Hello!

I am a professional coder, and I hacked your device's OS when you were visiting an adult website.
I have been watching your activity for a couple of months.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, I can explain ...
My Trojan malware allows me to access my victim's system. It is a multiplatform hVNC-enabled software that can be installed on phones, PCs and even TV OSs ...
It does not detect AV because it is encrypted and cannot be detected because I update its signatures every 4 hours.
I can turn on your camera, save your logs and do whatever I want and you won't notice anything.

Now I have all your contacts, see data and all logs from chats
I recorded your masturbation and the video you watched. It was disgusting.

I can ruin your life by sending this material to everyone you know.
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I have a notification that you are reading this message ...

Don't try to reply because this email address was created.
Don't try to complain because this and my bitcoin address cannot be traced.

If I notice that you shared this message, everyone will get your information.
Goodbye!

Security Alert. Your accounts were compromised. You need to change password!

Hello!

I am a hacker who has access to your operating system.
I also have full access to your account.

I've been watching you for a few months now.
The fact is that you were infected with malware through an adult site that you visited.

If you are not familiar with this, I will explain.
Trojan Virus gives me full access and control over a computer or other device.
This means that I can see everything on your screen, turn on the camera and microphone, but you do not know about it.

I also have access to all your contacts and all your correspondence.

Why your antivirus did not detect malware?
Answer: My malware uses the driver, I update its signatures every 4 hours so that your antivirus is silent.

I made a video showing how you satisfy yourself in the left half of the screen, and in the right half you see the video that you watched.
With one click of the mouse, I can send this video to all your emails and contacts on social networks.
I can also post access to all your e-mail correspondence and messengers that you use.

If you want to prevent this,
transfer the amount of $500 to my bitcoin address (if you do not know how to do this, write to Google: "Buy Bitcoin").

My bitcoin address (BTC Wallet) is: 1G3UXmDBoeRvU3D2tGmGGU7fpCAEY1dBQV

After receiving the payment, I will delete the video and you will never hear me again.
I give you 50 hours (more than 2 days) to pay.
I have a notice reading this letter, and the timer will work when you see this letter.

Filing a complaint somewhere does not make sense because this email cannot be tracked like my bitcoin address.
I do not make any mistakes.

If I find that you have shared this message with someone else, the video will be immediately distributed.

Best regards!

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I am helping to create more birthdays

If you are unable to view the message below, Hi! I am emailing you because I just registered for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. When I registered online, I was issued my own personal fundraising web page. It explains what Relay For Life is and why I chose to get involved. My web page also has my fundraising goal and how much money I've raised so far. Please visit my page, and while you're there....why not make a donation to the American Cancer Society? Your donation will help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. The amount you donate will count towards my fundraising goal. Thank you so much for your help - I will keep you updated on my progress! Jennifer Lively     Copyright 2010/2011 © American Cancer Society American Cancer Society | www.RelayForLife.org | 1.800.227.2345 250 Williams Street, Atlanta, GA 30303 To ensure you always receive important event information, add us to your address book Legal and Privacy Information State Fundraising Notices

Info about my ER visit

Here is more detail about my ER visit this past weekend – all is fine.

So starting last Sunday I started having lots of pain in my right check. When it first started I just assumed it was a pulled muscle or something, but as the week went on it got worse and I could tell it wasn’t muscular because I couldn’t stretch it out and movement didn’t affect it. It was a sharp pain anytime I took in a breath, coughed, etc. Thursday night I was doing pretty good while up and walking around, but then I went to lay down on the couch and it the pain level would jump when I went to lay back or on my side. So by Saturday morning Id had a few nights of not being able to sleep well and still things weren’t improving at all. So that morning I went to the Urgent care. They did an EKG and the doc came in and said that they needed to do a CAT scan but didn’t have that there, so I had to go to an ER. At the time they were considering me at risk for pulmonary embolism primarily due to the fact that it all started the day after our 14 hour drive. So I went to the ER. The ER doc explained that my EKG was also questionable because most people’s hearts sit to the left, but mine showed that it was sitting to the right – something that they see if there is a clot in the right lung because it pulls the heart to the right. I went to CAT scan which all ended up coming back clean, they didn’t see any clots or masses. So I was discharged with anti-inflammatory because it defaults to assuming that I had a viral infection in the lining around my lung. So now I also know that my heart sits to the wrong side normally, which is no issue, won’t cause any problems or anything, just good to know for future EKGs. Since then it is getting better. Really only feel it now if I have a deep laugh or cough.

