Lodmell House

Abigail Price

2011-10-09T15:05:00.000-04:00

Shutterfly...making Christmas cards stress free.

2010-12-02T09:22:00.002-05:00

Shutterfly is an amazing picture site where you can get lots of great products from cards, stationary, photo books and lots of great photo gift ideas.

They make Christmas cards so easy for us with four kids. Do you know how hard it is to get a picture of four kids looking and smiling all at the same time? Super hard. Well, Shutterfly has many multi photo card options where I can include an individual of each child, using their best shot and don't have to stress about getting a good pic with all four smiling and looking at the same time.

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards

Every Christmas as part of David's gift we make him a calendar for his desk at work. I typically will hear from David at work the day he flips his calendar to a new month, as he sees the newest picture.
http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/desk-calendars

One thing I have not used before is their thank you cards. I will definitely be using these in the future. What a great way to use your favorite picture from an event and turn it into your thank you note. With all three girls birthdays coming up this will be a great way to say thanks for all their great birthday gifts.
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/thank-you-cards

I think my absolute favorite thing about Shutterfly is for just simply writing this post about Shutterfly and passing their information on to you I can get 50 FREE HOLIDAY CARDS!!!! That is so amazing!!! I love Shutterfly!!! By doing this and with the great selection of products, they are helping make a part of the holiday season stress free for me.

How About ..Duck Duck Goose

2010-10-25T22:53:00.003-04:00

I love the mind of a three year old. I have been trying to really cherish this time with Lauren we have about an hour every morning when John is napping and the girls are at school. We work on "schoolwork" (letters, numbers, and shapes). She is quit the talker and has quit the imagination, which anybody who spends about 5 minutes with her picks up on.
Tonight was her last soccer game of this fall season.
As I was getting her dressed before her game I asked her if she wanted to play soccer again in the spring or if she wanted to try something else. Without skipping a beat she says, "How about... Duck, Duck, Goose!"
Crack me up!! LOVE it!! David and I have gotten a big laugh out of it all evening.

Kindergarten

2010-09-18T21:22:00.003-04:00

I can't believe the time has really come, but our baby girls have started kindergarten. We are just over a month into school and they are still completely in love with school. They are little reading machines and have learned so much in the first month I can only imagine what kind of amazing progress they will make over the year. The teacher Mrs. Combs is AMAZING!!! She pushes them to learn, but still lets them be 5 and enjoy themselves.
The night before school started there were a lot of nerves in our house, a little from them, but A LOT from mommy. I didn't realize how hard it would be to send them off to school. I have been at home with them since they were 2 1/2!! They are my babies and I really miss them while they are at school. It is giving me a lot more one on one time with John and Lauren. Then in the afternoon, there is nothing better than seeing those two smiling faces run to us, "MOMMY!!" Laying in bed snuggling with them the night before school started we talked about how they were feeling and if there was anything they were worried about. I told them I would pick them up in the afternoon, "But mommy, we have all day school. You don't pick us up until bedtime!" How cute?!?! There was a lot of concern about music and that they wouldn't know how to play all the instruments, like the flute! I had to explain to them that most likely they wouldn't be playing the flute for music class. The other big concern of course was the playground. When would recess be and would they get to play on the big playground with the big kids.
Anna has joined the dance team for K-2nd grade. This should be interesting, as it is the first big thing the girls have done apart from each other.
David and I were a little worried about how school would go and if they would be pushed to their full potential. It appears that there is nothing to worry about, as they are making good progress!!!

I know I have said this before...

2010-09-18T20:58:00.000-04:00

but I can absolutely not believe that it has been all summer since I have posted. So much has happened in the last few months.
We have FINALLY moved in the new house, Anna and Sarah have started kindergarten, John is walking. They are all growing and changing so fast and I don't want to continue to let time go past without posting. I often wait to make a post until there is a picture to attach. And often those pictures remain sitting on my camera for WAY too long.
So, my plan is to for the next few nights type at least one post to get us caught up on the craziness around here we call life.

Our Baby Boy is ONE today!!

2010-05-06T14:50:00.003-04:00

Picnic with his sisters.
He LOVES to swing!

and eat!

I can't believe he is already one! Where has this year gone!

Life is so busy right now, but we took a little time out today for our little man and had a picnic and play time at the park.

It has been such a great year with John. He hasn't been sick, yet! (knock on wood) The only visits we have made to the pediatrician were for well visits and his little incident with almost biting through his tongue.

He is such a momma's boy, which is totally ok with me. The first thing he said this morning when I went to get him out of bed was, "awww, mama" and gave me a big hug! Just melts my heart.

We have been doing sign language with him as we did with the girls, although he doesn't show as much interest as they did. He can sign: more, eat, milk, thank you.

He is a talker though. He can say: mama, dada, nana (for Anna, hers is definitely the easiest to say), girls, go, bye bye, thank you, boom, night night, Kate. Of course is not all completely clear, but we know what he is saying.

He absolutely loves his sisters and when they aren't close by, you will hear him start calling, "girls!"

He loves watching the play soccer and sits with mommy and yells right along with me, "go, go, go!"

He isn't completely walking yet, but will take some steps here and there. I think he has decided that his speedy crawling is faster to keep up with the girls and in a house of 4 kids everything he wants is pretty much on the floor, so who needs to stand! :) And it is fine with me, with the others I was always so anxious for them to walk, but with the fourth I will try to keep him little for as long as possible.

He is completely off formula and only taking one bottle at night time. The girls I had them off bottles pretty quickly, but again he is my fourth and I like him being a baby. I enjoy our snuggle time before bed. It will go soon though because I am tired of cleaning bottles.

Happy Birthday John!! We love you so much and have really enjoyed your first year with you and look forward to watching you grow and learn!!

Soccer Begins

2010-03-17T15:41:00.002-04:00

Our big girls started soccer this past week. They just look so cute in the gear!! They were both very nervous before practice, but excited. I think they just weren't to sure what to expect. They left practice jumping for joy and completly in love. Ever since then they have been kicking the ball up and down the hallway and playing all the time. I think soccer may last a while in this house. Lauren will start practice this next week.

So much going on...

2010-03-02T11:32:00.002-05:00

I wonder if things will ever slow down, but with 4 kids probably not.
John is a growing boy, he will be 10 months old this week!
He is crawling, pulling up, cruising around furniture, and attempting to stand on his own. He is into everything! He is also definitely a momma's boy and doesn't like it when mommy leaves the room.
Since I am so behind I will catch up a little bit.
At 9 months old our little man, bit his tongue real good. Not quite enough for stitches, but enough to bleed for a few days. In all our time as parents this was our first doctor trip that was injury related. After a few days of breaking it back open everytime he ate or drank or ran his teeth over it, he healed up enough to stop bleeding.
We are still in construction mode on the new house. David is working really hard and working every spare minute he has on the house. The girls really miss Daddy, as he doesn't get to be home with us nearly as often as we would like. Floors are going in and the girls room addition over the garage will hopefully be getting drywall in the next week. This weekend we might even get the digging completed to run the electric and plumbing to the house. This is a major step and David will be so glad to finally have heat, so he is not working in below freezing temperatures. That man is a trooper!

Big Boy

2009-11-03T11:13:00.008-05:00

I am ashamed that it has been this long since I have posted, especially keeping up to date on John. He is growing like a weed, about to grow out of 6 to 9 month clothes. Here is a little flash back.

Home from the hospital. 2 days old.

2 months old

3 months old

4 months old

5 months old - looking more and more like his daddy everyday!

And on Friday he will be 6 months old. He has one tooth a very stubborn second tooth coming in. He is almost sitting up. He rolls all over the living room and will soon be crawling. He is eating cereal and has started his vegetables. Not a fan of green beans, or at least yet. He is a joy, very smiley, and a lot of fun. You all know I love all of my babies dearly, but there is just something special about having a momma's boy.

In other news construction on the house is progressing. Slow, but moving. Paint is going up the addition above the garage, that I would like to call the girls quarters is being framed and the drilling has been done for the geothermal heating and air. I will try to post soon with some pics.

In about 8 weeks I will graduate with my masters degree, which just makes me happier than words can express. When I started my masters right after getting married, I soon found out we were having twins. That put a quick end to mommy taking classes. Then we moved to Frankfort, which made it really impossible to travel to Uof L for class. So it just kept gettting put off. In May of 2007 I started at Campbellsville in their 18 month program. It has been nonstop classes since then and demanding classes at that. I feel like when I finish I will have to reintroduce myself to my children. I feel so bad for them and all the time the classes have taken me away from them and stuck them watching TV or sent off to play and "please be quiet!" I am very happy to report that I do have a 4.0 and will be even happier when my diploma is in hand.

I am promising myself to get back to updating as the kids are growing and changing so fast, that I want to be able to document it all. I mean... Anna and Sarah are even beginning to read!

Be back soon!

The Reason I am Behind... still.

2009-08-21T15:33:00.005-04:00

I promised myself that I would start catching up on posting. Well housing has gotten in the way. We have our house on the market. With four kids we are busting at the seams and need more space to stretch out. Within the first week, we had one offer and another possible offer on the table. Then we went into a mad dash to try and find a house. Back in June we had heard of a new construction that was for sale that we could probably get a good deal on. We went and looked and made an offer. After a lot of phone calls and attempted negotiations, it fell through. When we went back on the house hunt a few weeks ago, we just kept thinking about this house. (the one we had previously made an offer on.) Everything else in our price range was either outdated and needed redoing, not enough space, or just all wrong. This is when we decided to go back to the original house we found in June and attempt negotiations again. We put in an offer and it was accepted. We had a few more hoops to jump through. The house had a contingency offer on it that would have to be removed and the builder had some liens on the property. After a long week of anticipation. The sale of the house is now pending (doing house inspections, filing all bank paper work, etc.) We are scheduled to close on or before September 8th. Without further ado here is a picture of what will be our next home...

We are excited, just nervous about all the work to be done...this is what it looks like on the inside...

UNFINISHED! It has roughed in plumbing and electrical, and drywall. No cabinets, lights, fixtures, floors, etc.

The scary part is both offers have fallen through to sell our current house. We won't have to officially close out the mortgage on this house until construction is complete. So, we have a couple months. Fingers crossed everything will fall into place!!

I hope to get some better pictures of the house this weekend. David and I are going out to start taking measurements to start pricing out everything we need.
I was finally beginning to feel like I had my feet under me with the four kids, masters, and all the other daily stuff, but now adding house construction to the list I just don't know. Hopefully, I will at least be able to keep up with the blogging to document our whole crazy adventure!

A Daunting Task.

2009-08-12T17:16:00.003-04:00

I promise we are still here. Although, now that it has been about three months since my last post I am wondering if any readers are still out there.
I am back, hopefully. I now am facing the daunting task of catching up on what has been going on the past few months. Things seem to be getting into a routine here. We have been all over the place and crazy busy the past three months. I am still working on my masters, I am in the home stretch though and will be finished January 8th!!! We also now have our house on the market, us as a familiy of 6 no longer fit. We are on the house hunt. John is a growing boy, sleeping about 10 to 12 hours a night!!! Lauren is potty trained. At least I hope that statement does not jinx me. Anna and Sarah are just getting so big and this will be their last year at home with mommy before starting school. Where has the time gone.
I hope to make it back tomorrow to catch up in pictures.
See you soon!

John Thomas is Here!

2009-05-12T18:19:00.005-04:00

Last picture as mommy of three!
John Thomas Lodmell

John and mommy

John Thomas arrived on May 6th. He was 7 lbs 8 oz. and 21 inches long.

They were estimating for a much bigger baby. Although, he arrived 2 weeks early and his long measurements put their guesses off. He is a long skinny guy, not a lot of meat on his bones! He has some chicken legs like his daddy!!

I had been having some problems with my blood platelets being low, so they had been watching and monitoring these each week. When I went into the doctor last week, my counts were up, good enough to receive the all important epidural. I was three centimeters dilated. So, they decided to send me on over to the hospital to have my water broken and give a small dose of pitosin to see if we could get things going. After about 5 1/2 hours I had only progressed to 4 centimeters. They couldn't really push more pitosin, for fear of stressing my uterus. We go going for a VBAC and hoping to not have a repeat c-section. After so many hours with no progress and fear of uterine rupture, it was decided it would be best for mommy and baby to go ahead with a c-section. Rather than being in labor for many, many hours and then having a c-section. Decision was made at about 6:30pm and he arrived at 7:23pm.

I am slowly recovering. Although the recovery from this c-section has been much easier, I think because we made the decision to not continue the attempt for a VBAC.

