Update

So I really want to get back in the blogging game, but I see that a year of only blogging once or twice has left me in the dust.  So pardon the dust as I try to sort through all the changes and get back on track.  It may be a little messy and a little sporadic as I try to figure all this out.  In the meantime here are a few pictures of my crew with the newest addition!

The Sugar and Spice of the House (she's more sugar than spice)

Always with the thumb when she's sleepy or eating solids.

Mr. GQ himself!

Very proud big brother with his little sister!

Talent runs in the family!While I'm trying to figure out how all the new formatting works.... check out my friend's new blog... it will keep you in stitches!

Everyday happenings

This is an everyday occurrence in our house.
Usually Wyatt starts it.. (when no one suspects it)

Then Hayden continues it..

Then not too far behind them is big bro Carter and Daddy jumping in the mix...

Oh the joys of boys!

Chicago Children's Museum!!!

While Andrew and his family were visiting last weekend we made a trip over to Chicago. If you are ever in Chicago you HAVE to make a trip to the children's museum. It's great!! We had such a blast and the kids did too! The price may be a little steep at $10 a person (kids too - except for under one year.) BUT - if you check their site they have discount and even FREE days or half days!!! SOOOOOOO worth it even if you pay the full price. Go prepared to spend a LONNNG time the there!

The first things my boys did and LOVED was the boat/tunnel/ ladder that stretches for 3 FLOORS!! It's kind of freaky with them walking so high over your head!

Carter (of course) didn't hesitate and flew right across it!Bailey (my niece on the left) did great tooo. Hayden (he's on the right) was "overly cautious" and didn't want to walk out after climbing up... Wyatt takes after Carter and practically RAN over Hayden to the end of it..Wyatt going again... with NO ONE to slow him down!! That boy is a bulldozer to the core! Bailey again...

They loved it and since it's in the center we kept "coming back to it".... but on to the many other rooms.

The building room was a HUGE HIT with my boys... all FOUR of them
The building was a little over Wyatt's level... but they have fun little bolt puzzles that were perfect for him!
Hayden just liked dressing up like "Superman Builder Hayden"
This was the first "room" we stopped in... and we (the little boys and I) would've stayed longer, but it was SOOOOO HOT with the sun streaming in. So Wyatt (and I) got bored quickly and looked around. We found the Water Room.. and went to get Hayden .. leaving Bryan and Carter to finish their project...(Bryan didn't want to stop building. It was quite funny to see all the dads and a few moms building and the kids wandering around or gone to another room!) They took some pictures of their finished Tree house... it turned out pretty impressive...

The Water Room was a refreshing cool off after the HOT building room

This picture of Carter is blurry because that's how he spent most of the day.....in a blur running here and there!
Andrea LOVE LOVE LOVE the water....

It even tasted good... YUCK!
Hayden had his missions he was doing... Notice the plea for help in his eyes - instead Aunt Rachael took this picture... LOVE IT!

These two are trouble together!Another room was a town... with different things in the town.. grocery store... bus... auto shop...They had a "undercity" build the plumbing area that Carter spent time in... the boy is such a builder!!!Wyatt driving the ambulance..There were soooo many rooms... insect/garden, dino dig, forest, art, games, safety room...we didn't spend as much time in the rest of them... and I didn't get pictures from them either. I know if we went back there would still be so much to do...

Fire"woman" Bailey.. and Wyatt - the dog!

Fire"woman" Bailey and Hayden - the dog... why are my boys the dogs?

It was SOO much fun... we were all wiped out!!! But of course had to get a picture on Navy Pier (for the record... Rachael and I DIDN'T want to be in the picture.. Wyatt just wouldn't let me put him down!) After that we went for some great Chicago pizza at our favorite place Giordano's... GO there and get their stuffed deep dish pizza.... sooo good - one piece FILLS you up!

ONE LAST PICTURE from the day.... I loved it.. from the dino dig room... Wyatt is such a ham!!!

Dominoes... not the Pizza

Wyatt's had a rough weekend. (Now the picture it just one he asked me to take while he was eating his pudding... don't ask me why... he just wanted it taken.)
I've known for a few days that he wasn't feeling good, but then on Sunday he woke up with a pink eye... YEAHHHH.

Today the other eye was pink.. so we went to the doctor...

Now please tell me WHY WHY WHY is it when I THINK they have an ear infection they DON'T, but when I don't think they have one they DO!

Poor boy - Pink eye in both eyes, sinus infection and ear infections in both ears!!

I think that makes me a nominee' for worst mother of the year... almost ties with the year I let Carter go almost a week with a broken arm before I realized it!




