The run down

I know, I know all my blog followers are going into withdrawal...sorry! Things have been crazy around here, but really when aren't they? I am finally finished with the consignment sale. It was great, and the biggest yet with almost 100 consignors showing up. The room was packed. I forgot to take pictures because I had a line of people waiting to get in, but I did take a short video for my dad. For some reason he can see the videos, but not the pictures. Just hit mute though because I hate the way I sound!




I have been playing catch up ever since the sale. It is hard when you are gone for a week, but the rest of your family is still at home...they create messes and you are not there to clean them up! I have to say thanks to all of my wonderful MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) friends. They have been absolutely wonderful to me since Jeff has started his job at Presbyterian. Several of them came over for a couple of days to help me around the house to try to get it ready to sell. They cleaned, boxed, donated, and rearranged. The house still needs some work, but we have officially put it on the market.

Many of my MOPS friends have also helped out by bringing dinner to us. Things are very hectic in the evenings around here with me coaching soccer. Some nights we eat later than we need to, and the kids get in bed late. It has been so nice to come home from practice, and not have to cook or clean and then do all the other nightly duties. Being a single mom of 4 really stinks! I have a new appreciation for those people! I have truly been humbled by all my friends and their kindness! Thank you everyone for your support and help.

Let see what else...Jeff's Uncle Al flew to Habersham and picked up Jeff and the big boys. They flew back to Pickens and then drove our new to us Durango back. This was No-Bo's first time flying. I think he really enjoyed. The ride took about 20 min by plane...it is 1 hour 15 minutes when we drive.



I have not taken many pictures the last few weeks. No time really to think about it. I did however happen to catch the Blue Man Group running wild upstairs one morning last week. The little ones decided to take on an art project the other morning after they woke up before they came downstairs. Did I mention that the upstairs has carpet! They found a bottle of craft paint and started creating masterpieces. What a mess! I was so furious with them. This was the first time that they have gotten into big time trouble! I worked on the carpet for over and hour while they kept saying "I want something my eat" or "I'm hungry mommy". It really put a damper on my day.


As you can see nothing too exciting going on, but still a whole lot happening!

*** Congratulations to Ron (Jeff's cousin) and Kristen on their new (big) baby boy. You did a great job growing that baby Kristen. I can't wait to meet sweet baby Aidan.

Swamped

Is she not the cutest Spiderman you have ever seen???!!! I love it!

I am still here! I have just been crazy busy this past week. This was my first full week with Jeff gone and me being a single mom! Yuck! I don't like it. Evenings are the hardest because I get home from soccer practice usually around 6:15 and then I have to fix supper, help with homework, bathe the kids, and get them into bed. We had a few late nights this week getting bed (9pm instead of 8). After bed I still have to come downstairs and clean the kitchen. It doesn't run as smoothly as it reads either. You know this kids are tired and hungry, want all my attention, bored. It's the evening horror hour most moms are familiar with. On top of this I am in full force with my consignment sale which is next weekend. I have so much stuff to do to get ready for it. I have barely had a chance to get my things priced. Not to mention the fact that I am a big chicken and hate staying by myself!

This picture will make you smile after that depressing post! This boy is going to break my heart!

Okay enough whining from me...I sound worse than the kids. I did survive a week alone. Yea. I have my kids all to myself. Yea. I get to go coach the sport I love to play. Yea. I have over 100 consignors this time - my biggest to date. Yea. I am going to get rid of a bunch of things and make lots of money. Yea!!!!!!!


We are excited about the move, and this is all worth it. I am also very proud of Jeff and all that he does. He is such a wonderful man and everybody love him...especially me. He is the best father and an awesome husband, and the only reason that I can do all this. He is the one that has to spend all week alone without all the little kisses and hugs from the kids and home cooked meals, and sleeping in his own bed. He is the one who has to pack and unpack every weekend - yuck.

Crossfit games

Gosh, how/why does time go by so quickly when I need more of it? I really need more hours in the day to get everything done! We went to Huntsville this past weekend so that Jeff and his brother (Jon) could participate in the Crossfit games (and of course to also visit with family). I am not sure why they call them games...aren't games supposed to be fun? They worked very hard and did well. Jeff likes to think that he came in first in his age group! They competed on Sat. and Sun.

Jeff is in the red and Jon is behind him in the tan. They are doing Burpee's . In this round of competition, they had 6 different exercises/lifts/jumps or whatever you call them. I think they had to do 30 of each for time.

