Birthday Boy

Cayden turned 8 this year.  It's incredible how time flies.   We are so proud of our boy. He's been making all "E's" in school.  He's handsome, smart, and athletic!  As we were getting ready to start another season of soccer, we realized that he's already been playing for 5 years.  He's really very good, and we love to watch him play.   It's amazing how quickly my son is growing, and I try to cherish each day.  I love watching him play and hearing him say, "I love you" so many times each day, and knowing that he means it. 

We had a birthday party on March 27th.  A Mad Scientist party.  It was Cayden's first real shindig in Cookeville, and we had around 20 kids.  They built marshmallow towers, made slime, set off film canister rockets, and witnessed the power of a pack of mentos and a diet drink!   It was such a great time, and I was so excited to give Cayden his own special day. 

Winter 2010

We've had a beautiful winter this year! My boys finally got to enjoy the snow! We had snow sledding, snow angels, snowball fights, and even snow cream! The boys had never been sledding before, and the neighbors were kind enough to invite them over to share sleds. Then, another sweet lady who lives across the street actually gave them 2 that she had in her basement. They sure had fun playing together!



That snow cream is good stuff! I made the cream mixture (with real cream!) and then let the boys gather the snow. It was quick and easy fun, and the boys loved eating it! We were all pleasantly surprised at just how tasty it was.



All in all, it's been a fun winter season with lots of snowy treats sprinkled throughout! We're looking forward to the coming of Spring and all the fun it'll bring.

Not For the Faint of Heart...

I'm so sorry. This is a tacky, no-good, downright dirty story. I have to put it here, lest I forget. You see, someday, I'm gonna use this as ammo. It's going to be funny then.

Cayden: MOoooooM, Adrian is talking dirty.

Adrian: No I'n (never I'm, always I'N) not.

Cayden: Mom, Adrian said, "I got big balls. They JIGGLE when I go up the stairs."

Oh dear. He's only SIX.

You were warned.


Chris and I, however, laughed until we cried. Then, after we laughed, we disciplined. Yes, in that order. Now you know what's wrong with our kids.

I say it's all part of raising 4 boys....

American Pie

Anyone who knows me knows I love to cook (and eat, too!). I make homemade soups and stews, and consider a good loaf of artisan bread to be a fairly easy task. Yet, my kitchen held a secret.

I had this sorta...fear. It was quite silly, I admit. Yet, it was real! So, I had to cut corners. I cheated. It went the *store bought* way.

You see, I was horribly afraid of making a pie crust.

I could just see my HOURS of laboring in the kitchen over this pastry crust, only to end up with a big, tough, burnt clump of....not-so-flaky-pie crust. HOURS, people!

But then, one day I told my husband that I wanted to make a homemade apple pie. "Get to it then," he said.

...and so I told him my secret. He found it quite foolish, and together we went into the kitchen.We prepped the apples and made the sticky syrup for the filling, and then the moment of truth came.

I did it, people. I made a PIE CRUST! My Christopher cheered me on every step of the way. It was actually quite fun!

We ate the most wonderful pie that night! It was absolutely delicious, and quite pretty too. I only wish I hadn't sprinkled the cinnamon on top of the crust... it made it appear a bit darker than it really was. Here it is...so that I might come back and read, and remember, and smile!

Cassian Drake

Our 4th son, born 12/29/09 at 7 lbs. 11 oz. A beautiful baby boy with nary a blemish! We can't even find a birthmark...

His brothers are in awe. Adrian was so overcome with emotion when we came home, he could only squeal about his new little brother's "cuteness." At one point, the two were snuggled together on the couch, and Adrian let us all know that even if Cassian threw up all over him...he'd still be very happy! What a great big brother he will be!

2009...Where Did it Go?

Christopher and I were recently talking about how fast last year passed. I spent most of it pregnant with Cassian, but really time flew. It's hard to believe that my pregnancy is already over even as I hold my sweet boy in my arms. We spent a beautiful nine months together, he and I, and it was the most amazing pregnancy I had experienced.

As for 2009...

I didn't blog a single time. Every time I came to do so, I was overwhelmed with all the things I hadn't blogged, and the pictures I needed to upload from the camera. I was shamed over missed photo opportunities and undocumented memories. It seemed easier to just close the blog window and move on to more fun things, like Facebook!