After the crazy afternoon at the doctor's office.. I had some fun with the boys tonight.

We played a game of Dominoes (or whatever you call it "Mexican Train", "Party Train", etc.)

After we finished I thought I'd do a fun thing for the boys (and keep them from interrupting Bryan's University of Kentucky basketball game - don't you love March Madness... sorry I digress)
So I lined up the dominoes for them to knock down...
I was doing good the first time with only 4 left
when Wyatt knocked them down... so I tried again... with success this time. So I let Wyatt knock it down...



After his turn the other two wanted their turn.. it went much better...although not as funny!



Hayden's turn...





If you want to work on your patience... try it.. set us some dominoes while 3 boys try to "watch".... you may not have much hair or patience left!!

While you aren't looking...

While you aren't looking....



we might....



Find the camera on the desk



and take several photos of Hayden being shy

and a funny face photo....and a photo of the beautiful toasty warm fire in the fireplace..

along with several other photos mommy can't identify!

Of course we'd leave all those photos on the camera and NEVER think anyone would notice!!!

While you aren't looking we might make you so proud by cleaning up our Hershey kiss wrappers from our afternoon treat.... only to show you later where we cleaned them up to...

(Here's a closer look - that's the wrappers in the lamp stand)
While you aren't looking (and doing Carter's schoolwork)

we might take all the hats, scarves, and gloves out of the big basket and have some fun dress up time

While you aren't looking...

we might become good friends...

While you aren't looking...

we might grow up too quickly!

If I weren't a mother...

Two years ago today I started this blog. (Click here to read the first post)

I did it for the same reasons most people do... to keep family that lives far away "in touch" with our lives.

(I'm not sure how many of them actually read it...)

In fact I wouldn't have realized that it was 2 years ago today if my mom hadn't mentioned it the other day on the phone... THANKS MOM!

In the process I've "met" so many amazing people!!! It's been great.

That got me thinking about the REASON I started the blog... my boys and what life would have been like...

If I weren't a mother..

- I would still be a size 6... I like to think so anyway.

- I wouldn't have the "road map" across my stomach from 3 full term pregnancies!

- I would be able to walk across the floor without my feet sticking to something or tripping over toys.

- I would be able to sleep in as long as I want to on the days I can.

- I would be able to watch and ENTIRE movie without being interrupted

- I would be able to get a full nights sleep!! (most nights anyway!)

- I wouldn't have to worry about "what was going on" when it was quiet.

- I wouldn't do 20,000 loads of laundry in a week

- I wouldn't be "friends" with Google because of the Million questions I get asked everyday!!

BUT if I weren't a mother

- I would miss the hugs and kisses. (funny from someone who's not really that "touchy touchy")

- I would miss the "mommy watch this"... even for the 1,000,000th time

- I wouldn't get to see the first smile, laugh, step, broken bone... ;)

- I would miss the laughs and smiles

- I would miss the " mommy I love you" - (even if the reason he said it was because I let him play PS2 or not do school so he can play in the snow with his friends.)

- I would have no reason to blog... hey that's a big one isn't it!!

- I would miss watching them play together (they really do play well together - even if it's usually LOUD and involves running, jumping, wrestling, or boxing!)

- I would miss the snuggles and tickles

- I would miss the million questions, the fingerprints on the mirror, and the "copycat" syndrome that Carter has right now!! (OK, maybe I won't miss that!!)

And that just names a few things...

Fact is... I won't trade being a mom for ANYTHING!!!

So get ready for more years of crazy stories and funny pictures!!!

January 2007

January 2009

Christmas Spirit...so I've been gone a while!

SO BEFORE the heart stopping events of my last post... we had some Christmas spirit goin' on around here...
The stocking made by my momma... aren't they great!!!

Our GIGANTICALLY fat tree stuffed in the corner between the couch and TV. Notice the angled ceiling... so the angel didn't fit on top I had to use a bow instead. (We actually found a "slim" tree a few days before Christmas at Target for only $15!!! (75% the price of a display model) So we don't have to leave branches off the back to make it fit like we do on this one!!!!
We cleared out some boys... I mean toys...

Sang Christmas songs at our church...

Well Carter was "supposed" to be singing...

Not sure why he looks so sad here?.... I guess he's not one for the stage (Yeah right!)

We also took "goodies" to the nurses on the floor Hayden was on when he had to stay overnight in the hospital a few days before Thanksgiving. We also took a bag of toys..(new- not the ones we cleared out from the earlier picture) for the kids to have to play with while there. The nurses gave Hayden so much to play with and it made it a lot more fun for him.