A New Stage of Life Begins

School starts tomorrow. Our baby starts Kindergarten. Five and a half years ago, we sat in the NICU at UCSF, watching our baby, surrounded by other much sicker babies. I knew then, that Korbin would grow up and be a happy, blessed and healthy boy. And grow UP he has. He definitely got John's genes in height, just like Connor, while Aidan takes more after me. Korbin is tall and skinny, but cute as a button! He is, and always will be, our baby.
I know that there are mothers in this world who look forward to this day in their children's lives. I am not necessarily one of them. It is not that I don't want my children to grow up and experience life and all it has to offer them, because I most certainly want all life has in store for them to come to pass. It's just that there is this part of me who wants to keep my children little for awhile longer. I want to give them so much more to prepare them for the world. And yet, I know that we have done as much as we can and have taught them so much to prepare them for this stage of life, and we will continue to teach and prepare them for each stage of life.
Connor is off to 6th grade. Wow! Where did that time go? He is taller than me and his feet are only a size behind John's. He is ready for a new year of Science and History, and will even put up with Language Arts and Math.
Aidan is off to 4th grade. He is the cutest, freckle faced, blue eyed boy a mom could ask for! He looks a little small next to most of his classmates, but I am banking on a growth spurt to come along soon. He is excited for school to start and even more excited that Math is the first subject of the day.
I must confess, I cry on the first day of school every year. True story. Since I first took Connor to Kindergarten 6 years ago, I have cried when I say good-bye to each of them. I know and trust every teacher and staff member at our school. I love our kids teachers and I know my children are loved and cared for there. I know that we have taught our children and given them the necessary tools to make good and right choices. No matter all of those things, when I leave them at the door, I know that in the next 6-7 hours, I am not there to protect them from any evil or bad thing that may happen.
So, here we are, ready for school to start. Clothes are bought, folded and ready for wear. Everybody has a pair of shoes he likes and a backpack to match his personality; Cars for Korbin, orange for Aidan and black for Connor.
I have been doing some reflecting on the last part of our life and the next stage that begins tomorrow. I know our boys are prepared to take on the world. They have a sanctuary at home, to protect them from the woes of the world. They have parents who love them more than life itself. Not only that, they have grandparents and a great grandma who love them so much! They have aunts and uncles who love them and cousins too. And, they have an Oma, Nana, and Papa in heaven who are watching over them with love. So, while I may cry a lot tomorrow, I will remind myself of the privilege I have of raising these valiant spirits and the unimaginable love and trust that Heavenly Father has for and in John and I, to give us this undeniable blessing!


Never a truer quote have I heard than this:
Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone~

8 YEARS HAVE PASSED

8 years ago today I sat in a hospital holding a hours old Aidan in my arms. He didn't have his cute freckles yet, or his cute tooth filled smile, or his sometimes not so desirable attitude. But, he did have my heart, completely and fully. Today he has an abundance of freckles across hi nose, the angel kisses we call them. He has an infectious smile and laugh, and beautiful blue eyes. He has an undying yearning for learning, which we try to encourage everyday in the hopes that he never loses it. He is a great big brother and an appreciative little brother. He is a true and wonderful blessing in our family!

We chose the name Aidan because we loved that it was such a strong Irish name, and the bonus was that it meant "fiery spirit," which is Aidan in a nutshell. His middle name is Bryant, his great grandfather's surname. Aidan has a lot to live up to if he wants to become like his great grandfather, and I know he does. He will certainly accomplish all he desires, he is stubborn enough to never quit and smart enough to do it all! There are already so many things about Aidan that remind us of Papa, almost as if they were kindred spirits. Amazing!!

Happy birthday to you Aidan Bryant Ireland!! We love you so much!!


Ready to start Scouts, very intently reading his Wolf book



Happy to open some presents before dinner


Aidan chose where he wanted to sit and Gaga made him a sign to mark the chair

I have survived....

I have survived several things in my 37 years...including earthquakes, floods and childbirth. As of today, I have survived 2 slumber parties in my house! I am fairly certain that is a huge accomplishment. The noise level during last night's balloon fight was something to be reckoned with. I survived it. Craft time and creating of one's own pizza? Survived it. Opening presents and treat bags? Survived it. Movies, popcorn, and sleeping? Survived it. Fun was had by all.

I made a pretty awesome camouflage cake with army tanks and guys on it. As soon as I figure out how to get the pictures off of my camera and on here, I will post.

One more day until Aidan turns 8, officially. Four more days until Aidan is baptized. Still have to find a pianist and decide on songs. Happy, happy days!!!

Crazy Fun Days.....

