Pictures together

No one tells you how hard (impossible) it is to get a good picture of two kids! Yesterday, Anna had her Easter egg hunt at school and Andrew went to sing at the nursing home. I tried to get some pictures in between those two times. I think Andrew looks just like Michael in the picture right above. Note: Aren't Andrew's shorts and Anna's dress precious? My mom made them. Thanks, Mom!

Mr. David goes home

Mr. David, Cindy's (my sister) father-in-law passed away on Tuesday. I rode with Dad down to the funeral on Thursday, and rode home with Mom. She had been there keeping kids. It was a very good funeral, but the big topic was how much Mike's family thought Emmy looked like me! I consider that a compliment! I am posting pictures of Em! I think she looks more like Cindy than me. Please pray for Mike's family as this is a very hard time for them. Mr. David always made everyone feel welcome and part of his family. I strive to be like that.

Baby Jayden

So, this will be a long story. But, as most of you know, I have been very busy these past couple of weeks (maybe months). But Tuesday was snack day and I was going to bake homemade Easter cookies for Andrew to bring to his class. Monday, I start making them from the powder mix and cutting them out with Easter Cookie cutters. I need 28. I get to 25 and run out of dough! I am not happy because the box says you can get 36, and the cookies are not that big. So fast forward to Tuesday morning... Kim calls, and I have overslept because I had been at a radio board meeting the night before. I send Andrew with Kim. The school calls to remind me that Andrew is the "cookie monster" today. I say I know, I am on my way. So, Anna and I run to the grocery store to pick up "cheese nips." I have given up on my almost homemade cookies. We are standing in line and two ladies in front of me seem to be in a big hurry. There is a very elderly old lady being checked out, and you could tell it would be a while. They ask where the other cashier is, and she had to go to the restroom.. Well, that cashier emerges, and we all dash to her line. The ladies in front of me say I can go ahead of them, they need to get some Tylenol. I say thanks so much (we are in a hurry too). The lady says my 5 month old grandson is in the hospital. I say I am so sorry. She says they have just given him a 10% chance to live. I tell her I am on my way to Bible Study, and that I will put him on the prayer list. We have an amazing group of praying ladies. She starts SHOUTING and crying "Praise Jesus! I knew there was a God and He has heard our prayers. God sent you here to us." I start crying, the cashier starts crying, everyone is crying. I ask her if I can do anything for her, and she says we are from a little town about an hour away, and we don't know anything about the town, etc. I call Kristin when I get in the car, and she heads straight to the hospital with gifts, money for the vending machine, a bible, etc. When she handed the bible to the mother, she said, I just told my mom I wish I had a bible with me. I wish I could be more like Kristin. She takes me with her to the hospital after Josie's party. I meet the mother and father, and they could not be more than 18 years old. The mother had put the baby to sleep on her bed with pillows around him. He rolled into the pillows and suffocated. So, all that to say is pray for this little boy. The doctor has told them it is in God's hands now.

Happy Birthday, Josie

We went to Josie's 2nd Birthday Party on Wednesday. In the picture above is Josie, Anna, and Jolie. They had a great time. When I was putting on my jewelry before the party, Anna was begging (some would call pitching a fit) to wear jewelry too. I found 2 gold baby bracelet's that mom gave me that I guess were mine and she loved them. It is hard to tell from the picture, but that is why she is holding her arm the way she is. She was quite proud of her jewelry.

The top picture is Kristin. I love Kristin! She is mother to two boys, and she wanted to come to a girl party. Rachel dressed her up, and she became the entertainment!

The fence building project

Dan has more helpers than he knows what to do with, with his fence building. He is about 75% done. When he got all the horizontal beams up, Andrew said, yay, we have a farm now!

Baby Jack

So much as happened in the past couple of weeks, I have to do some catching up. Susan had her baby boy, Jack. I can't wait to meet him. Everyone seems to be adjusting well, and Susan has already learned how quickly those baby boys steal your heart! They say he looks just like Taylor.

Happy Birthday Great Grandma

Wish We Were There. Happy Birthday Great Grandma!

School next year

So, as most of you know, I have struggled with what to do with Andrew at school next year. He has an August birthday, so we would like him to be the oldest in the class rather than the youngest. Since he is in PK4 now, what do we do about next year? Well, I found out that there is a 1/2 day Kindergarten class at one of the churches in town, and that many parents use it as a "Jr." Kindergarten for kids like Andrew with these summer birthdays. And since Andrew begs not to go the Lunch Bunch, I figured sending him to an all day PK4 program didn't make the most since. Needless to say I have been stressed.

