More Updates

Tyler's work partnered with the United Way for a Day of Caring in Santa Barbara. We all drove up and spent a few hours helping Alpha Resources by detailing their vehicles. It was really a lot of fun to do it as a family!

 

 

Kayley ran for girls athletic director at school. She had to make this poster and give a speech. Although she didn't win, I'm so proud of her for trying!

 

Our church held a kids 5 Kolor Run. Cole won first place in his age category and Kayley won second place in hers! I think Cole might actually do well at cross country at some point. He ran like a champ!

 

 

Roller coaster: 1 Cole: 0

Thankfully we have a really great dentist who fixed this sucker right up! Cole will probably have to get a crown at some point in his life which sucks.

  All dressed up for Halloween!


 

Red Ribbon Week always calls for a day of crazy hair!

 

These guys got cupcakes for having great reports at their parent-teacher conferences. My kids are so smart and thankfully aren't struggling in any area. 

  

 

Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas time is here! My office Christmas lunch was at the Biltmore in Montecito and the food was amazing. I love the décor, too!

 

 

Tyler's work Christmas party was last Friday night at Soho in Santa Barbara. They close down the whole club for the event and have a live cover band (which was awesome!) and dinner and lots of drinks. Tyler basically laughed the whole time as illustrated by this picture.

 

We went camping with friends in August. It was hot, hot, hot but super fun to be child free and not have any plans.

Jaime is so crazy she drank all of these by herself.
 

Just kidding.

While we were camping the kids were at Aunt Lisa's. Uncle Justin took them out for a ride on Noah's little dirt bike. How fun for them!

One Saturday we set off on a crazy off roading adventure in the Jeep in a river bottom off the 33. The kids loved it and I had a love/hate relationship with it. I went back and forth between feeling like I was going to die and being more pleased than ever. It was awesome.

The view on the way there was so pretty!

Lately,we got to see old friends.

My parents met the Shramm's when we lived in Santa Maria when I was a toddler. Cindy and Clyde have four kids also, and we have remained friends with them over all these years! Last weekend was Laura's baby shower. She had the cutest cake!

The kids had their jogathon in September. Tyler took the day off to help. He's such a good Dad!
 

His Jeep became quite the focal point.

Since he had the afternoon off and the kids get out early on Fridays he went to Gorman and did stuff like this...
 

And this...

Needless to say, the Jeeper has had a lot of attention lately. Keeps the man outa trouble.

 

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Three cheers for me actually posting something on my blog!

2nd and 4th Grade

I'm not sure anyone even reads my blog anymore. That being said, I really need to keep blogging still since this is probably the best way for me to remember life! So here I go again...

 I say it every year. I can't believe my kids are so big, so fun, so independent. I cannot believe another school year has started!

Kayley, you're in fourth grade now!


When I was pregnant with you ten years ago I could never have imagined the kind of girl you would be today. I love that doing your hair doesn't matter and that you dress for comfort, not style. I like that teal is your favorite color even though red is your real favorite. I love that you don't care about the girls in your grade and all their petty foolishness and I love that you found a friend who feels the same way as you. Don't stop coming home with muddy shoes because you spend every moment possible playing soccer, rugby, field hockey or whatever else all the boys are playing. I know you are quiet in class because you're thinking hard about what you're doing and want to do it right. I know you're crazy fun at home because that's just how you are around the people you're most familiar with. I'm proud of you for embracing becoming an almost tween without freaking out or staging anti-training bra protests. No matter how tough you appear, you are soft and sweet and have a heart for Jesus. I love you more than anything my sweet Kayley Autumn.


Cole, oh second grader Cole.

Nothing could have prepared me for the seven year old silly kid I've got in you! You wake up every morning with a crafty plan to bug your sister and torture the dog. I love your outlook on life and your fun personality. I love that, while you can be distracting in class sometimes, you excel at everything you try. You are smart and talented and, as you prayed the other day you, "want to do well in school and high school and college to get a good job." I love that about you. You are going to do so well in second grade and you make me so very, very proud. In my mind you are always going to be that chubby, soft curly headed little one year old who never quit smiling. Even though you're getting so tall and you're sometimes stinky, you'll never be too big for my lap! I love you Mr. Cole Michael Batten.

