference between right and wrong "I know the difference between right and wrong mommy". This led to the real kicker of "I'm never gonna have friends because they all talk to their parents disrespectfully". I don't know wear she would draw such a dramatic conclusion. She also believes that sleepovers are mandatory every weekend. After our chat she went very tearfully and respectfully to her room for a 3 hour nap. Hmmm...I don't who this sounds like either. She woke up very cheer full. When she woke up Garrett had left. We attempted to feed Jax, she had some homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, Wilmer was over doing laundry and they shared some Oreos and we all watched Tangled on the Disney Channel, how is that for being 7, she looked at me and said "Mommy can I stay up until 8:45? Wilmer loves this movie!" Wilmer went home, and we went upstairs and she read me two books. She already earned her first accelerated reader award of 10 points, only 60 to go, she got 10 in two weeks, so proud of that girl! We cuddled and laughed until she was asleep at 9:30. 

She goes from being a Daisy to being a Brownie in Girl Scouts this week. Gets to go with the Principal to get a Milkshake. Another great week of memories will be made, ending with Jaxon being baptized. 

She had a great night Saturday mudding in a RZR with Julie and her boyfriend Kurtis. Julie graduates from dental assistant school on September 20, 2014, we are very proud of her and all her accomplishments. I'm sure it is very fun for Kenley to be able to say she was out mudding with her 23 year old cousin! 

Jaxon is trying to eat food. He sometimes does well, others times he refuses. As you all know I am in NO rush and don't push the issue. He prefers sweet potatoes over anything we've tried. He is not big on any fruit. If anything I use it as a time for him to sit in his high chair and practice sitting up. He is taking a cereal bottle in the morning. Just a little cereal to her him a costume to the taste. He has a slightly sensitive gag reflux and really acts strange when he doesn't like something will act like your choking him. He has done this even when we have given him pear juice since he was younger and needed help going potty. He only uses certain bottles and will do the same thing if you try a different one. His teething is full on, you just prepare to be drooled on and chewed on, the little drool monster we call him. He's not fussy thank God. He is getting good at playing with little rattles and has an assortment. He is enjoying his play mat. He loves to lay on it and practice rolling from side to side. We have not witnessed a full roll over yet. He had a great weekend with his Dad, probably their best weekend yet. He is laughing more and more. He laughs the most at Kenley. She jumps at him and makes funny noises and he giggles so loud. He enjoys watching her tumble, that's not going to be fun when he can walk. If he is anything like Blakely who when she sees Kenley tumble she tries to do the same thing. 

He had a nice visit with Aunt Kendra who came over Saturday afternoon and stayed all day Sunday. I was at cheer, so Daddy and Kendra watched him Sunday. Kendra took Garrett to the airport, for this I am thankful, I don't like going to the airport. Jax is not a big fan either. Kenley was asleep when we needed to leave and slept for an hour or so after. 

Whenever Kenley leaves for cheer I always tell her "Show them the face of Jesus, even if they don't show it to you" so I leave you all with that. 

Parenting is the toughest job I have right now, everything I do is writing on the script of their lives. I pray that I'm doing okay. 

PS. I'm awake because my mouth is sore. Feeling good, but woke up at 2am sore like somebody punched me in the jaw. So I have worked, filled out paperwork for cheer and Girl Scouts, answered emails, and wrote this blog. Hey, at least I'm being productive. 

XOXO

Thanks for all you do. 

3 weeks of school

Kenley is officially in her 3rd week of school and loving it. I'm so proud of her. She uses her alarm and gets herself up each morning. There hasn't been one morning where I go up to room and she isn't up and getting dressed! I think that is great for seven years old! We all know she gets that from her Daddy! Her homework is pretty a steady. She is reading 2 AR books a night, she needs 70 points this year to get her Eagle reader award. She has been taking her spelling pre-test on Wednesdays and if she gets them all correct she doesn't have to take them on Fridays, so far so good...101 and 102! Everyday she is studying her spelling and memory, she has 2 verses a week and she gets homework on Thursdays. At first she was a little shocked at all the work required of her this year, but she has come to terms with the expectations. She has her first real test this week, we actually had to study, it's a Social Studies test. 

Her new cheer schedule starts this week, Tuesdays 7-9 and Sundays 12:30-2:30. I'm really happy to only have 1 two hour practice during the week, it makes my life easier. Jax has been going to sleep around 7:30, so he's not a fan of 7-9 cheer practice. She is still taking 2 privates per week, 1 for flying and 1 for tumbling. She takes those early in the afternoon so Norma is here and Jax doesn't have to attend and it's not on her regular practice day. 

Jax will start his Swimming Lessons around 6 months old. He turned 5 months on Sunday. And so it will begin, already, 2 kids 2 schedules. The swim school is down the street, most likely I'll take him during the day. Kenley will probably be sad, she wants to go with him. 

We spent the weekend before last at Lake Murval with Nana and Papa. Kenley learned to water ski, she got up and so we just need more time and she'll be a skiing machine. Jax is always happy there. He likes to be on the porch, with his fan of course! Nana loves to spend time with him, Papa does too of course! 

Grammy and Grampa stop by during the week for visits and we went to Lake Conroe on Labor Day. Daddy was in town and we had a great visit. 

Jax is going to be Baptized on September 14, so we are looking forward to spending time with all our family and friends together. 

My weight loss is going fabulously! I am below 170! That's a huge deal! I have 14 pounds to go until my goal. I have upped my food intake because I have started working out with a trainer. I'm lifting weights and working out with him 3 days a week. I have never felt better. I'm eating a lot of protein, brown rice, fruits and vegetables. 

I'm having 5 teeth taken out tomorrow and I'm a little nervous. My Daddy, Bahaha, it's always Daddy when your sick or having 5 teeth yanked from your head....is taking me. Garrett is coming home to care for the children and me. Grammy and Grampa are also coming over to help get everybody where they need to be! I'm hoping and praying I'll feel better when the teeth are out then I do now! I'm pretty sure I will! 

My work is great and Garrett is doing great in Midland. He is being acknowledged for having a very safe job and things are running very smoothly. I'm not surprised, he is an effectively leader. He probably wishes he could get me to do what he wants a little more willingly, sorry bucko! When he reads this, he will laugh! ;) 

The good news is I haven't forgotten to feed the dogs or the kids and I have taken out the trash! I'm really doing great! Although we miss him, especially Kenley. When she knows he's coming home, all I hear is "when is Daddy getting here? Where is Daddy?" Hey Sister, what am I? Chopped Liver?