Stress

It's been a while since I have posted, and I apologize to any of my avid readers - ha ha! Don't get me wrong, a lot has happened, and I hope to share some of our fun. However, this post is trying to get some tips on some good stress relievers.

Although I did not change jobs, my job responsibilities changed at the beginning of July. I was really looking forward to the new challenge, but man is it stressful. I feel overwhelmed at times, and lose focus of what I am trying to accomplish. I always like to think of myself as someone who can handle pretty much whatever comes my way, but this has been a difficult adjustment for me. I still love my job, ok, most of the time I love my job.

Josh and I were talking about some things that we can do as a family for stress relievers, and then things I can do myself. I love scrapbooking, and have always thought of that as a good outlet for me. However, lately, I am way too over critical with my own work, and find myself stressing out about the perfect page......so, thats not working out too well and I have put my scrapbooking career on hold for a bit.

I am going to be starting up tennis soon. I love tennis, its exercise, and what better way to relieve some stress than hitting a ball with all your might. I might even picture a few of my co-workers and direct reports on the front of that ball as I am smashing it across the net. I will let you all know how tenniw works out for me.

Please, please, please, send any suggestions you may have.........i need HELP!!!

Ode To Jakey

Happy Birthday Jakey

Jacob Michael

Leo

August 18th is Jacob's birthday. He is turning four years old, and has a ton of energy. Jacob loves playing guys - Spiderman, GI Joe, Superman, Batman, whatever he can get his hands on. He loves playing sports, and swimming. Jacob will try anything and loves helping daddy "work"!

Jacob is anxiously awaiting pre-school, and does really well with counting. We are working on writing his name and practicing letters. Jakey is a little sweetheart, and a bit metro-sexual at times. He has to "get ready" every morning, which includes doing his hair, brushing his teeth, putting deoderant on, and he even tries to put in contacts just like daddy. He often comes downstairs smelling like daddy too, he has learned how to spray the cologne.

I can hardly believe he is turning 4. Seems like yesterday we were bringing him home to meet Justin.

On The Move........

Madison decided this week she was tired of sitting still. First when we went to get her out of bed one morning, she was sitting up waiting for us. We have never seen her sit up from when she was laying down.

So then this morning, I put her on the floor and noticed she has started crawling as well. She kind of drags one leg, and crawls on the other knee. Hey, whatever works. It was kind of funny because she has been looking like she was gonna start crawling for a while now, but never got the coordination to get it done. Well today, Josh left out of town for three weeks for work, and it figures that today is the day she picked to make it happen!!!

T-Ball

One of the things I have looked forward to with my kids, is for them to start playing sports. This summer, Justin was finally old enough to play t-ball. If anyone has ever watched 5 year olds play t-ball it is one of the funniest things to watch.

First of all, nothing fits the poor kids. The shirts are huge, the helmets are huge, the bats are too heavy. Second, half the kids don't know which way to run when they do hit the ball......When the ball is hit, the entire team of kids all run to get it, leaving no one on any of the bases. And usually the kids are kicking dirt around, or playing with the grass, or looking in the sky not paying any attention to what is going on in the game.

Regardless, it has been so much fun to watch him play this summer, and he has loved it. He is on the Orange Team and they are the Cubs. He plays on the same team as his cousin Brian, so that has made it even more fun. Here are some pictures!!!

Happy Birthday Joey

Joseph Micah
June 27, 2006
aka: Joe Joe, Joey, Joe Man, & Joe

Joey was born two years ago and was the sweetest, quietest little baby. He didn't cry a lot and as he got older and more alert, he seemed to just sit and enjoy watching his two older brothers run through the house.

I don't think I would necessarily classify Joey as "bad" but he definitely finds trouble. Some might say trouble finds him, but in this case....he finds trouble. Joey has a very strong personality, we think its because he's in survivor mode in our house. He has two older brothers who he tries and tries to keep up with and play with, and then there is his little sister Madison who in his eyes, does absolutely nothing. Although he does find it quite amusing to take toys away from her, and pull her binky out of her mouth. Anyways, Joey struggles to fit in with any of his siblings right now........to little for Justin and Jacob, and just a little too old for Maddie.

Joey has a smile that melts your heart, and when he wants to, he can lay some looks on you that have you in the palm of his hand. The problem is that at two years old, he has already figured this out.

