Flash Back Friday

Steve and I have been helping with the middle school youth group at church for 2 years now--can't believe it's been that long. Last Friday, was a middle school "A Walk Through the Woods" party. We took van loads of kids to someones house about an hour from Wichita. We had a bon-fire, roasted hot-dogs, drank hot chocolate, and then the kids could walk through the spooky forest. Then s'mores and going home. We decided we were going to take our kids with us to enjoy the fun. (Thank goodness Savannah's mom offered to take our little kids while we were at the church. She thought it was too cold for them outside. And, was she ever right! So, Paige went to play with Ethan and Brenda, Savannah's mom and we took the boys with us. Of course, Jaden wasn't going with anyone but mom.)

Here's Tyler roasting his own hot-dog in the fire. He thought that was fun.

And, then eating his hot-dog and Cheetos and don't forget his Sprite. Tyler is sitting next to Savannah, a 7th grader. She baby-sits for us sometimes. She LOVES the kids and always finds them at church to say hello. Tyler tried to stay as close to these girls as possible....ALL NIGHT LONG!

Here's Jaden with Kirsen Fisher. We love Kirsten. She is our favorite baby-sitter because she plays with the kids and then she cleans the house before we come home. Gotta love that. Our kids are lucky that all the middle school kids love them so much.

Here's us. It was cold out. We stayed by the fire most of the night, which made it bearable.

Tyler and Faith Denning, drinking hot chocolate. Tyler asked if we could make hot chocolate like this at home. (We made it last year and he didn't like it. Maybe in one year he has grown taste buds to like it?) Faith is in 2nd grade, but these 2 have so much fun playing together. Faith's mom, Shelly, is a YMT (youth group worker) with us. She is awesome and I love hanging out with her.

Tyler, Faith, and Jaden asleep on the way home. The Dennings and us took our own church van so we could leave the party early. We didn't think keeping our kids out until midnight, was wise. So, these 3 sat in the back row of the 15 passenger van and loved every minute of it. Aren't they so cute...asleep on each other. They had fun and obviously wore themselves out.

Our First school party

Today was Tyler's first school party. Of course, Halloween.... I am so thankful I do not work a full-time job that I have to miss all this fun stuff at school. I love being at the school, knowing who his friends are, and even meeting the other moms. Here's Tyler's first class of friends. The friends we hear about the most right now are: Megan, Cloe, and Austin. But, we have heard many other names too: Rebecca, Shelby, Mia, Brendon, to name a few. My hope is that Tyler is friends with everyone--and I think he is.

The party started with a parade of Kindergartners around the school so all the other kids could see their costumes. It was pretty cool. All the other students, 1st through 4th grade, sat in the halls at watched the Kindergartners parade through the halls. Then, we went to the classroom to make mummies out of toilet paper.

And, of course, someone, this lead to Tyler on the floor with his friend, Austin.

The party ended with snacks, goody bags to take home, and a bean bag/music game!! Fun times at school. Now, I have to get to thinking about Christmas, because I am in charge of the holiday party at Christmas time. oh my... It's one thing to go and participate, it's another to plan the party!

Happy Halloween my Ninja Turtle!!

Momma's Boy

Just a short note about Jaden:
Sweet Jaden is such a Momma's boy. Today Jaden and Paige went to Kids' Day In, while I went to Tyler's school for his Halloween parade and party (pictures of that to come!) So, I pick up Jaden from school and I hear his teacher say, "See, I told you your mom would come back." Knowing exactly why she said this to him, I asked if he cried today. Mrs. Roth (yes, that's his teacher's name) told me he cried 2 or 3 times today for me. For the 90th time, I explained to Jaden that mommy or daddy will always come back for you. (We had this same trouble a few weeks ago in Sunday school. He wouldn't want to go into class or he would just cry in class for me.)

In the car Jaden told me, "I was crying because I told my teacher I wanted my mommy to hold me." Now, does that melt your heart or what. I love my sweet Jaden. I do get tired of my kids always wanting "mommy", but it does feel good to be loved.

2 Wheels or Training Wheels

About a month ago Tyler learned to ride his bike without training wheels. What a night. It's the cutest story EVER.... That night at dinner, I randomly asked Tyler, "if you could have one dream, what would it be." Thinking he's going to have some big, huge, dream....not really sure what, but something about living with Power Rangers or being a race car driver. Instead, without hesitation, he says, "I want to ride my bike without training wheels." I looked at Steve, he gave me a shrug that said, sure we can try. After dinner I had to leave for a Premier event. As I was leaving, Steve had taken off the training wheels and was walking beside Tyler helping him . When I pulled up in the driveway exactly 2 hours later, Tyler hoped on his 2-wheeled bike and started riding down the drive-way. WHAT??? I missed it all. Who would have thought.
Here's Tyler --- proud as can be. He told EVERYONE that he could ride a 2-wheeled bike. Steve said he walked beside him a few times and then he just did it. He went slow at first, putting his foot down often, and then he just took off. WOW!!!

And, here's my "poser". Tyler LOVES to have his picture taken. He poses and then asks me to take his picture. too funny....

