Gymnastics

Well, gymnastics is paying off! In case you don't know how to do a back walkover - here is Mackenzie's instructional video!!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Needless to say, everything she does involves a flip or roll right now.

First of all, I want to give a shout out to Denise (my mother in law) and Ashley (niece) - because it is both of their birthday's today. Sure wish we could be there with you guys to help celebrate. We miss you, hope you have a wonderful day. There are cards in the mail, but I just put them in today, so I think they are going to be a little late - Sorry:(

On a side note, have I told you lately what a wonderful father Aaron is and what a blessing it has been for him to get to stay home with the kids. They are LOVING it. All of them. I've seen such a change in Aaron and in their relationship with each other that just melts my heart. Sure, some jealously leaks out every so often, but it isn't anything real. I love to see them together. They are all so much more in tune with each other. The kids have really thrived over the past 2 months. I know that the connection that they are making at this point in their life will live on long after they are off to work and school. What a blessing to be given this opportunity in our life. I love you sweetheart - you are an amazing father.

Sorry, nothing to update on the last post. Mom, you heard anything?

so yesterday was a big busy day. I had a presentation at work and then my long one at school. I think they both went well. I got compliments from people both times, but I don't know if the people that mattered were impressed. Anyways, today I am enjoying them not hanging over my head. I'm tired right now, just kinda here with eyes open, but wouldn't really say I was awake! I left the house this morning at 5:15. Yes work is busy and when I don't want to or can't take time away from everyone in the afternoon, seems that eating in to my sleep time is the easiest place to buy an extra hour or so. Work has been very busy, but it also very invigorating. I'm probably enjoying it more now that I have in a long time, if not more than ever. School is still going well too, and Aaron likes his school.

So tonight the kids went to bed and Aaron and I sat out here and spied on them for a little while. They were so cute with Mackenzie telling Turner how to wish so that they could go see the dragons in Dragon Land! lol It was so stinkin cute. She can just sit there and tell him anything and he just follows her with blind faith. Hopefully she will continue to lead him the right way.

I found out yesterday that an old college friend is pregnant! I am so excited for her. She has had a rough road, but it seems that all the stars are aligning for her now. I'm so happy for her. Now if only she could find out that she is having quads everything could come full circle! lol I better shut up now or she might kill me!

Gonna get off here now and stare blankly at the TV until I fall asleep. Nighty night!

What a scary world

What a scary scary world this is. A family member of mine's grandson has a cold virus that is attacking his platelet counts. Here is the email that was passed on to us.
Please keep our grandson, Sammy in your prayers. He had a cold virus that attacked his platelets and he is in the hospital (Children's Hospital) His platelet level is at 6000 right now, normal is 150,000. They are giving him an Iv gammuglobin that is suppose to help him produce more platelets but so far it is not working. He is bleeding into his stomach and has been vomiting blood. We are very concerned about him and so I am asking for your prayers for him and for Heather and Sam.
I mean we have to worry about thing like this from a COLD VIRUS. This was on Friday, I don't know the status from this weekend, but we will hope that no news is good news. Just one more thing that can turn your world upside down in the drop of hat. One can never have too many prayers, so pass them their way. I'll never be able to just say "Oh, its just a cold" again.

Apparently I've been informed that we are the worst parents in the world. Well I guess more accurately to quote Mackenzie, "We are never fair, we never get to do anything fun, and I (Mackenzie) have to do everything around here!" I'm sorry, I thought she just turned 5, not 15!!! Ding Ding Ding - I think Round 1 has just begun! lol

This weekend was good. Friday night we headed to the Church when i got home for a little Mardi Gras carnival that they were having. It was packed, and Austin is NOT at a good age to be out because he won't let me hold him, and the kid thinks he is already 6 feet tall and just goes about walking right into the midst of everything. And boy is he getting good at these tantrums. Reminds me why it was always my plan to get pregnant right after then turn 1, because there is a fine line where if you wait you'd likely never reproduce! lol No, he is still seet as pie, but I have heard my fair share of screaming this weekend.
Saturday we had Mackenzie birthday party. Since she picked the Dora theme, I planned out a little Dora activity. I read the riddle to the kids, then they solved it with the last word, and I gave them a little goody, and a map (like down the hall, around the couch, down the stairs) to the next one. The kids loved it.

