Lately We've Been...

losing a front tooth (#4!),

bouncing with friends at Dairy Queen,

just being cute,

getting pedicures with Mommy,

eating yogurt and practicing my cross-eyed silly face,

and eating pizza poolside.

Pool Parties in October

Just had to share this quick picture from my phone of a pool party at a new friend's house this past weekend.  It was their son's birthday and they live in a beautiful home right next to the ocean. It was beautiful and a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon in October. :)

Ready, Set, Hike!

Beckett started his first sport this past Saturday! Mr. Four-Year-Old is officially in flag football :) I was hesitant to sign him up for it, afterall, he's still just a baby! But he's been tagging along Reese and all of her activities for years, so I told him when he turned 4 he could pick something. I didn't care if he picked guitar, gymnastics, soccer, whatever he wanted. He picked FOOTBALL and I thought, uh, that wasn't one of the options...

So here he is on his first day of flag football. Before we left that morning, he told Reese he was "going to win the trophy by kicking everyone in the face." Whaaaaat???

We had to be on the field at 8am, so on the way there, we grabbed a box of Munchkins and a hot chocolate from Dunkin' Donuts, had our water bottles and sweatshirts on and were ready to go :)

By 9am, it was already 85° so the sweatshirts were off and I was wanting some ICE for my cooled down hot chocolate, but nevertheless we had a fun morning.

Beckett was hilarious! He was so adorably clueless. Most plays everyone would run and he'd just stand there. Then the coach would yell, "Go! Run!" and he start running..... not necessarily in the direction of the ball and the other kids, but just around.  Then, in down times he'd run and say things to me like, "Can I have a doughnut?" or "There's grass on my mouth guard, can you wipe it off on your shirt for me?" PRICELESS.

Wade was so disappointed he had to work and wasn't able to be there. He told me he'd rather miss all the rest of the Iowa games this season if he could just watch his son play football each week. Awwwww. Lucky for him, this isn't B's varsity year of football, so I'm sure he'll have plenty of games to watch in the next couple years. :)

On Homeschooling...okay, here we go...

Alright, folks. I think I'm finally ready to talk about it. My "secret" which is not really a secret at all if you just ask me. I love talking about it. Reading about it. Sharing my experience with others. But only if you ask first.

We homeschool. {gasp!} This is our second year. You guys knew that, right?

I'm a pretty confident gal, so it may not make sense why I usually keep this to myself. It's not that I'm embarrassed or ashamed of it, I'm actually really proud of it. But you see, not everyone "gets" it.

Here's how the conversation usually goes:

Random Person We Just Met: Oh, you're daughter is so polite and well-behaved! She's 6? So she must be in school! What grade is she in?
Me: Thank you very much! She's in first grade.
Random Person: How wonderful. What school does she go to?
Me: We actually homeschool!
Random Person: Oh! Wow! Oh, honey, bless your heart. I could never do that. Oh my gosh, I'd probably kill my child or go crazy! I really have to have those couple of hours of "me" time when Sarah goes to school. I mean, of course, I love her, but I just couldn't do it. And it's better for her to be with the other kids at school to socialize and stuff. But wow, really, good for you.
Me: (smile and nod) Okay.

I just don't know what to say to that. I can't tell you how many times I've heard variations of the above comments. If they are curious and ask questions, of course, I answer them. But most people don't ask questions.

Actually, here's what I'd really like to say back to them:

Me: Yes, thank you. I do consider myself better than you since you choose to send your child to public school. Ohmygosh YUCK! I could NEVER do that.
I'm just kidding!! That'd be mean, right? But why is it okay to say the same thing, but opposite, to me?
Here's the thing- I don't think I'm a better parent than you. I don't love my child any more than you do. I'm not crazy organized (in fact, as a working mom with school-aged children, you're probably MORE organized than me). I don't judge you at all. I don't think you're nuts for sending your kid to public schools. REALLY.
We all make different choices! This one was the best for our family and somehow it seems to work for us. Yes, I have days where I can't stand my kids and I want to jump off a bridge. Or take the dog back to the Animal Shelter. And leave the kids there, too. Sometimes I let the kids watch cartoons all morning (like from breakfast to lunch) because I just can't do it that day.
Public school, private school, homeschool, whatever. In my opinion, they each have their advantages and disadvantages so you really can't make a bad decision! They are all great! And they are all flawed. I'd say I'm pretty normal, and more like you than you know. I drink coffee, color my hair, listen to country music, have a strange and secret love for Keeping Up With The Kardashians, work from home, will let pretty much anyone watch my kids, argue with my husband, buy random things from Target, etc. No braids or denim jumpers here!

But that could awwwkward, because then I'd probably go into the list of reasons why we chose to homeschool and some of the things we do, and how we struggle but where we find support, and by then the Random Person We Just Met would be slowly backing away wishing she'd never even said anything at all.

But what's that you say, dear reader? You would like to hear about all those things?? Well, alrighty! Since you asked (or not...) I'll try to put something together in the next week or so! :)

My Little (Big) Guy

I read this {little article} tonight, and I almost couldn't breath. With tears in my eyes, I had to resist the urge to crawl into my oldest son's bed to cuddle. I stopped myself when I remembered his smelly blankie and other little sleeping boy in the room who would probably wake up if I tried to sneak in. But I still panicked. He's getting so big. Here he is on his 4th birthday earlier this month.

At four years old, he carries a bow and arrow (AKA a clothes hanger and a colored pencil) around the house like Robin Hood, brings a little plastic TOY kitchen knife with him when we run errands (you know, in case he needs to fight some bad guys), he likes pirates, Transformers and dinosaurs. He hardly ever wants to snuggle with his mama.

But he used to. I love it that he still calls me mama. A couple of days ago, I asked him, "Becky, do you usually call me Mama or Mommy?" And he replied (in a deep voice and serious face), "I call you Mother." what????

He used to not want to be put down. He used to screeeeeeam when I'd leave him in the YMCA playroom. Now he hardly notices I'm gone. I remember when I wouldn't let Reese play with the small Legos because she had a baby brother who would put them in his mouth. Now, he spends hours building airplanes and cars and who-knows-what with those same little Legos.

My desire is to raise a confident young man. A person who can think independently, make smart decisions, cares about others, loves God, and treats people with respect. Raising a son feels very different than raising a daughter. Reese and I have our own girl thing. It's hard to explain, but I don't think he'll ever quite understand how much his mama loves him. Even when he's 30 and married and I still call him Becky.

(If you didn't read {that article}, really, you should!)

Okay, okay, I'm back.

I reeeeeaaaalllly am going to try to get on a more consistent blogging schedule. (Just like I've decided yesterday to get on a more consistent laundry, work, cleaning, school schedule. All in one week. It'll all just easily just falls in place, right? Right...)

I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for me. Because this time in our life moves so fast and I do want to try to remember those little moments. Like how Beckett got that scar above his left eye. And how Reese and I went to a Princess Tea Party with Rapunzel. Or how much Jasper loves his best buddy across the street who is only a week older than him. Or how Henley has an ear infection but I accidentally threw her medication in the box that I dropped off at Goodwill. (ugh)

And now, with that said, I'm not sure what to write. A post to get everyone up to speed sounds overwhelming, so that's out of the question. So why don't I just tell you the plans for the rest of our day? The kids are watching Barbie: A Mermaid Tale right now while I catch up on some emails and Jasper naps.  We need to run to either Target (which means I will get a coffee at Starbucks, plus its closer and nicer) or Walmart (farther away, crazytown but cheaper, and I can drop off the overflowing recycling there) to get the remaining ingredients to make my own laundry detergent, gummy worms for the co-op on Friday, mayonnaise, and a couple of other things. Plus I need to get more meds from the vet so my dogs ears don't explode or something.

