Shillig 4 Family

When I saw this photo on instagram (photo sharing social media) I thought about how I love that Jake is just like this.  He asks our kids questions.  He did it with my brothers as well.  He is engaging when he speaks to others.  I think I am more about survival in raising my children and I need to be more deliberate in my efforts with them and not just focus on making it til tomorrow with as much joy and as few tears and raised voices as possible.  I should speak to my children more about what is going on in their little heads.  I should teach them more.  I love that they have their Daddy to pick up where I fall short.  They are blessed to have both parents who love them (and love each other) in their corner. (back when we moved in here) Now back to putting the finishing touches on our home so we can bring Daddy home to a clean and unpacked house.  We can't wait!

He loves stuffed animals (especially ones with sparkly eyes). He loves naps in the car while waiting to pick up the three older ones from school. He could not sit still and wait his turn at swim lessons no matter how hard he tried. We decided to put off swim class for now, just too many kids and not enough engaging activity for our active boy. He's a goof!  Love that he's so funny and cute! Solomon likes to love on me. He tells me "you tricked me Mom" when plans change or he thinks something was supposed to be different. He comes in my room to play "I'm thinking of an animal" or "I'm thinking of a human" or "I'm thinking of a Disney character" or "I'm thinking of a Prophet" during the day while the kids are at school. He's ROUGH sometimes with his friends. He has the cutest voice!  I love to hear him say things, except when he gets angry and says mean things. He loves hi...

We are settling in here at life in Boca. We live in EAST Boca.  It seems here in South FL east of Interstate 95 is the east side of things and more expensive for home owners insurance because of hurricanes, but we are renting so we aren't worried. East Boca is more older (well maintained) homes in non gated non HOA neighborhoods.  West Boca is nothing but country clubs and expensive gated communities.  We looked to buy but reasonably priced houses came with a 55-90K investment just to buy in a country club neighborhood (not to mention dues), no thank you! We are happily renting and I love our little house.  It feels like I am having the hardest time unpacking and settling in.  I packed in such a disorganized rush last time that I think that's to blame.  Our POD container finally arrived, it took weeks longer than I planned. The kids have started school and all seems to be going well there.  Malachi had a little bit of a hard time this morning wh...

 Mali Su has impatiently been waiting on her dance class at the YMCA to start.  She came home from school and went right to her room and changed.  She still had 3 hours to fill before class so I sat down with her and showed her pictures of "ballerina" buns for her hair and we did this one that she picked out with the braid.    She is more flexible than I thought.  I loved watching her float around like a little fairy in class.  She has a lot to learn but I think she'll do great!  I love the classes at the YMCA as it seems they teach the basics of each sport/class and I like that.  I am all for well-rounded children.  I love my beautiful ballerina dancer girl.  My Mom told me she reminds her of me.  She posed herself and all it made me think of is how those Barbie Ballerina DVDs are great teachers.  I am enjoying this phase of life, even if it did scare me to be a "chauffeur" mom.  So far I don't feel ov...

So as the night before I couldn't sleep as well as I'd like.  I stayed up and organized all the bathroom stuff we have.  I used the kids back to school shoe boxes for the task.  I laid out kid clothes and tried to relax.  Mali Su came to bed with me around 3am (assuring me she cleaned her feet before she got in bed).  I messaged with Jake a little since it's daytime in Hong Kong.  When I went to wake the boys the next morning they were like twins. Malachi quickly got dressed and taking pictures was no serious affair, he couldn't just smile normal.  Silly boy! (thanks again to Miss Katie for the cute back to school signs!) "Everyone stand together for a picture" "A DOG!" Sometimes digital delay works out in your favor and you capture little gems like this. I took all the kids in for breakfast.  At this school every child receives free breakfast regardless of income.  I'm all for that!  I loved breakfas...

This is how excited Mali Su was the night before school and she got up BEFORE my alarm and excitedly woke me telling me it was TIME FOR SCHOOL! This is how I felt as I couldn't sleep (my brain was running) and spent time going over final details of the kids' clothes & backpacks.  I also did my hair and makeup thinking it would make for an easier transition the next morning, it worked! We made it out the door within minutes.  I guess all my late night prep work helped tremendously!  I told the kids to get in a picture with me, not too bad.  Then a lady offered to take some for us. These are my babies, I love them.  I hope they know just how hard I try and how much my heart aches when I feel I don't do right by them.  I hope they know I love them with my whole heart and that I am doing my best.  I want the best for them.   We took the girls to their classes and it was so nice already having met their teachers! My swee...