Just another crazy day....

SHE DID IT!!

2011-08-12T18:43:00.003-04:00

R will be 13 months old on the 15th. I was starting to wonder if she was ever going to walk. Why does she need to, she has 2 big brothers that pick her up if she makes a noise.

Today she decided that crawling was not necessary and took her 1st steps. Since then she will take about 6 steps each time she stands up before falling.

I guess it is time for me to get new running shoes!!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY K!!!

2011-08-07T18:24:00.001-04:00

I cant believe it... 3 years ago K came into our lives and wow has it been interesting!! She is full of life and we would not have it any other way...hmmmm...

As you can see, this child who has not 1 shy bone in her body devoleped some when we sang Happy Birthday to her...

Happy 1st Birthday!!!!

2011-07-15T22:26:00.004-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEANUT!!!

I can't belive it has been a year since I was sitting in the hospital just having given birth to my last child.

What a sweet baby she has been this year!!

WE LOVE YOU PEANUT!!

a mini vacation

2011-06-19T21:52:00.005-04:00

Wow... neglect the blog much?? So I have A LOT of catching up to do. I guess I need to start with the present and work my way backwards a little... I guess this is going to work a little like my scrapbooking. I hope this goes better, I am WAY behind on the scrapbooks!

This past week we had the opportunity (thanks to my sister) to have a little R&R on the beach. Well I have to admit it was a little R&R but take out the R's. At least we were at the beach!! It is true, a bad day on the beach is better than a good day at home! Well there were no bad days, just not too much relaxing with the kids. I forgot to mention that Daddy was not there!

So... my sisters and I, along with 6 kids under 4, my nieces and my nephew were all at a beach house in SC. It was a lot of fun! The kids got a lot of time to play together, which does not happen often enough.

Here are a few pictures from the week...

How do you get a good picture of 3 kids???? YOU DON'T!! Here are the 3 big kids... K is the only grandchild in the group, the other 2 are great grands (and yes they are both older than K).

Here is R and B... R is the youngest of my parents grand kids and B is one of my parents great- grand sons!

Miss K is very hard to get a good picture of these days.. she never sits still enough (long enough).

Miss R always happy and enjoying (eating) the sand!

Here are 2 of my parents grandkids... the oldest (29) and the youngest (11months).

One night we had a pretty big storm and the next day this was on the beach. K was a little freaked out when she picked it up and it moved on her. We took a picture and let it go into the ocean.

Now we are back home and mentally preparing for another beach trip in a few weeks. This time Daddy will be there for at least part of the trip (whew)

May 15, 2011

2011-05-17T18:52:00.004-04:00

10 Months old!!!

Wow, that is crazy!! The little peanut is 10 months old already! The time has really flown by...

so 10 months on May 15th, what does that mean??

It means that R is still a tiny little peanut:
weighing in at 15 lbs 4.5 oz (3%)
and standing at 26 3/4 inches.

What does she do??? (wow she sounds like a puppy)

*crawl
*eat normal foods
*pulls up (on everything)
*says bye bye
*claps
*waves
*drives her sister nuts (she gets into all her toys)
*starting to take some cruising steps here and there

R is a P-I-G! Her size does not reflect on her food intake at all. I can say without exaggerating that she probably eats double of what K eats. It is crazy to watch her eat. I am not sure where she puts it but I am a little jealous that her metabolism is so high.

R has THE BEST personality. Even on her bad days she is a joy to be around. I think she gets her laid back personality for me! Please stop laughing now!! I am really not sure where she gets it since neither Chris nor I are very laid back like she is.

It is hard to believe that almost 2 years ago I was missing the family beach vacation and instead sitting in a hospital giving birth to an 8 lb 1 oz baby who is absolutely perfect!!

I guess now it is time to start planning a 1st birthday party!!!

2011 County Champ for Pole Vault!!!!

2011-04-15T16:34:00.002-04:00

Here is his video vaulting 10-6. This was his 2nd attempt at it. 10-6 was his PR in a meet. Well he did only vault in 1 other meet this season.

He then went to 11ft and missed his 3 attempts at that. One of the corrections he made was with his hands and on the 3rd attempt he didn't think about his feet because he was so worried about his hands. After he missed his dad wanted him to try the 11foot again for the heck of it.....
Here he is at 11foot!!

and he made it!! Of course it was too late but he knows now that he can do it! That is OK, he didn't need 11 feet yesterday. He won it with the 10-6!

So proud of you Con man!!! It takes a lot to get cut from a sport you love, turn to another immediately and do an exceptional job at that also!!

Now looking forward to his baseball double header on Sunday!!

1st track meet!

2011-03-26T15:01:00.007-04:00

First I have to apologize for the horrible quality of these pictures. I took these with a new lens I got for Christmas and on top of needing to learn how to use my camera, I have to learn how to use it with the new lens.

Anyway, C had his 1st track meet ever yesterday evening. He started to pole vault about a month ago, maybe 5 weeks ago and he has done great.

Here he is getting ready to go for the 1st time. I was a
bunch of nerves at this point!!

Up,

Up and away!!!

This was his 9.6 foot attempt and he made it on his 1st attempt.
I was thrilled and of course screamed when he made it!

He also made 10 foot on his 3rd attempt but he did not get 10'6". He has done that once in practice so I am sure he will get it next time!

Most of the pictures I got looked the same as these. I choose the ones where his form looked OK. I do have to say that is something he needs to work on. Whew, that part was bad but he is out there today practicing and working on form.

We have 2 meets this week and hopefully he will be able to jump in both of them. I cant wait to see how he progresses over the next few weeks!!

GO CON MAN!!!!!

We got a jumper......

2011-03-22T21:25:00.003-04:00

.... I mean vaulter!!!

My Con-man is not going to let his getting cut from the JV baseball team stop him. Days after getting cut he decided that he wanted to try pole vaulting for the track team. His dad was a pole vaulter years ago and Conner thought this would pass the time until the baseball league starts this spring.

Hmmm I think Conner may have found himself a new sport. About a month after walking up to the track coach and asking if he could try vaulting (they had already started practicing), Conner jumped 10' 6" and will be jumping in his first track meet ever this weekend!

I am so proud of that kid!! He took something negative and definitely turned it into a positive for him.

GO CONNER!!!!
GOOD LUCK THIS WEEKEND!!

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-03-16T08:03:00.002-04:00

..and I promise I do have more than 2 kids, but the big boys are at an almost impossible age (teens) to sit and take pictures without them trying to mess them up!! Ahh maybe one day!

Such changes going on!

2011-03-08T14:31:00.003-05:00

I just cant take this anymore!!

This weekend I noticed that Ry was doing a few little crawling steps. She has been doing the combat crawl for awhile now but this weekend while up on all fours she moved her hands, then her knees and then she realized that it was too slow of a process and down on her tummy to go she went!

On top of that, last night I noticed tooth #3 in her mouth. UGH! 3 teeth already. I think my mission to find a cup she will use has just gotten a little more urgent!!

Bye Bye Paci!!

2011-03-07T14:21:00.009-05:00

Whew, it has been a busy one so far. I guess it started out the other day with Confirmation and then this little girl

will no longer be taking any pictures with one of these in her mouth!!

She did it!! She was OK not very happy with the paci bugs that came and ate the top of the paci's. Yup that is the story that happened no matter what her big brothers are trying to tell her!!!

She has been doing a GREAT job too. Nighttime is a little hard for a few minutes but she soon stops crying and falls asleep.

It is all worth it to her when she wakes up now and can come down to play with her brand new Disney talking kitchen!!! It's a huge hit with the new and improved paci-less 2 year old!

Confirmation

2011-03-06T09:00:00.007-05:00

Last night was Confirmation at our church. Thirty 10th graders were in the group and what a great group it is!

The Arch Bishop came down to confirm the kids and let me tell ya. This guy is amazing! I paid attention the entire mass. With my ADD that is a miraculous thing! He is Hilarious!!! The kids loved him and I am so happy that he was the one who Confirmed the C-man.

I did not get any pictures of him in his red gown. Hopefully the person they hired to take pictures got individual pics of the kids in their gown and, hopefully that picture turned out great!

Here are few that I did get... I also failed to get one of C and his grandparents (my parents). It would have also been nice to have gotten C with his other grandparents that were there and my parents but that did not happen either. But this is what I DO have.....

The only picture I have of C by himself. Actually it was not even by himself, he was in with me but there was a bad shadow over me so I cropped it out. Love the big smile and how he is NOT trying to act goofy. Another rare occasion for a good picture!

Typical family picture right now.... finger in the toddler's nose! Can't wait for that to pass!!

Here is a pretty decent one of C, Chris and myself.

Not too many of these exist in the world... C and me.

C with his Aunt and Godmother (my sister)

Here he is with the most hilarious man!! The archbishop!

After that the arch bishop called K over for a picture of her and her brother. It would have been cool to get a picture of C and all his sisters and brothers with him but none were to be found except this one. I love C HUGE smile in this picture!

It was a great Confirmation Day and a wonderful mass. Special thanks to C's awesome sponsor who we will call Ms. K. She is wonderful and so happy that C chose her to be his sponsor on this path to this special day.

Big Day!!

2011-03-05T15:30:00.000-05:00

Today is a big day in our house!!

This little guy, seen here with Sinbad (the best Husky in the world, may he RIP)

OK so he is not this little anymore....

this ~~big kid~~ teen, seen here with his 2 sisters, is taking a huge step in this faith!!

Today is Confirmation Day! Du du duh duhhhhhhh

He, along with 30 other tenth graders will be making the commitment and will become "adults" in the church. Oh do you here the thunder???

We are so proud of you C-man for making this decision and for your commitment to your Catholic beliefs.

Let the festivities begin!

Cha-Ching!

2011-03-04T15:05:00.005-05:00

do you hear that?? It's all the coins I am saving!!

Spring is here and that means ~~very warm weather~~ lots and lots of consignment sales! I think I have a sale written down on my calendar every week for the next month and I am sure that there are many, many more.

This was the opening week of sales for me. I even decided to sell many, many infant clothes (sniff sniff) and a few other things. Crossing my fingers that I at least break even... which I really think will happen.

Last night I went to a preview sale (when the consignors get to shop, you know... early bird gets the worm). I would say that I got a lot of worms but that sounds gross, so I won't. I did get a lot of great deals!

5 bathing suits, 1 bag of sunglasses (6 pair)

3 hair bows (sorry its so blurry)

lots of cute clothes!! Note the green American Eagle dress. I didn't even know AE made sizes 3T. How about the little blue Ralph Lauren dress above the crocs. I can't wait for R to wear that!!

Oh here are more.. many many Gap, Gymboree, Ralph Lauren!! S-C-O-R-E! Most of these are R's

I also got the girls 4 books but K had already spotted them and carted them off to another room to "read".

Yup, all for 71.00!! Cha-Ching!! I did not pay more than 4.00 for an item. Thanks to all those moms who consigned these this weekend!!!

Not too bad for a days work!

A throwback Wordless Wednesday....

2011-02-23T11:08:00.005-05:00

Latest Addictions...

2011-02-22T17:07:00.002-05:00

So I do not mean addiction in a bad sense but lately they are...

**As of last night when I started mine is Words with Friends... wow but I am so bad at it. I thought that Angry Birds was bad but this game is addicting!

**Starbucks, I have controlled this one a lot since November when I was there just about everyday! Yup maybe 6 days that month I did not get my latte (and a snack). Now that I bought a Tassimo I am hoping it will be a good substitute for Starbucks.

**Jersey Shore... That show is like a train wreck. You know it is going to be horrible but you just can't stop watching.

**cookies... wow since #4 was born I have had the worst sweet tooth! I have always had one but now it is H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E.

**Shoes but not for me. Shoes for a certain 2 year old in the house. Really what 2 year old needs shoes in every color for her many outfits? Apparently mine does. I can't wait until summer hits in full swing so it is flip flops (much cheaper).

Whew, I think I will stop there. I am sure that Chris could add a few more to the list for me so I do not think I will ask him.