Its time to start the game and this is how to play
If you don’t listen closely you won’t know the way
First I’ll teach you something about her in the form of a riddle
Every time you solve it you get something little
Then I’ll give you a map to find the next one
And when we find them all the game will be done.

She brightens our day more than the sun, the first year flew by and then she was 1
The next year was fun, she grew and she grew, before we knew it our baby was 2
She is so smart and cute as can be, by the next birthday she was all ready 3
She started school and learned more and more, it was during this year that she was 4
the little girl is now 5 and who could it be, the birthday girl’s name is MACKENZIE

This is one of her favorite foods don’t you know
They are round and they’re red – it’s a TOMATO

Every time she sees these she says “I want that”
Her favorite candy bars are called KIT KATs

This card is her favorite color (wink wink)
Now you all know what it is, the color is PINK

Now I hear that she is just as sweet as a button
Mackenzie teacher this year is named MRS. SUTTON

This is Mackenzie favorite doll true and true
She’s had her since she was 1 – this is CHOU CHOU

Now we can all head to where she likes to help bake,
Let’s all go to the kitchen and eat birthday CAKE

Oh no, I can’t find it, where is the box
Swiper swiped our ice cream!! That sneaky little fox.
I guess I’ll turn you in to little birthday elves
Because we’re going to have to make the ice cream ourselves!
Now everybody take a container and pass it on down
Everyone smile, I don’t want to see any frown
First we add in the sugar, vanilla and milk
And we shake it like crazy till it is smooth as silk

Uh no I think we forgot one last thing

Before she blows out her candles, join with me and SING…….

My friend Alisa (and Mackenzie's Godmother) came up for the party, and we had such a great time catching up. Then my dad, grandma and step mother came up too and took us out to dinner. After dinner Alisa and I headed out for a little girl time. It was so nice to kind of reconnect just as friends. Today has just been spent around the house studying and hanging out with the kids. Aaron took Mackenzie to get her free ice cream at Cold Stone tonight, and Turner and i had some time alone here at home. We read a couple stories and now the kids are in bed and we are watching the Oscars. I have a crazy week of work and school this week, so just mentally trying to prepare myself for it all so I don't snap!

Birthday party

prWe had Mackenzie's birthday party today. We only ended up with 2 kids from her school coming, and then our neighbor. it was small, but ended up being a great number of kids. They had a blast. Check out the Barbie cake I made for her. I was a little doubtful about halfway through, but I think it ended up pretty nice if I must say so myself!!!

Birthday pics

The roller skating firefighter! Who needs a truck!

I love how the light saber is actually all lit up here! Guess the flash did that??

Momma and her little, I mean BIG, girl

" I want to be a fighderfighter when i grow up" Not a typo - that is how she says it

"Mommy, me be firefighter too"

now this little guy won the guys over!

So excited that we got to sit and play checkers after eating

Happy girl to be at Cracker Barrel with one on one mommy time!

So I took a half day yesterday so i would be able to see Mackenzie since i had school last night. I picked her up from school and took her out to lunch, her choice - Cracker Barrel. We had a great time just being able to sit there and enjoy talking without being pulled in a million other directions while out to eat. Then we came home and got everyone else and headed up to our "surprise" - a tour of the fire station. I think they've asked me every day for 6 months when we were going. they watched the Barney fire fighter video and since then the burning question has been, "Do you think they really have 3 refrigerators!" And yes they do in case you were wondering. The guys up there were GREAT! Of course the kids wouldn't get up on the truck, but they enjoyed it. Next we came home and opened presents - lots of clothes and the roller skates. Next cake and ice cream, pretending to be a restaurant with the play kitchen, and then I had to head to school. All in all a Great Day. Mackenzie was SO excited all day to be FIVE! So grown up now you know. Oh and her birthday wish (I didn't make her keep it secret because I had to know what a five year old wishes for) - well, it was "that we are always a family". Oh me too honey, me too.

Another cutest thing she said yesterday....Aaron had told her she could get back up after Turner fell asleep and she told us that she stays up every night until he falls asleep first because he gets scared if she falls asleep first! How sweet.

Happy 5th Birthday Mackenzie

(My little princess going through her Annie stage 2 years ago.)

