First Day of School!!!

McKenna is a big 5th grader now. Her last year in elementry school. 

BraeLynn is in 2nd grade  now. she says she will "protect ashlyn" now that ashlyn is in Kindergarden. So I am asuming braeLynn is feeling big too! My sweet girls Cottons and the Adams, ready for school. I love the little routine the kids have in the morning waiting for the bus. Its so dang fun to live across the street from my best friend!!

If you look close you can see McKenna waving out the window- my heart melts!

                                 This is what Jackson does while the girls are at school: Eats dirt

This is what Jaron does when the girls are at school: Steal their Nintendo DS and play it all day

Rise and Shine!

Mira and I had a back to school rise and shine breakfsat for the kids, hoping they will wake up earlier on the actual day! Mira made the cinamon rolls- I just had to boot my kids out of bed. By the way, McKenna was totally frowning until we said"cheese" and of course she puts on the face for the camera. 

It really wanst that cold- the kids were just being such babies about getting up at 6:30 am. (heeehee) Jack Jack loved it!

12 Years Down, Eternity to go

It's Aaron's and mine 12 year Anniversary Today. I love this day, truly, I love remembering why I married this man! J/K We always go to a baseball game on our anniversary , or a day close to it. This year so happens to fall on a day where we can go that night. So we are heading to the Reds Game. We would always sit in the nose bleed section- one time we scalped really good tickets that put us pretty low- then worked our way down to the dugout and ever since then we have tried to scalp good seats. Sadly we never have been so lucky. This year Aaon supprised me and bought, legally, 3rd row behind home plate! I am totally stoled and am so excited. Anyway- I love being married, especially to Aaron! I have to say that one of the things I asked him while we were engaged is to please never stop making me laugh and smile. I am happy to report that he has not failed me! We can sure have fun. I love you Babe, Happy 12 years 

"I love the way you love me"

I'm 11 Months Old

Jackson is crusin' along! He just lights up our home every day. Kids are crazy about him. It's been fun to have them notice all him milestones and ask "did I do that too Mom?" It bonds them together in a way I never expected. They are happy for Jackson when he does something new. 

Waterfront Park

Louisville has this huge park right on the river, and this water area that the kids run through. It's a blast. Jackson is the biggest water baby- loves, loves, loves it. Mom brings the kids- Dad brings the chicken! (we always get KFC when we come here,I dont know why)

This is one of my favorite pictures- I love my boys

Finally!!!!

Well, I finally paid of my hefty school loan so I could get this thin piece of paper mailed to me.

So it's official- I can bake.

Actually, in all truthfulness as soon as I realized what it was that the UPS man was handing me I totally freaked out with joy and shouting, tearing open the envelope and marching around the house singing the graduation march. Yes the kids thought I was nutso but by golly I worked hard for this piece of paper!

Going back to school with three children and a husband who is never home was the craziest thing I have ever done. All I know is that it was in the Lords plan for me to do so and I did feel blessed for it. SO- I think I will pause my diet and make myself a graduation cake!!!

Here we go again......

Well I knew this day was coming. And it's here. The sweet darling baby has turned into a monster.

 I have no idea how he got up there, waveney is my witness! He somehow pulled baby food out of the air and smeared it all over. Where he got this? no clue. And it happened in like 2 minutes. And the oh so lovely toilet paper strung through the house. 

What I find amusing is the look an his little face in all these pics. Do you think he has caught on that before I say no,no,no- I take a picture? nah

My sweet BraeLynn

My 8 yr old was baptized yesterday! Oh it was so beautiful. The spirit was so strong and the room was filled with reverence to the Lord. She was absolutely darling when I grabbed her after, wrapped her in a towel and kissed her wet smiling face. She looked up at me and said "wow, that was neat." It was neat BraeLynn. Aaron and I have felt from the time she was placed in our arms, this spirit was a peacemaker, a gentle soul, a happy soul. She has proved to be that and so much more as it showed through the feelings that resonated in that room. I feel so honored to be her mother here on earth, I often say I want to be like her when I grow up!

Truce

Aaron and I are Best Friends, no doubt. But sometimes he will say the darndest things and my sister happened to capture the "look" that he will get after such a comment. 

