Grampa's 65th Birthday Book

For Grampa's 65th birthday, I made him a photo book about the 65 things we love about him.  I called my sisters and got lots of quotes from each of us as well as all his grandchildren. Every number had a quote and the name of the person who said it.  Some of them were heartfelt; some funny. And his grandchildren's comments were just hilarious.  It was a labor of love, but I always say, "Love is a verb."  Happy 65th Grampa! We all love you so much!

Celebrating Grampa's 65th Birthday

Today we celebrated Grampa's 65th birthday out at his new place.  His new land is every boy's dream...complete with a huge dirt pile, a running creek, a 4-wheeler, and all the fun of Grampa! Grampa didn't want to make a fuss over his birthday...but he did want all his grandkids to come out to his place for his birthday.  So that's what we did! Grampa roasted hot dogs and smores in a bonfire and we all had a great time. 

Every year, I'm more aware of just HOW blessed I've been to have him as my father.  I love him so dearly.  Happy 65th Birthday, Dad!   

Class Pictures at Oak Tree Academy

Noah had his first set of class pictures at Oak Tree Academy today.  He's going through this phase where he scrunches his nose when he smiles for pictures.  Luckily, I was able to get a few pictures of him smiling better in the event that the picture that the photographer chooses has him with a funny face! This is his Monday, Wednesday, Friday class. 
Noah age 4!

Saying Yes

SAYING YES!

It's a BEAUTIFUL week in Texas with spring-like weather & flowers all a bloom!
I can't believe that my climbing Iceberg roses are already beginning to bloom! I know it's going to be a HOT summer, but I'm ready for spring!
This week, I'm saying YES to...

• Jackson's adorable legs! Look at those cute little baby rolls! Love 'em!
• YES to curly red hair and tiny freckles on Noah's nose.
• I say YES to running.  It's time to get serious again!
• YES to revamping the old closet---saying goodbye to all the black and getting some fresh new colors going in the wardrobe!
• I say yes to appreciating my husband.
• YES to pulling weeds and spring projects.
• YES to renewal...yes to keeping it fresh.
• YES to water, water, water.
• I say yes to catching up (hopefully) on overdue paperwork.
• YES to Noah's preschool class pictures at Oak Tree Academy.
• YES to making an effort, and not being a frump!
• YES to breath.  YES to prayer. 
• I say YES to planting.
• YES to renewal! YES to spring in my step!
• YES to smiles and YES to positive energy!
• I say YES to more appreciating and less nit-picking.
• YES to another ride in the kayak!
• YES! YES! YES!





A Great Daddy

I had to work today, and Michael spent the day taking care of the boys.  They spent most of the day playing outside.  He bought Noah a t-ball stand and showed Noah how to hold the bat.  By the time I came home, Noah was not only hitting the ball off the t-ball stand...but he was even getting some hits off the stand when it pitched the ball to him! All thanks to a great daddy that spends time with his boys.  I don't say it enough...but he is really a great daddy. 

Mommy & her boys, St. Patrick's Day 2012

St. Patrick's Day 2012-

How cute are my little guys this St. Patrick's Day?  We had a little "party," complete with homemade cookies to celebrate St. Patrick's Day today.  We all danced together to an Irish jig, and Noah played the Irish song over and over again before ate some yummy, homemade clover-shaped sugar cookies!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day 2012

St. Patrick's Day 2012~
I whipped up a batch of 4-leaf clover cookies and got out the green so our boys could party up for St. Patrick's Day 2012.  Noah was a ham dressing up in all the green accessories! And Jackson went with the flow as always:)
Happy St.Patrick's Day!

Jackson's Changing Smile:)

Jackson's Smile is Changing!!!

First 2 teeth!

Then 4 teeth!

Now he's got 2 more teeth on top!
And 2 more on the way on bottom!

 No matter how many teeth...I love his sweet smile!

Happy 4th Birthday Addi

Happy 4th Birthday, Addi!   Noah & I joined his good friend Addie at Chuck E. Cheese yesterday to celebrate her 4th birthday.  Our friend (Miss Betty) from Village Bakery made Addi's amazing rainbow birthday cake! Noah just loves his friends:)  Mr. Social.  I took pictures of the party so that Addi's mom could actually be present and in the moment.  I think I ended up with something like 250! Life...birthdays...are to be celebrated, cherished, and remembered. Life is a GIFT!

