So, first of all, I probably won't write again for a while because I just can't seem to find the time.......correction, I choose to spend my time with family and friends instead of in the world of blogs, facebook, internet, twilight(yes I read them all in a few weeks and it took over my life). I really like all the previously mentioned time stealers but they are just that, and my kids are growing up too fast. Anyway, I am just saying this because, well, I doubt anyone really reads this except a few close friends, but if you do read this and you are like me you tend to check blogs and get frustrated when someone writes only so often. So, don't get mad but I am writing because I am not quite ready to let go of the blog thing just yet.

I haven't written in so long because, like I said I have been busy, but also because there has been a lot of turbulence in my family lately and I was afraid if I blogged I would say some things I would regret on here......well, okay, I wouldn't regret saying them or thinking them but I would regret that just anyone could read them. So anyway, enough said about that because my life, and my family's for that matter, is great!

The boys are growing so fast. Slade is 1 1/2 and starting to talk a lot, although I still can't understand most of it. He and his big brother "bubby" are becoming fast friends. My life is full of things I had never imagined like spider man, transformers, ninjas, wrestling and all the sports you can imagine. Hendrix is a little over 4 and thinks he is 14. I thought boys don't care about things like clothes and their hair but I am finding out he is very decisive about everything and he is already making negotiations part of his daily life. He has played basketball, tee-ball, and will start soccer in less than a month....all because he absolutely loves it. I have never seen a 4 year old more into sports.....of course I want a girl and I get the most boyish boy imaginable. Brandon has started nightly reading lessons with Hendrix following this certain curriculum he has researched and Hendrix is already reading short stories! He will start St. James preschool in two weeks. No we are not converting to Catholicism(not that there is anything wrong with that) but we are just concerned that he has outgrown his daycare and needs some more challenges and some new surroundings. Slade will stay where he is for now and terrorize the toddler class. I really love the situation with both childcare/preschools right now so it makes me a lot more confident and calm to leave them every day. I still travel to louisville to school daily but I have less than a year now until I can practice dentistry completely on my own......uh wonderful or completely scary, I haven't figured that out yet. I am however really happy to be able to serve the public through healthcare and working with kids and dentistry is very rewarding.

We have done so much since the last time I posted. We have gone to the beach.....great time! Our pool was 1 foot to 6 feet with about 1/2 of the pool being 1-2 feet so even Slade was able to swim around by himself. He didn't even eat any sand the whole week! I will post some pics below and label as many as I can. I hope everyone out there is doing well and I wish you and your family health and happiness!

Hendrix Bday

Today was Hendrix's 4th birthday party. His actual birthday was on Thursday and he celebrated by waking up to his presents from us(a digital camera, sponge bob square pants connect 4 game, a new sponge bob shirt, and a batman wrist shooter). I made cupcakes with edible sponge bob characters on them and he took them to school for snack time. My sister was here this week because she was on spring break from school so she was able to celebrate with us.

Today we had Hendrix's birthday party at a local kids play/bouncy house/putt putt golf and skating, sugar filled crazy place where he had a sponge bob themed party with 16 of his friends. He opened presents, blew out candles, and I didn't see him the rest of the day. He was busy boucing and playing golf and arcade games. He had a blast and thought it was really cool to see his school friends on the weekend. Now, about the cake......I am very proud of the cake because I made and decorated it from scratch. It had three characters from Sponge Bob on it and it took me about 6 hours to do it. A few pics are in the slide show below. Slade was great as usual. He just sat around a little, walked around a little, and slept in my mom's arms the rest of the time. It was nice to have my mom and brandons parents along with my sister and brandons brother there for the party. I felt bad last year that we really didn't do anything special for Hendrix's birthday since Slade had just arrived, so I was glad to have this for him this year. Here are some pics from the party!

It's been a long time since I have posted....not sure if anyone even reads this but I will still keep posting just in case. My life is really....I mean really crazy right now, so I don't get time to take pics of the kids as much, write about all the cute things they are doing (and believe me they do cute things), I don't even have time to shower every day....oops! too much info :). Slade and Hendrix are growing like little weeds. Hendrix finished basketball, and got his trophy-O...as he calls it. He is swimming now and will soon start Tee Ball (which Brandon, my husband, will coach) I don't know what to do when we have more kids who start sports and such....we can hardly keep up with Hendrix.

Slade turned 1 year old on 1/21 and is in to everything. He is a climber, which Hendrix was not, and Slade is still a better sleeper than Hendrix ever was, but despite this I have a feeling we will still have more problems with his attitude than Hendrix's when they get older. We keep thinking about possibly sending Hendrix to a private preschool, but so far I am still very resistant. He is in a "pre-K" class at his daycare with a lot of structured learning time in the mornings and lots of different arts and crafts. I am just so happy with where he and Slade are right now I just can't see moving them, but sometimes Brandon gets worried because he is not reading yet....what??? He is 3 years old. I say, have fun while you still can. I mean in our family.....lets get real.....there is no way he will be able to slack off in school without reallly getting it from his Nana.

I am just trying to learn to be a good Dentist, getting ready for next year when I will be practicing, yes it has come very fast. I knew this time would fly by, and it very much has, except for Oral Pathology, which we are finishing now and can I tell you how happy I am about that!!

Brandon has had a promotion at work, and despite the economy, things are going well for him. He is still playing his guitar in a band where we live, and we are looking foward to the nice weather of summer. As all previous summers, we will spend some time fixing our 6ft tall fenced in 1/2 acre back yard......AGAIN!

We have all had a pretty good week. The boys have really enjoyed getting back into the routine of school since being off for a week due to snow and ice. Slade has officially moved to the 1 year old room where they sleep on cots instead of a crib and eat regular food and drink out of a sippy cup. I ended my week of school with "Smile Kentucky", a program where dentists from the community donate their time, skills, and supplies to help many less fortunate children who badly need dental care. They come to the school on Friday which is set up to move these kids through, doing thousands of dollars worth of free dental care. We all participate, along with the private practice dentists. It is a great thing......and great that it is over....imagine hundreds of elementary school kids running crazy through the halls and rooms of our school. It was a success and I look forward to participating next year as a senior student. My heart is heavy these days as I have been reading friends of friends of friends blogs that are extremely sad. Example, a little two year old girl named Tuesday Fiona recently lost her battle with neuroblastoma. She was an adorable identical twin and she was only diagnosed last July or so. I feel for her family, her sister who will no doubt someday ask why she never got to grow up with her twin, and most of all I feel for her, as she suffered so through her last days with pain and confusion over what was happening to her. There are so many people every day who have life changing disasters happen while we struggle over relatively unimportant things. Little Tuesday who I never knew, may you rest in peace.
Hendrix had his first Bball game in two weeks thanks to the snow. Here is a clip of a rebound and shot he made during the game today.