Kickin it Old Skool..

I love these pictures.

They are all tagged as favorites.

I found a program that smashes them all together in a nice collage.

This time last year..

Fri, Nov 9, 2007 8:48 PM

Guess what time of year it is?
Time to visit the House of Mouse.
All 12 of us leave tomorrow at 5:00pm.
I'm not even scared this time.
Well, maybe just a little. Aiden is coming with us. He scares me sometimes.
My darling children have decided to bring the streptococcus bacteria with us.. Strep Throat. We are serving Amoxicillin on tap.

Can't you just FEEL the FUN?

According TOURGUIDE DANIELLE we should have great weather and avoid most of the crowds. We have internet access, hopefully I get to put up some pictures.

We won't get home till almost Thanksgiving, so if I'm late.. HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

November 9th 2008

I can't believe it's already been a year.

Last year Aiden was potty training.. This year well he's almost there.

Last year Emily had just lost her first tooth, this year she's lost a few more and the new teeth have already grown.

Last year Nicole was stressing wondering if she made the Cheer Squad, this year she can relax, she made it again.

This is Kurtis's last year.

Next year he will be at Naval Nuke School and I'm pretty sure even Tourguide Danielle would have a hard time convincing Naval Command that Disney is an EDUCATIONAL EXPEREINCE.

Randy had his back surgery last month, but he's doing so well. He may not be able to walk all the parks but will do what he can.

Tomorrow Christopher is having braces put on his teeth. We have to remember to get a "last" picture of that brace-less smile.

We leave on Saturday. All 12 of us. For 11 days.  We all need a vacation. I can't wait.

Letterman

My Sweetie played football. Both High School and College. Apparently to those of us that are clueless.. This is a big deal.

Tonight I learned that all football players were given a letter.  Heard about them, but never really moved in those circles.. if you know what I mean..

So, if I wanted to I could dig out his letterman jacket and proudly display that I am married to a letterman..

Or I could ask him to change his son's poopy pull up.

Decisions.. Decisions...

Happy Friday

What will I do today?

I will put in at least 5 Hours at work.

I will bring the two smallest children to the dentist and hopefuly he will behave. 

I will watch my oldest child practice the same jump 44 thousand times and praise each one.

I will stand outside no less than 23 times with the dog that won't pee.

I will have a date with my husband.

I will have a bottle glass of wine.

 Happy Friday.

Best Friends.. till Emily comes home.

Boy Vs. Dog.

As soon as Emily leaves on the bus the Dog and the Boy start wrestling and chasing each other.

He tries to pin her to the ground : she punches him with her front paws.

They both weigh exactly 40 pounds.

They both have teeth and are not afraid to use them.

She has speed, he has a sword.

And they both have an endless supply of energy. 

The good news for me is they will both sit calmly and quietly for a piece of cheese.

SupaFly Girl Wednesday

This picture was up recently, but it tells the whole Coley story.. In one shot.

There is the Girly-Girl Coley picture at semi-formal last year. I was convinced that she was going to fixate on one aspect of her hair or make-up, declare it unacceptable and end up ruining her night. I was pleasantly surprised when she just went with the flow and ended up looking great and having a ton of fun.

Green-Sweatshirt Cole, is fresh faced no make-up, most likely just out of bed. She patiently looks at the camera and smiles even though as her mother I know she's just doing it to make me happy.

The Band t-shirt with the Black Eyeliner look is up next. I can tell with out looking that she is wearing her Converse sneakers and studded belt. She is conscious of her fashion statement and prepares herself for the eyerolling of her mother when she is dressed in an entirely black outfit. But check out the smile, so happy, it erases any kind of Goth or dark look she was going for.

The last picture was take by Emily. Nicole's Cheer sweatshirt over her head, hair a mess, maybe just got back from running the dog..(if it was me that asked to take her picture she may have given an attitude, but her baby sister asked for a CHEESE and she does it automatically.)

Princess Emily Tuesday

One year ago she was a 3 mornings a week student at Hurney's Preschool. I stressed and worried that her speech would impact her ability to make friends and wondered if she woud fit in. She started school as the only student who did not attend the daycare.  I wish I could have known then what I know now. She made friends without my help, she talked to her teachers without my interperting and this year she started full time school WITHOUT me.

She loves school. Ahh.. the rules and structure. Every day afterschool she sits on the counter and solemly recites EVERY word her teacher uttered during class time. It's very important that she does not catch you laughing, school is a sacred topic and no disrespect will be tolerated, if she suspects that you are dissing school in any way she will glare, toss the ponytail, an then refuse to talk about it for the rest of the day.

Emily knows how things work. I wonder if she will become an enginer. She knows that if she does A then B will happen. Now, here is where she is so freaking smart, if she wants D, she will calculate and maneauver A, B and C to get D. And when she finally does get D, she relished her victory in such a way that you can only laugh and know she is so proud of herself.

Aiden Monday

I miss that pumpkin head with the big blue eyes that loved to snuggle and rock with his mama... 

However.. that Blue Power Ranger has been really good at going to the bathroom on his own.

He calls himself DE-WISH-IS (delicious).

He gently squeezes my cheeks and whispers "eazy cheekies", reminding himself to not be rough with me. 

Every night he asks if in the morning Daddy,Mommy, Emily, Cuddy and Coley can all go fishing for the "sherbet fish". 

He uses sign language with the dog and it cracks him up when she appears to respond.

He is the POLAR opposite of Emily, but they are best friends. He will dress up as a princess for her knowing that she will let him carry a sword.

He will dissolve in a puddle of crocodile tears if he thinks Nicole is sad. On occasion she will pretend to cry so he will console her, I can't blame her, I love his hugs and kisses.

He is quite certain that Daddy is the tallest &  strongest superhero ever to walk the Earth.

(sometimes, I agree).

Happy Daddy

Trick or Treating with the Daddy.

No, he's not in a costume, all his clothes are 4 sizes too big.

He lost about 40 pounds and has been working out.  Show off..

The Princess and her Power Ranger

Halloween 2008

I know, I am risking fate and asking BAD karma to bite me in the behind, but I need to mention it:

MY BABIES ARE SWEET AND WELL BEHAVED CHILDREN!

Aiden has MANY flaws, most stem from the NOT LISTENING, but he is a good boy.

Emily is a bit bossy, but LOVES to be a GOOD LISTENER and loves to be told she is a good girl.

Cole, while not pictured above, tests my patience, but is very sensitive to everyone's feelings..

There it is out for all the world to see.. I think my kids are wonderful.