John is doing well. He only lost 6 ounces while in the hospital and when we went to the pediatrician on Monday he has gained 2 ounces back already. We are getting through some hurdles with him eating. He is a sleeper, at least for now. Although I am thinking he is getting his days and nights mixed up. I have to wake him up to eat during the day and at night he is wide awake and just stares at me.

His sisters are absolutely in love. No one seems to be having adjustment issues, at least yet. They love to help do anything they can. Anna and Sarah would just sit and hold him for hours if they could. Lauren likes to hold him, kiss and hug him. Her attention doesn't last as long as the big girls, but she does love her baby John.

More updates to come soon. I have already started my next round of masters classes, just counting down until January when it will be all done! So, life is busy!!!!

Things Kids Say

2009-04-18T21:12:00.002-04:00

The girls and I were in the car on our way home today. There was an eighteen wheeler, just the trailer, sitting on the side of the road. Anna says, "Mommy, why is the truck missing its head?" HAHA! It took me a few minutes to stop laughing before I could explain to her that was a trailer and the other part was the truck. Sometimes they come up with the funniest things!

Baby Update

2009-03-23T16:51:00.003-04:00

I went to the doctor today for my 32 week check-up. I have been feeling miserable and large for a long time now. I told the doctor I was getting concerned about how big he was getting. She measured and said, "hmmm", measured again, "Well, you are measuring big.". I asked her how big she said, "at least by two weeks." I was thinking maybe a week.
She decided we need to do an ultrasound to see what is going on in there. I am excited to see him, it has been twelve weeks and ultrasounds are always very reassuring to me that things are ok.
We have really no idea as to what will come of wednesday. All she said is we will look and see how things are going and go from there. David has always thought my due date is off, she doesn't think that is necessarily the case because I had two early ultrasounds that indicated his growth was accurate for the due date.
I am thinking Wednesday we will find out how fesible a VBAC is or whether or not we will just have to go ahead and schedule a c-section because he is just going to be to big.
I will update more Wednesday after the ultrasound.
I have class tonight and during class I am hoping to get some new pictures uploaded.

Baby John

2009-02-24T17:24:00.003-05:00

I had an OB check-up yesterday, we are now at 28 weeks. That included the wonderful glucose test. I don't mind the orange drink. I just hate the whole test because last time with Lauren I had to take the long three hour test. So, I am worried I will have to do that again. We will find out later this week the results. Otherwise, our little boy is doing good. I was supposed to start going every two weeks after this appointment, but the doctor decided that since I have done this before that we are going to wait 4 weeks before my next appointment. I am measuring big, but if you saw me you know why. And in the words of my aunt, as she so lovely said in the movie theatre, "You're huge!" (Love ya Liz!)
I would post a picture, but I hate pictures of myself to begin with much less when I am so round and "huge."
Three months to go until we meet our baby boy. We are both getting very excited to meet him and see what he will look like. The girls ask everyday if it is time for him to come out. This is helping Anna and Sarah learn their months, they are counting down until May.
Hopefully, this is the start of me posting again. I have so many new pictures to share. Maybe tomorrow. I have to go get the kids occupied, so I can get online for class tonight.

Productive

2009-02-24T17:22:00.002-05:00

It has turned out to be a fairly productive day. All thread is put away, fabric folded, and junk removed from my sewing table.
My sewing room really seems to be a catch all room for all things that we never know what to do with.
Tonight I am hoping to warm up the sewing machine again and be productive getting some projects completed.
Yeah, for a productive day!

2009-02-24T09:06:00.002-05:00

I know if you all are still out there somewhere you are probably thinking I have fallen off the face of this earth. Well no, just in a land of being uncomfortably pregnant already, tackling three kids, and working on my crazy masters (I will finally be finished in December.)
In the meantime I have been brainstorming and dreaming of all kinds of fabulous things to make, well my sewing room is to the least a DISASTER! There is no way I could sew if I wanted to. So, today I am motivated to take care of it. I would post a picture of it, but it is just that bad!
I am now backing away from the computer to start tackling the mess. Let's hope Lauren cooperates and plays like a big girl so mommy can get it done. We will see! She is becoming a defiant two year old these days!

Where does his name come from?

2009-01-14T17:33:00.002-05:00

Ever since David and I have been married we have had a boys name picked out, maybe even before we got married.
John Thomas.
John in honor of David's dad.
and Thomas for my dad.
We have had to hold onto that name for what seems like forever and now in just about 18 weeks, he will be here!
I still can't believe it.

We are beginning the process of getting everyone moved into new rooms and settled. This way they can all be settled in before John gets here.
I will post some pictures soon. I sort of have some mixed feelings about it. We are turning what has been our nursery with a great mural on it, into the girls room. I was not feeling sentimental about it until I started seeing it all disappearing.

It's A .....

2009-01-05T12:26:00.005-05:00

BOY!!!!
Can you believe it? I am still in shock! I have been feeling different this time and I had a feeling it was a boy, but couldn't decide if that was me just hoping for a boy or really feeling different this time.
The doctor says it is definitely a boy. He says if it is not a boy, he will even come and repaint the nursery if it isn't.
Everything is healthy and right on track. So, John Thomas will be here in May!!! I am so excited!! I even went out shopping and bought some blue today, I couldn't resist!

I Just Can't Decide....

2008-12-27T15:48:00.002-05:00

The doctors really have it set in my head that this baby is a girl. I now lay awake at night dreaming up girls names. NOTHING!!! has hit me yet. We have the hardest time deciding on girls names. I have also searched just about every baby name site there is.
Anyone out there with a baby girl name suggestions?

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-23T13:46:00.004-05:00

I just want to wish everyone a happy holiday season!

There is a lot going on around the Lodmell house, as I am sure everyone's house is busseling.

We will be traveling around to our families for various Christmas celebrations. We are hoping Christmas morning to lounge around the house with the girls. Then we are off to Memphis on the 1st to spend a few days with all the Lodmells.

Baby is doing well. Heartbeat is 156, the doctors are convinced it is a girl. Two more weeks and we will see!

Have a safe and hapy holiday!

Happy Birthday

2008-12-12T10:10:00.005-05:00

On Wednesday our baby girls turned 4! I don't know where the time has gone, but they don't seem four. Wednesday we did a little celebrating, but the cake and candles will be in about a week with their party. These December birthdays are so hard to fit it all in. So, next weekend we are having a kids party on Saturday for the three girls and family over on Sunday to celebrate.

Here are a few pictures from Wednesday, in their birthday shirts before heading off to school.

We went out to dinner, by their request to Frisch's. They wanted pancakes. Then they got to make a trip to the "ice cream place" (Baskin Robbins) with granddaddy and aunt kate. And even got to open presents from mommy and daddy.

Our goofy girls!!

Our Anna Banana - such a daddy's girl! Our very inquisitive child, always asking questions and touching EVERYTHING. She just has to know how it feels and what it is.

Sarah Bear -(as mommy calls her) Is mommy through and through. My girly girly, must have everything a certain way and looking pretty.

I can't believe we have already reached 4! I love you girls, Happy Birthday!

Busy, Busy

2008-12-09T19:18:00.002-05:00

Life around here has not stopped, but I guess I shouldn't expect it too. Three kids, Daddy working 10-12 hour days, my masters, and I have been sewing like crazy. And tomorrow is a big day around here, Anna and Sarah turn 4!!!!!
I have pictures to post of tree decorating etc. I hope to get to it tonight, as I need to clear my camera for birthday.
We have ALL, had a cold since about Friday. The girls seem to better, but David and I just can't seem to shake it, probably because we haven't been sleeping taking care of them.
So, more post coming soon. Or so I hope!
January 5th is the big day, we will find out if it is a boy or girl!!!

What A Big Girl!!

2008-12-01T19:58:00.004-05:00

Well..I didn't take pictures and I sure once I tell you the story you will be glad there aren't pictures.
Lauren shewied in the potty today all by herself!!
We have been working on the potty with no intensity just taking her a couple times a day. She pepees in the potty about once a day sometimes more.
I am using the Baby Signs potty training program that research shows to have children potty trained before the age of 2!

Photo from Babysigns.com

We have been having a lot of success. Something was up with her today. I think about twelve times today she signed potty and insisted that we went. I took her, but nothing. She kept wanting to close the door and be alone.

Tonight we were getting the girls ready for bed. I was taking care of sick Sarah. (we have had a stomach bug and today is her turn) David was getting Lauren ready for bed. She said potty, so he took off her diaper and off she went, she closed the door behind her. I forgot she was in there.

I was off giving the big girls their medicine and heard the potty flushing repeatedly. I went in to check and there in her little potty was some shewy. YEAH!!!
I have been putting off really pushing the potty thing until after the holidays. But she seems ready to go, so maybe I will be brave and try we will see.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T21:21:00.002-05:00

We hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving today!
We made our sprint around to both families and are home with girls tucked in bed.
I know it has been a while since you have heard from me. Life has gone frome busy to crazy busy and this pregnancy has really gotten the best of me. But, I am beginning to feel better and get my energy back.
More post to come soon. As we gear up for Christmas and our marathon of our December birthday girls!!

BIG NEWS!!

2008-09-28T21:35:00.003-04:00

Well, I am sure most of you guessed it by the heading... we are expecting baby #4.
Due May 20th, 2009.
So, it is still early and we don't know much. It is still about 5 weeks until I make my official doctor visit. David wanted to wait to tell everyone, but I am the worst at keeping the secret of a new baby in. I am also already growing at what feels like rapid speed. All of my clothes are too tight. (Although the scal says I have not gained a pound, yet)I got tired of trying to fit into them and worrying about what to wear that would fit. So, I have already dragged out the lovely maternity clothes. There is something to be said about those darn stretchy pants! Much more comfortable!
I am feeling absolutely dreadful this time around! My energy level is somewhere in the negative range, I could sleep all day if it were possible. I am absolutely starving ALL the time, but then after I eat is when I get nauseous. I am crossing my fingers that it all gets better soon, as I feel like I neglect my poor children when I am so tired. Let's not even get into how neglected my house looks.
Anna and Sarah are excited for the baby. They change back and forth between wanting a brother or a sister. Lauren has no clue as to what is going on yet. Poor child, I am sure this baby is going to rock her world and we will see some jealousy come out. I hope not, but only time will tell.
This sleepy mommy is now off to bed. Wishing to sleep, but oh no off to read for my master classes, until I just can't keep my eyes open any longer.

A Little Catch Up..

2008-09-18T20:57:00.006-04:00

So I am behind, but I thought you all still might want to see our pictures from the first day of preschool.

Check out their fabulous matching backpacks and lunchboxes mommy made! Don't forget, you can order one too, lots of patterns!

What BIG girls!!!

Last year they were at school ALL DAY, 7:45-2:15. I missed them, although the quiet time was nice. This year we have scaled back, they go from 7:45-12:00. I miss them a lot and love the excited faces when mommy picks them up. What is even better when I bring them home it is nap time for EVERYONE!! Well, not mommy, unless it is unusual day.

They are loving it. The have been on green everyday for their behavior!!! YEAH!! I am sure this won't last all year, but the are loving the treat box every Friday for staying on green.

Isn't this just the saddest thing! She couldn't believe they were REALLY leaving without her! There are tears every morning she is awake before they leave! She LOVES her big sisters, at least 90% of the time! :)

On The Way Home From School

2008-09-17T18:59:00.007-04:00

In the short 5 minute drive from school there were a lot of big questions and talking going on in the back of the van. It went something like this:
Sarah: Mommy, where were we when we were babies?
Me: Well, what do you mean, I don't understand.
Sarah: Where did we live?
Me: we lived at our house.
Sarah: Well, who built our village?
(At this point I am about to die laughing, village?!?!?!?)
Sarah: who made everything? our earth and la luna? (the moon)
Me: God made the earth.
Sarah: God built our house.
Me: Kind of... God made people and people built our house.
Sarah: ok.
Sarah: Can I be a pilot and fly in the sky when I get big?
Me: of course you can, you can be anything you want to be.
Anna chimes in.
Anna: I wan to be a police man and fly in the air like Sarah.

I don't really remember where it went from there because then we got home and I was trying to herd everyone inside for naps! Mommy needed a nap too, still that darn headache!

Wow! My amazement is everyday the new things they think about and ask!

A Successful Dinner

2008-09-17T18:59:00.004-04:00

I have had the worst sinus headache for about 4 days! Finally seems to be better today, hopefully!!

Anyway.. in giving in to my headache I layed on the couch during nap time yesterday. I watched the Rachael Ray show. Jessica Simpson was on and made a SIMPLE chicken and dumplings recipe. I have never made chicken and dumplings, but this was virtually fool proof.