So Turner had gone with me to the Urgent Care so we could spend some “special time” together. He was so concerned about if the doctors were going to do anything to hurt me, and then when I told him I had to go to another hospital he freaked out saying he didn’t want me to die. I got him calmed down telling him they just needed to take a special picture of mommy and they didn’t have the right camera there. I took him back home before the ER and had Aaron stay home with all the kids to keep them (and him) preoccupied with something else. Aaron was kind of freaking out too. I was for a while between hearing about the abnormal EKG and before I had results of the CAT scan, but at least knew I was in the hospital if it was anything. Finally after 5 hours and a $100 co-pay I got to go home with a clean bill of health. As soon as I got home we started putting up our Christmas Decorations, and about 10 minutes in to doing that it started snowing some of the biggest snowflakes I’ve ever seen and we all went outside running around in the snow. Couldn’t have been more perfect timing. Plus Aaron and I had a babysitter set up for Saturday night – our first time alone since being in NC, so we were really happy we didn’t have to cancel our date night. Sunday we picked out the “perfect” 2010 Lively Family Christmas tree and got it up and decorated and made some batches of Christmas cookies – so we are finally in the holiday spirit around the house.

Fun Weekend

We had such a good weekend this weekend. Friday night we went to a High School football game for our local team and a nearby rival.  It was so much fun.  The atmosphere was great.  I told Aaron I'm not sure who will be more excited when he starts coaching.  I just love it. I was however glad that I  wasn't a young HS girl trying to dress to impress and freezing my buns off like they must have been - as I was sitting in my jeans, sweatshirt, and covered in a blanket - and they'd have on shorts and tanks to distracted by impressing boys to notice the cold.  Do you think it makes me old that I just wanted to wrap them up in my blanket and tell them they were going to catch a cold out in this weather dressed like that!!!  Oh well, to them I am ancient, and it does make me smile to know that they too will one day be thinking the same thing. Saturday we all went out shopping to get the kids some long pants and shirts.  Happened upon a sale at Old Navy that was "kids shop free"  Basically for every adult items, you got a kids item for free.  Well that just meant that Aaron and I got a free item for every item the kids needed!  Once we were home I finished dinner.  Had out a turkey breast in the crockpot that morning so finished that, made some jalepeno twice baked mashed potatoes, and for desert had a pumpkin crisp with ice cream.....YUMMY!!!  It was one of the best meals I've ever had!  I'd been craving all of those items, so it was fully satisfying.  Sunday we went to the State Fair and met up with Page, Neil and Aaron.  Turner was super excited to see Aaron again (they were our partners in crime at the camping trip).  They have this special handshake where they punch their fists together and blow it up - POW.  It is cute.  Turner has really been missing having boys around, so it is nice for him.  It was good to be at the fair, but lots of walking, and carrying Austin since he decided he didn't want to walk at all and only wanted mommy to carry him.  Needless to say, my arms feel like I was doing pull-ups all day yesterday.  He is a solid boy!  We didn't end up getting to see too much because it just wasn't all working together, but we are still glad that we went.  And now today i'm back at work:(  This job is slowing sucking the life out of me - but hey, it pays the bills.  And I still have hope that it will get better, so I'll stick it out for now.  Just realized that one month from tomorrow we will be leaving for Florida for Disney World!!!!!  I CAN"T WAIT!