The circus is in town...

2011-02-21T17:00:00.000-05:00

I do feel like there are days when my life is a circus but this time I mean the Ringling Brother's circus. Chris and I decided to take the kids, minus the baby. I have wanted to take K to something big like this but I am very hesitant to take her anywhere these days, after all she is 2! She did pretty well most of the time... well until after the lemonade and cotton candy kicked in.

We got the boys a ticket also and let me tell you that the oldest was really not thrilled at all. I guess I can understand, who wants to go to the circus with their parents when they are 16? But he ended up having a good time (this was never admitted but instead leaked out by his brother).

Here are some cute pictures that I picked out of the 230 that I took while we were there.

K was trying on the wardrobe before the show. At first she was not too sure but she looks pretty good. I think she would fit right in with the clowns.

The motorcycles always amaze me. This year they had 7 in there going round and round.

proof that I was there too. K in her "circus" shirt. It turned out so cute (and no I did not make it.. I wish).

K's favorite part... the elfants (by the way she says it).

And finally, the picture of the 3 kids after the show. See the boys have smiles on their faces. Maybe they were glad it was over?!?!

7 months!

2011-02-20T18:14:00.004-05:00

..and she is sitting up like a champ...

and almost crawling!

and always a pretty girl!

7 months have flown by. R is getting so big!

**combat crawls faster than most I am sure
**sitting up very well
**eating little gerber finger foods (the ones that melt)
**saying Da-da-da-da-da-da and of course Chris doesn't hear any past Da-Da.

From Patrice's blog....

2011-02-18T07:23:00.003-05:00

One of the blogs that I read and have for over a year now is Patrice's and most of the time it talks about her son Jonah who has a condition called EB. Such a sweet and adorable baby but this time she writes about something else.

Anton is a baby (not much older than Ryleigh) in Russia who is adoptable but does not have much time. He has the same condition as Jonah so Patrice is really trying to help Anton find a home. I had tears reading about Anton, Chris and I have often talked about adopting or fostering a special needs child/children so this story really got to me. We were getting ready to persue the idea when we found out that we were pregnant with Ryleigh so that idea has been put on hold for awhile but hopefully not forever. Even though it's not the right time for us but maybe it is the right time for someone out there or someone you know.

You can read all about Anton here. While you are there you can read all about Jonah too. I love the things he is doing and how he is really beating the odds!!

The hardest part of being a mom...

2011-02-07T09:14:00.003-05:00

It's not the sickness we endure for sometimes 9 month while carrying a child...

It's not the pain we go through while giving birth...

It's not kissing and fixing up the bloody knees and scrapes from all the falls the child takes...

It's not the nagging and constant battles of keeping the room clean and taking away the phone....

No, it's not any one of those, even though those are not fun times at all.

It's those things you can't fix, the things you can't kiss and make better.

It's (so far) seeing a child disappointed, seeing a child not achieve something he has worked his whole (short) life to do.

We hit that this weekend. It is the worst thing that I have experienced as a mom so far!! I thought it was bad when he broke his elbows 3 times and had pins and stitches.

Playing ball since he was 4, loving the sport, not making a team, seeing his face when that reality hit. That has been the worst part of being a mom (so far).

The feeling of being helpless, not being able to take away what it was he was feeling.

At the same time I am so proud of him!

Even after the disappointment of not making the JV team (but made it through to the last cuts), he is not giving up on the sport he loves! He made the 9th grade team last year and he knows he had the ability to make Varsity next year.

He picked himself up (after not showing he was really down), found a place he could play this spring, and said he will try again next year after working hard to improve where he can.

He found that open door so quickly after that one he wanted to walk through closed before he could.

I am sure that as the kids get older there will be bigger disappointments they will go through and this will just be a little scrape on the knee. Wow, I am not looking forward to those!!

Again, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!

I wish that I could pick myself up as quickly as you did!!!

Orthopedic Visit.

2011-02-02T13:36:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was our visit with the pediatric orthopedic for Miss. R. Since birth her hip has had a click to it and it should have gone away by now.

When we were in her 6 month appointment last week the pediatrician referred us to a pediatric orthopedic close by. Who knew there was one close to us??? Not me.

So I met Chris and Ryleigh at the Dr after I dropped the toddler off at school. When I arrived they were getting an x-ray.

Turns out that x-ray was great! All normal!! No further action needed!!

That click is most likely some sort of tendon or something that is rubbing.

Woohoo..... great news!!

Day 3...

2011-02-02T13:35:00.002-05:00

Of baseball is today. Conner is still in there....

Long practice today but like he says.. it's all worth it! This is why he has played since he was 4!!

Good Luck Conner!!

You Can Do It!!

That time of the year again!

2011-01-31T07:10:00.003-05:00

Yes it is!!

The time of year that all moms get a little nervous about and all kids live for!!

BASEBALL SEASON!!

Well maybe not ALL moms but I know the one in this house does. Making the baseball teams in this area is very competitive. These boys work all year long on their conditioning, so they can be in shape for this week of a lot more running!!

Lots of running, fielding, hitting!! Well maybe not so much fielding since its raining today and is supposed to be this way most of the week but... thankfully the cages are indoor!

So just want to say...

GOOD LUCK TO CONNER AND ALL THE OTHER BOYS TRYING OUT FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM!!!!

Someone had a 6 month well check!

2011-01-25T15:29:00.004-05:00

Ahh still can't believe it has been 6 months (well a little over) since Ryleigh was born. She is such a great baby, so beautiful with a wonderful personality!! Even when she gets her shots!! All 4 of them!!

Poor baby, 4 shots today... all the normal 6 months shots plus we gave her the flu shot. She is doing great with it all.

Ryleigh at 6 months:

14 lbs 6oz.... (21% )... she is little!!
26 inches long (61%)... tall and thin!!!
Head circumference 42 1/2cm (53%) lots of brains!

We were told that we need to take her to a pediatric orthopedic. She has some popping in one of her hips and although the pediatrician does not think it is anything major he said it should not still be doing that and wants us to get a baseline. He said most likely she will get checked out and then the orthopedic will want to see her again in 3 months to recheck.

Anyway..... 6 months old:
What is she doing new this month???
...she now has 2 bottom teeth
...combat crawls all over the place (and fast).
...tries to attack the cat (who is a great sport and just lays there)
...sits up a little for a little bit after we let go
...now sits and eats in her high chair
...eats, eats, eats, and eats!!
...still will NOT take a bottle or cup!! UGH

It's your birthday....

2011-01-22T19:55:00.004-05:00

It's your birthday....
I know I am late because last week was your birthday!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AVERY!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

I can't believe he is 14 already! Seems like yesterday I was holding that baby in my arms!!

Ave actually turned 14 on the 16th but I have been so far behind in the blog I did not even think about putting the birthday post up then.

So.....

I decided to save it until all his celebrations were done.....

We had the normal birthday dinner last week. Avery is so easy at times. When I asked him where he wanted to go for his dinner (it is always his choice) he chose Red Robin!

That caught me off guard. I expected something big. If I got to choose I would say Melting Pot or Fogo De Chao (two places I have never been). I guess I should be glad he is so easy when it comes to stuff like this.

So we went and then last night he had 3 of his buddies over to hang out and spend the night.

Another easy choice. He even told me that he didn't want a cake or gifts or anything. Well, on the cake I told him that was not an option ... what better excuse to have cake????

Hard to believe that this time next year I will have yet another driver in the house. How crazy is that?? Really, am I old enough to have 2 kids that drive????

Gotta love the candle or maybe that is a really big lighter!

Kennedi stayed up late so she could have a piece of the cake. There was no way she was going to bed until she got some. She had seen it earlier and asked to have a piece every 10 minutes or so. I told her when daddy got home we would have cake. She doesn't forget a thing! As soon as Chris walked in the door she went over to the counter and said, "daddy cake"!

another nice surprise was that Conner was home with us!! He had plans to go out but they fell through and so we were able to spend a little time with him. Well... he was home at least, even if we only saw him when we had cake because he was downstairs on his games most the time. But he was home!

Christmas #3

2011-01-21T15:00:00.005-05:00

We are now up to the final Christmas celebration of the season!! On December 30th we went down to Chris' parents to celebrate with them. They get together as a family on Christmas Day also but we are about 3 hours away so that would mean being on the road all day. Plus The boys switch from my house to their dads in the middle of the day Christmas so we find another day to tack onto the Christmas season.

It was a beautiful day out. The big boys were with their dad when we went down but Dakota was there to celebrate too.

One of the things that I got for Christmas from Chris was a lens for my camera. Some of these pictures were taken with that lens. I love it!! Now to take a few photography classes to help me even more.

We left the camera outside when we were opening gifts and did not realize it until after they were opened but we got some great shots outside of the kids playing.

Meme and R

MeMe and 3 of her grand kids

Dakota swinging. You can tell he is concentrating by the tongue hanging out.

The Big Girl!

Daddy and his girls. Tried to get Dakota in this one but he was all pictured out.

So I may be a little biased but what a beautiful face!!

Yup, more proof that I was there. A picture of K and me.

Papa and R

Papa and 3 of his grand kids...

Dakota was rockin out to his paper jams guitar

.

Christmas Afternoon with the family....

2011-01-21T11:11:00.004-05:00

I think the best way to describe my family's Christmas Celebration is best done by pictures... With a group as big as ours it is very hard to tell about them all in words.

Some of my nephews in their "ugly Christmas sweaters". Please keep in mind that these sweaters all belong to my 2 sisters. The questions are 1) Do my sister's still wear these? Hope not and 2) Why do these fit their kids so well?? You just never know what will happen when we get together.

Kennedi sipping her drink... all I can say is that it better be milk!

Conner waiting his turn in the White Elephant

Avery opened this in the white elephant... Sad thing is that its what he asked for as a Christmas gift... we are all still wondering why?!?!

My boys!!

Ryleigh in her 1st Christmas outfit...

Kennedi and her Godparents

Ryleigh and her Godparents

Here is Ryleigh, her cousin and Aunt...

We were finally able to take an almost complete family picture! Missing are my big boys (who had already gone to their dads for the night), and baby billy (who was asleep)....

Christmas Morning 2010

2011-01-21T10:35:00.008-05:00

This year was a special Christmas... It was R's 1st Christmas AND we were able to have the big boys wake up here Christmas morning. The down side of blended families, you do not always get the normal holidays so you make do with what you have!!

Christmas morning at the house was the first of two Christmas celebrations for the day and the first of 3 total. We did not have Dakota with us this year on Christmas but I will post later on that. That was celebration 3 of 3.

Oh, the boys were so excited to be up early! Now when I say early I mean like 800. All the kids slept in. I guess that was the advantage of having teens and then a toddler that did not fully understand. I am sure we will not have the luxury of sleeping in next year!

K was good for about the first 4 gifts. After that she was done and just wanted to play. Sounds good. She had gifts for the next few days that she was able to open.

Daddy got to help K open a gift or two before she gave up.

Con got some practical things this year... a liner for the trunk of the mustang!!

And Ave ... WAR EAGLE!!! Need I say more??

Avery got his yearly Lego creation. Even at 14 he still loves to do the harder sets. When I say harder I mean like 2000-5000 pieces!! He has a bookshelf in his room with all the things he has made. It is incredible!! He can sit in his room for hours working on the latest one.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this gift that Conner got!! A little background... he LOVE LOVE LOVES the Boston Red Sox... always has, well this is Ted Williams in his Red Sox uniform and under it is written... "Got will get you to the plate but once you are there, you are on your own"....

This one is just added as proof that I was at the Christmas Celebrations this year. I try to either avoid the camera or I am the one behind the camera. I am really trying to get into the pictures more so my kids know that I was around for all festivities!!

K LOVES to read. Here she is reading one of her many new books to the dog. I guess Midnight was the only one that would listen at this point.

R slept through most of the present opening but I had to take pictures of her when she was awake. Had to prove she did not completely sleep through her 1st Christmas!

