Ch, Ch, Ch, Changes...

David was accepted to Quail Run Primary School in the fall.  It is a Charter School.  So we are hoping this is just the ticket for him to figure things out easier and get the help he needs in learning in school.  He isn't to thrilled with the uniform policy...but...well...he just isn't good with change in general, so let's hope for the best!

http://www.qrps.org/index.php?page=general-information

Listen to this playlist: cristinafrary's playlist

Mother's Day 2011

For some people it is Christmas, for some people it is Thanksgiving and for some people it is Valentine's Day.  But for me it is Mother's day.  I never thought I would be able to celebrate and cherish Mother's day.  So...now that I can, I am going to take it for granted.  Thanks to David's awesome teacher-he brought this home for me.  This is the best book ever! Thanks David! I love you.

Easter Colors!

My mom knows...you can't have Easter without coloring eggs...it is like illegal in our house! So here are some pics of our Easter Holiday.

 Colors, colors, COLORS!

 Excuse Ashton's arm. :-)

 David's Basket from Mr. Easter Bunny...he got some cool hot wheels cars!

 Ashton's Basket...the Easter Bunny even brought him baseball pants, sock AND a belt!

 Jordan's Easter Basket...he got a fishing pole!

Spring Break!

This year, I decided to take some time off with my boys and try to enjoy some time with them on spring break.  I was also needing a much needed break from everything as well, so it worked out as a good excuse.  We did a lot...from spring cleaning the boys room to 3 hours at the park...it was a blast and I am glad I had this time with my kids.  Here is our/my day to day spring break-down:

Tuesday: Done with work--got my nails done for the first time in a really long time! Mommy pamperin time! And we went a little karaoke.

Wednesday: Shon has to work. :-( He was called in for a 12 hour shift! So...we spring cleaned.  I have 20 grocery bags from the boys room for our family yard sale.  We super scrubbed the kitchen (gross).  And we chilled.  Them I made Grandma's famous cabbage soup.

Oh and I had made a lot of these for breakfast! The boys love them!

Thursday: Game afternoon/night! I forgot to take pics of this one.  Frary game nights are always interesting.  We played and munched on A LOT of munchies and pizza.  Serious munchy overload!

Friday: Happy Birthday Kolton! My nephew turned 4! Some of the family was going bowling so we just added more people and made it into his birthday party! David and Jordan bowled for the first time.  It was super cute and funny!

Then we ate some cupcakes and opened some presents! After that we had to take Ashton home for the week. 

I met his mom at a park in Lehi to drop off and I couldn't contain the kids to not play at the park on such a nice day! So they played there for 20 minutes, then we were invited to meet up with some friends at the park by our house...we went and almost 4 hours later...we became lobsters with some sun stroke!

You would think I would remember that I burn in like 2 seconds! And so does Jordan.  Dave got a little kiss fom the son too! So we nursed ourselves that night and hit the hay early.

Saturday: Another early morning.  I had to go get my Bountiful Basket early again (ok 7am is kinda early for me on a weekend).  So we ventured off to get our surprise basket.  We were all still so sore from Friday so after that we bummed it on the couch. 

Sunday: Absolutely nothing! The way I like it! Our cat pretty much sums it up here...

Orange State Here We Come!

Well...that is kind of a maybe-but more yes than no. We made the decision last night that next summer we will be venturing to Jacksonville, Florida. I feel it is a much needed change for my family. Last night we went to Olive Garden for our date night.  We talked and we wound up talking about which Florida University team we would support.  Our waitor just happened to over hear us and asked why we were talking about Florida.  We explained and he piped up and said he just moved here from Orlando! He didnt want to move here and he loves Florida! So we talked up a storm with him...but what a sign huh?

There were a lot of factors towards moving and very little towards not. However the factors that weighed against not moving were HUGE factors. So, as long as we can work those kinks out (which I don't feel will be a problem, just some work) we will be Florida bound!

We chose Jacksonville for a lot of reasons as well.  Work there is easy to find (for me at least).  Shon might be a chore, but I am blessed with a sister who works in HR and works with recruiters to help people find jobs...oh and she lives in Florida! See it adding up? Jacksonville is a city about oh just minutes from the beach and totally affordable (eh hem...meaning MUCH cheaper than Utah!).  We will be living about 30 minutes from my parents who just bought a house in St. Augustine. 

