Firsts

Kiley is getting ready for her first triathlon. I'm super excited. This past Sunday she did her first brick workout at distance. I wasn't sure how well she would hold up but she is strong. After a strong 25m swim we took a short break and did a bike / run transition. I was particularly impressed when her side was hurting and she powered through the run. Great job cutie pie!

Syd is growing so fast. It's really funny that I have to look up to her now. She has started soccer practice and is trying out for her second year of club volleyball with a different organization. With everything going on outside the house, I asked her to make dinner for the family while Kiley and I were out training. She made the most excellent spaghetti dinner with a broccoli side and some yummy rolls. She is so dependable these days. This summer our little independent girlie also saved up to buy herself a Mac Air. So proud of her dedication persistence and willingness to help out the family. 

Jake is having a great start to the year. It may not seem like a big deal but it is to us and probably to him. He's doing his homework when he gets home from school. Twice, this week alone, he has asked if I could come back later because he was reading or trying to finish a paper. I didn't say a word. I left the room and gave him the space. Like I said, maybe not a hug deal for your teenage boy but huge for ours. He seems to have a renewed fire for getting things done. Sure he still games a lot and is mostly in his room but I see him working with a desire to do well like we haven't seen before. 

So happy for out kiddos and what they are doing with their time!!

First day of school, CCE - 2014

What!? School is starting?

Another school year is beginning next week. The kids are no longer kids. Jake and Syd are both taller than Courtney and I and Jake is starting high school. Syd is going into 8th and Kiley is starting kinder.

Kiley is super excited with a little nervousness mixed in. Syd won't say but I know she's excited about the social aspects of school. Jake is starting high school and I think I'm more excited than he is. When I asked him about it he said that he's curious about how he'll stack up. Not really understanding that statement I asked what he meant. He said he wonders how he'll stack up against the other guys when it comes to girls. Ha!!

So it begins.....

The first day is August 26, 2014. 

Summer 2014 - Gateway Leadership summer celebration on the lake

Jake on the big stage

He's the turnip. :)

Halloween was fun

For dance class she dressed as a princess fairy, a goldfish for her friend's party and for school and Halloween night she dressed as a puppy dog. She's like a regular princess Amidala. The princess part anyway.

Sydney was cat in the hat and Jake was the color blue. He's such a teenager. :)

Halloween is such a great opportunity to get out and meet and visit with neighbors. We went to one of Sydney's friend's house for pre-candy gathering. We had a costume contest where all the kiddos walked away with an award and a really silly murder mystery game that the kids and parents had fun doing.

Thank you to the Marshall's for hosting the fun times and for sharing the time in the neighborhood.

I Am by Jake

I am logical and smart

I wonder how we were created

I hear the theories

I see pictures from long ago

I want the knowledge of many

I am rational and intelligent

I pretend I have all the answers

I feel the presence of my ancestors

I touch the leaves of my family tree   

I worry my search is in vain

I cry out of frustration

I am logical and smart

I understand that something created us

I say that there is an answer

I dream that God is watching over me

I try not to get discouraged  

I hope someday to stumble across the answer to all my questions

I am logical and smart

Kiddo Chronicles

Kiley

On Wednesday while Courtney and I were at our small group Kiley was telling the dogs, "no ma'am. no ma'am." I think this is what her teacher at Rising Stars tells her when she is doing something she is not suppose to be doing. :)

Speaking of Rising Stars, they recently had a picnic on a park down the street from the School and I had fun running her around the park to the different playscapes. She also got on one of the big kid swings and was almost pushing herself. It was very cute, but then again most of what she does I think is very cute and very sweet.

Today Kiley was incredibly cute, once again. I think that's the most stated phrase on this blog. In this episode Kiley strapped one of her babies to a stroller and was pushing it around the house really fast. Saying up the hill, and go go go....like she says when we run together. When she passed the little bench where her water bottle sat from earlier she would stop and give some to her baby then take a sip herself. Then she ran off again. She did this a couple of times then when the stroller was kindof getting in her way she started dragging it behind her. I couldn't help but laugh outloud. She continued to stop for water in the same way. It was getting pretty close to her bedtime so I suggested that we get her baby something to eat in her baby highchair and kitchen upstairs. We did that and with the help of Sydney eventually got her to bed. Soon after books, prayers, singing and a little solo time she we fast asleep.

Sydney

Sydney is really growing up. This past week she has been so responsible with her homework and has even been keeping up with her reading which is a really big deal. She isn't crazy about it but does it anyway. Her penmanship is incredibly neat. It's very close to perfect....even though it isn't quite as neat as on an engineering blueprint that is exactly what it made me think of. Part of it is the girlie in her I'm sure.

She's been incredibly helpful and patient with Kiley and her brother. There is still the typical brother/sister, sister/sister spats but she's mostly looked out for her lovely siblings. This weekend Courtney was away working on moving her elderly aunt from Corpus to Austin (Tante has made some great improvements from where she was but were definitely anxious to have her closer so that she can be supported more often by more of us) and I was so thankful to have Sydney here. Kiley had a major blowout. If you have or ever had young kids you know what i mean. ha! Well sydney helped pull things together by getting me and Kiley what we needed every step of the way. I was so thankful she chose to be with me this weekend. Not only for that reason but I like having she and Jake around on the weekends. It gives us a chance to bond, and this was definitely a bonding moment without the rush rush rush feeling that we sometimes get into during school days.

Sydney had her first volleyball game of the season today. She's doing Dr. Johns Volleyball. They have practices and scrimmages as part of the program. Today she told me she really liked playing. I was so happy to hear that. It's a tough sport that with her height she'll have a real advantage.

Jake

Our oldest boy is growing up too. 5th grade is really challenging him. Especially math. He picks up on most everything very quickly but long division is really a challenge. I know he will get it but it's difficult to see him struggle. we will continue to be there for him by encouraging him, guiding him and praying for him. And just like everything else he tackles, he'll overcome this obstacle too.

i can't wait for LAX to start up again. he likes it alot and enjoys playing it with his friends. it's a sport im not entirely familiar with but it's fast and rough. two things that jake likes.

Jake also adores his youngest sister, it's so cute to see them interact. He chases her when she wants to be chased, he lets her have the run of his room, for the most part and he finds music that she really loves.

As I was typing this up Syd has dozed off. I covered her up and snuck away. our kids are great, sweet and have wonderful hearts....and i really enjoy that about them. :) 'night all.