I'm pretty sure that my blog is number one on my list of neglected things. At least it's not, you know, one of my kids or something.

Oh how my life is busy. Shall I count the ways?

1. I have two kids and a dog. That really should be enough said. I have to break up fights, avoid floods due to my son "cleaning out the peaches in his backpack" in the bathroom sink and oversee Kayley chop a peice of cucumber into the tiniest peices and pray she doesn't lose a finger.  I nurse wounds, deal with huge knots in Kayley's hair and administer sunscreen to Hartley's belly because she sleeps outside upside down and gets sunburnt. What a weirdo. I'm the most famous for hiding kids clothes since they wear the SAME things over and over. If they can't find 'em, they can't wear 'em! Now that's just good parenting right there.

2. The kids are at camp this summer. That means a packed lunch every day (with enough food to satisfy the hungriest 7 year old boy on the planet), a full coat of sunscreen and a backpack full of swimming supplies. It also means exausted children who get angry at me when I wake them up at 7am. Can't blame 'em. I get mad at my dang phone when it wakes me up at anytime before 12 noon. I'm not a morning person. Neither are they on camp days. But I digress.

3. Kids camp at our church in Camarillo was last week and VBS is this week at South Coast. That means I pick up the kids at 5:30 and they have to be somewhere at 6:30. Cereal for dinner, anyone? While the kidlings do enjoy these evening camps, they're tiring and I'm dunzo with them.

4. New house for us. Very old house in general. Bad plumbing, possible rodents in the attic, daddy long legs thinkin' they own the place and it's hotter than blue blazes up in there pretty much always. It is taking some adjustment, that's for sure. The huge front and backyards, fruit trees, giant sun room and privacy make it all worthwile, though!

5. Donde esta Tyler? He is very busy with school and work. He has also lost close to ten pounds and is a strapping young lad, if I do say so myself. We joke that we only have time for a high five when we see each other and then we head our separate ways. As sad as it is, it's really like that most days. But I love the guy for working his butt off!

6. Mavericks. It's my new gym and I love it. Being besties with one of the managers there offers many benefits (if I told you I'd have to kill you). Working and running the kids around makes it hard for me to get to the gym but I've been managing two or three days a week and a day doing something active with the kids and Tyler. Last week we did the stairs at Ventura High and the week before we went for a hike!

7. Busting a flow. My new hobby is busting out with white girl rhymes. Think I'm kidding? I guess you'll never know. Maybe on my birthday after a few margaritas.

8. My birthday. Ok, well it actually hasn't happened yet but I'm really looking forward to it! I feel the best I've ever felt and the happiest I've ever been lately.  Besides, the closer I get to thirty the less I care about what anyone thinks of me or the choices I make. For sheezy.

9. Now I just feel obligated to make it to ten. Such pressure!

10. Work. Meh. Meh. I got another raise last week which I am thankful for. I'm also expanding my knowledge base by taking on extra tasks such as billing and reconciling bank accounts. Which is thrilling stuff I know. But I make accounting look good. Especially when I wear my glasses. Rarrr. You know, it's sexy when my eyes cross and things go blurry so I have to make a spectacle of myself. Get it? Spectacle? I kill myself! Ha!

Thou hast read the ways my life is insane. There is more, but ain't nobody got time for that. 

Ten Today

Wow! I can believe it's almost the end of March! Time flies...

1. Cole made this fabulous 100th day of school project. He had to pick 100 items and display them creatively. I think he did great!

 

2. We spent the Saturday before Valentine's Day with my friend Stephanie, her kids, Kim and her crazy kids, too! We played a little game, did a craft and, best of all, ate and decorated cookies. It was fun times!

3. Both kids recieved awards at the end of February. Kayley recieved an award for reading 4,000 minutes and Cole recieved an award for being a great scholar. I'm so proud of them both! If there was an award for dressing in the most shades of blue on any given day Kayley would win for sure. Just sayin'.

