Monthly update

So my baby girl turns 16 today. She is flying to visit her aunt and cousins in July. I couldn't wait and told her about it last night. She was properly excited by it, I got cool mom points and everything. Wow. I am not sure how I am feeling about this. I am so excited for her to be experiencing all the greatness this time of her life has to offer. And I am soooo thankful that she isn't nearly as extroverted as I was at that age. I couldn't handle half the stuff I pulled on my mom. Of course, I did it, so I would recognize it and be able to squash it. Right? I am contemplating these things because 411 is following very closely and she will be here in 6 years. I know she will make up for everything that Chick isn't doing. Bubba is stretching out, starting to get his growth on a little at a time. His orneriness is in full steam ahead mode though. Mr is in full glory this summer, he gets to spend most of his days with his cohort in crime, Riles. Those two kill me, I am really grateful that Aunt Wendy loves him so much that she lets him hang out. We are going to take Mike's twins out tomorrow. For those of you that aren't on facebook, his twins are the new boat and new truck he had to get to haul said boat. We have been trying to go out on the lake for the last two weeks but mother nature being the bitch she is, we haven't been able to go. So tomorrow we are going. I am packing a picnic and getting some sun, sounds heavenly. Next week we are going to see BEB for the 4th. I don't know who is more excited, Mike or Zach. We are both ready for some time away from the day to day routine. I am making a quilt for his neighbor and taking it with us to save on postage. That makes sense right, drive 10 hours to save $10 postage? I know, just made me giggle when I thought about it. I got to stressing a little when I made this brilliant decision, I only had 2 weeks to get it done. So I cut it all out, got all the flags made, got the ribbons attached and clipped and all the backing squares. Then I realized that they were all the wrong size and had to recut it all. Thankfully the flags were the right size. So I am on a schedule now, I have to get one row done every night and then I will have to clip it on the way to Tennessee. That should make Mike's truck nice and decorated by the time we get there :)

Amazing!

I know, I am amazed at remembering to update almost as much as you are amazed that I am updating. Tis the season for graduates. This year, it is striking me rather harshly as some of the kids graduating are related to me. And I used to change their diapers. Ok, maybe not literally but I was certainly old enough to. So, there are four of them between this weekend and last weekend. Wow. Then I get to thinking about how Chick is going to be a junior in high school. When did that happen? I know, when I wasn't looking.
Speaking of Chick, she got her learners permit. She is doing a great job of driving, gets a little nervous when semi's pass her but that is just a confidence thing. She also got 1st place in an art show at school. It is a huge paper mache bug she named Quasimodo. I will try to get some pictures up later.
Bubba is doing his best not to do anything this last week of school. There are 5 days left, I hope he can hang in there for it :)
411 is having her year end recital for dance class next week. She is so excited, she gets to sing too so she can hardly contain herself.
Mister is loving having roads to ride his bike on. He has made a new bestest best friend that he can hang out with and has had the other half of double trouble spend the night.
We went to the heart walk along the river in Omaha last weekend in memory of our niece, Hadleigh. It was pretty bittersweet to see all the people that turned out is support of her. The team raised about $800 which I didn't think was too bad.
We are getting ready for camping season, next weekend, bring it on! Mike is so antsy, even Chelle is ready to go!! I am toiling away at my job, I have discovered I am pretty good at this leasing stuff. It has almost been a whole year, it doesn't seem like it.
The kids are getting ready to transfer to their new school next year. The younger ones are excited, Chick not so much. She would rather stay put, I think it would be very good for her to meet new people and interacts with other kids her age that can give her a fresh start socially. We'll see.

ok, so I have been seriously slacking. I am going to attribute that to moving. Yeah, that's it. We bought a home in an even smaller town but with almost twice the space. Go figure. All of the kids will have their own room finally so that is a plus. I will actually have my own sewing room too. FABULOUS!! I received a promotion at work, get to be legitimate now. Mikey has been taking over alot more of the day to day stuff, its not so easy to do it all when you are getting home at 6:30 or 7 at night. The kids are going to have to transfer schools next fall, they aren't especially groovin' on that but aren't exactly heart broken either. I have been mostly just hanging out, working and trying to learn to not share my opinion unless someone asks for it. That is a hard one for me. It's getting better though. We had the family Easter get together last weekend, that was so fun. My wonderful new camera is in a box, dammit. Wendy got some good ones so hopefully she will share. The heart walk is coming up again. This year we are ordering long sleeved shirts, it was chilly last year. 411 got to do the cookie sales again this year. Unfortunately, that is about all she gets to do. I am hoping that her new school will bring a new girl scout troop that is a little more organized. She is doing dance so there will be a recital again this spring, I just got the email to the link of the pictures from last year. Nothing like being on top of it. Apparently my friend Jen graduated from nursing school, WAY TO GO!! And on another facebook connection moment, I found one of my bestest friends I grew up with. I was amazed at how much she hadn't changed. She is one of those people that just didn't change very much, I am soo envious. Funny thing, her name is Brandy and she has 4 kids now too. I was thinking, I graduated 18 years ago. That means in 2 years there will be reunions for 20 years. Where in the hell did the time go?

