Big Boys

The big boys have been very busy lately! We had the end of year program and have been playing baseball! LOVING IT! We also got sign up sheets for football this fall! YEAH!

My co-workers saw these pictures and were baffled at how different these little boys are! I take so much joy in their uniqueness! In there own qualities! I never have to look for something to appreciate, it's so obvious! Each a special person, each with flaws and strengths. Each the love of my life. Man I love them and I'm so proud of them!

Baby Idol

Pet and Baby

Water Baby

Messy Face

Eat Baby Eat

Diaper Baby

Park Baby

I have been on a message board (August 09 What to Expect) since I found out Ryan was due in August '09, all the women on the board are Mom's of babies born in August '09 (or were due but came early or late)...we have decided to have a little fun and play WTE Baby Idol, so there are different categories to enter with our babies...and then we all vote for the best picture for the category (Loads of fun but some people get hurt feelings over it -- this is my first time playing) so here are my pics I entered of Ryan...this last one my brother in law took at my neices graduation ceremony...it doesn't even look like my boy...my boy is much more mischeivous than this little angel! LOL
I love all of these pictures and it was a great way to pick favorites and put them all together to see them in one place! Yummy!

Busy Busy Busy

We have been so busy! My house is falling down around me and I swear I have 10 loads of laundry waiting for me with no end in sight! I have some serious catch up to do in our housework and in some general "tasks"! Seriously with everything going on, it's a wonder I'm able to fit my job into my schedule LOL. I had training in Cleveland area starting May 11th and I've never caught back up from then. We've had something going on every weekend since...a commitment ceremony, ball games, a trip to Tennessee, a graduation ceremony, a wedding, and in the next two weekends, we have 2 graduation parties and Todd has drill...not to mention a speech I have to give on Wednesday night and training on Friday, and TWO ball games every week until the middle of July! We've never been this busy...oh and did I mention Todd has final exams this week? Yeah. He's doing well so far, studying hard and I'm really proud of him. Luckily Todd is taking the summer off (he's switching schools, and the schedules won't allow him to start there because that school is already in session). The boys have big plans for the summer spending a lot of free time at the pool and playing baseball with their friends. It's SO much fun! Lane really likes 3rd base and for no more than they've played in the past, they're doing really well! Ethan doesn't have a place that he prefers yet, but is loving it!
Ryan is getting so big! He's starting to stand independently, eating more and more solid foods, crawls everywhere, and is just so funny! He makes a stinky face when he's excited and tries to bite peoples faces (LOL)...he's a bit of a bully but we're working on that, and he knows when he's been bad because he'll always give us the "Angel Eyes" and tries to love on whoever caught him (or whoever he bit). Funny funny funny!
Soon I'd like to get over this blogging slump I'm in but who knows LOL

Unequally Yoked.

I want to write a well thought out post about being equally yoked not only to your spouse but also to the people you choose to spend time with. Lately I've been feeling unequally yoked in a lot of ways. My friends and family and even my husband are in different places in their relationship than I am. I find myself losing patience for people who have heard of the love of Christ and refuse to accept that someone loves them that much, or are unwilling to change their lifestyles...not only that but I'm tired or being the person who gossips about others, I love the people in my life and only hurt them by gossiping...this is my struggle, and I've lost patience with myself. Sometimes I know that my re-telling of circumstances is to talk through my feelings with someone who has a fresh perspective but other times it is purely for entertainment value. I also know that others are probably frustrated with me in my walk and more my struggles. But I am not unequally yoked to God. God knows how many times it will take for me to get it. For me to think before I speak, for me to say to much to the wrong person. God knows the day I will kick this gossip addiction and each time I fail he just checks it off the list of times I have to fail before I get it. God knows how many times he has to whisper to Todd to be forgiving before it clicks. How often he has to tell me to be gentle until I get it. God is patient enough for both of us and he's just waiting for us to get it.