Ahh the boys are getting ready to dig into their scavenger hunt prize. Each year Chris comes up with several clues for a scavenger hunt. At the end there is some sort of gift, some years big, some years small but the fun is watching the boys figure out where they have to go for the next clue.

This year even Chris got a surprise at the end!

Ok I think that wraps up Christmas morning at the house.... After this we relaxed a little more, the boys played some games after helping to clean up, and I got to cooking for Celebration #2 that afternoon.

Christmas Eve 2010

2011-01-21T10:11:00.005-05:00

Lets see if I can remember way back when!! I am tempted to back post just my life will seem in order but I think I will just let that go and write as I think..

Christmas Eve was a day when my boys were supposed to spend the day with their dad and be home by 4 for Church and stay the night home. Well their dad and step-mom had to work Christmas Eve so the boys stayed with me and after church celebrated with their dad and came home in time to go to sleep. Have I mentioned how nice it is to have a child that drives??

Most of the day Christmas Eve we just sat around the house making lists of what all needed to be done that day and night to get ready for the big guy to visit. So I did some errand running, mostly Grocery store about 3 times!

The boys, girls and I went to mass in the afternoon. Chris had to work until 6 so he missed mass. I guess I technically did not make it to mass either. But I tried!! We went to the 4pm mass and of course it was a complete zoo. We knew that it would be going into it but I did not realize that there was NOT a nursery that mass. Ok insert some not so nice thoughts. So picture me, 2 teen boys, a 2 year old, 6 month old and no husband to help!! I sent my boys in to sit with my parents while the girls and I sat out in the narthex with the other 1000 people out there. Ok it was not really 1000 but it was so hot it seemed like there was that many.

Needless to say, we lasted about 15 minutes and left. The boys drove separately, have I said how nice it is to have a child that drives? So I guess I missed mass this year but hey you can only take so many "keep your toddler quiet and still please" looks. I guess I will make sure we go to a mass/church that has a nursery next year.

After mass I met everyone at my parents house to get a few pictures. Enter exhibit A...

A family photo. We really did not plan on the big boys and I dressing alike! Actually I did not even notice it until just now when I looked at the picture. Chris is wearing his very versatile scrub with a matching shirt to blend in with the girls' outfits! Very nice!

After the family photo the boys headed out to their Dads house for a few hours. Yes, once again, I am thankful for a child that drives!!!

Exhibit B...
The little girls!! I was going to put the 2-3 pictures we took before this one and the 1-2 after so you could see the progression of R going to the floor but decided against it. So here is one of the good shots of K holding R up.

When we got home the girls went to bed, we waited on the boys to get home and in the meantime the big guy paid a visit. I guess the kids were good this year. Hmmm I do not think anyone asked me about that!!

Exhibit C...
proof that there is a Santa and that he DID come visit this year.

Exhibit D...
My wonderful husband spends so much time making sure that the gifts from him are wrapped up tightly and neatly. Gotta love him!!

Exhibit E....

The Christmas Stockings that were way too heavy to hang by the chimney with care ... were filled with all the necessities: Deodorant, cologne, candy, gift cards, and of course... lottery tickets!

Exhibit F...
More proof that Santa paid a visit!!!
And apparently he found where the good stuff was kept. I guess he got tired of milk and hot chocolate.

I do believe that does wrap up Christmas Eve and the events that came with it.

A whole lotta catching up to do!!

2011-01-21T10:09:00.003-05:00

Ahh here it is 10am on a Friday morning and I still have yet to take a shower but decided to catch up a little on what has been going on in the crazy house for the past month or even longer!

Lets see... I did post the Christmas letter but never Christmas... so here it goes!!

So, who has time??

2011-01-14T08:43:00.002-05:00

I just got on to see when the last time I wrote was... It has been over a month! Time flies when you have 4 kids at home.

I guess once again I will have some updating to do and some pictures to post. Christmas, New Years, a National Championship for Auburn, being iced in for a week!! Whew... Lots to say but right now I have 2 little ones here wanting my attention.

The annual Christmas letter

2010-12-13T15:50:00.002-05:00

how many of you do these? I love getting them in the mail. This year I struggled to write ours and almost omitted them from the envelope but I got it done and folded and sent....

so, here it is!!

Here we go again! The end of another year is almost upon us. As we get older it seems the years pass quicker and I don’t think I like it. As I sit and try to think of the “best of from 2010” I find myself struggling. How can that be with 5 kids? Yes, I did say 5.

This year we added the 5th and final child to our clan. Ryleigh Grace was born on July 15th, via c-section. I guess she wanted to make sure that I remembered her birth over the others. She came into this world on a very special date, what would have been my Nanny and Papa’s wedding anniversary. Ryleigh has stolen the hearts of her two oldest brothers but not so much the heart of her older sister.

Kennedi is now 2 (Aug). She loves her baby sister to pieces, or maybe it’s that she wants her sister to be in pieces. It only took Kennedi about 3 weeks to pick Ryleigh up while I was making dinner and drop her on the ground. No need to call DFACS, we tried but they brought her back. Ok, I am just kidding about the DFACS part. Kennedi is great to her baby sister most days and even shares with her. Just a few weeks ago I saw that Ryleigh had a lot of black crumbs on her mouth. It looked like she enjoyed part of Kennedi’s Oreo cookie! Kennedi goes to a Children’s Morning Out program 2 times a week for 4 hours and loves it. Hard to believe that she will be in Pre-K 3 next year! Hopefully in next year’s letter I will be able to talk about her 1st soccer experience.

Dakota is now 7 and in the 1st grade. This past spring he played t-ball and now he is giving boy scouts a shot. Being 3 hours away it’s hard for Chris to make it to all of his games but he does get down to see a few games during each season. Chris recently watched Dakota climb the ropes at one of his Boy Scout events. Seems like scouting is taking up a lot of his time and he sounds like he is enjoying all the camping.

Avery is now in his last year in middle school! We can’t wait for him to be done and move onto high school. It will be wonderful having both boys in the same school once again. Avery does great in school when he put his mind to it. I just wish he would do that all the time. One place where his head is always where it should be is on the lacrosse field. The kid is a beast! He is still on the small side but that doesn’t matter to him. He is proof that size really doesn’t matter in sports. He is looking forward to the possibility of playing on the high schools JV team in the spring (as an 8th grader). He has also taken an interest in hunting and recently passed his Hunter Safety test. Chris loves that but I am still not sure. I don’t think I am ready to replace the meet in my freezer with deer, turkey, squirrel or whatever else is available to shoot.

Conner is in 10th grade and turned 16 in November. I now feel VERY short standing next to him. He is about 6 feet tall and loves to stand next to some of his cousins. The little kid is now taller than a few of them. School is starting to get a little tougher for him. This year he is taking his 1st two AP classes. He likes the idea of having all 11th grade classes this coming spring. Conner recently got his driver’s license and a car. Now that he has both of those, he is never home. I love that he can get himself home from practice but do not like that idea of him being gone all the time. I only have 2 more years of before he goes to college, you would think that he would want to be home every waking minute until then. Conner is back to having his sweet smile. He is scheduled to get his braces off in early December. He has been looking forward to this day for about 2 ½ years and is thrilled that is has finally arrived. This past spring he played baseball on the 9th grade team. He is now getting back into the swing of things with baseball conditioning.

Chris and I are doing well. Chris is still working all the time and we can’t wait until he can cut back a little. Maybe then all the items on the “honey-do” list will get done or maybe just get longer. I am still at home with the kids and most days it’s great. I still stay very busy driving the kids everywhere they need to go and look forward to bedtime when I get a chance to relax.

I think that wraps up most of the big things for 2010. We hope that you all have had a wonderful 2010 and hope your family has a happy and healthy 2011.

ahh the quiet!!

2010-12-13T15:08:00.007-05:00

This is wonderful.... it is now quiet, well except for the coos of a very cute 2 days away from being 5 months old little girl! She is on the floor playing on her mat. Yes, she should be sleeping but she is not. As for the big one, she is upstairs, probably also not sleeping but should be. That is ok, she is quiet.

So now I see how long it has been since I have really had a chance to sit and blog about the life of these little, and not so little people that live under our roof.

Lets see.... I wrote on how Conner turned 16, and yes that was back in the middle of November. He had gotten his license, is able to take himself everywhere and I realize how wonderful it is! Well at least until I catch wind on facebook or some other source that there is an accident on one of the roads he takes to school when he is at his dads house. And then I realize how scary it is when I can not get a hold of him or his little brother (also in the car) on the cell phones that I pay for and therefore they should answer whenever I need them too (even when the battery is dead). And then when I find out that it was two gray cars. And then the relier that I get when I find out both boys are sitting safely at school. I now see the downside of having a child that drives. I think I will continue to focus on the good list.

In early December Conner also got his braces off!! What an exciting day that was for him. Let me tell you, he is one great looking kid!! Not that he wasnt before but it is amazing how great he looks without his braces. I guess the braces were just a part of him and then when they were not there.... darn!!

Avery is up next.... let's see in the past week we have sat through the last Christmas, oh excuse me, Holiday concert that he will have. I have to admit that I do dread these. He has taken strings (guitar) for 3 years and they still pluck the songs. He did tell me that he wants to take private lessons after this year. Maybe then it will be tolerable to listen to him play. It is such a fun instrument (I took it for a few years after my parents made me stop playing violin but that is another post for another time) and I wish that I had kept it up.

This past weekend Avery decided at the last minute that he wanted to try out for the elite travel lacrosse team. I was thrilled that he decided to try this. I think it would be a great thing for him to play on this team with kids that are very talented. Not sure when we will hear if he did or did not make the team but either way I am proud of him for wanting to try out.

This picture if not of the try out this weekend but it was the last game of the season. Avery has transitioned from being an all defense player to playing defense and middie. He even scored a goal this year (his 2nd in hid life). We were very excited. Avery is one that will take it up and pass it off so that he has the assist but getting him to shoot has taken awhile. I guess being in a defense frame of mind for many years shooting is not an issue.

Kennedi has been Kennedi. She keeps us on our toes ALL THE TIME!!

Ryleigh was Baptized at church a few weeks ago. We had many of my family come to help us celebrate. Of course after it we had a party to celebrate with a wonderful cake!

The girls recently sat on Santa's lap where Kennedi told him that she wanted presents under the tree. When I asked what she wanted in the presents she said, Cheese. Hmmmm ok!

I think that catches us up on most of the major events of the fall. Whew, hopefully I can get to where I post an update at least once a week if not more.

Wow!

2010-11-30T16:52:00.000-05:00

I just noticed how behind I was in posting. Nov 10 seems like so long ago. I guess I will have to sit down and make myself focus and get a "Catch Up" post. I have so much going on. Since Nov 10th we have had the end of a lacrosse season, a baptism, and of course Thanksgiving to tell about.

...hopefully soon!!

HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY!!!

2010-11-10T02:42:00.006-05:00

(cont. from below)....

Yes little did we know that right now (2:42am, if this posts when I told it to) I was giving birth to my first child, a son.

4 1/2 hours of labor and no meds! It was an easy delivery as he came quick. I guess he wanted to arrive 20 days early.

What a sweet baby he was!!

and what a wonderful teen he is now!!!

I still cant believe it... 16 years ago (as I get teary eyed typing this).

Conner, you are a great kid and such a joy to be around. Your siblings could not have asked for a better brother. They look up to you and want to be just like you. You are a wonderful role model (most of the time) for them.

You have such brains and such talent and I really believe that you will achieve everything you set out to do!

I love you more than you will ever know!! I am very proud to call you my son!!

Mom

16 years ago

2010-11-09T15:25:00.002-05:00

16 years ago tonight I was 21 days short of my due date with my first child when I felt a little funny. No pain (yet) just a few little twinges.

C's dad told me we were heading to the hospital and I said no way, we were 3 weeks away. They would just look at us, laugh and send us home telling us it was too early.

This was about 10:00pm on November 9th, 1994.

Little did we know!

