Christmas Season 2008

Here are some pics of the little Sweethearts as they await the arrival of Santa at the end of the month....

Our Girls

Sweetheart #3 trying to decide to smile or not!

Sweetheart #4 looking sassy with her fur collar and cuffs!

Sweetheart #1 wearing his Christmas PJ's.

Graduation went well and we are so lucky that we had so much family join us for this great celebration. I still think that Sweetheart #1 can't believe he did it....onto to Grad School!

Thanksgiving Week

We made to Lawrence!

Ten hours later (and not all that bad), we pulled into Larryville to share the week with family and friends. There are so many things to be thankful this year:

• January: A New Year and the Jayhawks winning the Orange Bowl (put Sweetheart #1 in a good mood).

• February: The ability to work from home while 8 months pregnant and not having to venture out in the snow.

• March: The arrival of Mema to take care of me during my last days!!! AND, the arrival of Sweethearts #4 and #5. Very healthy I might add.

• April: Sweetheart #2 turned 5 and we survived the party (with 6 week girls attending???). Our 7 year anniversary and the sale of our house (thank you God). Meeting AJ's baseball team "The Rockhounds".

• May: Papa's birthday, the twins Baptism and visits from family and friends.

• June: Returning to work (I think this is a blessing...) and moving into our new house with the help of Mema, Papa and Uncle John.

• July: The Jimmy Buffet Concert, meeting Diane and Bill and having them watch the girls.

• August: Kindergarten and Nana's visit to watching the girls.

• September: Turning 37 and eating lunch at American Girl.

• October: Visit from Mema and Papa.

• November: Being able to travel to Lawrence for a whole WEEK!

• December: Sweetheart #1's Graduation from college.

October Recap

Obviously I didn't get much blogging done during the month of October, therefore I'll do a recap of our very busy month!

Oct 3: Enjoyed our first WPS event with Sweetheart #2 at The Barn. It was a fun evening and a good time watching the boys become buddies. Not a great picture, but you get the idea. The girls were in the hoe down spirit with their pink bandanas.

Oct 12: Watched a friend run in the Chicago Marathon. Always a good time and inspiring to see 35, 000 people of all ages running...there is hope that I might do a half marathon one day.

Oct 17-20: Mema and Papa came for a visit via the Train (fun way to travel). Stayed close to home and had a comfortable weekend hanging out and got the Sweathearts pictures taken (Thank you Mema for the help)!!! Also, the burn on my arm from St*rb*cks Coffee has healed nicely.......

Oct 23-25: Sweetheart #1 and #2 went on their first campout and left the girls at home. So exciting to watch them get ready for fishing, archery, hiking, climbing, etc. Both came home pretty exhausted. The girls and I enjoyed our day in the city with Mr. Uncle.

Oct 31: HALLOWEEN was with an Army Guy and 2 Witches. We had a school parade, trick or treating and a party next door! Lots of fun for my favorite holiday!

November is turning out to be a busy month too........will try to do more than one recap! Better count our Blessings!

SOXtober it is!

It would really be something if the Sox's won the World Series this year. I definitely would have to say that Sweethearts #3 & #4 bring good karma to our sporting household. The win at the Orange Bowl, the NCAA Basketball Championship and a World Series all this year....it would be a dream!

Week End

It was a nice weekend.

Friday night dinner with a girl friend and then an evening alone to watch "Sex in the City" (a little long, but fun to watch). Sweetheart #1 was at the game.

Saturday was laundry day and it felt good to get IT DONE! (Spent 6 hours on Friday cleaning out Sweetheart #3 & #4's closet...they have a lot of clothes!!!

Sunday was a morning with church and then lunch with Uncle John. Kids in bed by 7 (I feel asleep from 7-7:30) and now have my second wind. However, my goal is to be in bed by 10PM and get a GOOD NIGHT'S sleep.

A new week begins........

Bedtime

Bedtime---it's bittersweet. I'm always happy when the Sweethearts go down fairly easy (usually all by 8PM), however I'm a little lonely sitting here by myself. I miss the three little ones because last night we had Sweetheart #2's Kindergarten Open House and we didn't get any time with the girls. Tonight they're exhausted and were in bed by 7:30. Tomorrow is my Friday, so tomorrow night won't be so rushed.

Sunday, Sunday

Okay, blogging is a little bit harder than I thought! (I think I'm going to be able to post and then something comes up and the time gets away from me). I may have to make it a weekly blog with what's been happing with the Sweethearts...we'll see. This week's been kind of CRAZY!

Exciting times this week:

• Thankgoodness the water in our basement was only a trickle. We were able to contain it with towels and nothing was lost. Others in our neighborhood weren't so lucky...I felt so bad for them.

• Sweetheart #1 had a good time at the Baseball Commissioners meeting. I'm proud of him for going out and doing something new; however Baseball is old hat to him!

• We had a great time with the S******'s on Friday night. This place is starting to feel like home.

• Sweethearts 3 & 4 had their first experience at American Girl Place and it was way FUN! I was skeptical at first, but it was really nice and so cute! Even at 6 months they came home exhausted. I'm sure we'll be back and only hope that maybe our little niece can join us!

• Family was in this weekend and it was really nice. We had a Great Aunt and a 3rd cousin as newcomers to our house and it was memoriable. I'm glad they came.

• Sweetheart 2 played soccer and enjoyed it the whole time.

• I'm stressed out over things at work, however posting to this blog seems to help. The even better part is that Sweetheart #1 has been so helpful with the kids today and has supported me working in the downstairs office. God bless him.

Kindergarten

Well, he made it! And I did too!

It was a great first day (I didn't think 12:55PM as ever going to get here)! Sweetheart #2 was so excited and proud as he got off the bus and made his way to the classroom (leaving me in the dust....), but I'd have it no other way. His teacher is lovely and I think a great fit for our little guy (I've heard she runs a tight ship) and he even wanted to go back for Day #2. Keep your fingers crossed that he enjoys the school year and does well. It's a learning experience for all of us....we had homework tonight--it was the easy stuff!

Bittersweet

Today was great. I enjoyed the afternoon with my boys and I missed my girls. We went with some friends who were really fun to be with and the Sox won in the 10th inning--what more could a girl ask for! (Thank you God for the gifts you have given me). However, ever since I've gotten home, I've become very teary as we get ready for Sweetheart #2 to head off to Kindergarten on Tuesday. I am so proud of my little boy turning into a school age boy, but am mourning the end of an era. He'll do great on Tuesday....I'm worried about me!

Figuring It Out

I've spent quite a bit of time figuring this out and feel like I still have so much to learn! Bear with me....

The house is quiet (4 Sweethearts in bed) and I'm supposed to be working (on work) - but this is sooo much more fun! We have a busy day planned tomorrow. Sweetheart #1 is taking Sweetheart #2 and myself to the baseball game. We've been doing this for 6 summers now....it's one of my favorite days of the year! Next year we'll take Sweethearts #3 & #4 with us.....but tomorrow I'll savor the summer tradition with my boys. Go Sox!

Day #1

Umm...not sure where to start, but have a feeling this is going to be a great experience!