Our Five Year Old

Carson is five years old today. I cannot believe that our 2nd born is already 5! It just doesn't seem like he should already be 5. I remember his birth vividly like it was yesterday. I remember my water breaking at home at 5:00 A.M. and being scared wondering if we would make the drive to Tulsa. I also remember Joe almost getting stopped because he was speeding through downtown Tulsa. All he did was point to me and my belly and the cop waved us on. I remember standing in the elevator at the hospital totally embarassed because I was getting the floor wet, and thinking this has got to be the longest elevator ride ever! I remember thinking I was having strong labor pains and knowing that our baby boy was coming any minute and the doctor telling me, "You're not quite dilated to a 1 yet." WHAT? Not even a 1? That couldn't be! I remember how much he looked like Katelyn when we first saw him and how much he didn't look like her by the time we left the hospital. He had black hair, yes, black hair! It didn't stay long, but it was black for a while. He was and is our laid back child. He was an easy baby and, for the most part, he is an easy kid today. He doesn't have to be the center of attention, but when he is he has that shy little grin on his face. I love his smile and his eyes. He could ask me almost anything with a sweet smile and those eyes and I would say yes. He tells me at least 4 or 5 times a week that I look pretty or that I am beautiful. He has also started telling Katelyn and Ainsley how pretty they look when they are dressed up. I love that about him. He also reminds me often that he loves me so much. Back when school first started, he was having a hard time, and it seemed like every day I was getting onto to him about school. After a few weeks of this, he started telling me "Mommy, I still love you." It just broke my heart because I knew that he was needing some positive reinforcement. He was feeling like he was a constant disappointment. He loves shiny objects, sharp objects and small objects - basically all those things he's not supposed to touch. I don't know how many times we've been walking through the mall or Wal-Mart and I'll see something in his hand. It's a screw or a bolt and he has taken out of some clothing rack somewhere. He loves video games and cars, and he also loves to play BINGO. His best friend is Noah, but he fights with Ainsley and Adam about why Adam should be his best friend. He loves to have secrets whispered into his ear every night as we tuck him in, and he loves it when Joe tells stories where he is the hero that saves the day. He has touched my life in so many ways. He has made me smile many times when he brings me a fist-full of flowers. He has made me laugh when he tries to break dance and do the robot in our living room. He has made me chuckle when he walks in from outside with a dirt mustache. He has made me proud when he writes his first and last name on the menu at Monterey's. Carson Riley Mann. Our first little "Mann" is now our big boy five year old. My, how time flies. Thank you God, so much, for Carson.

Our Trip to The Felser's Farm

We went to Bill & Carolyn Fesler's farm today to see all their goats. They have so many Bill is not even real sure exactly the number! They had two twins born just this morning! We had a blast. The sounds the goats make is so cute, and sometimes it even reminded me of the sounds my kids make when they are playing. Of course, I took a ton of pictures. I thought I'd post a few.



As soon as we got there a few of the goats ran up to us and started nibbling on our clothes. This really surprised Ainsley. She wasn't scared though. She is saying in this picture, "Mommy, he's eatin' my shirt!"


I love this picture of my girls together! This is one I'll have printed and framed for their room.



Hayden's favorite part about being on the farm was finding rocks to throw in the water trough and make a big splash. He would toss one in and wait for the splash and laugh and say, "Oooo, nasty!" He did this about 50 times I think!


Carson loved feeding the babies with the bottle. On our way out he was carrying one of the goats and someone asked, "Are you going to take that one home?" He ran up to me and said, "Mommy! He said we could take that one home!" No, he didn't get to take one home, but somehow I got talked into going back to the farm in the morning to get one to take to Carson's class for show and tell. It is his birthday tomorrow, so I guess the birthday boy can have his wish!


Katelyn's favorite part was finding all the newest babies and carrying them around. She wanted me to take her picture with each one she picked up. As we were driving away she was already asking me if her friends could come out with her next time. I'm sure I will be getting asked every day when we are going back. She was right at home on the farm. I've told her before if she wants farm animals she'll have to marry a cowboy. :-) I can actually see her living the farm life.


