Proud Mama!

Okay, so induldge me for a few minutes while I brag on my oldest son! This year, Tanner got accepted into the Gifted and Talented class at school. He LOVES it, and I think it is just the right balance of challenging him, without adding any additional stress academically. A few days ago, his teacher sent a note home asking my permission for him to start righting a column for the weekly newsletter! He will be one of the four kids chosen to do this, and they will rotate through once a month. I can't wait to see what he ends up writing each month, and am more proud than words can say! We love you sweetie...

Just to make you laugh... On a completely different note, I was picking up the boys from school today and Keaton, from the back seat, say's mama look? I look back and notice that he is showing me, that while getting dressed this morning, he forgot to take off his pajama pants and still had them on under his shorts. Then he, Tanner, and I all laughed hysterically! Love you Monkey man...

Go Coyotes!

"Mommy, I've been waiting for this moment!"

This is what Keaton told me a few days ago when I told him that his first soccer game was coming up! Due to the rain, today's game was the first chance all the players and coach got to meet, yikkes!

I'd like to say that his team won, or even scored one goal, but let's just say that they won our hearts, Ha! Keaton is one of the oldest boys on the team and did really well today. He stopped LOTS of goals from being scored and even got a few break aways that just never developed into a score. I love his spirit when he is out of the field. He plays HARD the entire time, and always gets right up after a fall! This year he seems to understand better how to predict where the ball is going to go, and now just needs to learn how to maintain the ball once he get it!

We are sooooo proud of him and are looking forward to a WONDERFUL season! Oh and I almost forgot, Daddy took Keaton to pick out a new soccer ball this afternoon and this is the one he chose. He is so proud of it and I'm sure will show it to each of you if you make it out to a game.

GO COYOTES!!!

Monkey makes me laugh!

I think most of you know that I have always called Keaton, Monkey! He's become QUITE fond of the nick name so when I mess up and accidentally call Abby Monkey, he is always quick to correct me and say..."No mommy, I'm your monkey!".

Well... Monkey makes me laugh! The things that he says and does, just puts a smile on my face. He's not trying to be funny, bless his heart, he just is. From way back when he was a little baby, I have always said he's just funny!

So... this morning all the kids are playing in the kitchen and I was cleaning up the living room and this is what I hear:

Keaton says: "Oh my... I've got you... Whatever you do, don't panic!"

I run in to see what he is talking about and Abby is sitting under the kitchen table as happy as a clam! Don't worry Keaton she is not panicking in the least. Then he moved all 6 kitchen chairs out from under the table so that no matter which way Abby decided to go, she wouldn't be stuck!

Thanks for always taking care of sissy Monkey!

Grateful

A few days ago I found myself overwhelmed with gratefulness and appreciation for things God has done and continues to do in my life. To be grateful is simply not enough! When I think about all the blessings and all the trials we've faced over the years, the blessings far surpass the trials.

THANK YOU JESUS!

So, I just want to say THANK YOU to the ONE who gave me my BLESSED life! Thank you for bringing me the most amazing husband. Thank you for my 3 beautiful children. Thank you for protecting us financially during this time of economic struggle. Thank you for protecting my daughter during her heart surgery. Thank you for bring us a buyer for our house. Thank you for allowing us to build our new home. Thank you for my sweet friends. Thank you for allowing my children to have such wonderful grandparents, aunts, uncles, and great grandparents.

THANK YOU JESUS!

I recently downloaded this song from Selah called I Will Carry You! It is a beautiful song and I am happy to support their music. This couple lost a baby girl at birth due to a genetic defect. It makes me realize even more, just how GRATEFUL I am that Jesus protected Abby during and after her birth, and still today! She continues to thrive and I hope we always share her story with others, so that the miracle that God has performed doesn't go unheard!

THANK YOU JESUS!

Moving on Up!

We're moving on up... (please sing to the tune of "The Jeffersons")! Okay, so I should say we're moving on OUT! Our house is officially sold and under contract, yippee!

Chris and I have begun the daunting task of packing up the home we have lived in for 9 whole years! We've started with the kitchen and I must admit, so far it's kinda fun. We are throwing out all kinds of stuff we never should have kept in the first place, and reorganizing things that will be moved into the new house! Chris is just happy that I have found a few items worthy of moving to the new place, Ha! This is what Abby was doing in the meantime! My mom always said that my sisters and I would have more fun with the boxes that toys came in rather than the toys themselves, and I think this picture proves her right!

Here is a picture that I took yesterday before church! The boys are very excited about the move and have TONS of questions regarding things that stay and things that don't! It's cute really and hey, they have NEVER moved before! Did I mention we have been here for 9 years! Abby walked straight up to this sign today and pointed at the picture of Pawpaw on it and said Hu? She couldn't figure out what his picture was doing on the sign!

We'll keep ya posted with our progress! Thank you God for blessing us with this move and our future home.

First Day of School

I can't believe the day has finally arrived! Both Swindell boys now attend Heritage Elementary School. Here are a few pictures from our morning. Sorry they are a bit out of order!

Here is Tanner walking to his classroom. He has now officially become embarrassed by his parents. Yes, it's true. I'd hoped this day would never come but when I asked him to sit at his desk and smile for one quick pic, you'd of thought I had just given him a huge kiss on the forehead (which I did not do, despite every bone in my body wanting too)!

Me and Keaton in his classroom! I must be honest and say he was the cutest 5 year old Kinder gardener in the whole class! He wasn't nervous one bit, I on the other hand kinda was! Before Chris and I left, we checked in on him one more time, and he had already made LOTS of friends. He's my little social butterfly!

Four of the most precious people in my life. Thank you God for each one of them!

Okay, so I know some of you are thinking that I need to stop dressing the boys alike, and I would probably agree, but I would like to point out that the boys shorts are different colors, shirts different color schemes, shoes very different, and that Keaton is wearing a colored undershirt and Tanner is not! Really, this part of the post is directed entirely to my older sister, Missy, who always gives me a hard time about the boys matching outfits. Love ya' sis!!!

Ride, Keaton, Ride!

Keaton has been asking for several days if he could ride Tanner's bike! I know that we are probably behind in the world of bikes, and that lots of kids Keaton's age already have their training wheels removed, but hey, we beat to a different drum! He is doing so great and wants to go so fast that sometimes he loses control. Watch out neighbors. I'm sure if he was writing this he would say that he wants to ride "as fast as Lightening McQueen!

Can't you just tell from his face how much he loves riding his bike. We are DEFINITELY going to let him ride more often.

Here's a behind shot of him right before he takes off and causes daddy to run after him full speed. Thanks for taking one for the team daddy!

Here's two of the three precious boys in my life! Tanner was tired from a long day and decided he did not want to ride his bike this night and hey, that's okay! Maybe next time I post about bikes, Keaton's training wheels will be off. Here's hoping anyway...