....to be continued!

rolling, rolling, rolling,

2010-11-02T22:31:00.004-04:00

Yup, we have hit milestone, the 1st of many for R. She is now 3 1/2 month old and she is now also rolling all over the place.

This morning I was able to leave her on the bed in her boppy but tomorrow she will have to move down to the floor.

I noticed that she was getting close to rolling from back to front but just couldn't get it. I grabbed the flip, videoed for about 30 minutes with no luck. I walked into the kitchen, turned around and she was on her tummy. I looked to see if K maybe rolled her over but she had not moved.

So I missed the 1st time she rolled. But of course that is not all I missed. While I went to grab the flip to try again but by the time I got back she had rolled onto her back.

OK so I missed the 1st roll both ways.

At least I was able to see it many many more times tonight.

Ahhh, she is growing so fast and knowing that this is the last one it really makes me sad!! It seems like yesterday that I was watching this video over and over. It was almost 2 years ago to the day.

Tomorrow I will post the video of her rolling.

Happy Halloween!!

2010-11-01T12:40:00.006-04:00

As everyone knows last night was Halloween. I have to admit that I am not a huge Halloween fan but I do enjoy seeing the kids dressed up and having fun. That translates to... in a few year Chris will be the one taking the girls around trick or treating while I stay home and hand out candy.

This year we did it together. It was R's 1st Halloween and the 1st that K really got into it.

Isn't she the cutest little kitty you have ever seen?

The only thing missing were the boys. They left that afternoon to head to their dads house. Before they left I wanted to get a few pictures of the 4 kids together.

And this is how it went....

I called the boys over with the girls and all the kids were in order except for the toddler..

Exhibit A

Said toddler was running around all over the place. The oldest teen went to get her and this is what took place...

Exhibit B

And this is what happens when you try to take a picture of a still unwilling 2 year old.

Exhibit C

So plan B happened... notice the orange just above C's shoulder. That would be Daddy! Yup, K was find as long as Daddy was holding her...

Exhibit D

When all the pictures were taken. We went home and had a little fun before trick or treating...

And of course, the shot of Daddy and his 2 little girls!

After that we went off trick or treating where K had a blast. We walked around with a few neighbors and Kennedi was such a big girl and kept up with all the older boys!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween.

3 months old!!

2010-10-15T16:28:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was the 15th and that means that R turned 3 months old! Time has gone by so fast and I really wish that it would slow down a little!

Here are a few pictures of R that were taken in the last month!

The Pumpkin Patch!

2010-10-15T16:17:00.006-04:00

It's that time of year again, I just wish it would be a little cooler.

It is just not normal to be decorating the outside of the house in Halloween stuff and sweating while doing it. I always remember going trick-or-treating and freezing while walking. I guess that is the difference in Maryland and Georgia!

Anyway, today with our playgroup we headed to one of the local pumpkin patches.

I do have to add that I have 2 huge "Fails" to report. 1)I did not get many pictures at all and 2) none of the many pictures that I did not get are of R!! OUCH!!

I do have to say that it is not easy to take pictures when you have two little ones with you. But, I have also been really bad about taking pictures for about the past month. There are only so many poses you can take of a newborn/infant. Also, there are only so many times you can beg a certain toddler to be still and actually look at the camera instead of walking away. I have way too many pictures of the back of her!

So... here are the pictures that I did manage to get today. Yes, I know I need to take some photography classes. That is actually on my list of things to do when I have some spare time. I guess I will be able to enroll in some classes in the year 2028 when we have no more children at home.

proudly holding her pumpkin!

a close up of K and her favorite pumpkin.

GAP Casting Call

2010-10-04T18:36:00.003-04:00

OK so I have entered the girls in the GAP casting call. It's a long shot but you just never know!

If you would take a minute to click on their links and vote. You do not have to register for anything. It does ask for an email but if you do not click the box under your email it does not send anything to you.

you can vote everyday!!

click here to vote for Kennedi

and

click here to vote for Ryleigh

THANK YOU!!
Please let me know if there is a problem with the links I posted!!

2 month check

2010-09-29T14:01:00.002-04:00

So we were a little late with R's 2 month well baby check. Better late than never!!
I am really not sure why it ended up being so late this time but hey we are done.

She did great! She got 3 seperate shots and was a trooper. Of course she turned beat red and was pissed but its worth it in the end knowing that we have protected our baby from some really horrible things!

Her stats were:
Length: 23 3/4 inches (93%)
weight: 12 lbs 2 oz (86%).

Our pediactrician says she is built like a supermodel.

I'm a Big Girl Now!

2010-09-29T14:00:00.002-04:00

Sunday was the beginning of a new chapter for K.

While I was down at the kitchen table tutoring (the girls were in for naps.. or so I thought) I heard the noise of a doorknob jiggling. I dismissed it thinking that I was just hearing things but a few seconds later K's door opens and out she walks.

Remember she is supposed to be in her CRIB taking a nap!

Yup, it happened... she climbed out of her crib for the first time.

So... when daddy came home we went out and let K pick out the bedding for what will become her toddler bed.

Of course she chose the Disney Princess (yes, that was the choice over Dora).

So home we went to put it all together.....

went from this.....

to this.....

My big girl is now in a new bed and she LOVES it!!!

Glucose Tolerance Testing....

2010-09-29T13:46:00.002-04:00

Ahhh a sigh of relief!!!

I had not heard from my Doctor about my 2 hour glucose test that I had done last week. This was a requirement since I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes when I was pregnant. I was starting to get a little worried and thought about calling my doctor to check on it but it was a case of... if I know then I have to do something about it.

Well, in the mail today I got the results. I guess I did not get a call because at my 2 hour I my levels were 85!!!!

I AM DIABETES FREE!!!!!

My little helper!

2010-09-13T17:51:00.003-04:00

One thing about me is that I do enjoy baking. I do not do it often anymore but I like it when I have time to. When the big boys were younger I would make their birthday cakes and they would turn out pretty good (in my opinion). Now with 4 kids here most of the time, I do not have much time to do anything let alone bake.

But...

A few nights ago, I decided to make some cupcakes. YUMM YUMM... All of a sudden I had a little helper by my side.

I pulled up a chair and started to make the batter (from the box)....

Kennedi poured the water and oil in the bowl and helped me mix...

After she learned the best part of the cake making process....

you guessed it....

licking the bowl!!

and she seemed to like it!!

It was a wonderful night!!

2010-09-13T17:36:00.004-04:00

Yes it was....

This little angel....

was so kind to Chris and me!

She laid down in her pack and play at 9:00pm and did not wake back up until 6:30 am!!

OH WHAT A NIGHT!!!!

Now if only I could have slept straight through instead of waking up, looking at the clock and wondering why Ryleigh had not wanted to eat.

It's that time of the year!!

2010-09-04T13:43:00.003-04:00

The time of year we look forward to.....

you know...

when the weather gets a little cooler...

days are a little shorter....

and Saturdays mean sitting in front of the television...

drinking a beverage and eating a lot....

watching some college football!!

Down here in SEC territory we try to influence them early!!

WAR EAGLE!!!!!!

Another "Cheese" face

2010-09-03T21:43:00.002-04:00

... just because you can never get tired of this sweet thing!

I have a lot of catching up to do but I am very tired this evening. Maybe this weekend at some point. Ryleigh is growing like a weed and looks different everyday.... but enough until tomorrow....

WAR EAGLE!

Well......

2010-08-25T14:01:00.003-04:00

I just had to post this because I think this made Chris' day today!

I got the mail a little while ago and in it was a package. I looked and saw that it was from a family member, one that Chris has not met.

I opened it up and there was an adorable little dress and black shoes for Ryleigh but that was not all....

There wrapped up in a little package on it own with a note on it that says, "Someone has to be a Georgia fan" was this.....

I sent a picture of it to Chris and he commented back to me how much he liked that. Of course he did, It was Ryleigh's 1st (and only) Georgia outfit!

Come to think of it, it is the ONLY Georgia outfit that anyone (besides Chris) in the house has.

She will look very cute it in and we will take pictures of her in it but she WILL NOT be allowed to wear it on November 13th of this year!!

I think Chris has a new favorite family member!!

WAR EAGLE!!!

1st day of "school"

2010-08-24T14:39:00.003-04:00

..... ok, it's not really school, it's CMO (Children's Morning Out) but it IS school to K. This year she is in the Caterpillar room (the 2 year old room).

Like all mom's I was excited to get those 1st day pictures before we loaded up in the car. Like most kids, Kennedi was not very cooperative about these photos.

Here is the 1 picture that I got before we left the house!

Nice huh? As you can tell.. she was ready to go!

When we got to school she was ready to go in! I tried to get a picture by the CMO sign.... That was a big no go! She took off towards the playground. So instead we walked into the building to her class.

As soon as we opened the door to the building you could hear the screams and cries of the kids that did not want to leave their moms/dads. It was so sad to hear all the crying. I figured that as soon as Kennedi saw the kids in her class cry she would join in. At first she grabbed onto me (while Chris signed her in) and then about 2 minutes later she was ready to go into the room.

When we looked in to see how she was doing, we saw this

note the train and the Dora doll... two of her favorite things!

and then we noticed that it was all the boys crying. The girls were just playing and checking out all the new things. I loved the look on Kennedi's face as she walked by the crying boys. She had this puzzled look on her face trying to figure out why they were crying! It was precious.

So now she is home, in for her nap and I am hoping that Thursday is as smooth for her as today was.

It's party time!!

2010-08-23T14:46:00.004-04:00

A few weeks back was K's 2nd birthday. We would love to have celebrated it then but the big boys were at their dads house for their summer trip. Chris and I decided that we could not have a party without the brothers that Kennedi adores so we impatiently waited to have the party.

This past weekend we were able to celebrate with a few family members and friends.

K and one of her cousins, M...

We had a great time and Kennedi got lots of great things.... The theme this year definately was Dora! We can now open up a Dora the Explorer store right out of the house!

Aunt Barbie loved to get some Ryleigh time

The Dora cake.... and it was GOOD!!

K blowing out the candles... She had to get the help of daddy.

Probably one of my favorite looks is K's CHEEEEESSSEEE face!

ahhhh now on to think about the oldest's birthday... Thankfully he agrees that the 16th party is more of a girl thing so he thinks he is opting out of that. But at any rate I will have to think of something creative for him!

1st Day of School

2010-08-12T20:01:00.005-04:00

One of the bad things about living in the south is the heat, especially this year. I have not been outside a whole lot because it is miserable out there and being that I was pregnant for much of it makes it even worse.

With the heat comes higher electric bills. WOW this summer meant A LOT higher! I think this is the first month we have hit the 300 mark and I am really hoping it does not happen again!

But that is not the worst part of living in the south. What is even worse than those two things is that we start school sooooooooooooo early! I mean really, who starts school in August? Early August at that!!

WE DO!!! And I DON'T like it!!! I guess there is not much I can do about it besides be thankful that I am no longer going back to school on the working end. Whew I am so happy I am home with the kids (well.... most days).

Here are my big boys on the 1st day of school. They were at their dads for the 1st day this year but they sent me 1 picture. I will be taking more pictures Monday for the 1st day at my house (but don't tell the boys, they wont be happy about it).

Wow.... 10th grade and 8th grade. Where did the time go?

Two years from now I will have one starting his last year in high school and then one starting her 1st year in school (Pre-K). Two years after that I will have the same with two others.

2 growing girls!!

2010-08-10T13:43:00.003-04:00

Kennedi had her 2 year appointment yesterday and of course I forgot my camera!

Anyway.. at 2 years Kennedi is
27.6 lbs
35 inches

She is doing a great job with her growth! I am not sure how since the kid doesnt eat but I guess itis working for her.

While we were there we did a weight check on Ryleigh. I was a little worried because of all the spitting up she has been doing. I mean like projectile spitting. I guess it is not really holding her back.

