Summer has come and gone.

We only have 2.5 more weeks until school starts. I am so sad. I love having my kids home with me all day. Don't get me wrong, the cleanliness of my house suffers greatly during the summer when I don't even have 5 minutes alone to pick up. I also run out of things to do with them, but I really REALLY love having them home. It makes me so sad to think about them going to school b/c during the school year, I am away from them more than I am with them. By the time they get home, do homework, eat dinner and bathe there isn't much time for QUALITY time. This will be my last year with Bowen home in the afternoons. He will go to preschool in the morning and be at home in the afternoon. I can't believe in only one short year he will be in Kindergarten. I don't feel like EMMA is old enough to be in kindergarten and she will be in the fourth grade. One thing we have really been focusing on this summer is eating healthy. In looking for healthy ideas for my kids I discovered the horrible, scary world of GM food or genetically modified food. GM food is food that is genetically modified to be able to grow and live through heavy sprayings of pesticides and other chemicals and it is also genetically modified to grow bigger and 'prettier'. It's really scary and SO, SO, SO many of our foods are GM. I have been trying to eliminate all GM foods from our diet (it's really hard). The best way to do this is to only buy organic. Only organic can be really expensive and just b/c it's organic doesn't necessarily mean it's healthy. We have cut out a LOT of pre packaged things, but with FOUR kids, it's challenging to buy things that are quick and easy and also healthy. However, Brad and I have both noticed a difference in how we feel when we are eating mostly organic. We aren't perfect in the healthy eating, but we are trying and it has improved the way we eat quite a bit. The hardest thing for Brad and I has been Dr. Pepper and for Brad also Red Bull. It's definitely a work in progress!!

Ummmm.......I've been busy?!

I have been thinking about blogging for a long time and was just going to start a completely new blog, but I signed in to blogger and my old blog came up....so what's old is new again! I haven't blogged in over 2 years. Wow. I'd say that's a little break. A lot has changed and a lot more is going to change and I really want to document it, so here goes! What has changed: Our family has grown. I am now the proud, proud, PROUD mommy to four beautiful children. We had another beautiful baby girl on January 16, 2012. Piper Marie is the apple of EVERYONE's eye at my house. Her big sister is IN LOVE and acts like Piper's mommy every chance she gets. Big brothers are so protective and do not let her cry for even 1 second. We are all in love. Emma is 9 years old and will be in the 4th grade. She is funny and silly. She marches to the beat of her own drum. I know that phrase is often used with a negative connotation but I mean it in the best way possible. She won't be influenced by what others think, do and say. She knows what she wants and that's what she wants. She is into music, drawing, fashion designing, volleyball, horse riding and Monster High. She also loves to read. She is growing up so fast. Love, love, love her. Tyler is 7 and will be in 2nd grade. He is so sweet and sensitive but also full of BOY energy. He is always on the go and doing something. He is my fixer. He can figure out a way to make anything and everything work. He loves baseball, football and shooting guns. He might give me the most 'hell' so to speak but the good far outweighs the bad and I just adore him. Bowen is 4 and will be in preschool. He is my shy, cautious boy. He is also the MOST stubborn. Just lately he has come out of his shell a bit and he is so silly and funny. He likes to be the BOSS and is always telling his brother and sister how they should do everything. He loves to dance and is really into hunting BIG FOOT! LOL. He is wonderful. I plan to post twice weekly from now on! There's just a little update from The Hawkins Family.

Happy Birthday Tyler!

Tyler on his birth day.


5 Years Old

My little boy is 5 years old. It's so cliche to say, "where has the time gone?" But, really WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE? He is the most funny, curious, imaginative little boy. He likes to get into trouble but he can always explain WHY he has done something wrong and why it is okay. I can never stay mad at him long. He loves to annoy his older sister. His little brother adores him and copies everything he does. I am so blessed to have him. He entertains me and keeps me on my toes everyday. If you are my facebook friend then you have probably read some of my status updates of the funny things he does and says. I went back a few months and copied some of them:

Tyler just told me that he didn't have to take a nap because we have never had a water balloon fight....I don't know how he comes up with this stuff!

