Trying not to cry!

I knew this day would come, but it came a lot faster than I thought it would, he's 1 already, my little boy:




And here he is now:



I guess I will keep him.

Phe Phe, oh no you didn't!

For those of you who have met the Phoenix, you know that she is super independent and very quirky. She has her own agenda and if she is ever elected to any government office you better start praying, because she is a no mercies kind of gal.

So this weekend we were having a grand old time hanging out and doing some chores. I had mopped the floors on Friday because I knew the weekend would be alittle busy. Mopping is my LEAST favorite chore of all, I would rather go braless and run a marathon.....ouch!

Phe Phe as we like to call her, had colored of my kitchen floor earlier in the day on Saturday and I was nice enough to clean it up for her because she is two and still my little baby and I love her and one mistake is entitled for everyone. So I gave her a stern talking to right!

WRONG!




This is what I walk in on after I went to rotate the laundry. Needlless to say, I was not happy but she thought it was the greatest thing ever. So I immediately when into "you know you are cleaning this up mode". It made me feel instantly better, I felt the punishment fit the crime, downside, I think she had fun! See for yourself:




She was singing the entire time.



Gotta love her and I do, she is truly one of a kind!

Middle Finger

I admit, my children keep me laughing all the time. Today, I was taking a shower and I overheard my oldest Payton, singing to Mason a song. Most of us would know this song as where is thumb kin, but Payton of course, the creative one was singing, first, finger, second finger and so on. She eventually came to tall man and called him middle finger. I walked into the room to Payton holding up her two middle fingers in Mason's face as she sang the words " where is middle finger, where is middle finger, here I am, here I am, how are you today, sir, very well, I thank you, run and hide, run and hide. I was shocked at first, but the innocence on Payton face was so sweet, she was really trying to keep him quiet while I took a shower. And for that I thank her, I will talk to her later about her middle finger.

Payton's Surprise!

Okay I love her so much, we both do, but since it's my blog I get to talk about my love for her. Payton has been playing the piano since she was three, she mainly started to give her something to do and my friend Taunie was willing to teach three year olds, because she has the patience of Job. so over the year she has gotten better and we had discuss a few times about getting Payton a new keyboard since the middle "c" has been broken for at least two years. She had been showing more and more interest over the past year and we knew we needed to make a decision soon on a new keyboard. Luckily for us at one of Payton's lesson was a advertisement for a used piano in great condition. Payton saw it and really wanted it, but piano money is by far different than keyboard money. So we talk it over and decided to place a bid on it. Well we lost the bid and the piano went to someone else. A few weeks later the piano owner called me and told me that the other bidder fell through and where we still interested. We said, YES! All this time we told Payton we really did like the piano so she had not thought about it since. So about a week ago the piano was moved to our house by dad and a few friends while she was at her soccer banquet, and here is the video she came home to.



She has been practing non stop since we got it, who needed a new entertainment center anyway, we have the beautiful sounds of Payton playing!

........and where are my keys!

Oh they were in the car, what car? My car. Are you wondering if I lock them in the car? Yes, I lock the keys in the car..............again!, Different car, different city none the less, I did it again. I went to change Phoenix's diaper while I was at a swimming play date completely got caught up in what I was doing and manually locked the doors, yes manually. I don't have the type of car you manually lock, I have a state of the art lazy person's car. It does everything but drive at a push of a button. But for some reason I choose to MANUALLY lock my two ton monster. But what I can say I will never lock it manually again. Any who here are some pictures from the play date, we had fun as you can see.

She's two, what will I do!

She's two and I feel like I have known her all my life. You can't help but love Phephers as we call her, she moody, opionated, likes Elmo, wait I mean she LOVES Elmo, with a passion. Don't mess with her furry red friend, or she will get EXTREMLY violent. She wakes up with the biggest smiles ever, and greets me with a "HI MOM". I fall instanly in love with her over and over again. Some much I can't to see what the year of two brings. Whatever it is I am ready for it. I hope?



Dad and Phoenix's new baby.




No pictures please!




Time to go for a ride!

Half a year!

..........a smile that lights up a room!



.........and those dimples, omgoodness!



You can't help but love this face!



I just want to eat him, but I think cannibalism is illegal?

I love me some them!

The princess she is growing up so fast, and so is her mouth, this kid is so quick witted I find myself laughing when I should be disciplining. Oh well I'll get better at that.




If I can get him to sleep like this through the night I would be in heaven, instead he sleeps through playdates!




You got to love this one, she likes to brush her hair and teeth, but then again she eats, sand, dirt, chalk and crayons, oh well, atleast she's pretty.

Because I care!

I am a firm believer in taking care of ones self, but sometimes as women we get caught up in all of life's goings on and we don't have time to take care of ourselves. I know this because I am a busy mom of four, don't get me wrong I love my life, but things can get crazy when life happens. So it is super important that we as women take care of ourselves.

Two weeks after Mason was born I was giving myself a monthly breast exam, (if right now you're saying "I don't do those", stop reading and go do one, if you don't know how go to this website)

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp

Okay back to my story, so I am performing my exam and to my astonishment I find a lump, about the size of a walnut. Needless to say I was very angry with myself because I could not believe I had missed something SO BIG. I am neurotic about breast exams, so I quickly got myself together started looking things up on the internet. Yes I know I should have called a doctor but I already had an appointment scheduled.

