Spirit of Survival

So I chose to do another half marathon...I know CRAZY right!  But I really really enjoyed this one and I want to do it again!  I loved running in the town I was born and grew up in, I loved seeing people I knew, and most importantly I LOVED seeing my family at the finish line.  I always feel like I failed as an athlete in high school because I quit playing sports after my freshmen year so I felt a little redemption as my parents watched me cross the finish line! 

 

I am so thankful for Tisha and Michelle pushing me to train and going along with my crazy idea to be Wonder Woman!  It was so FUN!  Here we are, all smiles before hand!

They had a professional photographer on the course, so here I am in action...don't I look thrilled.  I was in such a zone, I don't remember where this is or even seeing the person taking the pictures.

This is the most embarrassing, but the most acurate depiction of how I felt!  I was SO TIRED, but so emotional.  I think mostly because as I came up the last turn I could hear the boys yelling "run Momma run!"  What Mom wouldn't tear up at that! 

 I am really proud of Caden for his participation in this!  He chose, with a little prodding, to participate in the Kid's Marathon.  He had to log 25 miles pre race day.  He mainly did 1-1.5 mile stretches but he did them all!  Then on race day he logged his last 1.2 miles to equal 26.2! 

Daddy got to run with him, since Momma could barely walk.

 To continue with the superhero theme, he dressed like the Flash!

 It was so crowded at the start that we didn't even think to time him, but he was fast!  He left Daddy in the dust!  Hoping he does this again with me next year, or maybe even the 5k! 

A wonderful weekend, well spent!

Donuts with Dads, I mean Pops

At Free Spirit, they always do Donuts with Dads when they get to letter D.  But Cory was out of town this whole week at meetings in Austin :(  So I just had to say the word and Pops rode in to save the day!  WHAT A GUY!  He will do anything for his kids and even more for his grandsons! 

He drove in after work on Tuesday night and played a few games of cards with the older boys.
Cole was in a mood this week and didn't want to go to school at first.  I actually had to carry him in and leave him there with Pops grunting and crying.  But of course as soon as I left, the show was over and he was fine!  Tisha was there with her son and snapped a few pics and texted them to me so I knew how he was doing :) 

All smiles once Momma was gone and the donuts came out!

Goofballs

Cole was showing off his reading skills!

He showed Pops all the stuff they play with!

Pops had a great time and we are so thankful he could go with Cole.  He even stayed and played with the little two all afternoon and a little with the big two once they came home from school.  What a great POPS!

Evening at Boiling Springs

One gorgeous fall day, I decided to have an impromtu picnic at Boiling Springs.  So I told all 5 kids to get ready to go, packed a fun picnic lunch, and called Cory.  He got home in time to help load up everyone and off we went.

 

We ate leftovers and had a great evening enjoying nature.  We played on the playground a bit, took a quick hike and went exploring.  A GREAT EVENING!!!

 

Caden climbing on the play structure.

 Carter thought he had to try it too!

 Momma and Carter

 Momma with Caden and Crosby

Momma and Crosby

 Daddy and his boys on a hike!

 The three older boys climbing on EVERYTHING!

 I think Caden is truly a monkey!

Carter was just so cute, posing like a champ

 Self pic of the lovebirds...not bad right!?!?  I love this man greatly!  Such a great Hubby and Dad!

We truly enjoyed ourselves.  We were able to see some deer too.  Finished up just before dusk and headed home in time for baths and bed.  Perfect ending to a day!

September Recap

Just a few pics from my phone to recap the last part of September.

 

 

The big two boys begged to stay up a little late and read, hard to say no to that request!

I came home one morning from carpooling and this is what greeted me...strange.  Still not sure who set them all up!

Operation Must Nap was a success this day.  He gets so tired after a long week of school, I am trying to make him nap some during the week.  This had helped his attitude tremendously!

Crosby is still OBSESSED with all things Batman.  He wears a cape of some sort almost daily and begs to take a Batman figure every where he goes...CRAZY!

Caden had lost his glasses AGAIN, and since I am the only obsessive compulsive one about finding them, I found them and received a foot rub for my efforts.  Not a bad night!

