a little family time

Since we have little ones, we started to take our vacations in September....for a number of reasons!
1. the rates are MUCH cheeper
2. LESS traffic on the roads-its a long enough ride with a 3 year old in the back to go to the other side of town, let alone travel 2 states away (Sam thinks that the other walmart- 2 miles further than ours is " a long, loooooong way away")
3.  we can go out to eat and not have a long, if any, wait time- with kiddos this is a must!
4.  it is cooler at the beach so I can last longer sitting there- wish that I was a beach bum, but more of a pooler lover.

So next week we are going on our vacation and I am looking forward to some family time and a change in schedule, but then it is back to our little routine and bigger boy goes back to school.

This picture cracks me up because I was trying to get my feet, but Gabe was in the way! :)

Last year, we had just found out that Gabe was going to be a Gabe and it was fun to picture this year.... and here it is already!  I am hoping to work on some pictures and just dump them onto the blog instead of being obnoxious and putting them on Facebook!

a handsome guy

This boy does not like to sit for pictures, and when I try to get him in action, he is blurry!  Here is the best I could do these days!

a summer weekend

Over the weekend, we went to Ashland so Sam could see some trains and it was such a nice night to sit out and wait for some to roll by...we only saw one and it was a freight train.  The train was SO loud and on the track by us, it blew past and it even scared Jarrett!  But I did get a few pictures of the kiddos and one of Gabe playing before we left.  

I know one day this picture we be so precious for us to look at  :)

It was a rainy day so we hung out and watched tv and we all took nice long naps!

Papa and his buddies!

around the house

Sam is in love with trains these days....its bordering on obsession! 

The boys are just starting to play together- as you can see Sam has a train, but Gabe gets to play with the Staples "that was easy" button!

A box and markers- free fun for 30 minutes!

About 5 minutes into it, Sam was over Gabe playing with him and touching his markers :)

And a cowboy (which the horse doubles as his trimmer when he helps daddy cut the grass.

Summer for us means a little less structure and just time to play!  Although I crave routine and getting things accomplished, I am starting a challenge that invites you to play with your kids for 30 minutes.  I admit that I always thought I would be that mom that just played with their kids and enjoyed playing games, reading books, going outside (yeah right on that one)!  But, I get caught up in what "needs" to be done- laundry, chores, buying gifts, planning things, Facebook-  you get the point.  So, I have been trying to play more and remember that my boys won't be little for long or asking me to play with them all the time.

a little change

Notice our little blog looks different?  I have been playing around with new templates, but I refuse to pay for anything I put on my blog, so here is the newest version for now.  So tempting to get a cute template on etsy, but it ain't in this mama's budget right now! :)  Just a test run.  Happy Monday!

gabe {8 months}

Someone already is 8 months, time is flying by...notice it only does that when you don't want it too?  I feel like I have neglected putting pics of Sam up lately, but he is in such motion all the time that I hardly get any pics where you can see his face! But, we are going to try for a little photo shoot soon and see if I can get some good ones of the big bro.

Dear Gabe,

This month has been full of some big changes.  You slept for 3 nights in a row all night....but that didn't last too long.  You are up for visitors still around 3am or 4 most nights.  You really like your food now- a true Wilson!  Lately you have just been looking more grown up to me!  You reach for things, look around and know your name- most of the time.  Scooting around is something new and I sitting up for longer periods too.  This mama is NOT ready for you to crawl yet, that would make for a really busy summer! :)  Next month you will turn 9 months at the beach and we are really looking forward to showing you the ocean and having some family time.

Love,
mama

monkey boots

I find these things all over the house, sometimes out in the yard, sometimes in the playroom, and I often trip over them.  They are Sam's monkey boots.  This is his 2nd pair and he loves them. It is the one thing I will remember that he loved (besides ties) to wear in his childhood.  He makes them into everything- soccer shoes, digging shoes, pool shoes....

I do think that these are his brothers pj pants he insisted were his....lol

He often tries to wear them to church or with his pj's and go play in the back yard and I let him most of the time- when else can you wear that and people not think you are slightly crazy?  And, I know that most kids love to wear them at some point, but I just love how much he loves his boots, even in 105 degree weather. :)

Content

One thing I love about kids is that they all think they are awesome- at least when they are little.  I love how Sam will play pretend and make up things with ease.  I love how he thinks he is smart, knows lots of things, and doesn't worry about what other people think.  Wouldn't it be nice if adults were like that?

Growing up, I have always struggled with knowing myself, knowing what I was good at, and feeling like I had something that made me special.  I used to long to be like other people- have hair like that girl, be funny like that girl, etc.  But spending so much time wanting to be like others, left me not knowing anything about myself and what made me special.  Sure, I tried sports, activities, but I was just always "ok" at some of them.  Now that I am raising children, I want them to be content with themselves.  I want them to realize how precious they are, and that they have so many things to offer.

It's ok not to be the center of attention, to not be the most popular, to not be the person who joins everything and is liked by all......God made people different and that is what is great about each and every person...some just have a hard time seeing that in other (and often in themselves).

I realized that I am not a leader, I like to take direction, I like to be a silent helper and that doesn't make me any less important than the person on stage.  I realized that I may seem outgoing, but it makes me tired and that I am more introverted and alone time is refreshing to me and that its not (too) weird that staying in all day and organizing my pantry can make me happy and give me energy! haha

I pray for my boys to have favor with people, to serve where their hearts tell them to, and to be comfortable with the gifts that they have and not long to be like others.  Sure, they may see something in another person and its ok to appreciate it, but they have talents that are wonderful too.  :)