One of my 2010 New Year's resolutions was to keep my blog current. I think it's amazing to be able to look back on our daily lives and relive the fun times and even the not so fun moments that present themselves every so often. Having this collective record also helps me to appreciate time even as it passes so quickly. I have also committed myself to taking more pictures, though I may not always post them. One. Step. at a time.

Just a few things about 2009...

We spent the first 5 months homeschooling the last semester of the 2008-2009 school year. Cayden was the first to come home and Jordan followed behind soon after. It was an AMAZING experience, and we had a GREAT time together. I was also working at the Y, and it was often hard to manage my time, but we endured and I think it was worth every minute. I miss it greatly, but we were blessed with some really incredible teachers this year at the boys' public schools.

The first days of May left us feeling overjoyed at the fact that we were expecting our 4th child! The boys were thrilled, and Adrian was especially excited as he had been asking for a baby for some time!

Morning Sickness followed for the next few months, but I was so excited about being pregnant that I didn't care. Chris took great care of me. Jordan played flag football at the Y over the summer and also went to his first overnight camp- Camp Woodmen. He loved it, and is counting days to go this year. Cayden is hoping he'll get to go, too, but the decision has yet to be made.

Adrian started Kindergarten this year. Cayden went to 2nd, and Jordan headed off to middle school in 5th grade. All are thriving. Cayden has all "E's" (A's) and ADORES his teacher. Jordan is one of the top readers in his school. He spent the last few months working his way through the Harry Potter series. I was so proud as his love for reading flourished. Both Jordan and Cayden have been getting some great drawing lessons from their very artistic dad. It's amazing to watch them improve under his instruction.

Christopher has been enrolled in school for the entire year of 2009, with a perfect GPA. He won a prestigious award at Oreck this year, and has been presented with some great opportunities for professional growth. All of this and somehow he still remains a loving, devoted, and simply AMAZING husband and father. We are so blessed.

I continue to work at the YMCA, though right now I am taking a break for baby. The past year was a year of great change at the Y, but we pressed on. I look forward to going back to work in a few weeks, and I think the boys miss being there, too.

Chris and I took a mini vacation together this year. We went to DragonCon back in September. Dad was kind enough to fly out and take care of the boys. It was great fun for everyone, and we enjoyed the opportunity to embrace our geeky side. :D 2009 was also the year that I finally ventured to play a few video games with him, and found myself having way too much fun! The boys love watching us play, too, so it makes for some amusing family times!

The boys played soccer in the spring and fall. Cayden and Adrian show amazing talent at the game. Jordan opted to sit out in the fall but will play again this spring. They all love playing sports at the Y. Jordan played basketball at the beginning of the year, and I think that is probably his favorite sports experience so far. I hope he'll get to play again in the future. We are sitting out this time since we just had the baby.

Other things to note:
MeMaw, Morgan, Dad, and Aunt Lou came in the Spring. So. Much. Fun.
Jordan won 1st place in 4-H speech contest.
Adrian and Dad built birdhouse together.
Went to Frist Art museum- so much fun!
Took a trip to MS over the summer.
Crawfish boil in TN with the C's. 100 lbs for 100 people! Doh.
DragonCon!
4th of July with the Kail family.
Halloween with the Kails.
Dad was with us for Christmas AND New Years!


....and I reserve the right to add to this list as needed.


So, there you go! Next post will have pictures... stay tuned.

Snow Day!

Breakfast with Jenni @8:15. Or not. It turned out to be a snow day, and so Jenni and I canceled our breakfast, and I planned to stay home and bake cookies. I had to go to WalMart for a couple cookie things, though.

So, off to Wal-Mart the boys and I went, braving the "snow." It was like... 5 flakes at the time. Anyway, Jordan lamented that he missed his friend Robert, and Cayden was agreeing and wishing he could hang out with Laura. What a delightful surprise to see Jenni and the crew at Wal-Mart! Plans of baking were pushed aside, and we all joined up at her place. The boys got to hang with their much missed pals, while my friend and I found comfort in her kitchen making soup. Good soup. I'd never had it it, but Jenni was kind to send some home for my family's dinner, and we loved it!

Cheeseburger Soup. Much better than a real cheeseburger! Real comfort food.

