MUG cuts!

For the last few years I've cut the boys' hairs.  In the past they didn't care what their hair looked like so having me cut it was a great way to save money.  Since beginning middle school there has been a big change in one thing, actually many, but now the boys care about their hair.  

Last week I decided to take boys to an actual guys barber shop and while I thought they might be excited and actually like it.  When I surprised them after school and told them about the fun of getting to be treated to a barbershop experience, they were NOT excited at all.  While I think going to go and get my haircut is relaxing (usually because I only have one or no kids with me) they were not excited, in fact they started complaining and begging not to go.  

Well after telling them there wasn't much choice and they needed to get their hair cut we arrived.  Michael went first and he wasn't too hard to negotiate with, he at least trusts me with what I recommend. 

Meanwhile  Isabelle begged why she couldn't get her hair cut.  

Meanwhile Gabriel begged not to get his hair cut and watched little league world series play offs.

Madelyn stood watch and talked to Michael as he got his hair cut.

Finally it was Gabriel's turn and you would think we were asking him to give up a stash of gold with each trim of his hair.  He's so picky with his hair.  After driving the stylist mad, we finally compromised on trimming the top by an 1/8 of an inch and then trimming up the sides. 

Meanwhile Madelyn  tried to rearrange every hair product in the store. 

Until I finally started playing music on my phone so she could start dancing.  

Well after the surprise experience not going as I had hoped, I made a mental note to next time, just save money and do it myself.

Until next time,

Angie 

ISR Swimming Lessons for Madelyn.

This past week, Madelyn started taking ISR (Infant Swimming Resource) swimming lessons with a locally trained expert.  I admit I was so nervous and worried about how it was going to go.  This isn't your typical swimming lessons where they start by teaching the kids to splash, then blow bubbles and try to stick their face in the water.  Oh no, this is completely different.

This is the swimming lessons where you see babies (some even as early at 6 months old) get thrown into the water and they know how to swim and turn to float on their back).  I'll admit just watching the videos on their website can be hard to watch.

But we thought we had to give it a try.  So Madelyn and I have been going every Monday through Friday for 10 minutes for the past 8 days. 

At the first lesson the teacher immediately put her in the water and made her swim under the water to a pole at the side of her pool.  Madelyn was NOT a fan.  She hated it, cried and screamed when she wasn't gagging on water.  I hated it too.  It's so hard to watch your child swallow/choke/gag on water.  

I told Jarrett I didn't want to take her, I wanted him to.

As parents we had to read a detailed, many page manual that gives instructions of what you can and can't do.  There are specific guidelines about eating before- you can't.  Nothing dairy for a couple of hours before.  And then during the lesson you have to act, behave and only say certain things.  I think I was just as nervous not to screw up the first day as Madelyn was to be getting plunged underwater by this stranger.  

Everyday for 10 minutes Madelyn would scream.  And then on day 5, it was like a switch flipped.  She didn't cry.  In fact she smiled and she laughed and she talked about it like she liked it.  "I swim under the water" was her saying over and over.

I was so happy to see her master the 3-second underwater swim.  And just like anything, now that she's mastered the swim part, now we work on the turning from the swim to the back float -life saving swim. She again hates it but I hope she can master it too.

Here are a few pictures from her swim today.  On Friday's I get to get in the water with her so I can learn how to reinforce what Mrs. Jenn is teaching her.

Yep that's a smile there!

And an even bigger one as she swims to me!

This is where she has to learn how to flip from her front to her back.  It's so scary to watch... She chokes and gags and Mrs. Jenn helps her turn over.  

And while she still isn't relaxed on her float yet, I've seen the 6 month old little baby that swims after her and he can do it, so hopefully she can too.

We are a week and a half in, and have 4 and a half more weeks before her final test, which is we have to dress her in clothes completely and they toss her in and she has to find a way to swim to the steps or float on her back for an extended period of time.  I sure hope my anxious heart can handle it.  I have faith in her, she'll be great. For Pete's sake, Faith is her middle name!

Until next time,

Angie 

Gymnastics

This past weekend Isabelle started gymnastics at a local gym.  It's just a short introductory class so we can see if she likes it.  

