Happy Birthday, Connor Man!

Where did the time go?! Happy 12th birthday to you, Connor-man! Couldn't be prouder of the responsible, kind, smart young man you are becoming. I am so blessed to be your mom!

 

 



 











 

 

If I Could Keep You Little

I got a couple of new books recently that I can't wait to delve into! Summer is really the only time I get to read so I've got a collection on my nightstand just waiting for me! :)
One was a very special gift from my friend, Meredith (and LK!) called Choose Joy by Kay Warren and I'm loving it!

I'm a total sucker for picture books! My newest favorite is called If I Could Keep You Little by Marianne Richmond. I saw it in the lounge at school and was crying like a baby the first time I read it! It talks about all the things that we as parents get to to do when our babies are little... but all of the things we'd miss if they didn't grow up...

If I could keep you little, I'd keep you close to me...

 But then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be!

I miss those baby smells, those sweet little baby voices, the coos and the giggles. I miss rocking them to sleep.

But every day I feel more and more blessed to be their mom. I get to watch them grow, blossom, learn, and become little people. I get to watch Cowen's love of learning grow with every book, puzzle, and number game. I get to see Brynn develop her own sense of self, see her creativity bloom. I get to watch Connor become a sensitive young man with a love of books, building, and his little brother.
I am beyond grateful to be on this journey with them...

An unconventional journey...

Today my heart is full of gratitude. Gratitude to my own mom, who has been a model of love and dedication and who always, no matter what, has been my biggest cheerleader and supporter. When my journey of motherhood started at 18, she was next to me the ENTIRE time... never waivering. Helping with Connor so I could go to school, supporting my new little family in anyway she could, and letting me go when I knew it was time to begin new chapter. Thank you Momma...
I am so thankful my for 'other moms' who have stepped in when I needed them and have been amazing grandparents to my children...
I am grateful to my sisters and friends who have set incredible examples of what amazing mothers are... I learn from them everyday.

But most of all, I am thankful to my own four children who have taught me more about life, love, faith, and joy than I could have ever imagined. My journey as a mother has been unconventional to say the least. It began at 18, my first sememster at college. Gregg and I, along with my family, worked, scheduled, swapped cars, studied... and somehow made it through. Connor showed me a love that I neve knew existed. I will never forget looking at him for the first time and realizing that HE was why I was put on this planet. Nothing else mattered except for him and I was going to do everything possible to make the best life possible for him. He taught me that things will NOT always be easy.... But they will ALWAYS be worth it...

Three years later, our family welcomed our beautiful, beloved Brynnie. Her love of life, kind heart, and passion excite and challenge me. I envy her creativity and free spirit. I will forever be inspired by the light in her eyes and the joy in her heart.

I could never have imagined what the next chapter of my motherhood journey would hold...

Cowen and Lilly Kate have brought a joy to our family that is hard to put into words. Watching Cowen grow and learn has brings our family a joy that we never felt before. Cowen's faith inspires me... we never prayed as a family until he was here. I look at him and see a light.. a glow. He helped heal a grief that no one else could. When I was hurting like no mother should hurt, he was there. He was my silver lining on my cloudy days. He taught me that it's all going to be alright...

Lilly Kate has given me a gift that I will carry with me each day of my life. She gave me joy. I have never felt such pain and sadness... but, because of her, I know true joy. I have a faith that is deeper than ever. I live each day knowing that ultimately, everything is going to be alright. I know that life will work together for our good and His glory. I know that God chose ME to be her mother. I know that life, however short, is meanigful and it matters. Our joy is greater, our love is deeper, and our life is fuller... because of her.

Life is good.

This weekend we found joy in chaos, laughter, friends, and naps! Friday night we headed to Guido's (yes, I know it's Bariola's but I refuse to call it that!) with some our favorites, The Nowlin's and the Hitt's. We had quite a crew...all of our kids plus and extra four! Then we headed to the movies with SEVEN kids! I took Brynn and Cowen and some friends to the Lorax (cute!)while Gregg took Connor and his friend to see Journey 2.

Saturday was our neighborhood couples Bunco- this evening NEVER disappoints! The boys weren't too sure about it at first but it has quickly become one of our favorite nights. We have great conversation, yummy food, and TONS of LAUGHS! This month included an impromptu art session on what will now can only be known as the Bunco table! ;)

Today we were LA-ZY! (Well, most of us- Gregg had Tough Mudder training for 3 hours!!!) The rest of us snuggled in bed and watched Mickey Mouse, played on i-gadgets, and napped ALL afternoon- it was HEAVEN!