Now, if I were a really good blogger, I would upload a picture of my kids and their friends. with their heads together in a real Rockwell moment and all that.

Alas, here's a stolen-off-the-internet picture of cheeseburger soup. Hope you don't mind the compromise.

So, tomorrow. There will be cookies. And maybe pictures of said cookies... or even kids who bake cookies! Tomorrow... or soon. Because tomorrow does not always mean tomorrow...

Where did the year go?

It seems like almost yesterday that Chris' parents were here for Thanksgiving '07. I guess since I've been working and busy, that the time has flown by. I'm not sure if that's a good thing. Hopefully there will be more time to stop and enjoy the simple things this year. Smell the coffee! I've cut back my hours at work and my responsibilities. This is good, because I can be home again, and actually COOK for my family. I think we've had enough burgers and tacos to last us a long while.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now the focus is on the Christmas season. I asked the boys what they wanted, and they really couldn't come up with anything. Cayden asked for a guitar. So, this will be a small Christmas in terms of gifts, but we're making some fun plans to celebrate the season. We'll start Jotham's Journey today, too. I'm looking forward to enjoying it with all 3 boys. We've started making a list of Christmas cookies to bake as well. I think we'll send some to the grandparents and friends this year.

So, that's that for today. My coffee is waiting, and so is my book.

I'm reading Outlander: Fiery Cross. And while I think Jamie Fraser is an amazing man, I can surely say that I'm married to my very own J.F and he still makes me swoon.

I'm not playing catchup

I keep looking at my blog. April 27th gets further and further away, and I keep thinking about how much I need to catch up on, but now it's just old news.

Life has been good. Summer was so busy and so much fun that I didn't have time to post!

I promise to return tomorrow, with pictures, and I'll start talking good things again....really!

Still Livin'

Just a quick update. The boys are doing great! They're all playing soccer right now, and signed up to start baseball in a few weeks. Adrian scored his first soccer goal this year yesterday. Great job, Adrian! His victory dance was so cute, and so...uncontrollable. Loved the excitement glimmering in his eyes. Just had to put it here so we'd remember it. Jordan has been getting honor roll at school (YEAH!) and Cayden is practically reading already. He has the most beautiful penmanship I've ever seen.

I'm so proud of my boys. I love them. I love that everyone else likes them, too. People are always looking for them wherever we are. "Where's Jordan?" "Is Cayden in Childwatch?" It's so good to know that they have friends and are so well liked.

Chris and I are doing well. Finally adjusting to my nearly full-time job. I've managed to keep up the house, dinner, and work quite well lately. It's been good, really. I LOVE my job, and Chris loves his, too. He's going back to school in August, so that'll throw another wrench into our lives but nothing we can't handle.

Peace out. I'm tired.

Promotion!

Me = (officially) Sports/Programs Coordinator for our local "Y". I'd been slowly assuming some of these duties for a couple of months now, but now it's really official. I'm so excited about strengthening our programs. So many details, but so much reward!

I'll never get rich working at the Y, but I love that I can still be a mom and put my family first. I love that my coworkers are united by our loyalty to Jesus Christ, and that we are starting a Christian Emphasis Committee to make sure that the "C" in YMCA continues to be our focus.

I love my job (CAREER!). I love the people. And the promotion is nice, too.
Today, Adrian helped me bag the soccer balls, and the boys got to be part of daycamp this week while I was was there working alongside them, learning the ins/outs of leading our daycamp program. It was a good feeling...

Life is good. God is awesome. Family is fabulous.

Thank you, Lord.

Presbyterianism... Is that even a word?

Since we've been in Cookeville, we've tried numerous churches. Some non-denominational, some seeker-sensitive, and AOG. Today, we went to a Presbyterian church. Now, we've been invited to this church months ago, and we never made it out that way. It just wasn't... on the list. But then this happened, and THAT happened, and the minister stumbled over our path, and then this other thing happened... and so today, we went.

And...


It was good. Not that "rockin' celebration" good, but it was refreshing in it's simplicity. The people were very friendly, and I knew quite a few from the Y. Good people. And Caleb (the minister? pastor?) is a terrific speaker (maybe cause he went to LSU? Concidence #1) and he's Adrian's soccer coach this year, too (coincidence #2). We enjoyed his sermon. The service was only about 1 hour and 10 minutes, but it was a good use of time, and not too short. The boys got a little restless, but I think they could adjust.