Through the last nearly 11 years of being a Mom, I have been a Stay at Home (working) Mom, a Work outside of the home, a part time stay at home/work outside the home mom, and a Full-time student/stay at home/work outside the home mom. I'm sure you see the trend there...I have been a Mom for nearly 11 years, and I have worked for many more than that! I am in a Work outside the home Mom stage now, and probably will be for the rest of my days. I am okay with it, probably because I have a job which allows me to have "Family Sick Leave" time, vacation time, and many holidays to be home with my boys. In fact, I took the whole week off this week, to be with the boys, and plan for Aidan's birthday and baptism. Let's just say that working outside the home is much easier than staying home! Don't get me wrong, I have great kids! It just takes much more energy to be home than it does to go to work each day.

Today's activities are a great example:

*Help Connor make breakfast for everybody, while doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen
*Clean the house, with help from boys (help=asking the boys to stay on task once every 5-10 minutes for 2 hours)
*Clean up the bathroom floor and part of the boy's room floor, using all but 2 towels in the house, after the toilet overflowed
*Make 2 different dishes for lunches for kids, while realizing that we were late getting Korbin to school
*Getting Korbin to school
*Errands in Eureka to get the remainder of birthday party supplies (I hope) and birthday presents (this included far more than I planned on spending at the Scout store!)
*Stop for Connor and Aidan to eat
*Picking up Korbin from Gaga and Pop's house
*Feeding 3 boys again, while they watch a movie

Still left on the list?
* Bake the cake and make the army colors frosting so that tomorrow I can make an "Army fighting" scenario come to life on the cake. (any idea how to make land mines?)
* Put together treat bags
* Clean the bathroom
* Fold mountains of laundry (including all those towels used to clean up the toilet water)
* maybe get some sleep

Being home takes much more out of me, but I am surely more rewarded by being with my children! I am grateful for each of them!

Good examples around us.

As I have said, our household is a crazy place to be. We are constantly busy, it seems. We have Church activities, Boys Scouts, mom's on the school board, homework...well, you get the picture. My mom gets to be just as busy with having the boys all day while John and I are at work and/or school, and we are grateful for all that she, my dad, and my Mimi do for our children and for us. While I do believe it is, first and foremost, the responsibility of John and I to teach our children and to raise them to be responsible adults, I also recognize the need for good examples all around. I am grateful to know many such people. Our kids are blessed with an extended family that many others do not have. They have wonderful teachers and support staff at both Scotia elementary and Prime Montessori. And, we have a great Church family. That is what I want to hit upon in this post.
Some of you, who read my blog, may not know that the LDS church is the largest group supporter of the Boy Scouts of America organization. Now you know. This year marks the 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America. Our boys start Boy Scouts at the age of 8, when they begin Cub Scouts, and we hope that they continue all the way through to become Eagle Scouts. We hope that each of our boys will do so. In fact, in order to get a driver's license in our house, our boys have to first achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. (nothing wrong with a little incentive, right?) So, Tuesday is Scout night. Connor started scouting almost 2 years ago now. He loves it. He looks adorably handsome in his Scout uniform. This past Tuesday was a very special Boy Scout meeting, our ward had an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for a young man in our ward, Cooper. What an experience!
Becoming an Eagle Scout is not easy. It requires hard work, dedication, sacrifice, service, integrity and trust worthiness exemplified, plus much more. As I watched the celebration of 100 years of Scouting and of Cooper's accomplishment, I could visualize my future. We had several special visitors that evening. Our Stake President, our Bishop, our Scout leaders, Fortuna City Mayor and Humboldt County 2nd district Supervisor all attended this Court of Honor to recognize Cooper. What a wonderful outpouring of love and support! I looked around the room and looked to the row of Cub Scouts sitting reverently in a row along the back wall. At that moment, I could see how impressionable those boys are. And I thought, how beautiful it is that they are seeing this great accomplishment recognized. How awesome that they have such an example as Cooper, in their lives! I looked around again, at all who showed up to honor Cooper. And you know what? I saw so many great examples of the Lord's chosen followers that reminded me just how blessed my boys really are. If they but follow the great examples they have surrounding them, they will be successful. I know that John and I cannot do it alone. I know that Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to. I am grateful for so many great examples.
Thank you, Cooper, and good job!

Happenings.....Korbin's 4!!!!!

Look! My tongue is green!