Fun Weekend

We had such a good weekend this weekend. Friday night we went to a High School football game for our local team and a nearby rival.  It was so much fun.  The atmosphere was great.  I told Aaron I'm not sure who will be more excited when he starts coaching.  I just love it. I was however glad that I  wasn't a young HS girl trying to dress to impress and freezing my buns off like they must have been - as I was sitting in my jeans, sweatshirt, and covered in a blanket - and they'd have on shorts and tanks to distracted by impressing boys to notice the cold.  Do you think it makes me old that I just wanted to wrap them up in my blanket and tell them they were going to catch a cold out in this weather dressed like that!!!  Oh well, to them I am ancient, and it does make me smile to know that they too will one day be thinking the same thing. Saturday we all went out shopping to get the kids some long pants and shirts.  Happened upon a sale at Old Navy that was "kids shop free"  Basically for every adult items, you got a kids item for free.  Well that just meant that Aaron and I got a free item for every item the kids needed!  Once we were home I finished dinner.  Had out a turkey breast in the crockpot that morning so finished that, made some jalepeno twice baked mashed potatoes, and for desert had a pumpkin crisp with ice cream.....YUMMY!!!  It was one of the best meals I've ever had!  I'd been craving all of those items, so it was fully satisfying.  Sunday we went to the State Fair and met up with Page, Neil and Aaron.  Turner was super excited to see Aaron again (they were our partners in crime at the camping trip).  They have this special handshake where they punch their fists together and blow it up - POW.  It is cute.  Turner has really been missing having boys around, so it is nice for him.  It was good to be at the fair, but lots of walking, and carrying Austin since he decided he didn't want to walk at all and only wanted mommy to carry him.  Needless to say, my arms feel like I was doing pull-ups all day yesterday.  He is a solid boy!  We didn't end up getting to see too much because it just wasn't all working together, but we are still glad that we went.  And now today i'm back at work:(  This job is slowing sucking the life out of me - but hey, it pays the bills.  And I still have hope that it will get better, so I'll stick it out for now.  Just realized that one month from tomorrow we will be leaving for Florida for Disney World!!!!!  I CAN"T WAIT!

Today is such a sad day

Today I learned that Ellen passed away.  I can’t describe the hurt that I have in my heart today.  In so many ways, I feel like I just lost a mother or grandmother.  See, Ellen was my rock when we learned of Denise’s diagnosis. I met her through the MMMT board, and there was never a day that I posted there that I didn’t get a response from Ellen that was uplifting, enlightening and still so real.  It was her posts that kept me grounded and able to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Over the past year we have continued to email and send cards back and forth.  When Denise passed away, I sent the healing blanket that we had that Denise never had the chance to use to Ellen, wanting its power to be used.  I’ve shared my fears and my family with her, she shared her wisdom with me.  A few weeks back, I knew that Ellen’s health was going downhill, and didn’t know if she would recover, so I sent her an email to make sure I had told her how much she meant to me and how much she helped me, and that I didn’t want to lose her without a chance to say goodbye.  I knew at the time it was my own selfishness that needed to be able to have that last conversation, but as always, Ellen came through and was there for me.  I feel blessed to have had her by my side throughout this awful journey.  Somehow in all the darkness of it all, she was the good that came out if it.  I’d never be able to thank Ellen in a deserving way, there is just too much to say without words to say it.

 

Today my heart breaks for a lost friend, for all the others out there that I know are feeling the same way, and for those who will start this journey without Ellen there on the other end of an email. 

 

 

 

