Happy End Year

What a year we have had!

 

In February, we received the VERY unexpected news that I was expecting!  I went to the doctor for an ear infection and found out I couldn't take the antibiotic because I was pregnant.  The kids were adorable throughout the whole pregnancy.  They talked to, hugged, and kissed my belly all the time.

 

In April, Molly turned 4 years old.  She is the quarkiest little girl I know.  Her imagination just keeps growing and growing.  And she never fails to make me crack up laughing.

 

In May, Jackson graduated from preschool and I had my last program as his and Molly's music teacher.  He has had the most wonderful and loving teachers I could ask for.  He continues to enjoy learning and asking a million questions!

 

In June, Jason took the kids camping for the first time.  It was only one night, but they had a blast and are looking forward to camping many more times.  Molly started ballet!  She asked, for nearly a year when she could take ballet.  We told her she needed to wait until she was 4 years old. 

 

In August, we all headed to Kansas to visit Gigi.  The kids always love visiting the farm.  Jackson and Molly got to ride a horse.  And I sprained my ankle for the first time ever.  Wow, that hurt.  As bad as it was, I was very blessed to have so much family around to baby me and my giant belly.

Also this month, Jackson started kindergarten and Molly began preschool.  The first couple weeks were a bit rough for Jackson as they only have all day kindergarten here and no naps, but he's catching on and learning so much!

 

September began a new adventure for Jason.  He was Jackson and Molly's soccer coach.  He has been a bit wary of coaching kids at this age (he isn't know for his patience) but he was fantastic and everyone had so much fun!  This was also Molly's first season playing soccer.  She has some learning to do, but she had fun and great team spirit.  She was always ready and willing to get out on field.

 

Octorber 1st we welcomed our wonderful Grady Bennett McGinthy!  He started sleeping 4-6 hours at night the day we brought him home and he is always full of smiles.  Jackson and Molly LOVE their little brother.  Molly was the first person to get a smile from Grady and he always lights up when he see's her.  Jackson loves to hold him and feed him.

 

In November, we received more wonderful news that Jason was offered an academic position teaching at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.  We will be moving up their this coming June.  I will miss all of the friends we've made here in New Mexico, but I am looking forward to living 4.5 hours from family. (The closest we've ever lived!)

 

In December, Molly performed in her very first ballet, A Christmas Carol, and Jackson graduated from being a taekwondo tiger cub!  With the arrival of Grady in October, we let all of our family know that we would not be travelling anywhere for Christmas.  I was pleased to host Jason's family here!  The last time we spent Christmas at home was after Jackson was born in 2006.

 

It has been such a busy and exciting year for us!  We continue to look forward to all the adventures God lays before us.  He has challenged us and blessed us over and over again.

 

Happy New Year and I'll see you next year at the start of my 365 project challenge!



 

 

What a Weekend!!!

This has been a very busy and exciting weekend for us!

First, Jackson graduated from the Taekwondo tiger cubs!  He is back to being a white belt, but he moves up to the juniors.  He is very excited about this because it means he gets to be a helper in the tiger cubs classes along with going to his own juniors class.

 

 

After they all get their new belts, they take off their old belts and, all together, throw them in the air in celebration!

 



 

Then Molly had her ballet recital!  She was in the Academy of Ballet's presentation of A Christmas Carol.  I wasn't sure how she would react when that curtain opened and she saw all the people watching, but she was awesome!  She even knew she wasn't allowed to wave to us even though we were sitting in the front row. :)

 



 

It was a little tough for Jason and I to deal with her wearing make-up.  But she didn't mind.  After her dress rehearsal, she told me "they said I need more!"

 



This afternoon was her final performance so, in theatre tradition, I brought her flowers.  As we walked to the van she asked me, "aren't they suppose to throw flowers at us?"  I told her, "sometimes, but that's usually in the opera."  She was content with my response. :)

All in all, I couldn't have been more proud of my kiddos this weekend.  They both worked hard and had great successes.

Happy Baby Time!

Grady is getting into my absolute favorite baby phase.  Talking.  I could listen to him all day long.  And he'll talk to almost anyone, although he does seem quite taken by the ladies. :)
He has also started to really enjoy his play mat.  He hasn't figured out how to grab the toys yet, but that doesn't keep him from smiling and kicking his legs in delight.

Name that baby....

We're going to play a little game called "Name That Baby!!!"

Think you got them all right?

Making Discoveries!