So, yesterday I tell Andrew we are going to go see his new, big boy school. He proceeds to hide under the covers in the bed for the next 30 minutes. In my limited knowledge about parenting, I tell him, if he doesn't like that school, Mommy will find you a new school. Kim calls in the meantime, and I tell her how upset my baby boy is, and how Mommy has promised to fix it, and Kim starts to counsel me. She says in her opinion, it usually just works better if I explain to Andrew that I am the parent, and this is the decision Mommy has made. I love him and I am always there for him, but I am doing what is best for him. Wow! So, I am suppose to be the adult, not him? Who would have thought.

So, then Rachel calls and says they are on their way to the new school too, and Caleb is not happy. I suggest we go together and bribe them with McDonald's afterwards! Great plan. So we get to the school and they are thrilled to see each other as are the two little sisters. So the FOUR children become WILD. I guess it is better than crying and clinging to Mommy! I was very impressed with the school. Andrew's favorite things were the HUGE playground, the "Big Kid" Lego's like Gigi has, the computer room, but best of all they have miniature URINALS! The director asked me if he knew how to use one, and of course I said I have no idea, I have never been in the men's bathroom with him! He does apparently know how to use them, and if I had my camera with me, that is the picture I would have taken to put with this post, but you will just have to use your imagination. Caleb and Andrew using the MINIATURE URINALS! Isn't big school great!

I almost cried when I walked into the classroom, and they had DESKS, not table and chairs, but DESKS. I don't think he is old enough for a desk! Where does the time go?

Sidebar...New BLOG friends. You can click on the sidebar, but Shea is my new "cyber" friend and knows a lot about digital scrapbooking. Between her and Megan, I may learn something! And also another "cyber" friend Jenny has given me advice. I will get her link later! The good news is I actually have real friends that I have personally met joining the BLOG world. I am so excited. I think it really makes me look bad that all my BLOG friends are only "cyber" friends. Anyway, Elizabeth my friend here, and Daphne one of my best friends from college are now blogging. I am trying my hardest to get Jennifer on to blogging because she had the funniest kid stories I have ever heard!

Checking in

We are still here and okay. Everyone is so sweet to check on us! Things are just busy around here. I am up to my eyeballs in the radio station, and Dan has started the fence. Thanks to good friends and mom for helping with the kids. I couldn't do it without you!!!

Monkey see, Monkey do

Thursday night, Andrew has to use the restroom. This is what I find after taking clothes to the laundry room after bath time. Saturday morning during the 10 minutes of Family Work Day, Anna needs to potty (she doesn't potty, just sits there). I go to check on her and she says, "stool." I give her the stool and then she say "magazine!" I think the pictures speak for themselves!

Meet the Sickly's

Thursday night, 10:20 pm, Anna wakes up throwing up. I take her to the bathtub that I have just cleaned that day!!! (she throws up on the shower curtain). Anna continues to throw up for the next 4 hours every 10 minutes. Then every 30 minutes, then every hour until 8:00AM (yes, 10 hours of throw up). And throws up for the last time right when the doctor's office opens! I still get my phenegrin prescription so I will be prepared for the next victim! Thank goodness for Kim. She took Andrew to school, went to the grocery for me, went to get the prescription they couldn't fine, went to pick up Andrew, bring him home, and went back to get my prescription! All with Baby Hadley (10 weeks old). God Bless you , Kim! By 3:00, I had my prescription! Anna was fine...

Saturday 9:00 am, Andrew's 3rd soccer game. I stay home with Anna. I may get to see one game eventually. They almost could have won, but Jonathon didn't get there until half-time. Dan is so mad at Denise (Jonathon's mom). Note to all mothers, be on time to soccer games, and if you are late, don't have the excuse I was reading a good book, and I couldn't put it down!

I have planned all week Saturday from 12-5 would be work day in our house! Dan comes home from the game, puts half the boxes in the attic and falls prey to "the virus". Now, had Anna not had it, I would have thought he didn't want to participate in Family Work Day, but since Anna had it, I knew he wasn't faking it. He got the first round of Phenegrin.

So, Saturday the kids and I get things ready for the Consignment Sale. That is what this picture is. When Andrew got the Exersaucer, his feet didn't even touch the ground! Too big, too fast.

Saturday night/Sunday morning two kids awake 3:00 am and up for about 2 hours (Dan, sleeping off the phenegrin). 8:00 AM ~ Sunday morning, not going to church, too tired, Denise calls, remember Andrew is singing in church this morning. CRAP! Andrew loves to sing in church! Okay, we will come. Dan, can you keep Anna for me to run Andrew to church? Dan, unresponsive (Phenegrin high). Robin, Andrew, and Anna rush past the choir right in time to sing! Sign of relief... we make it! Andrew gets stage fright! Clings to Mommy! HE WILL NOT GET UP THERE AND SING!!! Beat him or find the humor in the situation?!?

After church, we go to the youth auction. Mommy is so tired she can't keep her eyes open. Bright spot of day... Denise, Michelle, and I (and husbands) win the 3 hour limo ride!!!