Breather.

In case you haven't notices in my lack of blogging, we have been B-U-S-Y!!!!! From recovering from the cruise, all these Birthdays, THE Birthday party, Family coming and going, Doctors appointments here and there. I feel like we've just been constantly going so I felt as the mama of the house, we needed to just take a family breather!

and where better to do so than a Pizza Picnic at the park???

well... some of us ate pizza. ;)

Nat spent a lot of time chasing Bubba around. I finally convinced him to let Stetson go and run free!!

no caption needed. You should know by now that the boy is obsessed with dirt.

After the park, we took a little walk down to the water and found these fabulous trees!! Seriously, so many huge trees everywhere. Definitely a great place to take family pictures... if ever the day shall come.

:)

The Rose men.

Isn't it a great picture. :)

The duck with the awesome head!

My beauties.

We had a lot of fun!

Thankful.

We have come a long way this past year... financially, learning and growing together as a couple during this huge transition in our life, buying a new house...

I am constantly thanking God for where we are now as opposed to a year ago. Not that we were homeless and starving... we were making it... and thats it, just making it.

Soooo when times in our lives pop up like they have this month I can't help but to remember where we were and what we have now..... we've been living at the Doctors/dentist/eye dr.'s office and we ALL have INSURANCE!!!! I am reminded of a time when we didn't have insurance. Thank you, Lord for your provision!!!!!!!!!

**This is a big, long medical post so be warned!

K, Sorry, just had to get that outta my system.

Remember back in June when we took Payton to the ER??? Well, ever since then she just has not been the same. She has ran fever on and off and she's just been miserable. I know, that sounds awful! But I honestly just thought that she kept getting this stinkin' virus that all the kids had passed around. Plus it was like 3 days of fever, 2 with no fever. So strange!!!!

We went on our cruise and she was on a not running fever streak... then, of course, while we were gone she ran fever... and so on and so forth. Weird thing is she has no other symptoms. So I finally decided enough is enough and took her in. After blood tests and (another) Urine test we found out she did indeed have a UTI.... I was pretty upset about it all as we took her in back in June and her urine tested negative for anything, when I was almost positive she had to have a UTI. Just makes me mad that she's lived with this for sooo long.

That was a pretty stinky, traumatic day for her and I, but I am so thankful to finally have some answers, and after a few days on antibiotic she is a whole nother person!!!! So much happier and pleasant to be around. I enjoyed her clingy little cute self, always wanting me to hold her, but I would much rather have her playing with her bubba and sissy.

... and eating French Fries with her toes. :)

I Love that girl.

Before we went on our cruise, Madelynn had her 3 Y.O. check up (like 5 minutes before we left) She checked out perfect, didn't have to get any shots cuz she was up-to-date (YAY!!!), and didn't pass her vision test.

Once we got back to town, I took her to the eye Dr... where we got a semi ok answer. She has astigmatism in both eyes (like me) and she is a tad nearsighted, where as he would want her to be on more on the farsighted spectrum at her age. So technically, it needs correction, but since she is so little, he wants to wait until school age to correct it... So that was kinda a little bit of a bummer, just knowing somethings not perfect with your child. But, on the other hand as an avid glasses wearer myself, I know how bad it is to not be able to see, so I am oober glad we caught it while she was young, so we know what to watch for as she grows.

Next up on the list is I. Its been a Loooooonnnnngggg time comin. I knew it was there. I knew it hurt, I knew It needed to be checked out. I knew there was a hole...... in. my.tooth.

My precious mother always had us kids at the dentist every 6 months for as long as I could remember... and the last dentist appt. I had was approximately 4 days before we were married.... 4 years ago. and thank the Lord, my tooth decided to cooperate until I had dental insurance. The pain would come and go, and I put it off, and put it off, and put it off until the pain would (and still won't) go away. After an evaluation, and sticking metal things inside cavity things and making me jump up to the ceiling, we found out that I indeed have a cavity that has not been taken care of... and it was rotting away and is now exposing the nerve. Oh yes, the nerve is exposed... and it hurts like... well, lets just say I'd rather be in labor than to live with this pain. There really isn't much worse pain that tooth ache pain. The cherry on top??? They cant get me in until August 31st to fix it. Woo Hoo for severe pain for another 3 weeks (not).

Next day was the little dude's 1 year check up.... and just like I already knew he would be, he was perfect. Passed all his developmental milestones... and he had to get 3 shots. :( Never gets any easier seeing that stinky look on their faces when they get those shots.

but he did oh so good and was quickly feeling much better after the nurse gave him a sucker.

Also, while we were on our cruise, and the kids all got sick again, my mom ended up having to take Stetson to the Dr. cuz he was wheezing so bad. So he is officially his daddy's boy and has asthma. Thankfully, that had also cleared up and the Dr was glad for that too!!