What's been happening

We made a quick trip to Tennessee, dropped off a couple gifts, had a great time!
















This is the quilt I made for BEB. His neighbor ordered one for himself!






















Here is how the guys spent their time together, this and drinking beer.

















Chick went to the winter ball at school. I think next time, I am going to have to plan on more then one day dress shopping, I can't do the 10 hour marathon shoping anymore. I get too crabby.

And working. That is what I have been up to. Not really anything terribly exciting. I might have some good news soon but I don't want to jinx it.

2010

Ok, I guess after a month I should probably update. Been a quiet year so far, I do have a new niece, McKynlee Breeann. She was born January 2nd and has the honor of being the first baby born in our county. She was soo tiny (4 lbs 14 oz) and a little early. She wasn't supposed to be here till February 21st but she wanted to make a dramatic entrance I guess. Kinda like her mama (wink wink).
We just got back from a quick dash to Tennessee where our BEB let us buy his car that he doesn't need anymore. I appreciate it greatly and so does Mikey; he can have his baby back. He went to work an hour early this morning because he was so anxious to drive it. It had nothing to do with the extra work from this weekend that he said it did, I know it was because he missed his baby.
The kids are doing well, I did find out that Bubba has striations on his esophagus and can not have dairy products at all till his next allergist appointment. Poor Chelle watched my kids this weekend and couldn't give Mr anything Peanut or Bubba anything Dairy. She was such a good sport about it.
I have been working full time days, which lends to the explanation of why I am not updating. Ok, not really but it sounded good. :)
411 is in full Girl Scout Cookie selling mode. I just adore it. NOT
We are trying to buy a different house, we decided that the one we are in will not work for us any longer. It is just not practical for our family. Wish us luck that everything goes through. I was surprised to hear how hard it is to get approval nowadays; I thought everyone was so upset because no one was buying. Now that we are trying to, no one is lending. Kinda creates a circle, right?
That's about all, I have to get stuff ready to pack. ahhhhhh, I love being a grown up!

What an end to the year

I am sitting here listening to the police scanner go off telling the local rescue squad where to go and that they will have a snow plow headed that direction to help them get where they are going. Looking out my window, there is maybe 3-4 inches on the ground in my driveway. I am told this is because we live out in the open, the wind has blown most of our accumulation away from us, in town there is 18 inches. In the last 2 days we have gotten that much, preceded by freezing rain and sleet. In short, a mess. We stayed home (not that we could go anywhere anyway) for Christmas, just our little clan. I made my very first prime rib roast, twice baked potatoes, asparagus and cracked out cheesecake. We sat as a family and ate. It is so easy to forget to do simple things like that. The kids spent all day playing with their new stuff and Mike & I were totally lazy. It is killing him today though, he has gone to town twice, burned the trash, and is trying to find a shovel to scoop out the driveway. Chick and 411 have gone through their clothes, getting rid of all the too small and just don't likes. And I am going to go make chicken and dumplings.... Something with a certain stick-to-your-ribs quality!a> In the meantime, here are a few pictures of recent festivities.

The Great Tree adventure '09

We decided this year we would go cut down our own Christmas tree thanks to a leaky basement ruining the fake one (lil blessing in disguise!) So we loaded up our family and Chelles and went to the tree farm. Didn't put two and two together that a foot of snow 4 days earlier would probably still be on the ground....

















Mr gave up and wanted Mike to carry him. I am surprised this picture turned out ok, I was laughing so hard. Poor little guy was up to his chest in some spots.
















So we found one that we liked and gathered everyone up to take a picture....

Then we changed our minds and Mr refused to do anything but be carried.

The pre-cut trees at the house were so much easier to get to and transport!!

There was this really cool old church I HAD to get pictures of. It always makes me a little sad when I see old buildings just rotting away like this but it made an awesome backdrop!

Coming soon: pictures of the Christmas program '09!