Family Fun Fair 2009

Here are the pics of our family at this years Annual General Mills Family Fun Fair. I must say that it was much, MUCH better than last years. The weather was even better, hot and sunny, with a few brief periods of cloudiness....better than cool rain last year. Of course Kris did the new version of the dunk tank again and the kids had a blast dunking Daddy.

Can you tell who is the one that takes after daddy?

At first the water was COLD!

The next few pictures are of each of the kids near the horses....Drew and Elaine liked them, Izzy stayed as far away as I would let her, and Evan didn't care.

The kids seemed to enjoy the slide the best. AND I think that is where we spend most of our time.

Wouldn't this be a fun wagon to have?

Right before we left Kris had the older kids and had left his funnel cake sitting on top of the canopy to Evans parts of the stroller....and me, completely not thinking, closed the canopy sending the funnel cake flipping upside down and all the powdered sugar went into the mess and all over Evan. He was a sweaty sticky mess.

All and all we had a good time.

Little escapees

The above picture is Drew....he learned VERY early on how to lean out of the bouncy seat and get to things that he wanted. Most of the time it was into the dishwasher. It seems like Evan is finally taking after him in the escaping. The next few pictures where taken right before I hopped into the shower this morning. Evan recently decided that he doesn't like sitting in this chair. I only ever put him in it when I am in the shower. I really do make sure that he has toys. But today he wanted the trash. EW....bathroom trash. I am so glad that the straps are tight....he could have flipped himself right out.

The Dora Slide

Last night Kris decided to get out the Dora Slide. It is a Dora version of a little Slip n' Slide. The kids love it. Then somehow Evan ended up in it. I don't recall how the conversation went, and let's just say he didn't like it, but as you can tell from the picture of him wet and in Kris' arms...he sure liked it when he was done.

Kindergarden graduation for Drew

I know that this is LONG overdue, but I really havne't felt much like blogging lately. I just like to read everyone elses stuff. BUT at last I know that some people have been asking for more pictures. I really thought that I had a better handle on the camera taking, but I didn't. I can't believe that I didn't take more pictures....even at home. I will try to do better, not promising just trying.

Wow Drew has graduated from Kindergarten. Can you believe it? I am so excited for him.
We had the Grandma, and Kris' parents here for the big day. We always let the kids pick out what food we eat for dinner or lunch when it is a special day for them. Drew wanted Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwich's....for everyone. He was even insisting that everyone had to eat ALL of the crust. He held his ground until the day before and then Kris managed to talk him to giving everyone a choice of Peanut butter and Jelly or meat. Boy was I ever grateful. Everything went great. He kept telling me that he was going to make me cry....AND I kept replying that I wasn't.....who was right? DREW was. I tried to hold it back, but I couldn't.
Here is when Drew got to "walk the bridge" to first grade, get his Kindergarten diploma and shake hands with the teacher. I think he forgot about the shaking hands part, he just kept trying to pull the paper out of her hand, it was like a little mini-tug of war.

Such an excited boy.

Just a little something Kris and him do.

This is Karina and Drew. We have mentioned her before. They are buds. Right after this picture was taken she turned to Drew and laid a big fat kiss right on his cheek.

Drew and Mrs. Anderson....I could not have dreamed of a better teacher for Drew!

My how people love to tag me.

I've been tagged again! These are pretty fun :)