As my husband will openly tell you I am not a fabulous cook, I just never really learned how and am now teaching myself out of necessity for our family of 5.

So, tonight I tried the recipe here it is;

3 rolls of crescent rolls

1 rotissere chicken (yep, straight from Kroger fully cooked, for like $7.50)

1 can cream of mushroom

1 can cream of chicken

chicken broth

1. pull chicken off bone, tear into pieces

2. unroll crescent rolls into triangles

3. put small handfull of chicken in crescent roll and roll up, big end to small end

4. place all dumplings in bottom of 9"x13" pan

5. Cover with cr. of mushroom soup and cr. of chicken soup then fill in with chicken broth

6. take left over crescent rolls and cut into lines

7. cover over dumplings and soup in criss cross pattern (like top of a pie)

8. cook on 400 for about 30 minutes until bubbly and brown

I would change it slightly by cooking covered for a bit then uncovering at the end. Our crescents weren't completely done at the bottom, by the time the top was brown.

Still good... all three kids at it!!

Here is the link on Rachael's website, which might have better directions!

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/jessica-simpsons-chicken-dumplings/

Where Have I Been???

2008-09-11T19:22:00.005-04:00

Stuck under this pile of reading material. And it could not be of a wider variety

What I am reading..

2 Special Education books - 1 for each masters class
Baby Signs Manuals - I am preparing to train and set up a daycare in Georgetown with the Baby Signs Program
Cake Decorating
Potty Training - This is the Baby Signs method of potty training, they have kids potty trained before age 2, very successfully. Lauren is on the "track" of potty training. She is beginning to tell me potty.

Then this week, I have been stuck in this pile too!

The big Lexington twin sale is this weekend and I am cleaning out!!!

Hopefully a good profit will come from the sale of these items! I have been sorting, hanging, cleaning, pricing, tagging, etc. ALL WEEK!!! I am so ready to drop it all off tomorrow and get my check on Saturday!!

I have so many things to post on and I am so behind. I totally skipped David's birthday in July. School starting, Tennessee family reunion, and much more. Stay tuned... it is coming.

And... the other thing I am working on is getting some embroidery things going for Christmas. It will be fun!!!

Cake class 3 is now complete...

2008-08-24T21:33:00.009-04:00

Well now that it has been almost a month since I started this post I guess it is time to finish. Since then I have graduated Course 1 and have a fabulous certificate to show for it. Course 2 is underway. Here are my cakes and a recap of course 1.

Now these are my first two official cakes. Before this I had never made icing, I always just used the store bought kind. I am now beginning to learn the ins and outs of it. I think eventually I will get the hang of it. Here they are...

Class two cake: The Rainbow!

It even had a small sliding incident in the car.

Clown Cake - Week 3

I should have taken this picture before leaving class. The clowns all fell on the way home, but they sat back up pretty well.

I didn't really get to choose what I did. Your cake for the week is based upon the skills learned in class. This Thursday is the final class of course 1 and I will be moving on to course 2. This week is all about flowers. I am sure Anna and Sarah will get excited over a flower cake.

Here it is, course 1 the final cake. I have not succeeded in making a rose, that is what was to be on the cake. Didn't happen, so this was my alternative. It was appreciated by my three year olds. And David's coworkers got to eat it.

I have been taking this class with my sister in law. It has been a good time for us to hang out and laugh hysterically at /with each other each week. We are in discussion on what to do next. We are thinking of switching locations to get a different teacher, the one we have now is a TALKER, to say the least.

I don't know what I was thinking starting this, but it has been fun. I have run myself raged each week preparing for class, making the icing, making the cake, and coloring the icing!! Who knew it took so much time!!! And I come out with tyed die fingers at the end of it all. Although it is so worth it to get out of the house and be without kids and do something fun and creative. Just to get some "mommy time".

I am already thinking hard about our December birthdays! I have so many ideas!!! I can't decide what to do!!! Dora, princess, flowers, .... so many choices!!! And by then I will have hopefully completed almost all of the courses. We will see how it goes with starting my embroidery business, kids in school, my masters classes starting back up (when will I ever buckle down and finish it!!!), and just day to day life, who knows what will happen in the next few months. Although David and I have decided that mommy definitely needs mommy time for my sanity (what's left of it) and we will do what it takes to make it happen. (When he isn't

driving me crazy with his crazy antics and jobs, he can be so thoughtful!!)

The cake...

2008-08-14T23:24:00.002-04:00

I should add that as I was decorating my cake before class with blue icing all over the place. Sarah looked at me and said, "Mommy your cake is so beautiful!" How sweet? or Did she just want some cake!?

I Feel Like I am Spinning in Circles Today

2008-08-13T21:53:00.002-04:00

I don't think I have sat still for more than 5 minutes yet.

Today was the first day of preschool, I rolled out of bed at 6:15. (after going to bed at 12:30am) Got everyone off to school and started on my long to do list.
To do list called and now it is Thursday PM as I continue writing.
The craziness continues.
So this week:

preschool started
a large embroidery order came in (YEAH!) although to be completed in a short time frame. 30 shirts before sat. 8am
In an effort to find something for mommy to have some mommy time. I have started a cake decorating class. I am enjoying it, but who knew there would be HOMEWORK!! Which took me most of the morning to complete and get ready for class tonight. Don't even ask to see pictures of my cake. It is almost complete (ran out of time in class), but not as nice as I would like it to look, more practice to come.
Three birthday parties this weekend. For very special people who we love! Aunt Liz, Pat, and Great Grandma Lodmell.
Plus my brain is overflowing with all kinds of embroidery ideas. If only money grew on trees to invest into my ideas and my sewing machine could sew faster!

My brain is a puddle of thoughts! Where to go, where to start! To sew, to decorate a cake, to do oh yeah the mommy jobs of cooking, laundry, and dishes. Where will cleaning the house ever fit in.

Stay tuned.. hopefully I will find a chill moment to post pictures of the first day of preschool and some of my new projects.

Now.. the real question is .... Is anyone reading this? Show me love, where are the comments? Are you really reading or am I writing just to vent out my frustrations and document our crazy busy lives!

The Kids Make me Smile

2008-08-04T17:13:00.004-04:00

These kids say the cutest things sometimes that make me smile.
I was heading upstairs to get Lauren up from nap. Anna was in there first and talking to her. Sarah was with me and we were talking. All of sudden from the other room I hear....
"Where are you mommy?"
Aww! Made me melt even more with the big hug she gave me as I pulled her out of bed.

Just a few minutes ago I turned on their afternoon cartoon, to allow me to get dinner started.
A Marines commercial was on.
Anna says, "Look Marines, just like MY Daniel! "
Sarah, "My Daniel is a Marine too, but he is far away."
AWWWW!

This leads into the fact that anytime anywhere we see anyone in military uniform.
At the top of their lungs I hear..."Look mommy a marine."
Nine times out of ten they are in the army, not a marine, but they still tend to smile and wave at the girls.
These girls are missing their uncle, we haven't seen him in 2 1/2 months. Just less than 4 weeks and we will get to see him.
These are the days that make me very thankful to be able to stay at home with them and not miss these moments.

The DEALS!

2008-07-31T16:45:00.002-04:00

So, if you read the post that I finally made today about our beach trip, I talk about the big bargains at the most fantastic outlet mall. I hate it when I go to outlet malls and the prices are essentially the same as the regular store. So, not the case here! So, if you are ever in Ft. Myers, I strongly suggest heading down the interstate to the outlet mall.

Unfortunately I do not have pictures of all my buys and they are actually put away high in the closet for next summer.

So, let's just say this. I went in Gymboree and got 3 outfits for each of the girls, total 9, plus some odds and ends for $89.00.
Chilren's Place - tops and skirt were $1.99. YEAH!!!
The steal of the trip had to be my COACH purse. Every outlet I go to I always go in and dream of buying one, but I can never bring myself to spend that much money on a purse when I could spend it on things the kids need.
We went in. Then I saw CLEARANCE, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 50% OFF!!! Could it really be true oh it was.
I caved and this is what I bought.
Retail is a little over $280!! NO way I would ever with three kids to buy clothes for and feed! I got it for $85!!!!! There was no way I was passing it up, I would have spent this much on my next Vera Bradley purse anyway!
So anytime you are in Fort Myers, hit up the outlet mall. It is so worth it! I told David we needed to go every season, so I could get all the kids clothes. He didn't buy into it. Oh well! :)

Open for Business

2008-07-31T09:50:00.003-04:00

For about a year now I have been working on lots of sewing and embroidery projects. For the last few months I have been turning this hobby into a business that I can do from home while I stay at home with my girls. I am absolutely loving it, just about everything the girls have now has some sort of embroidery on it.
My website is now up and running. Although I am still working out some kinks, adding to it, and adjusting it daily. So, please be sure to check in often. The next step is going to be to convert my website into an actual store site, where you will be able to order online. For now all orders will need to be emailed to me, using the contact info on the website.
If you don't see what you are looking for or have a fabulous brainstorm. I am willing to work with to develop a custom product.
www.finishingtouchesembroidery.com
Let me know what you think!

Blast From the Past - BLACKMAIL!

2008-07-25T17:17:00.003-04:00

I have my friend Heather (center yellow shirt) to thank for this blast from the past today....

(So you will have to squint, this is as big as I can get it, without it coming out blurry. I am all the way on the right white shirt, black vest. David is in the middle very back, black shirt, with the hat on.)

This a picture from a sorority dance about 9 years ago. It was a biker bash, so don't dis our clothes. Anyhow, what is so funny is I am standing about 4 people away from David. We did not meet until 2 years later!!

David and I met through a mutual friend, who is also in the picture. (Tracy - blonde black shirt on the left.) What is so interesting is we had so many mutual friends and grew up 8 miles from each other, but did not meet until my sophomore year and his senior year of college at WKU in Bowling Green.

I am ashamed to say I can't even begin to tell you who I am with. :( HAHA!

Happy 5th Wedding Anniversary

2008-07-17T21:36:00.007-04:00

5 years later...

On July 5th we celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary. I know always say I can't believe it, but 5 years has flown by.

However, when I think back to all the things we have done in the 5 years we have been married, I would think it has been longer than 5.

We have: (since the summer we got married)

We started building a house.
I graduated

David started Physical Therapy School

I got my first teaching job

The wedding and honeymoon.

Moving into our first house.

9 months pass rather smoothly, getting adjusted to life.

Find out we are having a baby

And just a few weeks later find out it is not just one, but two!!!

Deciding to move to Frankfort.

Selling our first house. (A year to the day, we moved in!!)

Moving in with my parents while we try to find a house.

Searching and searching for a house

Finding a house.

Gutting it and redoing it!! (David worked nights and weekends on it, in between studying.)

Moving in before it was really finished. But I was anxious, they babies were coming in just over a month.

Bed rest, 1 week after move in.

Anna and Sarah arrive.

David graduates PT school and becomes Dr. Lodmell

David starts his job.
When Anna and Sarah are 15 months old finding out baby #3 is on the way.

Lauren arrives.

David changes jobs to outpatient PT.
I start staying at home

And here we are now. It seems like so much has happened in the last five year.

I love my husband more each year. He does drive me up a wall with his projects, but he is a fantastic father and husband. I am looking forward to all the craziness the years ahead of us will have.

Coupon Frustrated

2008-07-17T21:19:00.005-04:00

I am working so hard searching for coupons. I feel like it takes me forever and then I only end up with a few. It seems as if our coupons in the newspaper are dwindling and they aren't for anything I need. I feel like I have tried everything to save us some money.

I see on the news these people who save hundreds of dollars at the grocery. I have made it to saving $15 (in coupons, plus Kroger savings), but that is it. I have even tried a subscription program, but in such a small city I was doing about the same.
I would have to spend an entire day and travel to about 4 stores in Frankfort to catch the deals, get what I need, etc. With three kids in and out of the car and all over town for an entire day.

ARGGHHH! I am so frustrated. I am trying so hard because we have decided it is time for a new van. Which cost a lot of money!!!!! We know just about what we want and are trying to make a final decision and save up some more money at the same time, but with prices rising and coupons dwindling. I am at a lost and TOTALLY FRUSTRATED!

Thinking of this in my future makes me VERY happy!

Honda Odyssey Toyota Sienna

www.honda.com www.toyota.com

We are down to the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey. They pretty much are the same from what we can tell. Any opinions?
We are still driving a hand me down van we got right after the girls in a panic of this Camry won't hold twins! It is not a bad van, just time to move on, get some money out of it and get some more practical and useful. Ours is so tight, hardly any room to move or do anything. David does all our basic car maintnence and it is really hard for him to work, taking out 6 things to work on one small piece. They are making vans now days with so many features to make life much easier.
Coupon frustration, wanting/needing a new van, saving the money for it, etc. Making for a very frustrated mommy!