4. Noah celebrated his ninth birthday at Sky High in Camarillo. I can't believe he's so old! I remember when I was changing that kids' diapers!

 

5. Cole was in a play last week with his first grade class called Character Matters. He played Papa Bear. What a little champ. I told him to pose and he did this:

5. Hartley loves Tyler! This was her staring longingly into his eyes.

 

6. We had breakfast with Joanna, Tim and his girlfriend, Bailie, on Sunday morning (after waiting seven hundred days to eat at Allison's), then we celebrated his birthday on Sunday evening. Bailie is pretty much the most adorable human being on the planet. I sure hope Tim keeps her around!

7. Reading the comics like she always does.

8. Tyler is finished with school! I'm so proud of him and very thankful to have him home more. He has already made dinner twice this week! His graduation ceremony is coming up (on his birthday!).

9. We have already been thinking about our vacation to Idaho this summer! Now that Tyler got my windows tinted in my car we are set for the drive there. Not to mention he'll actually be seen in my car now. Apparently it's not cool to drive around in a fish bowl.

10. Something I've spent many years praying about is to have a new friend. I value all my friends and they'll always be the prettiest and most awesome. But I need a married friend who lives close by who has similar values and who thinks I'm awesome. Haha. Seriously though, I wish to have a friend who I can meet up with super last minute and just talk about whatever and share our lives. The good news is that I finally have that friend in Stephanie! Yes, it's weird that our names are the same. We met at the gym. We are kind of two peas in a pod you might say. But she's not as weird as me. And that's the gospel truth.

 



It's kind of obvious that my blogging is no longer a huge priority. But I still think about posting stuff all the time, just never get around to actually do it. That being said, here's a post. Comment and make me feel special!

 

1. I got a new car! It's funny that I just started being content with my little Corolla and this opportunity arose! It was such a good car but it was getting small for our family. I did shed a tear when I left the dealership without my Corolla. It seems silly but I'm a sentimental fool. Thankfully they gave me a fair trade in value making me feel better. My new car, a Camry, is significantly larger. But not too large, Cole says, because he "can still reach over and hit Kayley super easy." Oh the priorities of childhood.

Bye bye little Cheyanne. I now notice that your bumper wasn't the same color as the rest of the car.

 

Please note my daughter's amazing photobombing skills in the picture below. I would have done the same thing after three hours at a dealership! She swears she will never buy a car because it's "too much paperwork!"

 

2. Kayley and Cole turned 9 and 7 in January! I can't believe how much time has passed. I always thought I would remember everything about when my kids were babies. But I'm just realizing that in the scheme of things, they are only babies for such a small amount of time. It's sad and happy all at the same time!

We went out to Teppan Steakhouse (my kids' fave) for dinner and it was so yum!

Cole really liked the Mickey "oily rice." And their sparklers for birthday celebrations are awesome!

The post-dinner celebration included the worlds yummiest cake!



The special birthday kiddos!

 We got the kids (and us) season passes to Magic Mountain and Hurricaine Harbor for their presents. We were able to go on Sunday after their birthday (and last Sunday, too!) and it was a blast! X2 was the scariest ride I've ever been on and, of course, it was my kids favorite. Ha.

 

Auntie Jo Jo came too!

 

 

Cole got to meet Batman and Robin.

 

 

3. I've been doing well with my daily devotions. Well, more like every other day devotions. But still! Cole has been waking up early to read next to me. It's pretty special.

4. Our two year arragement living with my parents is going to come to an end pretty soon. Joanna will be 100% of a nurse this summer and my parents won't need their second home in Highland anymore. We will be in a new place on July 1st! Hopefully we won't have to move again for a LONG time after this.

5. After almost three months with no middle top teeth Cole is finally getting one in!

6. I'm on day three of the New Year, New You challenge at the gym. Stay tuned for super awesome results! This is one of the things I have posted at work to help remind me of my goals.

7. Sadly, 2013 has already brought a lot of heartache for some people that I know. But I feel like there has also been a lot of answered prayer for others, too. This is a good reminder for me that God is sovereign, no matter the circumstances. And I really just want to be helpful to those around me who need encouragment or a helping hand. I'm really hoping that this year God will use me. I am willing! A possible opportunity to sing on the worship team at church is on the horizon so maybe that's it! Who knows?

