Preschool, Fall ball, and Vacation!

This year we are doing something never done before at the Allen household - we're sending someone to preschool!! We decided to send Gracie to a small preschool program at our local YMCA. She is so bright and eager to learn but I'm so focused on kindergarten and first grade with the boys (the three R's - reading, writing, and arithmetic really well!) that she doesn't get to do as much fun, crafty learning stuff as I did with the older boys at her age. She goes 3 days a week and everyday she wakes up and asks, "Is today my school day!" She will come back home next year and start kindergarten with the rest of us but right now she is loving her school and learning so much!! Heck, they may have her reading and writing better than my boys by the end of the year :)

 First day - excited!! This is my first time to pack a lunch for any of my kids. I learned quickly that I can't pack fun treats as a "dessert"  because that's all she would eat. Now she gets fun little treats when I pick her up if she eats all her lunch :)

 

 James and John-Mark are also playing fall baseball this year. We had John-Mark play up in the age bracket so he and James would be on the same team because I have no idea how we could keep up with two teams' games and practices - one is enough! This is John-Mark's first time to play and I was quite interested to see how he would like it. He's not nearly as obsessed with baseball as his older brother and in the past he has been totally content to play on the playground while James played games. Much to my surprise he has really enjoyed it. I love to watch both my boys play. They are both so different. James is usually pretty serious and has his head in the game. He plays short stop so he needs to be that way - he got several kids out at 2nd as well as several assists at 1st - not very many ground balls got past him! He also didn't strike out once - he is determined every time to make a ball work and never doesn't swing. John-Mark, true to form loves to get out there and hit but is pretty laid back about it all. He always has the biggest grin on when he gets out there - just happy to be there. The first couple of games they had him as the catcher. Poor kid really had no clue what his job was. He would tag every player that crossed home plate with his glove - clueless as to where the ball was or that he really didn't need to "tag" anyone without it but he thought he was doing his job. They later mover him to the outfield. He's still getting the hang of it all. One time Jeremy was telling him to throw the ball to third and he looked at him and threw it to second - it's confusing when you're looking at the field backward! There really is a lot to learn in this simple little game called baseball :)

 

 Oh, and daddy is one of their coaches this year :) J does a lot of things great but working with kids and helping them reach their potential is really a gift he has.

2013 Vacations

We really didn't think we were going to get to take any vacations this year with Jeremy starting his own business but we ended up being super blessed and were able to take two! First, my mom and Papa Steve rented a house on the lake for his daughter and her family and all of us to enjoy over Labor Day weekend. We've never vacationed on the lake but it was a great weekend getaway. Sadly, I deleted all my pics off my phone before I downloaded them on to my computer. But we had a great time and the kids had a blast running around with their cousins for the weekend!

Then we got another surprise when a friend from high school blessed us by offering us his beach home in San Destin free of charge! I was blown away and so thankful. And his house was more than we would have ever been able to provide our family with! If we ever have to stay at a Days Inn at the beach the kids are going to be sad. In addition to how amazing the house was we had two golf carts to our disposal to tool around San Destin. One was a 6 seater so we could all go for a ride. That may have been the kids favorite of the whole vaca!





 The Jacuzzi tub in the master was massive!! How little does Ben look in this ginormous tub!?!

 The week before we headed south there was a groupon for a dolphin watching cruise. I thought the kids would love it. I guess I forgot how often they watch Wild Krats - they were expecting "swimming" with the dolphins so they were a bit disappointed I think but we still had a nice little cruise and got to see some dolphins - at a distance. The birds love to follow the boat and will literally take food right out of your hands - the kids loved that - I thought it was a little creepy :)

 Sweet David and his Daddy enjoying the ride

 David had a blast his first time to the beach!

 Ben Ben helping David out

 Gracie and John-Mark reflecting on God's creation

 Love playing in the waves!

 The obligatory pic in the big chair at the Wharf :)
One of the many benefits of homeschooling is being able to vacation in the off season. In September the weather is still awesome but not too hot and there are no crowds! There was practically no one at the Wharf so the kids felt like it was their own little play land :)

 

 James showing me the little white crab he caught  - hard to see in the sand :)

 More fun in the sand and suds

 Jeremy took the boys fishing on the pier one afternoon and both boys caught quite a few fish - this was some weird needle nose fish!

 We were so blessed to be able to get away for a few days and have fun and relax as a family without any worries. Can't wait to see how God blesses us next year :)

Tango

About a month ago J surprised us all with this black lab, Tango. He told me we were just going to keep him a few days and see how it went before we decided if we would keep him, Yea, right - lets dangle a dog in front of the kids then take him away. He's really a sweet dog and does great with the kids. He is a 5 year old retired police dog so he is very social - he LOVES to ride in the car and since we don't have a fence if we're not outside playing with him he likes to wonder off and visit with the neighbors. In the last month I've gotten more calls from our neighbors than in the 5 years we've lived her combined! I always just tell them to let him go and I'll call him from our back porch and he'll come running home. John-Mark wanted me to take a pic of he and the dog laying together but then James came over and Tango wouldn't lay still anymore :)

 

 Can you tell the kids love him!?!

 



September 29th - David turns 1!!

Happy Birthday Happy Baby Boy!!

So bad to be this behind on baby boys birthday post!! I almost wish I hadn't recorded anything with any of the kids because there is definitely a difference in the record keeping from the first to the fifth!! I tried really hard to stay on top of it but after three I just couldn't.keep.up. Hopefully he will still know how much we love and adore him even though I don't have any idea when he cut his first tooth or ate his first non baby food :( I will say he does get some extra special treatment being the official baby. He gets away with WAAAY more than the others did just because he's so darn cute and HE'S THE BABY :)
Like I always say, I can't BElieve it's seriously been a year since, sans drugs, I birthed this precious boy in to our lives (yes, he will hear about the fact that I was unmedicated for his birth until the day I die :) But he was all worth it and I would do it all over in a heartbeat!! So unbelievably blessed by this amazing family the Lord has blessed us with. Each child a blessing we never EVER imagined!!

Dear Sweet Baby David-
   Oh, how I adore you!! You can brighten up any day!! You are the happiest baby and have the sweetest smile almost all of the time. On the rare occasions that you are not happy (usually due to teething) it breaks my heart to see your little eyes so sad. Thankfully this is very rare and you haven't had any serious sicknesses this year - and for that we are so very thankful!! I can't stand to see any of my kids sick but its hardest to see my babies sick!
   I think one of the greatest things about being #5 in the line up is having 3 older brothers and 1 sister who adore and entertain you all the time. Watching your relationships with your siblings is one of the sweetest things I have ever seen!! Watching how they interact with you and look out for you and like to make you smile when you are sad. They would be so different without you! You make them better and that is amazing to me!
  Since you were born you have been the easiest, most laid back baby. You have always been a great napper and night time sleeper and for that I am so very grateful. It's like you know things are a little crazy for your momma with all these kids running around and you just don't want to make things any more crazy than they already are. You can entertain yourself quite easily or let your siblings entertain you but you are rarely demanding. Right now you are a little bit attached to me and there are rare times when you are just not happy unless you are on my hip - but I'm okay with it - because you're the baby and this season will pass much quicker than I would like.
   As of your first birthday you have 3 going on 5 teeth - 2 on the bottom and the top right and middle tooth with the other middle and right top teeth trying to push through. Your oldest brother James is starting to get loose teeth and soon he will be loosing teeth at the same time you are just getting yours. I'm so sad to loose your gummy smile and also broken hearted about James going back to a gummy smile :) Ahhh, all these bittersweet life changes.
 So far you are a good eater. You like chicken, hotdogs, cheese, anything with ground beef, carrots, and broccoli. I need to get better about giving you real food at every meal instead of just giving you a bottle. Poor 5th baby :(
  You haven't started really walking yet. You will take a step or two but still prefer crawling to get from point A to B. Just as all the Allen babies, your sweet feet have never been in shoes. I don't do shoes until we have walkers. I will miss seeing your sweet toes all the time once you take off :(
  Everyone who is around you just loves you and you soak.it.up. You love to make eye contact and put your fingers in people's face - preferably their eyes or mouth - it's like your way of getting to know them :) You also love to mimmick what others are doing to the best of your ability and you LOVE to click your tongue.
  You are really starting to love playing with Ben Ben and you LOVE to climb all over him or try to take his toys away. Sometimes he gets mad and snatches things away from you but you usually just laugh and try to grab it right back. You think everything is just a fun game!
  When I found out another precious baby was on the way I couldn't imagine HOW I could do it! At the time I felt a bit overwhelmed with all I already had on my plate. But God... He knew what I could handle through Him and He knew just what our family needed. I had no idea that we even needed you but now that you are here I know that we do! How would we have ever made it without you!! You are the absolute best addition to our family! I love you more than I can even describe!! Like my life verse, you are more than I could have ever asked or imagined!! Praying God pours his grace an mercy over you and draws you to Him like only He can! As much love as I feel for you I know that He loves you even more and has all your day ordained and amazing purposes and plans set for you. So honored that He chose me to be your mommy!!

 Playing pretend with Benjamin- I think you were a bit disappointed that there really wasn't something on that spoon!

 Happy, happy, happy!!

 How we do ball games!!

 The Birthday Boys!!

 Enjoying your first cupcake!

 And enjoy it you did!

 The week of your birthday you took your first trip to the beach!!

 You were a fan and you loved eating sand :)

 It is very rare that I get to hold you like this but if you fall asleep in the car I can often move you to your bed and you will sleep peacefully in my arms. I know this won't happen much longer :(

 Trying to get brothers sippy cup - you find this game quite fun - Benjamin, not so much :) 

 One night the 4 older kids went to a fun Super Hero Night at our local gym so you got to go out on a date night with mommy and daddy all by yourself!! You flirted with everyone around us! I think this was your first restaurant other than Chick Fil A or Moe's!!

 One of those sad eyes, teething days :(

   As bad as your teeth were hurting you you still had a great time in the swing!!!