IT IS PARTY DAY!!

In 3 hours I will leave my house and drop off a big bunch of balloons to be filled with floaty air. Go pick up three large birthday cakes, drinks, ice and order 10 large pizzas. Then I will go pick up the balloons and head to the pool where our friends and family will begin to gather to celebrate the birthdays of our children.

I am expecting around 50 people (adults and kids). After the party, Makayla has a friend coming home with her to spend the night.

Once we get home I will upload the 654,687 pictures that I will no-doubt take and attempt to post them tonight. However, do not send me hate mail if it is tomorrow before I get them on.

They will be worth the wait...I promise!!

Hmmm.....

I have been sitting here looking at this blank screen for a while. There are no words magically appearing on the screen. There is really nothing to talk about tonight. No great pictures to analyze.

I would ask you if you have any questions for me, but since the few readers I do have already know me intimately...so that would be short and a little boring.

I guess I can kind of give you a run down of my day...when put in writing...it can seem kind of interesting, so here goes.

This afternoon, after we had gotten home from picking up Cameron at Pre-K. I fed he and Olivia lunch and put them down for a nap, and they were SLEEPING. My grandmother calls, "Nicole, are the kids asleep?" "um..they are laying down" knowing that she wanted something and that if I told her the truth that she would not tell me what she needed. "Well, Papaw called me and I missed his call, and now I can't reach him, he is bush-hogging and I'm worried about him. Can you take me up to where he is, I don't know for sure where it is" "Sure" I answered, "I'll be right there".

I woke up.........WOKE UP sleeping children, you NEVER wake up sleeping children, but for my mamaw, I will do pretty much anything. Go get her and we head to find papaw. We locate him, healthy and working, he just was calling to tell her that he was ok.................*sigh*

So since we were out, we went to the Peddlers Mall (a local place that people rent booths and sell stuff, basically an on-going in-door yardsale). While we were there, papaw called back, he was done for the day and did not want to drive the tractor home and wanted to know if we would come get him. NO..no..you must walk home!

Of course we will go get him. So back across town we head, when we get almost there, he calls back, I changed my mind, I'm just going to go ahead and take the tractor home. *sigh*

By now it is time to get Makayla from school, and we go do that, and no trip to town with mamaw is complete with out ice cream. So off to Baskin Robins. mmmmmmmmmmm.........

But, normally I do not buy Olivia her own ice cream...you know...because she is TWO (almost). I just get Makayla a large scoop and she shares with Olivia. Mamaw decided that was not fair, and insisted that I get Olivia her own. I did....do you know what kind of mess a two year old makes with an ice cream cone? Eating it un-assisted? In a car? Lets just say she needed a bath when we got home, along with the teddy bear she took with her and her car seat.

So arriving home with three sugared up kids and a sticky baby....I knew any more sleeping would not happen until bed time, I tried to get them to take some down time and watch a movie. However the sugar was running thick through their system, so they ran and chased each other in circles until Makayla had scraped her back, Olivia threw her sippy cup at...and hit Cameron with it......three times. In retaliation he took away her "Bippo" and a screaming fit followed. Bed time never looked so good.

***aaah...quiet***

I'm off to watch Michael Phelps win another gold now! Good night all!

The most patient man on the planet.......

and he is ALL MINE! I do not know what I did right to find him but I did. God gave him to me because nobody else on this planet would put up with me; and then he chose to reproduce with me and make more little people just as demanding as I am!


Of course, I am quite certain that nobody else on this planet would put up with him either, he is not with out fault...or dirty clothes in the floor...God knew what he was doing when he put my highly animated personality with his laid back to-a-fault personality, together.


But that is not the point of this ramble session. No, his easy going-ness (is that a word or did I make it up?) is the point today.


Case in point;

See this adorable little baby...she has climbed into the dog kennel and is having a lot of fun playing. She has been barking like a dog, going in and out of the door for almost 20 minutes. (why didn't I think of a dog kennel before!)





However, playing alone is getting boring, so now she is hollering for her daddy to "GET IN!"



My bossy little clone has now convinced her very tired daddy, who just got home from working nights, to "GET IN"! (never mind the nasty, water filled sand box in the back ground, I promise we don't make them play in it, actually it is now cleaned out)

He sat there patiently while she would come in and say "goooood ruff ruff" and pat him.......

......and then go out, shutting the gate and saying "bye bye ruff ruff".

repeat........

until daddy talked her into letting him out, with the promise of a cookie. Nothing like bribery!

MA is a great daddy, probably the best one I know...not that I am partial or anything.

Birthday pictures...you know you wanna see 'em!