So... yeah. We liked it. We're going to "Sunday School" next week. I haven't been to Sunday school since I was a kid. Fun.

A Soccer Mom...and Proud of It!

A forum I frequent asked about being a soccer mom, and what it meant. Stereotypes abound, some positive and others not. It got me thinking, though..

Nothing like a little reflection on a Sunday afternoon.

A year ago, I cringed at the words "Soccer Mom." I homeschooled, and my kids did not play sports. Then they did, and I coached. Yet, I was *not* a soccer mom. I was a recluse.

Today, I most definitely am one.

In fact, I am *the* soccer mom. I co-coordinate our local YMCA soccer league. My kids are in a (fabulous) public school. I drive a small SUV. I work part-time at the Y as a wellness coach and sports coordinator, and we eat dinner together when we can. One of my boys played basketball, they are all in spring soccer, and 2 of them are playing baseball. We spend massive amounts of our time on the road between driving to school, going to church, and being at the YMCA. We live and dress comfortably (middle class). I never leave the house without my cell phone. My deep freezer which once held frozen HOMEMADE waffles, soups, breads, and wrapped meats and OAMC meals, is now filled to the brim with convenience foods.

What a change... But you know what? I'm happy. My kids are THRIVING. My husband is proud of us. We love each other. We're all living lives full of achievement and accomplishment.

I'm definitely a "soccer-mom" and proud of it.

Adrian Says...

"Mom, Cayden made me stick me my hand down my pants, and now it STINKS."

Pass the handsoap, please...

PaPaw Ford

I got a call last week, on Feb. 6, that Papaw was ready to pass. I made it on a plane, and joined my family at his bedside. From my perspective, papaw had already died when I arrived, but his breathing mechanisms hadn't completely shut down. He officially passed into the arms of Jesus at 4:30 am Feb. 7th. We surrounded his bedside, in prayer, as he took his final breaths. There were no formal services following. For me, it was a beautiful experience. But, then, I've been to some really rough "over-the-top" funerals over the years. I want my death to be honored much like we honored Papaw. Intimately, privately, and quickly.

Funny thing. I loved my papaw, but I can't say I was very close to him. We didn't live in the same state as he while I was growing up, and so I didn't spend much time with him. I did, however, love him. I never knew anyone to say anything cross about him. He was a hardworking, honorable man. A few days after he died and most of the family had gone, my dad and memaw and I went through his dresser. I searched the bottom of his drawers for any unique, personal glimpses into his life. We found drawings of inventions that he'd thought of, pictures from his time in the military (what a handsome man he was!), and a copy of his resume from years ago. His resume much resembled what my husband's might look like, were it updated.

About 15 years ago, Papaw wrote (or began writing) an autobiography. I read much of it then, but only what had been written up to that point. I look forward to it being found, as I would love to finish it. That was probably the closest I got to him. Reading his perfectly formed block letters, words that he put to his own life. His own perceptions about his life. I was so proud to read it, and I was the first... I think it surprised him that his young, teenage granddaughter would spend hours on the couch reading about his accounts of working the fields, sneaking into the military at 16, making memories with his wife and children. I soaked it up, though, and sure hope to read it again sometime.

The visit home during this time of Papaw's passing was such a blessing. Dad stayed the entire visit with me. I stayed at Aunt LouAnn's, and was utterly spoiled by the time I got home. Dad brought me coffee in bed each morning, took care of me when I was down with my back, bought me breakfast, and was just...there. For some this may not be a big deal, but at 31 years old... I still felt like a daddy's girl. I hadn't felt like that for awhile, and it was a hard thing to leave. I think losing papaw was hardest for me, because it made me realize how hard it will be when I lose my own dad. But, that's a different post altogether. Dad did say on the phone the other night just how important family was, and I think he hadn't realized that for many years. As much as I spent those days basking in his love, he was reveling under the watchful eye and gentle touch of his own mother and sister... Love all around....

You will be missed, Papaw, but you proudly left a strong legacy and a wonderful family. We love you.

So, you wanna know my secret now?

My story

A Secret...

