Life is full.....

I typically don't like the word busy because its used far too often as a scapegoat. So, I'll say we've been hustling, moving, living and driving. Lots of driving.

Wyatt started Kindergarten at Pleasant Valley and his first teacher is named Mrs. Jones. He loves school. I was worried the first week because I knew he spent most recesses alone observing the other kids. Well, now all he talks about is how funny Shawn is and Colton was his first friend and Landon likes to play ball with them and sometimes he sits with Emiko. Lots of friends! I wonder if they will be lifelong friends.....
Anyway, Wyatt is also doing great at swim lessons. He can swim to the middle of the pool and hold his breathe. He is swimming on his back and also learning diving. I'm surprised how quickly he is picking this up. He loves swim. Maybe he will be on the swim team one day? We'll see.

Gatlon started Pre-K with Mrs. Dana this year.  I've tried to teach him ABC's and worked on spelling his name but he always acts uninterested. I talked to his pediatrician about it and she said some kids don't want to learn some things from mom. He already absorbs so much from me that I was ok accepting this and putting him in a pre-k to see if he would benefit. HE LOVES IT!! I'm so happy for him. Gatlon is constantly drawing G for his name and knows 2 site words no questions asked. He has only been there for like 4 classes. I'm so excited. I guess some kids want to learn school stuff elsewhere. The important thing is he loves cooking with me and building legos and painting and will not let a night go by without a bedtime story. So I get my quality time and know he is learning from me I just let Mrs. Dana handle the alphabet!
Gatlon is great in swim class but doesn't get as excited as Wyatt. Might not be his thing but he will continue to go so we can be sure he knows how to swim. Its too important period. I will say its pretty cute watching him do scoopers under the water :)

Briggs is being a trooper with his big brothers crazy all over the place schedules and sometimes has to sacrifice a nap in the car.  He is working hard on walking -probably taking 10 steps before he sikes himself out and sits. I can't believe he is about to turn 1 in a few weeks! Thats another blog post though....

So our lives are full of activities and schooling finally! The boys were so bored over the summer. Now for the first time in 5 years I have random blocks of time with only 1 kid. So I get costco over with and watch the clock till its time to pick up my babies. xoxo  -Kristy

Just Livin.......

Not much to update but wanted to at least write a small post. Oh my gosh school is about to start!! Wyatt is about to start all day Kindergarden at Pleasant Valley Elementary. He is super excited. He gets a big smile on his face every time I tell him how many more days until he starts. Gatlon is starting a Pre-K program at a teachers house. Sounds a little odd but is actually very cool. She is a Kindergarden teacher who decided to teach a handful of kids out of a big room in her giant house. We are excited for Gatlon to have his own independent time and know it will get him ready for real Kindergarden next year. Wyatt simply can't wait to start school and asked me how he will know if someone wants to be his friend. He's so ready to get out on his own for a few hours a day...6 hours actually! Yes I'm happy for him but also a tad sad because it obviously just means he's getting older.  Wyatt and Gatlon have never gone to any kind of preschool so this will be the first time I will have to trust other people with my boys. Wyatt will go 5 days a week for 6 hours and Gatlon will go 2 days a week for 3 hours. Which brings up that for the first time in 5 years I will have some free time! Of course I will still have Briggs but gosh 1 kid running errands will be a piece of cake. Mainly though I'm happy that my boys are happy. I've been feeling guilty because I'm sorta stuck home for nap times for Briggs so the boys are limited on things to do. Parks are no longer fun and most places we go they are over. School couldn't come at a better time.

We also started swim lessons about 2 months ago and I can't believe how well both boys are doing. Thats only once a week for 30 minutes but its done wonders. Both boys can swim under water to get to the side of the pool a few feet out. They are holding their breath and learning how to "scoop". Also floating on backs. They look forward to swim lessons all week.

Briggs is all over the place. Stands up on everything and walks while holding onto things. He is starting to let go of couch and just stand then he will plop to the ground. So basically starting to get a feel for being independent. Walking is coming. Still loves to eat everything and his favorite place is the tub. Briggs loves water so we will probably start him in swim as soon as we can.

As for us parents? Just trying to keep up!! Adam is busy working and I'm busy with the boys and house and laundry and shopping and appointments and soon school drop offs and pick ups!