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Update from NC

Hey there!!!!  Well, yes we are settling in and loving it.  So it was a rough start at first.  We got down here thinking that we were going to live in an apartment in the town where I work so that I'd be close while we were checking out other areas.  Well we got down here the day before we were scheduled to move and the lady let us go ahead and stay there that night.  So the apartment is all janked - like couldn't open a single drawer in the kitchen because they hit the stove handle or fridge.  So the whole time I'm just repeating to myself - its only 6 months, I can do anything for 6 months right?  So that night we decide to go out to Walmart to get a few things.  WOW culture shock.  like we were like 5 of the 20 white people in the store.  So we are like "well, maybe we just went to the walmart on the wrong side of town"  So the next morning the guy shows up to do our internet stuff and we start talking to him and he says it is like that everywhere and that Rocky Mount is not a good area.  So we are starting to freak out but still kinda like "only 6 months"  I'm standing in the kitchen and we are talking and Charlie (cat) starts digging in a hole in the cabinet by the dishwasher and I FREAKED out that if a mouse came out .... cue the movers showing up and ask if we are ready to start unloading and I look at Aaron and just say "I can't do this"  So we go over, cancel our lease, tell the movers to take everything back to storage and high tail it out of there towards Raleigh, and get a hotel.  Ended up being in a hotel for a week.  Got a realtor to help us and ended up finding a townhouse to rent in Wake Forest - and we LOVE the area!  Thank god we can be a fly by the seat of your pants people and adjust!    So Wake Forest is wonderful.  The perfect town for us.  I really don't see a reason we would ever leave.  We've made friends with our neighbors and some other people in the neighborhood - but still isn't like the friendships we had in StL, but it will just take time to get to that comfort level.  Work is pretty good.  Still kind of feel like a fish out of water and trying to get my bearings, but that will jsut take time too.  I have about an hour commute, but carpool with a girl at work that I get along with super good, so it goes fast and it is a really easy drive.  Aaron had an interview yesterday for a teaching job.  We are sooooo hoping he gets it.  He signed up and is doing a flag football league and loves that. The boys started daycare this week.  it was just driving everyone crazy that they were home all day and Aaron couldn't really do much to look for a job while they were there.  They love goign to "school".  Turner started in karate and does that 3 days a week.  He loves it and is really good.  Austin has kind of turned in to our devil child and makes us crazy right now, but that is just a stage!  But I am already dreading him being a teenager.  The boys just box, tackle, dress up as Optimus Prime and Bumblebee (transformers) and fight, do karate - ALL DAY LONG.  I mean literally they never stop some form of tackling. Mackenzie is adjusting super good.  She loves school, has made two friends in the neighborhood that she is inviting over or going to their house all the time.  Even had a sleepover already.  We are looking for a place now for her to start back up in gymnastics. This weekend we are heading to the beach again.  It is only about 1.5 hours away so easy day trip.  And it is beautiful.  We also have a huge lake like 5 minutes from us that has nice beach areas and campground.  We have a camping trip planned with the girl I commute with and her husband and son for October 9th, and some other neighbors might join us.  you know us, the get-together organizers and social butterflies of the bunch! So yeah - I can't believe that we've only been here for less than a month.  We've transplanted well.  And the cool thing about here is that everyone is from somewhere else, so everyone is a transplant.  We are ready for visitors anytime!  I wish I could just talk you all in to moving down here with us.  It is so much better than the midwest.  I just can't even describe.  Just soooooo many cool things in like a 4 hour radius, and even a ton just in Raleigh and right around us.  It completely fits us.  Like i said, unless it was for a big promotion or something, I could see us living here for a long long time.

We are moving...in 2 weeks!!!

Not sure how many people have heard the news, so I’m sending this out across the board…..

 

Last Friday I flew in to North Carolina for a job interview with Hospira (pharmaceutical company).  Aaron went with me, assuming I’d have a quick interview on Friday morning and then we would head over to the coast and have a little mini-vacation.  Well, I ended up being at the interview a little longer than expected, and then I was told I needed to go back and meet with the HR lady again before I left.  She asked if I could come back in later that day to conclude things because they wanted to offer me the job and so we started talking salary, start date, benefits…  So I leave with a verbal offer and verbal counter, they end up calling me with a final #, I say yes, and boom I’m back in doing my drug screen.  CRAZY!  So I didn’t get all done there until about 4:30 or so, so at that point Aaron and I decided it would be better to spend our time seeing the area since we would be back in two weeks anyways to make it to the beach!

 

So now our life is a complete whirlwind.  Trying to have the house on the market this weekend.  Searching on-line for an apartment to move in to there – temporary until our house here sells and we get a lay of the land.  My last day at Pfizer is August 26^th, first day there is September 13^th.  We are SUPER excited, and SUPER busy, and edgy and tired, and stressed, and happy and…..  You name it, we are feeling it right now.  But all in all – we are mostly excited.  We will be in/near Rocky Mount.  That is about 1 hour East of Raleigh, 2.5 hours from the beach, 3 hours from the mountains, 3 hours from Washington DC….so many fun things to do.  We haven’t heard a single negative comment from anyone on North Carolina, so I’m sure we will love it.  Can’t wait for the new adventure.