A - Age: 30-not for too much longer
B - Bed size: queen. And sometimes it still doesn't seem big enough
C - Chore you hate: catbox, putting clothes away
D – Dessert: AH...yeah....all of them...tonight it was Bread Pudding from Famous Daves!
E – Essential(s) to start your day: Thyroid meds
F - Favorite flower: Orchids and Lillies
G- Gold or Silver: Silver, I guess, or white gold or platnium
H - Height: 5 feet and 4 inches
I - Instruments you play(ed): People beg me not to
J - Job you had in high school: Receiptionist at a hair place
K - Kid(s): Elaine 8, Drew-6, Izzy 4, and Evan-8 months
L - Lunch spots: my own kitchen
M - Mom's Name: Lynne
N - Newest item bought: crayons, craft sticks, stuff to make cheesecake, milk and chips.
O - Overnight hospital stay: 4 kids
P - Pet Peeve: when someone answers a question with a question....yes I do it too.
Q- Quote from a movie: Savor it
R - Right or left handed: Left
S - Siblings: Tyler
T - Time you wake up: when the kids are in school and on Sundays it is 7:20 with one hit of the snooze bar.....other days whenever
U - Underarm deodorant?: The Dove clinical one.....very good
V - Very surprising fact: I don't like surprises....other than that baby shower
W - Ways you run late: kids can't find there shoes, or Kris forgot to let the dog out
X - X-rays you've had: teeth, CT of head 2 times, ankles a lot
Y - Yummy food you make: garlic chicken
Z - Zoo animal: otters

I tag:
Tiffany

Oh and I promise I really do have pictures and other fun things to post....It will wait.

Taggged

People must know that I love these things....and this one is super short.

1. What is your favorite color? it varies...somedays its red, others yellow, I am doing orange a lot lately.
2. What is your favorite song? God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood
3. What did you do this month, that was your favorite? saw Drew graduate from Kindergarden
4. What is your favorite candy? Candy? Favorite....I love it all!
5. What is something that you really want to learn to do? quilt, play the piano, and knit
6. What is your favorite flower? orchids and lillies
7. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Europe without flying over the ocean

I tag...

everyone....if you're reading it....fill it out!

Evans first haircut

Evan just got his first haircut last night. I have trimmed the top before just to keep it even. Then sides were driving me CRAZY! In these first 2 pictures you can see how it sicks over his ears really bad on his left side.

We stuck him in the Bumbo chair and put a cape over him....you have to catch as much of the hair as possible so they don't itch. We had Drew holding Evans hands under the cape and Kris manning the camera..... soon enough Kris had to hold Evans head and Elaine was manning the camera. He did great! Never once cried, just wanted to see what was going on. I like it so much better!

<
ALL DONE!

That'll teach him!

Evan doesn't like to feed himself......I figured this would work......it did wonders. He is truly one of the family now....he loves Oreo's. Are we supposed to feed them to him this young? I don't remember...no citrus, no strawberries, no real cows milk, and no nuts...right? Oreo's okay then? I think so.

Memorial Day Weeknd

We have had a great and very busy weekend. Starting Friday night we somehow managed to go out with some friends. It was a milestone for us....the first time leaving all, yes ALL of the kids with teenagers for babysitting! I must say they did a great job. Then on Saturday I got to shop the sales for a good part of the day....loved it, and I was very good at keeping to my list. Sunday after church we headed up to Edgerton to see Aunt Dawn and Uncle Brian, and we were so happy to see that even more of the extended family made it out too. It great catching up with everyone. I managed, or Kris managed to catch just a few pictures. I am hoping that next time we have a family thing we remember to get more pictures of everyone instead of just us. BUT hey at least I remebered the camera this time. Then on Monday we went to a VERY yummy pancake breakfast at a park with everyone from Church. We even had Waffles with this homemade Strawberry Syurp....delisous.....I asked for the recipe....simple....blend fresh strawberries and sugar....lots of sugar. It was suggested that I use between 1 and 1 1/2 cups of sugar for a normal size thing of strawberries, grocery store size, not Costco size. It is worth it.... I could of just drank the entire bottle. Here are a few pics from Sunday at the campground.



Izzy was already asleep on the way to the campground.....and boy they all were tired on the way home.

Elaine and Drew playin together.

Great Grandma Shirly and Great Aunt Jo with Evan

Grandma and Evan

The boy's

Evan was sitting with Kris at the computer and Drew decided to join in....so here is a pic of "THE BOYS".