"Okra Whale"

Noah said the funniest thing last week. I wrote it down in my iphone and just now retrieved it.  He was watching a video about sea animals, and said, "Look Mama. It's an Okra Whale!"  I asked him to repeat what he said, "I love Okra whales!" I asked him what an Okra whale was.  He pointed to to the video, and said, "like that one...an Okra whale!" I turned my head and saw a "Shamu" type whale...an Orca whale.  SO FUNNY!

Saying Yes!

SAYING YES

This week has been a doozy---and it's only Tuesday! But I'm trying to learn the lesson that Noah taught me...take the mud, and not only jump right in...but grab your Tonka truck and plow right through that mud! So on that note, this week I'm saying YES to...

• Deep breathing.
• I say YES to flexibility and problem solving.
• And YES to thanking Veronica for watching the boys today in the midst of our childcare transition!
• I say YES to balance, and trying to find a way to juggle it all.
• YES to the sweetest, most precious boys in the world.
• YES to grace...a free gift God gives us. 
• YES to the prospect of new school adventures.
• I say YES to NOT having all the answers...and being o.k. with that.
• YES to springtime in Texas.
• YES to an open mind.
• YES to my exercise and water (By the way, the Bobble bottle is working!)
• YES to noticing the many blessings in my life.
• YES to approaching my life from a paradigm of blessings rather than void.
• I say YES to progress, not perfection.
• Yes! Yes! YES!

Lessons From My 4 Year Old

     It has been a difficult week in the McBride home.  It's not the boys.  The boys are amazing.  It's not the house.  It's actually picked up for the most part (right now!)
It's our childcare situation.  Since Noah was 3 months old, I've had a lady coming to the house to care for him when I work.  Unfortunately, she has had difficulty with lack of structure and discipline, and after some unfortunate incidents this past week, we've had no choice but to part ways.   So I've been sad, overwhelmed...drowning in pressure, guilt, uncertainty, and absolute trepidation about making the wrong decision for my boys.  These are the struggles of a working mother.  Let me be perfectly honest...it isn't pretty! I've gravitated from depression to anger to confusion to anxiety, back to depression, to feeling overwhelmed...and then some! I've been researching schools...actually, thank goodness, Christine has already done lots of that work (bless you!), daycares, private nannys etc.  Trying to come up with the right balance and right decision for our family has been agony.  In my woe-is-me moments today...we decided to take a walk around the lake. Noah was fascinated with the water puddles.  We have been cooped up all weekend, so we gave him free-for-all to puddle away.  "I love jumping in water puddles," he exclaimed again and again.  And then he'd dive right in. Again and again. Puddle after puddle.  No reservations.
When I got to looking at these pictures, I realized that my 4 year old was TEACHING ME.  He took a situation that would seem dreary...rain and mud...and turned it into an adventure by jumping right in...literally.  He didn't overanalyze anything.  He didn't freak out about making the wrong choice.  He knew it would be dirty.  And wet.  And that a mess would surely be made----and he unabashedly JUMPED RIGHT IN...FEET FIRST.  No fear.  And he enjoyed the moment. 
     Wow.  My son, Noah...taught me a huge lessoon today.  Here I was feeling sorry for myself, because I allowed the rain and the accompanying mud of our situation this week to steal my joy.  I allowed that.  Well, let me tell you....that's misreable.  I'm opting for something else.  I'm going to attempt to approach the situation as my 4 year old would----by jumping right in.  Sure, it may be muddy for a while.  We may get dirty...but we can always change directions...wash off...and take another path if that's best for our family.  Nothing is set in stone.  We adults tend to over-complicate things, don't we? Thank you, Noah, for teaching your mama a much-needed lesson.  I love you, my darling.  Never lose your spirit.  For it teaches me daily.

Noah in Green

Here are some pictures of my favorited red-headed leprechaun, Noah.  Mr. Lucky----totally cracks me up! Even when he's not cooperating...this kid is so photogenic:) Love him.

Jackson in Green

Before the weather got cold and wet this week, I took the boys on a walk around the lake, all dressed in green! I had hoped to get some more St. Patrick's pictures taken, but these are all I got before the weather turned:) Here's my Jackson---16 months

 He is a doll.