I have been neglecting my blogging responsibilities....for this I hang my head in shame. For all 5 of my readers (yes! I have picked up a new one!) I know that you have been lost, wandering in a field of emptiness, waiting for my blog to give your life meaning once again...never fear! I am resuming today, I will spend the next few days catching you all up!


Today I will once again THRILL you with the rest of our birthday pictures, taken by the amazing talent of Ashley Goomey at http://www.sweetreflectionsphotography.com/ Have I told you lately that I *heart* you Ashley???

We will start with lil' Miss Olivia;

sitting in a box...do you think I could get a box like this and keep her in it?

awww...this is one of my favorite series of pictures ever! There are more like this one but I wont subject you to them all. Does she not look like a forest fairy princess?

Can you stand it! She is so sweet.


Makayla being her little prissy self...look at that smile...how can you not love her?




hmm...I got my pictures out of order, so we will move on to Cameron.
Cameron and his hats. I can not tell you how many he has, every time he and his daddy go somewhere, Cameron comes home with a new hat...it is a good thing he looks so handsome in them!



Could you love him more?

Yes, I think I can............


Ah, ok...back to Makayla
She was cracking up at Ashley who was at this moment, throwing bugs on her mama....so I'm not so sure I love Ashley as much at this moment.

Those eyes....how can you turn away?

TURN AWAY QUICKLY! She will reel you in and then you will be required to take her shopping! My girl has GOOD taste...TURN AWAY! TURN AWAY!

It is too late isn't it? You are drawn in.......I told you to turn away.

One more...I will not subject you to all 54,684,387,464 pictures that we took that morning, just a nice sample, ending with this bit of adorable-ness.

Back to School!

This morning, I woke at *gasp* 6:30, our lazy summer vacation had ended.

I cooked breakfast (yes I really did) and woke my sleeping children, fed them and helped them get dressed. I combed and fixed hair, gathered new back packs, that were stuffed with new school supplies, fixed snacks in brand new lunch boxes, and out the door we went, excited for the first day of school.

Makayla is *sniff sniff* entering 2nd grade. Cameron is in pre-school and Olivia is irritated that there isn't a class for her. I have tried to explain to her that there is no "screaming banshee" class, but I'm not sure she heard me.

Anyway....here they are heading down the steps

*look how huge Cameron's back pack is, he would have NOTHING else but that one*

and a front view before we load into the van...they are getting so big.

Cameron in his class room...see the little blond headed boy next to him, that is his buddy Ben. Their silly teacher has put them side by side....hahaha! Silly teacher.

Makayla as she takes her place at the second grade table...she is now too cool to have mom take her picture on the first day of school.

And to cap it off, lil' Miss Olivia in her shades...still looking for the screaming banshee class.

He turns 5!

Today we continue the August birthday-palooza!

Cameron celebrates his 5th birthday today. I can not believe my big man is already five years old. It seems as if it was just yesterday that I he came roaring (and peeing...yes on the doctor) into this world. He is the sweetest boy, with a big caring heart who loves everyone, and wants to be a comfort to everybody.

Today, he celebrated his birthday by starting school...haha! He requested his favorite cake, chocolate, with chocolate frosting and topped with chocolate covered strawberries. Yes, he was bouncing off of the ceiling at bed time. He has asked to ride go-carts this weekend, so we will try to make that happen for him on Saturday.

I finished the invitations to the birthday-blow out that is coming up fast...remember...more pictures that you want to look at are to come!

Happy birthday to my baby man!

She turns 7

Our beautiful, sweet, caring oldest child turned 7 today.

I can not believe that my oldest baby is SEVEN years old. Do you know that in just 6 short years I will be the proud owner of a teen-ager *GASP* It still seems like yesterday that I heard that first sweet cry from her, and today she stands as a confident young lady, and the joys of life lay ahead. Entering the second grade and ready to take it all on with that captivating smile.

We spent the day following this pre-pre teen around the mall of her choice and then eating what she wanted. The day was wonderful. I love celebrating my babies birthdays and watching them bask in the day that is all theirs.

As I mentioned before we will be celebrating birthdays all month, and will have a combined party for the three together on August 16th, and do not worry I will no doubt cover you with more pictures than you would ever want to look at. I know you will be waiting with bated breath!

English according to Olivia...part III

Now she is starting to put sentences together and is still in the midst of her language explosion, so I will share a few with you.

MAMA! Pulla! Binket! *patting the "pulla"* Translation: Mama, lay on the pillow and get under the blanket.