8. I did our tax return on my own this year! Not without my dad looking over my shoulder, of course! And this is nothing like turbo tax. No questions to answer, just forms and numbers. I think I might become a nerdy tax girl. Or maybe I'll only like doing it until I have to owe a lot in taxes. Haha.

9. Tax season is upon us! This year has brought on lots of changes in the way we do things at the office. I'm excited to get through another season. Only 61 days to go!

10. I'm very glad my Kim friend and her cool kids are in town. Here's to more fun times while they're here!



New Year, New Steph

Recently, we had a chance to share our story with new friends. From Tyler's past to the surprise teenage pregnancy to our separation, accident and unemployment situation, they know it all. And I'm not kidding when they said they were blown away. They said we have an amazing story, one filled with an example of the grace of our Father. I suppose because I'm living this life it just seems like an ordinary one. But when I reflect on the past I realize it! Whoa, our story is incredible! And I wonder, if God has taken so much crap and made it into something good, what will our marriage will be like in 20 years? I can't wait to see what God will do with who we are now and who he is shaping us to be. That being said, I looked back on my old blog posts. Some of them were real sad. One of my goals for the year 2009 was to have a stable life. Little did I know that things would get harder before they got any easier. But I think about what my life is like now and I'm so incredibly thankful for where I am. I really have no complaining to do. Tyler has been at his job a year; me, three today! The kids are healthy. My dog is awesome. My life is stable.

A stable life makes it much easier to make and stick to goals. I've been thinking about what my goals should be for 2013. Every time I sit down to think or pray I hear the word "content." So for 2013 I plan to try my best to be content with every situation. Tyler has nine weeks left of school before he gets his AS in Electronics Engineering. I will be content with the craziness between now and then. I also choose to be content with my job, my commute, my car and my home.

One thing I won't be content with is my health. 2012 was a year of big changes in my diet. I'm definitely more now aware of what I'm putting into my body and how certain foods work for or against my health. In 2013 I want to be even healthier. But not just for me, but for my family as well.

The last thing I will commit to in 2013 is to read the Bible consistently and work my way through a Bible Study. Reading and studying is something I tend to stick to for a little while and then quit.

So there you have it: contentment, health and consistent studying. Those are my goals!

 

Ten On Tuesday

**I wrote this post a few weeks ago but didn't finish it. I figure I might as well post it!**

1. The contest I've been doing at the gym ended last week. My team won! We lost a total of 34 pounds and 7.45% body fat lost between the four of us! That's pretty awesome. The team closest behind was 5.1%. Oh yeah baby!

2. I got all these items for $78 just for hosting a Pampered Chef party. I love their stuff! Yes, Kim, that is a brownie pan you see.

 

3. This little guy is Josh. Cole is very excited to have him with us. Kayley asked me why I bought it and how I put him up there. Such a realist, that kid.

4. This year I got to plan my office Christmas party. I picked the venue and decorated. I thought it turned out lovely! We dined on the best French cuisine. Yum!

5. Tyler's Christmas party was the same evening and it was a fancy affair at the Bacara hotel in Goleta. These are terrible pictures but here we are all dressed up!

And here we are at the end of the night. I danced for two hours and I'm obviously really happy about it!

After we left the party a few of us walked out to the water. The lady on the left is British so we all "took the path" following her. We pretty much mocked her British accent the entire time and she didn't care. So fun!

6. I'm taking off the entire week of Christmas. I couldn't be more thrilled!

7. We took our annual trip to the Christmas tree farm last weekend.

Cole insisted on meeting Santa!

Joanna has always found herself a boyfriend tree but since she's got herself a man I started a new tradition (and Tyler rolled his eyes).

Kayley's boyfriend and Cole's girlfriend trees

Kayley, Cole and Grandpa Matt carried the tree to the tractor! Strong kids!

Riding the camels is always a fun time. They're really sweet animals.

8. The kids performed in their musical Friday and Saturday evenings. It was fun to watch all their hard work come together!