LCS 2011

I didn't forget my annual update of the kids. I've just had on my thinking cap--trying to remember the past year, what's changed, what's the same, and how to do this. I really didn't think I would be able to start with Landon this year. The age of 7 hasn't been that kind to this household. Like my mom always told us, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Soooooo--I thought I would have to move on to the other two. However, we had a fantastic day today, and I was able to clear my head and remember that my boy is always in that body--he seems like he leaves here and there, but overall, my boy is there. And that boy--he's good. He's really good.


Our Landon in 2011:

• He's a kid now. Not a little kid. Not a 'big boy'. A kid.
• A couple of months ago, he got glasses. He doesn't wear them all of the time but seems to have them on most of the time at school and when he watches TV.

• He likes school and everything that goes with it.
• *Bragging alert* He's a pretty smart kid. He's gotten all "E"s (as in excellent) all year and is a first grader reading at a third grade level. He was recently asked to test for the gifted program. I'm very proud of him. Very, very proud. His mind amazes us often.
• He is like his dad when it comes to watching TV or reading or whatever it is--he is a master at tuning out the world. I didn't really need another one in the house. ;)
• Overall, he's good to his brother and sister. I'm always amazed at how well he and Noah play together even though there is three years difference between them.
• A seven year old can throw a much worse temper tantrum than a two or three year old. It's the issues we've been having with him, and there are times he's left me defeated and deflated.
• Luckily, he seems to keep that nastiness at home. I hear only good things from his teachers.
• For the first time since he was 4, Landon will not be playing soccer this season. Instead he joined the Tiger Trackers at his school. It's a running club, and I'm very curious to see how he likes it. At the end of April, he will participate in a 1.5 mile fun run or a 5K. I've promised to join him on the run and am looking forward to it.
• He is obsessed with playing football in the fall. Mom isn't too excited about this. It's the most expensive sport he can get into, and let's face it, there are some crazy football parents. We've agreed to let him play, and we're very anxious to see how it all goes. Anyone want to give us a loan???
• Landon loves the Atlanta Falcons. It's been fun to see him pick his own team. He likes UGA, but the Falcons are his team.
• We gave him Jason's old ipod, and he loves listening to music with his earphones. I think he's convinced he's pretty cool. I don't want to break his spirit even though one of his favorite songs is "Shadows of the Night" by Pat Benatar.
• Landon says one of his favorite things is electronics. He likes his DS and Wii.
• The kid's imagination is awesome.
• Landon is our independent child. Jason and I often joke that if we left him alone for a few hours, he probably wouldn't even notice. He needs us, but only for the basics-food, shelter, clothing. I tell Jason that when Landon is an adult, he'll call and visit, but only because he's supposed to. He'll do the minimal amount just to get by and do what he feels still makes him a good child. Noah and Lilah will come home because they want to, Landon will because he feels like he has to. I don't mean this negatively. It's just Landon.
• Through the past year, Landon has continued to teach me how to be a mom. Every new stage for him is a new stage for me. We work through it--not always gracefully, but we do it together. He's brought to light that each of my babies are different, and I can't control their thoughts and actions. All I can do is guide them to the best of my ability, and let them know that I love them. I know it sounds kind of silly, but this is something that I've struggled with this year. I've watched Landon become his own person more and more over the last several months, and it's really hit home that he's growing. Not just physically growing-he's growing into the man that he will become. As a mother, you're worried that he won't make the right decisions or say the right things or become the person you want him to be. But what I'm slowly realizing that although it's my job to set a good foundation, it's really up to him to decide who he is. I'm not the best at not being in control of a situation, and this is a situation like no other. I have to slowly let go. Seems kind of funny to say that about a 7 year old, but that's what I discovered. It starts this young, and it's not easy on a mommy. But as always, Landon is teaching me how. Always teaching me.
• Tonight Landon and I were talking about how it made me a little sad that Lilah called me "mom" a few times today instead of "mommy". Landon asked me why that would upset me, and I told him it was just another reminder that he and his siblings were growing up, and one day, they would leave and start their own lives. He looked up at me and said "But Mom, I'll always leave a big place for you in my heart". That, my friends, is what keeps me going...

I love you, LCS.