This is what they looked like after they finished. It is like nothing else you see. Everyone works so hard that they can't not stand up after they finish.


Here is just a short video of some of the things they had to do.

I got to visit with a friend from high school this weekend too. It was great to see Jenn again and catch up. I think it has been almost 19 years!!! Oops that gives my age away doesn't it?? I was a child prodigy (did I spell that right?). Since I went to school in Germany, I don't see many of my high school friends, so this is a bigger deal than to most!


The kids got to play at this awesome park. The weather was gorgeous. This picture doesn't show half of the park (Kids Space). I even have fun coming here.

A week is gone already

Has it really been a week since my last post...again I am sorry to all my blog followers (ha, ha). I can tell you that the reason that I have not posted was not for lack of anything to post. Things are so incredibly busy right now. There is just way more that needs to be done each day than I have time for. I am really enjoying coaching soccer again. It is a nice outlet for me, and was a great idea before Jeff decided to get a new job out of state. Starting next week I'll be on my own taking care of four kids, coaching soccer, getting ready for my consignment sale, and trying to get our house ready to put on the market. Not at all stressed about any of it!!!!!

Anyway here are a few things we have been up to this last week. I have to start with this ever so cute video of J.J. Check out the talent this kid has! Oh it just makes me laugh. Look how he gets serious and raises his eyebrow. I could just plant kisses all over him!




Happy 1st Birthday to Lynnlee. This is Jeff's brother's little girl, and she is cute as a button. She is so sweet and has such a cute, friendly personality. We traveled to Pickens to help celebrate her B'day this past weekend.

Pipi enjoyed spending time with her Papa. She sure does love her Papa time!

These are my new coaching kicks. I thought that I needed a new pair since it has been 8 years!

We have had a few gorgeous teaser days, so we decided to head to the park. The kids had a great time, and I loved just being outside and feeling the warm sun again. I am so ready for spring...bring it on!


We also walked the stairs at Tallulah Gorge this weekend. I have pictures, but I can't get them off of L.C.'s camera right now. I will add them when I figure it out. It is too late for that right now. Pip and Squeak walked the entire thing. This was the first time that we did not carry them in the backpacks. This was also the first time in a long time that I wasn't breathing hard because I wasn't carrying Pip. They walked all the way down and back up plus around the rim. It is amazing how their little legs carry them! Needless to say they took a great nap.

I guess I will sign off now since this post is a mile long and you are probably tired of reading. I will try to do better, although I can't promise anything because we are off to Huntsville for the long weekend starting tomorrow.

The Princess bed!

This is the Princess!

This is the bed!!

That is almost bigger that she is!!

Doesn't she look so tiny. This weekend Pipi finally got to sleep in her Princess bed (thanks again to Papa for making side rails that match perfectly and painting it, and then the home delivery). She has been so excited about sleeping in this bed. Of course, I have been sad about taking down the cribs...this means that we don't have babies anymore. We have had a crib up for the last 8 years!!! I guess we will move on with big kids, but I will sure miss that baby stage. I am counting on my younger sisters for my baby fix!

Big News!!!

For those of you who have not already heard the news first of all let me start by saying, No, we are not having another baby (you hear that sister...don't spread those rumors). The news is that Jeff has been offered a job coaching football at Presbyterian College! This is where we lived before we moved to Georgia. He had coached there for about 7 years before getting into high school coaching. We are excited, nervous, happy, sad, and all those other emotions that go along with uprooting your family and moving to another state. Jeff is supper excited about getting back into college coaching especially after taking this past year off. He starts in a couple of weeks, but we will not move down there until the end of the school year. It will suck during the week being a single mom, but we will make it work. Just pray that our house sells (any takers???)! Everything has fallen into place so far, so it really does feel like the right thing.

Look for the Blue Hose to take on Clemson in 2010 in Death Valley (a brutal beating at best)!

Go Blue Hose!!!!!

Catching up

Well as you can tell I have gotten behind in the blogging world, and I am sorry to all of my followers (since I have so many)! Here is the run down on what's been happenin'.



We got to spend the afternoon Saturday celebrating this boys 5th Birthday (my Nephew).

At Monkey Joe's in Columbus, GA. The super fast slide was a hit with everyone!

Dad was home for 2 weeks from Iraq, so we were able to spend some time with him on Sat. and they came and stayed with us Monday. The next time we will see him is in May for Jamie's wedding, so it won't be too long from now.