 

We are planning to have a BBQ at our house on Friday the 27^th – everyone is invited, kids and all.  Bring something light (side/dessert) if you want, if not, just come and show up.  Saturday we are having an adults-only goodbye at a bar somewhere, Aaron hasn’t hammered that out yet.  I assume we will be changing cell phone numbers and all that once we get there.  For now, just switch to using my personal email so we can keep in touch.  Jllively2@yahoo.com  If anyone wants to meet up any other time over the next 2 weeks, just let us know time and place and we will do our best to schedule to be there.  Yes we have a lot to do, but more we want to make sure we see everyone.  And by all means – COME VISIT us for a nice beach vacation!!!

 

Our perseverance is finally paying off.  Now let’s just hope this house sells and everything works out well.  

 

Thanks for all of your support!

 

Jennifer L. Lively

jllively2@yahoo.com

awlively2@yahoo.com

 

Potty Training

Well, I've been having a hard time lately with rejection after rejection on the job front. It is really taking its toll, but I have to keep reminding myself that it must be part of the grand plan so I am open when something better comes along. So this past weekend we went to church, and it never fails that it is like the lesson is written exactly for me. Now I'm no super religious fanatic, but our trials over the past year along with a great church that we all love to attend on a regular basis has had quite an impact. So this weekend, Saturday night I break down in bed crying..."I just wish I would learn the lesson already, I don't know if I can take this anymore"..yada yada - you know the break-down. So Sunday we walk in to church and this was what the teaching was based on -

James 1: 2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be complete, not lacking anything.

Chills ran down my spine - I mean, were those words written just for me?! So I've been trying to take a different viewpoint this week and will keep this verse close.

So since I haven't been succeeding in anything else lately - I decided to finally work with Austin on potty training. Aaron was sick last week so I was home a few days, so we started on Thursday, and by today I think he's got it! I feel so proud. Yes Austin is our third child, but really only our first that we can claim all the glory for potty training. With Kenz and Turner Nany was the main person in charge. Tonight Austin went with me to get my hair done and he went, on his own, 5 times while we were out. Even said he pooped one of the times - and it did smell like it although there weren't any skid marks (thank goodness!), so I don't know for sure. And then we went to Walmart and he told me as we were walking through the store that he had to go and held it until we got to the bathroom. I'm so proud of him, and myself. FINALLY, I have succeeded at something!

Getting ready for another interview in North Carolina on Friday. Maybe this will be the one, maybe not. We'll just have to wait and see. But Aaron is getting to come along, so at the least we will get a short vacation away and a chance to see the ocean!
Only 2.5 weeks of work left!!!

so many updates

Gosh I don’t even know where to begin with this.  Ok – 1 thing at a time.

The weekend of June 26^th Aaron and I got out of town for our anniversary celebration.  This was his year to plan so I had no idea where we were going.  We ended up in Tunica, MS.  Of course we had a great time – I mean any time I’m away with my best friend all by ourselves it is a great time!  So nice to have those moments when we just get to be Aaron and Jen, not always mom and dad.  This is one of my favorite things we started in our lives and I’ll look forward to our “anniversary weekend” every single year of my life!

Austin had his half-birthday since my last post.  Didn’t do too much since he doesn’t get it too much yet.  But we did sing to him and he loved that!  He is such a monster these days and wants exactly the opposite of what you are getting ready to do that he just told you he wanted 2 seconds ago, but still just has a smile to melt my heart.  He talks a mile a minute, mimics his big brother in everything he does (uh oh, we could be in trouble here!) and still looks more like his daddy every day.  He is such a daddy’s boy. 