Congradulations Kris!

Kris recently graduated from his Master's Program....Engineering Management, from Eastern Michigan University. We very excited to have it over with! Here are 3 pictures of the our party....yes only 3. Remember, I suck at being the camera man. I did try to get a picture of him grilling, but he put a stop to that fast, and so instead of trying so hard to be a good camera man I decided to join the party instead.

Letter to President

I couldn't have said this better myself. Do you people still support him like the once did???? There is just something about him.....I don't get it. I did try to call Kathleen, and it is a real #, but no one answered.

April 27, 2009

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington , DC 20500

Mr. Obama:

I have had it with you and your administration, sir. Your conduct on your recent trip overseas has convinced me that you are not an adequate representative of the United States of America collectively or of me personally.

You are so obsessed with appeasing the Europeans and the Muslim world that you have abdicated the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America. You are responsible to the citizens of the United States.

You are not responsible to the peoples of any other country on earth. I personally resent that you go around the world apologizing for the United States telling Europeans that we are arrogant and do not care about their status in the world. Sir, what do you think the First World War and the Second World War were all about if not the consideration of the peoples of Europe? Are you brain dead? What do you think the Marshall Plan was all about?

Do you not understand or know the history of the 20th century? Where do you get off telling a Muslim country that the United States does not consider itself a Christian country? Have you not read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States? This country was founded on Judeo-Christian ethics and the principles governing this country, at least until you came along, come directly from this heritage. Do you not understand this?

Your bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia is an affront to all Americans. Our President does not bow down to anyone, let alone the king of S audi Arabia. You don't show20Great Britain, our best and one of our oldest allies, the respect they deserve yet you bow down to the king of Saudi Arabia . How dare you, sir! How dare you!

You can't find the time to visit the graves of our greatest generation because you don't want to offend the Germans but make time to visit a mosque in Turkey . You offended our dead and every veteran when you give the Germans more respect than the people who saved the German people from themselves. What's the matter with you?

I am convinced that you and the members of your administration have the historical and intellectual depth of a mud puddle and should be ashamed of yourselves, all of you. You are so self-righteously offended by the big bankers and the American automobile manufacturers yet do nothing about the real thieves in this situation, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Frank, Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelic, the Fannie Mae bonuses, and the Freddie Mac bonuses. What do you intend to do about them? Anything? I seriously doubt it.

What about the U.S. House members passing out $9.1 million in bonuses to their staff members - on top of the $2.5 million in automatic pay raises that lawmakers gave themselves? I understand the average House aide got a 17% bonus. I took a 5% cut in my pay to save jobs with my employer.

You haven't said anything about that. Who authorized that? I surely didn't! Executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be receiving $210 million in bonuses over an eighteen-month period, that's $45 million more than the AIG bonuses. In fact, Fannie and Freddie executives have already been awarded $51 million - not a bad take. Who authorized that and why haven't you expressed your outrage at this group who are largely responsible for the economic mess we have right now.

I resent that you take me and my fellow citizens as brain-dead and not caring about what you idiots do. We are watching what you are doing and we are getting increasingly fed up with all of you. I also want you to know that I personally find just about everything you do and say to be offensive to every one of my sensibilities. I promise you that I will work tirelessly to see that you do not get a chance to spend two terms destroying my beautiful country.

Sincerely,

Every Real American

P.S. I rarely ask that emails be 'passed around'.............


PLEASE SEND THIS TO YOUR EMAIL LIST......it's past time for all Americans to wake up!

Ms Kathleen Lyday
Fourth Grade Teacher
Grandview Elementary School
11470 Hwy. C
Hillsboro, MO 63050
(636) 944-3291 Phone
(636) 944-3870 Fax

Quilt give-a-way

Well we all know that I L.O.V.E. a good quilt! AND here is one that is super cute. Check out her blog by fallowing the link below and sign up to win this one! Of course you will be able to view all the picutes of it. For those of you who have seen my house....wouldn't that yellow just be perfect with my walls?