This year I decided to add a short interview of my sweet little subject. I've been thinking that we don't see the every day life in our videos much. Time goes so quickly...we need to remember.

Here is Landon Charles Seabolt...



Bonus video: a little guitar action at Christmas. Accompanying him is his wonderful cousin, Hannah.

Our Saturday morning in pictures.

This past Saturday morning, I looked around and decided to document our morning with pictures.

Landon was playing his DS.... Kasey just wanted to go outside...

Lilah helped me make breakfast...

But only after she made this mess with her babies and dress-up clothes...

I made these....

Max sat nearby--just in case....

And Jason did this....

No pictures of Noah because he was downstairs playing Wii, and I was just too lazy to go down there to snap a picture.

He loves his girl

About a month or so ago, I told Jason that I wanted him to build a bookshelf for Lilah since we no longer needed the changing table (yippee!!!). Jason asked me what I wanted, and I said that I just wanted something similar to Landon's, but a little smaller. Well, I guess that wasn't good enough for his little girl. Jason got on the internet and did some research. What he found was a dollhouse bookshelf that he wanted to make for his princess, and make he did. It's adorable, and I'm so proud of Jason and his ability to build this for Lilah. She's a lucky little girl. Daddy loves her so!

Before we put it in her room...

All filled up with Lilah's things...

Yesterday I was looking online at Pottery Barn Kids in search of Lilah's quilt for her big bed. I came across a bookshelf that they were selling for over $300. Check it out (picture below). Lilah's is just as nice (if not nicer), and it was made with loving hands. It made me even more proud of Jason--if that was possible.

Parents are awesome!

My friend wrote to thank us for the fun night we had on Saturday and ended it with "Parents are awesome!" She was referencing the fact that my mom and dad had kept the kids for us Saturday AND Sunday night. She is so right!

So, a note to my children:

Your grandparents have been an amazing example for us. You don't know how many times they have come and helped out at just the right moment. When they keep you overnight, it reenergizes me, allows us to get some extra sleep, and reminds us what it's like to be just a couple. Your grandparents love you so unconditionally and so passionately. As their child, it's fun for me to watch their relationship with you and all of their grandchildren. They are amazing. So, my promise to you when you have your own little munchkins running around is to give back to you what my parents have given to me. You will find out that even after you have your own family, there is a part of you that will always need your parents. They give you something no one else can. My friend was so right--parents are awesome!

Keepin' it real

Over the last year, I seem to have gotten away from writing. I try to post pictures, but my words have gotten lost. The other day, I received the following message on facebook:

"Just so you know, I LOVE that you are a real mom! It is clear that you love your kids and family more than anything - AND that you are human...and need a break. :) Thanks for being real!"

That came from someone I barely know. She's a friend of a friend. Little did she know, she hit a chord with me. I haven't been real on here in so long. I lost the passion, the words, the feelings all because of how I perceived other blogs, other moms, other opinions. I started writing on this thing for my kids, my children, my babies, so when they were old enough to understand, they could catch a glimpse of why I am the mother that I am. I didn't start this to make my readers happy or feel comfortable in my world. I didn't start writing to be judged as a parent or as a person. I wrote this for my kids, and to be more honest, for me. I am who I am. I do the best that I can, and I do it for my family. Whether you agree or disagree, this is me. There will be times that my kids hate me, love me, respect me, detest me, and hopefully, think I'm the best mom ever. What I want them to take from this is why I am what I am.

I want them to understand that I love them more than anything, that I'm a strong woman, that I can be hurt very easily, that I make mistakes (way too often), that I question so many things that I do, that I question just as many things that I don't do, that I'm funny, that I need time for me--no one else, just me, that I love to dance, that sometimes the dogs make me happier than them, that there are times I'm in complete awe of my children, that I can be very tough and too cold, that I regret those times, that I think they are amazing little creatures, that I cry and need to throw temper tantrums just like they do, that their laughter makes me feel complete, and that I will always wonder why God thought I was good enough when He chose me to be their mommy.

I'm not your picture-perfect mom. I'm not even close. But what I am is someone who takes care of her family the best that she can. I love my husband, my babies, and yes, those dogs more than anything. There are times I long for a simpler life, and I won't apologize for that. Sometimes I want someone to take care of me, not just me taking care of everyone else. Sometimes, I just want.

