Update

It's been a while since I've written anything.Here's what's new with the Ball Family:

Mike- Is still Elder's Quorum President. He's been in the presidency since we moved in 6 years ago last month. To put that in perspective, I was still teaching and not even pregnant with our first kid yet! He says he's ready to be replaced... I'm not sure why. He's been a good example of what it means to be an active and involved Dad. He loves our boys and people can see that. He's still working as VP of technology at LogIQl in Alpine, only 1.5 miles from our home. It's flexible, they continue to launch new online health and beauty products, he has great coworkers, and sometimes he even walks to work. Last month he did his first paid side project for another company in Alpine. We feel very blessed for his good work. 

Robin- 3 kids has been an adjustment for me and my quality of Mothering has decreased astronomically. It's been a year of adjustments, rebalancing the scales, and figuring out what works for everyone. Sometimes I catch my boys looking at me, just wondering where their fun and playful mom went. Between pregnancy and a newborn, she's been in hiding. My biggest struggle is wanting to enjoy every second of my baby while not losing what the boys and I had before he came. Kind of not possible, but the 3 of us miss it.
My other struggle is seeing my weaknesses rub off onto the boys. It's one thing to see my quarks and shortcomings and how they affect me, it's another thing entirely to see them being passed onto my children. Poor kids. I'm just glad they have Mike to help normalize them!

Mike's been so good to me. I take him for granted. He pampered me on Valentine's Day (and all the other holidays for the next 2 years), and bought me a full-frame camera. The camera is amazing-- Really, it's not fair and It's like cheating. It takes spectacular pictures and frivolous as it is, I am loving it. He's also watched the kids on family outings (Tulip Festival) so I could play with it and enjoy that hobby. 

Additionally, another obsession of mine has been CrossFit. It's so the trend and I fight trends. It's taken me 7 weeks to accept and embrace it. But, to be truthful, I'm loving it. It's intense but quick, leaving me energetic rather than fatigued all day. I'm also eating Paleo/ Zone diet which basically cuts out all grains, sugars, and processed foods and limits the amount of dairy, starch, and high glycemic food intakes. I doubt this'll be long term, but it's eliminated cravings and is getting me back in shape. 

So, yes, I've been a little self-absorbed and into my hobbies, but I've kind of needed the "me" and the down time away from 3 very energetic, active, and demanding little boys. 

Mike and I still get our cherished date nights, though with costs of a babysitter the outings have been fewer than we'd like, and instead we've resorted to "Melatonin Friday Nights" where the boys go down a little earlier than normal leaving time for Mike and I to enjoy some shows together.

James- Tender as ever. He sets a good tone for his brothers to follow. He's a good example to them. He's helpful and he truly adores them. James just finished his first year of (pre)school at Westfield. Overall he liked it. There's some kids that bug him-- and me for that matter. Periodically he comes home with some annoying quark and I can now pinpoint which kid it comes from. Let us pray she's not in his class next year! He likes his teachers, the social interactions, and singing. He's artistic. He's an excellent drawer and he pays attention to details. He writes beautifully and he's learning how to read. He's learning sight words, can read basic beginner books, and can sound out 3-4 letter words. Mike just finished reading the boys their first chapter book: The Mouse and the Motorcycle. James is and always has been into anything with wheels and anything that goes. His current obsession in Police Helicopters. And Police anything for that matter. Police is the longest word he can read and write. He has police Lego helicopters, cars, and the semi truck. Last week our neighbor Brother Platt let him sit on his Police motorcycle! He and Daniel like to run around the house like Police dogs and cats and everything they play with makes a siren noise...

With that said, the last two days James has been a Macaw. Probably because he wants to eat crackers. He's my carb addict, a little bit picky, and he makes up his mind like I do: before gathering any legit info which consequently makes his mind easy to change. 

Yesterday we went to the zoo so he could see cockroaches. 

Additionally, he's kind of a late bloomer. Socially he's a little bit immature and shy and he's the LVP on his soccer team. As a mom I take this personally. But luckily James doesn't let on too much and he's a very happy kid. His last soccer game is this week and he loves it. He runs around, chases the ball, and kicks it once in a while. Like his dad, he's just happy to be on the field. His best friend is still Joshy, his favorite color is blue, and due to his recent obsession with Macaw's, he and Daniel are currently watching Rio for the first time.

He and Daniel had their first mountain bike race two weeks ago and he loved it. He's an excellent biker and he's also able to swim a little bit. So, he'll get there. My biggest challenge with James has been accepting and embracing who he is, what he loves, and how he approaches challenges and not forcing my agenda, hopes, and dreams on him. 

Daniel-  This kid. He's hilarious. And he's validating for me as a mom. He is not shy. He is fearless. He is happy, goofy, fun, outgoing, tough, smart-- and so foreign to me. 

I forget that he is only 3. He's very mature for his age. People like him. I taught his primary class a few weeks ago and his classmates flock to him. He has the cutest and happiest, most pleasant little group of friends-- for which I'm grateful for. Because, as much a I stress and worry over James now, I will over Dan when he's older. 

He's a tough little kid. He's a fighter. And he gets what he wants. This week he rode a 2-wheeler around the neighborhood! I've signed him up for soccer and preschool and I'm just sure he'll thrive in both. He has a goofy little twin friend named Jaxon who often wanders up to our house to play. His best friends are Jaxon and Eli. 

Andrew-  Melt. My. Heart. If this precious spirt wasn't so priceless and special I would resent him. I loved life with two kids. But not as much as I love life with Andrew in it. He is special. He has a soft, sweet, loving, caring spirit about him and his deep and loving eyes give it away. He is so happy and still so easy. He's smart and perceptive. He sleeps through the night. He goes to bed in 5 minutes or less (though I like to hold him much longer than that), he still sleeps on us at church, he smiles at everyone and he's just nice. It is truly a blessing and a privilege to have such a sweetheart in our family. Of the 3, he reminds me most of myself though his heart is so much better than mine.