Lily Grace Henley - Princess, Dreamer, Center of Attention, Possessive, Colorful, Baby Sister

Lily Grace is the baby of the bunch. Proud to keep that title when our families merged, Lily has yet to understand that the world does not revolve around her. She is Princess supreme of her world where Mommy is not only the beautiful Queen, but she is also the Princess's servant, bound to wait on her Little Majesty day and night. Lily is the most colorful of the bunch. She can be as bright and warm as a ray of sunshine and turn the meanest shade of gray when the storms approach. She has an aura of every shade of pink around her when she's happy and can evoke thoughts of rainbow sherbet, a perfect strand of pearls, red roses and yellow daffodils, and the deep blue of the ocean. But when she's mad.........thoughts of terrible car crashes, spoiled milk ,and sour grapes fill your mind.

She is completely attached to her mother, and at times it can be crippling and hurtful to others. But Lily WILL eventually grow up. One day, she won't need me to watch her during her gymnastics classes, or to give her a bath, or to hug her first when I pick the kids up after work. It won't be long and she'll have lots of friends, a cell phone stuck to her ear, her bedroom door shut all the time, and a total distaste for ANYTHING her mother wants or likes. For now, I'll take the meltdowns mixed in with the sweetness. I'll cherish every time I hear her say, "Mommy, you look beautiful today." For now, I'll look forward to picking her up and twirling her around when I get off work. I won't even mind being the ONLY one who can give her a bath, tuck her in, or start her Barbie movie.....for now.

Grand Slam!!!!

Tyler hit ANOTHER home run tonight in the Wildcats win against the reining number 1 team in Minor B, the Florida Gators. He's hit three this season and helped his team bump up to a shared spot for number 1. Way to go, Tyler Vassar!!!

Time Out

Jackson had to run the mile in PE class today for his fitness test and parents were invited to run with their children to make the test more exciting. I ran, too. Though I don't know what was more exciting: watching out of shape parents try to keep up with their children or the fact that I actually finished the mile in less than 10 minutes!!!! My actual time was 8:11 and Jackson's was 7:45. I am so proud of him!

I didn't want to go back to work with my adrenaline pumping (and my knees hurting) so I checked Jack out of school and we skipped out the rest of the day. We ate at Chic-Fil-A, came home and played, and later we're going to ride bikes at the park before Tyler's ballgame. Last night as I was tucking Jackson into bed, he fought back tears as he tried to tell me that he misses spending time with just me. That broke my heart and made me realize how busy I am that sometimes I forget to stop and take time to spend some precious moments with him. He is growing up so fast and turning into such a little gentleman. His teachers, and even the staff at Chic-Fil-A, commented on how sweet and polite and quiet and mindful he is. He makes me so proud!!!!

Gratitude

We have a lot going on these days.....not much different from other times. School will be out in a few weeks and there is some kind of conspiracy to cram all events into the month of May. Field day, awards day, field trips, ballgames, gymnastics, vacations, etc. Wow! On top of that, Brandon and I have a yard sale planned, a trip to Tunica for the anniversary of our first date (May 5), and we are looking to sell our house and find a bigger one within our price range and within our current neighborhood. Whew! Lots of work! I can't really complain though. We have it good and it keeps getting better! The merger with my company and another local bank takes place in June and there could be opportunity for growth for me there.....maybe at a location closer to home even. It's times like this though that I wish I could stay at home and scrapbook the way Alaina does.....sometimes I get so jealous. However, if she keeps making pages that I want to buy from her, I will have to keep working to afford her creativity. I spent $70 at her house Saturday and never even left my scrapping spot! Her stuff is so good!!!! I'd pay double if I had to! I need to hand out a few gratitudes for all the goodness that comes my way:
Alaina - thanks for a good time scrapbooking and for making such beautiful pages for my books!
Carter - thanks for the giggles and smiles!
John - thanks for dinner!
Brandon - thanks for saying yes to a blind date!
Tyler - thanks for the hugs!
Jackson - thanks for reminding me to stop and take the time!
Lily - thanks for the idea to bake cookies the other night!
Mom and Dad - thanks for coming to boys' games and for the upcoming vacation!
Ooma and Oompa - thanks for being at the boys' games and for letting us have the yard sale at your house!
Scotty and Jess - thanks for being cool!

