Tuesday, January 27, 2009

FORE!!!!

The four of us hit the driving range this past Saturday (we thought we'd introduce them early since Rob and I both play...he he). They had a blast and were very sad when our bucket of golf balls ran out. They each took a turn practicing with Daddy and I even got in a few swings, that's right folks, pregnant and all! It's one of the few sports I can play with my "bun in the oven". =) I LOVE to swim, but not too many pools around here are actually heated, nor do they allow you to swim in them during the "winter months". None of our kids have actually taken swimming lesson (urgh) because I'm always due in the summer and hesitate signing them up because I'm usually due right in the middle of the lessons. Weird. So, next year will hopefully be the first year I can take (dare I say it!) three children to lessons. How did I get blogging about swimming when this post is about golf? ANYWAY...we all had a blast and although we didn't play a full coarse, Rob and I got in a little fix of golf, and may I plug in that he is a MUCH better golfer than I?! I've only just picked it up in the past year when Rob bought me clubs for Christmas last year. My dad and brother love to golf as well, so I'm hoping the four of us can get out sometime and play a coarse before I can no longer swing a club. Now I just need to find a girl golfing mate! Any takers?

Monday, January 26, 2009

Goodbye Mr. President

Friday, January 23, 2009

"Eh...What's Up Doc?"


Our "boquet of carrot tops" =)



The kids and I enjoyed pulling all of our carrots up this morning. They've been so patient, waiting for them to be ready and they finally were. Here's some footage of the fun. By the way, if you've never tasted a FRESH carrot, try one sometime. It's amazing the difference between fresh and store bought...almost like a different vegetable, really.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Feelings of a Pregnant Woman =)

I never try to blog when I'm emotional, bad idea! But, today I've gone through quite a few of them, so thought I'd share...

I'm HAPPY because...
I have an amazing husband who loves me and shows it everyday, my kids are healthy, I have a roof over my head, food to eat, a loving Savior that loves me even though I have faults (many of them), I have a love for teaching children, I have amazing, supportive friends and family, my mom is healing and feeling better (praise Jesus!), I have a moving (yes, the fluttering kicks have begun!) baby inside of me which I can't wait to meet and hold, I the security of knowing that I can take my children to a doctor when they are sick, M & M s are a yummy food!, I have eternity in heaven which no one can take away from me, I have a wonderful group of three-year-olds that I teach on Sunday mornings and I just adore every one of them, I am able to stay at home with my babies, I have wonderful, Christian parents whom I love dearly, an awesome extended family who loves to have fun and will travel at great distances to see us and the list could go on forever! We are soooo blessed.

I'm SAD because...
My babies are growing up, I tried something new this year and failed, I need major dental work done and I'm afraid of needles...yikes!, I know that there are so many other men, women and children in this world that won't have a meal or clean water to drink today, war is abundant overseas, one of President Obama's first things to undertake in the White House is to get rid of government funded programs that support abstinence and find more governement money to support abortions (more innocent babies, dead. Makes me sick!), our church is hurting financially.

I'm GLAD because...
I was proud to tell my daughter that we have our very first "brown-skinned" president for our country. (She didn't quite grasp what a president is, so I just told her that he's the "boss" of America. That seemed to make a little more sense.)
I am a free, American girl (who can bake a mean American apple pie, by the way).

I am EXCITED to...
Someday (hopefully soon) meet my new Brittish nephew whom we have yet to meet, travel abroad as Rob and I get older (there's so much in this world I want to see!), meet my own little one growing inside of me, receive our tax return soon so we can pay some things off we've been wanting to, learn more about homeschooling at a conference this weekend, see my children grow and (prayerfully) become men/women of the Lord, serving Him.

Today I still need to...
Finish putting away groceries, do the dishes, take a large box of mac and cheese to the post office (it's coming Kris!), sweep the never-ending fallen leaves off the back porch, make a large batch of homemade soups to freeze for the next few weeks and bathe a very dirty dog. =)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Scroll Down...