Izzy and Evan well-child checks

Last week sometime....or maybe even the week before that. Izzy and Evan had their 4 year and 6 months well child checks. Here are the stats..... Izzy is 41 1/2 (80%) inches and 39 lbs (80%). Evan is 17 lbs 1/2 oz (45%) and 28 inches (90%) with the head circumference in the 25%. I forgot to ask about the actual measurement of it. So Evan is going to be a giraffe tall, skinny, with a little head....still cute.....still very cute.

Kids say the oddest things

Elaine has been quite the family funny one lately. It seems present itself on Friday's. Last Friday we were making Pizza and getting ready to have some friends over for homemade pizza and Family Movie Night.....she comes running into the kitchen and say "Oh no my toe nail is rotten." I'm thinking a rotten toenail???? What? Now you have to know Elaine we should have named her Melvin (from Madagascar) she is the family Hypochondriac . BUT she wasn't freaking out, so I checked her toe out and sure enough.....she had dirt stuck under her toenail. I thought it was hilarious....toenail rotting!

The next one just a bit ago.....we were getting the kids ready for bed, story, and family prayer. Izzy and Drew were ready (like always) we were waiting for Elaine and had started story without her.....we hear her making these noises from the bathroom.....continuously making this noise. BUT we don't think anything of it, it is Elaine after all. Then out of the blue she says "Hey I just accidentally burped the alphabet." Kris and I busted out laughing and I was trying to tell her that she needs to act like a lady. It isn't funny to burp the alphabet. Who ever heard of such of a thing?

Easter

Here is our Easter. Before Church I did the girls hair. They had been begging me to make it curly. We tried to get a few pictures of the kids together, but you can tell how that went. The kids were very excited about the new Easter clothes that Grandma Lynne and Grandpa Mark sent them. Poor Evan....I could barley button the onsie he had on. He is growing fast!

After Church we had an egg hunt in the front yard. The picture that is just of the yard has eggs scattered in the grass, but it is hard to see them. AND yes, those are trick or treat bags......they were handy.

In the afternoon we had Grandma Sylvia, Uncle Carl, Aunt Sandy, Aunt Teddy and Uncle Garry over for Easter dinner...it was very YUMMY.....I just love ham.

Evan loved Aunt Teddy....it was his first time meeting her. He was fascinated with a bow that she had on her shirt. Even to point of trying to eat it. I think that he loved the black and white contrast as well as the silky texture to it.

All in all we had a great time. Even if everyone was tired. At the end of dinner we just sat around being tired. No games like I wanted. I didn't even think about it....too tired.

Major catch up

So I have been sick....a bit ago I posted about it being my anniversary and being sick...well pretty much since then I have been sick. I get sick, go to the doctors, get on antibiotics, I am good for about 2 weeks, spend those 2 weeks catching up on things around the house, then get sick again and the entire thing starts over. Kris mentioned to me a few weeks that the first page of the blog just had pics of Evan and Elaine. Well, Evan is a baby so naturally there a more updates of him. AND it was Elaine's Birthday and Baptism so those where significant events to have blogs about. I didn't want to just download pics to blog about them and with being sick I either didn't want to sit down at the computer or spend the time that it would take to be cute with blogs about each of them. SO the next couple entries I think have me up to date without spending the entire night blogging.

The kids just had spring break and we spent a couple of days up in Appleton with Aunt Dawn-had a great time, and then went to Michigan for a couple of day....it was great seeing old friends there too. AND you guessed it....I forgot the camera both time! I need a post-it reminder note stuck on the garage door or something.

Izzy is now 4!!!

