Silence

*I was supposed to publish this on the 30th... oops.* 

March has been a very busy month for us, the first 3 weekends were spent with a birthday party each Saturday, and then this past Sunday the 27th was my 26th birthday. Plus school with the kids, issues with Kiale... again, and Cayleigh-Grace displaying full on 2 year old behavior for a good two weeks make for one non blogging me. There have been several good things about this month, we are two months down in this deployment which means we are two months closer to seeing KS again! Yay!! Even though we still have a LONG way to go, but what can I say I like to look at the brighter side of things. I have been hitting the gym 5 out of the past 7 days and I am feeling great and sleeping better. Plus I hope to be in bikini shape by the end of the month (that being April not March) I am planning a beach trip and it cannot get here soon enough! I still cant believe its been 9 months since I last went to the gym, and I can feel it too. I am no where near in the shape I was in last June and I have a long way to go to get back there again, but I will get there.  I am crazy determined at this point. I know what I want and I am going to do everything in my power to get there. There were a few wonderful things that happened this month...

This is the AMAZING Reese's birthday cake that my dear friend Alicia made for me. It was DELICIOUS!!

Kiale decided that he wanted to start reading my books, this is him reading the first 4 pages of Eragon to Cayleigh-Grace. I had him trade it out with the first Harry Potter book since the words are quite as hard in those books.

This isn't a wonderful thing but it is kind of a funny thing... Cayleigh Grace decided that she wanted to stand on Kiale's back while he was leaning over the couch getting a book off of the bottom shelf of my bookshelf. She then proceded to fall into the bookshelf and give herself quite the goose egg and scratch. The first picture with her in the pink dress is from the 27th just a couple of hours post fall and the picture to the right is from 48 hours later and looking much much better.

  

This is by far the best thing that happened in March, Colin lost his first tooth on the 29th!!! I hadn't seen him so excited in what seems like ages, he was THRILLED to have finally lost a tooth, and the tooth next to it is already loose as well. Good thing the Tooth Fairy knows exactly how to get to our house. The bottom picture is from the next morning after the Tooth Fairy came and left Colin a dollar for his tooth in our special tooth lamb.

Happy 6th Birthday Colin!!

Yesterday was Colin's birthday, he has been looking forward to it for months now. I don't think he ever stopped smiling from the time he woke up until he went to bed last night. His day started off normal, wake up get dressed and head to school for breakfast. Once the school day actually began he was called up to the office and given a special sticker for his shirt that announced today was his birthday. He said the ladies in the office were giving him hugs and telling him how special today was b/c it was his birthday. After lunch I went up to the school and took his class cupcakes, and I managed to remember the napkins and juice boxes this time!

After school we headed to the commissary to order his cake, which unfortunately didn't work out. They no longer carry the Toy Story theme cake, so I told him I would just order it from somewhere else and we headed home. He relaxed and watched movies until it was time to go pick  up Kiale from CYS. That is when the real fun began. KS and I decided to attempt a Skype birthday party. It would have worked out great if KS had had a better connection but we made the best of it.

Colin had a blast opening his gifts, well part of them anyway. He got everything he was wanting. All three Toy Story Movies as well as the toy story box set that includes just about everyone! He was one happy and ecstatic little boy.

Poor kid cannot keep his eyes open during pictures... drives me nuts, but I still love this pic.

Birthday/Graduation Pary

On the 28th we had a full house, filled to the brim with friends and celebrations. We were celebrating Cayleigh-Grace's 2nd birthday and Kiale's soon to be 7th birthday. Also on the agenda was a much anticipated graduation celebration. It was a wonderful afternoon that soon spilled into the evening and night. The grill was hot, the cake and cupcakes were delicious, and the drinks were flowing. (Is it bad to list, BYOB, on a b-day/grad invitation?) I was in my element. I can honestly say that I am my happiest when I can have a house full of people and I get to play hostess for the evening. The afternoon started with burgers, hot dogs, chips, and baked beans. Followed by some color-burst cupcakes and cake. The kids played in the giant blow up sprinkler ball (well until it burst), played swords and overall had a wonderful time. Us "adult" kids enjoyed drinks and the UFC fight.

Kiale's cupcake was red white and blue.

Cayleigh-Grace and her Pink, white, and Aqua cupcake.

These were so much fun to make, and even nicer to look at.

All the guys, we miss them all already!

I had put trick candles on the cake, but the guys got smart...

The guy's graduation cake, red white and blue of course.

Gotta love the birthday girl!

Some of the best women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Busy Busy Busy

Today has been ridiculously busy. There is just no other way to put it. We started off the day buy heading to Walmart and picking up Halloween costumes, the boy are both going to be Vampires. Cayleigh-Grace has a Sleeping Beauty costume that I bought her but I am thinking now that I am going to try and find/make a vampire costume for her so they all match!

The we headed to the cemetery to try and find where KS's dad is buried, he died in a motorcycle accident in 2000. I have only been to his grave site once and that was probably 7 years ago. So needless to say I was unsuccessful in finding it but I did finally talk to the boys about what happened and know they know that their daddy really did have a dad. They had never noticed that he didn't so I figured I would just go ahead and explain the "edited" version of what happened. With Kiale being 6 now I thought it was time that he learned why Grammy had all of the scares and where his Grandpa was.

After that we had about an hour and a half before we had to be at a birthday party. It was so sweet watching "L" open all of his birthday presents. They boy is in love with all things Thomas the Train. He was thrilled with all of his new Thomas toys. He just turned 3 and I honestly think he already knows the names to all of the trains on the show!