I just updated a new post this afternoon, but you have to scroll down past "Pickin' Strawberries" to see it. It was an "in the works" post, but Blogger wouldn't let me post it at the beginning of the blog. Weird. Anyone who knows how to do this, please let me know. Frustrating.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Pickin' Strawberries

Some friends of ours and us went down to pick strawberries at a farm south of where we live. I know I've mentioned the farm before. It's fantasic. There's so much to do...Pumpkin Festival in October, hayrides, games, animals to feed and pet, a small train to ride, crafts to do and buy, homemade icecream, a playground for the kids, corn mazes to get lost in, fruit and vegetables to pick and more. We were fortunate enough to go and pick strawberries the other week and the kids had so much fun. It's funny because my kids are so used to picking thing out of our garden and just eating them that this wasn't necessarily new to them. I have to laugh though because sometimes we have problems with them walking up to a bush/plant picking something off of it and trying to eat it! We have to watch Lincoln closely and Avonlea now understands that she has to ask and not everthing is safe to eat. Anyway, here are the pics.


Our loot. We've been eating strawberries all week. It's a good thing they're so healthy. =)


Lincoln, Avonlea and "E" enjoying a ride around in the wagon


"Checkers" the chicken who liked eating our Goldfish snacks


Feeding "Bambi"

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

Although this is one of my favorite songs to sing at Christmas, I'm not the kind of girl who likes to live it! I was born in Florida, have (somewhat, except for 1 1/2 years of college in IL) lived in Florida all my life and have NO intentions of moving anywhere cold in the near future (unless the Lord picks me up and drops me there). I'm just not into cold weather. On the other hand, my husband is. He used to keep his college dorm window open when it snowed outside and slept comfortably like that. Crazy guy! Anything less than 60 and I'm freezin', so that makes this week and possibly the next week to come not so fun. A bunch of my northern friends (you know who you are!!) have been teasing me about how cold it is up where they live and to be happy that I live in the Sunshine State. Well friends, I am counting my lucky stars. =) The fact that we, as a family, went out fishing at the beach the other night was such a blast and I was so thankful that we weren't out shoveling feet of snow off our driveway. Anyway, spring will be here before we know it right?

As for what we've been up to lately, there's been quite a bit! Over the Christmas break we got some much needed bunkbeds and dressers for the kids. Avonlea's dresser had pretty much fallen apart thanks to our dog who ate the bottom parts and both kids needed a bigger bed. Rob got the beds and dressers put together and I was busy rearranging toys, making thrift store piles, etc. When we picked out some bedding for Lincoln, we decided that the jungle theme in his room would have to change and it's blue and khaki now, still yet to be painted though. Thank goodness we found bedding that already matched Avonlea's paint in her room. I'm not about to start painting everything now, with a nursery to get together too. Needless to say, the new baby will get all the hand-me-downs from the other kids with the exception of some new bedding and a few, little trinkets. Our soon-to-be nursery room is still also known as the laundry room and somehow things find their way in there that don't belong, but it's a work in progress and we still have plenty of time.

The bunkbeds in their beginning stage...yikes, just wood and screws.


Lincoln with his Handy Manny tool set (thanks Mom and Dad!), insisting upon helping.


Avonlea insistent upon helping as well. She loves to hand Daddy tools, nails, screws, nuts, bolts...you name it. She actually is a good helper.


Lincoln in his new bed. Still have to paint over the green with a navy blue to match the bedding. He's been doing VERY well. Only one time has he fallen out and a few times where he's got out of his bed, but over all, he's transitioned very well.


Avy and her new bed. She was a little bummed that she couldn't sleep on the top bunk, but all in good time. We actually turned the bed around so the ladders are on the wall side. We'll wait until the kids are older until they can climb up on their own. Avy is old enough, but if Lincoln saw her going up top, of coarse he'd have to as well and he's not ready yet. Another few years.

The kiddos both have upper respritory infections and are on medication, which I so conveniently spilled half of it this morning (I think I'm entering that clutsy part of pregnancy now!). When I called the pediatrician to see if they could call in more, I found out that most likely our insurance won't cover it. Hmmm, great. That's still in the works.

Our sink broke last night...note to self-don't put large pieces of carrot down the garbage disposal! Rob went out to Home Depot and fixed it super fast-go Rob. I keep telling him that he's the handy man I never knew he was. He keeps surprising me with each task he undertakes. Any man that can completely take down and put up a LARGE amount of fencing (we own almost two lots) in two days gets my approval. He built the kids' swing set entirely by what he saw in his mind. Got an idea, went to buy wood and materials and just built it. I wish I had that ambition and patience. So, the bar is constantly being risen for my hubby. I think I'll ask for him to enclose the laundry room next...tee hee! Just kidding babe (if you're reading this).