And it begins.  Grady still hasn't discovered his hands, but it won't be long now!  This morning, he finally noticed the ducky hanging from the handle of his carseat.  He just stared at it for the longest time.  Then his arms started moving.  Boy, did he want to grab that ducky.  Sorry Mr. Duck, but you're doomed to be tugged at, batted around, and chewed on.  He'll only do it because he'll love you. :)

Come the new year, I have been inspired to attempt a 365 project again.  It was tough to do with Jackson and Molly both in school, but now that I have Grady at home, it should be a bit easier to come up with a photo every day.  We'll see how it goes!

Jackson's School Program!

This was Jackson's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Borunda, telling Jackson what NOT to do so he wouldn't fall of the end or the back of the risers.  Figures he would be on top AND on the end.  Thankfully, he was great and didn't even wabble. :)

 

 

He hadn't found us in the crowd yet.  But he did eventually and we got a great big smile, wave, and "There's my mom and dad and Molly!!!"

 

 

And then he went back to the straight face.

 

This was only a quarter of the kids up there.  There were just about a hundred kindergarteners!

Would it kill ya to smile?

 



 

He did a terrific job!  We are so proud of him!  You can go to the following link to see videos of his songs.  They aren't the clearest, but you can still hear them!

https://picasaweb.google.com/102053470915438885338/JacksonSChristmasProgram#

SANTA!!!!!

This evening, Jackson and Molly participated in the base Christmas tree lighting!  They sang with the childrens choir.  At the end, they sang "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" and in came Santa on a firetruck!  Sirens blaring!  It was wonderful.  Molly was cheering.  Jackson was jumping up and down and waving.  I love seeing my kiddos so happy and excited.

Then we waiting our turn to visit with Santa.  Molly told him she wanted a new stroller for her baby dolls and Jackson wants Pop the Pig (it's a board game).  Santa heard them.  *wink, wink*

Simple Things

My children really have taught me to be thankful for the little things in life.  I'm thankful for silence.  I'm thankful for uninterrupted bathes.  I'm thankful when I get to take a shower two days in a row.  I'm thankful for bear hugs and tickle monsters.  I'm thankful for hot meals that are still warm when I get to eat them.  I'm thankful for the phrase, "Mommy?  Can I help?"  I'm thankful when it takes less than ten minutes for me to find my keys and my cellphone isn't dead.

At school this morning, Molly made a "Tree of Thanks."  As I read the things she said she was thankful for I got that warm fuzzy feeling....and then I busted up laughing.  Take a look and you'll see why.  :)

The Three Amigos

I am greatly looking forward to watching all three of my children play together.  I realize it is still a ways off, but it doesn't keep me from watching them interact now.  Grady seems to be quite taken with his big sister.  This morning, she was the first person to really get him to smile.  He also seems to relax when Molly is holding him.  This evening, both kids wanted a chance to hold Grady and I, of course, took advantage of the photo op.

Celebrating the Season

We only have one soccer game left this season, and one of our players wasn't going to be able to make it to the final game.  So we had our end of the season party this afternoon.  I gave the parents the team and individual photos and Coach Jason and Coach Krista gave each of the kids a medal.  They were thrilled!!!  The kids have been fantastic all season.  Everyone has had so much fun and the whole team has improved so much!  I think we're looking forward to doing this again.

 

Soccer Family

This morning, I took team and individual photos for the kids soccer team.  They, and Jason, have had so much fun this season.  Normally, this isn't an age group that Jason is eager to coach, but he has done a fantastic job and everyone has had so much fun!  We're looking forward to doing more of this in the future.  I just might be a soccer mom for many years to come.

 

Even Grady got in on the soccer photo action. :)

Our Littlest Blessing

Grady is 1 month old today!  How time flies!  I'm a bit sad about this.  My recovery from his delivery was far more difficult than either of the other two.  I feel like I missed out.  Because of a bad epidural, I had horrible back pain, neck pain, and spinal headaches.  It took almost two weeks to finally get something done about it.  But, through all of the pain and frustration, God truely blessed us with a strong and hard working husband, a wonderful helping mother, and an amazing baby.  Grady has a cry that I actually think is cute and, unfortunately for him, I don't mind listening to.  He really only cries when he really needs something and, between 10:30pm and 7:00am, he only gets up once!  Now Jason is back to work and my mom has gone back home.  I have yet to feel sleep deprived but we'll see what the next month brings!

Happy Halloween!

We started the evening at our churches Trunk or Treat.

 

Grady was a "little Brother" for Halloween. :)  He did an excellent job at it!

The kids LOVE getting to hand out candy just as much as getting it!  Jackson started to cry when we told him we had to close the door because we were all done.