Tyler just told his grandmother, "Granny, smell my athlete's foot."

Tyler told a man in the elevator at our hotel that we were 'fixin' to go eat.' The man asked him if he was from the South. Tyler told him, "No, I'm from Texas."

Tyler woke up and asked me to put on SportsCenter.

Tyler just told me that he would love me until he gets married and then he'll love his wife and never see me again b/c his wife won't like me!

Just walked in on my son drinking pancake syrup.

Tyler just told me he is giving up wetting the bed for Lent. I really hope that is true!

Tyler, I am so lucky to have you. I feel so blessed to be your mom. I love you so much and you make my life better everyday! I look forward to celebrating many, many more birthdays with you and I look forward to watching you grow up. Thank you for always bringing a smile to my face.


First Birthday


Two Years Old


Third Birthday


Four Years Old

Our long trip

6 states, 1500 miles, 3 nights in hotels, 15 children's movies, and countless potty breaks and we made it to Pennsylvania. I honestly don't know how anyone ever leaves Texas because it took FOREVER to get out; an entire day/evening. It was a really long drive and all things considered the kids did really well, but at 27 years old, even I had a hard time with such a long trip. So at 7, 4 and 1, I am going to say that Emma, Tyler and Bowen did great. There were a few moments that all 3 of them were having a meltdown and I thought we'd never make it, but we did.
When we got here there was snow on the ground and it just warmed up a little bit and started to melt last week. Everyone here assures me that there will be more snow.
Emma and Tyler have started school at Mother of Sorrows Catholic School and they really like it. Tyler only goes on MWF from 9-11:30 but he really likes it and begs to go on Tuesday and Thursdays. Emma has made friends quickly and has already been invited to 2 birthday parties.
Tyler and Emma took their first karate class this week and LOVE it.
Bowen is doing great. He talks, talks, talks and repeats everything I say. He loves to imitate Tyler and runs around after him all day long. He is climbing and running and jumping and just growing up so quickly. When we were living in Texas he stood at the door, begging to go outside. Now if I open the door, he shakes his head and says "NO". LOL.
Brad has been out of town most of the time we have been here. He is on a job in New York. He was home for 3 nights last week and he should be home at the beginning of next week if his job goes as planned.
I was a little homesick last week, but after having Brad home for a few days, I am feeling much better. I went to a MOMS Club playdate at Chick-Fil-A with the boys Tuesday and met some other moms and the boys and I really enjoyed it.
I am going to try and update this at least once a week for our parents, since I know they miss us so much. :) I'll post some pictures next time.

My wonderful husband!

I've always known I that I have a really good husband. He does dishes, he takes out the trash, he even helps bathe the kids. But honestly, I didn't know how good of a husband he really is until now. In case you didn't know, he is working in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He's gone for weeks at a time. He's been gone 3 weeks today and we aren't sure when he is going to get to come home. Right now, we'll be lucky if we get to see him at Thanksgiving. The kids and I are living in an apartment in Victoria. We thought we'd wait it out until May and then decide if the kids and I were going to move up there. However, neither of us anticipated how difficult living apart would be. I can honestly say, it stinks. Brad can barely even talk to the kids without choking up. I'm used to him working a lot, but not seeing him for weeks at a time is not good. The kids miss him terribly. Tyler says something heart-breaking nearly every day. The other day he told me, "Little boys need thier daddy's." It makes me cry just to think about it.
So, it looks like we will be moving in December. I honestly am praying that we don't have to move, but we are about 95% sure that it is going to happen. We love Victoria and when we moved back from College Station we told ourselves, "Never again! We will never leave Victoria again." So this is a strange place to be in. Over the last couple months I've realized that the most important thing is to keep our family together and it looks like the best choice will be for us to move. I'll keep you posted!
Other than that, all is well. Kids are growing and growing and growing. Emma and Tyler are doing well in school and Bowen loves his mommy time, although, when I say, "Let's go get Tyler." He makes a beeline for the door!

I'll try to update this more often and if we make the move, I'll be sure to keep this up to date. It will definitely be a journey!

Where does the time go?

