I'm at the hospital with Denise. I'm so glad she is feeling better right now. I love this woman and would do anything for her and her "boys". I'm such a go getter, it is hard to sit here right now without feeling like there is anything I can DO to make anything better. I guess right now I just have to know that sitting and being here is all the "doing" I can do. It is going to be so hard to leave on Saturday and not be here to make sure everything is taken care of and under control. But she has great family and friends, and I just have to remember that I don't have to be involved in everything for it to go well. Other people in this world do just fine without me budding in! LOL

On a positive side, the kids are doing great and having a blast. First they went to grandpy's. On his way driving them to my mom, one of the suitcases flew out of the back of the truck, and they had no luck relocating it, so the kids made out like bandits at Wal-Mart! lol Today they were getting ice cream and going back to Nanna's to bake cookies. And then they said something about swimming tomorrow....man they are going to be disappointed to come home! And from the pictures I've seen on facebook, my mom has been letting Austin grow up since I've been gone. I do miss the little guys, but this would not have been the time and place to be here, so I am glad I've been able to totally focus on Denise this week.

Aaron and I met up with an old friend of mine from high school tonight and we had a couple of glasses of wine. After returning to Denise's room, I was putting back her flowers and knocked of her angel which I can't help to feel the symbolism. I am so so sorry for any reprocusions this may have caused. I love Denise and all of her family and only want to do the best....tonight was just too easy an escape from reality, but all too selfish nontheless. I promise to be better and do better, if only I could be so strong..........

Off to Arizona

Aaron left this morning to live in Phoenix for a while to be there for his mom. I'm driving out tomorrow morning and hope to be there by Saturday dinner time. We truly appreciate the help that everyone has offered and we have already taken. Without all the arms hooked around us together, it would not be possible for us to do this much for our family.
For anyone reading this blog that does not know what is going on, I won't go in to details, but in summary, Aaron's mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer yesterday. This is very new to us. None of us know how to walk down this path or where it will take us. Right now it is just one foot in front of the other, day by day.

Pray people pray.......

My mother in law is in surgery. Give us all the prayers you got.

Good times, good results...and the unknown

Had such great weekend with an old friend from high school, his awesome girlfriend and her two little cutie girls. We had fun around the firepit catching up on old times, hit up Grant's Farm and the Magic House.

Our token family picture at Grant's Farm. Love love love this place....and so did the other million people there that day!
All the kids in the Cinderella carriage at the magic house. We only made it through half of the new expanded one, but that was enough for us and the kids.

Matt, me, Katie and Aaron - new friends + old friends = great times

The Magic garden...


Today was back to reality. My lil sis had her surgery today. The morning did not go well as she was in excruciating pain when we arrived. The surgery couldn't be soon enough. But everything went as well as they hoped and she is recovering nicely. Should be home tomorrow. I took Mackenzie with me so we could enjoy some special time.
Aunt Cheryl, Mackenzie and Aunt Caitlyn

After we knew that Cheryl was out of surgery and in recovery, we took a little break from the hospital and headed out to ride the horses. Mackenzie was a natural and loved every minute of it.

Mackenzie getting to enjoy getting a chocolate long john at QT. She takes after her momma with her favorite donut of all time.

We are back home now, not quite ready for the week to begin. We have some other medical stuff going on with family that we are very concerned about- so send us your prayers and love and we will forward them on. Hopefully tomorrow will bring more answers........God willing.

quick updates, lots of pictures

We had missed the one in November, so when we heard NKOTB was coming back to town, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity again!

We didn't get to go together, but we met up for one song...Hangin Tough baby!

My lil sis was in town, so I got to take her to her first concert. We were like two 14 year olds together! LOL


NKOTB!!! Me, Cheryl (sis), Dawn and Jenna


Me and Cheryl



This past weekend we had a BBQ. Now you all know that I love keeping up on all these Quad families, well, this was the closest I'll ever get to a quad pic! lol All the babies are within a week of each other, and since we had already planned to celebrate Austin's 1/2 birthday - we let all the little fellas join in. It was so stinkin cute. I think this may have to become a yearly event.

