Big days!

Our house is quiet. 

Ok, it is not very often but today for about an hour and a half, it was very quiet. Our two oldest are starting their school year and our littlest love was catching up on his z's. Some days, the chaos is enough to drive me crazy but today I found so much chaos in the quiet, I didn't know what to do. I was unorganized, forgetful and over-thinking all of the quiet. They didn't move out or go to college, Preschool was only 3 hours long today!!!

Thankfully, our boys are adjusting well to school and they both had great first days. Max held on to my hand a little tighter than I remember his brother doing but he was so brave walking up to the unknown without me. I think it helped him  to be walking in to the classroom where he recognized the teachers' faces and is familiar with the school. The teacher, however, did not help me when she told him how grown up and how handsome he had become. Cue me wanting to grab his hand back and take him home with me. I did not. today.

Our big man has been doing wonderful in Kindergarten. He doesn't have much to share quite yet but he loves recess! I asked if he had met the principal and he responded "no, but we met his wife". I was so confused because I know his wife doesn't work there but I quickly asked him "do you mean the assistant principal?" Yes. Of course.

I cried as we began this new journey, this new phase of our lives. It is already proving to be busier and it is forcing me to become more organized (locking myself out of the house today was my breaking point). Our babies are growing up and becoming independent and as much as I want to hold on tight, they need me to let them fly.  They are healthy, kind, happy boys excited for their newest adventures and for that I am so blessed. 

Our MVP is THREE

What a whirlwind we have been on in 2012! But, there in no better reason to update a blog than to celebrate my sweet three year old. Yes, celebrating his 5 year old brother last month is a great reason, but I'm not the promptest of ladies!

I cannot express how wonderful this sweet boy is and what he means to our family. Our days our long right now, Andrew is movin', Max and Gio are growin' and there is not much time for much else.  As of Saturday, he was a typical 2 year old with tantrums and fits  but beyond that he has the most amazing way of capturing your heart, making you laugh, and lighting up a room with his smile. I can't wait to see what this new year brings for him!

Right now and for many years to come, I am sure, I am filled with mommy guilt of not being able to spend enough time with him. We work with Gio on schoolwork and try to keep little guy from not knocking down the tree. Time is all going to quickly these days and next year he will be starting school. sigh...

He had a great day. Seriously, the ENTIRE day was great because he was up for about 23 hours of it! You know your child wakes up too early when he falls asleep on the way to 8am mass!

My sweet White Sox player, err, fan asked for a baseball for his birthday and a baseball for Christmas. I cannot even count the number of White Sox  baseballs we have in this house, but we will oblige b.c. he is our smiling, sweet, kind, energetic, lovable, huggable baseball player.

He is so blessed to be surrounded by such love near and far and we are so grateful for all of the birthday calls. He is much more of a conversationalist than his brother on the phone so he loved the birthday greetings from everyone!

Party of Five

We're so excited to welcome our third baby boy into our family!

We have packed quite a bit into recent weeks with moving in our new (rental) home two days before welcoming Andrew. His big brothers have been amazing, showing such love for their little brother. He is kissed 1,000 times before either of them leave the house...or even a room!

We have been blessed with plenty of help from our parents and we are so, so grateful. Monday will be the day for me to figure out this mom of three boys job...and probably every Monday for the next 18 years for that matter.

We didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl but when Bryan told me "it's a little boy", I knew then he was just the perfect addition to our family. We are thrilled to have been given the opportunity to watch these boys grow together and become friends for life...more or less....

and he is almost-four

This little boy has been asking when he can go to preschool since the beginning of 2011. Our response has always been "when you're almost four" (Her turns four in November). Gio is the little boy who, when we went to visit his school in February, cried, screamed, was hysterical...that we had to leave!! Since that day, we have been telling him that he can go to preschool when he is "almost four". Well, that day arrived and he was still thrilled to be able to go to preschool. I never understood parents making a big deal about preschool. I mean, it is only two days a week and he comes home by 2pm. Well, I am a parent now, so it is a big deal. And in our family, HUGE!

I think Bryan and I were just as excited about this day as Gio. We're so proud of the sweet, kind boy that he is. Yes, he doesn't listen, plays too rough with his brother, runs around like a mad man, but ultimately, he is our sweet, generous, thoughtful little boy who is going to do so very well in school. I do wish I could be a fly on the wall when he interacts with other children but I guess that is all a part of parenting-letting go...and he isn't even FOUR!!

When we walked him in, he walked right to his classroom, which we had shown him on Sunday after church. He is so excited to be in the "butterfly" room. He made himself comfortable playing and, well, ignoring us! The teacher told us we could stay for about 20 minutes but it was very clear that Gio would benefit from us leaving pretty quickly. I think we were in the room for a total of 3-4 minutes. We didn't have to rush off to work or errands or appointments, he is not even four and was ready to get rid of his parents.