I can't believe it has been 4 months! Time just flies by. I thought I'd take a minute and update. All 3 of the kids have been sick the last couple weeks. Even though I hate them being sick, I feel very fortunate b/c this is the first time Bowen has been sick and Tyler hasn't been sick in almost 2 years. Emma has been sick, maybe 2 times in about 2 years!They are all just about over it.

So a lot has happened in the last 4 months!

My sweet princess turned 6! WOW. I have a 6 year old. I can't believe it. She is such a wonderful, beautiful, smart and funny little girl. She makes Brad and I laugh so much and she has been such a joy to us these last 6 years. She has been very busy w/ learning to read and all the other joys of kindergarten. She really enjoys cheerleading and she can do a front flip on the trampoline, a beautiful cartwheel and she can kick over from a back-bend! I am very impressed w/ all of that! Haha. She is also doing ballet/tap. She likes that also, but she doesn't seem to be as into it as cheerleading. She is begging to play softball....but we will have to see. I don't want all of her activities to take away from family time and I don't want her to get over extended.

Tyler is doing well also. He is going to school 3 mornings a week and he gets into a little trouble, but for the most part he is a good boy. Lately he is really in to hunting! He loves to watch hunting shows with Brad. Brad bought him a BB gun, which he loves shooting (under VERY strict supervision, of course). He is growing like a weed and I would have never imagines my chunky little baby would be so tall and SKINNY. Of course, he might be so skinny b/c he NEVER stops moving. He has also taken to his role as big brother quite well lately. He loves to make Bowen laugh and already tries to wrestle with him. He is also really excited to play t-ball this summer and we have had a lot of fun working with him.

Here's a picture of Emma and Tyler in their bathrobes before bed!



Bowen is SOOO big. I am just amazed. He is walking. He has taken 8 steps so far! I am NOT ready for him to be up and walking around but w/ Emma and Tyler to chase around, I am not suprised that it has happened so soon. He claps and waves and is just so handsome. He's kind of a mama's boy, but I have to say I love it. (:.



Brad and I are good. I would love to say that we are not worried about how slow the oilfield is, but the truth is that we are. They have layed off about 10 people at his job in the last couple of months and we are just so thankful that he has not been one of them. My heart really goes out to the men that were layed off b/c I know that most of them have families and children. All we can really do now is just pray that he is lucky enough to keep his job and that we are able to make it through these tough times.

The wheels on the bus go round and round...

I feel a lot like a bus lately. Take the kids here, drop them off, wait around, then pick them up and repeat 3-5 times/day. But I guess I better get used to it b/c I've got a lot of years ahead of me! We are doing well. It's Friday night, so we are all a little tired from a long week.



Emma has been doing great in kindergarten. She got into trouble for telling a little boy she was going to give him a wedgie (don't know where she learned that one) and also a large group in her class got in trouble for playing with their food in the cafeteria. So Emma got officially GROUNDED for the first time ever. She lost her TV time after school for 3 whole days. She was very upset, but obviously it was a lesson learned b/c *knock on wood* we have not had any more problems. She has been very busy with dancing and gymnastics and all of the things she is learning in school. She got 10 good rewards at school, so sometime this weekend she is going to be rewarded by getting to eat and play games at Chuck E. Cheese. She also has ANOTHER loose tooth, which by the way, I find DISGUSTING, but I have done a very good job of pretending I think it is the coolest thing I have ever seen!

Tyler is also doing well at school. He listens MUCH better to his teacher than he does to me, but I guess that probably happens a lot. Tyler still enjoys coming home at noon and hanging out until it's time to get Emma and I really dread when he is gone all day too.

Bowen has just been eating and growing and growing and growing. He had a doctor's appt. for his 4 month check up and he weighed in at 18.5 lbs and was 28.5 inches long! WOW! His pediatrician said he has 3 year old patients that aren't that big! I have been cloth diapering him. The thought never really occurred to me w/ the other two, but I really enjoy it. When we go somewhere I still use disposables, but I have bought 1 pack and it's lasted me an entire month!



We are planning a trip to the Pumpkin Patch and the Corn Maze soon, so I'll post pictures of that very soon!