Ainsley feeding the baby. She's been practicing a lot with her baby dolls at home. She's a natural! ;-)



Can you tell she's loving this?


I really like this picture of Hayden because you can tell by his chubby cheek that he is grinning really big. It reminds me that he won't have that chubby face and extra chin for much longer. He'll grow out of his "baby" face before we know it.


Carson getting chewed on.


Ainsley holding one of the newborn twins.


Carson getting a little love from one of the twins!


Hayden choking one of the kids. :-) It was okay... really!




Ainsley must have smelled yummy because those babies nibbled on her the whole time we were there. They even enjoyed her hair! I wonder if she had syrup in her hair from breakfast? :-)



Well, Angela, we have our own "poop" shoes! We all had to take our shoes off before we got into the van. Next time the kids will wear those rain boots that I have always felt ashamed for buying because they were not a neccessity. They will get a lot of use now!


The best part of the farm trip for me was seeing the smiles and the excitement on their faces while we were there. And not worrying how dirty they were getting. It didn't matter. All that was important was being in that moment with them. And don't worry Mom, I put them in the shower the minute we walked in the door. :-)

My future's so bright I gotta wear...

Shades! The kids were playing around with an old pair sunglasses today and they were all 3 ready to strike a pose. I love it when they goof around! My favorite part of being a mom - watching my kids play and make me laugh. Great times!

Hayden vs. The Driveway

And the driveway wins! Yesterday we were outside most of the day getting ready for our yard sale, and Hayden had a battle with the concrete. He was pushing a car around and he ran into a big crack in the driveway. His car tipped and he went face first onto the concrete. He looks like he's been to battle and he lost! He has bumped that side of his head so many times here lately that we aren't sure where one bruise ends and another begins!

Changes

My theme for myself for the year of 2007 is "Change". The biggest change I want to make in my life is my weight. I started Weight Watchers at the beginning of January with the idea that I would "try" to lose weight. I have been attending meetings weekly, and it has been the best decision I have ever made. I am finally starting feel like I have a direction and a goal for my weight loss. To date I have lost 27 pounds and have reached that 1st 10% goal. It has taken 11 weeks for me to get here, and every single week has been worth it. I rarely find myself on the other side of my camera because I have always been self concious about pictures. I never take full body shots and when I do no one ever sees them. I decided that I am changing that about myself. I will be in pictures and I will be happy with showing off full body shots. Joe took a few pictures of me today after church because I thought it was about time to take a few "progress" pictures of my journey so far. I really hate to post these before pictures, but they are really important for me to see them compared my current pictures. It really helps me to see how much progress I've made, and it encourages me to keep going. I am not completely pleased with my "now" pictures, but that's good because it make me want to keep going. Dixie, my WW leader, tells us all the time that the year in going to go by anyway. So my plan is to look back on this year without shame or guilt because I will know that I have done everything I can to get healthy. I have short term goals for my weight loss, but my big goal is to be 100 pounds lighter by next January. Ultimately, I would like to lose about 125 pounds. I no longer want to shop in the plus sizes for clothing. I want to be able to run and play with my kids in the backyard. I want to be able to play on the church softball league and feel like I have something to contribute. I know that I can do this and I am positive that I will reach my goals. 2007 is going to be a wonderful year for me!

Katelyn's Song Menu

Katelyn came in to me yesterday with this song list. She asked me if we could roll the piano out in the front yard. I said, "The big piano?" She said, "Yes... it's on wheels! And I want to play songs for people for 25 cents each. Here's my list. I can play all of these." I asked her, "So you think people will pay you to play a song for them?" She responded, "Well, yes! It's only 25 cents per song. That's cheap!" What was I supposed to say to that? Just like her Daddy, she thinks she can make money doing anything. :-) I told her when we have our yard sale she can set up a lemonade stand. We will probably sell one of our pianos, so who knows, maybe someone will pay her for a song or two!