With Joey's strong personality comes a bit of a temper. We first witnessed this last year at dinner down in Tennessee. We had just sat down to eat, things were going fine, when all of a sudden Joey got really upset. We didn't understand why at first, and I don't know that we ever figured it out because we saw a side of Joey we never had. His face got bright red, possibly a shade of purple, and he bit down on the edge of our table, similar to a tazmanian devil, and proceeded to shake his head as if he was going to take a hunk out of the table. Josh and I stood there speechless, laughing of course, because we had never seen our sweet little baby do anything like this before.

As time goes on, Joey continues to fight his way into the lego pile, the car pile, into the sword fights, and anything else his brothers are doing. Joey is shy when in front of strangers, he sort of stands perfectly still as if the person won't see him as long as he doesn't move. He will literally just stare at the unfamiliar person, no blinking, no movments, he doesn't cry, or run for me or Josh, just stands there and will not break the stare between him and the "stranger".

We often joke that Joey is the "demon seed"....... Last winter it was in the evening, freezing cold, and Joey insisted he wanted to go outside. Mind you, he had a t-shirt and diaper on at the time, and Josh told him that he could not go outside it was too late and way too cold. Joey continued to voice his opinion on the matter, so Josh said, ok fine, go ahead.......let him see for himself was the thought. He didn't go out outside, but in our back unfinished sunporch, with cement floors, which was still pretty darn cold. Joey stepped outside, and although I am sure the floors were shockingly cold judging by the fact that he was standing on his tip toes, he was not going to admit to us that it was cold. So he walked around, and seemed to be playing as he looked at us like, see I can play out here, its not too cold, and even if it is, I am not going to admit it to you two fools watching me from the doorwall. Josh says its the fires from hell keeping him warm........a terrible thing to say about your 18 month old, but Joey was pretty content playing outside in the cold.

Joey tries to be a big helper, in fact, Daddy recently put the ladder up against the house so he could retrieve a Frisbee off the roof so the boys could continue playing. The ladder was on the back of the house, and the Frisbee was at the front of the house. Josh walked up front to get the Frisbee and as he went to go down the ladder, who was standing on the roof but little Joey. Josh's heart sank to his toes and time seemed to stand still. He thought a million things as he walked towards Joey........of course you dont want him to take off, or panic, or anything.

Well, Joey is 2 today, and I am so proud of everything about him. He really favors his Uncle Aaron in a lot of ways, he looks different than both brothers and Madison. They all seem to resemble each other, but Joey sort of has his own look. He has light strawberry blonde hair, big beautiful blue eyes, and the best smile in the world. I love him so much..........

Summer Fun

The kids enjoying the pool. Madison was napping at the time, so I did not get a picture of her in the pool in her cute little bathing suit.....so stay tuned!!! Enjoy!

Happy Anniversary!!

June 1, 2008.....WOW! Josh and I have been married 6 years today. It's been everything I had hoped for and more. In a quick summary, we've managed 3 houses, ok 2 houses and a townhouse, 3 dogs, 4 kids, and lots of good times!!

It's funny how life happens....I couldnt imagine mine any other way. I remember being part of a conversation with someone a while back who said something you hear a lot of people say about marriage....."oh, just wait a couple years, when the honeymoon phase is over", or "oh, you guys are newlyweds, just wait"......when I first heard this 6 years ago, I wasn't sure what to think of that.....but of course I was too much in love with my husband to even worry about it. I sit here today and think, gosh I love my husband even more today than I did 6 years ago. I feel bad for people who feel like the honeymoon days are over. Do Josh and I have honeymoon days everyday......absolutely not, does he want to tear my head off sometimes......absolutely, but thats marriage. Josh and I make a pretty good team, we complement each other well.

Josh is one of the funniest people I have ever known, he can make me laugh even when I am trying really hard not too because I am pouting. He is a terrific father and takes great pride in caring for and loving his family. It's so wonderful having someone to share everything in life with, it just makes everything worth while. I know this may sound corny, but too bad, its my blog, its my anniversary, and I can do what I want!!!

I love you Josh!!!


I guess its my turn to write something gay, it has been a quick 6 yrs with all the bs in my life like the family, the houses, and the dogs. Also who can forget the 7 weddings we had to attend for my sister, that takes time too. However I do agree with sara on a few things like how awesome I am and what a great father i am. On a more serious note I love my family lots and couldn't wish for anything more. My wonderful loving wife of a very long 6 yrs and my 4 healthy children, what else could any man want? I'll admit things get stressful at times, but after a few minutes away at work or whatever is going on I can't wait to see my family. I do love my wife more than i ever have even when I want to tear her head off, which isn't as often as it used to be.
luv ya darlin
peace out