Crazy! That is life in the Ireland house, always. I have come to accept the fact that I am a working mom. Not that all mom's aren't working moms, but I have to work outside my home. Thankfully I have a mother who takes care of my beautiful children, and thank you to my dad, Jay, for letting her be home to care for them. If not for "Ga-ga," it would be at least 100 times more difficult to go to work each day. Thanks mom and dad!!!
So, I work full-time. Thankfully, again, I actually do like my job and at the end of almost everyday I can say that I helped at least one person. Because I have the kind of job I have, I am blessed to also earn paid time off. So, because I do work full-time, and sometimes I feel like I miss out on some "mom" moments; I take the day off for the birthday of each of my children if they fall on a normal work day. This last Monday was that day for Korbin. My baby turned 4! How can that be?
4 years ago, John and I were at USF medical center, hoping to bring our baby home from the NICU sooner rather than later. After a week of being there and missing our other 2 boys (thankfully mom was there then too) we finally got to bring our tiny boy home. He was our smallest at birth and even smaller when we left SF, the only one who had to have preemie size clothes. Korbin went to school with me from February to May of 2006. That was one of my best semesters ever. My pregnancy with Korbin was a bit of a surprise, but never has he been anything short of a miraculous blessing! Shortly after he was born, Korbin received a Priesthood blessing at the hands of two Priesthood holders from our ward and his breathing problems were gone within 20 minutes. I was reminded that day just how much we are truly watched over by a loving Father in Heaven. It was by the His sacred power that Korbin was healed, and continued to be healed, for the remainder of that week. In looking at Korbin today, one would never know that we ever had the slightest worry. He is a joy to have in our family. Korbin is precious in every way. He is, so far, a combination of his brothers in physical appearance and attitude. He is smart, funny and full of spirit! What a blessing we have been given, to be Korbin's parents.
Korbin loves cars and trains, but not just any cars or trains. He likes cars from the Disney movie "Cars" and he likes Thomas the train and friends. He can put together puzzles in no time, and loves to be challenged by puzzles with lots of pieces. He wanted a train cake for his birthday, so that is what he got. The first one fell apart, so I spent mostly my entire day off of work baking, frosting and decorating cakes. You know what, though? I would do it all again just to see Korbin light up at the sight of his cake! He got lots of Cars presents, and he loved it.
Korbin, we love you and are grateful to have been blessed and valued enough by Heavenly Father to be your parents here on earth. We look forward to many birthdays yet to come!! Love you, Bubby!

Sticking his finger in the frosting.

Mommy even made tracks, look. Those are cracks (tracks in Korbin's language).

I am really tired, but must smile for the traditional "cake picture."

Why must Aidan always be silly? Because, he is his own self...that is Aidan!

That is enough already, I want to play with my new toys!

Look, I got a new puzzle. It has 100 pieces. (He has already gotten it 3/4 put together two times now.)

We are going to miss Grandma and Grandpa!!

All of us with Grandma and Grandpa Annis
(can you believe how tall Connor is?)

Aidan with our newest family member, "Princess."

So, my dad and step-mother, Rhonda, came into town back in September. They have been living, along with their adorable dogs, Piper and Sophie, in their RV, in front of our garage. They were going to be here until after Connor's birthday in March, and we have loved having them here. Besides the fact that Rhonda has done almost 100% of the housecleaning and laundry since their arrival, the kids have just loved having their grandparents here that they don't see very often. After all, the last time we saw them was when Korbin was just a baby and now he's 3! Unfortunately, due to some issues back home, in Iowa, dad and Rhonda have to head back much sooner than expected. In fact, they will be heading out early Tuesday morning, and we are sad!!!!
Since grandma and grandpa are leaving we decided to go over to Mimi's house so that she could take some pictures of all of us. The last time they were here, we had pictures taken of the boys and grandma and grandpa Annis, so we wanted an updated version. The pictures turned out pretty good...thanks, Mimi!
We really will miss having grandma and grandpa Annis here and we hope they come back soon! Thanks for all the help while you have been here, we appreciate it! We hope you come back sooner rather than later, or that we can find a way to come to Iowa to visit. We will miss Piper and Sophie as well, but we are happy that we were able to enjoy this time with you!

Grandma and Grandpa Annis with the boys.

All of us again...what cute boys we have!

"My three sons!"
(goofy, as always.)

Happy birthday, Aidan Bryant Ireland!!!!!!

Aidan, our 2nd child, turned 7 today. He chose to have a "Wii bowling tournament" for his party last Saturday. We had the party at our church building because the gym is much more spacious than our living room. I made him a bowling lane cake, which was fun. We had a tournament that started with four competitions and went down to the final two competitors. The final two ended up being Aidan and his big brother, Connor. Connor won, but not by much. Tonight we had family party at my mom and step-father's house. My mom and my step-mom actually made lasagna together for the party and I made a 3 layer chocolate cake. Aidan wanted a new pocket knife, which he got from Mommy and Daddy. He also really wanted a Zhu-Zhu pet, which is apparently the most popular toy this season. My mom found him one on line. He as thrilled! If you don't know what a Zhu-Zhu pet is, look it up, they are cool. Aidan also got some cool marbles and a marble mat from Grandma and Grandpa Annis. He is a lucky little boy!

