Family Update

Archer is home!!!  He spent the past week at scout camp.  I missed him a lot!  The house just doesn't feel right when one of the kids is missing.  The kids and I kept busy during the week with bowling, movies, grandma's house, and a Rapids game.  We had a really good time, but everything felt slightly off.  Picasso had a sleepover in the girls room, they set up the rollaway bed for him and had movie nights every night.  Of course Archer got home two hours early.  I was at a photo shoot and my sweetheart was with the other kids at Picasso's baseball game.  Instead of heading to the baseball game I went home to get my boy.  One of the first things that needed to be  done was get that boy a shower!  He had a fantastic time at camp, but came home smelling a bit rank.  His younger siblings were so excited that he was home!  That evening I took him out on a mother-son date to see Red 2 and dinner at the Alamo Drafthouse.  We had a great time and both laughed a lot during the movie.  I love that he is old enough to be a movie buddy for me!  All the kids love seeing movies, but Archer is old enough to see more grown-up type movies.  Now that he is home he is back to pet sitting, baby sitting, and working on his rank advancement for scouts.

Princess had been saving up her money all year to buy  an American Girl doll.  Let's just say those suckers are pricey!  Angel has one that she got for Christmas a couple years ago.  Santa almost cried that year.  Not really, but Santa was counting pennies to see if he could pay the elves!  A friend of mine was selling a brand new, still in box, American Girl doll for $70.  Thirty dollars off in store price!  My friend agreed to hold onto the doll for a couple weeks so Princess could get enough money together.  Princess didn't quite have enough money, but another friend hired her as a "mommy's helper" to come play with her kids so she could get some things done at home.  She finally had enough money, so the time had come.  She took her money and purchased her doll.  She named her Comet.  I am Comet's grandma or so I've been told.  I'm way too young to be a grandma.  Every night since when Princess gets hugs and kisses for bed, so does Comet.  Comet came to church with us too.  I am glad that she loves her doll so much.  She worked hard to get her!

Picasso has his last baseball game this week.  It has been a fun, but rough season for him.  He has never played before, but I think he has the makings of being a really good player.  We just need to get past the flinching when a pitch is coming.  He'll get there though.  He's worked really hard to be the best that he can be for his first season.  I hope he gives it another go next season!  I'm not sure if he will.  If he chooses not to, that is okay too.  He is a great kid no matter what.  He can keep drawing and being artistic instead if that is what he chooses to do.  As long as he keeps making me laugh, we are all good. 

Angel has been loving her kindle.  That girl is engrossed in it most days.  I worry that she spends too much time listening to her books and not reading them, but I know she does still read.  Her daddy loves his audiobooks, so that obviously has rubbed off.  We are going to be looking into surgery on her eye.  With her amblyopia she still gets a lot of eye turn when she is tired.  The surgery would tighten that up and help a lot with the eye turn and hopefully make it easier on her so she doesn't have to work quite so hard to keep that eye in place.  She amazes me every day with how hard she works at fighting her disability.  I only hope that someday I can be as strong as she is!

So that's us in a nutshell for now.  We are moving along, a day at a time.  Some days are crazy, some are "boring", some are busy, but they are always full of love.

Back in theSwing of Things

I suppose it is time to get back in the swing of things.  School is over and so is our vacation.  First things first, Archer did great!  He pulled his grades all up!!!  He ended the year with an A and the rest B's.  That was a lot of work, but hopefully it sunk in.  He and I went to the Alamo Drafthouse for dinner and Star Trek as a reward.  I really loved the movie (2nd time I saw it) and spending an evening with my boy was even better.  Truly hoping we don't have the same issues in the fall.  The rest the kids all did really well in school also.  Picasso struggles a bit with reading out loud, but his comprehension is in the advanced level so I'm not too worried.  We have Angel's 504 plan started and ready for the fall.  Phew!  I will definitely feel better having it in place before she gets to junior high. 

Picasso turned 9 last week!  Happy birthday bubba man!!!  He is such a great kid.  We went to a Colorado Rapids game with some of his friends for his birthday party.  The kids just laughed and smiled through the whole thing.  We probably drove the people around us a bit nuts, but it was a party!  Picasso has cub scout camp this week and is really enjoying that.

Princess turns 7 tomorrow!  I cannot believe that my baby is that old.  Where has the time gone?  I caved and she is getting a Build-a-Bear party with her friends.  What was I thinking?  Oh yeah, that Picasso just got a big party, even though we used Season Ticket Holder points for the party so it was essentially free, so it would only be fair to let her have the big party she has been begging for.  Sigh.  I am sure she will have a fantastic time with her friends and at the end of the day that is what matters.

Archer has been busy with pet sitting, 2 jobs already and 2 more next week.  He loves animals and enjoys making money taking care of them.  I enjoy him having spending money of his own.  We are working on getting some private soccer sessions set up with a Colorado Rapids player.  He is SO stoked! 

Princess is just having a good time being along for the ride.  She is definitely in pre-teen mode.  Holy smokes Batman!  Boys are so much easier in this regard!  I am just waiting for that girl to growth spurt like crazy one of these days.  Until then she is enjoying reading all the books on her kindle.  So glad we were able to get her one as she truly loves it.

My sweet husband is working hard at his new job and I am just trying to keep up with the kids.  All in all, we are doing great!  I will have to tell you all about Disneyland, but not now.  It is late and I am tired.