Then we have gymnastics this evening at 4:45. When we get home, the kids usually play outside with all their neighbor friends and I get supper ready (pasta and some sort of sauce - always on Tuesdays). Easy-peasy since Wade usually works late on Tuesdays. If I was REALLY on top of it, I'll start a batch of breadsticks before we run our errands.

A picture? Well, I just heard Jasper yelling, which means he's awake and I need to put the sheets in the dryer and make lunch for the kids.. Next time :)

It's been a little crazy around here

Life has been moving at a crazy fast speed lately.

Dog, kids, job, housework is enough to make me fall into bed each night almost immediately after I tuck the kids into their beds. Wade usually wakes me up when he gets home from work so we can chat for a bit, then  I'm out again.

Three loads of laundry waiting to be folded. garbage that needs to be taken out, emails that need to be sent, plane tickets to buy, arrangements to be made, our trip to Iowa in September cancelled, toys that need to be picked up, phone calls, phone calls, and more phone calls. I feel like I've glared at my kids so much recently, giving them that, "STOP FIGHTING AND PLEASE JUST BE QUIET!" look way too many times than I care to admit. Tonight, the kids and I had potatoes and applesauce for supper. Not my finest cooking.

On Thursday, Jasper and I will be heading back to Iowa for my Grandma Froehle's memorial service. She passed away last Sunday and it feels so strange to be getting together with all of my extended family without her there. Her obituary can be found here. She suffered from Alzheimer's for several years, so it was hard to watch her decline. In a way, we've all said good-bye in our own way so many times already.  Like the first time she didn't remember who I was. Or another time when she asked over and over if I was married and had kids. Of course, Grandma, I've got two beautiful little ones, with a smile each time. It's a tough road when a loved one has Alzheimer's - one I really don't care go through again.

Her four children, David, Roger, Janice, and Danny

Grandma and some of the grandkids

Grandma with her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, taken several years ago

This post sounds so sad! But I'm doing okay, I think we all are. Like I said, we've all had years to let go, and the Grandma Froehle that I knew growing up was gone a long time ago. So, this weekend will be more of a celebration of her life, now that she's in Heaven!

My 6 year old (not so) little girl

Unbelievable, but true. Reese is now six! Words can't describe how proud I am of this little girl. I watch her turning more and more into a young lady everyday. It's scary, but amazing. She lays on the couch and reads books all by herself. She takes the dog outside to go to the bathroom. She knows when I'm frustrated and swoops in to entertain/distract Jasper. She draws me pictures on a daily basis. I take for granted how well behaved, thoughtful, and kind she is. When I look at this picture of her below, it makes me feel like I'm doing something right. I'd love for Reese to have a sister someday, but if she's my only daughter, I'll be perfectly content.

Reese and Henley. Unlike her brothers, she's always so photogenic!

Grandma flew down and surprised her as a birthday clown!

After blowing out the 6 candles on her mint ice cream cake.

If Jasper wasn't always worried about EATING, this might have been a good picture.

The BEST big sister ever. I can tell she's getting older, because our tastes in clothes are changing. She used to always like whatever I liked. Recently, she picked out this shirt. I wasn't crazy about it and kept suggesting other choices. I finally gave in, but had a glimpse us 10 years from now at Abercrombie or something...

On the balance beam at gymnastics class.  She loves it!

Reese and Grandma :)

The Monroe Ladies 

This Weekend

...we've been swimming with sweet friends.

...we've been dressing like cattle to get free food.

...the kid's have been watching cartoons.

...and I've been working.

(Quick note about that, since I know I've mentioned it a couple of times on the blog. I was looking for a little side job just for fun, and long story short, in April I was hired/selected to be the publisher of my area for a website called Hulafrog.com. It's a super new company, started in New Jersey (right down the street from my girl, Christina). So far its been fantastic! I was warned that it would be a lot. And it is. But it's pushing beyond my comfort zone. Pushing me past what I thought my sleep requirements were. So, check it out! No need for you to subscribe to the newsletter, unless you want to know what awesome, fun things there are for kids down here in Florida. Which would be quite the drive for most of you!)

He's always love Wade more...