The old fence


New fence

My tummy is expanding rediculously! It's interesting that with each pregnancy, I expand sooner, quicker. A friend and I were joking around on Tuesday and she said something along the lines of, "Yeah, I think if I had decided to give birth to a fourth child, just thinking about it would make my stomach expand." That's so true! I'm now four months and feel as though I'm huge. What's a girl to do?

We also went to the circus last Friday night (thanks for the tickets Alison and Bobby!) and did a trade off. We left Lincoln with my parents and took our niece Grace. The girls had a blast and the elephants were definately the highlight of the night. I have to say that I was definately impressed with Barnum and Bailey's circus preformance this year. Fun stuff!



Hope you've enjoyed catching up with us!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Thanks Dad!

My dad made this video after we all got back from our Disney trip. We definately had a lot of fun. Enjoy!



Monday, January 5, 2009

"Tribute to a Dog"



Rob and I saw the movie Marley and Me last weekend and I have to say that I was quite impressed. I haven't seen a more touching, emotional movie than this one in a long time. Whoever thought humans could get so attached to their dog? Well, I know that I have. This movie helped me gain a new respect for our own dog, Riley. She's going to be 5 years old this February and although she can be a bit hyper at times, she's the sweetest dog. She puts up with a lot too. The kids love to ride on her, pull her tail and ears and she just takes it. Lincoln is especially close to her and I can see them 5 years down the road, playing in the backyard together, fishing together, going on walks, etc. They are the best of friends. It was one of his first words..."Wiley". Anyway, for those of you who haven't seen the movie, go see it. It's all about the typical American family who goes through trials and accomplishments, support each other in their careers, have three kids and of coarse, Marley the yellow Lab. I'll be brave enough to admit that I haven't cried that hard in a movie...um, okay, ever. I bawled at the end. I will say this though, there is a scene or two that are questionable for young children (that's Hollywood for you...can't make a wholesome film without "a scene" or two). It doesn't show anything specifically, but implies a naked Jennifer Anniston in a pool. Just a heads up for those of you with kids. Here are some photos of us with "Wiley" at the park last week. She loves to go and catch frisbees, balls, etc. and is quite good at fetch. Her favorite is to go to a local dog beach though and swim in the ocean. She could literally live there. It's like pulling teeth to get her to come home. That's a dog for ya! =)

Disney Trip

After being away for almost a week, It feels weird getting back on a schedule and being back home. Rob, the kids and I (along with my parents and family) decided to take a Disney trip this past week. We cramed a lot in, but really had fun. We did Hollywood Studios (which I would not reccomend for young children because there isn't too much for them to do), Magic Kingdom (had a blast!), some outlet mall shopping and my favorite store in the whole world that my Brittish sister and brother-in-law got me hooked on...dun, dun, dun...IKEA!! We have one in Orlando now and it's fabulous. We got the kids each a set of bunkbeds and a dresser and some fun, little trinkets for the nursery (crib mobile, stuffed animals, drapes, crib set, etc.). Somehow we managed picking everything out along with wrangling two, young kids, but we did it. Let's just say we had lots of snacks and books and let them go crazy in the kid section, playing with the toys. Today, Rob went back to work (we've been so spoiled having him home for two weeks) and the kids and I went to Target to pick out some bedding for the bunk beds. We found a cute set for Avonlea's room, but had trouble finding one for Lincoln. Avy's room is typical pink, so there are a lot of choices. Lincoln's room is a tree-green color and tan to match his existing jungle crib set. We have time with him though, so I'm not rushed. As long as he's out of the crib by June (due date), we're set. =) I really even shouldn't be blogging right now as I have lots of putting things away, loads of laundry to do and unpacking, but ANYWAY. Here are some pictures of the past week. Enjoy!


My boys and Buzz (Avy wanted nothing to do with him)

Watching the light show at Hollywood Studios. It was fantastic and all put on by a Christian family who volunteers to do the decorating every year. They only agree to do it every year if they're allowed to continue to put their manger scene in it. Awesome!

The kids waiting to see the parade at Hollywood Studios

Lincoln admiring Winnie the Pooh and Tigger

Avonlea in front of Minnie's house

Lincoln admiring the trains. He's OBSESSED, especially with Thomas the Train. =)