At birth she was
8 lbs 1 oz

When we left the hospital she was
7 lbs 3 oz

When we went back for her 1 week check (which was really about 11 days) she was
8lbs 3 oz

Yesterday at her weight check she was 3weeks and 4 days and she weighed
9 lbs 9 1/2 oz... WOW!!

Happy Birthday to you....

2010-08-07T08:40:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday to you.....

Happy 2nd Birthday to Kennedi.....

Happy Birthday to you!!!

The little princess that you are.......

WE LOVE YOU KENNEDI!!

Two weeks have passed.....

2010-07-29T14:17:00.003-04:00

..and I am still not caught up on the blog. I am not sure I will ever be. It is amazing how going from 3 to 4 can make your day so much busier. I really did not think it would be any big deal. I mean, 3 kids means you are busy so what could a 4th add???

...hmmmm

It takes FOREVER to get ready and walk out the door. I guess I just forgot what a newborn requires just to leave the house.... but its all good and we are trucking right along.

We went back for R's first doctors appointment and she is now...

8 lbs 3 oz (she was 8lb 1oz at birth and 7lbs 3oz when we left he hospital).
20.5 inches long (she was 19.5 inches at birth)

She is growing like a weed!! She is starting to sleep better at night. She did a great job at first but that was short lived. Normally she wakes every 1 1/2 to 2 hours to eat but last night she went 3 hours in between. I felt like I had an entire nights sleep in between feedings.

I need to put up a few new pictures but I have a ton to do right now so that will have to wait (but not for another 2 weeks). Hopefully in the next day or two I will be able to update a little more (crossing my fingers)....

FINALLY!!!!

2010-07-21T22:10:00.005-04:00

Here she is!!!

July 15th, a little before 10pm Ryleigh finally decided to make her entrance! Actually she did not decide, it was decided for her.

We were set up to be induced that afternoon but things did not progress like they should so after a few hours she was born via c-section.

I had a hard time with that decision at first but once she was out and I was told the cord was wrapped around her neck twice things were put in a different perspective.

She is beautiful and perfect....

weighing in at 8.1lbs and 19.5 inches long.

I am still trying to catch up on things so it maybe a little while before I blog about all that happened.

Lots to catch up on!!!

2010-07-08T15:17:00.007-04:00

I guess I have been a little bad about keeping up with the blog.... So bad indeed that I do not know what to catch up on and what to just pass over.... hmmmm

Lets see.... the days since the 4th have gone like this.....

No baby... YET!!!

Avery ended up in the ER due to an airsoft mishap. Talk about Deja Vu... remember this??? At least this time it was the lip and not the teeth. And, thankfully Chris was able to put him back together in no time.

And... yes he did have a mask on!!! Apparently he fell and the mask came off and the friend came around the corner and shot (not knowing the mask was off).

And Avery being the great kid he is was bleeding (proof was on the driveway), told him friend to get a towel, went into the basement and stopped the bleeding before he told me. He was so calm when he came up to show me. Surprisingly, I was too!!

Our conversation went like this....
Me: Avery I am not sure the pellet is out of your lip
Avery: Yes mom, its out. I pulled it out myself
Me: oh lovely! You mean you have been downstairs for awhile?
Avery: Yes, I wanted to stop the bleeding so you didn't freak out! (good call)

And then we called Chris who was at work and I decided it was better to take him in to be sure if he needed stitches or not.... of course he did!

He did amazingly well while Chris stitched him up. I was so proud of him. The last time he had stitches it took 5 people to hold him down. This time it did not take anyone. He has grown up so much!

Here is Chris doing a great job on Avery!!

He ended up with 3 stitches in his lip/face. The good thing is that they came out this past Wednesday before I put the boys on a plane for my family vacation.

..... oh yea, that is another thing that has happened. The boys flew for the first time without me! Well they were with my sister and some of her kids but I was not there. It was a sad moment for me.

I have talked to them a few times since they have been at the beach and they are having a great time. I will try to get pictures and post at some point....

Well I guess that is all for now. Hopefully there will be a baby update soon!!!

Happy 4th of July!!! !

2010-07-04T11:45:00.006-04:00

Today is a little strange, it is the 4th of July but being that it falls on a Sunday our town had most of the festivities yesterday, on the 3rd.

Do you know how strange it is to say "Happy 4th" on the 3rd or even "Happy 3rd of July". It just does not fit.

Chris had to work and the big boys were at their dad's house so it was just Kennedi and I. We headed over to my sister's house for the annual ~~4th~~ 3rd of July ~~cookout~~low country boil. We sat by the pool, consumed some beverages (well I consumed water of course), and ate... A LOT!

It was a really wonderful and relaxing day. Usually, when it takes place on the 4th we have a few family members that are re-couperating from the World's Largest 10K (the Peachtree Road Race). This took place this morning (on the correct day). We still had family members run in it but just not as many this year. My sister and her husband as well as at least 1 of their 4 kids runs each year. Usually I run it but for obvious reasons sat out and last year for the 1st time I was joined by my husband and both boys. It was great to have them run with me. I am hoping that they will want to do it again.

We have many in our family that are military and very patriotic... some more than others. It is always intersting when we get together.

I do have to claim him as part of the family. This is my nephew! He cracks me up!

When the bandana came off..... (and no he did not stay in that all day)!

this is where it went.....

and she wore it for a very long time!

I will post more pictures when I get them, my camera was on the wrong setting of course so the pictures area little grainy.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy 4th of July!!

....and I leave you with my favorite patriotic song......

Pictures say it all!!

2010-06-27T12:32:00.004-04:00

...or maybe the book says it all!!!
Kennedi got a nice surprise today!! She said bye to Daddy this morning as he headed out to work. A few hours later she saw Daddy walk back in the door. Of course she got all excited.

Apparently there was double coverage on the schedule so Chris said, "I'm outta here". Hmmm maybe this is a sign of more things (or babies) to come today! He was 1 1/2 hours away at work today.

Poor Kennedi may have to share that lap with a little sister before too long and I do not think she is gonna like it!

HE'S BACK!!!!

2010-06-21T17:50:00.003-04:00

Yes, Conner made it back from his 1st mission trip!!!

Conner went to the "Alive In You" trip with our church. There were about 407 Catholic teens that attended this summer (not all from our church of course).

Conner spent the week scraping paint and repainting the outside of a house. He has some blisters on his hands to show that he did indeed work. Oh, he also brought home some poison ivy on his arms and legs. Poor Conner looks at a poison ivy plant and it hops on his body. He is surviving well.

Sunday (father's day) Chris and I met Conner at church in the afternoon to welcome the group home, eat lunch together and then hear a little about the trip. By the stories that were told it sounds as if all the kids had a great time and took something away from the trip. Conner did tell me that he will go on more mission trips.... hmmm maybe we need to send Conner and Chris on a medical mission to a Spanish speaking country.... Chris can treat and Conner can translate. We will have to look into that.

I want to thank everyone that donated to Conner's trip.... It was because of you he was able to participate in such a wonderful experience.

Anyone can be a father.....

2010-06-20T07:00:00.002-04:00

....But it takes someone special to be a Dad!!

Here is a post to all those dad's out there.... single dads, married dads, adoptive dads, step-dads, grandfathers and all those dads that I left out!

But this post is especially for these 3 dads....

The one that brought me into this world.... well he did have a part in it.....
(this is the oldest picture I could find on the computer of my dad and me).... gotta scan some I think

The one that brought Chris into this world..... (like my dad, he did have something to do with it)

...... ok, so after hunting for awhile I have realized that I have no pictures of Chris and his dad on the computer.... actually, I do not think I have any pictures of Chris and his dad anywhere...

Chris' dad is in the white shirt...

and the Daddy to my kids.....

this is Dakota (my step son who is now 6) and Chris....

Kennedi and Chris

and of course Conner and Avery, his step-sons....

Chris.... thank you for being the awesome dad you are too all the kids!!!

Thank you all for being some of the greatest Dads on the planet!!

I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

There's an artist in the house

2010-06-19T22:22:00.003-04:00

The two big boys are very opposite when it comes to art....

Conner wants nothing to do with it.... never did want anything to do with it....

When he was little he was not one to sit and color but wanted to do other things instead...

and that's ok.....

When Avery came and as he grew he was the one that would sit on the floor and color with me....

for hours.....

and trace pictures....

and draw....

he has an imagination like you would not believe!!

That is why when he recently brought me a few of his pieces of art from his art class a few years ago to look through we saw one that gave us an idea.....

ok it gave Chris an idea.... (I am more like Conner when it comes to art)...

Chris saw this picture that Avery drew and immediately commented on how it would go so well in the baby's nursery....

Hmmmm ok.... I guess it would.... (remember I am like Conner. I can not visualize anything... I mean anything... just ask Chris)

But Chris can..... (thankfully)... because what was once a little drawing on some paper....

is now....

a piece of art that will be hanging in the nursery.... (as soon as Chris visualizes a place for it to go).......

Picture drawn by Avery!!!!

This picture does not do it justice!!! More pictures to come when Chris gets it hung....

Today was the day!!!

2010-06-15T14:39:00.000-04:00

It is going to be a long week for both Conner and Mom (me). Today we sent Conner and 18 other teens from our church youth group off to Tennessee for a mission trip.

Conner will be working his tail off fixing up whatever is needed and I will be home hoping that he is having a great time and having his eyes opened at the same time. I do not think I have ever gone 5 days without talking to or texting him. I already cant wait to hear all about it when he gets home.

I am not going to write much more about it since I did post about it the other day, right here.

So, until he gets home, keep the group (teens and adults) in your prayers.

Finally!!!

2010-06-15T14:35:00.000-04:00

The housing market here is finally starting to pick up!! I am so excited!!

It figures about the timing. We have renters that moved in June 1st and since then the realtors have been calling to show the house. Whew!! Thankfully we have a clause in the lease in case the house were to sell.

Oh I am so crossing my fingers that the house will sell soon. It has been on the market for about 2 years (or more) and we have not gotten much action at all. All these calls about it are really nice but trying to schedule a time to show it is a little frustrating. But in the end it will be worth it (or at least that is what I tell myself).

So.... hopefully something will happen soon and we will go from

This......

and this......

To just this........

and how nice that would be!!!!!

A big week!!

2010-06-13T16:55:00.003-04:00

Not for me but for my oldest.... he and 17 other teens along with 5 adults are heading out on a mission trip.

I am so excited for him and he told me today that he was excited for Tuesday (when they leave). He has never done anything like this before and I cant wait until it is over and he comes home and tells me all about it.

They leave Tuesday and head about 2 hours north to work in a town where people are not as fortunate as we are. They will be staying in a school and working on homes, schools, churches (whatever they need to do). They will be doing yard work, painting, fixing and interacting with the people of the town. I really hope that they get to spend some time with kids and see how happy these kids are and how thankful they are for what little they have. I think that my teen (and many others) need to see how lucky they are for the things they have. I know that I spoil my kids and I really wish they saw all the extras we provide.

I think the hardest part is going to be that they can not take cell phones with them. I am not sure I have ever gone that long without talking or texting with him. Last night he and I were in the car and it hit him that I am due in 4 weeks and the baby can really come at any time. He really sounded upset when he told me that the baby would probably come while he was away and that he would not even be able to see a picture of her. Then he got on his phone and made sure the youth minister that was going was able to get picture messages on her phone. Whew... crisis averted.

So this week (Tuesday through Sunday), say a little (or a lot of) prayers for those kids and adults that will be on this trip.

Proud of you Conner for wanting to be a part of this!! I hope that you get every bit out of this trip as you want to!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Kennedi's new ride...

2010-06-05T16:43:00.003-04:00

Chris did not have to work until this afternoon so we hopped in the car this morning and drove by a few yard sales. I am not much for doing this but I think maybe I could get used to it.

We stopped by one that had a kitchen set that was priced at 60.00. They told us they would take 40.00. We almost got it but decided not to, we could always go back to get it if it was still there.