But, what I've found that I need is for me to go back to spewing out my words. I miss them. So I apologize if it's not what you like or feel. Maybe you should stop reading now because for 2011, I'm keeping it real.

Snow Days...

Around 9pm on Sunday, the snow began to fall here. By 10pm, we had a few inches (which usually doesn't happen that quickly for us). I went up to Landon's room and woke him up. I took him to the window and had him look out.

"Wow", he gasped.

I looked at him with a spark in my eye and said "Go get your shoes on."

"Why?" he asked.

"We're going outside to play in the snow."

He proceeded to look at me like I was crazy and said that he was going back to bed. Well, I tried to be that fun mom who woke her kids up at 10pm to go play outside in the freshly fallen snow. I doubt I'll try that again any time soon. The next morning, he didn't even remember getting up. Since my oldest wouldn't get up and play with me, I settled for my youngest "child". Max, the crazy lab, had no problem joining me for some snow fun. We went out, and I threw a few snowballs that he spent way too long looking for. Remember, I said my youngest child, not my smartest.

The next morning, we woke up to 6-7 inches of snow. That is a lot for us, and we were ready to get out there and play! My Southern babies didn't last too long the first day--about an hour. It was pretty cold with the breeze that we had. However, we went out for a much longer time today since it was a little warmer and no wind.

Lilah trying out her bike in the snow.

Noah has loved shoveling (even though we've done very little of it). He's weird.

Landon looking a little cold the first day.
How Lilah spent a lot of time when we walked around...

We let the dogs come with us in the front yard the first day. They loved it and immediately ran across the street to see who had last visited the neighbors yard.

Max has been in snowy heaven!

We have definitely enjoyed the last couple of days, but I'm ready to get back to our normal schedule. The kids are out of school again tomorrow, and I'm not looking forward to it since Jason will go back to work. Here's hoping that school opens on Thursday. From what the forecasters are saying, it's a slim chance. Sigh. Just another Southern snow storm. ;)

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 was a very good one! We started out our celebration in our own home with opening gifts with just us on Christmas Eve morning. After cleaning up, we headed to my parents house for a fantastic time Christmas Eve afternoon/night. Everyone seemed to be in such a good mood.

Christmas morning found us enjoying the gifts that Santa left for the kids and going to church to celebrate Jesus' birthday. One of my favorite parts of the holiday was being asked to carrying the gifts at Christmas Mass. When the usher asked us, I gave him a look of complete shock and pointed to my family with a response of "are you sure?" I was proud of my family of five dressed in their Christmas outfits, taking the gifts to the priest...the gifts which become the body and blood of Christ. As we walked back to our seats, my smile was a little bigger. It was a first for this Seabolt family, and I was happy.

Later that day, Jason's dad's side came to join us at our house for a Christmas lunch of homemade spaghetti. It was so nice to have them in our home with no need for gifts. Pops speech before grace made me head to our bedroom after for a few tears, but only because I love him very much. My grandfathers died when I was very young, so Pops means quite a bit to me. After dinner, two of Jason's cousins and their wife and girlfriend stayed around to chat for a while. We don't get to do that too often, and I thoroughly enjoyed that time.

The next day we went to the Gamble Christmas (Jason's mom's side) for a yummy brunch and some gift opening. Debra and Blaine are packing up and moving to Alabama, so this was our last Christmas in their house. We had a great time there as well. I can't believe they will no longer be living here. sniff sniff

We all received the best gifts throughout the weekend. I'm particularly proud because Jason and I got through this Christmas without putting anything on the credit card. It definitely feels good to know that we paid for Christmas with cash, and we don't have to worry about opening credit card bills this month.

Here are a very few pictures of our Christmas.

Lilah opening the dogs' gift.

Landon opening a gift from us.

Noah's turn...

Landon and Lilah checking out Lilah's gift.

Our princess.

This is probably not the best parenting, but this picture cracks me up.

Noah bringing his mom a beer.Lilah riding her scooter that Santa brought before church

Lilah waiting for her turn. ***A lot more pictures were posted on facebook, so check them out there.***