I can't believe that she is 4, I think that she will always feel like my baby because I had her as the youngest for so long. Here are few pics from the day. She was very excited about her birthday, she plans it for a year. Even telling everyone what she wants......when people ask her, she tells them, and the funny thing about it, she makes sure that she tells each person something different. She wanted a Dora sleeping bag from Mom and Dad, a Dora swimsuit from Grandma Lynne, and a backpack and a deck of cards with numbers on them from Michelle. Too funny.

Evan and Squash

Evan started eating veggies! I was really spotty when feeding him cereal...at first he loved it and then when I hadn't feed him in (cereal that is) for a few days he decided that he didn't like to eat anymore. So here is the chain of events.

Getting ready to give some squash for the first time.

Isn't this face hilarious! "What is this?" Don't worry he was reacting that way to the cereal too...it even got to the point that if I put him in the high chair and put a spoon towards him he would gag at the sight of it. But we kept trying.

AND the next few he is trying so hard to ignore the spoon and the food.

"Oh your done...I can be happy with that."

Drew and the glasses

I went up to the spare room for some reason over spring break....I found Drew's glasses on the floor missing a lens and all bent up. I asked him what happened and why they where on the floor in the spare room? He shows me as he is standing by his bed, that they fell off and the lens fell out so he tossed them in there. We had a big discussion about how if he breaks them he needs to tell mom or dad so that we can go and get them fixed. I was pretty mad and I kid you not I told the kids that they had find the missing lens or no one was getting dinner (or something like that). Later on Elaine came up to me and said "Mom don't remember I tried to give you a piece of glass awhile ago and you told me to put it in the trash?" OH YES, I do remember....and it was shaped oddly like one of the lens from his glasses. JUST GREAT! I told my own kid to throw it away??? I need to pay more attention. I guess I just let them run the show when I am sick... Kris had to go in and get an eye examine...so now they are fixed but the above pic was right before they headed out the door.

Spring....maybe?

A few weeks ago it got pretty warm and we let the kids get the bikes and ride them. I miss it....it was nice even it it was just a tease.

Rollerskating party at school

Way back a long time ago...Elaine and Drew both had rollerskating parties at school. For part of the gym program they rent skates for the kids to use at P.E. for two weeks at the end of that they have a Saturday party, the kids get to skate with there classmates and then when the next group comes in they get to go to the cafeteria for pizza and cookies! THEY LOVE IT!!! Here are a few pics from that. Drew's party was first and I forgot the camera....good thing I ran into someone who was willing to take a few pictures and then email them to me. I did remember to bring the camera for Elaine's party.

I got tagged!
THE RULES:Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.Step 2: tag—other people.

Make a list of things you can see without getting up: all the kids toys, the stamp cabinet, train table, 2 lights, a computer desk, rocking chair, easel, doll house.....and a lot more!

Favorite football team: I totally love my husband so I do like the Bears, I think it is rubbing off. I used to like the Packers.....I really don't care much about either but when you are around people who get REALLY into it...it does rub off onto you.

What are you wearing now? my new green bathrobe....it is so nice to have something clean and not stained with who knows what.

What’s the last thing you read/are currently reading? I am still working on Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, a parenting magazine and O.

Do you nap a lot? not enough

Who was the last person you hugged? Kris

What’s your current obsession/addiction? Finding the best combination of web codes in order to get the best deal at Victoria Secrets.com.....I will let you know if the new nursing bra is great or not.

What was the last thing you said aloud? I said Good-bye to Kris over the phone

What Web sites do you always visit when you go online? In this order too......email, myspace, blog, facebook, and then whatever else I feel like at the time.

What was the last thing you bought? shirts, bathing suits and a bra from Victoria Secrets.com....yesterday I did some shopping and came out wit a Cupcake cookbook, a new nut chopper, and some face soap for Kris.

What are you listening to right now? the static sound coming from the computer speakers.

What is something you wish you could do more? enjoy more time out with the kids doing fun kids stuff.

What gives you hope? I am young....and I have time to work it out.