Ca-ful..don fawl *usually while climbing from the side table to the couch* Translation: Be careful, don't fall (I wonder where she has heard that?)

cue-me: what she says when she burps..cue-me (how cute is that??!!)

u keerd?: This usually what she says to me when it is thundering outside and she is worried about me...she can usually be found patting my leg while saying this....again..how much cuter can she be??

ba-pak: she does not understand why she can't have one..bubby and sissy just got new ones!

Lela: her big sister

Mameron: her big brother

Baby: her

I hope you have enjoyed yet another glimpse into her sweet little mind!

When parenting goes wrong

Makayla and Cameron have a job in the house. They fold and put away the towels; for this job, they receive 5.00 a month. However, they do not always jump with joy and run to the basket of freshly laundered towels and fold them with excitement. One such non-excited towel folding episode unfolded today.

Cameron and Makayla had been working on two baskets of towels for over an hour. Cameron was sitting on the couch watching SpongeBob, and Makayla was only half working on the towels, but she was doing enough to stay out of trouble. I said to Cameron; "Cameron, get up and fold towels." "Cameron get up now" "Cameron, now...1.....2....." "I'm getting up mommy!" He proceeds to finish the folding task, and life continues.

Fast Forward 15 minutes. Olivia is sitting at the table drinking juice. She finishes that cup and wants a refill. I was busy doing other things, and she said "mommy, I want zeus" I say, "ok baby, in a minute" She sits patiently for 2.3 seconds, "mommy, I want zeus" to which I reply, "ok, in a minute" "mommy, I want zeus 1....2....1!"

Through the tears of laughter, I refilled her cup before I got a time out!

Birthday pictures

As the month of August bears down on this home, we find ourselves preparing to go back to school and also to celebrate the birthdays of all 3 of our children. Yes, all three of our children have a birthday in August. Yes, we are in fact very thankful during Thanksgiving. Go ahead, make your jokes about our thankfulness, or how August is a good month but November is better *nudge nudge*, I know you are dying to. I'll wait..............









Done yet? Ok, lets continue



So on Monday night, I picked up Makayla and Cameron from Bible school at 9pm and set out on an hour long drive to my partner in crimes house. Ashley is not only our photographer, she is the person who listens to me whine, and cares that my kids are constipated (of course I have listened to my fair share of whining and constipation stories). Anyway, we arrive and the kids run to jump in bed with her own kidlets. We settle in for a night of catching up (both of our men work nights) we hadn't seen each other in nearly 6 months. At 4am we drug ourselves to the bed and passed out, only for our heathens..er..um adorable children to wake up at 8:30 AM.



We drug ourselves up and threw some pancakes at the kids and dressed for the afternoon of picture taking. One of the main reasons for the visit was to take birthday pictures of my kids.



Lets begin by saying that Makayla and Cameron wanted to play, not smile. Makayla spent most of the morning pouting, we were able to coax a few nice facial expressions from her, and catch a smile here and there, and with Ashley's magic photo shopping, I know they will be amazing, as usual.



Cameron also did his fair share of whining, but give the boy a large stick and let him swing it around and he will be happy. We did this and he was. We got some really good shots of him as well.



This brings us to Olivia. Did I mention that she is a ham? She gives coy little glances with her amazing blue eyes. Sweet smiles glint across her face, right before she would hurl one of Ashley's carefully placed props at her head. She never stopped posing and grinning, and her shots are also great.



I am telling you all of this to tease you a little. I do not have the pictures available to me to post yet. I can only leave it to your imagination for a week or two. I can tell you we photographed (I say we like I did something other than stand behind Ashley and say..."Don't hit your sister!") SHE photographed at railroad tracks, a state park and in her studio. She has the patience of Job and is amazing at her craft. You, however, won't get to see the proof of this. So I will just dangle it in front of you while you salivate.




Well...I have one little picture you can see, maybe. Have you been good today? Did you eat all of your fiber?


Yes? Ok, I will let you have a sneak peak.

See I told you she was good.

OH NO!

No no no no no no no................

We have, in the last week, caught 4 count em' 1...2...3...4 mice in this house. I blame this on the nice farmer across the road that so sweetly planted about 15 acres of no-till corn. Thanks mister farmer man.

How many more do you think there are? I am ready to torch the place! MA keeps telling me to chill and he will take care of the possible entry places this weekend. He promises to bleach the house, floors and cabinets until this house smells like a swimming pool. He promises...MA better follow through!

Stay tuned for updates.....

A guide; How to make your children happy

1. at 6:00pm, take your 6,4 and 22m old (or what ever age your children happen to be) to their grandfathers to celebrate his birthday. Make sure that you have not yet eaten dinner. When you get them to his house, feed them a big fat piece of chocolate cake and a large scoop of chocolate ice cream. Top off this sugar rush with a can of soda; hey it's papaws birthday, we can bend the rules....or shatter the rules with a large sledge hammer.

