11 MoNtHs & FiNaLLY CrAwLinG!

Sweet little Katie Bug!! Look at those eyes!! They are mesmerizing, at least to me. I can't believe she is almost 1! It seems like just yesterday she was in my tummy! She has been such a good baby!

Fun Facts: She loves her brothers & sister, she would rather eat table food then baby food, she weighs 18lbs. (Only 3lbs. less then Addy), she loves her ba-ba (wants nothing to do with a cup!!), she enjoys being outside, on May 25th started crawling!!

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Here is the video of her crawling. I tried 4 times before this to get her to crawl, and she wasn't havin' it!!! So I finally had to bribe her with a cookie. I am so mean huh?! Oh well! I did let her eat it after she crawled!

*BUG PROGRAM*

Last week, I went to Preston's 1st grade Bug Program. It was so stinkin' cute. Did I get a snapshot of my cute little bug?! Why no...I didn't. But he looked adorable!! I did video tape the whole thing, but Blogger wont allow it on here. It's too long. :( Oh well I guess! He was an army ant, and had a speaking part. It was very cute!! Great Job Preston!

A Very Nice Day

We spent some very much needed "Family Time" this past weekend. I loved it! The kids are growing up WAY. TO. FAST. So we headed up to Causey for some time away. On the way up there we came across a car show. In which my boys are now in love with nice looking cars. Especially the VIPER.
Then we spent the morning fishing, and spending quality time with each other. Addyson was deathly afraid. So she sat on the hill the entire time.
Daddy didn't get much fishing in. He has reassured me though...when we go as a family he doesn't need to fish for himself. He actually enjoys watching us.

It was absolutely beautiful! I love being outdoors, and in the mountains.

Preston caught 2 12" fish this trip. The rest of us got leaves, and sticks, and mud! Except I did catch a crawdad, and 2 feet from the shore he let go. But it was really cool to see that!!

It was a lovely day!

Oh, and Kaitlon was on my back while I was taking pictures. Then when I put her down...she took a tumble down the hill which bruised her poor little face. :( Oh the joys of being somewhat mobile. Or learning how to be mobile. :)

~Living Room Makeover~

I know I have mentioned it before, but I will say it again. I have a little bit of OCD. Especially, when it comes to the way my home looks. That's my father's fault. :) So the idea to re-do my living room was all inspired by my OCD and this: A 50" plasma T.V. Well we have been watching the adds--more for fun then anything else. When one Sunday.... there it was... a 50" on sale for $669.00. Oh, let me tell you this...I stewed, and stewed about this for days!! Then at the last minute I decided they probably wouldn't get much cheaper then that. Then after some price matching, and negotiating I got another $20.00 knocked off the price. It isn't "THE BEST" that's out there. I really love it though. And oh, how I love watching Grey's Anatomy in High DEF. ;) Anyway, back to the story. Well the T.V. inspired this:Taking the upstairs living room furniture downstairs, and the downstairs furniture upstairs. Because we have this nice T.V. to watch now, we need comfy furniture to sit upon! Now... no offense to my parents...the other set of furniture was theirs...and I have now inherited it. But after like 10-15 yrs. that couch isn't so comfy anymore. So here was my next issue (yes this is what my brain does) The living room was painted to coordinate with the green couch. I loved the living room walls. My friend, and I painted them with a grocery sack. It was sooo much fun. It turned out really pretty too. It just didn't work with the other furniture. (Here is a close up)So I decided we were going to re-paint. I had a 5 gallon bucket of white paint sitting downstairs in storage. That had maybe a cup full used from it. So I figured in the effort to "pinch pennies" we would use that. It was still in great condition. So I only spent $14.00 for primer. We worked until 2:00 am on Saturday Priming. If you have kids, and have ever tried painting while they around, completely understand why.

We tried to do a bit of touch up spots too.

Well we finished painting, and got the living room all put back together by 6:30 on Saturday evening. So here are the "After" pictures. My mother's day curtains are hung. YAY!! I think they look wonderful. So far they have kept the room really dim from all the sunlight too! Plus, I thought ahead. The match the cream in the both sets of furniture too. So if I ever change my mind....well we wont have to get new curtains. ;)

This wall used to be 1/2 green & cream, and 1/2 white. Now the whole thing is white. I think it looks wonderful. Plus, my hubby can cross off : "Put molding in between walls" from the 'Honey do-list'

I am really happy with the way it turned out. I think it looks very nice. Now, all I need is a new rug...and a new front door! Our front door has some serious issues! It's cracking, and it just looks icky!! So if anyone sees a 36"x79" exterior door please let us know. We are in the market to buy one.

The Ducks Come to Us....

We live about 3 minutes (drive time) away from a small Duck pond. I have taken the kids there a handful of times to feed the ducks. It's really fun. Every once and while the ducks manage to make there way up to our house. On Friday night... I was out trying to spray the CRAZY dandelions that are growing EVERYWHERE!!!...when I hear this quacking. There they were crossing the road. So we grabbed some bread, and went out to feed the ducks. It was very fun, and the kids got a BIG kick out of the fact that they were out of "their home".

Teacher Appreciation

It was teacher appreciation week a little over a week ago. I made these for the kids' teachers. It was just a baggy of Swedish fish...with a this little saying..."Of all the fish in the sea...you're the best teacher for me.

Kindergarten here we come...

