Adventures In Roller Skating

The other day we took the kids roller skating. The boys had been once when Ethan was 4 and Corbin was 2. Of course they were too young to remember this and Taya had never been so this was a whole new experience for the 3 of them.




Skating is a work out on it's own, then add in the pushing of the stroller and/or carrying a child and it's a marathon.



I read a sign while we were there that read "Skating for 2 hours is equal to walking 18 miles"!!! You kidding me? I believe it. That mess is exhausting. Plum exhausting.


The more the kids skated, the more they started having fun.



Ethan was being chased by the little girls.


Corbin was in it to win it.


Taya was just loving being raced around.


All in all, at the end of the day, it was an afternoon spent full of fun. Will we go back anytime soon? That's still up for discussion.

A Decade With Ethan

It’s hard to believe that just over 10 yrs ago I was just…me. I was someone’s wife, daughter and sister ,but still me. That all changed the day Ethan was born. I just became someone’s MOM. This little guy depended on me like no one else ever had. And would for the next 18 yrs. This was scary. And exciting all at the same time.

Today, that little baby turns 10!




I started telling Ethan 10 yrs ago on Mother’s Day that HE made me a mom. HE is why I have a Mother’s Day to celebrate. I still tell him that today. The smile he still gets on his face knowing that he alone made me so happy is priceless. It’s something I treasure. He was my first born, my first everything.

He was the first one I pee’d on a stick for. The first heartbeat I ever heard. The first movements in my belly. The first to put me in the most pain imaginable.

The first to hold. The first o kiss. The first to nurse(if only for a short time). The first to crawl. The first to talk. The first to walk. The first to tell me he loves me. To potty train. To ride a bike. To start school. The first to play sports. The first to make me laugh. The first to make me cry. The first to make me so mad I couldn’t see straight. The first to fill me with such love and pride…unlike anything I’d ever felt.

I’ve never in my life seen someone so stubborn, so determined, so rebeluos. Then, I look in the mirror and see myself. In some crazy way that brings me comfort, knowing he’s like me in some ways. He is sensitive, nurturing and has a huge heart(sometimes you have to look real deep inside him to see this, but it’s definitely there).
He’s so much like his dad too. The way he walks, the way he thinks, the way he looks. Mini Matt. The way he says “chwelve(12), chwenty(20) and chwice(twice)”…just like Matt. The way he has dreams bigger than life…like Matt.

He loves to sing. He loves to dance, skateboard, swim, climb trees, play chase, play football and loves making us proud. He simply loves being a little boy.



(Corbin got some shots too)


This little boy tests my patience and my sanity in ways I never knew possible. He makes me pray for the strength I need to parent him in a way God is proud of. He makes me cry out because this is not always an easy task. This little boy makes me look deep inside my faith to see that he is just that…a little boy. This little boy, that same little boy…yeah, he has my heart.

I look at pictures from the past and see a beautiful future. I remember all the great times and use the not so great as examples of how to improve our relationship. He has made my life full of joy. He alone, gave me purpose.

It’s terrifying knowing that one day he won’t need me anymore, but you can bet your buns, as long as he does, I will be there…heart and soul.

There’s a book I got back in elementary school(many, many moons ago) that sums it all up. It’s called "Love You Forever".

I’ll love you forever
I’ll like you for always
As long as I’m living
My baby you’ll be

No matter how big or how old he gets, no matter how upset he makes me, no matter how far away he is, he will always and forever be my pride and joy. He will always be my baby. He will always be my first.

Here’s to a great decade with an awesome little boy. Here’s to an exciting future with my first.

Welcome Puppies

As a kid growing up I never got to experience the excitement of having puppies...real puppies, from birth. Never saw them be born. Nothing.

Our dog Maci, who is pretty much a puppy herself(turned 1 on 03/02), just had her first(and only) litter. 2 boys and 2 girls. I saw the 1st 2 being born...went to bed before the last 2 made their debut. It was so neat to see Maci react. It seems it came so easy and natural for her. On the down side, she is one protective momma. She won't even let our kids, who she has known since she was 5 weeks old, near the pups. I have to give them to the kiddos to hold in order for her not to growl. We are hoping as the pups get bigger, momma will chill out. Fingers crossed.

Meet Gracie, Roscoe, Marley and Herman.


Although I know it's not realistic to keep these little darlins', I already know it's gonna be harder than heck to give them up. We will cherish them and shower them with love as long as we can. Who knows, maybe these dogs are extra special and need to nurse longer than other dogs...

Baseball Ready

I never have been a big fan of baseball(or any sport). It seems so slow and drags on and on. Gets nowhere fast. Now that I'm in love with a baseball player, I really enjoy the game.


Last night was not only Corbin's first game of the season, it was his first baseball game ever. And he did awesome. The whole team did great. Won 11 to 4!


Corbin was the 3rd up to bat and the first to make a hit! Got on first base...no sweat. The second time he was up to bat, the ball FLEW up in the air...he took off running...straight thru first base. The only hick-up here was that he could have kept running. That ball was gone. He was so concerned with getting on first he didn't realize he hit a home run! By the time he realized he could keep going the other team got him out at second base. I think his best play of the game was when he was playing short stop and got a player out at second. He was so proud of himself...and he should have been.



On the drive home Taya told him "I so proud you!"

We have another game tomorrow night and every Monday and Friday night thru mid May. Shockingly enough, I can't wait!