We drove down the road a little and saw another one that had some outside toys. Chris spotted a Barbie Jeep right away. If you know Chris, you know that he is a jeep guy! He has a jeep that he is about to give up in November when Conner turns 16 (it was his idea). He went right to the jeep (and so did Kennedi). The guy told us it was 50.00 and that it still worked (charger and battery were right there). Then the guy said or make me an offer so I do not have to take it back inside. Of course Chris like this (he is also a bargainer.. which I hate to do). So he offered the guy 40.00.... SOLD!

Kennedi is now the owner of a new (to her), 40.00, Power Wheels Barbie Jeep... and she LOVES it.

I guess the next step is going to be Chris being the new (either new or new to him) owner of yet another jeep... more to come on that one later...

Kennedi's 1st Braves game!!

2010-06-03T19:56:00.003-04:00

My nephews birthday was this week and a bunch of the family and friends went to the braves game.

Let me tell you... IT WAS HOT!!! (note to self: no more day games)...

We had a lot of fun and Kennedi was great! Chris and I actually took Kennedi and sat under the shade and it made the game a lot more enjoyable.

The braves won!! I guess Kennedi is good luck (or at least I think she is).

I am waiting (patiently.. kind of) for the pictures that were taken at the game. I will post some of them as soon as I can!

Some new pictures of Ryleigh

2010-06-03T19:46:00.003-04:00

Once again I went to the doctors for my weekly tests. This week she was pleased with my blood sugar levels and told me that I no longer had to come in each week for the fasting glucose test... SWEET!

Of course I do still have to go in each week for an ultrasound to make sure there is enough amniotic fluid and a fetal non stress test.

This week Chris did not have to go into work until the afternoon so he went with me.

And this is what he did during my test.....

I guess I cant blame him, there is something relaxing about listening to a baby's heartbeat over and over and over again.

Ryleigh does not like to get her picture taken. She is head down and she was face down. We tried really hard to get her to turn her head but it was a no go. Maybe next week!!

However, she did show us quite clearly that she is still a girl.. WHEW!

And that she likes to have her hands up by her head. Gotta love the little fingers!

And that she has a big foot! I guess she is going to take after her daddy!

Other than that....

I lost another pound!! That makes less to lose after she is here!!
My blood pressure is good!!

And I go back again next week!!

A few videos

2010-05-30T18:10:00.003-04:00

I just transferred some videos from the flip to the computer nad figured I would put a coupld on here....

There is one that I REALLY REALLY want to put on here but Conner would KILL me. Chris and I had him clean up Kennedi's toy room one day when he was helping us around the house. We took a video of him playing with a few of her toys. Ok he was not playing with them but he was putting her puzzles together. I asked him if I could post it and he said... absolutely not! So you can just imagine him in it.

Enjoy!

Kennedi is a jumper! She hops all over the place. Today she tried jumping down the steps.

This one is a little long but it is Kennedi going over some of the signs she knows.

Schools out for the summer.......

2010-05-28T20:25:00.003-04:00

That song has been in my head all day... well except for when the song Alejandro has been in my head (like right now), but anyway.

Like I said... SCHOOLS OUT FOR THE SUMMER!!

and I could not be happier! It was a rough 7th grade year. I am so thankful it is over and that we only have 1 more year of middle school (for a few years at least).

9th grade seemed to be a great year for Conner but I am looking forward to next year, 2 AP classes and hopefully him doing a little bit of homework and studying. At least I am crossing my fingers for that! Hey, he needs to learn before college!

Ahhh no more thinking about school until we go back August 9th!!

Almost 33 week Doctors Appointment....

2010-05-27T12:50:00.005-04:00

Whew long morning!!

My appointment this week was at 8:30am. I knew that they would do a fasting glucose on me and then I would see the doctor. I did get a nice surprise when I got in there and they drew the 1st sample of blood, they told me that I could stay or go out and get something to eat but that I needed to be back in the office by 10am. JACKPOT!! I was not confined like I thought I would be!

Well I guess I will take the good with the bad... OK not bad, just unexpected.

I go run some errands and enjoy an egg and cheese biscuit. It is kind of hard to enjoy the biscuit when I kept thinking... please let this not shoot my blood sugar up too much!

So, did some things I needed to do and was back to the office by 9:45. They called me back eventually. I went through all the normal stuff, got weighed (nothing gained), BP (120/70), they took my book where I record blood sugars (ick) and made a copy, then I headed into room 3. I waited for the nurse to come in for only a few minutes. She came in measured my big belly (measuring right on), listened to the heartbeat (beating at 148) and then looked through some paper work.

Here comes the unexpected... she told me that I needed to come in and have a fetal non-stress test done every week. hmmm Why?? She said it was protocol for gestational diabetes and that it should have been started at 30 weeks. Hmm, OK this is the 1st I have heard about this. I was told that they will hook me up to a monitor and then do an ultrasound to check amniotic fluid. One snag, no sonographer on Thursdays!!

So we go ahead and one of the ladies that works there takes me into a little room with a recliner, hooks me up to a monitor and then I ask how long I would be hooked up. She said probably about 30 minutes. WHAT! That's too long!! I told her that I needed to have blood drawn in 10 minutes (2 hours after I ate) and she said ok.

For the next 30 minutes or so I got to sit in a recliner, have the blood draw come to me, and have the doctor come to me. It was not so bad... quiet and relaxing!! I almost could have taken a nap!!

Doctor came in and said everything looked good. She was not worried about my sugar levels since I was still adjusting to the insulin (WHEW) and that I needed to come back for the ultrasound and another fasting blood sugar on Tuesday or Wednesday. Then she said I will do this every week!

Whew... get ready for some long appointments!!!

I think we all have a child that we can look at and say, "if you were the 1st, you would be an only child". Well I thought that I had that child already (love you Avery).... Nope..... this is THAT child!!

I have always joked that Avery was my challenge. Recently I have been joking how Kennedi makes Avery look like an angel. Now I am wondering what it will be like in 2 years.... will Kennedi look like the angel???

"Weeee," says Kennedi!

2010-05-23T13:13:00.007-04:00

The other day Chris and I went shopping. Chris LOVES to shop!! (Can you sense the sarcasm)? Actually he doesnt mind it and I do not have him go with me too often but Kennedi really needed some things to play with outside. She is really hurting for the big things.

We headed to a few consignment stores and sales and we did pretty good. We still have a few things on the list that we want to get her but she was excited to see one thing we got.

checking out her new slide...

it took her about 20 seconds to figure out what to do

here she goes!

climbing back up, the wrong way of course!

yes, I know I cut off half her body. I wanted to get a picture of her new teva's. I spent a lot of money of these (a whole 1.00 at the sale) so I wanted to be sure I got a picture. She loves them and they have ladybugs all over the straps.

Is that all it takes???

2010-05-22T21:18:00.007-04:00

So you ask (well maybe you didn't).... Why do you not have very many pictures of the boys and tons of Kennedi????

Well that is a very easy answer!!

Whenever I try to take a picture of the boys they usually turn out like this....
Keep in mind that I am using tame pictures for fear that the boys will kill me if I used some of the ones I have taken!

or this...

but then you throw in a girl and the pictures become quite nice!!

this is a picture of Conner and his girlfriend before heading into the movies...

Poor Cat!

2010-05-22T21:09:00.005-04:00

Ok so not really poor cat but having a long haired cat (which I will never have again) requires some maintenance from time to time. My poor wallet!!! Much more often than I would like or than we even do but he still needs some upkeep.

Here is a before picture of 13 year old Cotton..... Yes its a bad picture but you try telling a cat to stay.

And after spending the day at PetSmart grooming area...

he is still a little wet.....

looks more like a wet rat now!

Whoa, you mean he is not the fat cat that we have believed him to be?!? Amazing!

Ryleigh update.....

2010-05-21T13:21:00.003-04:00

ahhh I cant wait until I can give these updates to a baby that is actually here!! But until I can I guess they are pregnancy updates.

A few weeks ago I talked about my gestational diabetes diagnosis (here it is). When I went back to the doctor last week she looked at my blood sugar levels and they were still pretty high, even after the diet they have me on. So of course what I dreaded was becoming reality and I was put on insulin. When I got to the appointment I had with the diabetes educator she went over everything on how to give myself a shot to the dosage. Whew its really not a low dose at all. But, I am doing as the doctor ordered and taking what they are telling me too.

The educator went over very thoroughly what to do if my levels got too low. So, when I got home I went over with the boys what they needed to do if my levels got to low. They were both good with it and time came to give myself the first shot.

Conner was home at the time and of course he asked if he could give it to me. Hmmm now why would my wonderful 15 year old son WANT to give me a shot?!?! I had to think about it, but, I let him do it anyway. I do admit that he surprised me, he did not hurl it into my arm like it was a dart (yes all scenarios went through my head). He did it nice and gently. I guess if he wanted to be a doctor he needs to get ready to do this stuff.... no wait, he wants to be a doctor so he will rarely need to do this.

I have learned that it is much easier to have the shot in my arm than in my leg. I will have to enlist Conner to help me more often since I cant reach the place in my arm.

OK anyway, so I have been on the insulin for about 2 days now and only once have my levels been in range. In fact, they are higher than they were without the insulin. Most of the time they are higher, I had a scare last night when I tested and it was a 72! It has never been that low. Of course that happened when I put Kennedi to bed, Chris was at work and the boys were at their dads. I called Chris a little freaking out about it and he told me what to do, I listened and when I tested a little while later it was only up to 77.

I guess this is going to be a long 8 weeks and a very up and down roller coaster!!!

Things that make you tear up......

2010-05-18T10:41:00.004-04:00

Today is Kennedi's last day of Children's Morning Out for the year. Yes, that does make me want to cry because I do enjoy my 4 hours of alone time a week but that is about to end in a few weeks anyway.

Kennedi started out the year by crying when I left her and it broke my heart! Soon she would go into the classroom and not cry but still be a little unsure of things. Again, that was hard to watch! There were a few days that I wanted to go back and get her (OK so that feeling did not last too long).

Then, all of a sudden, Kennedi started to reach for her teachers and could not wait to get into that classroom. As nice as that was to see, it made me sad to know that she did not always want or need to be with me. But then again, that did not take long to get over (on my part). I started to enjoy that free time.

Today I brought Kennedi in for her last day and her teachers handed me a photo album of Kennedi throughout the year. They turned to the first page and it really hit me how much she has grown in the past 10 months. I knew not to look at the other pictures until I got into the car (good decision!).

I was so excited to sign her up for next year's CMO because I am going to have her in 2 days a week. I know she will love that! For a few moments I even thought about registering Ryleigh for the infant room. Don't worry, I didn't, at least not yet. I will wait and see how it goes and I can always add her after it starts if they have room.

But here is a video of me flipping through the pages of the photo album. What a difference a few months make in the life of a toddler!!

I wish I had set it to music but it was done in a hurry....

It's raining, it's pouring....

2010-05-11T20:14:00.005-04:00

... ok it was only drizzling, but the kids still had fun....

The boys were out playing soccer in the driveway while Kennedi walked all through their game.

Avery dressed Kennedi in her rain boots and rain jacket. Now what you do not know (but are about to) is that Kennedi had on a shirt and a diaper under that jacket. Avery did not bother to put pants on her....

This is a special rain jacket.... Avery bought it for her when he was shopping while at his dads house. I should add, he bought it with his own money.

Kennedi LOVES this jacket!!

Kennedi and Avery chillin on the couch, having a snack. She wants to be just like her brothers!!

The ones that made me a mom.....

2010-05-09T11:31:00.009-04:00

I am very blessed to have the wonderful kids that I do!!! So proud to be their Mom!!!!

This is the one that started it all!! Oh Conner, I never guessed you would be the bright, witty, athletic young man that you are now.... It has been a joy (most days) to be your mom!!

1994 and 2010 (in his high school baseball uniform)

And then came #2. My little boy with the biggest heart that anyone could have. Ave is smart, athletic and loves to make people laugh!