Life is good. I'm beyond blessed. I love all my boys. I try to not complain. I try to accept that not all things get done. My house is not always clean and picked up. Sometimes dinner is out to eat. I'm simply trying to keep up with whats important and not with anyone else. I try to remember that time is valuable and we are not guaranteed an amount. Live today Love today and pray there's a tomorrow. XOXO -Kristy

Briggs....

I just adore you. You are so feisty and ready to go go go. A few milestones to write down so I don't forget: Crawling at 7.5 months. First tooth at 6 months and 6 new teeth total by 7.5 months...ya fun. First babble was ba ba but the only thing you say now is dada....over and over dadadadadadadada. Your dad says this is your first word and I guess I'll give him that (but you don't really look at him and say it hehe). You want to walk so bad! You pull yourself up to stand and have been walking with a walker toy since 8 months. I think you will be the earliest walker out of your brothers but we'll see -you still have a lot of balance to learn.

You are eating lots of food. Not much you don't like but you kinda give a face with bananas sometimes. Of course you love small pieces of cheese and olives and even popcorn! Yes I have safely given you tiny pieces of popcorn obviously very carefully and you LOVE it! All you boys take after your moms love of popcorn.

You are a little louder than your brothers ever were which I attribute to me being a bit louder currently with your brothers. You see, they don't hear as good the older they get so sometimes I got to shout a little. So now you shout with me. Its actually hilarious! You are funny my Briggsy... Oh the nicknames you have as of now is Briggsy, Briggsy Boo, Bigs and Mr.Bigs. You are tough, loud, determined, curious, funny and hungry.

I You light up when you see your brothers and love when they play with you. Wyatt is a little more patient so he is very helpful when it comes to play time. Gatlon likes to fetch me things for you but not too into baby play. Both brothers are guiding/helping you in your walker toy and cheering you on with that. I think you really just want to keep up with them.

I know I'm forgetting things but I hope you know how much you have brought to this family. We all love and adore you. I couldn't imagine life without you on my hip. I love your little smile and those eyes that are always observing and taking everything in. Its a big world out there and you my Briggs are so ready to see it. Mama loves you xoxo

Gatlon Stephen

Oh my Gatlon.... Where do I start? How I would describe you: creative, tough, imaginative, go with the flow, in your own world, sweet, funny, rowdy, and easy going...ok and challenging. I say challenging with no negativity aimed towards your personality. Can you be tough at times? Yes absolutely! But I think its just because you have such a strong willed free spirit. You get an idea and want nothing to stand in your way -so you like to stand your ground. You don't like to hear no. Actually I don't think you really hear when we say no. Wyatt pretty much has always done what we say so you come off as giving us a run for our money so to speak. Gatlon, I couldn't imagine life without that smile of yours, that giggle or those random moments you create. One day you came out of your room with your shirt on backwards so I let you know that you needed to turn it around. You simply kept walking and said "I know... I wanted the picture on the back mom" ok! You know what you want son. You like putting on Great Grampas fedoras even though they are way too big for you. You look like Indiana Jones on an adventure. Thats how I see your life playing out....Gatlons great adventure! You are simple. You go with the flow. You are not afraid to chat with random kids at the park. Wyatt doesn't open up much but you will always say "I'm Gatlon and thats my brother Wyatt and thats my baby brother Briggs".  Always making friends. No fear. You like to wrestle, draw pictures, ride your bike, practice on the electric dirt bike, play hide and seek, pick up bugs and worms  and anything else a typical boy finds interest in. I should point out that when you get on that dirt bike you will do laps till the battery dies. You like to master things. You like to find solutions. You like to live life. I love to love you my Gatlon Stephen.

Wyatt Turns 5

I decided to do a little interview with my Wyatt Sanford.

Hi Wyatt!

-Hi. I love you your the best.

You are so sweet.

-I know. Thats what I was born for.

You turned 5!

-I love you you're the best. You are the best in the whole wide world.

Thank you my Wyatt Sanford. You have a gentle soul. You know that?

-I didn't know that till you told me.

Ok so back to turning 5. Wow!!

-Wow. I like being big. 5 is being very big. Hold on I need to set the room up like a movie theater for Gat..... I like going to the movie theater.

Oh ya? What else do you like to do?

-I like to build stuff and ride dirtbikes with dad. When people see my dirtbike track they are like wow.

You are starting school later this year....

-I can't wait! I think the first day will be so fun.

What do you think about being a big brother?

-I have more jobs and chores so I deserve money. Then I can buy whatever I want.

What do you want to buy?

-A bounce house. A Dirtbike. All the fun stuff.

