From the desk of Mrs. Mitchell...

Hello all-

Hope all my readers are doing well, and please know I haven't forgotten about you! I hope to update the blog tomorrow. I started homeschooling the boys (mostly Jackson) last week, and while it has been very rewarding and fun, I do have lesson plans to do and crafts to plan the night before. :) I always wanted to be a teacher long before I wanted to be a pharmacist, so I will admit I am sort of enjoying it all. :) Plus, there is something about having them with me all the time knowing they are safe. This whole diabetes thing has made me sort of paranoid. Anyway, stay tuned because I will be posting pictures from "Mitchell Academy" real soon!

Blessings to all!

I'm a Big Kid Now!

Time is flying by, and our little baby isn't quite a baby anymore! He has been attempting to drive the power wheels truck over the past few months (much to our grimace and fear..just ask Malia.) He really hasn't been ready and has been reckless. But, we have been working more with him since he really yearns to be big like Jackson.

And, well, for the most part he's got it. He doesn't quite have the hang of the big four wheeler yet though..(just ask Paul.) :) And, as you can see with the truck he often ends up in the woods or up against a tree. But, at least he knows where reverse is and can get himself back on track. :)

Also, thanks to Maw Maw's tutoring (better to have spilled tea on her floor than mine, huh?:)), he is now really proficient with big boy cups, too! I do make him keep it in the kitchen/dining room, and I will admit I often only serve water in it so I won't have to mop sticky off the floors...(shhh..don't tell...I'm being a slacker mom.) But, I am really proud of him. I should add here that "big girl" cups were a big issue for me as a child as I was known as the chief "spiller" in the family. So, I am trying to be extra patient and was with Jackson as well.

Honestly, it seems like just yesterday he was just crawling around unable to walk, talk or anything much else. Now, he is a little boy...not a baby. And, I love him even more. Yay, Preston!

Happy Belated Birthday, Ella!

I know people get aggravated with me thinking of everything (ahem, Maw Maw :)) around the timeline of "before diagnosis" and "after diagnosis." But, sorry. I cannot help it. When something this huge happens in your life that's just the way it is. For me anyway. But, right "after diagnosis," Ella had her birthday party and for a zillion reasons we missed it. :(

So, last week we decided to pay her a little visit and take her her present...

She has awesome toys! Preston cooked..and cooked...and cooked...and cooked. :) Who says a man doesn't know his way around a PINK kitchen? :)

I have to admit it was really cool. I loved all her stuff and it made me want to play, too. She has a cake stand, cake pieces, complete with velcro icing flowers to decorate it! I would have been in heaven had I been say...uh...28 years younger. :)

Thankfully, even with all those cool toys already at her fingertips, she was still excited to see our new addition... a slide!

Ella's cousins, Aidan and Cooper were over to visit, too. So, this made for an extra fun playdate! All of the kids are close in age, and while Ella was outnumbered by gender she makes up for it! She is rough and tumble with the best of them! And, I didn't hear any whining either when she seemed to get hurt! She is such a awesome, well-rounded little girl!

Thank goodness, too. Because Preston is going to marry her one day (uh...well...wait. I didn't think about Ella's mom and dad being our kids' Godparents for the most part...hmm..) Still, she's my pick! I can't wait!

Happy Birthday, Paw Paw!

This post is all about Paw Paw, but it also serves as advertisement for a new family business...Photography by Jackson. These are the beginnings of his portfolio...

He's not too shabby, eh? :) We had a great dinner at Red Lobster Saturday to help Paw Paw celebrate beginning one more happy, healthy year. What a blessing!

Happy Birthday, Paw Paw!

Jackson Performs!

Jackson's Jr Kindergarten class performed at the PTO meeting at The Sharon School last week. If you know me, you know this is probably my favorite part about sending my kids to school...these cute performances. :) They are priceless. As usual, Jackson did not disappoint with the entertainment. He belted out the words with all his heart!

Did all the motions...

And made mommy proud!

Happy 5th Birthday, Braden!

Saturday we got to go jump and play (literally) to help Braden celebrate his big milestone of turning five! I honestly cannot believe he is five, and it kind of sunk in to me that Jackson is about to be five as well. Kinda makes me sad. :(

The kids all had a blast though!

And, Jackson did such a great job with his (not one, but two) shots. It was our first full-fledged birthday party complete with lunch and cake and ice cream (and juice!) He did great until many hours later into the evening. Pizza is just the devil. :( The insulin works well, but the pizza is so high in fat by the time it finishes metabolizing and raises his blood sugar the short-acting insulin is gone. But, he is a kid. That's right. A four-year old. And, we gave extra insulin to cover it at dinner, it came right down, and while it was mildly high (low 200s) throughout the middle of the night that's happened before without pizza. So, go figure. He survived! :)

I will say though that with that many carbs in one sitting, he was the most hyper I've seen him in a long while..shortly after this mild moment of excitement during our singing "Happy Birthday," things got a little wild in that party room mostly thanks to my two kids. Sorry, Amy!

Yay for birthdays!!!! I just love every minute of them no matter who the guest of honor is!

Sporty Spud

Since school has started back, Preston's "AB gym" (baby gym) classes have started back. The Kids Spot has a new owner which means different classes, and the only one we could find that fit our schedule well to do while Jax is in school was "Sporty Spuds." Our first one was this week, and as you can see Preston had alot of fun. I will say that he misses his old teacher..alot. And, well I do, too. Mrs. "Corny" (Courtney) was awesome with Preston. I really wish we could find a slot where we could still have fun with her. But, Mrs. J, our new teacher was still fun, too! Sorry, Mrs. J., Mrs. Corny's shoes are just hard to fill.

Preston asks about going to the "AB gym" nearly every night I put him to bed. It's like his own little school. He really loves this place! I am so thankful I still mostly stay at home and don't have to work during the mornings so I can give this to him the way I was able to for Jackson.

Mrs. J helped Preston loosen up by trying the obstacle course. You should have seen him jump over a rope that was about 8 inches off the ground. Hilarious!

Just last week my friend Katy was asking me how you love your second as much as your first. It's really very easy. And, my little Preston makes it that easy. What a bundle of adventure and joy!