I am so excited and SO ready for a change.  I am ready to be closer to my side of the family and to be able to spend more time with my sister!  Too many years being apart!

So let's hope everything works out and in about a year or more we are packing up and heading out of the Beehive State!

Reflections of Ashton...

So for some reason I was blessed to have 3 boys with birthdays within a 2 week span.  I know, lucky me right? 

Ashton has taught me a lot about motherhood.  He was just about 2 when Shon and I got married.  He has a really hard time coming around.  I was the stranger that was with daddy for a very long time.  It wasn't until he was about 4 when he really started to get comfortable. 
I still have the evil step-mother mole on my face with him sometimes.  He definitely tests all of our parental skills when he tries to work both sides against each other. 

He has turned out to be the best big brother to David and Jordan that I could have asked for.  He is very protective of them and is always wanting to teach them something new that he knows. 

So now Ashton is the big 1-0! I told him he is SO old cause now he has a double digit age! He just laughs and told me at least he isn't tappin on the door for 30 (like me).  What a smarty pants!

8 years with my little Ashton who sparked the reason why I wanted to be a mom after all.   Thank you Ashton for being my son.  I love you and I am excited for many more birthdays with you and your brothers!

P.a.R.t.Y? Because we gotta!

I know I know...thank you for the applause....y'all think I am doing SO wonderful and keeping up with my blog.  Well...let's just say winter season is about over at work and I am ALMOST back to my normal self/routine again! Wahoo!  Anyways, here are some pics from the boys birthdays.  Not all of them are on here because the boys had their sisters come and the girl's mom had some respite care kids (aka can't be in pictures online--which I totally agree with!) So here is what I CAN post. :-)

 The birthday cake--Mom failed at making one...so THANK YOU WALMART!

 Singing "Happy Birthday"

 YAY! For blowing out your candles! Well, Jordan blew out David's and David blew out Jordan's (long story)

 One Word...PRESENTS!

 And then the most exciting part was the tissue paper...of all things!

The boys with their sisters...they were SO happy to see each other! It was a good day for them!

Reflections of Jordan...

I fell in love with Jordan fast.  And the only reason I think as to why is because he was as close I was ever going to get to a baby age as possible.  He snuggles with me, I was able to potty train him myself, he was still in diapers (so as sick as that is, I was excited to experience a child in diapers), he still used a high chair, etc.  Jordan plays the "I'm a baby role" which hits my soft spot more than it does Shon.

Jordan took some time to come around when we first got him.  Although he doesn't remember his history or past, it was something new and all of a sudden he was in a completely new living situation.  He was a typical toddler who just didn't like strangers.  Now, he will talk, hug and give anyone a kiss on the cheek. 

I think he is going to be our wild child.  He will be the one to fail school, just cause he can, break his arm, get a huge cut and need stitches...he is the daredevil who will risk it all.  He is too smart for his own britches.  I have lost count on how many times I ask him a question about something and he just stands there but he has the (I know the answer, but I just don't want to tell you) face. 

And now he turns 3...THREE.  I mean his is practically in pre-school now.  And so as much as I am happy he has a birthday I don't want my baby boy to get any older! 

I love you Jordan.  Happy Birthday (tomorrow) !

Reflections of David

David, who has become the middle child in our little family, has been the one whom has both tested and challenged my physical and emotional states.  He comes from a very bad situation from his past prior to being placed and adopted by us.  I think about his past and what he has been through each and every day.  And each and every day my heart breaks for him.  I have said this once and I will said it all the time, when we got these boys I was so scared I wouldn't love them as my own.  I mean I was worried sick.  But David has changed that for me.  It took a lot of time with him.  I wasn't sure I could handle him with the horrible past he had.  I was and still am truly challenged by every aspect of him. 

But I love him.  I love him as my son, as my middle child, as my kindergertener, as my child who wants to do well, as my child who cares about everyone around him, as my child who just.wants.to.be.loved.unconditionally.  And I promise David no matter where you came from, who are are and who you become-I will love unconditionally.

Happy 6th Birthday (yesterday) David.

I love you,
Mom