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| Josh, Jack,Cassie, and Jason |
Having four teenagers is like having a whole High School of
kids living at your house. Yes, Yes I know it’s only four of them but we
literally have every grade of High school in this house. Our Youngest is in 9th
Grade this year and our oldest is in 12th grade . I never only have
four teenagers living in this house either because someone always has a friend
or two or three over. I even have a fifth child that is like our son because he
is here so much. He was here more this summer than our own children. He even
has a bed here that is his and a drawer for clothes. The first thing he always
says to me is “Rae, I am hungry what are you making?” Yep that is JUST like our
kids.
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| Jason, Josh, Cassie and Jackson |
Growing up my mom only really ever let us have one person
spend the night at a time. I like it better that the kids come here to this
house. Let’s be honest…I want to know what they are doing. Am I a strict mom?
My kids would definitely say yes. I would say that I am a loving mom who
actually cares where they are and what they are doing at all points of the day.
My kid’s friends don’t think we are strict because they know our kids are
spoiled. We do a lot of family time, take them places all the time, they don’t
really want for anything but my one son Joshua always jokingly says “this house
is a prison” when I tell him things like 2 popsicles are more than enough. That
cracks us up so much that Ryan and I even started to say it.
Our kids have chores every day and have to take care of
their animals. They have to have their beds made and rooms clean. Homework done
and then they can go off on the quads or play pool or swim. We don’t do the
Xbox unless it’s a weekend and if we are going together as a family to an event
or shopping or what not they have to come.
They have to have C’s or above. It’s their job to do well at school but
we understand that some subject’s kids might struggle at. I mean heck I can’t
even do my kids math homework! I have to send them to Ryan for that. I help
with all the other subjects though. If they have less than C’s they don’t have
any privileges because they apparently don’t have time to keep up their
grades. This doesn’t happen often but it
has happened and it’s quickly corrected.
With four teenagers I have four VERY different
personalities. I am very lucky though because they all get along well even
though they have only been together for the last 7 years. Being a blended
family with Ryan bringing in two children and I brought in two….I have heard
that we are VERY blessed that they get along and see each other as brothers and
sister. I can say to any of them…”go get your brother please” and they will
always ask me “which one?”
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| Jackson |
Jackson is our oldest. He is 17 going on what he wishes was
21. He loves sports and loves girl’s lol. I am sure that is just a 17 year old
thing. If he dates though over time he is in love of all loves with that girl.
Ryan and I just roll our eyes as he doesn’t know true love yet. He is a great
driver and can spot a deer from the side of the road before I even see it. This
is really helpful when you live on a ranch. He is kind but doesn’t like to show
his feelings. He is the one that is always “learning” that our rules are there
for a reason. He has been trying to spread his wings for some time now but is
the child who actually doesn’t want to leave home. He is always saying he is
going to leave and come right back. He is a protector of his siblings and a
very hard worker at home. He is a bit of a trash talker but in a joking way.
Its pretty darn funny. He loves sports and plays them well. He works at it and
at it till he gets better and better. He is good with being a part of a team
but he is very competitive on being the best that he can be. We are always
telling him he needs to be more humble ha! Jack is definitely mechanical and is
in the process of fixing our old BMW for himself. I am lucky because Jackson is
the one kid that will sit down with you and talk and talk about what is going
on in his day. I bonded with him so fast when we first met 7 years ago. He is
definitely my son who I love very much!
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| Cassie |
Cassie is next in line. She is 16. She is my overachiever
who does not even want to get below an A-. I never have to ask her to clean her
room as she always already has it done. He is kind of type A as she doesn’t
want things moved and get anxiety if we clean her carpets and something might
get moved out of place. She is an avid reader and loves to draw. I love that
she draws. She has such talent and not just because I say that because I am her
mother but because she just is really good. She has an eye for Art. Especially
Anime which is Japanese Cartoon Art. Cassie beats to her own drum and doesn’t
care. I love this about her because she isn’t afraid to be herself. She is more
of a leader than a follower. She doesn’t care what people think of her. She
definitely is the child who will tell you something but then turn it around to
be in her favor. She has this amazing way of writing. I want to actually do a
book with her and have her do the animation but truly I think she could do it
all on her own. She is always writing manuscripts and they are amazing. She is a cat lover but does love her puppy
Sebastian. She is very caring and tries to show you through cards and paintings
and such. Cassie also cares a lot about her family. She keeps every card ever
given to her by family no matter what the occasion was. She loves music. Boy
does this child love music. I think for two years she never didn’t have
headphones on her head or around her neck. She knows almost every word to every
song too. Even the oldies. That always amazes me. She can hear something and it
just sticks in her head. To be the only girl in the house too is amazing
because she can hold her own but she fights dirty. Trust me she can whip you
with her tongue if she chose to. Luckily she doesn’t do it often. I love her
very much! She is my princess.
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| Joshua |
Joshua is our third child and by far the tallest child. At
15 years old he is already 6’3’’. It’s hard to look up at him and tell him to
go to his room if he has been misbehaving. This doesn’t actually happen that
often because Joshua definitely has a big moral compass. He is very black and
white and not grey in the middle. This sometimes can get him in trouble as he
will tell you exactly what he feels about a situation. Most of the time though
he has a very valid point. At the same time though he is the one who tells us
he is in trouble before we find out. All the other kids won’t even say anything
until we find out. Joshua is definitely our goofy kid in the house. I still
remember his first day of 7th grade when he came to a new school. He
walked down the hallway, did a somersault and then kept on walking like nothing
ever happened. He is always cracking us up. He is pretty quick witted and can
have a good comeback in no time flat. Joshua is sensitive though and doesn’t
like it when people are mean to others especially if it’s to one of us. He
still has a polar bear stuffed animal that his Nana gave to him before she
passed away that is very special to him. He has a great memory too and always
tells us stories of when he was “younger” and what he did. He is a thinker and not much of a talker of
his feelings. It has to be a pretty special day when he opens way up and tells
you how he feels. These are the times we really sit down and listen. He is
definitely my son that I love very much!
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| Jason |
Jason is only 3 months younger than Joshua. He is going to
be 15 this month. Jason is the youngest of the family and wears that title
proudly. He sneakily can get out of work because he is younger and the older
boys tend to do it. Jason is sensitive for sure. You have to be careful with
how you joke with him as it may hurt his feelings. He is the kid though that
will always hug you goodnight and always say I love you. He will search for you
in the house to do it even and not go to bed till he has done it. Jason loves
to be around people and yet likes his alone time also. He has many friends and
blends in really well. He is very endearing as he will ask if you are okay if
you hurt yourself. It’s funny though because we always tell him that he needs
his hearing checked because he doesn’t always hear what you say. Once we said
we were going to the store and he told all the other kids we went to go buy a
new car. He swears he heard that. If the TV is on you can’t get his attention. He
loves baseball and animals. He is very kind to all the animals and always
willing to help with them. If you ask the other kids they say Jason gets away
with the most. If you ask Jason though…his life is hardJ He is addicted to sugar and
loves candy. If there is one piece left in the house he will definitely find
it. Cracks me up every time. We used to load his stocking full of gum because
he loves it so much. He is definitely my
son that I love very much!
I love my kids so much! They all have these great
personalities and are going to grow up and really go far. They all have the
love in their heart and are good people. For teenagers we are very blessed that
they don’t get in trouble much. They love their family and we still get hugs
from them. We are very blessed to have these kids. They are the apple of my
eye, the light of my life. I don’t know what I would ever do without them. Man
I sound super sappy but hey it’s true! I love them! Our love for our kids isn’t
divided…..its multiplied!