I still can't believe that it has been 7 years since Aidan came into this world. Aidan was supposed to enter this world, via planned c-section, on November 26, 2002. However, he felt the need to come the day before. I woke up at 5 a.m. that Monday morning, in labor, not liking it. I sat in the bath tub, I moved around, I tried everything I could think of to stop the pain. I finally called to doctor's office at about 9 a.m. and they told me to go to the hospital if the contractions continued or became closer together. About an hour later I took Connor to the Hamilton's house, next door, and left to the hospital. My mom had just started a new job that morning. John and I got to the hospital and checked in. The anesthesiologist came and checked my lungs, telling me he would see me the next morning. I told him I was having a baby that day, not waiting another day!! Dr. Anderson said that he wanted me to walk around a little bit and he would come over to see me at lunch and decide then if we would deliver that day. The contractions continued. My mom arrived. Mimi arrived with Connor. Papa arrived. Dr. Anderson came in and talked to me. He said there was no reason to wait a day. The nurse started prepping me for surgery. I was so excited to meet our little boy!! Dr. Anderson asked Dr. Cannady to assist him, and I remembered that he had assisted in my appendectomy when I was 6. Only in a small town would that irony take place. Aidan entered the world at 2:39 p.m., weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce, and measuring 19 inches. I had to go to ICU because recovery was packed. I had a nurse that I had had when I was recovering from my appendectomy, another irony.
I got to my room about an hour after Aidan was born and what a beautiful sight!! Connor and daddy had helped bathe him for the first time. He was wrapped up all snugly in a blanket with a cute blue hat on his head. I held him for a few minutes. It didn't take long for Papa to take him from me. That was the beginning of a special bond between Aidan and his great grandfather. They were almost inseparable most of the time. Aidan still lets us know, at least once a week, that he misses his Papa.
Aidan is still as sweet, kind and beautiful as the day he was born. He is funny! He is smart. He is active. He never really stays still, even when he is sleeping. He has more freckles on his nose and cheeks than his brothers. He has beautiful blue eyes. He is the smaller, in stature, of my boys, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in personality! Aidan makes me laugh everyday, and I am so thankful for him.
We had a few names chosen, but knew the moment we looked at him that Aidan was it. His name means "fiery spirit" and that he is! His middle name is my grandparents surname. We gave it to him because we had told Papa when Connor was born that if we ever had another boy, we would give him Bryant as part of his name. Bryant is a name to be proud of and one that Aidan will always live up to, I am sure. We have always called him "Bug," a fun nickname for a fun boy.
We am grateful to have Aidan as part of our family. We cherish each moment with him and look forward to continuing to watching him grow up to be a great man!!
Happy 7th birthday, Aidan! You are the best Aidan in the whole world, don't you ever forget it! We love you for always and forever, Aidan Bug!

I have awesome kids!!!

I just have to say that I have awesome kids! I have the sweetest, kindest, gentlest, and just the best little boys ever. I am a boys mom. I wouldn't trade any one or all of my boys for one girl. I sometimes wonder why I was blessed by my Heavenly Father to have all boys and how it is that He has deemed me worthy to have these 3 beautiful boys. For you see, I truly am blessed by having boys. I get to see the world through the eyes of 3 different personalities and it gives me much to think about each day. I have one who is the most gentle and kind little boy I have ever known. I have one who is so passionate about learning and living that I am often worn out simply by watching him for a few minutes. And, I have one whose imagination is blooming bigger than I ever thought it could at such a young age.
Since my pregnancy with Korbin, John and I have made a "list" of sorts. It is a list that we keep, mentally for the most part, of why we are thankful to have boys. One of the top reasons is that I will one day have great daughters in law. So, you see, I will have the blessing of having daughters one day, but right now I am just so thankful to have boys....to hear their stomping feet running through the house, to see their joy in nature, to hear their laughter each day, and to feel their hugs each and every day.
Just for the record: I would never be disappointed if a girl were to come to our family.

Pictures!!!!

Since I posted the "heavy" stuff about life, I thought I would lighten things up by posting the pictures of the boys and their first days of school this year. My mom will probably hate that I put this picture of her and Connor on here....but Connor wanted it there, and I think it is a great picture. I love my boys!!