Mackenzie,

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! My precious, wonderful, beautiful little girl. You will always hold a special place in my heart as my first born. We wanted you from the very beginning and weren't willing to wait, no matter how much money we didn't have, we would make it work. Through nine months we wondered who you were growing in there, our little "peanut" and I can still see your daddy's face as the doctor told us "It's a girl!" As much as we wanted you, we were young and new to the parenting thing and went through a few tough nights, heck months. But from that we have a stronger marriage that we have you to be thankful for. No it wasn't you, it was our inexperience. You were a wonderful baby. Oh how I still remember you coming home as our little glow worm, and whew were you a gassy thing (inexperienced parent mistake #1 - not knowing to give Mylecon at the first sign of discomfort just for good measure!) You are our guinea pig, everything you do is the first time we experience it as parents. So bear with us, we are trying.

You have always been wise and mature beyond your years. You have a tender heart much like your momma's, and will cry just thinking we may be upset with you. You are a natural nurturer. Chou Chou has such a wonderful momma! Not to mention how lucky your brothers are, you are so patient and caring with them, like their 2nd mom. You are a wonderful role model for them.

You've wrapped everyone you have ever met around your little finger. Mostly your daddy, Grandpy, and Pop - I'll let you in on a little secret - you'll be able to get anything out of them if you just smile! We've heard more times than i can imagine what beautiful eyes you have and how beautiful you are - not just cute - people are magnetized to you.

I love your little Sas lately "ex-ca-USE-me", "Uhhh Du". Sure in 10 years I might have a very different opinion of the sas, but it is so cute now with the innocence behind it. The way you answer the phone so adult and grown up, the way you continue to assure me that you "will always be my baby".

I am so proud to be your mother. To hear people say that you are a mirror of me is one of the biggest compliments I have ever received. I adore you, I love you, I admire you. To think that in just 5 years you have made such an impact, I can only imagine what the rest of your life will bring. You will do such wonderful things for this world, the world is lucky to have you. I am blessed beyond words to call you my daughter. You raised the bar, you have redefined perfection, you are the perfect daughter. I wouldn't change a thing about you. You are exactly who you should be. Continue to be yourself, dare to dream, follow your brothers impulsive nature, follow your heart. We love you more than words could ever describe. My heart aches to think about how much I love you. A piece of it belongs all to you, forever. Handle it with care in your teenage years! I may not do everything right in this path of parenthood, but I will always try.

No, really, are you sure, it can't be

I really don't think I'm ready for this...Mackenzie is turning 5, really, already. I just brought her home from the hospital, this can't be real. I'm just not ready for it. You'd think that she is turning 16 the way it is affecting me, but I'm really having a problem with this. 5 symbolizes this imaginary threshold that I'll never be able to cross back over. I'll never have 3 little kids at home, I'll have 1 big, and 2 little... The other day in the car I starting thinking about it and thought I was going to have a panic attack. It just felt like life was forging onward and I had absolutely no control over anything - and it IS. I hate that the kids are growing up, I love these ages, there is something magical to this age. I'll make it through but I'm not happy about it! I think there might be random breakouts of crying tomorrow. Of course in front of my little girl - I'll be nothing but smiles and excitement because this is HER day and we will celebrate along with the world that she is a part of our lives- someday she'll read back on this post and be in total shock of what mommy was like behind the scenes. We have big plans for tomorrow in between work and school. I can't wait to share all the details with you!!!

Food Coma

Oh my gosh, I think I may be falling in to a food coma! I made Sunday dinner tonight - it is kind of becoming a ritual around here with Cameron and Caitlyn here on Sunday nights too. So tonight we had meatloaf, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and egg noodles....mmmmm mmmm good! I must say, I have the touch. I think Nannan's special touch got passed down, tonight would have even been Nannan worthy! It was complete silence around here, that NEVER happens. It was almost eerie. lol And I think Austin probably ate as much as I did. About 15 minutes after I had gotten him cleaned up and down, Caitlyn saw him chewing on something and went over...he had a whole asparagus down in his lower lip just sucking on it. Guess he was saving it for later. Oh how I love a good Sunday dinner.

Facebook

Ok, I finally jumped on the bandwagon and joined Facebook - everyone happy now. And yes, it is a little addicting. It is weird to even see the names of people I would have never even thought I'd hear of again. I currently only keep up with 2 people from HS. That is it - completely. And I haven't been back since my family moved my freshman year of college except 2 times for weddings. We didn't have a 10 year reunion, well if we did I didn't know about it and didn't go - so absolutely no connection to that point in my life. Needless to say, those days weren't my proudest and I've never had any desire to go back to HS days. It is always weird to me how much of a connection Aaron still has to his HS friends, but I guess some of that is just that we are still here. Maybe it would be different if we had been by KC instead of STL? Anyways, hello to any of you old acquaintances that browse over here.

