Chase Patrick: NINE

 NINE whole years!!! I cannot believe it! And I know I say that every single year but I am truly astounded at how fast each year passes by. It's always harder with you being the oldest. I truly love watching you grow. Seeing your interests change from year to year, seeing you physically grow, and seeing your individual personality develop. 

The growth in your confidence this past year has been remarkable. You are becoming so sure of who you are. You know what you like, what makes you uncomfortable and how to deal with those situations. Your humor is incredibly dry and you crack jokes all day long. You especially love to tease Daddy. 

You are beyond amazing with your brother and sister. You always step up to help them out, be patient with them, entertain them and sometimes keep them in line. I'm so glad they have you to look up to, you make an incredible role model for Asher and Hayley, they really do think you are one of the best things in their lives. 

You are doing great with homeschooling. After dealing with your anxiety that affected your whole health, Daddy and I thought it would be what's best for you, so far it is proving right. You are incredible smart, even though sometimes your try me on doing your work. I love to teach you, to see how proud you are once you figure something out. You prefer English over math, but your absolute favorite is art. You are a great artist and love to see what you are going to come up with. 

You started playing soccer again this fall and are loving it. You have always been so timid and would never really get in the middle of a soccer game in the past. This year you are in there tackling. You love playing goalie but you are doing so good out on the field. I love to watch you play, make friends and just have so much fun. You are still riding, the current horse you are riding is Gunsmoke. I am eagerly awaiting for you to come off the lunge line. One of your favorite places to go is Ryerss, and see your favorite horse Diablo. The two of you really do get each other. It's sweet watching you both interact. 

I love spending my days with you, whether it be doing school, playing soccer, sharing cuddles, watching movies, building Legos, playing outside. I love doing it all with you. 

New Beginnings

 Well kids, it's new beginnings all around. Not only did we move house, again, I know! But, it's a new school year, and not just any school year but we are HOMESCHOOLING!!! I am so excited to not have to say bye to your boys first thing in the morning and not see you until almost summer time. Will everyday be easy? No, but I think it will be worth it for all of us. 

Chase, since you have been home from school with all the Covid stuff, your anxiety/eating has done a 180 and it makes me so happy to see you happy and healthy. We will be able to travel the country and the world. You will learn so much from that alone! 

Hayley, you are off to preschool for the first time!! With Covid last year you had to miss your first year. I can't believe you are in Prek, time please so down. I think you are going to have an amazing year at Bethel Christian. 

Here is to a fantastic school year for all of you! PreK, 1st & 3rd here we come!!

Life in a Nutshell

 Oh man kids, this past year has just really gotten away from me writing on here. I'll try and give you guys an update on our life, though I'm not quite sure any of us will forget this time in our lives. 

So currently Covid is getting better, all of us adults are vaccinated, yay! I can't tell you what a relief it is to feel safer in this crazy world. It never seemed to affect kids too badly so we do feel better about going out and about in the world again, still safely of course. But to be around family and friends again, is just the best! 

It's been tough on all of us really, staying away from family and friends. It's been two years since we've seen Grandma and Grandad Redfern and Granny. We are hoping to see them next summer, at that point it will be 3 years since they've seen you. They miss you so so much! Thank goodness we can at least video chat with them and they can see you grow. It's been especially hard on me, not seeing that side of my family, especially after loosing Grandma Oo-oo. 

I am so thankful I've had you 3 around every day this past year. I don't think you will ever understand how you have kept my head up on tough days, how you made me laugh when I felt like crying. I love you all more than you will ever understand. 

You boys did school virtually for the entire year and I'm so proud of you both. You took a tough situation and rocked it! We had some rough days, sure, but overall it was a great experience and getting to ear lunch together every day, have recess together, has been so fun. I will never turn down more time with you all. In fact we are considering homeschooling...

Hayley, you were my first attempt at homeschooling and not only were we successful but we had more fun than I could have imagined. Teaching you was such a joy little girl! 

I promise I'm going to get back to keeping this up more again as I want you to have this to always looks back on to remember our lives! 

So here are your school photos from this year, you guys need to stop growing!