Surprise!!

As I type this post we are traveling through New Mexico on our way to CA! I am typing on Scott's new iPad that I am absolutely in love with!!! It has made this trip so far much more enjoyable. It's amazing the way we travel compared to the "old days." At one point this morning, Easton was watching a movie on netflix(on the iPad), Isabelle was watching a movie on the portable tv, Emarie was watching a movie on the car tv, Scott had his phone plugged into the radio listening to pandora, and I was on my cell phone. I thought,"what in the world would we do without all these electronics?" So with that being said I can add that the kids have been amazing. I'm very fortunate to have 3 little travelers, or 3 little kids that like to watch tv and play on their ds.

We left yesterday, Friday Dec 16, at 1:30 and drove to Van Horn, Tx. We got there about 2:30 am. The kids were delirious once we got them inside and in the bed. Especially Emarie, she had us laughing. But, we got a good 5 hours of sleep and got back on the road. Funny story about Emarie, I was getting in the shower and she says,"I come in there wiff you." I said,"whatever dude." She gave me this funny look and as serious as could be says,"I not dude, I emma-ee." She cracks me up!

I titled the post "surprise" so I guess I should explain why. Grandma does not know we are coming. Well, she knows we are coming but not this soon. She's expecting us next week. The even bigger surprise though is that the Crutchers are coming! I can't wait to see the look on her face when we show up at her door. Thank you Aunt Doreen and Uncle Tom for the fabulous idea and helping to make it happen! I can't wait to spend the Christmas holidays with the family. I hope grandma doesn't mind the early and extra company. Pretty sure she'll be ok with it! =)

Family Update

A little family update...

I'll start with Emarie. She is hilarious these days. She keeps us laughing with her funny looks, new words every day and her spunky little personality. She's even got the head bob down(wonder where she got that from???) She is growing up so fast. I call her the baby but she is so far from it. She tries to do what everybody else does and keeps up pretty well. The talking has been slow coming but she has made so much progress in the last couple months. Some of my favorites from her recently:
when she's done with something she says, "ear momma"
"I ont jush peas" --She now gets it out the refrigerator herself
"Elp" (help)
She gets so excited about the littlest things and she'll clap and say,"Yay mommy" or "Yay da-ee"
"a-din" again
She sings"d-d-d-d-dora" "you are my sunshine" and "baby,baby,baby, ohhhh"
"tay-tu"
She learns new things everyday. She showed me the other day she knows a few colors and she can count to 10(with a little help).
Her favorite things things these days are her cards, strawberries, swimming, Dora and baby baby(Justin Beiber).
She absolutely loves her brothers and sisters. She'll play dolls with Isabelle or take Braden a book and ask him to read. She's moved into the 2 year old class at school and seems to really like it. When I pick her up I'll ask if she had a good day and it's always the same response, "yeaaahh"

Next is Isabelle. She started pre-4 this year and now gets to go to the big elementary school with Braden and Easton. She's made a bunch of friends and seems to enjoy it. She is still my little busy body,always needing something to do. She just started soccer and has done great!! Her first game she scored 3 goals and even had an assist. We are skipping dance this year but starting gymnastics(tumbling) on Monday. Thanks to her cousin Tia, she loves Justin "Beaver." I have finally broken her of wearing a dress EVERY day but now it's the hair. She can't stand a ponytail. I told her when school started we were gonna cut her hair so she doesn't have to wear a ponytail, and trust me, she remembers that and reminds me every time I put her hair up.

Funny conversation the other day...

Easton:Mommy, did you break up with me?

Me: Where did you here about breaking up?

Isabelle(with total attitude): Uh, Barbie and the Fashion Fairy. Ken breaks up with Barbie!! He is so mean!!!

Easton is repeating kindergarten this year and off to a great start. He LOVES it, which,if you know Easton, says alot. He comes home every day in a great mood and tells me how great his day was. Homework is no longer an issue. In fact, he's even gone as far to tell me he likes homework. He's playing soccer again and really enjoying it. Easton's passion these days, though, is his ds. He's obsessed! He's also really into Star Wars and wants to be Yoda for Halloween.