Whew!! No more, no more... Well, can't say that cuz Miss Payton still has her 2 YO check up... and mama has to get her tooth fixed.. and well , the girls both need to see the dentist. So how bout no more un expected things?? I sure hope so!!

Party!!

There are 2 types of people in the world when it comes to Birthday Parties. 1- People who have the "they won't even remember this" mentality.... and 2- People who spend weeks planning, making, buying and planning to throw this great party for their kids. Not that one is better than the other, as were all entitled to our own opinions.... but I fall under category 2.... I want to give my kids my all, ALL the time. So I like to "go all out" for Birthday parties, along with everything else in life... especially a birthday party for all 3!!!

So anyways.... it was soo great to have our families together at our house (missed you Liz!!!!!). A dream come true for me!! My heart was all warm inside when so many people that we love were in our house for a very special occasion.

If I had to sum up the party in 1 word it would be: Perfect.....

and thats kinda a big deal for a perfectionist to say!! Everything went so smooth, and fell into place so perfectly. From the weather, to the wind (which is a BIG deal here in NM) to the amount of food we had, to the gifts. Everything was just plain awesome!!

**In order from end to beginning... simply because I don't wanna flip them around. :)

The kids made out with some great gifts! Everything was just... perfect.

Bubba finally got boy stuff!! (YAY!!!)

Devouring his cupcake.

The proud parents... :)

Mimi and Owen.

That smile that melts my heart every time I see it.

The PINK cowgirl.

cousins.

Drinks.

I also made these for the kids. Simply by using a hole punch to punch out a straw sized hole for all the Kiddos. They were perfect!!

Food table

Dessert table.

I made WAY to much dessert-y type stuff... but I had so many ideas and didn't wanna NOT make any of them. :)

All my kids were happy, and in return it made for a happy mama.

It was another successful party.

Thanks to everyone who came!!

Cry me a dadgum river.

Yep, I'm still sittin' over here cryin'. Why does this kid torture me so?!? I've been saying it for weeks. But, Saying and doing are 2 different things. My little man had an AF-RO when the time was right. His curls were cute, but if they weren't styled, they were wacko!! So, I finally (kinda, sorta) got the guts up to do it. We had gone to the park and he was all sorts of HOT and SWEATY on his little head. So, when we were throwing the kids in the tub, I told Nat lets just do it and get it over with!!!!

He did Ah-mazing!! Seriously it was quick, easy and painless (for him).

Nat had to do it... I honestly don't think I could have done it. That first swipe of the clippers, I teared up a little. As much as he needed a haircut, I don't think that I was ready for it like I thought it was.

Its a little shorter than I would have liked.... but I think he'll appreciate it!!! I'm gonna have to get used to it. Its like the last little bit of baby is gone... and now he is a little BOY!!!!!!

He had a LOT of hair!!

Ok..... now pray for his mother.

Dang, if I'm being such a baby over a haircut, what will I do on the first day of school?? First girlfriend??? Graduation??? Marriage???

baby steps....

baby steps...

baby steps!

"1"

WaaaAAAAaaaaHHHhhhh.

Sorry, I just had to get that out of my system cuz my baby boy is O-FICIALLY 1!!!!! When there are no more babies on your horizon, your last one turning 1 is kinda a BIG deal. Well... to some people.... and I just so happen to be one of those people. He's pretty much like a grown man, on the verge of graduating, and getting married and making his own life. Ok... not really, not so much. But thats how I feel.

I cant believe its been a year since the little dude made his GRAND entrance

I didn't think it was possible for time to go faster than it did with the first 2... but it is.

huummm... such a bittersweet time for me.

Little man is pretty much 100% EASY! Feeds himself, drinks all on his own, walks. We are definitely transitioning to a new stage in life that we have yet to experience.... and I'm pretty darn excited about it!! We went to the park the other day, something that I've not ever attempted with all 3 of them. and it was AWESOME! I let them all 3 go while I watched!! Of course, Stetson still needs a little direction but its a start!!!

Literally, the second he fell and realized he was walking on dirt it was over.. the kid loves dirt! Maybe thats a boy thing?!?!

Payton and Stetson have almost become inseparable! Its so cute how much they love each other and how much fun they have together.

(BTW... I officially have two 1 year olds. ;))

My little man is sooo handsome!! and he holds my heart in his hands. Someone once told me long ago that having a son is a whole nother story than having a daughter... and I would have to agree. Not that one ounce of me loves him more than I love my girls... but there's just a little somethin' somethin' there thats a tad different than having girls. Lets put it this way: Daddy's have this same relationship with their girls as mama's do about their sons. I'm sure anyone with girls and boys can relate.

Love you Stetson James, My little man. You bless our family more than you could ever know. Your smile, your laugh, your sweet slobbery kisses, your chubby little hands, your monkey little feet that get you everywhere you need to go... up, and down. You complete us Roses and make us a perfect family. Love you little dude. Can't wait to spend many more birthdays with you!!!!!!!!!!!