I went to my midwife and she was immediately concerned and sent me for ultrasound and the test showed a huge mass, so I was sent to see the radiologist how ordered a mammogram before he did the biopsy. Needless to say we were scared Sugar Honey Ice Tealess while we sat waiting for what seemed like FOREVER. The tech comes into the lobby and says the Radiologist wants to see us. We knew at that point it was really good news or REALLY bad news. Either way we tried to prepare ourselves, thank heavens it was not cancer is was a Galatocele, which is a benign cystic tumor filled with a milky substance, it should go away once I am done nursing.

Since my story ended this time in a huge blessing, I thought it only fair, I tell people the importance of self-exams. It only takes a few moments each month and it could save your life. I was quiet at first, I only told two friends what was going on, I know feel obligated that all my girlfriends are doing their exams. Trust if by chance you find one you will be scared at first but finding it can only be done if you are doing your exams. So FEEL THE TATAS, it could SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I confess.............Mikes an addict

Yes, he is addicted to Craigslist, so much so I am considering having an intervention. Every ones Christmas for the most part, purchased by Mike can from Craigslist. Don't get me wrong I admire his frugality, I like nothing more than to save money, but it has gone to far, and I must get him help before it is too late.

Happy New Year!

We figured it would be more fun to send a Happy New Year letter then a Christmas one. Okay you got us, it got late we ran out of time and could not get it finished it time. So here is a quick or maybe not so quick catch up to the goings on with us this passed year. As you can see our letter just keeps getting longer and longer. Wonder why?

Michael turned thirty-five this year but says he still feels like he is eighteen, but he tries to act his age and his wife is grateful for that. Mike, as he likes to be called, has worked very hard in and outside the home this year on many projects. He is still very happy with his job and continues to learn many new things. He most appreciative to be employed and working with such a great group of people. Mike’s office move closer to his home but he still on the road a lot. His family misses him so much, but when he is home; he is greeted like a rock star when he walks through the door. Mike is very thankful for his beautiful wife and his four wonderful children, who make coming home each day such a blessing.

Paulette excitingly turned thirty-four this year and keeps wondering; where has all the time gone. Paulette has come to terms that South Florida is her home for now; she has traveled to Central Florida even less this year. She does hope one day to live there again or the Turks and Caicos, or any place where it does not snow. She loves being told she doesn’t look old enough to have an eighteen year old (and she is not for those of you who just did the math ). Paulette considers herself a stay-in-the car mom (good thing Mike purchase a new car for her), because that is where she is most of the time. Paulette has positively had her last child and is very grateful for the opportunity she has to be raising such an eclectic group of kids. Paulette can’t wait to finish decorating the last three rooms in the house and then and only then she will say it is hers and the mortgage company’s of course.

Marquis DeshawnJames, our first born son, a.k.a., the quiet one, is now eighteen and still looking for a job, his parents are beginning to wonder if such a feat will ever be accomplished. Nevertheless he continues to do well in school and has become quite the wrestler. His parents are proud that he continues to wake before dawn each morning to attend seminary before school without a complaint, (besides no one else is up that early to hear it anyway). Marquis will soon receive his Eagle Scout; he is just waiting for his board of review. Marquis’ only complaint is that our timing was better in finally having a boy after all these years. Marquis is anxiously awaiting graduation so he can move on to the next step in his life.

Payton Olivia, our dear sweet Pay-Pay, turned seven this year and can’t wait to be eight, cool things happen when you are eight. Payton has done very well in school this year, she received all “A’s” and is the best Spanish speaking student in her class. So well in fact she interprets even when mom does not ask her too. Payton continues to play soccer and piano. She loves to play offense. In this years spring recital Payton composed her very first song entitled “Phoenix’s Lullaby”, it was simply beautiful. Payton is still a great example to her siblings, although they wish she would not boss them around so much. Payton is still very tenderhearted and cares deeply for those around her.

Phoenix Allyson, our little wonderer is twenty-two months and growing like a weed. She is all arms and legs just like daddy. She loves too dance a lot. Music is her motivation. Phe Phe is doing her best not to get lost in the mix with the new baby. She goes out of her way whenever mommy’s lap is free to get her spot back, (sometimes even when it is not free). Her favorite character is Alma, a.k.a. Elmo, so much so it has driven her parents completely Elmo crazy and they have to hide the toys sometimes to keep their sanity. Phoenix is such a help with her new little brother she loves to kisses him all the time especially when he is asleep. She calls him Baby, but is working really hard on saying Mason. Her favorite number is “nine” and her baby, “Huh” is doing great. Phoenix has gone to the nursery at church twice now we are hoping things will get better this coming year for her (and mommy), she is definitely a mommy’s girl what can be said for that.

Mason Xavier, our little stop sign, will be four months in just a few days. He has been teething like a champ now for about a month now, so his new best friends are his fingers. He loves to smile a lot, especially at his siblings, or when he is being abruptly awoken by big sister Phoenix. Mason loves being held and bounced around but not too much or he will leave you a little gift. Mason only likes the car if he can see mommy; he prefers to be right next to her but that rarely happens. Mason loves sitting in his Bumbo and watching ESPN with the boys and we should not expect anything else from Mike’s son. Mason was a huge hit when he had the chance to go to Wisconsin this passed October he got to meet close to two hundred new relatives and friends. It is the most any of our kids have met so far, we think he was pretty impress.

This passed year was filled with lots of family fun and very few regrets. We are still sadden by the lost of Paulette’s Aunt Mary, her mom’s sister, but like Payton, said she in heaven now and the two of them are having fun now that they are together again. So we want all of you to lived this coming year to the fullest, hug your loved ones everyday day and tell them you love them, make new friends, remember the old ones and pray for all you come in contact with.

Happy 2009, we love you!
God Bless,
The Harts,
Michael, Paulette, Marquis, Payton, Phoenix, and Mason