The only problem with taking the training wheels off Tyler's bike, is now Jaden can't ride it. Jaden had just started riding Tyler's bike. Luckily, last summer I had bought 2 bikes at a garage sale to have one at each grandparents house, when the kids were there. So, Grandpa Roth brought their bike (with training wheels) over so Jaden now has a bike to ride too. **We are hoping Santa brings Jaden his own bike for Christmas this year.**

And, here's Jaden, loving his bike. He wants to go outside everyday and ride his bike. He's definitely still learning. He gets frustrated and whines a bit (or a lot) when he can't get the peddles going, but he's getting better.

Isn't he so cute.

Date night--or afternoon

After Tyler's football game today, Steve and I went on a date. Steve's mom took the kids home from the football game and we left to eat lunch, shop a little, and then went to the movie....FireProof. If you have not seen it, you must see it. Our Sunday school teacher told us how great it was and since then I have had several people tell me it's a great movie. It really was. It's about how marriage is hard and you can't give-up. You need to "fireproof" your marriage, but this doesn't mean you are not capable of having fires. It just means you are prepared and can handle the fires!

Before I got married, 8 1/2 years ago, my dad told me (more than once), that marriage was not easy. He told me it took work and it was hard work. I remember thinking, whatever.... Steve's so wonderful and so cute, we won't have any problems. But, I am SO THANKFUL my dad told me this. Even though my dad didn't know if I was listening at the time (and I really wasn't), I guess I heard it. Because I think of those wise words of wisdom often. I know if we struggle, that it is normal. I don't think any marriage has gone without problems. You just have to know you are in it for better or FOR WORSE!!

Everyone needs to go see this movie. Our Sunday school class is going to do the bible study series that was taken from this movie. It should be good as well.

My marriage is good, sometimes GREAT! But, sometimes hard. Especially with 3 little kids in the mix. But, thank goodness we are in it for good. Steve has put up with a lot from me and we learn everyday how to make our marriage better. That's what's FUN!

Tyler plays football

Ok, it's Flag Football, but it's still football...and he's only 5. But, it was fun to watch. Gma Balzer admitted today, the last game of the season, that she didn't understand the "flags" they wear. Each boy wears a "belt" with colored flags around it. The goal is to "tackle" or tear the flag off the other team. It's mostly safe, but there were a few times when pulling the flag would end up with a pile of kids. (Thank goodness Tyler was never in this pile.)

Here's my adorable football player. Not sure if he was just looking towards me or if I yelled at him to look at me. Surely I wouldn't interrupt a game to get a cute picture? or, yes, I would.

Steve did not sign up to coach, but like usual, ended up helping coach. Tyler tells everyone his dad is his coach and Tyler LOVES that his dad is his coach, even though Steve doesn't LOVE trying to get 12 - 5 year olds to listen. It's good for Steve's patience. However, it's not good for me because I am then left on the sidelines with Jaden and Paige. Thank goodness for grandparents who help corral them.

Here's Tyler hiking the ball. I think it is so funny, they really hike the ball. How cute. And they even say "Hike". Too funny! Do the high school and college boys say "hike"?

My favorite picture. Tyler running for a TOUCHDOWN. And, YES, he got a touch-down. He ran probably 1/2 the length of the field. It was so cute, he ran right by me on the side-lines and he turned his head to look behind him, to see if anyone was close. I was so upset I didn't get it on video, but at least I got a good picture.

OH, how adorable. The crew on the side-lines. Now, don't be fooled. They did not usually stand on the side-lines, holding hands, watching the game. In fact, I don't even remember this one time when they did it. Usually they were eating snacks one of the grandma's brought for them, climbing on me, climbing on grandma, walking around with grandpa, running on the field (I think just once!), climbing on the bleachers, making a mess, being loud, etc. In case you didn't get the picture, I did not get to really watch a lot of the games. And, neither did the grandparents. But, we were there for moral support. And, thank goodness I did see Tyler's touchdown.

Have you ever seen such a sight??

Tyler often begs to take baths in my bathtub--so the other night we decided we would let him. Jaden and Paige were in their bathtub with bubbles, so Tyler wanted bubbles in the "big bathtub". Steve filled the bath nearly full, so the jets could be turned on for Tyler. Now, I was not in charge of Tyler's bath. I was with the little ones. From what I gather, Steve filled the tub, put in bubbles (way too many), turned on the jets and left Tyler to "HAVE FUN!" I hear Tyler yelling and s..l...o...w..l....y walk to my bathroom to find this.....

I have NEVER seen so many bubbles. They were EVERYWHERE. So, I can't stop from laughing. I run to get my camera--of course thinking, this is going to be a great blog.

This is Tyler looking a little worried in the bath tub. Before Steve left the bathroom, Tyler had been splashing water out of the tub and making a mess. Steve told him if he splashed anymore or made a mess, that he would get out and get spanked. So, understandably, Tyler was VERY worried he was going to get spanked----because the bathroom was a mess.

This is Tyler----having a BLAST in the bubbles, once I convinced him that dad would not spank him. He was adamant and kept telling me, "dad said...". I honestly couldn't keep from laughing.

After Jaden and Paige got out of their bathtub, I decided they should join in on the bubble fun! We already had a mess, why not have a little FUN!!! I had drained the water, but the tub was still FULL to the top, of bubbles. So, I put Jaden and Paige in with Tyler! Jaden had a blast....

Paige, did not have fun, at first. This is her initial reaction. She did settle down and played (or watched the boys) for a little bit. But, she was the first one out.

So, that was our bubble fun! We now know if you are going to use the jets in a whirlpool bath, that minimum bubbles are needed.