What's Up Life...

Exactly... right?
Here comes a new and improved Blog for you all! It's literally been forever since I last wrote, no I am serious we are talking 15 whole months!! Life gets crazy sometimes and to be quite honest life is crazy ALL the time these days around our house. So I thought what better way to relaunch this blog than with a new name that really fits this season of our life! "What's up Life"... I really wanted a name that could represent all the "stuff" that we have going on, all the activities the kids are involved in, what the husband and I are up to, and so much more.

Yes, the last 15 months have been pretty crazy, and if you don't follow me on social media then I'm sure all the updates will start making sense soon. I really did miss my little blog and my readers during my break and I thought about things I could blog about often. It was simply a matter of finding time to sit and write. I've always loved writing and it has been a way for me to connect with others so for 2019 I'm bringing it back. I've learned from the past and my time away that it really doesn't matter how often I blog, what matters is that I make a connection when I do. I hope that you will find the same blog you remember from before with just a bit more fun and laughs.

Now for a quick update...
All the happenings in 2018
-We went north for Christmas (2017) and we all came back sick! It took us nearly the entire rest of winter break to get back to feeling better.
-The twins finished up VPK and moved up a level in Gymnastics, and of course started kindergarten in the fall
-Madison was involved with Odyssey of the Mind and her team won at the county level and went to states, they didn't win but it was a fun experience for us all
-Curt (the husband) coached several soccer teams and had a blast. The kids he coached really loved him and our kids loved to watch the games and eat all the snacks from their Aunt Bridget
-Kendal finished up her first year of cheerleading and rolled right into her 8th grade year of cheer.
-Parker really grew a lot during 2018, she found her voice and her words and there has been no stopping her since!
-We went to New Mexico in May to visit with my side of the family. My nephew graduated from high school and we all came from different parts of the country to celebrate
- I am continuing to coach my health and fitness groups and have started substitute teaching, it has been on of the biggest blessings for my personal growth
-WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!! Yes, in May we finally bought a house in Florida! What we thought might not happen until the end of the year came much quicker thanks to our amazing realtor and our willingness to take a leap!


So of course there's probably so much more I could share but that is the quick version! I can't wait to share more the life we've been living with the seven of us. we have many adventures planned for this year and it's going to be amazing!

Welcome back friends... I am so glad you're here!

Mother's Day 2017

Holy crap guys I have FIVE kids and this was my 12th Mother's Day WOW!! I know, I know, old news but some how with each Mother's Day as the girls get older the meaning behind the day seems to change. Not because my older girls are getting really good and making me breakfast or because they are more and more creative with each passing year but because I understand more and more what it means to be THEIR mom. Each year I learn more about myself as a mom and just how I contribute to our family dynamic. I'm also learning how my girls contribute to our family and the joy they bring to us each and every day. Being a parent is full of questions that often go unanswered not because we don't know how to answer them but because we are continually being challenged to grow and change. Being a mom is the best, most rewarding, hardest job I know I will ever have and if I had to apply for and interview for it I'm not sure I would be selected. But nevertheless, I am here now and these girls show me how much the love and care for me every single day and that is all I could ever ask for.

A very Happy Mother's Day to all of the mamas out there.. and I sincerely Pray for all of the women out there working on becoming mothers themselves.

Parker Elaine ~ 8 Months

Eight months ... Say what??? Usually the months seem to go so very fast but I am happy to say the past month was an exception. Maybe it was because Parker got to travel to Pennsylvania for the first time to see her Auntie, Uncle, and cousin Paisley. Or maybe it's because my entire house was sick for the past month. Either way month 8 was slow and full of changes for Miss. Parker. This is a really fun age because these little minds are so full of learning and it is so much fun to watch them each day.
Up until recently Parker's favorite noise to make was something relating to a monster all.day.long you could hear her making these growls and yells and we ate it up. Over the past few weeks she has started making more babbling noises and hearing her little "voice" is just so adorable. I may or may not be working on her saying "mama" over and over! 3 out of 4 of the girls' first word was DaDa and one was BaBa, so mama has to get a win at some point!  (update... she's been saying mama for the past few days now!!)

Parker has started trying out some new solid foods (or table food)... thanks to cousin Paisley. She has tried bananas, green beans, mashed potatoes, and pretty much anything else we think might be ok for her to try. She is more than open to trying new foods and possibly taking food off our our plates and trying to get food from her sisters. And while we are on the topic of sisters, the twins absolutely love to try and give Parker their food... for example seeing Parker in the living room with a cracker in her mouth and Livy proudly telling me "I give Parker cracker".... uhhhh ok.

Parker did so well on her first flight, she pretty much behaved the best I could have asked for. We got lots of smiles and compliments from other passengers and there may have even been a little flirting going on by Miss. Parker. It was so much fun to watch Paisley and Parker together they played and played and maybe even tried to give each other a hug or two. Parker learned a lot from Paisley in the few days we were there... I'm pretty sure that's how she learned to babble instead of always making her monster noises. Paisley taught Parker how to pick up her puffs and put them into her mouth as well as try out some new foods.

Although we haven't been to the doctor since 6 months Parker is definitely a chunk and I'm sure around 21-22 pounds. She is just making the transition into 9-12 month clothes with some 6-9 months still fitting. She is just as full of life as she is chunk... and it's no surprise given how much she loves to eat! Her smile is contagious and her blue eyes sparkle just like her big sisters.

So very close to ONE ~ time just moves so fast ~ We love you so much Parker Elaine.

14 Years!

Holy cow 14 years! My hubby and I have been married for 14 years and quite honestly it feels like we've only just begun. Like most married couples we have been through our share of ups and downs. Each time we had one of those downs we came out stronger than before, stronger in love and in faith. Our ups have been amazing and we know there are so many more to come. We've brought 5 beautiful daughters into this world and there's no one I'd rather raise them with.

So here's to another 14 years (and more) together and more getting to know each other, the best is certainly yet to come.

Parker ~ 5 months

It's hard to believe our little girl is already 5 months! And let's be honest she's not so little any more. Baby girl loves to eat (as always) and with the addition of cereal and some other baby food thrown in there she is one happy baby.

Typically I would talk about all the fun changes we have seen in this little one since she turned 4 months. However, this month  I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about something that's been on my mind and heart lately.

As mothers (and parents) we see our children as perfect and rightfully so. They are our babies and we carried them with us for 9-10 months. During that time things like sitting up, crawling, talking, or the next milestone didn't matter. And honestly, we didn't even worry about those things; we just wanted our baby to be healthy.

But then our baby is born and we begin to compare (maybe not right away, but soon enough) and worry about all the things society tells us is normal. We hear things like, shouldn't she be sitting up by now? Why isn't he crawling yet? Are you sure there's nothing wrong? Or we are told we aren't doing something right or we did something wrong ... Why didn't you have a c-section? Why did you have a c-section? Why didn't you tell her pediatrician about that? And on and on... We sometimes feel like we are alone in our daily struggles and battles. We are afraid of being judged simply because our baby didn't walk by age one or our baby needs a helmet all because of something out of our control. Maybe all of these things make you feel alone and that no one understands how you feel. But from one mom to another, one parent to another I want you to know you are not alone and your baby IS perfect. Your child is normal; normal is what you make it; your child only needs you to be there, to show her the way. And sometimes as parents that is all we can do. Our children will love and respect us for being the best version of ourselves we can be. So hold your head high moms and dads you are doing a great job!



5 month photo dump....

We love you Parker!