Lauren is 18 months old!

2008-07-17T21:18:00.004-04:00

Well...now that it has taken me a couple weeks to post she is almost 19 months, but anyway.

This little girl amazes me and makes me giggle aloud numerous times throughout the day.

She is FULL of personality and think she is already 3 1/2 like her sisters. Her vocabulary has really blossomed over the past few weeks. She will try and say just about everything. She doesn't hide her emotions. No is becoming her favorite word and really comes out when she is tired. I am beginning to wonder if we are already hitting the terrible twos.

Her absolute favorite thing is anything Dora. She can spot Dora a mile away in any store. I think this stems from Anna and Sarah's love of Dora. I can turn on the TV, she can her the first sound of Dora and she is running to the living room. She names all the characters, especially reading her Dora books to flip through and find everyone.

We did her 18 month check-up a few weeks ago. We are at 27 pounds and 33 inches, still about the 95 percentile. The other thing the pediatrician said that makes me a bit nervous, is she thinks Lauren is ready to potty train!!! WHAT??? She says that she is communicating well enough to understand. We will see.... I am pondering the idea, it would be nice to cut back on the diapers. I know it would be easier now than in the winter.

The Big Beach Trip

2008-07-17T21:17:00.008-04:00

We came back from our beach trip almost a month ago. It already feels like an eternity. It was FABULOUS!! It was terrific to get away as a family.

If you asks Sarah what we did at the beach her reply is, " We saw palm trees, salty water, seashells, and went shopping."

While we there I did get asked a few times if it was time to go home. Mostly at bedtime, I think just because they wanted their own beds. But as soon as it came time to get on the airplane to come home, it was, "I'm not ready to go home. " Hacing fun digging in the sand with Daddy.
Playing together by the pool

The kids working hard playing in the sand.

The Lighthouse on Sanibel Island

Mooing at the Island Cow restaurant!

Aren't they sweet!

It was a great trip and I would go back in a heartbeat, even go through the packing craziness again.
We had fun spending time as a family, spending time with friends, shopping (I got the BEST deals!!), and relaxing.

We are outta here...

2008-06-27T16:22:00.003-04:00

TOMORROW!!!
We so need this vacation. The girls have been missing their daddy like crazy, he has been working a crazy schedule, seeing up to 40 patients a day!!!
I am almost all packed and ready. Car seat situation seems to be under control. I have managed to pack ALL three girls in one suitcase!!! The booster seats have their own suitcase with odds and ends. And.. he did it! The pack n' play is in a suitcase with room left to spare.
I LOVE this pack n' play. It is Graco, I don't even know if they sell it anymore. I bought it not even used at the Twin Sale. (the twins club yard sale) for about $30. It is an octagon, big! It has a tent cover that folds away into a side pocket and even a zipper open side for the kids to crawl in and out of as you choose. (It zips from the outside.) Anyway... I insisted we take it because it is so much lighter to carry and has the tent cover that we can put it out at the beach and all three can climb in for some shaded play.
So... packing seems to be under control. However the weather forecast looks HORRIBLE!!!! All week is scattered thunderstorms. Please keep your fingers crossed that we have some nice weather at least!
We are out of here in the morning to head to Louisville to catch our noon flight. Pray for us as the five of us manage 4 airplane seats all the way to Florida!!

Going to the beach should be so much easier....

2008-06-25T19:24:00.003-04:00

but I guess with three little ones traveling it is not easy. We are spending a week at the beach next week. I think David and I are more excited than the kids, although Anna and Sarah have been counting down since there were 40 days!! Last October we spent about 1 1/2 days in Galveston Texas, remember we said how yucky it was and next time it would be for a week long relaxation.

I am definitely looking forward to the relaxing after the craziness I am going through just trying to get us ready. When we started planning this trip we looked into driving, it is OVER 15 hours, plus with gas prices. That mean one night stopover, countless potty stops, etc. So, we looked into flying. We got a good price on tickets, we decided since this would save us time it would be worth a little extra money to be able to get there is just a few hours. Although, the whole time knowing packing to fly would be much more difficult.
I never knew it would be this hard. Since booking our tickets, United has decided to charge $25 for the 2nd checked bag. This means we get 4 suitcases (1 for each ticketed person) for all 5 of us for a WEEK at the beach! Oh yeah, that doesn't include their car seats and a bed for Lauren. And.. only 50 pounds each. Not a lot of shoes, that could be a problem.
So... here is the math on the situation.
4 suitcases=free with ticket to pack clothes and such
Still to pack...3 car seats and 1 pack 'n play.
That means 4 extra bags at $25 each =$100 and that is just one way. $200 round trip.
Next option... rent car seats from the rental company. This I thought would be easier and WAY cheaper.
No the case.
Each car seat is $50 each for the week. =$150 for three and we would still have to check the pack 'n play both ways =$50 Total=$200
Not any better.
Next option..... ship them. I thought this has GOT TO BE CHEAPER. again not the case.
I went by our VERY friendly UPS store today. (seriously, they are great and willing to do whatever they can.)
I explained my situation. Started hauling everything in for them to weigh etc. He says... I think we can do it.
I bring in the last car seat. It is Lauren's bigger than the other two little boosters. He says... or maybe not. He types in all his number and I literally see their eyes bug out of their heads! He says it will be $140 one way plus the cost of packing, approx. $200!!!!!!! x2 for there and back $400.
This is craziness. At this point we have decided it would have been cheaper to buy another ticket for all this stuff!!!
So... where am I left, I don't even know what to do! The idea has crossed my mind to buy car seats down there, it would be cheaper right. Oh yeah, but then how do you get the three kids from the airport with no car seats!
Or let the kids ride in their car seats on the plane. But... how do you get three kids and car seats through the airport and SWITCH planes!!!
I think the situation is hopeless!!!
My novel husband thinks he can fit the pack 'n play in a suitcase, and the big girls boosters in a suitcase. This way, how will I ever fit everyone's clothes. Good thing at the condo there is laundry, so we will wash and rewear. I have tried shoving everything in it doesn't work.
To top this all off he doesn't think we should take the stroller through the airport. I know it is troublesome, but so is Lauren on the loose! Or one of us will have to carry her.
I am at a total loss on the situation. So, today I totally avoided packing and cleaned my house and did some sewing instead.
Any suggestions, novel ideas???? anyone know the going rate for shipping a child to Florida! Just kidding!
Thanks for reading my venting, rambling mess that I am sure is full of typos and errors! It sure feels better to write it all out.
Keep us in your thoughts as I continue to attempt to figure this out and on Saturday as we get on the plane 4 seats, 5 people, 2 hours, switch planes, layover, 2 hours, and then white sand here we come!!!!!

Fishing!

2008-06-10T15:33:00.004-04:00

Daddy's girls out on the farm. He wouldn't have it any other way!

My attempt to get a picture of all three of them. This was the best of about 6 tries, oh well!

As far back as I can remember David has talked about taking the girls fishing, I think just about since the day Anna and Sarah were born. It has always made me nervous.. hooks, worms, etc. He won out as I knew they would enjoy it and mommy was just going to have let go. Uncle James, Uncle Matthew, Pat, Matthew's girlfriend Leslie, and David all ventured out with ALL three girls and took a fishing trip to the pond on the Lodmell farm. Mommy was in charge of coming later and bringing the picnic dinner. Here are some pictures from their adventure! They had a BLAST!!

Pat and David helping Anna with the big fishing pole.

Daddy and his Lauren. She enjoyed running around in the field, playing in the back of the truck and playing with the fish that had been caught.

She just loved touching the slimy fish! EWWWW!!!

That is Leslie holding Lauren. They all love Leslie!!

Not too excited here!

Getting warmed up!

They looks like naturals!

It was a good time. They all came home very dirty and VERY tired!

Happy Birthday Matthew

2008-06-04T20:16:00.002-04:00

Between my side of the family and David's we share a lot of birthdays, it is rather odd.

My birthday is the same as his twin sisters and Daniel's is the same as David's younger brother Matthew.

We cooked out at our house to celebrate Matthew's 20th Birthday.

Sarah got crafty and made a crown all by herself for Matthew.

Isn't it cute?

A Visit From Daniel

2008-06-04T17:07:00.002-04:00

Daniel got to come home from Quantico over the Memorial Day weekend. It was so good to see him and it was his birthday.

Daniel and Sarah
I am sure she is telling him a good story.

Happy Birthday!

The Cousins
This family definitely needs some boys, although they would be way out numbered!

Lauren in Mommy's rocking chair. This is my rocking chair I had when I was little.

Daniel... it was good to see you! We miss you already!

First Field Day

2008-06-03T23:02:00.004-04:00

Wrapping up their first year of preschool was a day at the park, "field day".

Wow, did they come home tired.

A Weekend Away

2008-06-03T22:54:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago we got to get away for a weekend. David had a conference in good ole' BG (Bowling Green). Which provided us a great hotel room and $30 for gas( and who can beat that now days).

This also provided us our first swimming of the season. Anna and Sarah were right in, Lauren not so much, although it was cold and overchlorinated hotel pool water. She spent the swimming time snuggled up with her "chelle" godmother Michelle.

Michelle... I don't have any pictures of you with the girls. How did that happen? Do you have any?

A Great Mother's Day - Mommy's Little Helpers

2008-06-03T22:39:00.006-04:00

I don't know who whispered in their ear that on Mother's Day they should be extra nice to their mommy, but they went over and above. We had my side of the family over for dinner.... before everyone got there I was doing the dishes and had some laundry to fold. Who knew I wouldn't have to do much. I can't believe my babies are so big!

They unloaded and put away all their dishes, folded an entire basket of laundry (the are fantastic at folding, so worried about being precise, and they folded the whole basket without being distracted.), and made their beds. I wonder how long this will last!

I also recieved my first school made Mother's Day present.

They definately give me lots of reasons to be happy and thankful. I love my girls! (Lauren was also good, with lots of extra kisses and hugs!)

First Polish

2008-05-12T11:13:00.003-04:00

The girls have been asking for a long time to paint their fingernails. So, we painted our toes. I have never seen them sit so still for such a long time.

Elmo Makes Music

2008-05-09T20:45:00.004-04:00

Waiting for Elmo to start they were SO excited.

This shows how much dancing and jumping they were doing, it was hard to get a still picture.

We had great seats, Elmo and Zoe were so close.

Lovin' the cotton candy. This is not a treat that they would normally get. This time they got their very own PINK cotton candy.
Our friends Emma and Jill got to go with us. Thanks guys, we had a lot of fun with you!

Wow!! Elmo and all the Sesame Street gang made great music and we all smiled all the way through it!!!

Tribute to the Patriot Guard Riders

2008-05-07T11:11:00.001-04:00

Touching. I actually passed them on the street the other day. They were riding along with buses full of men and women from the army returning home.

Where have we been?

2008-05-01T15:45:00.003-04:00

Once again I have fallen behind and not posted anything the last few weeks. Things have been quit crazy. So what have we been up to...

Starting two businesses (more to come on this soon, I am still creating the website)

Finished 6 hours for my masters - I am so ready to throw in the towel, considering we have decided for me to stay at home. I just keep telling myself to push through and get it finished! By the way... I got all A's. Continuing on my 4.0 GPA!!

Had another child diagnosed with Asthma. Sarah has now fallen plaque to the dreadful inhalers. We are now on two inhalers a day and a pill at night. Oh yes.. I say we, you should see our counter with all the medicine. As if my brain wasn't stressed enough yet to remember everything, I now have to remember to send the inhaler to preschool, make sure it gets home, and make sure she gets it every 4 hours. Apparently the doctor is pretty concerned about her breathing. She has always been a mommy's girl, she is just proving us right.

Spring Break happened, I don't even know where that went.

The Big Twin Sale - I made $350.oo. YEAH!!! To bad it is all spoken for.

Playing outside and enjoying the warm weather, at least on the days it sticks around.

Working on the house, as usual. I think the jobs around this house will haunt us for a long time to come, probably until the day we move out. We are trying to get it all finished, so when we decide to move, we just have touch up work, hopefully! :)

And the best most enjoyable event, David and I smiled and laughed the whole time right along with all three of the girls. We went to Sesame Street!!! It was an absolute BLAST!!!

And I am sure there is more, there just hasn't seemed to be a spare moment lately. I feel like I am beginning to get my head above water... we will see how long it last. I don't remember how I ever was mommy and taught full time.