And since I haven't posted a pic in a while, here is a picture i took of Aaron with his little mini me!!

Wow what a long week. Work was crazy busy again and by Tuesday I was hoping it was Friday! This weekend is going to be pretty filled up by me working on my school stuff. Fun Fun. I've got 2 papers to write and will get another assignment on Tuesday. We aren't doing anything special for Valentines Day - everyday is Valentines Day around here! So pretty much will just be working on my school stuff, Aaron has lots of school stuff to get to, I think we are going to try to take the kids to the dollar show, and before we know it the weekend will be gone. Only 4 more days till my little girl is 5. I just can't believe it. I worked on her birthday party some this week and I'm pretty excited about it. I think it will be really cute. Dora theme, so I'm working with that on the activities. I did get to make it to Mackenzie's Valentine's Party at school on Thursday - I had to leave a little early, but at least I got to go. We had some special time together. I'm so glad that I have a job where i can still make these activities because they really mean a lot to me. Well, I'm down right pooped right now, and need to lay down before I just fall over sitting up. 4:45 will be here all to quickly!

Bromance

Here are some pics from this weekend when Fran and the kids came by. Of course i couldn't get a good picture of the boys together and I didn't even try one of all the kids together....I'm so mad I didn't try more, they'll probably be in H.S before they see each other again (ha ha...love you Fran!).

"Yo mom, this is my bro Sean, and we're just gonna hang for a while and catch up- good with you?"
"Uh, can we get a little privacy please. Who in the heck are you anyways crazy lady, and why do you keep taking my picture?"
"OK Sean, first you push the green button then the arrow, then the red...."
"See just like this. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it, I've been trained by the best""But mom, you didn't even let me hit save first!"
(and this is the total drama, all out fit cry I get these days...just pitiful isn't it!!)

Happy Birthday Grandma

Today is my grandma's 85th birthday! We are driving down for a suprise birthday party they are having for her. My brother and family are up from Houston and she doesn't know that any of us are going to be in town. Wow, 85 years!! Grandma still lives in the same house that her and Grandpy built probably around 50 years ago. Besides some high blood pressure, there really isn't much that keeps her down. Of course the woman wouldn't tell us if it was anything else...she is "so damn stubborn". OK OK so maybe I know where I got it from now! Let me tell you a little bit about my Grandma........memories of Grandma are so intertwined throughout my life and childhood, there aren't too many memories i have that she isn't a part of. She truly embodies the word "Grandma". Everyone should be so lucky to know the love of, sweet and sometimes harsh, of a Grandma like mine. I used to spend the night at their house all the time when i was a kid. I even went to Grandma's when i had scarlet fever one year so I could get the one on one attention I so deserved feeling so crummy, and of course there I wouldn't get everyone else sick. We have had our disagreements, did I mention Grandma can be stubborn! And she nags, and gets more involved in things in your life sometimes than you would like...but that is ok....that is Grandma. Grandma just wouldn't be Grandma if it weren't for you being able to count on her for those things! Here are some examples....
- when we called and told grandma that we were getting married, se replied with a sobering, almost dissappointed "how are you going to survive on your own" - "we'll Grandma, we've been living together for over a year and haven't gone hungry yet"
- I think maybe just in the past year - and I stress the MAYBE - that I can keep my kids alive and healthy. As soon as you walk in Grandma's door she is trying to cook you something, well the same goes for the kids. I can tell her they just ate, or are going to in an hour so I don't want them to eat...and 5 minutes later she has them sitting at the table with food in front of them...and if they eat even a bit I get the "See, they were hungry" like I was lying to her or something! lol
- Same things with the babies sleeping....one time we had Turner in the pack-n-play putting him to bed at her house, and he was fussing some...but then she kept goig back and opeing the door to check on him, which of course brought the screaming back full force everytime. I think that each time he was almost asleep, there she would go down the hall. I thought Aaron was going to tackle her in the hallway....needless to say, I thnk that is the last time that we have stayed at Grandma's when Aaron has been with us.
- Grandma told my sister-inn-law at her BABY SHOWER that her kid was going to be ugly! I don't remember how she tried to explain it off - but that was a classic...Grandma isn't always the most PC person!
Things I will always associate with Grandma-
- Cream of Wheat - on a plate, butter and brown sugar....mmmmmm....
-Cream of Chicken Soup - and nobody can even come close to getting it the way Grandma does - and it is only the canned stuff, you'd think we could figure out her secret....of course the more I cook, I think the fact that Grandma uses the all out regular soup and whole milk might have something to do with the difference in taste from my 98%FF soup and skim milk.....
- Grandma's fried chicken..mm mm finger lickin good - and like no one else's
- "Skrimp" - see Grandma is Dutch, and still to this day can't say "shrimp" - I found this out one time when I was probably 12 or so and we went to Red Lobster and I swear it took her 10 minutes to get the waiter to understand what she wanted. By the time it was all said and done we were laughing so hard I don't know that he could understand anything - still have that joke to today.
- growing pains - the literal ones. I used to get such bad growing pains as a kid and remember countless nights of her sitting in my bed the whole night rubbing my legs so I could go back to sleep. And the warm washrags she would continue to bring to me to put against my ears when I had such bad earaches.
-

