Party

Happy Birthday Maiya

and Welcome Summer!

Apologies...

I know, I know - I have been blog slacking - but we have a lot going on:
So a few updates - The paperwork for the move all seems to be going great - we got the inspection done on the house in TX and everything looks good. We are done with all of our inspections on the house here and that went fine.
Benjamin finished Kindergarten on Friday - no big "graduation" but Mom and Dad took him to his favorite restaurant Red Robin that night to celebrate! His report card was solid with 3 "outstandings" in Math!
Kyle's Mom and Gram got here Saturday for the week and Kyle has taken some time off - so we are going to enjoy a mini-vacation before the big move.
Be back in a week or so!

What a week!

There is so much should I use bullet points? Went to see my mom over the weekend - van broke down - stayed with Aunt Beth until Tuesday while the mechanic worked on it, he said "I'd go trade it in right now your transmission is going" - I hoped he was just being melodramatic... Wednesday take the van to get the transmission serviced hoping to ward off evil spirits and buy us some time, but alas to no avail - transmission needed a full overhaul - I swear as he swiped our once paid off credit card I heard the theme song to "Welcome back Cotter" playing welcoming us back into debt -- Its like my purse just doesn't swing right if we aren't in debt! And that is not all - My Aunt's car broke down tonight, My Mom is still not feeling good and I think feeling the fibers of sanity unravel - being on a roller coaster of health for this long - she's ready for a break, Kyle and Meg's flight is delayed in Philly, and, Maiya has been suffering with I think quite possibly the worlds worst case of constipation - I can only take so much of her gripping my legs and screaming - its terrible!
But this all leads me to the silver lining:


We got an offer accepted on this house in Texas !! Kyle was a great house hunter, although it got tiring and we were bummed when one offer on another fell through - I won't call it our house yet - for one thing there is tons of paperwork left to do - and once we're there tons more redecorating to do! Its a great house 4 bedrooms and 3 living areas, but I'll spare you the inside pics - just think wallpaper and burgundy walls.
We are taking time to count our blessings - We have had the short end of the stick house wise for a long time - We can already see ourselves loving this place! And there is lots of room so we expect company!

Preschool Graduation

Pics...

"Thanks for the tent Grandma - now take us camping Daddy!"

Blissful slumber

Weekend at Nana's

The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.

~Thomas Campbell

Someone needs a nap!

Summer food cont.

"Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did."

William Butler

(1535-1618)

How to eat a strawberry when you don't have any front teeth.

Is that strawberry shortcake?

"More please!"

The neighbor and I took the kids to go pick strawberries.

YUMMMMM

I think I've got about 8 pounds and they are DELICIOUS. Feel free to stop by if you have a craving!

Smiley Face Watermelon

"When one has tasted watermelon he knows what the angels eat."
-Mark Twain

twos

So I have this weird fascination with or should I say obsession about my lucky number... 2 and to fuel my fire today is the 22nd and... WE HAVE ACCEPTED AN OFFER on the house... YAYYYY one of many hard parts is done. We got over what we were asking with no contingencies and they have agreed to close on the day we chose: July 11th.
I still can't imagine pulling away and saying goodbyes but for now I am happy this part went smooth and barring any problems I don't have to keep the house "show" ready anymore - not an easy task with 3 kids.
We also got our approval for the mortgage on the new house and that went smoothly too. It almost makes me worry when the snags are going to hit - is this the calm before the storm? Oh well I'll buy worry later, for tonight I say...
Hip, hip, hooray!

What is wrong with this picture?

And so it begins...

Lone Star State

This will be a relatively uneventful blog now because most of you already know. We are moving to Texas - somewhere in the Plano area which is just north of Dallas. It has been excruciating not being able to blog. Kyle was promoted to Product Manager, a much better position within the company and career track in general. We have known for about three weeks now that this was pretty much a done deal but it was just made official today. I didn't want to prematurely blog and have one of Kyle's coworkers be unofficially informed. No need to risk Kyle getting dooced* because of me.
We have been feverishly getting the house ready to sell. We have not really had time to let it all sink in. That's not to say we haven't been overly discussing it, looking at realty websites non stop, and trying to plan the unplanable (sp?).
The kids seem to have taken the news well. Benjamin was mostly concerned that we not leave before his birthday party. Ella wanted to make sure all our family would know where our new house is going to be and that there is gymnastics in Teckis.
Can you describe the emotions when a big move looms ahead?? Excitement, fear, sorrow over leaving family, confusion, high hopes for the new job, dread over goodbyes, etc. For now we focus on the tough job of selling this house. If there is real estate fairy dust send some our way!!

*dooced: fired because of content on your weblog.

Six Year Old Woodstock!

Happy Birthday Benjamin

I was out of town yesterday so I didn't post for Benjamin's actual birthday. I was with my mom who had surgery removing a tumor(no cancer though - thank god) from her parathyroid. She is slowly feeling better and hopefully her symptoms, especially the kidney stones will go away. We love you Grandma!!

Tonight was Benjamin's party at the golf park. Unfortunately we got stuck outside in the mud. I was so worried about it raining during the party I didn't think that the rain the 3 previous days would hurt us too. But the kids by far didn't care and Benjamin had a blast and got some great gifts. On a side note, my baby is in a love triangle heh, heh, heh :)...