What is your favorite weather, and why? love the high 60's. Occasionally the low 70....but then I think I might have a heat stroke or something. CA is going to kill me in August.

What time do you usually get up? 7:15 or so for the kids to get ready and out the door for school.

What is your most challenging goal right now? not marching myself into the Bishops office and crying over the Sunbeams.

If you could have a house–totally paid for, fully furnished–anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? I envision myself living in a lot of different places.....tonight it is a country home farther south.

Favorite vacation spot? my own bed right now

What is your favorite children’s book? I ain't gonna paint no more.

Name one thing you just can’t resist no matter how bad it is for you: chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate...and salty things.

Have you ever met anyone famous? I am sure I have, but right now I am not remembering it.

If you could have any job in the world , what would it be? as a career it would have to be something involving medicine or research ....the fun kind of research.....

What was the last thing you ate? chocolate chip cookies

If you had $500 in your hand right now.... what would you do with it? have a lot of in Michigan with friends

If you didn't have a job or go to school what would you do with your time? read books, I want to go to a museum now, I change my mind a lot.

What is your favorite place to go out to eat and what do you order? Red Lobster....crab legs, mashed taters, salad with french dressing, stuffed mushrooms, and a dessert. Del Taco...combo buritto with extra cheese. I just love food, this is hard question....

What is your very first memory? snakes in my bed

Would you go back to school if you had the money? maybe....I just hated school...I do want a degree, but I keep thinking that I do plan on getting a job is it worth spending all that money to get the degree?

My question is...As an adult are you what you thought you would be like when you were a kid? NO am not. I thought I would be fun loving, and I am a much more serious person than I thought I would be.

I tag Kimra, Elizabeth, Pam Brumble, and Danielle.

99 things....suprising I have done a lot more than I thought

I like this one because I don't have to think up my own answers...fun to see all the things I have not done.
Here are the rules:Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain-in Yellowstone.....not Everest or anything
9. Held a praying mantis-appartely I like bugs as a kid
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping-I was little
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise-just a dinner cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (not really taught myself...but learned one)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp-in utero
67. Bounced a check-silly me
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person-don't remember this one, but my mom says I have
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Redwoods
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating-I was young I would not do this now
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life-Elaine choked on a hot dog
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous-Regan, and some actors
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo-had you going! It was the temporary ones.
94. Had a baby (4 times!)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake-waited in it, nasty thing
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Strep again???

So about a month ago the kids had strep and then Kris and I both got it. On Monday I was feeling a little under the weather, then on Tuesday my throat hurt REALLY BAD. I often get sore throats this was the mother ship. Surgery done without Anastasia couldn't not have hurt this bad. I couldn't swallow...so I was spitting. So I called, (or Kris called for me) the doctor and we couldn't get in touch with him so I went to the Walgreen's clinic thing.....I was so desperate. THEY WERE GREAT! I have strep again. This time with double ear infections. I am so glad that Kris is off for the rest of the week. He took it because our anniversary was on the 3rd. We did go out to dinner but I was feeling awful. My throat is so red and swollen the expression on the NP;s face was great. She even said something on the lines of...."never seen it so bad". I am now supposed to take it easy for the next little bit, and hope that kids don't get again too. If not better in a week she want to test for Mono. I even get to gargle with Litocaine. YUM....ew.

Happy Anniversary Honey!!! I am so thankful for the "in sickness" part!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Well-child check ups

All of the kids had doctor's appointments again last week. It was Elaine's eights year old, Drew's 6 year old, and Evan's 4 month well child check up. Izzy had an earache so she got checked too. Here are the states...well at least the percentages on the older 2....I had the nurse write them down....but I thought that she would right down the actual measurements too. Evan's I did remember...he is 26 and 1/2 inches long and weights 15 lbs and 1.5 oz. Which is 90% for his height and 50% for his weight. Taken after Kris in the height-YEAH! Drew is 25% for height and 25% for weight, but I seem to remember him being long as a baby too. Elaine is 25% for height and between 10-25% for weight, she has always been a peanut. I was surprised by this last one....Drew has been looking like our string bean and Elaine is no long in Slims so I thought for sure that she had taken on more percentages!