So Maybe Not

My neice called last night. First phone call from her in...months. Maybe more. When we're around she stays in her room so it was strange that I'd get a call. She and Alicia are having a commitment ceremony. I've never met Alicia. My Mom has never met Alicia. hm. I'm confused. I thought this might be a phase. I disagree with her decision and I'm not sure I can support a union that is against God. I just don't know....I guess if I knew Alicia or had seen them together and how happy they make each other...but I've never met her and Allie is never happy when I see her...I'm very confused by all of this. She says she's excited and happy. But who knows.

I found out more about the Urbana throw down. SIL was removed from the home, but is back and asking for help. Brother is allowing her to move home. I'm scared for him. I'm worried about her. I want them to be safe and I want them to be the couple that we see when we are there. Very sad.

My sister has a job interview in North Carolina this week. I have very mixed feelings about this...she is hoping that the money is worth the move...but she just took a job cut by about a third...she used to run 3 papers and now she runs 2....which is a huge pay cut...she's a single Mom so money is already probably tight compared to what they're used to. My family is going through one of the roughest periods we've seen. and we've seen some hard times together. I will pray.

Full Moon!

I don't know how much to tell about my full moon kind of weekend. It all started Friday night, we had Schwieterman family fun night...all was going well, kids were eating then Lane Michael asked to play the Wii, I told him maybe later but it would be up to Cool Aunt Becca. After him asking about 3 times, I told him not to ask again. He asked 2 more times, I told him the next time he asked I was calling his dad to come get him. He asked again. I got out my phone an called his Dad, just as I got out my phone my Mom said to him "Oh come on Lane Michael, lets go find something fun to do" and his head spun (I swear it was exorcist style). He screamed and yelled and ran out of the room where I kept him until his dad showed up, then he yelled at Todd the whole way home, and was asleep within minutes of being sent to his room! He needed sleep but he needed to not act that way! I don't know what I could have done differently and I think he may be very spoiled...this may be my fault. I'm very protective of Lane Michael and so it's hard for me when he acts like this...it's not him. But it's also not the diabetes...he's exhausted...but he can't act like this! I don't know what to do! I have tried lots of different coping mechanisms and he knows the behavior is bad and that he shouldn't act that way...he just doesn't know how to control it in the moment. Then 10 minutes later my aunt got a call that her FIL had passed away (he had cancer). So we did a quick clean up and packed up and headed home.
Saturday morning started off ok...we were working in the boys room (cleaning, rearranging, organizing) when my Mom called...something went down in Urbana and she had to go...I don't know the whole story but it sounds like things between my brother and sister in law may have gotten ugly and bad...she moved out...maybe temporarily, maybe permanently but who knows at this point...they have court today (Monday)....I will pray.
Then my aunt called my Mom...apparently my uncle died on April 14th...my cousin was in town when he died and no one invited them to the funeral...so my aunt two cousins and his only grand daughter didn't get to go to the funeral. They're so sad. It was their last chance at feeling reconciled. Their last chance at a peaceful good bye or final memory. And that was stolen from them. Very sad. Who does that to their sister? Who is that heartless? Death of a loved one brings out the worst in people.
Man what a weekend. But today is Monday and I insist people start acting like grown ups again!

Fighting for Ethan

In January Ethan had two appointments with a great Doctor to see what we could do to help him in school. Dr. Z diagnosed Ethan with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). It wasn't a surprise and it certainly wasn't a hard pill to swallow, we've always known Ethan was active and concentration was never his strong suit. We're ok with that, we don't mind his activity level and he's a very well behaved little boy (which is uncommon with ADD...most are too impulsive to be well behaved). But we weren't surprised or even disappointed with this diagnosis. The problem being, our insurance doesn't cover any appointment having to do with ADD! Seriously. So he got one month of meds and now...now we can get the meds but we can't get the script since we are self pay for this. Ugh. But yesterday at the parent teacher conference we sat down with his teacher Mrs E (we love her) and the school guidance counselor Mr S and talked about what we can be doing for Ethan. He meets all the standards to go on to first grade and is doing well in school! She said he's smart and it's not that he can't learn, it's that he can't focus long enough to learn the stuff! This is wonderful news! Now we just have to find a way to get him back on meds and he'll be all set! Yeah Ethan!