On weekends like this, I truly feel blessed. We have happy kids, amazing friends, a cozy home, and more love than our hearts can hold. Life. is. good.

OM Competition

Last weekend we got to celebrate Connor and I couldn't have been more EXCITED! Connor is the most laid-back, easy going kid. He works hard, does whatever I ask of him, has the biggest heart, is super creative and smart and I could not be prouder of this amazing kid!
On Saturday we headed to Siloam Springs for his Odyssey of the Mind Competition. Odyssey of the Mind is a great program that encourages problem solving skills and creativity. It is completely student-oriented. The parents have NO input- we're really just there to keep them focused and on task- which is QUITE a job! His team worked very hard for months putting together a skit and practicing spontaneous problem solving.
The long term problem (musical/skit) had to answer the question- "to ____, or not to _____" and had to incorporate specific elements. Connor was Shakes-pere, who, while in jail, met Ham-omelette, who was arrested for taking the easy way out and not adding cheese to the queen's omelette! ; ) I don't know where they come up with this stuff but it was hilarious!

The spontaneous problem was given to them in any empty room with only the judges and they had three minutes to solve it. They couldn't even tell us what the problem was until after the awards ceremony. It turns out that Connor was the captain, they had to build some sort of contraption and they ROCKED it! They worked together, solved the problem and only missed two points! :) He walked out of those doors just beaming! It was so great to see him in his element, so confident, so happy! I was one proud mama!

Their hard work paid off- They finished in third place in their division in regionals and are headed to the state competition at the end of the month. Mayflower, Arkansas, here we come! :)

What's in a name?

Recently some friends of ours had a baby and were undecided on a name. They ended up printing out the names on two pieces of paper and big sister got to pick- cute! (Dad even got it on video!) This got me thinking about my kids' names...

Connor Michael- So I never knew what Connor meant- I just knew I loved it and had it picked out since 9th grade. Yes- weird- but it was a project for home-ec class! :) And since Gregg has 2 g's at the end of his name, we liked the double-consonant thing too. We decided to use our parents' names for middle names and Daddy Mike got the first honor! ;)

Brynn Susan- Not quite sure what Brynn means or where we got it but it was definitely always on the top of our list. We liked the double n's and that it was close to my mom's middle name, Lynn. But we didn't choose it- Connor did! I can't even remember what the other choices were now! And this girl is SUCH a Brynn- can't imagine her as anything else! :) We chose Susan because it is Gregg's mom's name.

Lilly Kate- When we found out she was sick, it didn't take us long to decide that Brynn would get to name her. We didn't even give her any choices- she completely came up with it on her own. (I think it might have been from a book we read.) I knew it was meant to be when I looked up the meanings of her names and discovered that both Lilly and Kate meant 'pure.' I knew she couldn't have chosen anything more PERFECT!

Cowen Robert- Gregg and I have always loved the name. And I have to admit, we originally got it from the old O.C. days- a character on the tv show was named Seth Cohen and they called him Cohen. When it came time to name our little man, we decided that even though we loved that name, we should maybe choose something more meaningful. Well, let's just say I don't think this is just any old coincidence... ; )

(Sorry about the random other stuff in the photo- obviously snapped it on my iphone screen!)

Words to live by...

I love quotes. I have collected them for years. I'm not great with words so it was always my 'journal' of sorts. Whether they were quotes about friendship, becoming a parent, love, happiness, faith, gratitude or grief, I can look back and remember where I was, how I felt, how I've changed, and how I've grown...
Our family has started our own collection of quotes of sorts. Some of them are mine and some of ones they kids have come up with but I think it kind of sums us up...

"Listen, be sweet, have fun." Short and simple- our life rules. This is what I tell them every day when I kiss them goodbye in the morning.

"I love you all the days." This is Cowen's! ;) I LOVE this and it makes my heart smile whenever he says it!

"It's always better to get better." This is my favorite- and it's Connor's! It seems so simple at first but the more I thought of it, the more I loved it! No matter how bad I think I'm doing at something, I can always do ONE thing better. So I only worked out once this week?? Well, it's better than the last three weeks when I worked out zero times! We remind eachother of this whenever we can.

"It's ok to be grumpy, it's not ok to be mean." This is a great one. And, I have to admit, I mostly use it with Brynn... although she has gotten SO much better. Whenever Brynn was little and she was cranky, I would remind her of this. I don't want my kids to think they have to be happy all the time, but it's not okay to take it out on others. I need this reminder myself sometimes, too! ;)