Smarter than the average bear.....or sneaker?

We have a bedtime chart and it was explained in the "Being a better parent" post below. The kids have sticker books...princesses for the girls and Cars for the Drew. Every so often one of the pages has sparkly stickers in it. Kris puts stickers on the chart with the kids and he has started only allowing them to take a sticker from the page that is on the top and once that page is finish they move onto the next page of stickers and if it happens to be a sparkly page that is when they get sparkly stickers. Drew found the sticker book and look through it until he found a sparkly Lightening McQueen sticker (his favorite) then stuck in onto the first page of available stickers. Little stinker! Kris was asking what sicker each kids wanted and Drew yells out "Sparkly Lighting McQueen!" We then put two and two together....sneaky one. It was however nice to see him at least thinking of something. I know horrible right? When your kid put normal things together it might not seem like a big deal...but to us he was being smarter than the average bear in a very Drew way.

Their father's children

You can so tell who is the father of my children.....Izzy and Drew are playing football running up and down the hallway with a little football yelling.."OH NO THE PACKERS ARE GOING TO GET IT! RUN!!!!"

Evans First food

Here are A LOT of pictures of Evan eating food for the first time. He did well...and he liked it. The pictures of him crying or because he wasn't getting it fast enuogh. He was so funny....I got the high chair put together and put him in it to see how he would like it.....I have never seen a baby so proud of himself! He thought he was just the coolest sitting up like a big boy all smiles....maybe I should have gotten pictures of that too!

Being a better parent

Parenting is hard...and I mean HARD! Recently we have struggled with the girls getting out of bed at night...okay not recently the girls in general like to get out of bed. The first thing that we tried was stickers...if you stay in bed you get a sticker. It worked.....for only a few nights, and after that stickers where not a big deal at all. Then we learned that there needed to be something attached to the stickers. It was suggested that we use a family movie night on Friday night. Have the kids get ready for bed like normal and then we all get to have stay up for a movie. At first I didn't want to implement this. I just knew that Izzy would be the one to get out of bed and lose Family Movie Night. I don't want my kids any of my kids to miss out on stuff like that. Don't you think that would just suck?! BUT I do realize that is how they learn. So last Friday night we had family movie night. I wanted to make sure that they understood what Family Movie Night meant. I however am a HUGE stickler on bedtime. So we didn't do the get for ready bed and stay up and watch a movie.....we just watched a movie after dinner together. It was Underdog. We make sure that it is something new. Now that kids now what Family Movie Night is they are way excited to get a sticker on the Family Movie Night chart. When they get all the boxes filled up they get to watch the movie on the next Friday. So much for Friday night date night for Kris and I. We are going to have to pick another day of the week to go out on. I know that it will be hard to not allow one of the kids to watch a movie with everyone else...but how else do you make things stick? YOU FOLLOW THROUGH.....

Super-cute -fun idea!

Pay It Forward
You may have seen this on other blogs - you sign up to receive something homemade and crafty, and then you pay it forward by doing the same thing for 3 people who sign up to do it on your blog.So here’s how it works:

~Be one of the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post and I will send you a handmade gift sometime in the next 3 month (feel free to pick your own time limit).

~You get to pay it forward as well by doing the same thing for 3 people on your blog.

~Once you leave a comment telling me that you want to participate, you need to make a pay it forward post on your blog within one day.

So, anyone game? You can be a friend, family member, or even a random visitor to this blog. Just as long as you’re willing to pay it forward, you are eligible to participate! I guess it won't be something too terribly huge or heavy for those that live farther away.....I don't want to pay a ton for shipping. THANKS for the idea Missy! Can't wait to see who actually leaves a comment!