Spring Has Sprung

2008-05-01T15:44:00.006-04:00

We've been doing some planting outside. The girls love digging and pulling weeds. We planted all the planters on our front porch and these are the beginnings of sunflowers. We are going to plant them in the back of the house soon. They seem to be growing well, the stems look strong. Fingers crossed I know some girls that will be very upset if they don't continue growing.

An afternoon at the park. This was a few weeks ago. It was FANTASTIC out. A perfect spring day. We had lots of fun with Amanda and her nieces, Becca, Bonnie, and Lori. We missed you Rachael! :( It was a perfect spring afternoon.

I had to comment on this separately. I had to take a picture of her doing this, so I didn't yell at her to get down. She makes me so nervous sometimes. We have always thought of her as our little monkey. The picture doesn't show it, but this was WAY up there!

Congratualtions Daniel

2008-04-03T10:07:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Daniel. He is now officially a 2ND Lieutenant in the Marines. He just finished up 10 weeks of OCS (Officer Candidate School) He looks fabulous and seems very happy with his choice to join the Marines. He is now off to TBS (The Basic School) for 6 months.
Last Tuesday night we set off driving late into the night and arrived in Quantico, VA about 6:00 on Wednesday evening. We got to stop in West Virginia and spend a few hours visiting David's grandmother. The girls had a lot of fun and we even got home cooked chicken noodle soup for lunch, way better than fast food. We only get to see her about once a year and I have never been to her house. David has told me so many stories of going there when he was little, so it was great to put a picture with all the stories. (We did take a picture of the girls with Grandma Lodmell in front of her house, some technical difficulty and mommy deleted it. OOPS! I was so mad! It wasn't a very good picture it was hard to see. HEY, Brian remember you are supposed to see if you can help me find it on the memory card!! :)
Also, Wednesday night we met up with my college roommate Heather and her four boys. It was so great to see them. (Again... no picture. I should have taken one of all the kids sitting together at the table.) Anna and Sarah are still talking about all those boys they ate with. She gave us some good tips on places to go for the weekend. We made it to a few of them, but as you will see DC was BUSY!!!!
Heather... it was so great to see you all. We might even make another trip us sometime, we will definitely plan more time in to hang out with you all.
Our schedule turned out to be jammed pack the next few days. Thursday morning we made my first trip to IKEA, I am in LOVE!!! This place is my organizational dream and I believe I have now sold David. We only got to spend a couple of hours, but I think I could easily spend an entire day in this store.
We had to then hurry off to family day on base to meet up with Daniel. We had a orientation with the colonel. Then we got to meet up with Daniel, we got a quick little tour and then we went to a dinner meet and greet.
Friday morning was the graduation parade. Anna, Sarah, and Lauren were not very impressed, I think they expected a parade going past them and people throwing candy. Plus it was windy and cold and this was day 4 of being off schedule, with no real nap. We were going downhill fast. David took them back to the hotel to rest.
We headed off to the Marine Museum for the commissioning. This was a neat event. Watching Daniel saying his oath. Then mom and dad pinned on some of his "bars" (I guess that is what they are called) then Brian, Kate and I got to do the other three. Pretty neat!
I am so excited for Daniel and things ahead of him. After seeing him this past weekend, I knew he was in the right place. He "fits". I kind of always knew he would "fit" and that he would be a fabulous military man. I know he is going to do great things in the years ahead.

After the commissioning back at the hotel.
These girls really missed their uncle.
I love having my brothers and sister close. I want the others to take note, no one else has permission to leave the state. One is enough!!
Family picture at the Marine Museum.

At the commissioning.

With some of the other second lieutenants in his company.
At the parade. Count back four rows, he is in the middle.
On Saturday we decided to take EVERYONE into DC. Thank goodness we took the metro into DC or we may have never made it.
Waiting for the train.
Those leashes saved our day. It allowed them to walk, but us to keep track. I was so tired of getting dirty looks by the end of the day. "You have your child on a leash." Yes, with all these people, I would rather have them on this leash than to loose them.
Look how busy it was!!!
There was also a kite festival. Everyone was flying kites, that was pretty cool!
Lauren and Daniel.

Playing with granddaddy in front of the White House.

It was a nice trip. Extremely busy!! We have been home almost a week and I just now feel like I am catching my breath and getting settled back in.
I wish we had a whole week to really relax, not feel so rushed, spend some more time with Heather and her family, actually let kids take a real nap, etc.

I also would like to commend my husband! I don't compliment him enough. He really stepped up to the plate this trip and deserves an award. He is always a good dad, helping out, giving me a break, and rolling around on the floor playing. Anytime a child needed something he was there. He took them so I could really watch and see everything. The afternoon of the commissioning, there was just no way the girls would make it. He took them OUT to eat all by himself. I am talking in Panera with three fussy children! Then took them to the hotel for a nap. So, everyone else could watch the commissioning without having to take care of the fussy kids. Thanks Dave! I love you!

Easter

2008-04-02T11:18:00.008-04:00

Well... I am a little behind, these past couple weeks have been non stop.
We had a great Easter, we got to spend time with family and all three girls really seemed to enjoy themselves.
The biggest feat this Easter, was me deciding that I should make ALL 3 dresses. It was almost 2 o'clock in the morning on Easter when they were all finished, but they were completed. This was a goal I had set for myself when I got my new fancy sewing machine this past summer.

It gets so hard to get a family picture with all 5 of us looking at the camera, and there is no hope to get 5 smiles. This is the best we got this year.

Don't they look so happy!!
Lauren is so ready to be done with pictures.
Sarah, "Mom, really not anymore!"
7 of the 13 Lodmell cousins on Easter

This year's Easter disaster....

I had everything all out on the couch ready to get everyone dressed for church, 3 dresses, 3 pairs of tights, 3 sweaters, and 3 pairs of shoes ( I even remember counting twice 6 shoes on the couch.) It is easiest for David and I to get ready first and then dress the girls right before we leave, this avoids wrinkles and getting dirty. I was ready, I got Anna and Sarah dressed. Then I went to get Lauren dressed; dress, sweater, tights, ONE shoe. You are kidding me!! We have to leave in 5 minutes, the living room is already a disaster from the Easter Bunny, where is the shoe. We proceed to look under the coaches, in drawers (Lauren is known to hide things, she puts the remote in the drawer all the time.) Still no shoe!!!! David starts to turn the couches upside down, no shoe!!! By this time we are way late, the couch cushions are now all out on the floor. I find Lauren's all white tennis shoes and she wears them to church. Where could that shoe have gone. Monday I looked everywhere Lauren goes. One of the last places I went was their closet, she likes to play hide and seek in there. UNDER the sheets in the bottom of the closet is the silly shoe!!! I guess next time I will learn to lay everything out where she can't reach it.

Anna and her cousin JP playing with their new toy from Grandma Reeda.

The big Lodmell Easter egg hunt.

This was right before we went home on Easter. Aunt Liz took the girls outside. You can't see it to well in the pictures, but it is SNOWING!!! Who would have thought playing in the leaves in the snow on EASTER!!!

Someone is telling me to...

2008-03-11T22:09:00.002-04:00

NEVER, EVER, EVER cut the girls hair again. Recall the last time.
Tonight I decided everyone needed their pre-easter haircuts. This way if there were any mess ups they would have some time to grow.
Lauren was first. Her first haircut. :( Just a little trim around the sides to get some stray hairs and even it out. She did not want to sit still, but we made it through.
Then Anna and Sarah. Doing OK...
All girls in the tub and David's turn. They are playing so well. I am about half way finished with David's haircut.
Sarah, "What's this mommy??"
I look over and there are floaters everywhere. Lauren has pooped in the tub and they are floating around all three girls. The floor is covered in a sheet with hair all over it. SOS call to Uncle James and Matthew. (Thank goodness they were here for Spring Break.) They take Anna and Sarah and clean them up in the shower. I clean up the tub. Finish David's hair. Bathe Lauren and get everyone to bed.
Not that big of a disaster, but this is the first time Lauren has ever done that. I just take it as a sign. I am not meant to cut everyone's hair, something always goes wrong.

Snow, Snow, Snow

2008-03-11T10:45:00.007-04:00

This was what our deck looked like at the beginning of day 2 of the blizzard conditions. The wind was HORRIBLE.

We ended up with 7 - 12 inches of snow! It was fabulous!!! Perfect timing, Friday afternoon it all started and started to melt on Sunday afternoon. It worked out perfectly Daddy was home to play, then it all melted for the week to begin. It was also the perfect snow for snowmen and sledding.
They played out in the snow on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They still wanted more and are sad that it is melting.

Uncle Matthew and Daddy were pulling the girls back up the hill in the sleds, then the girls insisted on pulling them. I think Uncle Matthew enjoyed his ride.

This is day 1 of sledding. Mommy was home sick taking care of Lauren. David took them sledding. He said they kept falling out of the sled, then they would log roll themselves the rest of the way down the hill.

We were so excited to build a BIG snowman. This was on Sunday... it was all beginning to melt, but they really wanted to build the snowman. It was actually kind of nice because it was warm enough to not wear hats, I didn't even have a coat on.

Anna zooming down the hill.

Lauren attempted the sledding and playing in the snow, but it was just so hard to move!

Now... I am ready for SPRING!!!

Will It Really Happen??

2008-03-07T11:04:00.003-05:00

Ok.. so yes, I am hoping for big snow, but not quit this much.

Schools are letting out early, the girls are already home from preschool, the snow keeps coming down. It is projected that by tomorrow afternoon we could have 6 + inches of snow. Really, I can only hope. I have been hoping for a real big snow for the girls to really be amazed with and get to sled for the first time and build a true snowman. We will see......

WOW! This girl can sing.

2008-02-29T07:50:00.001-05:00

She is so wonderful!

Wigglemania.... Here is what started Wigglemania in The Lodmell House.

2008-02-26T23:11:00.001-05:00

The Wiggles have entered our house and I don't think they will be exiting any time soon. I had heard of the Wiggles and I knew many kids loved the Wiggles, but we had never really experienced it ourselves.
My friend Heather posted the other day about how much her kids enjoy the Wiggles. I clicked on the video on her blog and children came running from every direction to see what they were hearing. They were ALL instantly intrigued!

New Links

2008-02-22T22:45:00.002-05:00

On the right you will find some new links.
First, you will find a link where you can subscribe to our blog and it will send you an email when I update.
Second, I have started a list of coupon sites I have found and been given by others. These could be old news, but I am just getting better about learning how to count all of our pennies and save as many as I can. (I am a Jon and Kate Plus 8 fan. It is the best thing for when I am feeling overwhelmed or just need a laugh. Anyway, she says... His job is to make the money, my job is to figure out how to save money.) So, I have been looking for ways to find coupons and sales. I hope they are helpful. There is everything from grocery coupons, to sites with list of sales, and even some that have coupon codes for shopping online. Happy saving!

She keeps going and going and going... and she is OUT!!

2008-02-20T20:10:00.004-05:00

My children NEVER, NEVER just fall asleep anywhere. Even when they are sick they will rarely just fall asleep on the couch. Preschool must have been tough today, Anna just fell right to sleep sitting up on the couch! If you look closely in the second picture, she even still has her princess shoes on. Anna is our little ball of energy, always hopping around, "Watch me, watch me." So, for her to just fall asleep in the afternoon on the couch is a BIG deal.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2008-02-15T09:46:00.002-05:00

Ballerinas

2008-02-13T18:13:00.004-05:00

Thank you grandmommy for helping these ballerinas really feel like ballerinas.
They have been dancing around for a couple months in their "dancing shoes" from Santa. Now with their new ballerina outfits from grandmommy they really feel like they can twirl. They both concentrate so hard to get up on their tippy toes.

Lauren had to get in on the action too.

Lauren - Our Little TROUBLEMAKER!!!

2008-02-13T17:36:00.005-05:00

This child is going to be the end of me, I am sure of it, and I thought Anna really tried my patients sometimes.
Lauren has learned to climb. She can climb into her rocking chair, climb on her sisters beds, and will pick her leg up and try to climb up on about anything. The other day I was in the kitchen doing the dishes. It was very quiet, so as a parent you know something must be wrong. I walked down the hallway to find this....

standing on her sister's bed just looking out the window.