I have one! I can't tell you or show you until tomorrow, but it's kinda cool.

Oh, and I lost FOUR lbs. this week. Ain't that awesome?

...and yes, Sunshyne really is my name. I've been asked that alot today....

...and yes, I am the girl in the .... oh wait....that's my secret... but I'll get asked that question a lot tomorrow, and probably a few days after too. "Are you that girl/lady in the ......?" Yep, that's me.

...I'll show you tomorrow.

...and I won't DRAG IT OUT FOR TWO WEEKS like some people I know. Heck no. Just having a secret is bad enough for me. I hate surprises. You hear me, ANGI?

Wise Lil' Man

Adrian: Mom, God is a superhero.


...smart kid...

Procrastination

You know how it goes. You get behind on something, and then you get overwhelmed so you put it off, and then you get MORE behind... and it never gets done. Kinda like my relationship used to be with my laundry.

Now, I have that same thing going with my blog. All sorts of stuff has been happening, but you don't know anything about it because everytime I see my blogpage I cringe and go hide in my cold-ass laundry room. I haven't updated since THANKSGIVING. Forgive me dear readers (all 4 of you!), for I have procrastinated far beyond a reasonable excuse.


Let me start by introducing you to our newest family member:

Basil Bailey!

The day after we brought him home. He was a rescue pup. Border Collie/Husky mix. Such a cute little thing...







Well, he *was * little. He's already taller than the Corgis, and still 110% puppy. What a handful! I can't wait to take him running with me.







By the way, we had a nice Christmas. We got a tree this year. It's the first one since the storm, and the boys LOVED decorating it. We made cookies this year, too (though not as many as last year). Here's a BELATED sampling of our Christmas season:

I know this picture is blurry and dark, but we were having too much fun to worry about the details! Chris would tickle me every time we tried to take the picture!







Cute kids, aren't they? Wait... is that a DOG in there?!?! MacKenzie was occasionally throwing her 2 cents in there, too... or something.







The boys had a great Christmas. The oldest 2 got skateboards. Here's Cayden modeling his gear:
Jordan got some cool stuff. I think the biggest smiles came with a game he wanted and some BOOKS!

Adrian got dump trucks, backhoes, tools, and all sorts of boy toys. Since his brothers woke him at the break of dawn on Christmas morning, he really just wanted to sleep. He took a break from the festivities, all wrapped up in his new cozy Cars blanket.



So, we had a nice Christmas, and the New Year has been good so far. A bit on the busy side. Cayden is playing basketball, and Chris and I are both working now. I love my job, and Chris is enjoying his. The boys are doing great in school. Jordan is showing amazing improvement as the year continues, and Cayden is beginning to read. Adrian will most likely start school next year, and I'm still trying to come to terms with that. :)

I've registered to run the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in April. The only problem is that I haven't been running nearly enough. Here's to a better week on that...

So there you have it. A mediocre recap. But, at least I'm caught up.

Family

Christopher's parents came for Thanksgiving. We hadn't seen them in 3 years. Everyone was excited and nervous as we awaited their arrival. Would the kids like them? Would they give Grandma and Grandpa the love and respect that they deserved? Afterall, mom and dad always make the effort to be as attentive and considerate as they ever could from so far away. The boys love the packages and cards they send many times through the year. But, I wondered, would the 2 little guys really make the connection?

As we settled in for our first evening together, my fears were alleviated, and all was well and whole in the Morack house. Family together, reunited, happy... My boys and their grandparents. A rare sight.


For three days, the Morack boys basked in the love and attention that only grandparents can give. It was such a precious time.

We headed out for a bit of hiking yesterday. Daddy Morack and I decided to venture a little further down the cliff. Don't we look great? He's such a handsome guy!

Chris and mom are looking good, too! Chris is looking especially... sparkly, but don't tell him I said that.


Yesterday evening winded down, and three generations of Moracks descended upon our TV with XBOX 360 controllers in hand for some "Call of Duty 2." It was Grandpa's game. Yep, GRANDPA's game. You see, Grandpa was the only one to head out shopping on Black Friday, for his very own XBox 360. Like son... like Father. Gramps' words, not mine.



We love you, Mom and Dad. We miss you already, and you haven't even gotten home yet. Get a realtor. Quick. And come back. Family never felt so good.