Siblings

Today in Church a friend of mine said that her mom told her seven children that the best gift she ever gave her children was each other. It hit me deep in the heart and filled me with love and appreciation, not only for my mom for having all of us, but for my siblings. I absolutely agree that the best gift (besides life) my parents ever gave me was my brother and sister. They are two of my best friends. We always have a great time together, we share secrets and jokes (a lot of inside jokes) nicknames, memories (good and bad), drinks (right naughty...well you share with me), support, and most of all love. We understand each other and understand where we are coming from. They are the only people I leave a one word message on their voicemail, laugh and hang up. We've been through so much together and I look forward to growing old with them. I love you HFB and Naughty! Thanks Mom.

(Lee press-on nails rock)

I hope my boys recognize the best gift I will ever give them...

Four is Crazy fun

I can't believe our baby is 2 and half months old! Life is moving so fast and there are times I try to move faster, running around like a madwoman (and getting nothing done), but on the days I slow down and savor times with my boys that's when I love life most. I never thought I would have many kids, and here I am living and loving a life I never thought I would have. Don't get me wrong I was in a fog for about...well uh...2 months after having Chaz! I just emerged last week, but amidst the craziness I am happy. I still struggle daily with trying to get things done, letting other things go, and just plain trying to prioritize my life. But I am learning, slowly learning, to focus on slowing down and enjoying life. Summer is a good time to practice since my boys are here ready to be loved and enjoyed.

New to "The Team"

Chaz Anthony Hickman was born April 8 at 2:30 am. 8lbs 8oz, 20 inches long.

He is beautiful with dark skin and tonz of dark hair (just like his dad). The boys love their new little brother and can't wait til he can run around with them. Matt and I are enjoying this newborn stage now, because we know it won't last long. Pulling all-nighters aren't as fun now as they were in college. I am looking forward to four straight hours of sleep, but until then I will enjoy the time I get alone with this sweet boy while everyone else is snoozing. We are loving our new baby!!!

I've been having an inner struggle for quite some time now. Do I forget the dirty bathrooms, the piles of laundry, the echoing of my kids fighting and destroying who-knows-what and make time to blog about our life, so that I can remember a life that seems to be in fast forward? Or do I just try to stay afloat, live my life and try to take in as much as this tired brain can hold (like I have for the past two years). I am crazy to think I'm going to pick blogging back up when I'm due any day with my fourth boy. But I look back on my blog before being a quitter and I laugh and cry when memories, that have been pushed out of my mind are brought back to me. My kids are beautiful and funny and so unique at every age. There is something to love (and dread at times) about each of them and I want to remember every detail-Good and bad. I want to them to remember the fun that we had and not just the slave driving, homework Nazi, manner monitor mom that I have become. I want them to know how much I love and adore them and how hard they are to raise at times. So here goes, wish me luck on being able to truly accomplish this.

A little bit to the loves of my life.

Matt

My life has been truly blessed by you. I feel like I'm the luckiest girl to have found you, and by some crazy miracle been able to be your wife. I could not have hand picked a better husband or father of my boys. You are a great example of honesty, optimism, leadership, enjoying life, and patience (a ton of other things too). Thank you for enduring 9 months of crazy hormonal ups and downs and continuing to love me and be my sanity. At times when my frustration levels are at an all time high (like when you broke the brand new stroller by not following the directions), you laugh it off and promise to take care of it... And you Always do! I love just being with you, at home, on vacation, date nights, watching ESPN, or just folding laundry. You are my Best Friend and I'm crazy about you.

Brax

You are a great kid. You are enthusiastic and love life. You never want to miss out on anything and are always up for trying new things and going anywhere with anyone that is on the go. You are the biggest storyteller! We question fact or fiction with a lot of the stories you tell, but you tell them with such passion you can't help but love them. I love your blue eyes and your laugh(it's so contagious). You are so passionate about hunting, fishing, horses, sports-anything dealing with nature. When I have a project (like the garden) I know I have a helper. You are a hard worker and I love to have you by my side when I need help.

At times you show major attitude! You have to be reminded to clean up after yourself, chew with your mouth closed, quit teasing, and to put a shirt on...Daily! It makes me scared for teenage years! Hopefully we both learn patience, kindness, and tolerance before those days come. When you are not teasing your brothers, you are the best big brother to Bo and Hayes. They look up to you and think you are the coolest kid around. You are growing up way too fast and you love to stand next to me and measure yourself against me to remind me of that. You come to my shoulder and almost wear the same size shoe as me. Although you are big you are sweet and at times I call you my little kitty. Because whenever I am sitting by you, you snuggle up to me ask my to rub your back, feet, head, legs, neck, and shoulders.

When I had you eight and a half years ago it changed my world! And I will forever be grateful for that. I love your hugs and pats on the back. I especially love being your mom.

Bo You are your own man. "That's how I roll" is a phrase you use often and that says it all. Your beautiful brown eyes melt me and save you from getting into trouble at times. You are quirky, honest (to a fault sometimes), kind, sensitive, and smart. You like to do your own thing most of the time and you'd rather stay home than go most anywhere. You are 6 going on 40-wise beyond your years and you don't care too much what people think most of the time. You love the WII, your DS, playing with action figures, legos, playing games, and playing sports with dad, Brax, and Hayes.

You love to tease Hayes and teach him bad things to say or sing (I am grandpa man, with little wet spot in my pants). It makes me crazy! But most of the time you are a great brother and helper. I love you more than you'll ever know.

HayesYou little Character! You are the funniest kid alive. You are the sweetest little cuddler, and yet the toughest little guy. You don't take crap from anyone, which is probably good since you insist on running with the big boys. You love sports and being outdoors, but love playing the ds and with action figures just as much. You love to dress up in crazy outfits and love to wear "cozy clothes" (soccer jersey and basketball shorts) when you aren't in costume. You change your clothes at least 3 times a day, which makes me crazy. You make all of us laugh with the things you say and your dance moves. You are my little sidekick while your brothers are at school and I love being with you. You make life fun.

I know I said that I was going private...and I am...but not today. When I get back from a getaway with my (much)better half I will find out how to go private and I hope to surprise myself and be better at blogging. Until then here are a few pics of Hayes at one.

Private!

Word on the street is that there are some serious WaCk JoBs out there doing weird things with children's pictures from blogs. And having three of the most beautiful boys in town (not bias at all) I'm not down with that! I'm sad to say, I'm going private. I love that I've been able to find long lost friends and they've found me and that I haven't had to play the private game, but I don't want some weirdo taking my pictures and editing it for their benefit. Matt will be happy if he ever reads our blog and I'll have a little peace of mind. So you know the drill leave me your e-mail addresses or e-mail me at linzhick@yahoo.com.

*If you copy and edit the pic above it's fine, cause you'll never know if either spiderman even belongs to me or if I stole it off some innocent person's blog!

SUmMeR

Summer is officially here. WooHoo!!!

Bring on the sprinklers, pools, slides, tents, friends, bugs,

and definitely Popsicles.

As hard as it's going to be, my goal this summer is to relax and enjoy my kids more and worry about my house and errands less. Because at the rate they're growing, they won't be kids much longer!