Sean, Austin, Nathan, Christopher (the twins)

"Here buddy, you want a bite?" so sweet sharing

Nathan going in for the sneak attack
So all the other boys had been picked up and taken to be cleaned up and I went outside and Austin was still sitting in the same spot - this kid wasn't going to miss a single bite of that cupcake! LOL

Just some random pics - Sweets for my Lil Sweets

roasting smores with Grandma and Pop

ice cream cone heaven

I took the kids to the park to feed the ducks on one of my days off last week. They love feeding the ducks. There was a mommy with her 8 babies and the kids thought they were so adorable.

Yesterday I took Mackenzie to get her school supplies for this year. Can you believe she starts school in a month! Here she is trying on her new backpack....can you guess what kind it is???

Hannah Montana of course! - her idol!

Night before last Turner was running around the couch, tripped on something and hit the table in the living room.

This is what it looked like that night.

And this is what I came home to yesterday! We told him he looks like our little boxer! Poor guy, but he says it doesn't hurt or anything.

Here are some pics from the 4th of July. It rained, but we did get a little break to light a couple off.

Turner not so happy because Sissy got to hold the flag in the first picture (not shown)
And literally 2 second later - don't you just love how they can turn it on and off.

My little muscle man - see how stinkin adorable this guy is!
Austin LOVED the fireworks and was fascinated by all the fire and flashes. My little pyro!

And this is what happened when the sparkler went out and I didn't have any more.

A few more things - Aaron and I ran a 5K this weekend. Well walked/ran. But hey we did it and I was so proud of Aaron for pushing through and it was nice to do together.

Also, yesterday Aaron learned that he passed his Praxis (teaching certificate) exam with FLYING colors. I am so incredibly proud of him. He is going to make an extraordinary teacher.

Oh, and the in-laws have left. We hated to see them go, but I must admit, I've enjoyed having my bed back. Hopefully by the next visit we can have that bedroom and bathroom in the basement finished!

Oh my gosh it seems like time just gets away from me. We've had Aaron's parents in town since the 4th and are loving every minute of it - REALLY...yes I am loving having my in-laws here, how many a girl can say that! I just love watching them interact with the kids and making the memories, and Aaron is so happy to have his parents here. They got in on the 4th, I knew they would tired from a long day of travel so I had made a dinner to stay around the house and have something ready. We got a break in the rain for long enough to have Aaron light some fireworks outside for the kids, then later we were going to go to the big fireworks but it got rained out, but we ended up pulling in to QT up the street and being able to see quite a few home displays. The kids loved it. Since then we've more been hanging out around home. Tomorrow we have a day planned to go to Elephant Rock and Johnson Shut-ins. Turner thought we were going to the zoo - couldn't quite understand why we were talking about elephants if we weren't going to the zoo! Tonight they are at catching up with old friends, and Friday we are having a big BBQ with their friends, ours, our neighbors and their friends - should be a great time. I just love having people to our house!
So what else is going on....well Turner is potty (and poopy) trained completely now! Of course he still tries to talk us in to candy every time he goes! lol He is really such a character. Just love this little guy. So stinkin cute. I know I say that all the time, but so so true. Of course he is at a stage where he whines and cries at the drop of a hat, and maybe I coddle him too much, but I don't necessarily think it is such a bad thing and don't really pull the "be a tough boy" regimen. I do think he is tough, and he is one of the most affectionate kids in the world. Some wife someday is going to thank me for not squashing those emotions.
Mackenzie starts school in only a month and a half. I truly can't believe that. She LOVES doing her gymnastics and seems to be taking it pretty seriously now. She is very disciplined, but I don't want to overpush her in anything. She is hilarious with her "Are you Serious!", "whatever", "Does that even make any sense mom"...sure as a teenager it will drive me up the wall, but now it is really just her being funny - not moody or disrespectful. And Aaron and I joke around like that all the time so she is truly a product of us (God help her!)
Austin is just a character right now. Everything is "no". And he repeats EVERYTHING that the kids say....from "chicka chicka whow whow" to "whatever"....I mean everything. It is hilarious. He really does not see any difference between them and him. Thinks he is just as big and can do anything. Did I mention the kids is S-T-U-B-B-O-R-N ......don't know where he got that from! LOL Oh and funny about him...he likes to give himself sink baths. I haven't witnessed it yet, but a few times Aaron said he will be in the living room and hear the kitchen sink turn on and Austin will have pulled a chair up, climbed in the sink and be turning the water on. Goof ball!
Well, got stuff to get to and this isn't even a glimpse in to our exciting lives. Man, really can life get much better. Sure I have days when I want to scream or cry or something, but that just makes the next day all the better and "real".