Mom and Dad also got to spend the day celebrating with us which happened to be their 41st Anniversary...life gets so exciting the longer you are married...Happy Anniversary you two love birds!!

There is still child labor going on!

Just to make you smile

Isn't this smile contagious??!!!

Oh that girl...

...what are we going to do? She is something else. I think by far the most challenging of all 4 so far. She is so dang cute though, and lately she has been making all these funny faces to get me to laugh. She likes to do it when she is in bed and I am singing her a song (probably the singing causing the faces). This has been a real cute age with the twins. They are so precious to watch together. Oh and listening to their conversations is a hoot.

Here are some of the things that Pipi says right now that are just too cute:
** I wuv you (obviously I love you, but so cute to hear her say this way)

** Oilet taper (this one cracks me up every time...it is toilet paper)

** dinger, dinger (she made this up on her own one day, and uses it in many ways. One day she was calling JJ a bad boy and I told her that wasn't nice and not to say it. She looked at me and said " I won't say it anymore, but he is a dinger, dinger!")

** Up me please (no, this is not profane talk, this means she wants me to hold her)

** Mr. Gibby (this is the guy who worked on our Volvo, and for some reason she likes to say his name in a funny way. Sometimes she even says "I'm Mr. Gibby" or "Mr. Gibby has a girlfriend". this is probably one of those things you have to hear her say to truly appreciate the funny in it!

** Your welcome (yes she is polite, but she says this all the time. Anytime you compliment her on something she has done she says "your welcome". I do think that a lot of people forget to say this, but she is over board)

** I want something my drink ( translation - can I have a drink. She could say this the right way, but has gotten stuck saying it this way).

Okay, one last thing while I'm on a roll tonight about my sweet girl. Today we were driving and here was the conversation that we had:

Pipi: Mommy

Me: Yes

Pipi: You know what?

Me: What?

Pipi: Guess what?

Me: What is it?

Pipi: I wuv you!

** Could you ask for anything more!!!!!

Count your blessings!

Everyone is fine, but this is what is left of Jeff's Aunt and Uncles house (Jeff told me that I needed to start my sentences with everyone is fine next time I deliver bad news to him)! It caught on fire Sat. night, and there was nothing they could do to save it. They both have been amazingly strong and positive, calming, and a true inspiration to those around them. Although they lost everything which is horrible, what matters most is that Al and Janet are still with us. For this we are very thankful!

You never think that something like this will happen to you or people you know, but when it does it hits close to home. We are counting our blessings, and this has really opened our eyes to things that we need to do if something unthinkable like this were to happen to our family. Check your smoke alarms, add new ones, and get important documents in order and a safe place.

**On a lighter note...About the missing socks...I found 12 matches, but I added 8 singles. Two steps forward and one step back.

**Also I started soccer practice (tryouts) today with the high school. Oh my gosh FREEZING! I am still thawing out my toes. I am excited about getting back into the game.

A day in the life of us

This is just a glimpse of what a typical day at home is like for us.

I promise they actually love unloading the dishwasher, and this is not slave labor. They actually fight over which one gets to do the silverware. This day is was J.J.'s, but you see his faithful assistant making sure he is doing it correctly!

Since we painted at the library the other day they kept asking to do it again at home.

We went from painting pictures to painting toes.

One of my favorite times of the day...nap time!!!

They all decided to take a bubble bath in our jacuzzi tub, so we got tons of bubbles. The little ones could barely sit because they were so high. I am including a video so you can get the true magnitude of the evening bath.

2 Birthdays and now this...

I don't think that I can handle all my babies growing up so quickly. J.J. has moved to his "big boy" bed! He has been so excited about sleeping in this bed, and has worked hard potty training so he could. We have had it ready for a while now, but I just have not been ready to move him. Lately though he has been climbing out of his crib with no problems (so far), so I guess it is time. He is also excited about sharing a room with his big brothers. Pipi is in her crib for now until we get her princess bed. She is taking it better than I thought sleeping alone. They have slept together from the time they were...well I guess conceived! She did say "If J.J. talks he has to get back in his crib." I guess I will have a post in the near future about Pipi moving up!