Braden has started the 4th grade and is also doing great. He made straight A's the first 6 weeks! Right now he is in the middle of football. He had his first (somewhat)major injury about 2 weeks ago. He went to tackle a boy and his arm got caught on the snap of the boys helmet and put a pretty good gash, which resulted in 14 stitches. He's always carrying dome kind of ball around or out in the yard playing some kind of sport.

Not much new with Scott and I. We are enjoying coaching Easton and Isabelle in soccer. We love this time year where we get to tailgate out out ULM and watch football all day or just stay home (after the morning football and soccer games) and watch football. =) I've taken on a new role at work and am now the GED teacher. It's brought many challenges but I think once I get it figured out I'm going to really enjoy it. Right now I've got 3 girls and 1 boy that come to me 3 hours a day and we are working toward receiviing the GED.

Slacking

My goal for the new year was to blog at least once a week. Well crazy as my life is, maybe it's a little more realistic to say once a month!!! The kids continue to grow way too fast. They make me laugh daily with their witty, cute,and yes,sarcastic comments. Nothing that comes out of their mouth surprises me anymore...well, maybe some things. We are currently getting over the flu which struck half the house full force while the others have so far been lucky to catch a break. Here's what's going on with each of us...
Braden is now in basketball. He asked me the other day if it was possible to play in the NFL and NBA. Haha I love that he has high hopes though. He has grown to really love sports. We went to grandmas house for Christmas and she let him choose her picks one time. We had to leave a couple days later but he carried those picks in his pocket and kept up with them! He continues to do great in school making all A's and B's.
Easton cracked me up the other night when he told me he wishes I would have just named him daddy. When I asked him why, he said,"Because then Isabelle and Braden and Emarie would have to call me daddy. And even daddy would have to call me daddy...and mimi" I thought this was just hilarious and pretty clever to think of it.Easton and I have been spending alot of time together these days playing Mario Bros on the wii. He's got me hooked!! Sometimes he plays with me and sometimes he just watches and gets so excited at each level I pass. I have really enjoyed the quality time.
A story that sums up Isabelle happened last friday night. Scott and I were going out to dinner and she was so excited for the babysitter. As I'm getting ready I get a text from the neighbor/babysitter that says, "Isabelle is at my house and said you might be looking for her." Come to find out later, she had been gone for 5-10 minutes. I hate to admit it but I never knew she was gone. You can bet when she got home she got an earful. I told her I was worried about her and she can't leave without telling me, etc. Her response..."it's only right next door!!!" She is so independant it's amazing!! She has a new bestfriend that lives 3 doors down. Maggie is 12 but Isabelle absolutely adores her. Isabelle is the social butterfly in her class. There are 3 boys in the class and all their moms have told me how much they LOVE Isabelle. Her teacher said if she had 12 Isabelle's her class would be wonderful. At home, she not so easy. She pretty much thinks she can do what she wants at our house. She also really thinks she's a princess! =) The other day Braden had a friend over and they were all telling her that princesses were not real. So she goes in her room, puts on her pretty "Princess clothes" and walks outside and says,"I told you boys there is such thing as a princess!!!" I just love her!! She's starting to show interest in basketball. We have a basket in our living room and she will shoot over and over and make it most of the time. Although she'll probably never play due to her size, I think she will be quite the athlete because she is not afraid of anything and so determined.
And then there is my Emarie. Learning something new everyday, I just love watching her grow. Her vocabulary consists of momma,dada,hot,mine,more,dog,stuck(She tells of this when she wants out of her crib or high chair),thank you(Tay-tu),shoes,sock,what's that(wah-da),night-night,hello(eh-woh),bye-bye and ball. She started daycare about 3 weeks ago and it has been a rough transition for us(me and her). She has seemed to adjust to the lady who is there til 3 but not so well with the afternoon girls. Everyday when I get there, they are holding her because she was or is crying. It breaks my heart but i know it will get better. One of the great things about my job is I get there to pick her up by 3:30 every day. Emarie loves music these days. Everytime she hears music she start dancing and just gets a big smile on her face. She's such a joy!!
Scott and I are busy as always! It was announced in the newsstar today about me being inducted in the ULM hall of fame. This is such an honor!! I can't wait for Feb 26, mainly because lots of family are coming in to celebrate the special day with me.
This is all for now but I am going to try real hard to do this more regularly!!