Patrick

I think the best way to play catch up might first be to give a little report on how everyone has been doing since December! So in true Lauren fashion- let me start with my favorite guy in the universe... my cute hubby.

Patrick has been BUSY BUSY BUSY! He is currently working for a company called Advocare- and we LOVE IT! It is such a great place to work. Patrick was in charge of one of their biggest projects last year- they sponsored the "Independence Bowl" back in December. It was a huge project and kept him really busy through out the year. And I am happy to say it was a HIT! He was even surprised when things far exceeded his own expectations. :) Patrick has been traveling more and is still working in the office when he is home, along with all of these big projects that keep falling in his lap, he stays SWAMPED! He is doing so well, and is really happy at work, and that makes me SO COMPLETELY HAPPY for him. :)))))

But he is not just working, he is in school right now too, going almost full time to get his MBA finished. :) He has night classes, and online classes (that work with his travel schedule) and weekend classes, and even the occasional in between semester "squished" class! Well that's what I call those crazy 2 week courses that are like everyday for HOURS.... but whatever. :) Anyway he is doing really well in school. It amazes me that he can do so many things at once and not go completely crazy- I would lose my mind:))

And to finish off my post about Patrick I must include life at home of course! Even with all that is going on in Patrick's life he is kind of amazing at leaving it behind him when he needs to be "home". When Patrick gets home he walks in full of life- no matter what the day has dealt him- and instantly yells to the kids "daddy's home!!". It is like a party every night at 6! He walks in and they all go play while I typically "hide" for about 10 minutes! (I know I am not the best mom- but I keep a happy face the whole day... and when P gets home I just steal a few minutes to release...). Anyway, after they all wrestle, or jump on the trampoline or whatever for a bit, we have family dinner, and then "husband of the year" does the dishes! Usually while the kids help clear the table and tell him all about their days. Lily even helps by unloading the dirty dishes from the open dishwasher, WHILE Patrick is trying to load them! She piles them in the pantry usually.... :) and he just smiles and lets her! Well, then we get the kids to bed, they always insist daddy tells them a story (not reads, TELLS- p has to make up a new crazy story every night to get them laughing before bed!). Its only after all the kids are in bed that Patrick will open his laptop and start his homework or whatever. He tries to never split his focus when he needs to be daddy. :)) It is one of my very favorite traits about him. :)

Since December Patrick has mostly just been doing the usual routine- work, school, home, church, repeat.... He has had quite a few positive things happening in all of those areas, and I am very proud of him. He has also had to step up even MORE (so not fair- I know) at home since December because I have been having some health problems, and I am very grateful he has been able too. He is amazing and I love him. :)

Lauren