Went to Moberly a few weeks ago to visit the grandparents and give Aaron some quiet time to work on school stuff.  Allen and fam also arrived the same day so it was awesome to see everyone.  A little fishing with Grandpy, dinner out with the family, sitting with Granddad, breakfast with Nannan and sleeping at Grandma’s….it was good for the soul for all of us.

We just got back from Michigan for a little vacation and the Walker family reunion.  Had a great time of course.  Always do with that side of the family.  Stopped by Lake Michigan on our way home and the kids had a blast.  It was overcast that day, but didn’t phase them a bit.  They loved playing in the “ocean”.  It was whirlwind trip.  We had to mix in some business with our pleasure.  I had 2 interviews throughout the trip.  One on our way, one while we were there.  So mentally and physically I had to keep changing my mode of operation from family time, interview, play time, worry about work stuff.  I’m glad that it worked out for me to see the company so I can be confident in my decision, but do regret that it had to take away some of my vacation.  Maybe I’ll just negotiate in an extra week for that! Lol  So I’m still waiting on an offer – and driving myself nuts, but I’m pretty sure one is on the way.  I just hate waiting and running through a hundred different scenarios through my mind.  I want to finally be able to act upon whichever it is.  

Tonight I get to see Ellie.  She is staying at our house with Ann and Branson for the night so they can catch an early flight in the morning.  Can’t wait to see her and have her in my home, around my table, part of my family.  I can’t believe she is already 8.  We are so incredibly blessed and lucky to still have her in our lives.  Open adoption is a beautiful thing.

I need to down load more pics, but here are a few to tie over till then….

 

Wish Upon a Star

Last night I took the kids out on a late night walk.  We’ve been so busy this week between VBS, soccer camp and school that I was missing my babies.  So as we are walking Mackenzie sees the North Star, and it is the only star in the sky, so she suggests we make a wish – GREAT idea sweetheart.  So we all stop,

“I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight” squeeeeeeze our eyes shut and make our wish.  

We start back walking and I say, “guys I think my wish has already come true because I have all of you in my life.”  To which Mackenzie responds that her wish came true a long time ago – to have the very best family in the universe.  Yes sweetheart, I think I can confidently say that both of our dreams have come true.  I love you all so much. 

Link to Pictures

Here’s a link to the pictures we got taken recently.  I don’t see how anyone could not look through the progression of these pictures and not be smiling – so I hope it starts your day with a smile!  

 

http://www.SearsPhotos.com/ViewSharedAlbum.aspx?ShareID=f0611a8b-cbae-4275-bc78-e774bbb2c12d

 

Memorial Day Weekend

We had such an amazing Memorial Day weekend!  The weekend started off getting the kids pictures taken.  I’ve been meaning to do it for a while now, it has been almost a year since our last session so we were well overdue.  They turned out soooo cute (of course!).  Then we had our garage sale – made a little extra money, could have done better, could have done worse – but at least we had spending money for the weekend.  But more importantly, it also marked a big milestone – Mackenzie’s first Lemonade Stand!  She did it for charity, so sweet.  So after the garage sale, we packed up and headed South for Mo’s baby shower.  Always good to see them, and Mo just looks so darn cute all super prego.  Christian will be here anytime now!  We ended up staying there and hanging out outside for a couple drinks and pitched the tent Saturday night.  Around the time we got the tent set up, we noticed we had a flat tire – great, what a way to start off the long weekend.  So Sunday we got up, packed back up, put on the spare and headed in to town to get it fixed.  Thankfully we didn’t have to buy new tires and we only ended up having to pay $10 for the fix – awesome.  While the tire was getting fixed we walked up to Sonic to get Aaron some breakfast and the rest of us got ice cream.  I gotta say – I like getting ice cream for a mid morning snack.  Sitting out there, giving the kids a treat, feeling the breeze – got is back in to a good mindset for the rest of the day.  Left there and drove down to Johnson Shut-ins.  Drove through the campground and got the only campsite still available…our luck was changing.  So we set up camp and took the kids down to the river.  We had a blast.  Then back to the campground, had a 15 minute downpour to endure – but it cleared up and we kept everything relatively dry, showers, food, and back out to do a “build a volcano” activity at the campsite.  Kids thought it was so cool, and fun getting their hands all dirty.  Yeah we had just had showers, but you can always clean up again, so I just said go for it!  Got back to camp and roasted marshmallows and then we all headed to bed.    