2. stay at papaws and play with all of his usually off limit goodies until it is time to go.

3. take your children to the Golden Arches and buy them the rare treat of the toy-meal, instead of just a burger and a shared drink.

**at this point they will be deliriously happy, and wonder how the night can get any better....but know, you have more plans**

4. turn the car towards the park, and listen to them squeal with delight and shock as you pull in to eat at the pic-nic table.

5. watch them scarf down a burger and run off with the freedom of the park

6. stay at the park until it is dark

7. bring them home, and shower them and change the sheets on their beds.

8. tuck them in with a short movie (remember we are shattering rules)

9. watch as they drift off to sleep in with a blissful smile

10. know that you have now set a new standard for fun, and begin to plan their next impromptu, rule-smashing night.

I know God made them for a reason;

but I'm fairly sure it wasn't for them to be UNDER MY VACUUM!!

*shudder*



Why, you might ask, is my vacuum surrounded by glue traps?

Because tonight as I was sitting here unwinding, I hear; *pop chew nibble pop pop chew pop nibble chew*. I walk towards the noise and it stops. I stood silently until I hear it again *pop chew nibble*.

There is a mouse, UNDER my vacuum??? Why would it want to be under my vacuum??

Mike isn't here so I stuck glue traps around it, but if something runs out...I will die!

I know God made them, I know they have a purpose, but I feel fairly certain that the purpose is not to live under my vacuum.

GO AWAY and serve your purpose somewhere else!

*shudder*

Wild Blackberries

On our evening walks the kids and I had begun to notice these branches in the ditch line beside some of the neighboring property. On these branches were the fuchsia beginnings of wild blackberries.

I told them that they would soon be ripe and we could pick some. Tonight was that night. (here would be a good time to point out that the neighboring property is my dads, we aren't picking blackberries off of some random persons land)

I grabbed two little bowls and we headed down the road

Olivia was riding, but don't be fooled, she was excited about the "bewies" too.
<---------look at her sweet little feet

Makayla and Cameron arrived at the bush before I did, and I could be heard saying "DON'T PICK THE PINK ONES! Only pick the BLACK ONES!"

As I arrived on scene, I was pleased to find that in fact they had waited on me to pick anything. Why? Because; "mmmommmmyyy...something is buzzing down in there"

June Bugs were having an evening snack, after I convinced them that the large green bugs would not sting, bite, eat or in any other way harm them, they were picking berries like there was no tomorrow.

All was well in berry land...until..........

Cameron found the defense mechanism that God put in place for blackberries; thorns. (no, that is not blood on his shirt, that is a smashed blackberry) After this unfortunate incident, the berry picking was over as he wailed all the way back to the house for a Batman band-aid. As you know, Batman band-aids cure everything.

We did manage to pick some berries before the great thorn incident, here is our haul for tonight. There are still a lot of pink berries that will soon be ripe, we will attempt to get them another day.

Introductions continued; Felix the Fearless Feline

There are two members of our family that I have not yet introduced; our two kitties that live outside. Tonight we will meet Felix.

Felix really has no purpose other than being a cute grey kitty that takes up space and breathes oxygen. He is fat, lazy and fluffy. He does, however, have his redeeming qualities. He is immensely patient with Olivia as she pulls his tail while saying "mere meow, mere" (translation; come here kitty, come here). Or as she tries to ride him like a horse, he simply lays there until she tires of that game. Of course as soon as she leaves him he takes off like a bullet, to be sure he is not be subjected to that again for an hour or so.

His main job is to guard our home. Much like Zarie, he guards us fearlessly. He is stealth, quiet and unassuming. Ready to pounce at a moments notice to protect us from all that is dangerous. In fact, I have proof of his amazing dedication...see here as he is ever alert...waiting for any danger to arise;

Aren't you in awe of his state of readiness? Yes...this is Felix...every home should have a Felix.

The English Language according to Olivia; part two

Tonight I will once again delight and entertain you with the adorable words that come from our little sweetie.

Sho-shur; as in what you do when you are dirty...take a sho-shur.

Rarie; our doggie, the one that you met earlier...Rarie

beena; a yellow fruit that has a lot of potassium

hello; the thing we talk on when somebody calls, the hello

teetza; that yummy food that is delivered

I hope you have enjoyed this little glimpse into out little one's budding vocabulary.

Our 4th

Yes, I know that it is now July 9th. I also know that July 4th was 5 days ago. I know that I am late by only a few sunsets getting this posted. However it will be worth the wait when you see how cute they all looked in their matching shirts!