Gatlon says "I want a bounce house I can ride my dirtbike in!"

Wyatt Sanford. I started this blog when you were a newborn and now I'm writing to a 5 year old. How did 5 years go by so fast? I still tear up at random moments whether its a conversation I can't believe I'm having with you or simply watching you with your brothers. You and Gatlon are buddies for the most part. Of course there are little fights here and there but when anyone else is squabbling with Gatlon you are 100% behind him. I just know you brothers will always back each other up. I love that. You are still teaching me things. For example, if Gatlon falls I immediately want to explain why he shouldn't stand on the edge of a chair but you always ask if he's ok first. You have a good heart.

Wyatt the talent you have is amazing. You are riding a dirtbike, learning to swing a golf club, swinging a bat, playing basketball, and riding your bmx bike. You love board games and doing art. I love how active you are and determined you are to be the best. I try to explain to you that its not about being first its about having fun but your dad shakes his head and tells me not to baby you.

Wyatt you are starting school soon!! How did that happen? You are very excited although you have a small fear that there will be bullies. We've talked about that and how there will be other kids who just want to meet nice new friends. I can't wait to pick you up and hear all about your day. I will miss you. I'm not gonna lie this will be hard for me but its so very important for you to start feeling a bit of independence.

I still ask your dad how we got so lucky to have a son like you. Your heart is so kind. You will do great things my Wyatt. -XOXO Mom

Briggs Weston Binker

I'm staring at your 4 month old face as I write this. I could stare at you all day. You my Briggs are cool. I'm wondering how I always get so lucky having such calm babies. You definitely let me know when you need something but its always so obvious because you already have such a good routine. You don't fuss or cry much -thank you for that. You LOVE your brothers. You light up when you see them. You get all excited and flail your arms and legs around when they are wrestling like you wish you could jump in and join them. Soon you will. Let me go back for a minute....

I predicted and hoped you would pick October 4th as your birthday. My favorite month is October and my favorite number is 4. It just goes to show that the universe is listening and felt my energy. Your dad was finishing a big concrete job that day so I was as calm and mellow as I could be so you wouldn't come too early. I had a few contractions so I knew that maybe you'd be coming soon. Around 3-4pm I started noticing more and called your dad and told him he might want to head home. I called Grammie so she could come get your brothers. Once we got to the hospital and got all checked in I was at 4cm and the pain was getting worse. Your Grandma and Aunt Kari came because well they always do :) Once I got my epidural I was feeling good. You were born at 3:53am October 4th 2013 7lbs 10 ounces and 21 inches. No worries no problems just a good peaceful labor and delivery.

We knew before you came that Briggs would be either your first or middle name. Wyatts middle name Sanford is after Great Grampa Binker and Gatlons middle name Stephen is after Grampa Binker. We had it in our heads that we needed to choose another from the Binker side to kinda follow what we did for your brothers. Plus I thought thats how you honored boys was from dads side. While we were pondering all this we had a visitor. Pop Pop came straight from his graveyard shift at the sherriffs office. I had the name Weston in my head most of my pregnancy but it was just on the "list". Can we change the middle name theme we had going with your brothers? I'm a 'read things from front to back' kind of girl and tend to stay consistent but I thought wait a minute....who makes the rules in naming your kid? So Briggs Weston Binker,  your middle name has a few meanings. To honor the entire Westerlind family AND to honor the coast of where your Binker roots came from we have West. I added to it just cause I like how it sounds. You have a good strong name and it honors all of the best family we have. I love your name and I love you.

Guess What Happened????

All 3 boys got a bad cold. All 3 had a bad cough. All 3 got ear infections. All 3 were put on the nebulizer. All 3 needed extra special attention from mama. So with all my good intentions to start writing more life got in the way. But thats ok because its what I love to do. Taking care of you boys and seeing that I can alleviate some of your pain gives me hope that I'm a good mom. Poor Wyatts left eardrum ruptured -he was in so much pain. It just breaks your heart to see your kids in pain. Briggs getting sick at such a young 3 months of age broke my heart too. He had to sleep on me which was the only way I could actually sleep simply just to feel him breathe. Seeing my normally energizer bunny Gatlon walk to his room and pass out on his bed when he normally refuses naps. All around it was a sad busy week. But a couple of antibiotic doses and some love and care and these boys are on the mend! Hopefully I can get back to a normal schedule and back to what I promised this blog! Chat soon!