Back to Normal?????

Brandon finally made it back home tonight. He's been in Kentucky on business and brought home gifts for us all: Tyler got UK wristbands (his baseball team is the Kentucky Wildcats - #1 team in the league), Jackson got a UK baseball, Lily Grace got blue and white shakers for Tyler's games, and I got a gorgeous silk top from White House Black Market.........I know, I'm spoiled!

Now I know we're back to normal for a little while because he's on his laptop in the living room while I sit at the desk computer with at least one of the kids in my lap (it's Tyler this time). I just finished cooking at 8:30pm after a long night at the ball fields and we're about to put Tyler to bed. Yes, all is right with the world.......except that Jack and Lily aren't here tonight. Looking forward to Sunday night when the whole party of 5 is alive and kickin' at Well St.

BRANDON, I MISS YOU!!!!!!!!

Jackson Henley - Sensitive, Generous, Intellectual, Creative, Intense, Big Brother, Little Brother

Jackson Rahn Henley, who will be 7 years old on July 5th, is now the middle child in our party of five. He weighs next to nothing, but his heart is bigger than any other's. He lives for a good laugh and can't stand it when anyone is hurting. He is as focused as a professional poker player when he is playing ball, reading his books, working a puzzle, or riding his bicycle. He looks like a surfer and talks like a country singer. Watch out all you little girls out there! He can play video games with the big boys, but still loves to hug his mother. Jackson is not a leader and sometimes has difficulty asserting himself in the family dynamic. I have a feeling it won't take long, and he will find his niche. He wants to become a builder and build great big houses in the mountains and then open a Star Wars collectibles store that he and Tyler can run. I see him travelling the world before he settles down in the mountains or on the coast......never forgetting to call his mother everyday.

OUCH!!!

Ok, I know I'm supposed to highlight another wonderful member of my family, but I need to whine a bit. Not only have I been suffering from a painful allergic reaction to an antibiotic for the last 4 days, but now I have also stubbed my toe....hard.....twice.....on the same toe!!!!! (fourth toe....you know, the one that doesn't bend.....I know you just totally tried to bend yours!)I have heartburn and heat flashes from the mega doses of steroids and I can't stay awake after taking one of the anti-itch pills. To top it all off, now every time I take a step, I feel like throwing up. There, I do feel somewhat better......I'm off to eat another TUMS.

Tyler Vassar - Leader, Instigator, Athlete, Scholar, Center of Attention, Big Brother

Tyler, an 8-year-old, in a teenager's body, has the world by the tail. He is the natural leader of his group of friends, teammates, and siblings. Never underestimate the mind of this kid....before you know it you can be pulled into a world of Guitar Hero, Magic Tree House chapter books, itunes, major league baseball and college/pro football statistics, the latest and greatest things on wheels, and of course, anything that earns a laugh. Obsessed with scooters, bikes, cars, and trucks, Tyler's yearning for the fastest thing he can drive is spinning out of control......thanks to his father! Tyler is reading on a 5th grade level and goes through books as often as he goes through shoes. This 80 pound ball of energy is wearing a men's size 6 shoe! He has a golden glove on the field and will one day make a great center-fielder with his arm. He aspires to play baseball or football in college (choice of school changes daily) and wants to go pro in football (choice of team changes daily). His back-up plan? To be a guitarist in a rock band......not just any rock band.....we're talking a GREAT rock band. Like Guns 'n Roses or KISS. That's the only way to get all the girls!

1st Blog EVER!

I am sitting here with both of my boys, Tyler who is 8 years old, and Jackson, who is almost 7 years old. They picked out the blog background for our Vassar Party of 5 page. Got the idea from my sister who is always on the cutting edge of cool. Mostly doing it for my parents who must be kept in the loop by whatever means necessary since they have 5 grandchildren! On this blog spot, you will certainly read funny stories, see lots of pictures, view the latest ball schedules, gymnasctics schedules, school schedules, party dates, vacation dates, and general family events. If this works, then my sister will officially earn her genius-dom in my book. This will be a much better way to communicate to all grandparents, and aunts, and uncles at once and without me ever having to pick up the phone! Keep your fingers crossed!