A couple weeks ago I was cutting the girls hair in the bathroom. What was I thinking, to even attempt this, home alone with all three. I started with Sarah, left Anna across the hall in the playroom to entertain Lauren. Well.. that didn't last long. Here comes Anna and Lauren into the bathroom. Before I even blink, Lauren has taken the hairbrush, lifted up the toilet seat and dropped it in. ARGHH!! I tell Anna just to sit on toilet that way Lauren can't get into it. Before I even the blink. Lauren has SHOVED Anna off the potty and into the side of the bathtub. I was ready to give up, but Sarah's hair was only half cut, you can't stop in the middle. So, I put Lauren in the tub thinking this will keep her entertained and contained. NO WAY!!! She then gets the bathtub cup and throws it out, FULL OF WATER!!!! So, now this sheet that was just going to be picked up and shook outside to get the hair off is soaking wet. OK, smart mom would take all other possible throwing hazards out of tub. OH NO!!! I must not have been thinking, because here comes cup number two full of water. Then the washcloth, soaking wet!!! This is when I pick up the phone and call David, "WHERE ARE YOU??" Not too far, thank goodness. David came home to the rescue. Anna and Sarah's hair both got cut, not too well, I still keep finding some stray hairs. I think after this, it may be time to take them to get their haircut or just do it when there is extra supervision. DUH!!!

Today... the box of cereal from breakfast was still on the table. Lauren eyed it. "Eat, eat, eat." Proceeds to try and climb up into the chair on the table. She got her foot up, it slipped off. So then she turns to me, "Eat, eat, eat." and heads straight for her highchair. Let's just say this child knows what she wants. This was only 30 minutes after breakfast. I guess we know why she is 24 pounds.

Now, as much as she may drive me crazy and worry me with her adventureousness. She is the sweetest little thing. She has picked up on the girls prayers at night. She toddles into the room, crawls up on Anna's bed, and folds her hands, just babbling away, knodding her head.

This is pitful Lauren when she was sick a week or so ago. She would just walk around and lay her head down on anything she could find.
She gives the sweetest hugs and pats your back. She is getting so big so fast. I think it is very evident that she watches her big sisters a lot. Lauren is in love with books, she comes up to you and says. "Book, book, book." She will then sit patiently in your lap while you read. Then hops down and is off to get a new book.
I will try and post a new video soon. Dora is big in our house now days. Lauren is in love, she can hear it from the next room and come running in. We got the cutest video of her signing, "backpack, backpack" and dancing.

Anna's New Words

2008-02-13T17:32:00.002-05:00

Well, I figured since I had posted about Sarah and the words she was using, I should post about Anna and her word of the month.
Just about everyday I hear, "Mommy, we have a predicament." Wow, I have to even think about how to spell it. (Out of work to long, staying home with three kids really fries your brain.)

She heard it one day on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

The first day she used it... David and I were talking about Lauren. I said we have a problem this child keep throwing her food on the floor. Anna said, "Daddy we have a predicament, this baby keeps throwing her food."
You can tell she is so proud of herself when she says it, she knows she is using a big person word and just lights up.

Sarah is just full of interesting words!

2008-02-01T21:19:00.000-05:00

It seems like almost daily Sarah says something that makes me laugh.
Aunt Liz got the girls some new music to listen too. (One of her friends from high school is a teacher and has written some kids songs.) The girls found them and wanted to listen to them right then. I told them that we needed to leave them in a safe place and we could listen to them tomorrow.
Sarah looked at me and with her very serious face, "Mommy leave it there, it is very fragile."

Where did my three year old learn fragile? They just pick up everything when they are three.

I guess this makes up for her saying the s word today. I know what you are thinking, no she said stupid. I asked her where she heard it. Anna who needs to add her input informed me that the boys at school say it, but Mrs. Paul says that isn't a nice word. Sarah said, "I am really sorry Mommy, I won't say it anymore." She looked so upset.

Months ago when the girls are on an antibiotic for an ear infection. I told Anna it was time for her antibiotic. Sarah said, "Mommy I need my Sarah-botic." She was convinced.. it was an Anna-botic and a Sarah-botic.
This child has the biggest imagination. She definately keeps me smiling.

Snow Day!

2008-01-23T08:29:00.000-05:00

It snowed!!! (last week, i am just now getting to post) YEAH!! I am still hoping for a big snow fall, a few inches or so. We have played out in the snow twice now. It snowed about an inch ylast tuesday and the girls had their first day out of school. We also had one VERY small snow before, like 1/4 of an inch. They thought yesterday was a lot of snow, I would love to see them in a lot of snow. However, Lauren would really probably not be able to move at all.
Here are some pictures of the girls first snowman ever! This is the first time since they were born, we have had enough snow to even really try.

They were all so amazed with snow.

Poor child couldn't move very well, she was so bundled up.
So, bundled up. This is the first year we actually broke down and bought them snow pants. I hated to buy them and them only wear them once or twice. I found some at the Children's Place outlet for $15. We decided to buy them big so they could at least wear them two years. Worth every penny, it was so much easier to get them bundled and then take them back inside.

They were so proud of their "frosty". Thank you Michele for our "Snowman in A Box." It really helped this pitful snowman, look like a snowman.

We will miss uncle Daniel!!

2008-01-17T21:21:00.001-05:00

This morning Daniel (my little brother) left to go to Guantico to begin his marine OCS training.
I am sure this is just the beginning of a long journey for him. This is something he has mentioned wanting to do for a long time now. He is strong willed, when he puts his mind to something he does it. He has been working hard, getting his running, pullups, etc. where they need to be. We are going to miss him terribly for the next few months. We won't see him until the end of March when we go up for his graduation. He has lots of physical test etc. to pass while he is there, so keep in your prayers. On Sunday we had a dinner for him at my parents house with lots of family and friends to wish him well.
Here are a few pictures from that night.

Lauren and Uncle Brian.

Lauren, Liz, and Kate

That's our GG. She sure keeps us smiling and laughing. She is wearing my sisters hat for her ipod, it has speakers in the ears.

James (David's brother ) and Daniel. They were fraternity brothers at UK.
Daniel with mom and grandmommy.

Daniel and the girls.

I know he is making the right choice and that he will do well, but I am really going to miss him. We have been so spoiled living close to both of our families. It is hard now to watch him go, just not really knowing what the next few years will bring. Just being able to pick up the phone and all of us get together, is something I have taken for granted.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

We love you Daniel and miss you lots while you are gone.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2008-01-16T15:05:00.000-05:00

Well it is a little late, but I thought I would share some pictures from Christmas and new years.

For New Years we traveled to Gatlinburg and rented a cabin with our couple friends from college. 8 adults and 6 kids, wow! We all have babies who turned/turning 1 in December, January, and February. We just lounged around, did some shopping, and celebrated the kids birthdays. It was a great time to be together and just relax.

Happy New Year!!

Three of the four babies. Lauren, Spencer Morel, and Emma Sowards

Hanging out on the porch swing at the cabin with Daddy.

Christmas...

We had a great Christmas this year. Anna and Sara are now old enough to understand what is going on and really get excited. It was so great to share the magic of Christmas with them.

Christmas with Great Grandma Lodmell. Merry Christmas 2007.
Getting the cookies ready for Santa.
Daddy and his little girl.
Look at all the cousins... so many girls!!

Trying to wait so patiently for dessert.
Lauren enjoying her Christmas dinner. She REALLY enjoyed it.
Again, being so patient.
Lauren and Anna, hanging out with Aunt Liz.
Signing happy birthday to Jesus. We talked a lot about why we have Christmas. When we told them it was Jesus' birthday, they were insistent that we have a birthday cake.

Decorating Christmas cookies.

What a mess!
Christmas Eve at grandmommy and granddaddy's house.
Peek-a-boo.

We hope you and yours enjoyed this holiday season.

Why I Love Blogs

2008-01-09T21:09:00.000-05:00

There are so many reasons I love blogs. I can check in with everybody and see pictures, to keep up to date. It also gives me a feeling of talking to an adult, rather than just three year olds and a one year old all day. It also allows me to keep everyone up to date with what is going on with us.

The most fabulous part is I learn all kinds of valuable, interesting info.

I learned about google reader. How cool? You can put in the things you check often and it will let you know when they are updated. I have put in the blogs that I read and it just notifies me when they are updated.

Today, I found the cutest hair clips.

Happy Birthday Lauren!

2007-12-20T21:21:00.000-05:00

Just one year ago.
Today.
Cake, round #2.
"I'm soooo finished!!"

Today Lauren turned one! I can't believe a year has passed already, it has gone by in such a blur.

She is a daddy's girl all the way. She likes mommy when she is hungry or sleepy. Any other time if Daddy is near she is all over him. Every time she hears the door open, "Daddy!" I can even just open the gate on the stairs and she thinks it is Daddy. Daddy just melts over her too.

She likes to pretend to talk on the phone, give Ahhhs (hugs) to her baby doll. She is into absolutley everything. One day I went downstairs to switch over the laundry and she had emptied a whole side of china cabinet, by the time I came back upstairs. Thank goodness it was just my silver and not my china.
She isn't independentlly walking around the house yet. She will walk between objects and people. She will also stand independently and look across the room, but she is just not quit brave enough to take off yet. She is much happier just crawling to go long distances.

Signs she knows: eat, more, all done, milk, and learning please and thank you, yes, no

Words she says: ma ma, daddy, baby, ma ( for more or milk) bye bye, dog dog, yes, no, uh-oh, nana ( for Anna and Sarah), Dora

Favorites: peek-a-boo, dogs, following her sisters around, listening to music, dancing, Dora (I wonder where she got that from), milk, snuggling with mommy at night-night time, when daddy comes home

Hates: diaper time, putting herself to sleep ( i don't know how she got spoiled with this, but it happened, we are working on her doing it on her own), when Sarah or Anna hugs her too hard, when her sister take a toy away from her

We are off to the doctor tomorrow for her one-year check up and shots (YUCK!!, I
think it is four tomorrow) She is about 24 pounds now and about 28 inches, i think. Now we can turn her car seat around and she can see the world in a new direction, although I guess that means she won't be able to see her sisters anymore. They are good at entertaining her in the car.
Earlier this week we had a scare, we thought she had chicken pox. She broke out Monday in these spots that looked just like chicken pox, she fit every symptom. I was devasted, it would figure with Christmas and the fact that her chicken pox shot is on Friday. Anyway... the next day it looked more like a rash, the next day it was virtually gone! Thank goodness. We still don't know what it was, our assumption and the nurses assumption is something allergy related. I think a trip to an allergist to figure out her allergy issues is in our near future. Poor baby, she gets it all from her mama! I now know how my mom felt taking care of me when I was little with these breathing and allergy issues.
Happy birthday to our baby girl!

Princess Party Extravaganza

2007-12-17T14:17:00.000-05:00

On Saturday we celebrated all three girls birthdays. We had a house full, a little over 30 people, which filled up our house quick. It all flew by, at least for me, I felt like I didn't sit still or even really talk to anybody. The girls were showered with fabulous gifts. They have spent the past couple days playing really hard.
Our three birthday girls. They are sitting in their rocking chairs from Grandma (David's mom). It has become a tradition that each grandchild gets their rocking chair for their first birthday.
I also just thought this picture was funny, with all three with VERY different expressions. I am not so sure what Lauren is doing.

Mommy helping Lauren open her presents. As a true one year old, she was more interested in the boxes and paper, rather than what was inside. Now that the boxes are gone, she is really enjoying her new toys.
Anna and Sarah opening their presents.
The grandmas enjoyed being princesses too!

Each girls got a very cute pair of minnie mouse princess ears from their Fitzgerald cousins. Sarah was the only one to be interested at the time, but they have been worn a lot since then. They are sooo cute, they even have their names on the back.

Opening more presents. These were puzzles, that they have very diligently worked many times since then.

Enjoying her birthday cake. She didn't make nearly the mess the other two did.
"What do you want from me?"

Poor baby just can't seem to get away from her breathing treatments, even the day of her first birthday party.
Admiring her birthday balloons.
So, anxious for cake.
Anna our outspoken child, gets bashful when she knows there is a lot of attention on her. This is her when we were all singing to her. (we sang to each girl individually)
Sarah had been practicing for this moment. It took her a couple tries, but she did it.

Thank you so much to everyone that was here and endured the close quarters. We truly appreciate each and everyone of you and everything you do for our children. Thank you for helping make their birthday extra special.

Stay tuned... Lauren's actual birthday day is Thursday.

Happy Birthday Anna and Sarah!!

2007-12-11T10:53:00.000-05:00

On Monday my baby girls turned THREE!!! I can not believe that they are three already. They amaze me everyday with the things they know and are able to do .
Anna is my everywhere child. She likes to investigate everything and know how it works. Anna likes to touch and feel EVERYTHING and know what everybody is talking about.. She is very patient, most of the time. She got a new pajama shirt for her birthday and she worked until she had unbuttoned it and buttoned it back. She will work until she firgures out how to do just about anything. She is my very independent, "I do it all by myself," child. She can really drive me nuts, but then she will make me smile and laugh in the next breath. That's our nanas. (As daddy calls her.)