I tried something new with his hair and as I was combing it he asked very seriously if Hannah would like it and if she thought he was handsome. Then at the party a couple of kids started teasing him about inviting his friend Ashley from school. They sang the usual Benjamin's got a girlfriend stuff... Once we were home I asked him and he blushed even more than at the party and said "Yeah they destroyed my secret - I like Ashley" Well what about Hannah? " I like her too" I jokingly said you should decide which one should be your girlfriend to which he smartly replied "Why? I like them both!!"

All in all it was a great time despite the mud and teasing ... We were pretty tired after; Ella asked me if I could carry her up the stairs because her legs were "SOOOOO bored"

Blooming personality...

Happy Mother's Day

Finally...

The pictures aren't in the right order but you get the idea - the last one is the one that really matters!
Well it has only taken a year but here are the before and after pictures of our bathroom project. Unfortunately most of you have seen the middle of the project... Yes it took us way too long, but other than the plumber for hooking up the tub's pipes we did everything else ourselves!!

Adult translation

I told Kyle I ran into someone out shopping who wanted to buy some Avon and a few days later I had to deliver their order. As I was leaving I heard Ella say I was going to go give make up to the woman I crashed into... what Ella? You said you "ran into her" mommy, that's not very nice!!

Swim team and blanket sucker!

"I'm on the team now and have the suit to prove it!!"

"Fine if you won't give me a pacifier then I'll just suck on this blanket here!"

Carpool conversations...

Kylie: I am five and going to Kindergarten registration tomorrow!
Benjamin: Well I am five and I am in swim class and I can swim in the deep end - that's the number 10 the deepest!
Kylie: Actually the ocean is the deepest end!
Benjamin: Well I will be six at my next birthday, then seven at the next one, then eight, then nine, then ten and then I will be growed up!
Kylie: I was four and half then five, were you four and a half?
Benjamin: no
Kylie: Then I must have been bigger than you!


After dropping the girls off at preschool...

Benjamin: They made gas expensive (he obviously absorbed some of the conversation on the radio) - The sign says its three and nineteen - do you have three dollars mom?
Me: Yeah in the bank
Benjamin: You should stop giving the bank all of your money!

Emotional Milestone??

So I am a little wierd - I dread the "10 month old" birthday with my babies. Not that I miss being pregnant, but its a little sad to think that they have officially spent more time in the world than in my womb. Even though my preganancies are awful - it is an amazing thing to feel someone kicking and hiccuping inside of you - and every month that passes we are farther away from that.
But no matter it really is just as amazing to see how much Maiya learns and how much she grows each day!!

Report Card

Warning: bragging ahead...

Benjamin got his report card today. The last two have had a couple needs improvement areas - so I was hoping for better and got my wish. Benjamin really is getting the hang of this whole school thing. Not only did he have no areas that need improvement but he got and 'E' in counting to 100 by 1's and telling time!! Its a little confusing though - you would think E means excellent but it actually means 'expanding' (a skill beyond the expectations of their grade level).

I am so glad to see him improving!! - Ms. Mason commented on how much he has matured so far this year. Its a nice feeling to think that you may be doing something right every now and then.

Now one issue I am open to suggestions about - How do you teach the value of a nickel and dime? It really throws Benjamin for a loop that the dime is smaller but worth more.

Avon Order going in tomorrow!!

Easter at Nana's

Happy Easter

Cookie?

Kyle made some really good cookies the other night - "thumbprint cookies" - rolled in almonds with a Hershey kiss in the middle.
A few minutes ago Benjamin came upstairs with chocolate all in his teeth and almonds stuck to his lips --
"May I please have a cookie?"
"What did you just eat Benjamin?"
"ummmmmmmmmmmm, ummm, a (long pause) cookie."
"Don't you think your order is wrong -- you forgot to ask FIRST!!"
"Oh Sorry..." as he runs off...

Fight

CHEESE!!

We're loving the Easter baskets Aunt Beth!!
My cool new suit from Grandma!!

Long time no blog...
The girls and I are back from being with my mom during her kidney-stone surgery. A BIG thanks to Ryann and Kristi for helping with the kids!! Everything went real smoothly -- I think even Mom would agree. She seems to be heading for a full recovery; let's just hope those little boogers don't show up again!!
Benjamin really missed us - but I think he missed Maiya the most - she has been getting round the clock kisses and attention from him!
Now Ella on the other hand; they were thrilled to be back together -- but it didn't last too long -- they were sent to naptime today for a big fight that prematurely woke Maiya from her nap. What they forgot was that Kyle and I were still listening to them through the baby monitor:

Benjamin: Its all your fault
Ella: nuh-uh
Benjamin: I don't like you
Ella: I hate you
Benjamin: I'll hate you more days
Ella: I hate you all the days
Benjamin: I'm older than you
Ella: so - I'm big
Benjamin: no, Mommy says your tiny
Ella: Well Maiya grows faster than you and she's a baby, cuz your only 5 and she's almost 10 already (months/years what's the difference?)
Benjamin: I don't care
Ella: (at the top of her lungs) PEE-PEE HEAD!!
Benjamin: STUPID GIRL
Ella: OHHHHHHHHHHHH, you are in big trouble -- we aren't supposed to call people stupid only things stupid.

It was one of those parenting moments, when you know you need to go stop it, but it was quite entertaining listening to them!

Summer Day??

It feels like summer - only not with the baking temps, its really nice out and the Ice cream truck came by... too bad Kyle and I can't really enjoy it - we are trying to finish the bathroom, we can't wait to be done!!!