With the sudden death of MA's grandmother, our 4th was kind of on the back burner. We usually go down and park Phil (remember Phil) at the lake to watch the big fire works show. You have to park the day before to ensure a good spot. Then we get up early eat breakfast, watch the parade, spend all day in town, have a cook out and watch the fireworks. This year, we did get up and go to the parade, but that was about all. We had to come back home to start getting ready for the visitation that evening. We didn't want the kids to miss out on ALL of the festivities....but as you will soon learn, we should have just stayed in bed.


As we got out of the van headed to watch the parade....just take a moment here to notice how the sun was not shining and that it was kind of um....grey.

So from here we hiked a little distance to the parade site, found a nice street side seat and settled in for the fun. The parade started, about 15 minutes late. As it began, the sprinkles came, but as quickly as they came they stopped. No biggie, we can handle some sprinkles. The parade lasted roughly 40 minutes, as it progressed, the rain was coming and going, until it settled in for the morning. A washing rain, a rain that came with large rain drops that plopped as they hit you. Here it would be helpful to point out that we didn't have the accompaniment of an umbrella. So we sat waiting for the parade to end so we could make our escape. Finally we were able to make a dash back to the van, not before we were touched by at least 200,000 rain drops each. There was not a dry stitch on any of us. Remember the cute dryness of the above picture....here they are as we reached the van to squish home.

notice how her previously fluffy and perky pig-tails are now droopy and wet.

See how her shirt sticks to her ever so clingy, look at her hair as it droops under the weight of the fully-clothed shower we enjoyed.

Yes, even the mighty mohawk fell to the rain.

It was a messy day, as I said, we should have stayed in the bed.

We love you Nana

On July 2, 2008 a beautiful life passed through the fingers of this world and on to be with her heavenly father. An amazing woman who joined her 4 children and her husband who passed before her.

In her 88 years she was able to experience more than most women of her era could only dream of. She visited many countries, traveled all over the United States and cared so deeply for each of her children, grand children and great grand children. Up until the end she knew her loved ones and could call them by name. She slipped silently out of the pain of this world and into the glory of The Father in her sleep.

She left behind many who love her and who are still in awe at her amazing spirit, and the way she lived her life. She lived each day in true love of those around her. In the 12 years that I was blessed to know her I never heard her have a harsh word. She would sometimes call MA by his brothers name or call our children our names, but would always correct her self and smile as she reached out her thin frail hand for a hug. Always sure to tell you she loved you when you came in and when you left.

I still grin at the stories that have come out over the last 4 days. The fond memories that her family have of her and the strength and grace that she exhibited over the years of her amazing life.

Nana, we all miss you and we still love you.

Shouldn't you be sleeping?

Olivia...it's time to go to bed. Let mama have your hat.


Baby...let mama have your hat..it's time for bed


Olivia.......it's time for bed...Olivia....*sigh*
if she wasn't so cute this would be very tiring


I won! The hat is mine, she is headed to bed. (yes I know that most kids put ON clothes for bed, but not her. She removes them.)

Look how sweet she is climbing in bed with her sissy.


*1 hour and five trips down the hall*
Olivia...aren't you supposed to be sleeping??
See Makayla catching flys in the background...she was long asleep


"Oh, hey mama..I'm in bed, you want me to sleep too?"

Olivia, I need the book too..it's now 1 am

30 minutes later I relented and laid down with her...sorry, I don't have pictures as I was too busy being kicked, pinched and being told to "GEE YUP"

Finally...she went to sleep....of course so did I, so I don't have any pictures of that either.

Very Excited

Today I got to eat lunch, sans kids...yay (no that is not why I am excited...well not the ONLY reason why I am excited) with an absolutely lovely woman, who has a heart for God that is so evident. It radiates from her like a light all around, that you can see the joy she carries and the zest for knowledge that she totes in her little black bag.

We met because we hold in common a painful history. We have both suffered miscarriages. She has taken the bull by the horns and jumped with both feet into developing a ministry/counseling program that helps women who have dealt with early infant loss, miscarriage and still birth. However, her dream does not only include helping the women, but the families of these women. The people that love them most, but do not know how to approach, talk to or help through the grief. To help friends understand the physical toll that these losses take as well as the emotional and psychological. She has a dream and is following the lead of The Lord to make it come to reality. Just listening to her story, and hearing of all that The Lord has placed in her lap to help her along gives me such excitement.

I am so happy that she is allowing me to follow her around and help in anyway I can to get this off of the ground. It is such a needed ministry, since there is not one like it. There is so much grey area surrounding these women. With the work of The Lord through her hands, the light will begin to clear up the grey.

I am very excited to be any part if this project that I can.