Sarah is my dreamer. She has the biggest imagination! Which has cost us many sleepless nights. She has lots of bad dreams. Which have gotten better since she got her princess night light. She is a girly girly, all the way. Everything has to match and she would prefer that it is all pink. She needs her mommy pink lip stuff. Everything has a place and should be just right. She loves music and will dance and sing, even if she has never heard the song before. That's our milkey. (That is her nickname from daddy. He started calling her that when she was little because she always loved her milk and had it all over her face. She still prefers milk over any other drink.)

Stay tuned.. BIG princess birthday party this weekend for all three birthday girls.

Christmas Parade

2007-12-11T10:51:00.000-05:00

This was the girls first parade. They were so excited when people started throwing candy, they thought they were just going to see Santa.

Getting in The Holiday Spirit

2007-12-11T10:45:00.000-05:00

The Saturday after Thanksgiving. We spent the day taking our christmas pictures and decorating the house. We ALL decorated together. Anna and Sarah were so into it, there were things flying out totes faster than I could decide what to do with it. It is absolutely amazing nothing got broken.

One of the biggest holiday memories I have is sleeping "under" the christmas tree the first night it was up. I remember always loooking forward to it.

Fall Fun

2007-11-19T16:25:00.000-05:00

We have been up to a lot and been to a lot of different places the past few days.
First.. Thursday we went downtown to the candlelight tour. They line the sidewalk in luminaries and the stores are open, some giving things away etc. It was a bit cold, but we knew the big girls would enjoy seeing the lights and it was rumored Santa might be there and even Rudolph. I felt a little bad doing Christmas things before Thanksgiving, but it was when the tour was.
We did find Santa and Rudolph. They were so excited looking for Santa, but the second they saw him, it was over. The tears started. We did get a picture, although a family picture. We had to hold Anna and Sarah, they had the death grip going on. Lauren was game, she sat right in his lap, like no big deal. They say they want to see Santa again and sit on his lap. They liked him after they got their candy cane. Maybe we will try again we he comes to Wal-Mart. This way the picture is free and I don't have to pay $20 for a picture of my crying children.
Little Lauren all bundled up, all she cared about was the her milk.
They had a snow maker blowing snow over the street. Daddy had Sarah trying to catch it in her mouth.
All bundled up. Anna HATES to be cold, she was so ready to go! They weren't really sure how to move in their coats. It has been a while since they have been that bundled up.

Saturday we spent some time outside raking and playing in the leaves.
Sarah found la luna (the moon). They are totally intrigued with the sun and moon and trying to understand where they are when you can't see them. And now that they can see the moon sometimes before it gets dark, they are trying to understand it all. Sunday the girls and I got a bit of cabin fever. We wanted to get out of the house and go play, just do something.
We convinced Daddy to go out to lunch and to the park. We went to the game farm and fed the ducks and then Juniper Hills to slide, swing, and climb. I know...... how ridiculous we only have monster swing set in our backyard that we have invested all kinds of money and time in. This was totally worth it, by the time we got home for nap they were all so tired they could barely make it up the stairs.

Lauren LOVED the swing.
Daddy was teaching them early. He will put them to work on the family farm before we know it.

Feeding the ducks.

Sunday evening we went over to Versailles to meet Grandma and Grandma Reeda for the church Thanksgiving meal.

the kids from the church played bells and sang. The girls were so into it, they were dancing on their chairs.

Another picture from the park. Doesn't she look so innocent.. who me??
Daddy working with Anna.

One of The Most Important First

2007-11-14T14:29:00.000-05:00

I forgot to add on one of the most important first. Anna and Sarah are both now taking naps without diapers or pull-ups. YEAH!!! I didn't think it would happen this fast. Anna has been doing it for almost a month now and I think that motivated Sarah. We are still working on nighttime, but that is ok since they are just getting ready to turn three.

Lots of First

2007-11-13T18:02:00.001-05:00

It seems like someone does something new in this house everyday.
Anna and Sarah have really started to show an interest
in playing games. David has taught the how to play "Don't Break The Ice" Since then that is all they want to do, "play the ice game." It is definitely a lesson in taking turns and being patient.

Lauren is what I would like to call officially finished with baby food. We still have a few jars left, so we will get those down her somehow. Last night she got to have her first spaghetti dinner. I love baby spaghetti pictures. Here are the pictures that document her first spaghetti attempt.
I am absolutely in love with her feeding herself, although it does leave a mess.

Lauren's other new first.
She says: Whooa
She has 5 almost 6 teeth

Little Green Thumbs

2007-11-13T17:48:00.000-05:00

On Sunday my mom brought us an Amarlyis plant. I initially turned my nose up, I am not very good with plants. David loved it, Mr. Green Thumb. Sundau night we decided to let the girls plant it down in the stones and this good be a neat little lesson in watching a plant grow. After planting, Sarah wanted to know where the flower was. It could be a long six weeks of waiting for the flower. Every morning since then they have checked it when they wake up wanting to know where the flower is.

Halloween

2007-11-13T17:38:00.000-05:00

We had a lot of fun for halloween this year. The girls are getting more excited about each holiday as they get older and understand more. Here are a few pictures from our evening. We mainly just went to friends and family, maybe next year we will do the real trick-or-treating door to door.

Snow White and Cinderella go Trick-or-Treating at the Zoo

2007-10-30T14:33:00.000-04:00

Sunday afternoon David and I took Anna and Sarah to the Louisville for the annual Halloween event. My mom kept Lauren. (Thanks mom!! and Kate and Grandaddy) So, the girls got one on one mommy and daddy attention. They had so much fun and by the end had perfected their Trick-or-Treat.
I think this was their favorite. When Anna saw Zoe she dropped her bag of goodies and took of running and gave Zoe the biggest hug ever.
I think this is my favorite picture. I think it really show how excited they were.

With princess Jasmine.

A Recent Forward I Recieved

2007-10-26T10:19:00.000-04:00

Recently I Recieved This in a Forward. I really liked it, so I thought I would post it.

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a MomI never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

More Pumpkin Stuff

2007-10-24T10:58:00.000-04:00

Anna trying to pull the wagon. You can see where this is going she ended up on her booty.
My very particular girls making their pumpkins pretty. Everyone painting.
Sarah and her painted face.

The Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-22T17:22:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we took our annual trip to the local pumpkin patch. The girls love picking out their pumpkins. I think Sarah would have taken them all home if she could.

Anna feeding the goat with great Aunt Liz.
Sarah feeding the goat with Daddy.
Anna was so excited about getting her face painted.
This is the first pumpkin she picked out. One of the three she got to take home.

Lauren's first time petting a horse.

More pictures to come. I can't believe it, but I forgot my camera. Aunt Liz is going to send me some more from the pumpkin patch.

Loving Sisters

2007-10-22T17:17:00.000-04:00

Anna and Sarah totally love helping Lauren. They like to try to give her food and drink. The other day I even went to get Lauren out of the toy room and Sarah said, "Mom, where are you taking Lauren, I really want to play with her." How sweet?!?!

Yeah... and what is with this mom stuff. They have started calling me mom and they are only almost three, what happened to mommy already!?!!?

She DID IT!!!

2007-10-22T17:13:00.000-04:00

David and I both got to witness Lauren's first two steps on Sunday. I of course didn't have the camera close, so we missed capturing it on film. We have not seen a repeat performance yet, but she tries. She is really taken by her push walker now and is up and down the hallway, so I am sure not much longer and she will out on her own. OH no!!

Lauren - 10 months

2007-10-16T22:52:00.000-04:00

Lauren is growing so quickly and can't believe that we are approaching a year already.

She is about 22 pounds, wearing 12 month clothes and busting out of some of those. She is pulling up EVERYTHING, including her sisters. She lets go occasionally. Tonight I think she attempted a free standing step from one peice of furniture to the other, but I am not sure, I was distracted by the big girls. She is very interested in real table food all of a sudden. She is eating crackers and dry cereal. I hope she continues catching onto this, as she is eating a TON of baby food. She is showing more and more personality every day. I think she is going to be a sensitive child and into everything. She is still very inquisitive touching and paying attention to everything around her.

Words she says: mama, dada, dog, bye-bye, uh-oh

Signs she knows: eat, more, dog

She is absolutely in love with dogs. She says dog and signs it everytime she sees one.

Delicious Veggies

2007-10-16T21:51:00.000-04:00

My children really seem to like their vegetables and I can normally get them to eat them. They will even eat salad most of the time. I am the picky eater in the house and don't always eat as healthy as I should. (probably why I can't seem to loose this baby weight)
I was grocery shopping today and I had a coupon for the Ziploc Zip and Steam. I thought we would try. I also got two bunches of broccoli.
I just chopped the broccoli, added a little butter and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Two minutes in the microwave and we had FABULOUS fresh steamed vegetables and I just threw away the bag. NO MESS!!! The only thing I had to clean was the cutting board.
We are going to try carrots tomorrow.

A Week in Texas

2007-10-10T15:52:00.000-04:00

We arrived home about a week ago from what I would call our first big family vacation. We spent a week in Texas. We flew into Dallas, drove to Houston, spent almost 2 days at Galveston Island beach, and drove back to Dallas where we spent the rest of our week with David's brother and his family. Everyone thought we were crazy for taking three kids on a plane and attempting this week long vacation. David and I have just kind of learned that while the kids are little, nothing will be simple and to get out and do things we will just have do it.
Over all it went well, all three had their moments. Watching Anna and Sarah get excited with so many new experiences.
Here are a few pics from our trip.

First time taking off on the airplane.

All three girls did really well on the plane. It wasn't until we got in the car to drive to Houston that things got ugly. Lauren screamed for almost the last two hours of the drive. We made it, finally, it seemed like the longest drive ever.

First time on the beach. The weather was yucky, very overcast.

Due to the yucky weather we decided to take them to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner. They LOVED it!!!

The next day we woke up to rain showers. We had planned on spending the morning playing on the beach. We decided the girls were going to get wet on the beach anyway. So, he took Anna and Sarah out to play. I stayed with Lauren. It worked out well, they had the whole beach to themselves and had lots of fun.
Before getting in the car and drive to Dallas, we indulged to IHOP. I know we must have been crazy to give them so much sugar before getting in the car, but we let them get chocolate chip pancakes. They LOVED them! We really didn't even see the effects of the sugar.

We spent Tuesday through Saturday at David's oldest brother John's house. John and Crissy have 4 kids. Jack, Holly, Mitchell, and Charlotte. Anna and Sarah had so much fun playing, swimming, sliding, swinging, and movie watching.Sarah drawing on the easel.

Lauren and cousin Holly.
Uncle David loved playing. No work and seven kids gave him an excuse to play all week.
Popcorn and a movie.

Wednesday night James and Matthew (David's other two brothers) flew in.

We all packed up Thursday and went to the zoo. Sarah along for the ride at the zoo.
Daddy and his pretty or Rito. (He has nicknamed all three girls.) He is just melts over Lauren. He named her Rito when she was first born when he wrapped her up in her blanket, a baby burrito, it evolved into Daddy's Rito. I think she had this nickname before even leaving the hospital. Poor child, I wonder how long this nickname will be around.

Anna, Sarah and Mitchell enjoying a Popsicle. The best picture we got of all seven kids. From the back. Mitchell, Lauren, Jack, Holly, Anna, Sarah, Charlotte.

I don't know what is cuter the uncles pushing the strollers or the cousins holding hands.
Anna and David pretending to be the Kimono Dragon.

It was a good week and nice to get away as a family. The girls got spoiled getting to spend so much time with Daddy.

We even got one night of babysitting while we were gone. The night before we left, we got two babysitters and the adults went out for dinner and then we went to a piano bar. It was a lot of fun.

I don't know that we will ever again fly so far and drive so much in one day. Our next big vacation will probably be a whole week at the beach. So, we can really take it in.
I have some more pictures, I hope to put them up soon.