Boys and their mama's

So today I had been cleaning the house- like the ignoring children kind of cleaning the house- and jaron comes in the house and says "mom, will you just watch me on my scooter, i'm the bestest scooter rider" So I went out on the porch and watched him ride up and down the street. Each time he would pass by he'd hold up his hand and do this "I'm so cool" wave. or a thumbs up. He would stop and walk over to me, sit down and breath a big sigh and say " I'm good hugh mom" 

As I sat there watching this little boy show off his "skills" I realized how important a mother is to her son. He needs her to say "your so cool buddy" and " wow that's neat" , "yes I saw that, way to go"all these words of encouragement that come from a mother build up this soon to be young man. To some it may look like a mother watching her son ride a scooter but in reality its a mother building her sons confidence, his security in this world and reassuring him that his mother loves him and thinks he's cool! All you mothers of boys out there- you rock!

Happy Fourth of July!

Aaron and Ben put on a great firework show for all of us Friday night. through the rain and all! They had over 4oo dollars worth of fireworks (and not the walmart kind either!) The kids had a blast

10 Months!

Ok, so he's really 10 1/2 months old- I'm getting behind in my pictures. Also I have noticed that this time it took a lot more effort to get him to cooperate! He's so BUSY!! I said that about all my children at this age though so I guess he's normal. I can't believe he will be 1yr old in Aug. It has gone by faster than any of the others that's for sure. Sadly I think because life in general is busier and the little guy just has to keep up with all of us. He loves to give kisses and wave hi and by and is all over the house. tearing up toilet paper, swishing his little hand in the toilet and falling down the stairs, the bed, the couch- oh dear. 

Jackson has surley captured our hearts! Happy 10 (and a half) Months baby 

Huge Rainbow

This is a picture from our front porch- Rare to see a rainbow like this

Road Trip!

We headed to Georgia this past weekend to Aaron's cousin's wedding. Aaron and I actually like road trips. It's usually when we bond the most. The kids did great and had so m uch fun visiting with their cousins out there.  I left my camera at the house so i couldnt get any from the reception- which is too bad because those Cotton/Borg's can boogie! 

Fly Catcher

For most unfortunate little things that happen to my children I often pause a moment to snap a picture. This time I just couldn't do it- Jaron says "mom look, quick" as I turn my head and look at jackson I saw the annoying fly I had been trying to catch stuck to the snot under his nose. Yep, stuck. guess I should keep his nose wiped, or not, he did catch the fly.

Tag- I'm it

I've been tagged by my friend Kristina- I am to write 10 interesting things about myself

1. I will have to make up half of these because I am so not interesting

2. it's been 10 minutes and i still haven't thought of anything

3. Oh, oh I know. I hate the word "moist"- ewe even writing it makes me cringe.

4. I love to lay in the warm sun on the pavement like a lizard

5. Those two took it all out of me

6.  I LOVE baseball. which makes my husband happy-er. And when we retire we are going to buy a motor home and travel around the US and attend every baseball game in each state. 

7.  I have kept a journal since I was five years old and have them all. I have kept journals for each of my children since birth.

8.  I love learning new things, things that improve life and give peace to ones soul.

9.  I have no pinkie toe nail- well I do but it's so small you can't see it. I have to paint my toe

10. I like weird movies like dumb and dummer and nacho libre and Napoleon dynamite.

OK, that might be more than most want to know! ha

I just wanted to be able to tag - Brandi - Katie - Jen

Oh where oh where has jackson gone?

That's right I have a roamer. This boy will climb up the stairs so fast I can't keep up with this child! I had just set him down from his high chair and started to clean up his disaster of a lunch. When I was done i turned my Mommy radar on to look for him, thinking he was just in the living room. Nope not there, sitting room, nope not there either. Bathroom and so help me Jackson if your in the toilet, fwew. OK, so I guess he is on his way up the stairs- in the hall-bedrooms, bathrooms, holy crap JACKSON. nope. my closet yes that's where he is he loves to eat my shoes (I know gross) ummmmm ok when do I start to panic? thinking, thinking "babababa" i hear but it's echoed. where the heck- -----------

Baseball Park fun

Aaron plays the county baseball league every year and its right across the street from us now that we are in this house so we get to go a lot more. It's so fun and Jaron LOVES to see his daddy play.

I make fun of his high socks- but he does slide a lot!

Back to Life

I know, time for an update. Since the kids got out of school its been a roller coaster ride around here. I love having them home. I had someone ask me if I was dreading the summer with the kids all home. I was a bit taken back. I said of course not and that I was thrilled to have them home. Truth is I wish I was together enough to home school.

We have both girls in piano and mckenna still in violin.  I have been to AZ and we leave for GA on Friday. BraeLynn has a baptism coming up and I think my parents are coming into town. Fun days ahead at the water park and just hangin' around the home front. 

Ok, on to the pictures and updates.