His parents and his brother, on the other hand, weren't so ready to leave him. While I was worried about how I wold handle this transition (just fine by the way), I was really worried about M.His brother is a part of him, they do everything together, and M knows no life without him. He cannot say his name correctly quite yet but walks around calling for "bo bo" and it really does just break your heart to hear the sadness in his voice. Thankfully, that same sadness is replaced with joy and love when he sees him come to the car when we pick-him up!

This is definitely not the first transition for this little boy, but if he handles the rest as well as he handled this one, we will have smooth sailing ahead. We look forward to so many more wonderful adventures ahead!

For those of you who wonder why I'm so tired

Rodeo Time

We moved to Texas on March 7, 2010. It has taken us 1 year and 5 months to take these little (city) cowboys to a Rodeo and it was definitely worth the wait.

While Bryan was tired of my Sea World, Zoo, Farmers Market suggestions, I asked him to pick our Saturday activity, and what a good pick it was!

We went to Tejas Rodeo in Bulverde and it was, in my opinion, one of the nicest outings we have had in the past year (and 5 months). The boys saw mutton busting, roping, bull riding, and more. Gio even had the exciting opportunity to run into the arena and catch a calf. He was a little late to the party as Bryan and I looked at eachother and said "no, next time" but then said "why not". So at last call, we rushed our feisty three year old to the arena and he ran to catch the other kids, oh, I mean the calf! However, he was so far behind, the calves were running away from the other kids, and right at him! He is so brave, he was not even phased by the thought of those calves running towards him. He was at the Rodeo!! He just kept running as fast as he could... in his Toy Story boots...in the dirt... He wasn't running that fast, but he was trying, and finding such joy in it..as were his parents and his sweet brother looking on at him.

At a time of the day when both kids would normally fall right asleep, they were awake for the 20 minute car ride home, watching the full moon become more visible through the clouds. Little guy clung to his football and his sippy cup pretending to rope (somehow, I'm not sure how that was even possible) and Big guy filled with excitement talking about his first rodeo. What a memory for us all. Let's hope it doesn't take 1 year and 5 months until we go again.

and we're back..

we have had a whirlwind of a summer...starting with a trip to Chicago in late May, a drive to Arizona in early June followed by a flight to Chicago and finally a flight back to San Antonio 27 after leaving. This mom was ti-ired.

I feel as though our children are only 3 and 1, they are professional travelers. Most of our travels to see our family in Indiana involve just the three of us and we make the most of it every step and mile along the way. M is a little tricky on planes as he is still a lap child and is wild trying to climb over his brother, sit with his brother, poke his brother in the face.... Thankfully, he is also our child who likes to cuddle so when he's tired, he is pretty comfy on his momma. I, on the other hand, try to find a balance of savoring these sweet moments and seeing if i can read a book, magazine, or the the airplane safety guidelines with one hand to tr

y and pass the time. G is a breeze. He loves his snacks, stickers, books, and of course, his portable dvd player....and I will admit that I love it, too. He does not, however, love when our flight is delayed and we arrive in Chicago at 2:30am and he has to walk across the entire terminal because I can't hold him and push the stroller. While I'm still annoyed that Midway put us at the very. last. gate. I will be buying a double umbrella stroller before traveling again even though we will probably never need it.

While I'll never be able to write about all of the beautiful memories we made along the trip, there are just a few to cover here....in reverse..oops..

Best. Parade. Ever!!!

First treat from the ice cream truck

Definitely not his first treat from Dairy Belle

Two monkeys in Flagstaff

While he wanted to go up the mountain, we figured it best to just enjoy the scenery. Maybe when he is four.

Celebrated his 18 month milestone on the road to Arizona...

Had to take the same pic he took with the big bro..who wasn't too happy to not be included!

Happy Day!

I didn't go on a fancy trip. I went to the playground.

I didn't go out for a fancy dinner. I made pasta for my family.

(we did have a lovely dinner with bryan's parents the night before..hence the sombrero)

I didn't have an elaborate celebration. My 3 year-old decorated for me.

(we did enjoy a cupcake treat--miss you gigi)

I did however, enjoy every minute of my crazy life with my active boys. Being their mom is the greatest gift I could have ever asked for in this life.

I'm so blessed to have an amazing family and sweet friends who called or sent cards with beautiful words that I will treasure always.

A birthday is just another day. Another day to count my blessings and be grateful for the many treasures in my life.

Disclaimer: I know the the boys were not given equal screen time but as you can tell by the expression on Gio's face-he wasn't into pictures this day.