Monday morning woke up and packed up and headed to Tom Sauk Mnt.  We all went up in the observation tower.  I was so proud that the kids were brave enough to go up – always up for an adventure!  It was a beautiful view.  Then we loaded up to make our way back home.  Stopped off at Cracker Barrel for a good lunch and games of checkers.  Mackenzie darn near beat Aaron – they came down to each having a King against each other.  We truly didn’t want to come back home.  I could have stayed out camping for the week.  It is amazing how much it relaxes me and washes away my stress and worries, and re-centers me.  I guess just being out with just the basics and being so happy makes me know that as long as I’ve got my family, I don’t really need much else to be happy.  

Tuesday after work we met up with friends for the first concert of the “Free concert in the park” series.  This is one of mine and the kids favorite activities during the summer.  We pack up a picnic dinner and listen to the music while the kids play on the playground and do the free activities.  Aaron has had softball for the past few summers on Tuesday nights, so he hasn’t been able to join us – but we just love it.  

Not sure what we have up our sleeves for this weekend yet – maybe more camping, church carnival, bike riding…who knows, but I’m sure it is going to be another great weekend.

 

Happy Half-Birthday..and update

I gotta say, I think the celebration of half-birthday’s is one of my favorite traditions I’ve started in our family.  I can see it being passed down for generations to come.  I’m not sure where it came from or why we started, I guess it probably just an excuse for me to get to make a cake and have a party.  The kids look forward to them as much as a real birthday – always loving to add that “half” to telling people how old they are.  We don’t do presents, it is usually just our family, unless the kids happen to have friends over or something, and they just get to decide on their dessert/dinner they want me to make for them.  Then we sing, blow out candles and celebrate!  We usually try to do something fun that day to make it a little more special.  I’m always up for letting my kids now just how special they are to my heart.  If I could have a party every night to celebrate one more day they were a part of my life I would.

So this past Saturday was Turner’s half-birthday.  He is now officially 4 and a HALF!  And so proud to tell you so.  Soccer got cancelled because the fields were too wet, so we didn’t have that.  We hung around the house for the morning and put up our tent in the backyard.  Then went to the store and he picked out his cake (angel food with strawberry icing…yummy).  Then Mackenzie had a gymnastics show that afternoon so we picked up two of her friends and went to that.  When we got home we just let the kids play, ate dinner…just keeping it low key and hanging out.  Then we built a fire in the pit and did smores.  That night I slept in the tent with Turner, Mackenzie, Belle and Abby.  It was PERFECT weather and a perfect idea.  I fell asleep with Turner cuddled up in the nook of my arm, listening to three six year old girls’ explanation and wonderment of the sky and stars, looking up at the stars and drifted to sleep.  It was wonderful.  Turner told me the next day it was one of his best days ever.  The first thing he said in the morning…”Now that’s what I’m talking about!”   Oh and other funny quote out of his mouth this week – so we are leaving church on Sunday (what? Church? Us? – yes we try to make it at least every other week) – and we hear Turner from the back seat say “I’m following God, and you know what God is saying right now...he telling me to do really good in soccer, and baseball, and football!!!’  Ahhh kids views on the world.  He is also the one who went outside last night to play and come running back in yelling…mom mom I just saw a part of Heaven! (the sun was setting behind a cloud and sending out beautiful rays).  So sweet.

