Soccer has ended

and look what Ethan's team won... First place in their age group!

The winning game!

We are so proud of him and his teammates.  Now on to basketball! 

Thanksgiving

The night before Thanksgiving we headed out to the Commons for some coffee/hot chocolate and a little play time.  Isabelle loved playing on the slides with her brothers.

We tried something different this year for Thanksgiving- a lunch buffet at a hotel on the beach.  It was a beautiful day and the food was great!
After lunch we headed out to the beach so the kids (and Papa) could play some football and get sandy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(During lunch, a man walked up to Izzy and started to talking to her.  He said- "he is so handsome".  Really?!?  Look what she is wearing)

Mikayla and I

Playing some football

Our crazy family!

We also got to watch our high school band play during the Macy's parade.  Way to represent- Go Eagles!!

After a little bit of resting, we headed over to the Holt's for Thanksgiving dinner.  We had a great day full of food and family.  What a way to spend Thanksgiving!

Enjoying the little things...

Do you ever do something just to make your kids happy or smile??  All the time, right?!?  and most of the time, it costs money. 
But, when my boys asked me if we could just sit in the car and listen to music and sing... my answer was easy.  Something small but to them, it made them smile.  They both got to sit in the front seat which is like Christmas for them and we just sang as loud as we could.  Well, until Daddy got home from work and looked at us like we were crazy!  Hopefully we didn't keep the neighbors up.

Izzy is in the backseat, you can't see her but she was singing away too!

Today I am thankful for...

Isabelle.

I always wanted a little girl the only thing I didn't know is that I needed this little girl. 
The pregnancy was rough after finding out about Isabelle's DS and heart defect.  I didn't understand and there were a lot of "God...why me!".  The diagnosis was extremely hard to accept in the beginning and I went through some very tough emotions.  Some of those raw emotions I am not proud of and they are hard to think about to this day, but I have/had to let go of the guilt and know that I always loved Isabelle from the beginning (zero doubt about that!).  She was always the daughter I was meant to have.  I just needed time to realize that. 

OHS- Sept 2011

Isabelle has already taught me so much.  I have learned that she is a true fighter- through her birth, NICU stay and OHS- and also that I am a lot stronger than I initially thought.  Most of the time you think- I could never make it through a situation like that (whatever that situation might be).  But when you are going through it, you find strength that you didn't know you had.  I found my strength because my baby needed me.  She is more alike than different.  She is a baby who happens to have Down Syndrome.

Isabelle is getting a lot stronger and she is doing new things every week. It takes her a little longer to do the same things a typical baby does but she is getting it and we celebrate BIG. Just this week, she finally decided to get into a sitting position from lying down- properly- and you would have thought we had won the lottery. The thing is... this little girl is stubborn. She knows how to do a lot more than we give her credit. She just wants to keep everyone guessing as to when she will decide to show us.

Can anyone say Gymnastics might be in this girl's future?!?

We are quickly learning that we can't take Isabelle anywhere without someone stopping us or coming over to talk to her. Sometimes, a Mama just wants to run in a store and run out but Ms. Priss starts waving at folks and it is all over from there. Sister loves people!

I love watching Isabelle interact with people. She is so loving and has such a big personality. She loves without holding back. I am becoming a better person because of her!

There are many more happy tears than sad tears lately.  Yes, I still have fears but now I see my Isabelle and not just the DS. 

Sister is amazing and I believe that others will see that too!

Time for me

Yesterday, I started with an accountability group on Facebook (via a Facebook friend) called "Fit into Fall".  I am excited and I have decided No More Excuses!  I can't really use the line "oh, this is just baby weight" much longer since most of this "baby weight" is supposedly a result of my 9 and 7 year old.  I think it is more because I am just not finding the time to work on me. 
With a full-time job, 3 kids and a husband that works mostly nights right now, it is easy for me to find an excuse not to work out.  But I am ready to find some "me" time and get back into shape.  Mainly to feel better about myself but also to make sure I stay healthy for my family. (I have to work hard to keep these Barfield/Sasser genes healthy.)
Last night, we finally made it home a little after 7:30 pm- long day of work and then running around with the kids.  I was able to put Izzy to bed (thankfully sister is good at putting herself to sleep- unlike her brothers were), got the boy's settled and then downstairs I went to start P90x. 
Well, the boys made there way downstairs and soon became my workout sidekicks. 

Doesn't everyone like to workout in their underwear?!? 

Ethan did great and maintained through the first 30 minutes.  Aiden, well he took a break every minute or so.  Let's blame that on his asthma- exercise induced.
I will have to make other arrangements if they are going to continue to be my sidekicks because I think we each got kicked one too many times.
I wasn't able to get through the entire workout but at least I started, worked up a sweat and got my muscles moving.  I did run jog a little bit on the treadmill afterwards to finish the night off.
I have to say that Aiden is a great sidekick.  He stood by me on the treadmill and said "it's working!!  I can see you are getting smaller."  If only it were that easy son but I will keep him around for the positive motivation!

Today I am thankful for...

Aiden.

Aiden was our giant "preemie".  Born a month early but still weighing in at 7lbs 1oz.  (notice the similarities... I tend to have large babies.  Lucky me!) 