1997 and 2010 (in his middle school lacrosse uniform)

ahhh and just when I thought I was not going to have any more kids... along came Kennedi. She has added so much to the household! She is such a sweet little "Daddy's girl"!!

pictures taken in 2008 and 2010

and the final (yes, I am sure) addition to the bunch! Arriving soon at a hospital near us....
photo taken 2010

In 2007, I got a package deal... When Chris and I got married I also got Dakota...
Here is a picture off all the crew (well all of them as of 12/2009)

THANK YOU FOR BEING THE BEST KIDS IN THE WORLD!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

2010-05-09T11:13:00.004-04:00

...and this is what I get for trying to make a cute Mother's Day video for Grandma since she is at the beach relaxing on this beautiful Mother's Day.

I wonder if my kids can ever be serious?!?!

Spring concert..... school is almost over!!

2010-05-07T12:43:00.002-04:00

It's May, we have 15 more days of school until summer break and it can't come quick enough!!! I love the end of the school year and I think I love it more than the kids do!!

Last night we had Avery's spring concert for his strings class at school. He is now in his 2nd year playing guitar and he seems to like it. I really would like to do some outside lessons so he can really learn how to play. It has got to me hard to teach a classroom full of kids how to play different stringed instruments.

Here is a video from the other nights performance.....
Avery is in the back row, 2nd person in. Keep watching him... its kinda funny.

Disclaimer on the quality... I was watching Kennedi to my left while trying to record Avery so I did not get the best video.

Here we go again.....

2010-05-07T12:12:00.003-04:00

Yup... it's May and that usually means that Grandma and Papa (my parents) are out of town for awhile. They have been gone for like a week and I have already gotten an email from my dad saying that I am not updating the blog enough. So Dad, this one is for you......

A few months back, in February actually, one of our two dogs left us to go to doggie heaven. It was a little rough on our other dog, Midnight, but she got lots of attention and perked up soon after. About a week or so after we lost Maverick we took Midnight to the vet for her annual exam and shots. She seemed to do well after this but a few days later we got a call from the vet telling us she had heart worms. Ok Lesson here.... DO NOT EVER, I mean NEVER let your dogs monthly heart worm pill lapse!!! I mean not even for a few months.... because a few months (maybe a year) is all it took!!! I know these can be deadly for a dog and we just lost one dog. There is no way we can lose another (is what I was thinking when talking to the vet).

So.... I listened to the vets plan and well... We followed it. Yup, that has meant keeping her in and still for the past month, taking her to the vets for some overnight visits with shots, and lots of medicines.

This week we took Midnight back for her last treatment!!! OK, so she only needed two separate treatments because she was not that far advanced, but it seems like we have been treating her forever.

She came home yesterday with her medicine that she will take for the next 5 days and she is just hanging out in her spot, behind the couch but she seems to be doing well. We have to keep her calm for at least 2 more weeks and then she is good to go and allowed to go out and chase the bunnies, squirrels and deer through the back yard.

I will have to take a few pictures to post of her in her pink bandanna with polka dots that she got from the groomer since she was also groomed while staying with the vet. Now.... we go back in 4-6 months for a retest to be sure they are all gone.

Thankfully, once again, we have a healthy, happy mutt that we love very much!!

Pregnancy update

2010-04-30T16:22:00.003-04:00

I guess I will take a few minutes to update on the pregnancy as of the 29 week mark. Monday of last week I was at the doctors office for my routine 28 week appointment. You know the one where you get to drink the lovely tasting liquid and sit around for an hour waiting for them to draw blood for the glucose tolerance test (I wrote about this a few days ago)...

Well, I failed!!

On Wednesday I was back at the doctor's office drinking even more of the great tasting (sense the sarcasm?) liquid but this time I got to sit around for 3 hours while they drew blood four times. Lucky Chris was not able to go with me since he had to work. He does not like missing my doctors appointments but he did not seem too upset about not being able to sit around for 3 hours with me waiting.

Well, test results came back yesterday and once again... I failed!

This time only 2 out of the 4 tests were elevated but if two or more are raised they treat you as having gestational diabetes. Oh wonderful... bye bye Starbucks, bye bye ice cream, bye bye cookies.... at least for the next 11 weeks.

Maybe she will come early and I will only have to do this for the next 8 weeks or so... wouldn't that be great?!?!

Today I went to the diabetes counseling at the hospital and learned all about gestational diabetes. I also learned that this new way of eating is not going to be too bad. I would not want to do it forever but 11 weeks is nothing!!

So... I have followed the meal plans and eaten when I am supposed to and so far so good. I have to test two hours after every meal and the two times I have had to test I have been in range. Lets hope that continues.

I guess for now every time I want that cookie or that ice cream I will just think about how I birth almost 9 lb babies with out having gestational diabetes and will remember that if its not controlled this baby could be even bigger. That should put and end quickly to me wanting those sweets!!

3-D ultrasound of Ryleigh

2010-04-30T16:12:00.004-04:00

Last night Chris, Avery, my parents and I went to take a look at the cute chubby cheeked ultra sound pictures. Conner opted to stay home, I guess at 15 there are better things to do. I knew that Ryleigh would have some chubby cheeks (all babies do) but wow does she have some chubby cheeks!!

I guess Ryleigh is already learning to yell at her older brothers and sister! A great shot of her hand and arm...
her little itty bitty foot...
I love the way she help her hand under her chin!
Well only 11 more weeks and she will be here! I hope it passes quickly!!

Chris worked most of the day in her nursery getting it ready. He drove to the north side and picked up the furniture, came home and painted the room and then moved all the furniture up to her room. It looks great!! I will take and post pictures of the new room soon. I want to get out and buy the mattress (one of the few things we need to buy this time around) and get the bed set up and then the pictures will come.

Enjoy the first few pictures of the new addition!!

sicknesses and failed tests.....

2010-04-27T21:14:00.003-04:00

What a week, and it is only Tuesday!!!

Conner has bronchitis, Kennedi has an ear infection and I cant pass a darn test to save my life!!

At the moment, Avery is my normal child... wait, have I ever said that before?? Usually, Avery is my challenge or my tough one but right now he is my wonderful one! OK he is always wonderful, just like the others but he likes to throw some kinks in there. He keeps it interesting.

Now... back to the subject....

Many months ago I failed a test, the pregnancy test. OK so that is not really a fail but I was not thrilled about the idea of being pregnant again for the first few months.

Now I got the call that I failed another test....

Yup, that one hour glucose test. I failed! So... now what??

I get to go sit at the doctors for 3 hours tomorrow morning. I know you are jealous, that sounds so fun! To sit there, drink some horrible stuff and get poked with needles for 3 hours!

YAY!!

Whew, now I am used to test anxiety since I suffered from it in school. I think that test anxiety is even worse now knowing that the possibility is there and that I may have to give up some of my favorite things for the next 11 weeks.

Well, I guess we do what we gotta do and in the big picture 11 weeks is not that long but the test anxiety is definitely there!!

Ahh Spring is here!

2010-04-23T18:08:00.002-04:00

and the HOA covenant police is out in full force.

We got an email a few weeks ago saying that there is now a company that will drive through the neighborhood bi-weekly and look for covenant violations. Ahh Fun!

Apparently they had a drive through a few weeks ago. How do I know this you ask?

Well, in the mail today was an envelope with not 1, not 2, but 2 pieces of paper with violations that we are in.

SHAME, SHAME on us!!

We are such rule breakers!!! Let's see..... we have to trim the hedges in front of the house (OK this was done last weekend so I guess they are a little slow at getting the letters out). Hmm what was #2.... oh yeah, we have to "refresh" the pine straw around the trees and in front of our house. Ok, I guess I will go out and kick up a little of the straw to "refresh" it. This last one made me laugh! I do not know why but it did..... This is a biggie!!!

We have weeds in the yard!!!

Can you believe that?? How dare us have weeds in the yard!!! Drive around the neighborhood.... it's spring and 80% of the yards have weeds. The ones that don't are in phase 1 and the Bermuda has choked them all out. At least the weeds are green (unlike much of the yards in the neighborhood)!!!

Yes, we pay for these people to ride around and tell us these things!!

Ahhh a day in the life of neighborhood living!!!

Her 1st Bad Word!!!!!

2010-04-17T20:41:00.005-04:00

I really thought that Kennedi would be much older when she said her first bad word but I am not that fortunate!

This cute little girl... (yes the picture was taken last fall)

at the age of 20 months.... said her 1st bad word!!

She came out and said.....

GO DAWGS!!!!!!

Needless to say.... Daddy was thrilled and Mommy was not happy!!!

We will be working on her saying WAR EAGLE a little clearer than she says it now...Hopefully she understood when I told her Go Dawgs was a bad word and she could get her mouth washed out with soap (OK I am kidding, I will wait a few years to do that).

We are now truly.....

A mini vacation

2010-04-13T15:31:00.006-04:00

Chris and I told each other that for our big birthdays we were not going to do the party thing but instead we were going to plan a trip. When we decided this we both (or at least I) had images in my head of a warm beach, a nice drink, and an island far, far, away.

But.... Chris and I took a trip to New Orleans as his 40th birthday trip. He had never been there and I had not been there since I was in middle school. We took Kennedi to Grandma and Papa's house and the boys were with their dad this year for break and off we went for a three day mini vacation.

The view from our room on the 40th floor.

the view from Bourbon Street... well a view that is appropriate for a blog.

one of the many pictures Chris took on the street car.

We had a great time!! I miss the beignets already and we can't wait to go back again!! Hopefully, next time we can fit it in with the kids schedules and take them with us!!

Kennedi is doing so much!!

2010-04-07T09:00:00.001-04:00

Wow, she is getting so big and way too fast. I do not remember the boys growing this quickly!!

Now she is....

*20 months old
*signing about 45 words (maybe more)
*repeating many words (guess its time to watch what we say)
*is a very picky eater
*loves sweets
*can run, jump, hop like a bunny and climb up just about anything
*goes NUTS when she sees anything Dora
*does not like to go to bed (I guess she doesn't want to miss anything)
*plays with her baby dolls (and is such a good mommy until she drop them on their head)
*loves her brothers and is now saying A-E (Avery) all the time (Conner is trying so hard to get her to say Conner)
*loves animals
*has gone to the bathroom on her potty 3 times
*is VERY stubborn (we are not saying where she gets that from)

....and seems to do something new everyday!!

ahhh Spring Break!!!!

2010-04-06T18:31:00.005-04:00

... OK so Spring break is not much different for me. This year the boys are with their dad (and went to Florida) so it's just Kennedi and me (and Chris when he is not at work). So, aside from the boys I guess this week is no different than any other one.

We have had a lot of fun so far, and it's only Tuesday!

Sunday of course was Easter. I know that I am slacking with not having put any pictures up from that, yet. It is coming but I guess it will be a little out of order (sorry).

Today Kennedi and I met my sister and her grandson at the zoo. It was a nice day to go, it was not too hot while we were there but it was crowded!! I guess Spring Break is not the best time to hit the zoo...

my sister took the next 2 pictures....

I now realize how bad Kennedi needs a haircut.

Kennedi is trying on her cousin, Ryan's, Mickey hat.

We saw lots of animals.

look close and you can see the lion's feet on top of the rock.

the panda eating her bamboo.

We even got to pet a few in the petting zoo area. Kennedi loved that area!

Kennedi checking out the pig

She did not know which one to go pet. She loved the animals!

It was a fun day and Kennedi was tired when we left. She took about a 3 1/2 hour nap (ahh nice).

hmmm what to do tomorrow to tire her out just as much?!?!

ALL ABOUT AVE......

2010-04-03T16:29:00.002-04:00

Ahhh Avery, my last son, my middle child.... This one's for you!!!

This past Thursday was week 4 of Lacrosse games but the 1st one that Ave played in. Week 1 and 3 were rained out and week 2 was not such a good week for Avery. I did not let him play in that game because he got in trouble in school.

Yes.... I know.... those of you that know Avery in "real life" are shocked!! I was too!! I mean, my perfect, little, timid, shy, son...... in trouble at school???? NO WAY!!!

