Here's to a wonderful 2015!

So, it's been some time since I just WROTE on our blog.  To really just look at how life in the Perkins household really is.  What's been happening that will be memorable all those years later, when I HOPE that my kids take the time to read about what their lives were all about during this crazy crazy time.  So, we will do just a bit of recapping here, so that some day, when I am old and grey, or THEY are old and grey, and we wonder "what was 2015 all about anyway?", we can look back and say "ah ha! THAT is what we were looking forward to!".  So, we'll just take a moment to reflect on each and every one of us.

Braxton is excelling in 2nd grade, just like he did every year before.  He continues to be at the head of his class in all areas, and continues to surprise me every day with his "learner's mind".  He is always thinking, assessing, learning.  And he has taken this handy brain of his and turned it to his life's passion - sports.  He LOVES anything sports.  Anything competitive, anything that has strategy and an opportunity to win.  Top of his list, in this order, are football, baseball, and basketball.  He watches sports on TV or in person any chance he gets, and plays them just as often. He will start Park and Rec basketball this Saturday.  And he is curentlyplaying indoor soccer.  Which, is not on the top of his list, but will suffice when there is no other sports to play.  Because, well, he has a chance to compete!  He has shown to be an exceptional big brother to his little sister (not so much to his little brother...).  He is an amazing helper to me and his dad every day, anything from getting her a snack, helping her get dressed, or providing her with entertainment.  And, oh what a push over he is for her!!  Falling over backwards to meet her every need, sympathizing and advocating for her when she is in trouble, and giving her his unconditional love no matter how terrible-two she can be.

Kyler has mastered Kindergarten beyond any of my wildest dreams.  Being that he was only 10 days away from the cut off for his age, I figure he is the youngest kid in his class.  Thus, I had lots of worries of him not being mature enough for school, not being able to keep up, etc.  But he has SCHOOLED school!  He is excelling in all areas, doing great on all of his work, and learning all of the time.  His teacher called him a sponge.  A sponge!  He is always excited to do his homework, and enjoys all of his time with his friends. He was a bit hesitant to head back after the Christmas break, but has jumped right back in after returning.  At home, he has become the master Lego builder. He will sit in front of his Lego table as long as you will let him, building all different kinds of things.  Kyler continues to show us his independent spirit, which continues to take some getting used to.  He definitely has had his mounts of time outs when he chooses to let his spirit get the best of him, with some good "I don't want to"s and ""I'm not going to"s thrown in here and there, but I  continue to try to remember that some day this "spunk" will serve a great purpose!

Baby Etta is no longer the little baby that we cooed over for so long.  She is 2 1/2, and weighs in at 28 pounds (she got weighed today as she is sick with another bug), which puts her at about the 15th percentile, I believe.  If you recall, both of her brothers barely made it onto the chart they were so big the first few years of their little lives.  But you better believe that she has got a lot of spunk wrapped up into that little body of hers! She spends her days hopping around.  Literally, hopping around like a little rabbit.  And talking every one's ear off.  Most of her talking revolves around attempting (and sometimes succeeding) at bossing people around or asking "why" questions.  She is showing us that she, too, has a very inquisitive mind, just like her brothers.  It is great to see her learning every day! She also is a very dotting "mommy" to all of her babies, totting them around in various baby-carrying equipment.  She is a momma's girl, which though sometimes a challenge, I love to eat up.  And she is starting to do more and more "girly" things all of the time, like paint her nails, do her hair, and pick out her clothes.

Jon and I continue to work hard to build the best life that we can for these kiddos.  Both of us working full time, Jon putting in countless hours every week to build his business.  We enjoy getting the kids around to different activities, and we have both found our favorite activities to do with them. The boys and I enjoy going to lots of great movies whenever we can and enjoy playing lots of different games whenever our busy schedules allow. Etta and I spending time doing all the girly things we can.  Jon enjoys taking the kids out with him, whether it be to run errands, look for deer, or take care of any other outdoor things.  One thing we are both learning, though, is the benefits of spending some time together  WITHOUT the kids.  We have been trying our best to make date night a priority, been taking some trips to Fargo here and there, including stepping out of our boxes and getting tattoos commemorating our kiddos!  Jon has been very hard at work planning for our next venture in life - making our homestead out in the county a reality.  We are in the throws of putting together plans for a shop, with hopes of a house in the next few years.  As with everything, Jon and I have some significantly different ideas about what that means from a finical standpoint, but I'm hoping we can make it through all of that without too many hard feelings!!  I've been trying very hard (and trying, and trying again) to continue to remember to live in the moment. During a time when life seems to be flying by, it is sometimes easy for me to forget to just STOP and BREATHE.  Take a second to just ENJOY where I am right then, right there.  It may not be perfect, but it is perfect for me and my little family!!  Here's to 2015 and all of the great adventures that it will bring!