A Successful Dinner

2007-09-25T21:53:00.000-04:00

I have never really been much of a cook. I have always loved to bake (probably just because I enjoy eating it), but never even baked something real technical. I think David always knew, but when we were dating and before we had kids he did the cooking. He loves to cook, he will try to conjure up anything. I just never have and I am learning and really beginning to enjoy it.
Since David started working longer hours and I was home in the evening with the kids, it kind of became more of my responsibility to cook. Well, we have spent a lot of time on easy to fix frozen things, easy one dish recipes, take-out etc. Now that I am home I have been trying to actually cook some more. So, I have been looking for lots of recipes that might be pleasing to the whole family, that don't include to many crazy ingredients that I have to shop especially for. I love Italian food and David says that is what I mainly cook. Anyway... My sister-in-law posted a recipe a long time ago on her blog for meatloaf. I was never much a fan of meatloaf, but she said her kids ate this meatloaf and it sounded pretty simple. In a effort to clean out the fridge this week before we leave on our trip, I am cooking whatever I find. Tonight I had a pound of ground beef and was determined to not go Italian. I thought back to her post and went searching back for the recipe. It was super simple to put together. I made some macaroni and cheese ( my fail safe, in case the girls hated the meatloaf, I knew they would eat macaroni) and some green beans. When David got home, he came in the kitchen with a weird face and said, "What are you making??" I told him meatloaf and he sounded concerned.
Let's just say, there were absolutely NO leftovers to put away. Sarah had finished her whole first plate, before I even got settled to start feeding Lauren. YEAH!!! A new dinner everyone likes, it doesn't take long, and I normally have all the ingredients here at the house.
Here is the recipe just in case you are interested.
Thank you Crissy!!! (Here is the recipe cut and pasted from her blog.)

So, here it is, the recipe as I've made it for over ten years now and as my mom has made it since my childhood. It's different in that the sauce is separate, not mixed in with the beef. It's easily doubled and I usually double it to feed our family. Also, if you double it, you obviously stand a much greater chance of having leftovers, and therefore, meatloaf sandwiches the next day.
Meatloaf
1 pound ground beef
20 saltine crackers (in a pinch you can use bread crumbs)
I used Toll House crackers, I was out of saltines. (they have a buttery flavor to them and what isn't better with butter) They come in a red box.
1 egg
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Crumble up the crackers and smush all three ingredients together in a bowl. This is a great job for your kids if you have the patience of a saint and don't mind them (and your countertops) getting a little messy. Add salt and pepper if you like. Form the mixture into the shape of a loaf. Place in a 9 x 13 pan and bake at 400 degrees until done. :) It usually takes about 30 minutes for a 1 lb. loaf; 45 minutes or longer for a 2 lb. loaf. I try to make the 2 lb. loaves thinner so they take less time. You will know it's done if it's not pink when you cut into the center. Unless you like your meatloaf rare. Then it's done when it IS pink in the center. But I don't know of anyone who likes their meatloaf rare.While the meatloaf is cooking, make the sauce.
Sauce
1/3 med. size bell pepper
1/3 onion1 small can of tomato sauce
Chop the bell pepper and onion into whatever size pieces you like. I generally chop them pretty large so that, on the off chance that one of the kids actually wants sauce (most of the time they don't), they can pick out the chunks. Saute the onion and pepper on medium heat in butter, margarine, vegetable oil, or olive oil in a small saucepan. If you have some fresh garlic, you can throw that in, too. When the onion and pepper are crisp-tender, add the tomato sauce and heat through.I don't know why all three of my kids love meatloaf, but they do. The older ones don't care for the sauce, though - they like it dry.

Sarah liked the sauce. Anna not so much, she liked it dry. David added A-1 to the meatloaf, said it was good.

While I am going on and on, here is one other recipe I have found that the whole family really likes and is really easy.
Skillet Chicken Parmesan
boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 jar Prego traditional spaghetti sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
Cook meat in a skillet in EVOO. until brown
Stir in spaghetti sauce and 1/2 of Parmesan cheese.
Cover and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Top with rest of cheese. Let it melt and serve.

A Little Catch Up

2007-09-24T15:06:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it has been two weeks since I have posted anything. So, let's see what have we been up to...
Well just normal day to day stuff. We have been trying to complete some outside work and landscaping before it turns cold. That has taken a lot more time than I thought it would to straighten up the yard, lay mulch, etc. One of these days we hope to finally have the outside of our house looking nice.

Last weekend David's mom brought over a little surprise for Anna and Sarah. They had been going to their cousin's house and playing with all their princess stuff. They were in HEAVEN!! Well, grandma found some dresses on sale, got them princess shoes, a crown, and earrings to go with their dresses. They have been dressing up nonstop since then. They do everything in their princess shoes. We are already hunting down the earrings, they took them off somewhere and can't remember where. I am sure we will find them soon and it will make their day.

For those of you who know Sarah well. We will just say she is a little particular and like things to be clean. For instance... they played outside yesterday, just happened into the sprinkler while David was watering the grass, played in the mulch, dirt, and sandbox. They got stripped at the door, they were so dirty. Well, I put them in the bath, soaped them all up. Sarah at this point proceeds to crying because the water looked dirty and she had to get out. Anyway.. anytime you give her a baby wipe she will clean everything. We went to Basking Robbins and got ice cream. I gave her a baby wipe to clean her hands, I turn around and she is cleaning the windows and window seal at Baskin Robbins. Well.. the other day she brought me the swiffer mop and some baby wipes. She insisted they be put on the mop so she could clean the floor. Well, who am I to argue with someone else mopping the floor, so away she went.

Some more dress up pictures.
Lauren decided she needed to play too.

Lauren is currently having another spat with Asthma. I took her to the ped. Friday for her 9 month WELL CHECK!! and was told she had an ear infection!!! AARRGHH!!!! We just finished the last antibiotic. I would have never known she was still so happy. I had noticed her raspy (sp??) breathing the past few days and gave her a couple breathing treatments. Well, we are back to at least one treatment a day. The doctor seems to think that it is allergy induced. We have to now up her allergy medicine to 1 tsp., it is hard enough to get 1/2 tsp. down her. We go back in about two weeks for recheck and then maybe off to a specialist to see what we can do.

On Saturday we will be embarking on an interesting adventure. We are FLYING to Texas for a week. We are going to see my uncle in Houston, go to the beach, and go to see David's brother and his family in Dallas. I am beginning to already get anxious, carting three kids through the airport, with car seats, etc. Wondering how they will react on the plane. So, I am trying to start packing, I am hoping I won't forget anything. My sister-in-law Crissy is really helping us out. We are borrowing their car for the first few days. While we go to Houston and the beach. She is packing it with a pack-n-play, excersaucer for Lauren, nebulizer for Lauren, sleeping bags for the girls, a portable high chair. This is really saving us on packing and other things we were just going to have to do without.

Well... I probably won't post again until we get back. So, look for a big post in a couple weeks. We don't get home until Oct. 6th and it will probably take me a couple days to get myself back together.

New Pictures

2007-09-11T14:37:00.001-04:00

I finally took Lauren to have her picture made, I have been trying to go for about 2 months now. Poor thing hasn't had her pictures made since she was 3 months old. I wanted to have her picture made in her baptism dress and just some other regular ones too. It is a good thing I did it now. Her dress was big on her for her baptism, well it wouldn't snap all the way today, I got just snapped enough today to take her pictures. Now, it is so nice at Sears when you buy your package you get a picture CD and the copyright rights to your pcitures, so I can do anything with them or to them that I want.

So, if you see anything you like and want a copy just let me know what and what size and I can get it to you.

Tennesse Family Reunion

2007-09-06T11:23:00.001-04:00

Relaxing with Daddy on the trampoline.

Lauren just LOVES the water.
Anna and Sarah with their cousins Kelly and Katie.

With Grandmommy.

The girls with their GREAT, GREAT, GREAT aunt Sarah. (yes, that is three greats!!) GG (Great grandmother Betty), and Great Great Aunt Jane (GG's sister).

Sarah sitting with her cousin Cindy and Ann.

This past weekend we went to Munford, Tennessee. (just outside of Memphis) We were there for our Wooten family reunion. This is my mom's mom side of the family. The girls had a lot of fun and had a lot of cousins to play with. They are already ready to go back. Here are a few picutres from the weekend. Lauren felt pretty crummy all weekend, but didn't show it too much. I am slightly afraid she might have shared her cold with a few family members! :( Sorry!! Sorry Great Aunt Liz, we hope you are feeling better!

Not FUN...

2007-09-06T11:10:00.000-04:00

Don't take my picture, I hate this!!

Last week I took Lauren to the doctor because she seemed very congested and kind of wheezy. Well we left the doctor's office with an antibiotic for an upper respiratory infection and a nebulizer. The doctor diagnosed Lauren with Asthma and told us we would need to do four breathing treatments a day until she got better. Today makes exactly a week since I took her and she is doing much better. We are almost down to just one breathing treatment a day. Hopefully soon, we won't have to do any.
She absolutely hates the treatments. The first ones were absolutely unbearable, we had to basically hold her down. She is getting better now and we are trying to do most of them as she is dozing off to sleep.
We are hoping that this won't turn into a big issue for her and that it might even go away. It appears now that this will only be something gets aggravated with colds. We will see.

What a Big Girl

2007-08-23T10:22:00.000-04:00

I walked in the living room today to find this! She also pulled up on her own once last night. I can't believe she is such a big girl already.

My other big girls are at school and loving it. Minus a little crying from Sarah this morning when I dropped them off, she wanted mommy to stay with her. They come home each day talking about new friends and the fun things they played.

8 months old

2007-08-21T11:05:00.000-04:00

Happy baby enjoying her dinner.
Trying to crawl to a toy. She got stuck under Sarah's chair.
What a messy face!

Wow, how time flies! I can't believe that Lauren is already 8 months old. She is definitely becoming a very adventurous child. Anything that is on the floor is there in about two seconds flat to investigate. She is starting to follow her sisters around, they don't always appreciate it to much, but they are pretty good with her. They ask me before they give her a toy to make sure she can have it.

She is growing fast. Almost 21 pounds now. Yesterday on her 8 month birthday she learned how to go from crawling to sitting. She is still doing the army crawl. She gets up on her hands and knees often, but when she needs to move she plops on her belly and GOES! She is getting awfully fast.
She babbles all the time. I am really loving being home with her watching her grow and learn new things. I don't remember all this from the girls. I don't know if it was because I was working or because there was two of them and everything was just a blur.

She is also learning how to pick up every little spec on the floor with her thumb and finger. So, lots more cleaning for mom! YEAH! Also attempting to pull up when she can find something to pull on. She pulled on a basket of books the other day, she made it up to her knees until the basket tumbled over on her.

She is also having a lot of allergy issues, anytime she is around an animal or dust her eyes get red and itchy and a runny nose. So we are on a month trial with Zyrtec to see how it goes. We are hoping that we can make it without any major allergies. So, we are being careful as we introduce new foods.

State Fair and One Emergency Room Trip = One Wild Weekend

2007-08-20T19:40:00.000-04:00

On Saturday we made a yearly venture to the State Fair. The girls really seemed to enjoy it. I think their favorite part was definitely the cows, as we were asked repeatedly to see the cows. We saw goats, rabbits, cows, chickens, and ducks. We also enjoyed the fantastic state fair food, corn dogs, pork burgers, AMAZING corn on the cob, and ice cream! We also made our tour through the kid section riding tractors, seeing Looney Toon characters, etc. and through the "junk". Endless aisle after aisle of stuff!

We got to the fair at about 11:00 am and made it home by 6:00 pm. Upon arriving home I noticed Anna was breathing a little funny. I pointed it out to David and he thought oh, she is OK. Later he began to agree with me. We pulled out the handy stethoscope, we kept from David's EMT, Urgent care days. We found her breathing rate to be about 60 per minute and her heart was going so fast it was difficult to count, but somewhere in between 175 and 200. At that point we decided it would be best to go to the ER to check her out. Of course.. they were packed. Car wrecks, heart attacks, etc. By the time we got back to triage her temp was 102.7, breathing at 50 and heart rate about 170. We then had to endure a lecture about giving your child Tylenol for a fever. I understand and know fully well, but she was only at like 99 when we were at home, so at that point I was more concerned with her breathing. Well... at about 11:30pm, a chest x-ray, strep test, lots of waiting, temperature taking, and pulse watching later. We were sent home with an antibiotic for a possible ear infection and red throat. No real reason was given for the breathing rate, but that her temperature may have caused her breathing rate to increase. I don't totally believe that since she was breathing rapidly before she had a fever. We will see what happens. She is slowly getting better, still coughing a lot with some wheezing. So, we are keeping our fingers crossed this isn't the beginning of asthma, like her mommy. The first time I was in the hospital for my breathing was when I was 2.

First Day of "School"

2007-08-09T10:09:00.000-04:00

Well I just dropped my big girls off for their first day of "school." It was definitely a little weird leaving them, since they have only really ever stayed with me or family and my mom has kept them the last two years while I was working.

We are calling it "school." It really is just mother's day out, but they work on getting them ready for preschool. They will go two days a week from 9-1. Perfect, come home just in time for a nap.

My mom kept Lauren this morning while I dropped them off for the first time. When I came home Lauren was already asleep for her morning nap. This house is so QUIET!! I guess I should get cleaning, laundry or something. This is going to take some getting used to. I am excited to pick them this afternoon and see how their first day went.