My three

I'm glad I have these three in my life. As crazy as they make it... they hold me together in SO many ways. I'm grateful for this opportunity I'm having to be a mom. (Though I am constantly messing it up!)

Something new

I'm sad that I've been a horrible blogger this past year. It used to be something I loved to do to pass time, it really help my sanity most days. So I thought I'd try something new, I'm going to blog from my phone. You'll be seeing a lot of phone photos, but that's better than nothing... Right? Some posts might just be a picture and a quick description, just something to get my blog going again. Here we go...

Evan's tooth has been loose for about a week and today it looks like it will be coming out any minute along with the one next to it. Its his first loose tooth so he is pretty anxious for it to come out. Last week he asked me when it would fall out, I said I didn't know. He got upset and said "give me a date mom!" Ha. This kid thinks everything is on a precise schedule... Just like him.

Today we are just relaxing and I'm loving it. We've done this a lot this winter, but for some reason it is just something I needed today. No pressure to get anything done, just having fun with the kids.

Here is a picture of Evan with all his baby teeth and some randomness of my girls. Happy three day weekend (:

Sledding

I'm posting photos way out of order... but that's okay. This was the last day of winter break and the last day of this snow :) We went sledding just in time! 

First time sledding for Daphne! It may not look like she was super thrilled about this, but she LOVED it :)

The hill was small enough that we didn't get tired going up and down over and over, and it was big enough to have some fun! The kids have been wanting to go back ever since, but we haven't had enough snow :(


Sledding 2013 from Jessica Bateman on Vimeo.

Halloween

This is great. Not only am I getting my blog updated... but I am organizing photos, editing and getting to see pictures that I haven't really looked at yet :)

I posted these photos on Halloween, but here are our Trunk or Treat photos...

Daphne was a fairy for the studio photos and for a Halloween party, but it was just too cold on Halloween so she got to be a bunny too :)

We also went Trick or Treating around our neighborhood... but this was the fun part since our neighborhood isn't that into Halloween.

Maybe next time you'll get to see some Thanksgiving or Christmas photos....

6

This was such a good day. I just remember feeling so good and happy that day and so lucky to a mom. This kid is the sweetest little guy and I couldn't ask for a better son. He was so happy and grateful for everything we did that day.

I went to his school that afternoon and got to see him with his friends, in his classroom, and with his teacher. He was SO excited to have me there with him and even held my hand while I walked down the hall with him and his class. Something I will never forget. He gave his class cupcakes and I stuck around to help out.

We didn't have a friend party planned and I was so worried that Evan would be disappointed. We planned a surprise party for him instead. Dallas came home early (Evan didn't know he would be there when he got home from school) and we had the house decorated with balloons everywhere. He knew what his cake was going to look like but he didn't see it till he got home. When he got home we all hid and jumped out and surprised him. He was SO happy that we did a surprise party :) He had been wanting one :) Evan got a desk and chair that I painted for his room, a scooter from my family, some new clothes and a camping chair.

From the time he got home until late that night he kept saying... "This is the best birthday ever!" It wasn't anything big or planned out. Just simple and fun. He loved it and so did I. It was a special day for me too... 6 years of being a mom :)

We went to Applebees for dinner... The kids wore their birthday crowns so everyone was telling him happy birthday. He sure loved the attention :)

Happy Halloween!

I love getting photos done... it's exhausting, but they are so fun to look at!

It was very nice not worrying about taking photos of my kids this year! Thanks Kim!

Candid.

The other night I took my kids to a field to get their photos taken. End result... a handful of good shots, massive mosquito bites on all of us (especially Makiah and Dallas), unhappy kids and everyone begging to go home. It was quick, not so fun and... well...  fine I guess.

Then tonight we were outside and the kids were having fun playing around. Surprisingly they weren't fighting and just enjoying themselves. The weather has been perfect lately, September is the best month :) I am so glad I thought to get my camera out. Lately I make excuses not to get my camera out and I haven't been taking the time to take snapshots of my kids. I have to say, even though this was unplanned it was soooo much more enjoyable than the other shoot with them the other night. And I love the photos so much.

Evan ran inside and got the toy doctor kit and band aids when Makiah scrapped her toe...

Look how tall Evan looks in this picture, he is growing up on me...

I can't get enough of this photo. Makiah's cute little pose just makes it so perfect. This one might just win a spot on my wall. I know I will especially love it in a few years when they are all grown up and things are different. They are so little. Oh I love this one...

Daphne isn't walking yet, but she can stand and push things around. She took 3 steps the other day, but hasn't since. She is so close! I really can't wait till she figures it out. Tonight she wanted to be right there beside the kids, but she couldn't keep up and it must hurt to crawl on the cement! She is a busy little baby, I really love it. 

Evan is getting used to his new schedule at school. He loves going and he is getting better at coming home happy. Some days are better than others. Makiah misses him so much while he is gone, but she is enjoying her time alone as well. It seem like she is getting along so well with Daphne, it really is cute. She talks to her with a sweet little voice (you know the voice girls use when they talk to babies? That voice) and she takes such good care of her.

Right now our battle is bed time. The kids all share a room and it's been hard. They are getting into a routine though, and they are learning to do what they need to... so they don't wake up the baby. Dallas and I find that they do so much better if we go in their room with them at bed time and just lay down with each of them for one minute. Then we can usually leave without them throwing a fit (and waking up the baby). It's a work in progress. One day we'll have a house... with more than two bedrooms :)

Life is good. I especially want this fall to just go slow... I love this time of year and I am not ready for a long cold winter. I am loving every minute I can get outside right now.