New Additions

So this is Carter's last week of first grade! YEAH - except that I need to order books for next year AND get started ASAP on next years school to give myself some "wiggle room" to work with after the baby is born.

Which brings up the newest addition coming in July... around the 15th they say, but we have another ultrasound later this month to see the size of our little GIRL! Believe it or not a girl!... I won't believe it - at least until she is born - then I'll believe it! The pregnancy is for SURE the hardest one yet - for me anyway. The baby is doing great! Everything has been progressing with good with the pregnancy. All those annoying pregnancy problems are what is getting me!

We've also had another addition in the past few months... Barrett, a golden retriever. After praying for over a year for "the right dog at the right time", Carter had a BIG answer to prayer. I have to say Barrett is the perfect dog for our family. He is patient beyond words with the little ones (and sometimes the big ones too) and can rough-tumble with the big ones! He has definitely helped Wyatt (and my nieces) conquer the fear of dogs. I would have to say that Barrett really is the perfect dog for our family. It was worth the waiting and praying to have him. It has taught Carter about the power of prayer and patience for God's timing. (me too!)That's all the new additions we have for now and I HOPE HOPE HOPE to be more consistent in updating this blog. I really do love doing it - it's just finding the time now!

Fall Festival Fun

We had a great time at a local church's Fall Festival! It was a great time. My boys couldn't make it but we had Camo Carter
Spidey Hayden
and Monster Truck Driver Wyatt that were able to go with us!
We didn't get to do EVERYTHING, but they did a LOT.
In fact they had 7 HUGE inflatable houses PLUS games PLUS trunk or treating!
The thing they LOVED the most was riding a horse for the first time!
I'm so proud of Wyatt - he is usually TERRIFIED of animals, but rode it like a champ!
It was a blast even if someone was a little grumpy...

What do you when it's raining?

What do you do when it's raining out side... enjoy it!

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!

This N That - A little bit of life

So I've been avoiding posting for over a week now.. mainly because I would have to admit... "Hi, my name is Karen and I'm 30...."

There I've done it.. I am offically 30. I'd like to say it was an exciting, amazing, kick-off to my thirties.. but NOT really. My Birthday (March 9th) was actually pretty normal. The trip Bryan and I took to Canada in February was our 30th birthday(s) kick-off.

So the "excitment" for the day was that I made from scratch my favorite cake my grandma used to make. The boys helped me put the candles on top...

and we just hung out for the night...

which is just fine with me!!

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Hayden finally got the "SUPERMAN" backpack he REALLY wanted for his birthday... if you remember my post about that... oh wait it was the last thing I posted about...

He loves it!!

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Right now we are trying to sell our van and find another vehicle with lower miles (since our families are so far away). So if you are interested...
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But right now the most exciting news is that it DOESN'T look like this right now....


it looks like this.....





at least for today anyway!

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Until last year I didn't realize the importance of St. Patrick's Day... now thanks to Veggie Tales I have a new appreciation for St. Patrick and the sacrifice he made!
(By the way, I did some looking on the web and found that their versions - while humorous- is very accurate!)
You can watch it too just click here
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

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

"To the Rescue"

I would like to think this was us today getting ready for our church's annual Harvest Extravaganza.. but it's not.
Instead it's raining and Hayden spent the night throwing up.
These cute superhero pictures are from 2 weeks ago!
How can life not be great with superheroes as your kids!!!

Brothers FUN

Fun on the tire swing with brothers and blue suckers!
(Oh... this was from 2 weeks ago - it is NOT warm enough now to wear shorts/sleeveless shirts)

THE ANSWER IS...

I need to be more tricky about this.... Couldn't fool you guys!!!

Wyatt is on the left and Hayden is on the right. (Great Job McMommy!!)

They are so much alike I am constantly calling Hayden -Wyatt and Wyatt-Hayden. ( They ARE NOT alike in personality... AT ALL!!!)

I hope they don't grow up confused!!!

Wyatt loves his "blues".(aka popsicles) He started calling them this because every time the older boys wanted one they would say, "I want a blue one." So now to Wyatt they are all BLUES. (He also calls things that scare him "reals" because I've said, "It's not real!")

Besides being in the 2nd week of our Fall Family Camp (pictures soon) AND having those NASTY colds that are going around... Hayden has been busy building houses.... LOTS of houses!!!

If you need a builder... feel free to contact us... construction is finished in about an hour!

Vacation 2008 - Photo op at Chick-Fil-A

After a few days at Andrew and Rachael's house (Bryan's brother), we ALL headed down to Mississippi to visit Bryan's parents.
We had 5 kids under 5 at their house! It was BUSY to put it mildly!
When Andrew and his family were heading home, we all went over to Chick-fil-A for their "free-sandwich-when-you-where-your-team-logo-day". Nothing says loyalty like 11 University of Kentucky fans in Chick-fil-A in Mississippi!

We took a little photo op...
It didn't start off so good.... But we did get some good shots!

This is my favorite of my niece Andrea!

We love you guys... wish we lived closer so the kids could learn all those bad things from each other... or so yours could learn from mine!