So you may have caught on to me saying Mackenzie and gymnastics….yes, we finally got her signed back up.  We pulled her out last fall when they had their fall break, and just never got back.  But it has been killing me.  She just loves it and it is so good for her, and she is really good.  I’d love to have those skills, so I’m all for it.  So about a month ago we found a gym a little closer than the other one, and signed her back up.  She is loving it and so are we.  I think after the summer I might sign Turner up also.  It will help in any sport to learn to take total control over all the muscles in his body…just no spandex! Lol

Austin is a total HAM these days.  Man the kid cracks me up.  He is all about giving us kisses right now, and a kiss that doesn’t hit exactly, smack on the lips doesn’t count – so don’t even try to get by with a quick peck on the cheek.  But I’m glad, it is almost like time slows down watching him near closer and closer with his lips all puckered up trying to gauge the location just right.  He has also become a kid of opposites – meaning he usually really wants exactly the OPPOSITE as he tells you the first time.  This can get in to a pretty tricky game for mommy, knowing that if I really want him to want something, I know it has to be the second choice.  Then there are times like the other day leaving a soccer game when he wanted to ride with daddy, NO with mommy, NO with daddy (repeat for about 3 minutes), and finally making the choice for him to go with mommy and hearing him scream the whole way home how he wanted to go with daddy!  Ughh, yeah – he was tired that day. 

Oh on the tired thing – this cracked me up the other day.  So when Mackenzie had her two friends over we hit a few of “3s a crowd” moments.  So the next morning Belle is talking to Aaron and she says…..”ughh yeah, sometimes Mackenzie gets a little….umm…..cranky?!”  Aaron just laughed.  I told him he should have told her that when Mackenzie gets like that to ask her if she is tired or wants a snack…..ahhh true to my own heart, my blood definitely runs through her! LOL

Oh another big event about a week ago – all three kids now sleep in their own beds!  We took down the bunk beds so they are on opposite sides of the boys room.  It was just getting too crowded with all three in Mackenzie’s bed, and they kept keeping each other awake, and bed time was getting very frustrating.  Amazingly it has gone off super easy!  Turner still cries every night when we say it is time to go to bed, but then falls asleep within a few minutes.  Him and Austin both have their flashlights that they sleep with.  You can often hear Austin in there yelling “Turner, you awake? Turner wake up” but then he is usually out within a few minutes too!  Mackenzie was not excited about the idea when we started it, but is the most fine with it now.  She sleeps so much better without Turner waking her up because she went to sleep first and he is scared, or Austin kicking all night long.  So it has been a wonderful decision for us.

And lastly – yesterday was the last day of school.  I can’t believe Mackenzie is going to be going in to first grade already!  She already informed me yesterday that she misses school already.  When we asked what she would miss she said all the people because “friends make school fun.  But at least Abby is still her neighbor.”  I’m sure we will be seeing a lot of Abby and Belle this summer which is fine by me…the more the merrier!

We are planning a big weekend with garage sale, baby shower, BBQ with friends, camping, exploring, swimming, more camping….can’t wait!

Graduations

We've had a few graduations in the past week. First started with Aaron and I walking for our Masters degrees. Mine an MBA, Aaron a Masters in Education. Now we haven't actually graduated, but we got to walk in the ceremony. We had all of our family show up. It was a wonderful night, a late night, but a good one. It was so important for me for our kids to watch us walk. Mackenzie was as excited as we were about it. I love this picture of us with the kids. They had gotten home before us and started getting ready for bed, but just to see us with our 3 kids, and standing there with our hoods, an awesome feeling. Kind of made it real, like we really did do this. We couldn't have done it without lots of support, from the beginning with Cameron agreeing to babysit for us, to others that have helped with our crazy schedule. So thank you to everyone for your support through our journey. It has been a sacrifice for all of us, with time away from the kids to attend class and even at home having to write papers or be studying, being a single parent at least one night a week...the memories of me already up early on a Saturday morning working on my paper as Cameron and Caitlyn came walking in from the night before...the multiple times I've stressed over Aaron cutting HIS timelines short...I actually think his school has been more stressful for me than my own! It has been a journey for sure. We are so ready to be done with school....for now!! lol

The next graduation was just as important. Mackenzie had her Kindergarten graduation. I can't believe she is going to be in 1st grade next year. Just crazy how fast it is all going. She has done such an amazing job this year. it amazes me how much she has learned. Exiting Kindergarten, she can now read just about anything, of her favorite books is her bible, and her chapter books about dogs. She can do math, writes by sound, writes stories.... She makes me sooooo proud!!