Tyson's Pre-K graduation was this week. I can't believe I have another one going to public school! YAY!! I do, however, wish that it was full day kindergarten, and not 1/2 day. So it will be another crazy year of driving. Bummer! :( I am really looking forward to him getting started in school, and we have been working hard on stuff. Plus, speech is over now for the summer. So I can't wait for him to start that up again! Tyson we are so proud of you!!

SO BEHIND...

So I am way behind in my blogging efforts...and will be catching up soon. So look for several posts to follow. :)

♥Mother's Day♥

Mother's Day Thoughts...

I am so grateful to be a mother. I know their are several women out there who don't get this opportunity. It isn't an easy job. I sometimes wonder...if I am really doing a good job...have I made a difference for them...am I teaching them correctly...?? I think about all the responsibility that comes from being a Mom, and sometimes get so overwhelmed. This year has flipped our little family into utter craziness- since Daddy is only here 1/2 the week. I can't imagine having to do this alone all the time!! I have developed a new appreciation for those single Mom's out there. I think through cleaning the crayon off the wall, changing diapers, cleaning up potty training accidents, doing the dishes, laundry, cooking dinner, helping with homework, being the family taxi, accountant, doctor, and all else that implies...I wouldn't change it for the world. I am grateful that the Lord has given this blessing to women. To be able to have children. I know that I have a bond with my children, that is so special, and so unique. They fill my days with so much joy. They don't even know. It's because of those children that I get to be a Mother, the greatest gift in the world.

I was woken up not by breakfast in bed, or gifts galore, but by a phone call from my brother. :) We didn't talk long, but I was glad to hear he is doing well. He has lived with me for as long as I can remember. So I feel in a way I have raised him, and helped him achieve his goals. It was really nice to hear from him.

Shortly after I was greeted with a surprise from Preston. He made me a book at school. It was wonderful. He even drew me skinny! :) This page was my favorite.It says, "I wode not no wat to do if I last hur." I love first grade writings. He means, "I would not know what to do if I lost her." It brings tears to my eyes to see my 7 yr. old writing that. I hope he always feels this way. I did get lots of little cards earlier in the week from the other kids. Things they made me at preschool. Then my big present was energy efficient curtains for our living room. We are re-painting, and I don't have curtain rods yet...but we will get them hung up. I have become a little obsessed with saving energy, and reducing our power costs in our home. As well as, trying to help our environment. I don't do a fantastic job at this...but I have done lots of research about these curtains. So I am hoping they were for real. We have huge living room windows. They let in SO much heat in the summer. So, I am really hoping this will help. I appreciate Clint for letting me spend a little extra to get them. I did get breakfast made special to my order. :) French Toast. Yummy!!

Then I tried to capture a nice picture with the greatest kids ever. That was about near impossible. So I settled for this one.

And some kisses of course!

Thank you to my beautiful children who give me this opportunity to be a Mother. I am honored to have that title. I hope you will know the love I have for each one of you. I hope that as you grow older we will stay close, and develop wonderful relationships.

LoViN' LiFe As A MomMy & A WiFe!

I'm a total slacker...I have been so tired, and lazy lately. That I haven't even blogged!! Some exciting things have happened lately...so I thought I would share. I SpOiLeD myself...I decided my bathroom needed a mini makeover. So I painted some spots that needed it. Took down the old ugly pink blinds from the 60's. Got a new shower curtain, rugs, and bathroom curtain! It looks 10 times nicer now. I am trying to talk my Dad into re-doing the vanity. It needs a new counter top. The RETRO pink tile isn't fun anymore. (It never really was though) So here is a picture of the WAY cute curtain I found out target:

Katie Bug turned 10 months old. Oh. Yes..those are her first piggy tails!! My friend calls them "worms", but aren't they ADORABLE!!??!! I love little girls. Same old-same old with her. She is trying more and more table foods. I am loving it. I usually give her baby food for breakfast, and lunch, then table food for dinner. She has however figured out how to go from a laying to sitting position, and she took 2 little crawls yesterday. Other then that she is just our sweet natured, happy baby girl!
I am a laser tag fanatic. I really enjoy playing. You don't get shot with anything, but a light. So it doesn't hurt. Well the other day Preston got really curious about it. He begged to go play. I told him I would talk with Daddy, and we would let him know. So last Saturday we were able to leave the girls with my mom, and took the boys for their first game of laser tag. SO. MUCH. FUN. Then we blew some pocket change playing in the arcades after. Now they are begging to go back. Plus, they loved that Uncle A.J. was there.

Tyson wanted to play a round of Air Hockey with me. It was fun! He is becoming more, and more enjoyable to play with. I even beat him, and he didn't get upset!! This trip to Toad's was MUCH better then the ones we have had in the past.

A.J., and I had to check out the games too! I am so grateful to be close to my siblings. I really do love them, and appreciate all they do for me.

My Mom is moving soon. Which is good thing. So we have been doing some re-arranging, and things. I am looking for a white twin bed in good condition, and a white dresser to match it. If anyone sees anything please let me know. Addyson is getting her own room, and is in some need of new furniture. The boys are getting a new room too. Which means I have some painting, and re-finishing, and re-organizing a head of me. I am exhausted thinking about it. :) It will be good though.

Right now we still have a lot of stress, and everyday stuff going on. BUT I am so thankful to be a Mom,and a wife. I love my little family, and all the little adventures we have together!