Daddy's got his bags pack, ready to head out to Chicago for Nick's bachelor party and the kids were giving him hugs good bye. (Look how ridiculously happy he is. Not even a hint of sadness that he's leaving us for 3 days...)

"Aww, you guys look cute! Let me take your picture!"

 "Darn, that one was blurry. Plus, Beckett wasn't smiling. Honey, look at me and smile!!!!"

"Come on, buddy. At least try to look happy for just one picture."

Please?? You'd look so cute with Daddy!

*sigh*  Not gonna happen.

Adios, Debby

I'm not sure if it made national news or not, but we just had our first day of SUNSHINE after Miss Debby (tropical storm? depression? I don't know...) sideswiped us while working her way through the Gulf. It started on Sunday with LOOOOTTTTSSS of rain. Like, POURED all day. No wind really like a hurricane, just buckets and buckets of rain. So we built a fort, watched a bunch of movies, played here with a neighbor friend, cooked a yummy supper, while Wade was at work. Kind of fun! Until it kept raining off and on for the next three days. The kids and I were going stir crazy in the house, so today's sun was much needed.

A few eventful things happened because of the storm, one being our shade/canopy/gazebo thing came crashing down because of the weight of the water.

Pre-storm. Aw, so pretty.

Not so pretty. 

Because of all the rain, our neighborhood and other roads near us were flooded with water up to 2 ft deep. Wade had to park his car down the street and walk home because he didn't think his Stratus would make it through the water! When the rain let up for 20 min or so, we went for a walk to check things out and found a bunch of tadpoles, so we caught 2 in a jar and one is still kickin'. Not sure how long I'll keep him on my countertop, but fun to see his little legs growing :) And speaking of frog, they are everywhere down here. Thousands of little green ones. Like bugs. Everywhere. Eww.

And probably the most fun of all, sinkholes! If you don't hear from us for much longer than a week or so, we might have been swallowed up in a gigantic HOLE. Seriously. If you can, check out this video of our neighborhood.



This is just down the street, only houses away from ours. In the video there is this huge retention pond FULL TO THE BRIM with water. And within an hour, the water just disappeared into the ground and huge holes were formed. Right in people's front yard. All over town streets and main roads were closed due to sinkholes. They are very common in our area, and this storm just unleashed a whole new batch of them. So strange.

Can you see how close to the front door it is?! Eeek! Freaks. Me. Out.

 And that's about it for us this week. We are back to business as usual with a playdate at the pool tomorrow, Jasper dunking his graham crackers into the dog's water bowl, and me emailing Wade's boss about Christian values and other nonsense. (yeeeeeeeeaaah...that's a story for another day)

Jasper Turned One!

This is my baby. 

My 24 lb little dude with 8 teeth and a mischievous attitude. When I warn him and say, "Jasper...do not put that toy in the dog's water bowl" or "Jasper.... please do not put your brother's shorts in the toilet", he just looks at me, grins, and does it anyway. Such a little stinker.

He still isn't 100% walking. My latest walker, as Reese was walking by 9 months, and Beckett at 10 months.  He is getting better though. Tile floors just aren't great for learning those first steps. 

He eats.....oh, just about EVERYTHING. Sometimes I just stop feeding him because he's eaten more than me so I feel like he should be done, even though he's still shoveling it in by the fistful, all while making "nom nom nom" noises. 

This picture below is of him at our neighbor's birthday party. His little buddy was turning one as well and they were sweet enough to get Jasper a smash cake, too. It started off slow, but he dominated it. The other little boy did the normal, cute, "Oh, ew, what's this frosting stuff on my fingers? Oh, I'm just going to play with it. Okay, I'm done, get me outta here." But Jasper? Oh, that kid went to town and ate the entire cake. I thought for sure he was gonna be sick. 

This little person in our family turned one three weeks ago, and I'm just now blogging about it.  I guess that's what happens when your the third kid. Sorry buddy, no less love, only less blog posts. 

I love this kid to pieces. 

{ Happy First Birthday, Jasper Bentley! }