Ok so really... I am shocked this was the first time he was ever written up.... he is in 7th grade... he made it this far?! But he did get in trouble so no lacrosse on week 2.

Ahh week 4 and all is good!! Well the outcome of the game could have been better but it was a beautiful day, Chris was able to watch it and even Conner went (so, I did not give Conner a choice). Avery played OK, he has played much better but hey.. it's his 1st game of the season!! I cant wait until the next game (where I will be sure to take lots more pictures)!

Oh.... and another sweet thing about Avery. He maybe ALL BOY but he really is my sweet kid!! He came home and said he went to a thrift store when we was at his dad's house and he got something for Kennedi... with him own money may I add.....

While pulling it out he says, "mom you know how Kennedi likes to play in the rain.... well now she can" and out comes a rain coat, IN HER SIZE and its a LADYBUG!!!!!! How awesome is that?!?!

Now when Kennedi wants to play in the rain (which is just about every time it rains) she will be able to... and in style!!!

THANK YOU AVERY!!!!!

Sports and School.... and SUMMER!!

2010-03-25T10:16:00.004-04:00

I am a little bummed right now, baseball is coming to an end. The high school season is over on Saturday after the boys double header. I have really enjoyed watching Conner (well the whole team really) play this season. I wish it was a longer season but I know that next year on JV and then after that on Varsity it goes longer.

Conner had a workout last night with one of the travel teams here. I guess the downtime will not be too long before he starts with baseball again. He was accepted to play on the travel team and will only have a month off before starting over with summer ball. We are new to all the travel baseball team stuff but I am excited for him to keep playing. He grew up only playing rec ball. I wish we started him in travel ball a lot earlier but we didn't and all I can do is learn for when the girls are involved in sports. It is so competitive down here (most sports are) that the kids really need to play at a high level earlier.

But anyway, he is on to travel ball this summer. I need to call and get all the details on it but I do know that most weekends will be spent on the ball field. That will be fun once July hits and I have a toddler and a newborn out there watching big brother play. I told Conner that I may miss a tournament but my goal is to only miss that first one after the baby is born.

Ahh summer ball means summer is almost here. We have less than 9 weeks left of school. I CAN'T WAIT!!! It has been a rough year since Christmas break (with Avery). I was up at school yesterday with an impromptu meeting but it was actually a great meeting and I really think he is on course to end the school year on the right foot. He is so smart and such a little boy! He was so relaxed going to school this morning and that has not happened much the past few months.

Tonight is a lacrosse game for Avery but unfortunately he is at his dads house and they will not let him play. It is supposed to rain/thunderstorm here today and I am hoping it is going to so that Avery doesn't have to miss his game. Well I want it to rain for both Avery and my sinuses. I can't wait to see him on the lacrosse field next week at his game. He is excited about getting out there!

Well I guess that is all for now... wanted to update on the week and I am sure I will update again this weekend after the last baseball game!! SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE!!!

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!

2010-03-20T20:03:00.003-04:00

LORDY, LORDY...

LOOK WHO'S 40!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YUP... Chris turned the big 4-0 today!!

And we hope you had a wonderful day!!!

A busy busy weekend!!

2010-03-20T20:00:00.000-04:00

Chris had this whole weekend off. It was wonderful!

Of course I think he did it so that he could relax on his birthday....
but wait....

Chris can never relax!!!

So instead we took all day Friday and got the kids rooms changed out (well mostly on Friday).

So if you follow.... here you go...

Conner went down to the main level in what was the guest room...
Kennedi went into Conner's old room...
Avery went into Kennedi's old room...
The baby will be in Avery's old room...

While each room was vacant we painted 2 of the rooms. WHEW what a day...

Here are some pictures of the way the rooms look now...
I do not have any pictures of Conner's room. It already looks like the room of a 15 year old boy!

Avery's new room...

Avery's new room... window view

Kennedi's new room

Kennedi's new room

the soon to be nursery. We will paint when the bedding comes in, currently on back order.

It's a good one!

2010-03-18T15:32:00.002-04:00

As many of you know, I read a few blogs from time to time and one that I really like is written by Mama M. Today I loved the post she wrote about! It is about.....

BEING CATHOLIC!!

What a wonderful time of year for her to write about it as we approach Easter. There actually have been many times that I wanted to write about being Catholic and have not figured out a way to do it. Religion, like politics can be a sticky subject to write about.

Growing up in the north (well north of where I am now) most of the people I knew were Catholic. Moving back down south 14 years ago I was one of the few. Of course there are many more Catholics here now (at least where I live) but I still get "those looks" or the comment of, "oh, you are one of those" when some people find out that I am Catholic.

I wish I could claim it all as my writing, but I can't so click here and hop on over to her blog for a great read!!

HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY DAD/PAPA!!

2010-03-14T20:59:00.007-04:00

Last night most of the family got together to celebrate my dad's 75th birthday. It was not a surprise, at his age do you even want to surprise them anymore? You never know how it will end up. Just kidding!

When Chris and I were pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant we saw this...
\
It was so pretty!

The rain had cleared and all that was left was a beautiful and huge rainbow. You could also see the other end but by the time I took the pictures it had faded a lot.

This was all of us who were able to make it..... One of my sisters could not make it. She was out of town visiting her oldest son for his birthday (which is 2 days before my dad's). We missed ya Karen!

and of course one of my dad (and mom)

Aunt Beth entertained Kennedi almost the whole time. Kennedi LOVES her! I think they both had a blast. I did feel bad when Beth could not even eat her dinner without Kennedi on her lap. I just hope Kennedi did not eat all of Beth's food!!!!

Kennedi and her napkin kerchief. It was adorable and she actually kept it on her head for quite awhile.

....after that my camera battery died. Figures that I forgot to charge it.

It was a great time!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

Registration already?!?!

2010-03-08T20:46:00.003-05:00

I got home a little while ago from two meetings at C's high school. I cant believe it is time for registration for next year already!! This year has flown by and I am really hoping that the next three years slow down. I don't even want to think about the first child being out of the house and in college!

The first meeting tonight was the informational meeting about the AP classes being offered next year. I already had an idea on what was going to be offered for upcoming 10th graders when Conner came home from school last week and told me they met with counselors and that he had his 4 year plan in motion.

That kid is amazing! He knows the hard schedule that he maybe facing the next three years and he sounds like he is so ready for it. I have to say that I am ready for him to be challenged! My fear is that he will enter college with not having to study a whole lot and then have to learn quickly. I am thinking that I do not have to worry about that too much longer.

As of right now, and this won't be firmed up until next week, he is looking at a schedule like this:
Math 2 and Math 3 (fall semester and spring semester)
AP Psychology (if he is accepted in that one)
weight training (hey he has to have one class like this)
AP European History (this one is year long)
Spanish 3 (semester long)
Advanced Lit (semester long)

Whew... that is a lot. I think it helps that we are on block scheduling and he only has 4 classes each semester.

When he came home last week to tell me that he will double up on Math in 10th grade so his senior year he can take AP Statistics I about threw up. I love math and it was always one of my best subjects... until I took Stats!! That is one class that I hoped I would never have to deal with again. He also told me he was taking Chemistry next year and skipping Physical Science so that in his senior year he can take Anatomy.

I think that the counselor was really helpful since he already has his idea of what he wants to do with the rest of his life. I know this may change 100 times between now and senior year (and that is OK. Shoot I don't know what I want to do when I grow up!) but he has had the same dream since he was in elementary school.

...and the winner is!!!

2010-03-05T11:43:00.004-05:00

After A LOT of back and forth about which furniture set to get we have decided. It is now set in stone! Chris drove the hour north this morning (while I stayed home with a sick baby) to put some money down and order it.

We chose the white crib, 5 drawer dresser, combo dresser and hutch because of the hand carved detail on the sides. It just made it look VERY girly!! If you click on the picture it will come up bigger and you can see the detail. I LOVE it!

We also picked (or the boys picked) who was going to move their bedroom downstairs on the main floor. Conner got that wish. Avery was good with it once we said that the bathroom HAD to stay clean since its the main floor bathroom.

Now on the to do list is...

*clean out guest bedroom and get Conner's bedroom things down there

*paint Conner's old room and get it ready for Kennedi to move into (I will have to do another post on the ideas we have for her big girl room. Well big girl room but still in a crib thankfully).

*paint Kennedi's nursery and get it ready for Avery to move into. Yes sadly that means painting over the ladybugs and dragonflies, remember those? I think the GT room that Avery wants would look a little silly with the mural in there now.

*paint Avery's old room and get it ready for the baby's nursery

all this in the next 8 weeks before the nursery furniture comes in!

Whew that is A LOT of painting... does anyone like to paint?!?!? anyone... anyone???

Now some may ask, "why move all the rooms?"

Conner and Avery had a Jack and Jill bath and now that Conner is going downstairs it makes a lot more sense for the little girls to grow up sharing a bathroom. Avery will now have his own bathroom in his room and Conner will have the bathroom downstairs.

I figure as soon as we get the boys settled and the other rooms done we will have a buyer for the old house and be bale ti finish the basement. When this happens we will once again move the boys rooms (if they still want) into the basement for their own "teen suite".

Avery's Creation....

2010-03-03T07:14:00.003-05:00

Avery is proof that you are never too old for Lego's! Now that Lego has sets for ages 14 and 16 and above he once again believes you are never too old.

He has let his grades slip a little bit so he has been grounded from the fun things but we have spent a lot of time doing this....

This is the Fire Brigade... It was like 3000 pieces (or something like that). He got it for Christmas this year and it took us about a month to finish it. Of course we did not work on it everyday but when we did he would sit for hours. Yes, my ADD child can sit for hours while working on Legos (I don't quite get it).

and here is the proud creator!!

If you look closely you will see the date on the top is 1632. Yes, we saw that it should be 1932. We laughed when we noticed the upside down 9. I guess this town was very advanced for having a building like this in the 1600's (and a firetruck).

I need to somehow get pictures of the inside. It is so detailed! There is a ping pong table, refrigerator, the fireman's pole, couch, and a cook. Its pretty amazing!!

GOOD JOB AVERY!!

So many decisions!!

2010-03-02T19:20:00.004-05:00

I think the more kids you have, the harder decisions seem to be.

Chris and I have picked out a name, but the spelling is another story.

In July, either...

Rylee Grace
or
Ryleigh Grace

Will join our family..... She will be the 17th or maybe 18th grandchild for my family. She will have a few great-grand kids (not hers of course, but my parents) that are older than she is. She will be the 8th grandchild on my husbands side. This is also the LAST child that Chris and I will have biologically.

We thought we would let the boys decide on the spelling (out of those two) for us. They both love the name but again, when it came to the spelling, one liked the first spelling and of course the other liked the second spelling. I guess I was lucky that they both even liked the name!

But the spelling is not the only ~~hard~~ decision that we are having trouble making.

When Kennedi was on her way, Chris and I knew that we wanted light baby furniture for her room. This time it is not so clear. We have gone back and forth trying to decide. We finally went shopping and we found two sets we really liked...

of course,
one is dark

and the other light...

And I am very torn as to which one to get!

... and don't get me started on the baby bedding! There are some we like if we go with the dark set and those we like if we go with the light set.

Whew decisions... decisions...

I won't even start to think about what color to paint the walls yet!

High School Baseball!

2010-02-26T16:36:00.003-05:00

Conner started playing baseball (well t-ball) at 4. When I would go to his practices and games we had to drive past the 13/14 fields and I thought to myself many times, "Wow it is going to be forever until Conner is old enough to play here but so much fun to watch because by then he will KNOW baseball".

Well I blinked and he was on those fields.....

I blinked again and he was in high school!!

Yesterday was another day that many parents I know have been waiting for. The first time to watch my son play baseball in his high school uniform and on his high school field.

Well the game was away so tomorrow will be the high school field moment.

I have to admit my eyes got watery when I saw him in his uniform ready to play the game!

CONGRATULATIONS CONNER!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!