So far she's a fan.

and although it appears as though the other kids have been doing gymnastics since they came out of the womb, Isabelle is exited to see and learn.

Here she is jumping on the mats

and walking the balance beam.

I'm excited for Isabelle to find her sport.  She's such a trooper to watch hours and hours, and days and days of baseball.  It's time for her to find her activity and a sport she loves.

It's fun to think about what's ahead.

Until next time,

angie 

15 years ago today

15 years ago today we were doing this...

What a fun day it was.  

Both so young.

So much in love.

So much anticipation for what was ahead.

No fear for what hardships we would face. 

We knew we had each other and we felt confident hand in hand we could get through anything...together.

Through good times and bad, we had no idea what that really meant.

But determined life was going to be great.

Nothing was going to get in our way.

Yes 15 years ago, we said our I do's and looked into each others eyes not knowing much, but knowing we loved each other and welcomed what ever was ahead because we knew we'd be together.

While our marriage started 15 years ago today, our journey many years even before that. 

We were babies.  Jarrett 16 and I was 15.  Babies.  Just look.

I'm not sure what we were wearing.. .especially me and my hair.  

But even though we were babies, we both knew we had something special. And wanted to be together because we were better together than as individuals. 

Fast forward through the years and now looking back 15 years later, I couldn't have dreamed of some of the things we've gone through.  The good times and the bad.  Some of the really really bad and the really really hard. Some of the hard times that knocked me down so low I felt like I couldn't recover.  Too low, to hurt to keep going.  Except he was there beside me reaching his hand down and out, waiting for my hand to be in his and he pulled me up, the both of us and made us walk together forward.

Even when I didn't want to, when I didn't think I could, instead of reaching for my hand, he picked me up completely and carried me.  

As the hurt and heartache changes, never going away, I can see how much he really loves me and how he has never given up on me, on us and that through tragedy and loss, he still sees me as his partner, his companion, his life-mate.  I am so lucky.

It is also in looking back that I see how much more I love him today than I did back 15 years ago when I felt head over heels in love with him.

Our love has grown, our love has changed, our love has scars, our love has been cemented in strength, no challenge can destroy.

As we've grown over the years.

Our love blossomed and while it didn't come the way we expected, it came in an even better way.

So happy, so blessed.

And the blessings kept coming...

My how lucky we have been.

The blessings even in the hard times.  While this was a hard day, it is a picture I cherish.  One of the only ones of us as a family of 6... a family with Noah here.

And when we felt wounded inside, we tried to find our strength to look healed on the outside and do our best to hide the hurt.  Because sometimes you have to fake it til you make it.  

Here we were still hurting but trying to find hope in better tomorrows.

And better days did come.  Like this day.

As we again were a family of 6 with an angel above and a new baby here.

 Yes looking at these pictures, it is clear to see our love has bloomed.  

From back on this day....

To the dinner date we got just this past weekend. 

While we may look a little bit different, the love is still there.  

Just as strong, actually stronger, wiser, deeper, better.

Cheers honey to 15 years.  

Here's to many more good times than bad, happier than sad and a love that grows and grows.

I love you Jarrett.  Thanks for being my everything.  For giving me our everythings- the whole crew we have..  For reminding me our life is always a gift, our love always a blessing and our hope for a better tomorrow a constant as long as we've got each other.

Happy 15th anniversary love.

until next time,

Angie 

Miss Maddie

Miss Madelyn has been full of spunk lately, actually always but she has been so funny lately. 

Unless she's hungry or tired, shes usually super easy going and likes to play.  Here are a few pictures of her lately that make me smile and give thanks she's here.

Kissing her stickers before putting them on her paper.

And then at night when we are getting ready for bed she decides it's time to get our beauty routine on.

Here she's trying to put a bun holder in my hair.  Although sometimes she thinks its a weapon and uses it to go after Jack.

Man do we love this little girl.  So many times I look at her and think how much she reminds me of me when I was a little girl.  

While a lot of people tell me she looks like Jarrett, and I agree with that, I also can see pretty similar resemblances of me too.   

Until next time,

angie