Coley Bear begged Daddy for a mohawk and he obliged...it was AWESOME!  It didn't last all of school, but it was so cool to start!

Bike Wreck

Out of nowhere, Cole decided this weekend, he was DONE with training wheels.  Whether we were ready for this or ready to teach him or not...he was READY.  So seriously after just one weekend, he had it mastered.  This is the only video I got of the weekend training session.  But we helped him just a little each day and he was out there practicing every free second he got!  Not too shabby for a kid who just turned 4.  He is so persistent and determined!  

He thought after a week of riding his bike that he was so good, he could get on Carter's and ride it.  Which mostly isn't all bad, but it is a little bigger bike than he needs so he is a tad wobbly at times.

So along with his persistence and determination comes a little riskiness and craziness which leads to this...his first BAD bike wreck. 
I came home from my girls night out and this is what I find sleeping on the couch :(  My poor little boy!  It looked so bad that night, but Cory didn't even give him tylenol or anything.  He slept all night though and seemed his old self the next day at soccer games.  He stayed pretty swollen most of the day but by Sunday he was healing well.
This was Monday or Tuesday after the accident on Friday.  Healing just right :)  And of course he wasn't afraid to get back on the bike.  Crazy boy!

Labor Day Fun

We packed up on Friday and headed to the cabin in Red River.  It was a long drive and a late night, but by the time we pulled into town, this was the scene in the back of the car...pure bliss :)
It was hard to explain to the boys that it would be cold when we got there, so here is documented proof!
We basically just hung out with Grammie and Papa all weekend, and rode razors.  It was fun and relaxing.  The little kids didn't get to go up the mountain in the razor so Cory let them ride down the street and back.  They loved it!

Our three little ones after their razor ride...so fun!

On our way down from Greenie Peak, this crazy boy took a nap...who sleeps in a razor?!?!

I guess Carter decided to join him, those boys are nuts!

Our 5 at the top of Greenie Peak, so beautiful!  Not us, but the view :)

Dustin took this one of our sleeping beauties and us...we had such a great time!

Happy 8th Birthday Caden Montgomery!

I don't know even how to begin this post!  I remember thinking when Caden was little about when he would be older, going to a different school than his brothers, doing bigger things, but now that time is here!  I blinked and now my baby is 8 years old!  WOW!  I can go on and on about how this little one is becoming a big boy, but I won't bore you, well maybe a little.  

Caden is so much like his mother it is scary, you can feel bad for him now!  He 's super smart and really athletic.  He has changed so much over the past year and I can't wait to see how much more he changes as he matures.  He is becoming so grown up and independent too.  I love these changes!  Now our job gets harder as we try to grow him up in the Lord and show him how to be a Godly young man!

Here's a walk down memory lane...

leaving the hospital

 6 months old

 1st birthday

 2nd birthday

 3rd birthday

 4th birthday

 Almost 5 yrs old

 Almost 6 years old

 7 yrs old

 This spring around 7 1/2

Son, I love you more than you comprehend right now.  I want the best for you at all times, and I want you to learn to want that for yourself!  God has great things planned for you if you just continue to follow him!  Love you baby boy, Happy 8th Birthday!

Happy 4th Birthday Cole Jackson!

Coley Bear is 4...oh my word!  What a blessed life we have lived for the past 4 years!  This boys is PASSIONATE about EVERYTHING!  If he's mad, he's all mad...if it's a laugh, your belly is going to hurt...if it's a tantrum, watch out!  He lives and loves full on 1000% with EVERYTHING he does!  

I love watching Cole keep up with Caden and Carter!  I love how he's going to be the brute force of the family!  While I worry about the other boys playing football...not Cole, he's a offensive lineman in the making!  He's tough, but yet still a Momma's boy.  Always has been!  Many of you hear me talk about him and all the trouble he can cause, but one look his dark chocolate eyes and your heart is melted!  He could probably get away with just about anything! 

Happy Birthday to our Coley Bear, we are so excited to watch you grow and learn this year at school!  Can't wait to see what God has in store for you!  You are loved!

Moments after arrival - August 2008

Just 4 weeks old - September 2008

  Almost 1 - July 2009

 around 2 yrs - Sept. 2010

 3 yrs - August 2011

 4 yrs - August 2012