Whirlwind....

So... it's been awhile... I shall admit!! So where do I start? Maddux started Kindergarten the last week in August! I wish I could say he loves it but I feel like I am leaving him at Nursery when he's 2 all over again! Any suggestions?

This kid is big and tough and stinkin cries when I take him to school! I'm glad he likes home life so much but I do want him to love school and I worry that he is starting this in Kindergarten! Of course, I cried when I dropped him off! Call it hormones or let's be honest.... I'm a big baby (hmmmm.... linking his problem to mine)!

Well both McGwire and Mays started preschool the 2nd week of Sept. Miss Jennifer is so fabulous and if you have 2 kids going to preschool the 2nd is 1/2 price. Therefore I pay less than $30 per month for Mays to go twice a week. Many will ask why??? He is only 2 (3 in November)... Here is my explanation/justification... whatever you would like to call it. When you grow up in a large family my younger boys are often being carted from one field to the next... or even worse... dance competitions! Mays has 4 older siblings that attend school and he wants to be a big boy! So... this is HIS thing! We make a big deal out of him being so big! Well for someone so excited who could have guessed he would cry at the door every day I left him. I was finally to the point that if it happened any more we would just hold off and try in January or even next year (he will still do 2 years of preschool after this)! But thanks to his sweet friend Bella being there today.... there were NO tears! We will keep our fingers crossed!

So although he looks ever so excited on the first day of school...

You can tell by the fake smile on his face that his excitement had quickly turned into fear as we walked through the doors!

And then there is Gwire. My social butterfly! He loves friends, people, anywhere but home. Should I be worried?

He was ready to go and wishing he could go every day! This is a pic of him and his cute teachers Miss Jennifer and Miss Jessica!

McGwire goes Mon, Wed and Fri and Mays goes Tues and Thur! Murphy had his back pack on ready to go one day! And there is my streaker McGwire!

So then... over Labor day weekend the Tigers played a little Fall baseball! It was so great to reunite with our Tiger Family for the weekend! What an absolute enjoyable weekend of baseball and friends.

And to top it off.... guess who won the tournament?

It's been awhile! These boys deserved this! I think the last tourney they won was the Fall Extravaganza last year? Correct me if I am wrong ladies! So I stole the team pic from Zane's facebook. Holy Cow... didn't realize how crappy my camera was until I saw how clear Dawn's pictures were. Mick E is on the front far right corner!

And then... a few days ago... we shall call the day from HELL!!! We have a fun park/swimming pool only 2 blocks from our house. Shari is wonderful and walks the boys down at least 2 times each week! Maddux called me around 1 in an absolute panic!!! This would be his words, "Mom - Gwire is bleeding really bad on his head... we think he's hurt... HURRY quick!" I jump in the car and drive to the park. There the little man was, lying on the table with blood everywhere! He was totally fine but I knew stitches were going to be involved! So I ran him a couple blocks to the doc and he stitched him right up! I told the doc if he could avoid stitches I would prefer glue but he said because of the depth of the cut he would definitely have to do stitches. Honestly.. Gwy was so tough! He could see that needle going into his gash and still managed to not cry! I was so proud at how big he was trying to be!! So what was he doing? Riding his scooter, with a helmet!!! Oh well... I figure 5 crazy boys... this will be a yearly occasion for us! Besides Gwy, Maddux had staples in his head a couple years ago... I do consider myself lucky.

So back to work and then off to a football game! I have the cutest girl that I drag to the football games to watch my kids so I can actually watch Mick. Football is a little quicker than baseball and you can take your eye off the game for a minute and miss that one good catch or interception so... poor Morgan get's to babysit. They play right next to the Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove which is stinking awesome! What a great little hour outside for my kids while I watch football right?

Well the game had about 10 min and I texted Morg to see if she wanted to start gathering up kids... she called 5 minutes later in tears and said she couldn't find Murphy. At first... not a panic... it's a big park and he was surely somewhere... So I jumped up and Mick's good friends Cameron and Broc were running right behind me... what cute boys! Broc has a broken ankle... pretty sure he hasn't ran that fast for awhile!! Anyway... as it get's darker and I look more and other friends start helping... and everyone at the park starts helping the panic hit!!! We were 50 feet from a main road... if he left the park he would be walking across busy parking lots. For any of you who have lost a child... you know where I am going...

Everyone was yelling his name but he's only 17 months... he's not going to respond... I am looking in EVERY bathroom... running up to the main road... after 20 minutes I am literally sobbing and thinking the worst!!! It was pitch dark outside... Do I call the cops? Do I start screaming? There were at least 30 people just searching for my baby!!!

When I heard Eric yell that he had found him I literally fell to my knees and sobbed! It had been a little bit of an emotional day and ok... can't explain... you mothers all know what was going through my mind! Eric had found him clear over by the concession stands (go figure).... playing with a lady from Juan Diego. He just wanted to share her drink! HEHE!!! My little man had walked across the parking lot (eeks) and made his way over to where he knew we spent MANY nights playing baseball! For a 17 month old... he's genius! Of course he had no clue he was lost so then there was poor Morgan!!! I don't know who was worse... her or I! I just hugged her and kept letting her know it was okay! Honestly... it never did enter my mind that although this park was fabulous... it was so dangerous when watching more than a couple kids! The same thing would have happened to me had I been there!

I got home from dropping kids off and walk into the house. Eric gives me a hug, kisses me on the forehead and says, "I love you." So I climb into bed later that night and literally have a breakdown. I got down on my knees and thanked my Father in Heaven over and over for watching over my family! It's times like this when I am so thankful that I am not doing this on my own! So here is to my little Murphy who forced his way into our world (thank goodness)! I CANNOT imagine life without him!

I know this is a long post but I must give my friend Mel Hansen a public THANK YOU for her offer the next night! She called me the day after my day from you know where and asks if my boys can come play with her while I go watch baseball! Really? Who does that? I understand 1 or even 2... but all these little men! They had an absolute ball and I am sure Mel fell into her bed that night so grateful her kids were grown up! That is..... after she took some major Ibuprofen from listening to my boys jam out on Brittney's drums all night! Luv ya Mel! You will never know how much I appreciate you and enjoyed a non-stressful night at the ball park!

ps (sorry about the side pics) Having issues with computer and didn't have the time!