Miss being on here. Captured some really good memories before and want to get back to it even if it's just for me or my kids to see some day. Life is so good. We now have three kids in lieu of just two. Our surprise third baby, Jax Christopher Travis, was born on April 6, 2012. The gap between kids is just ridiculous but I'm learning to accept it. Aaron jokes that when Jax goes into college we'll have to go into assisted living. Here is a picture of our new addition. He's 18 months here.

Is There A Rewind Button?

I am mixed with emotion as I watch Grace & Nate get older. On one hand I'm so proud of the people they are becoming. On the other hand my heart hurts because, as they get older, they need me less and less.

Grace just finished a book report that required a shoe box diorama. Do you know how much help she needed from me? Very very little. She did a fantastic job all on her own. She picked out her own clothes this morning, did her own hair and made her own lunch. She turns her head when I go to kiss her. I wish it didn't hurt my feelings but it does. Her friends are EVERYTHING right now.

Nate dresses himself now (I still get to pick out his clothes). He wipes himself - thank goodness. : ) He plays so independently that I often have to look in on him because I haven't heard a peep out of him for a while. He opens the door for the ladies. When he wants to play, he seeks out Dad. Dad is so much better at XBox, building things and playing ball. I get it - I'm a girl.

They really are great kids. I'm proud of the job Aaron and I have done. I REALLY AM! Sometimes though, I just want to stop time and go back to when they REALLY needed me A LOT, rewind....

I would give anything to hold baby Grace or Nate one more time. Smell their hair, rub their hands, rock them to sleep, feed them, change them. SNUGGLE.

I know they don't need me as much as they used to. I just hope they know, without doubt, that I'm here and ready. I'm here to love them, listen to them, defend them, cry with them, comfort them, laugh with them and of course SNUGGLE.

Zoolander

My Baby is Nine!

Happy Birthday Grace!



The traditional licking of the candles.....

They do hug occasionally!

Yes, she has makeup on. I gave her a birthday makeover. She only started looking like Alice Cooper towards the end.

Opening Naomi's present.

Meet Grace Caitlin Travis

Today, I'm interviewing the future Olympic Gold Medalist in gymnastic, American Idol winner and President of The United States, Grace Caitlin Travis. I have asked her a series of questions, just to peek inside the mind of this brillant eight year old:



What is your favorite color: Blue

What is your favorite food: Ice cream cake

Favorite day of the week: Saturday

Favorite TV show: American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance
Favorite subject in school: Art

Favorite activity: Gymnastics

Why do you want to be President: I want to show that a women can lead as President, just like Hillary Clinton tried to.

What drives you crazy: My brother

Who is your best friend: Maggie and Sammy

Who do admire the most and why: Three people - My Mom, my Dad and Jesus. They are some of the people that I love the most.

What scares you: Spiders, snakes and slimy things

One thing that makes you happy: Family

What do you love about Nate: His smile

What do you love about Rudy: When he snuggles
One thing you hate: Bullies
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Croutbest and Miss. Bachelor
One thing you would change about the world if you could: No volcanos, no storms, no spiders, snakes and slimy things

Not Feeling Very Happy

Just not feeling very happy today. I really wanted this blog to be about the joys of marriage and parenthood. I wanted to capture all the happy times with our family. To show that you can sucessfully have a career and be a great mom too. I see so many blogs where there's a lot of complaining and women who simply can't wait for their kids to grow up and be gone. I was determined that mine would be different.

But, in reality, life just isn't always happy. I've been under a lot of stress lately. I'm worried about our future, I'm not sure I like my job anymore and I'm just not finding my day to day routine very fulfilling. I keep telling myself to focus on the positive, not worry about the things I have no control over and just be at peace with what I have. I feel sad inside. I'm having a hard time sleeping and I feel so tired and overwhelmed. We don't have the money to really do anything. I feel stuck.

Everyone around me is losing their job. Everyday some new company is announcing major lay-offs, including mine and Aaron's. Will we make it through this economic crisis and keep our job? So many people are acting as if Obama is our Savior who is going to fix everything. He is not a miracle worker and in all honesty - things will probably be this way for at least a year or more. I want to just close my eyes and make everything ok again.

I know people read this blog. I would love to hear from you.

T

Happy New Year

My hopes for 2009:

That Aaron and I keep our jobs.
That Grace stays healthy.
That the economy improves.
That Obama changes things.
That we get our troops out of Iraq & Afghanistan.
That my sister finds peace.
That I lose some weight - which means that I'll have to start running again and boy do I love running.... : (
That we focus on God and what he wants for us and not what we want for ourselves.
Good friends.
Time with family.
Peace.
Here we are bringing in the New Year. God Bless us all: