What the other two are up to.

Sometimes Ben is so quiet you don't even know he's in the room.

Ede loves her swing. I love it just as much because she will sometimes fall asleep all by herself when she is in it.

So far my mornings are still starting around 4:30. I am now changing my strategy, "Go to bed by 9:00pm". I have a hard time doing that because I enjoy my "alone time" so much I want to stay awake while the kids are asleep. But something has to give and I'll have to find my quiet time at some other point in the day. Ede won't be 11 weeks old forever. It's a bitter-sweet thought buy my brain power gets weaker and weaker with each sleepless night. It's 8:30pm and I plan on getting off to a good start with my new resolution.

Night! Night!

Good 'Ol Golden Rule Days!

We started the morning with some "brain food". Eggs and cheese with jelly toast and OJ.

I didn't have any problems with him getting ready. Isn't he handsome?

Outside his Kindergarten class. Ready, set, Go!

Hopefully this morning wasn't a sign of life to come. I have been awake since 4:30am. I fed Eden and she didn't get back to sleep until 5:10. Benjamin woke up crying at 5:20 but got him back in the bed by 5:30. I decided to go ahead and take a shower because the alarm clock was set to go off at 6:00. By then I was cooking breakfast for Levi, who woke up at 6:15 because he heard me in the kitchen. I had no problem with him getting ready for school though. He was in his new classroom by 7:20 and was ready to get started. No tears were shed, though I was a little sad when I got home and couldn't wait to find out about how his day had gone. He rode the bus home. I picked him up at 3:00 at the bus stop which is right above our house. When the baby is a little bigger I plan on walking up there to pick him up with the little ones in the double stroller. Believe it or not I am looking forward to the "schedule". I can already tell it will help me organize my day. However, I do hope it starts a little later in the morning than it did today.

I couldn't be more proud.

I finally got to be in the picture instead of behind the camera. Look at my children! Aren't they beautiful? Levi starts school tomorrow. Benjamin is WALKING all over the place now. Eden holds her head up so good when she is on her belly. They are growing so fast. Having three children has proved to be quite the challenge for me. Two I can handle, and it doesn't matter which two but throw the third in there and I don't know which way to turn. Ben is a sneaky little fellow. He literally waits for me to get busy with Eden and goes straight for trouble. In one afternoon I had to wash his hands at least five different times. I found him playing in the toilet water once, the dirt from my plants twice, the trash can twice and inbetween he was into the pots and pans and pulling out cans of soda from the cabinet. Levi asking 1000 questions and wanting his time with mama. When Jeff got home I took an hour long hot bath behind a locked door! I never thought I would feel so good after only 5 hours of straight sleep. :) Life is good and full of surprises. We are so thankful for all the blessings in our lives.

Thank you to my Family and Friends

He shouldn't be too boastful, because as you can see he ONLY has two!

Eden in her blessing dress made by her Grandma Martin (my mom).

At least he found something productive during his "unsupervised" time.

Levi being a super big brother. He already loves to make Ede smile.

I want to thank my family and friends who have given me so much help in the last 2 months. Believe it or not, today is the first day I have had all three of my children all day long! I survived!! It got a little strained a time or two but we all made it out alive and well. I even managed to cook dinner. It wasn't Hamburger Helper either. We had Ribs, coleslaw and baked beans. Levi has been so well behaved and helping me keep tabs on Benjamin, who is into everything! Eden hates to sleep on her back so I have to stop what I'm doing to rock her to sleep after she has decided she's been awake long enough. Sorry, but mom, she has done a lot more crying since you left. Jeff has managed to stay calm in all the stresses of our life and is a WONDERFUL husband and father. He takes pride in his multitasking abilities. There are very few pictures of me because I do good to just get out of bed in the morning right now. :) I've included some odds and ends pictures of my wonderful little family! Enjoy! I couldn't have remained sane without all of you!

Happy Times!

Eden Rose Blanton was given a name and blessing on Sunday August 3rd, 2008. The day of her blessing she started sleeping 6 hours at night! Had I known that, she would have gotten her blessing a month ago!

Levi turned 6 years old on August 6th. He got this kick bag for his birthday. He is getting really good at his Karate! We are so proud of him. Oh! He has lost a total of two teeth now. More are soon to come.

FYI: Benjamin has decided to go back to crawling. :)