I could go on and on, and maybe I will later, but right now I need to get in the shower so I'm not late to the party. I just want to end with that i love my Grandma soooo much for exactly who she is. I'm so lucky that my kids have been able to learn about who Grandma is for themselves and have the same memories of her as I do as a small child. I know that a day is coming where Grandma isn't going to be here, and I can't even begin to comprehend that in my mind..... so I'll try to get in as many more memories as I can before that day comes. I love you so much Grandma!!

A Day in the Life

So I figured with my crazy days right now, I better go ahead an capture a normal day for me so that I can look back and remember.

4:45-5 - wake up
5:45 - leave the house, stop at Quik Trip to get my daily cappuccino/coffee concoction. I really can't go without it!
6:30 - get to work
Stay crazy busy all day, about 12 heat up a can of soup and eat at my desk
3:30-5 - depending on the day, leave work. On Tuesdays I stay late and go straight to school from 6-10. Monday and Wednesday I have to be home by 4 so Aaron can leave for school, Thursday home by 5, Friday home about 4:30-5.
Get home and start my second job! lol Lets take tonight for example, got home about 4:10, from then till now at 7, here is my list:
1. clean kitchen
2. start laundry (load 3 is in now)
3. make cookies with the kids
4. make dinner
5. serve the kids dinner - feed Austin, tell Turner 563 times to get back to the tale and eat!, and Mackenzie was having her favorite dinner (cheesy chicken) so she ate fine.
6. Put all 3 kids in the bathtub
7. clean bathroom while kids are playing in bath
8. go to get towels out, and there are NONE clean...UGHHHH - that has never happened....Cameron??!!
9. Figure without all the big towels, it is a good time to straighten rest of towels/washrags in linen closet (right outside the door, I can still see Austin) while kids are in bath
10. Get all kids out and in jammies
11. unload/load dishwasher and clean kitchen again from cookies and dinner
12. Finally get a chance to update my blog!!!

For the rest of the night - around 8-9 the kids will all get to bed. I have to read at least 2 chapters for school, go to bed and back up at 4:45! Yippee! And no I don't sleep in on the weekends, I have to use the time of everyone being asleep to work on school papers. I'm not complaining, this is actually pretty good speed for me. I take a day off here or there and rest back up. Well I better go, I've got kids wanting to do homework and play with the bead things you put on and melt together (and Austin is helping out right now by walking around with the broom sweeping the kitchen floor - thanks buddy!). So...until next time.....

We went sledding yesterday...so it was at least 40 degrees outside, but there was still enough snow (barely) and we wanted to make sure we made it once before it all melted. So sledding we went and snowman we made. Had a great time, and it was nice to not be freezing cold while we were out playing in the snow. Austin LOVED sledding and threw a fit any time we took him out of the sled, also LOVES swinging...and you guessed it...all out fit when I go to take him out of the swing too. He is in quite the dramatic stage right now.

These are some random pictures from my birthday. Wanted to take a picture of me at 30 - but this was the end of a long day, so not lookin my best.

And here is my wonderful cake. Didn't have a '0', so I just got the 3! (Don't mind Turner in his dinosaur outfit!)