A matching game

Socks, socks, socks!!! Okay 1st try to guess how many socks there are here? I counted 65 earlier today, but that was before I added a few more! NONE of these have matches! The kids and I spent the morning trying to find matches for all of their socks. I know some of these socks look similar, but trust me they are a different size, or color, or brand. I just need to know what happens to all of their socks. The main reason I hate washing our white clothes is because of the socks and having to match them. Luckily Jeff and I pin ours together...so we never know if we are missing socks. I have many loads of laundry waiting on me, so who knows maybe I will find the matches...or even more without... This is ridiculous! Any ideas???????

Happy Birthday my Love!

On this day 38 years ago my sweet husband was born. So here is a tribute to my wonderful man...



...38 reasons why I love you (but not limited to these)...



38. You love to say that you are almost 40, and have since you turned... what...I don't know maybe 30!

37. That you love telling the story of chasing the coke down the river in Germany...and you actually got it. Or the turkey hitting your truck story

36. You could care less what the house looks like

35. You are a really good gift giver

34. Watching you with our little girl and seeing that look of love in your eye, and believing that she is treated just the same as the rest

33. You love to be in front of people and entertain

32. The way you hug me a squeeze me tight



31. I love that you are just a vanilla man

30. I love that (even though I don't quite agree) that you have to tell people that I was 45 minutes late to our first date...

29. ...and that you waited in the parking lot instead of leaving

28. I love that you help to get me places on time

27. I love that you always give me "just a sip" of whatever you are drinking

26. I love your good looks

25. I love your grilled cheese sandwiches...

24. ...that you will give me the center bite of yours

23. I love to hear you sing

22. I love watching you play football and wrestle with the kids

21. I love that you are so stubborn...but will admit when you are wrong

20. I love that you will unload the dishwasher so I don't have to

19. That you went to all the doctors visits with all the pregnancies, and you try not to miss the kids appointments now

18. I love that you make all my signs for my consignment sale...

17. ...and that you can handle being a single Dad during it

16. You make me smoothies in the morning

15. First thing you do when you get home, and the last thing you do before you leave is kiss me!

14. Mt. Dew is your beverage of choice

13. You are such a family man



12. I love that you will put bows and pig tails in Pipi's hair


11. That you gave up coaching just to spend more time with us...and that you are perfectly okay without it

10. That you give me potted flowers for our anniversary that I can see come to life again each year

9. You let me have "my time away days" whenever I need them and never question why

8. I love that you will take all 4 kids hiking and to the movies all in the same day...

7. ...and take pictures and post them on the blog


6. You don't "have to" watch football on T.V.

5. You really don't care what I fix for dinner, and you will eat whatever we have

4. I love that you know exactly when to take the kids "out" for an hour or so

3. Your ever so cute view from the rear

2. That you will warm up my side of the bed when you get in before me

1. That you are still madly in love with me

Happy New Year!

We started off this new year doing everything completely nontraditional...we were asleep before midnight, didn't eat our new years meal, and made no new year resolutions. Just for a little change up! We have had a great Christmas holiday visiting family most of the time. The kids were happy to be home today and played all day with new stuff.

Don't you love our new blog title picture...I have to give a shout out to my sister at linden tree photography She does awesome work. I will be happy if all she ever gives me are pictures that she takes of our family!

I am too tired to go downstairs and get my camera and then wait to download the pictures so I can put one on here, so I am using another of hers!

Please don't grow up!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET BOY!!!

Today is my first baby's Birthday! He is 8 years old and I can't believe it. Can't he just stay my little boy who still sleeps with blueberry?(I went to tuck him in and saw blueberry so I couldn't resist a picture) People always say time goes by so quickly with your little ones, and I am quickly beginning to believe them. Just to think how quickly the last eight years have gone by... and in eight more he will be in high school, driving, have a girlfriend, and want nothing to do with his parents...I hate to think about it!!! Hopefully he will stay the sweet little angel that he is. I could not ask for a better child!

This morning this precious boy came and cuddled with me in bed, and I told him the story about the day he was born. Two funny things...we had just gotten to movies and ordered popcorn when I realized my water broke...he was the only one who didn't ask if we got our money back when I told the story! The other (now) funny was right after I had this guy I was still in a lot of pain. Jeff asked me how we were spelling his middle name. I was in no mood to discuss, so I said "I don't care what you name him...just leave me alone!" He had is chance right then to use any name!!!!

Tonight we went to eat Mexican (His choice of course). After dinner they brought out this dessert and sang Happy Birthday (I guess, it was all in Spanish). Then this is what they do...

The man behind him puts is face in it!!! Last year he got to wear the Sombrero too.