Catch Up!

Well, it's been awhile! After the holidays things slow down for a little while and there is not as many interesting things to talk about. It only lasts for a little while and then comes birthdays, school parties, summer vacation, and more. Even though activities are down, we have remained busy with the everyday life, so I thought I would play catch up with all of you.

My dad turned 53 on the 14th and we had to convince him that he wasn't 54. He swore up and down that this was his 54th birthday until he did the math. You can really tell your getting old when you start adding years to your life. I guess once you get to this point your just thinking "hurry up with this already :)" Maybe next year he'll add on two years :)

The kids were out of school for four days in celebration of Martian Luthur King Jr. Day, but Quentin didn't think it was much of a vacation. He got sick on Friday with Pinkeye, Croup, and Upper Respiratory Infection. He had this throughout the whole break and even got to get out of P.E. when he returned to school on Tuesday. The Croup flared up his asthma so we had to bring out the nebulizer again. The girls got sick on that Sunday with ear infections and RSV. Our house looked like a pharmacy of antibiotics, steroids, and nebulizer treatments.

Zachery (usually my sick one) stayed safe through the sicknesses running around, but he decided to get hurt once again. He was playing on the downstairs tile floor, sliding on a peice of cardboard (James cut up to place over the car windows) and he fell head first on the floor. Of course he was asked to stop and told he was going to get hurt, but like always, my dare devil didn't listen. He had the biggest goose egg I have ever seen smack dab in the middle of his forehead. He looked like a unicorn trying to sprout it's horn :) I wish I had a picture, but he wouldn't let me take one. After calming down he placed some ice on it (he liked) and kept an I on his eyes for dialation (hated that). Everything turned out fine, just a little bit of a bruise and a dash of embarassment.

The kids have been out of school for two days, because of snow. They have been pretty good and none have gotten sick yet. We got about three inches or so of snow and shoveling helped with my workout.

I have been trying to count calories and fat as well as workout to loose weight. My goal is to loose 60 lbs. but to hit my actual ideal weight (according to my height) I must loose almost 75 lbs. I personally think that is to small, but I will keep working on my own personal goal. I have lost 5 lbs. and have been at it for about 2 weeks. James told me, that since I will need new clothes and that I never buy anything for myself, after I loose my weight (if I do) that I needed to go on a shopping spree and do the works. So I thought (not likely but...) that I would get together with my sister (Brandi) and my neices (Amanda and Emilee) and have a girls day out. We would shop, get our hair done, and whatever else we want. I figured they know the most about fashion, they are always so cute! I have also been doing my schooling and helping my sister-in-law with hers. I have kept up my staight A's and I hope that I can continue with it over the next three years.

James has been busy at work and tries to spend what little time he has with the kids (although they all fight constantly--including James) but he doesn't have much time to himself. Like I said, we have been busy, but that is just a part of life.

Now that catch up it over, Quentin's birthday party will probably be next!

My Newest Niece!

My sister has been dreaming of adopting a baby for years and she has been in the process for over 2 years and the day has finally come. She finally gets to go to China and pick up her bundle of joy. They will leave out sometime around April or May to pick up this very beautiful little girl. She is just over a year and a half and shares the month of September with me. She will be named Kalia and will no doubt be spoiled like the rest of the kids.

I have this picture on my screen saver slide show and everytime the girls see it, they point and say baby Kalia (doesn't really sound like Kalia, but we get it) and the boys were ready to pick up, go to their aunts house, and see their newest cousin. We have all waited and it is finally time, it all finally seems real. I have already called dibs on the first hugs and kisses (after her sisters of course).


Congradulations Brandi, Dan, Amanda, and Emilee on the newest member of your family!

Cast Free!

Today was Zachery's final doctors appointment! He arrived at the doctors at 8:30 this morning and it took all of 15 minutes for the doctor to clear him. He has regained full range of motion and full extension back into his arm. He has been cleared to be a normal, roudy little boy and the Dr. Jones gave him hugs and said "I don't want to see you in here again, no more broken arms, ok!"

You would think that we would be happy, but no not Zachery, he was mad because we didn't go out to eat and he had to go back to school :( After every appointment we would go out for lunch, but this one was so early and so quick that it wasn't time for lunch yet. He was so mad at me, but all was forgotten when he arrived home from school this afternoon!

As fun as it all was, please no more broken bones :)

Reading with Papa!

All my kids really enjoy reading, so when papa stopped by to drop off some books that my sister had given the kids, he was talked in to staying to read them one of their new books. After the book was read he started to get up to leave, when he had to read yet another book. Then it wasn't fair to read to just the two kids, so he continued to read to the other two. The he said "I gotta go, I have errands to run and more stuff to drop off." Before he new it he was sitting down to read yet another book. His one story finally turned into all six of the books that were sent down (one of them was even read twice) and all the kids crowded around him (Kari's missing from the picture because she was getting a new book:). It reminded me of reading stories to my preschool class, they all just keep getting closer and closer and you keep saying only one more time over and over again. The kids really enjoyed it, due to the fact that they don't see papa to much and as much as papa denies it he enjoyed it as well!

Happy 2009!

New Year's was at my house this year and we all gathered around 6:00pm. We of course started with the food! Mom made mild wings, B-B-Qed LIL' Smokies, and swedish meatballs while the rest of us brought stuff to go with it such as: grape tomatoes, cheese, chips, olives, pickles, soda and so on. My brother-in-law also made some jalapenos bacon wraps (not sure of the name) and they were a big hit. Since the seeds were removed they were not very hot, but they were still a good hit!

After everyone was done eating the kids gathered around one table playing games such as Buckaroo, Jenga, Hungry Hippos, Cooties, and more. The adults played at another table and people like me got their butts kicked in hearts over and over again, but James of all people did pretty well and actually came in second most of the time. That lucky dog! Like always dad came in first I believe everytime and Brandi was right there with him half the time. Good thing Dan and I really don't care if we lose or not, because we traded of 5th and 6th place all night.

Everyone managed to stay up to watch the ball drop (at 11pm here) and most of us made it till midnight, including the kids! I was really shocked to see all four of my kids still up at the end of the night and they were all still in good spirits. The girls even managed to beat us all and stay up till about 1:00 am.

We do this every year and it never seems to get old. At the end of the year all that you truly have is your family and we celebrate the end of each year with the people that are always there and they always will be. I've heard before that the people you spend New Year's with will be special to you throughout the New Year, well that is true for me! Hope evryone had a magnificent New Year and will continue throughout 2009!