This kid was born smiling and with a sense of humor.  Aiden has given himself the title of Class clown.  While he is extremely funny, he thinks he is funny all.the.time and he will repeat himself until he gets the reaction he so deserves or we get tired and tell him "that is enough". 
He has such a big heart and a tender spirit.  His feelings can get hurt very easily but he shakes it off quickly. 
Ethan and Aiden couldn't be more opposite.  While Ethan can be shy, Aiden will talk to anyone who will listen.  He asks a ton of questions and will sometimes try and answer those questions himself if he doesn't think you are quick enough.
He is smart and surprised us this year by getting into Team Quest (gifted program) at school.  I say he surprised us because while he is very smart, he is also very absent minded.  We thought it was a little funny in the beginning but then you start to worry as time passes.  So, it is comforting to know that he can focus and remember things when it comes to school.  At home... that is a different story.  Maybe he is just playing us... Something to think about!                
                              
Aiden has had some health issues early on.  Nothing too serious but you still never want to see your baby going through anything difficult.  After a hospital stay and some testing, we found out he has asthma and food allergies.  I have never met a kid that gets a little excited when he knows he is getting blood drawn or a shot.  That is a little sad to me but at least he is a good sport.  Thankfully, we have gotten everything under control and he is doing awesome!  I think Aiden's health issues were a test run for me and maybe help prepare me a little more for his baby sister.   

Aiden had to adjust to no longer being the baby in our family.  It took him a little extra time but now, he wouldn't trade the "middle child" role for anything.  Izzy is one lucky girl and I am one lucky Mommy! 

Imitating...

Mikayla and Izzy were having a little fun with the camera...

My favorite!!

Ethan photo bombing!

Gotta love a fun big cousin!

Today I am thankful for...

Ethan.

He is my first born.  He gave me the most wonderful title of Mother.  He was most content to stay put in my belly and keep growing into a giant toddler before entering this world.  But our lives were forever changed once he finally arrived.
He is too smart for his own good sometimes.  He is my strong-willed child but also has such a tender heart.  He already has the pre-teen sass (do you call it sass with boys?!?)  at the ripe old age of nine.  Yay! Lucky me, right?!?

He loves his sister more than life itself and we remind him daily that he also loves his brother. - Ethan and Aiden are in the fighting stage and although we hope this passes soon... I know they love each other and would do anything for each other. - I do see glimpses every now and then that reminds me of their love.

He loves sports and wants to be adventurous but he is actually very shy until he gets to know you.  Then watch out... he is going to dork out (gotta love the awkward stage of adolescence)!  We have to talk him into trying new things but once he trys it... he loves it- usually.

He can test my patience and sometimes push me to the brink of being The Crazy Mom but I sure do love him and I wouldn't change anything about him (well... maybe a little less attitude/drama).  I am excited to see the man he grows up to be.  I am already so proud of him and look forward to seeing what the future holds for him!

Good morning world!

Good morning from 2 out of the 3 Holt children- (the third is a little under the weather)

My kids do actually wear clothes... most of the time.  Can you tell Aiden had a restful night sleep?!?

Time change... boo!

This is what Izzy thinks of the time change...

Sister is ready for bed by 6pm but I don't get to see her all day (work) so I am not ready for her to go to bed.  Battle of the wills.  Lately she has been winning because she turns into Miss Crabby pants. 

3rd grade musical

Ethan had his 3rd grade musical this week and they all sounded great. 
We actually got there a little early.  I know... Surprising!!  So we found a seat up close so we could see Ethan.  Well...
Can you find him in the crowd???

Yeah, we couldn't either.  There was a wall blocking us from seeing him.  This year, I even asked his teacher where I should sit so we can see.  I swear I listened but I must have gotten so excited that there were actual seats that I just sat down without thinking.  Most years, we are standing so at least we were comfortable.

Aiden trying to keep Sister still

Are you kidding me?!? 

Waiting for the program to start

Come on People... let's get this musical started!

Izzy loved the music and sat quietly during the entire program.

And the man of the hour.... Ethan!  (who is in desperate need of a haircut)

I am sure he did great even though we couldn't actually see him.  He was giving himself a pep talk afterwards to get up the nerve to request a speaking part for the next program.  He is a bit shy in front of crowds so I think this would be great for him to do.

Give me some love...

Loving on her brother while doing the splits.  Gotta love a multi-tasker!

Did I do that?!?

What?!?  I am not doing anything Mommy!  Notice the shoe and the magazine she is sitting on...  She leaves a path of destruction where ever she goes.

Limes anyone??

How about them limes?!? 
Yep, these came off of our lime tree at our rental house.  Can you tell that the renters didn't realize they had their own limes available in the backyard.  There are currently 171 limes in our house and they are huge! 

Izzy is beginning to think she is in a ball pit and she is starting to throw them around the house.   So... who wants some?!? 

Halloween

The kids had a great Halloween this year and bonus... no homework!!  No homework for kids = no homework for Mommy.   Shhh... don't tell the kids but Mommy doesn't like homework. 
Daddy had to work Halloween night so it was just the kids and I this year but thankfully, Chad and Steph brought the cousins over to go with us.  It was nice to have some much needed adult interaction/conversation during the night. 
I raced home from work to get all the kids ready and then off we went to scope out the neighborhood and get some candy.  But first... a few pictures of course!
Ethan was a Special force Ninja, Isabelle was a beautiful Peacock and Aiden was Snake Eyes (GI Joe).  Mimi purchased the costumes this year and the kids looked awesome.

 I tried to take at least one picture of Izzy with the head piece and she zoned out.

 Tough guys!

 Aiden swears he is smiling behind his mask.

 Little Peacock got a little hungry before we started the night. 

All the cousins getting ready to do some trick or treating.
Ian was a Ninja but you add fangs and now he is a Vampire Ninja, Mikayla is a Gator super fan and Owen is her little side kick- Gator boy.

One last picture of Isabelle before she demanded to be free of the Peacock costume.

Now if only I could find a good place to hide all the candy from the kids.