wow I have not been on forever!

I just realized I haven't blogged since the new year, and so much has happened. We have had birthdays and so much more  happen in the past three months. I need to make it my goal to keep up with this at least once a month.

Rylee Hunter Clouse-McNiel

Well on March 1st I became an Auntie. My little monkey Rylee came into this world and I feel so blessed that I was able to be there and share his birth with my baby sister Amber. He is so amazing and I am so grateful to have him into our lives. I also am very sad that I live so far away from him.

Rylee Hunter Clouse-McNiel

March 1, 2012

3:33 pm

5 lbs, 12 oz.

19 inches

6 years later...... We are thankful for so much!

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans day! We are so appreciative and thankful for our Soldier or as we call him Daddy! It was only six years ago on November 17th that we said good-bye to our hero as he was leaving for basic training. What a journey we have been on since then.

We left our family and headed to Oklahoma, our first duty station. When we first arrived all I could think was where did he bring us too. It was so different from anywhere we had ever been, but it grew on us. Not even a year after we arrived we added a new member to our family, Brady :) We went through so many changes while we were there, and had some awesome adventures. We also made so many great friends that will always hold a place in our hearts. But we missed out on many of things we weren't use too, holidays, birthdays, and even the births of some nieces and nephews.

Shortly before we left Fort Sill, Steven re-enlisted for 4 more years of service and that re-enlistment brought us to Fort Bragg North Carolina! Not to long after we got here we found out that Steven would be deploying, we always knew this was a possibility and we prepared the best we could. We took the kids out and made some really fun memories and on October 19, 2009 we said good bye to our Daddy for a short while.

Steven missed a lot that year, and we missed him. We all made it through, there were many tears shed but many smiles too! One of my favorite memories was Steven watching the kids open their presents on the web cam. Luckily we were able to talk to him almost daily and it helped to make us miss him a little less. With the love and support of our family and friends we all made it through Steven's deployment.

Being an Army Family can be hard sometimes, and we miss being close to our family and all things that happen when we can't be there. Even though we miss out on a lot we have had some great experiences, our kids have seen so many things and experienced a lot more than I could ever imagine. We love our life, and all the people that have come into it since we became an army family.

We are so proud of our hero, and are thankful that he was able to come home safely to us. We just want to thank all the Veterans in our family that have given so much we are so proud of all of you and thankful for your sacrifices. Also to all the Veterans for all they have given, and especially to those who gave it ALL!!

SGT Steven Sloan 

WE LOVE YOU!!

Sometimes life gets crazy and you get lost in the craziness!

So it has been forever since I have posted, I am kind of upset with myself because I really wanted to write often and keep track of all the great things that happen to our little family. So much has happened in the months that have passed we had a whole summer filled with amazing memories.

The kids have grown and changed, and started new journeys. We decided to take a break from home schooling, Lilli started 8th grade this year and she is doing amazing. I was so worried about her skipping a grade and being away from the public school setting for 2 years. She made some great friends the very first day and is a social butterfly. Her grades are great too, I could not be any prouder of our princess.

Jason is now in 1st grade and growing up so fast, I remember when he was my little monkey and all I did was fuss over him now all he wants to do is run away from me and be with his friends :) Oh Brady that little booga started Pre-k, and he's mister popularity everyone seems to just fall in love with that little guy. I'm in big trouble when he grows up ;)

Andrew's year has been a little more difficult for him and me. Because of his autism and a lot of things we have been going through I really wanted to make sure that he had everything he needed in place before he started school It took so many phone calls, emails, and meetings so I could make sure that he would be successful in school. He is now going into his 3rd week of 6th grade, we are starting off easy he goes half days for now and we will gradually increase his day. We are hoping to have him in full days after Christmas.

Steven and I are both still in school as well working hard towards our degrees, I am hoping to start substitute teaching within the next few months. Steven still doing great at work I could not be more proud of him and all he does for us. 

I am hoping I can get back on track and keep up with posting our adventures for everyone to see!

Andrew got braces!

So this past Thursday I took Andrew in to get his braces. He has literally been counting down the days he has been so excited about getting them.So I took him in and he started to get a little nervous, and asked me to stay with him I was so scared for him but I could not tell him that.

He sat like this for over an hour, and for Andrew that is a huge accomplishment this is a kid who can't sit still for a 30 min science lesson. He did not move, or complain I don't think I could have been so good.

The end result, my handsome little man. He has been so good these last few days everyone has told me he was going to be in so much pain the first night I was so worried that I would not be able to help him but he has not complained once. He has been so great about keeping them clean and not eating anything he shouldn't. I can't wait to see how much more handsomer he gets as they start to straighten out his adorable smile!

Adventures in T-Ball

So this spring we decided to sign all the boys up for baseball and Lilli for softball. This is the first time all 4 kids have been involved in activities, and it seems overwhelming worrying about getting them all to their different practices, along with our other activities we are already doing but so far we are making it work.

They have all had their first practices, and Lilli and Andrew are doing great considering this is their first year I am very proud of them, they are so enthusiastic it just makes me smile to see how much fun they are having!

Brady was really all over the place, but he loved hitting the ball, he has a pretty good arm but not to much attention for a 3 year old, but still it makes me so happy to see him play.

 Waiting his turn!

Practicing his swing.

 He hit the ball, YAY!!!

He made it to first!

He was worn out after about an hour of practice but I had fun watching him!

Jason was so great today at his first practice he went right in and introduced himself to the coach, practiced fielding ground balls, and throwing he's got an arm! And man can that boy swing a bat, and run I heard one of the other moms say "that boy has legs built for running!" I think Steven had more fun watching him, and helping him learn than Jason did playing!

Fielding ground balls!

Rounding second!

Going for third!

Getting in some hits! While Daddy cheers him on!

getting some advice from the coach!

I am so proud of all my kiddos!!!! Can't wait till they get to play in some games... 

Stay tuned for more adventures in T-Ball to come!

Things have been a little busy around the Sloan house!

I feel so bad for not posting anything in over a month things have been pretty crazy around here lately. We had some sick kiddos for about two weeks, along with two birthdays and some Cub Scout fun and other crazy adventures thrown in there.
Lilli turned 12 last month, crazy I know seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home form the hospital, now she is a young woman!

Lilli 4 months old

Lilli and her friends at her 12th Birthday Party!

We had our Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet on march 1st, after a lot of work, the night was a great success the boys and their families had an amazing time!

And Jason turned 6 on the 12th, my little man has come such a long way in his life. You would never know how sick and frail he was as a baby to see him running around today. He is such a big boy, and so strong I am so proud of him every day and thank God for his health and the amazing Doctors that helped us those first few years of his life!

Jason 1 Day Old

Jason on his 6th Birthday!!!

Our lives are going to be a little crazy these next few months, all the boys are playing baseball and Lilli is playing softball. Add Cub Scouts, and Young Women's activities, church and life in gneral and it makes for a busy but fun life!!!!!