We weren't home an hour when we decided to go and scout out the woods where KS will be hunting for the few weeks he will be home during hunting season. They woods where he is at is absolutely beautiful. There is even a creek that runs through the property. I had C-G in my sling while we were walking through the woods and I have to admit I do no think she will be using that one again. It killed my back. Although it probably doesn't help that she was in my Hip Hammock the entire hour and a half we were in Walmart either. 24lbs on your front hanging off of you gets darn right heavy and unpleasant after a while.

We ended our day relaxing at KS's God parents house watching football and just chilling out. His God mother happens to be Colin's teacher this year and was Kiale's teacher last year. Dixie and Dylan also stopped buy so I could take some Senior pictures of them... don't worry I will share the pictures with you tomorrow!! At this point I am just happy to be home and I am fixing to crash in my bed!

*Did I mention that today is Cayleigh-Grace 13th month day, Wow.*

Happy Birthday Kiale- Part 2

I would never have guessed looking back upon the past six years of my life that it would have gone by so quickly. Kiale was my hardest labor, and my grumpiest newborn, but he is one amazing kid. The boy has a heart of gold. He has the sweetest spirit and the kindest soul, and I can honestly say he is wise beyond he years. He just does not act like your normal six year old. I am so happy to have this amazing little boy in my life, and I am so proud to be his Momma. God truly gives us the greatest gift we could ever ask for when he blesses us with children.
Today I was able to take in cupcakes to his classroom, which is always a treat. It is still so unbelievable to think that I have a son in kindergarten... I really am just so happy with our life together as a family, and birthdays just make me that much happier! Thank you Lord for all you have given us!
Kiale wanted breakfast for dinner for his birthday so that is exactly what he got! Bacon, eggs, and pancakes! The boy was in heaven, he was thrilled, and he even got a cookie cake for dessert!

Colin's Birthday Party

Well I would have to say that Colin's birthday party was a huge success. It was so nice getting everyone together. I love and look forward to the kids birthday parties so much since all of the families get together! This year is extra special since our families have expanded by 6 babies in the past year... well year and a month. It is so amazing, there were babies everywhere. 3 of the babies are within 2 months of each other! Colin was so happy with everything, it doesn't help that he got everything that he wanted. Imagine that.. Enjoy the pics everyone!!

Here are all the kids, it took this many pics just to get all there faces. Unfortunately we are missing Luke who was at his Uncles wedding and Jonathan who was home with his grandma. He is one of our new babies, he was born in January. Cammie is also missing from the pictures since she got there late as well as Alana who couldn't make it. You know its amazing, we started a little over 5 years ago with 2 and now we are up to 14 kids in our group.






Blowing out the Candles!! ( I cannot believe he is 4 already!)


Opening his presents

busy weekend...

Boy is this weekend going to be busy for our household. We have a double birthday party at 2:00, then we are probably heading to Jax after that for the remainder of the afternoon, so needless to say we are going to have a very late night. I am just trying to relax right now, and then I have to give Emi and Andy their baths. They smell like dogs and that is just not pleasant.

Tomorrow we are going to get up bright and early and headed down south, then we are going to Bass Pro Shops after we get done in Brooksville. I am hoping to be back home by 4 but I am sure it will most likely be around 6. Really hoping for 4 though...

Cayleigh-Grace actually started out the night in her own bed (in her own room) last night. We had a HORRIBLE night Thursday night... lets put it this way we might have gotten 5 hours of sleep Thursday night. Last night was wonderful, she actually slept until 3:00 this morning she then nursed and went right back to sleep. It was so nice, big change from her getting up at Midnight the night before, and then getting up nursing and then wanting to play and talk for an hour or so. Hopefully she will continue to do better, goodness knows her daddy and I need our sleep! Amazingly it really didn't even bother me to have her in her own room, I guess I am finally ready for it now. Its still sad though... I love the newborn baby stage so much I hate to see it go... :(

See you next year January!!

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday... Busy Busy Busy!!!

My goodness has the past four days been crazy busy! I honestly feel like I have been going non stop forever now, I think all of the busyness really caught up to me today. Talk about feeling overwhelmed and overextended... needless to say my house was trashed, and I was about 5 loads of laundry and 2 loads of dishes behind! And we are supposed to decorate on Friday... right... I still need to do all of the housecleaning that comes after dishes and clothes and that's a lot.

Sunday... was a wonderful day the five of us got up bright and early and headed up to Jax to go see my wonderful cousin, her husband, and her new baby Vincent at the hospital. I have never held a baby so small in my life he was 6lbs 12oz & 19 1/4in, all of my babies were big(7lbs 15oz, 8lbs 11oz, & 10lbs 7oz), he is so sweet and tiny. I have to admit, although you are not allowed to tell my boys, he is the cutest baby boy I have ever seen. He is just so incrediably cute!! He has John's nose, and in my opinion the rest of him looks like my Uncle Jimmy. Genetics are so amazing.
Later that afternoon we went to my Niece/ 2nd cousin's 2nd birthday party. I cannot believe that she is two already, and so cute too!! The party was followed by a trip to two different puppy shops, although we came home empty handed, and dinner at our favorite Japanesse Steakhouse!

Monday... I got up and took the boys to my Mom's house for the day while I went back up to Jax to help out my cousin. She was, and still is, recouperating from her C-section. Not to mention she & Vincent had to figure out the whole breastfeeding thing. Which as any first time mom would agree is never easy. Vincent had a Dr. appointment that day also, so it ended up being a very busy day. We even squezed in a very short trip to Target. I am so amazed at my cousin Lindsay, I don't know how she is doing it with the section recovery. I think I would be layed up in bed, she is getting up and around wonderfully!!

Tuesday... The kids and I all headed back up to Jax again. It was such a wonderful day. The boys are very taken with their new little cousin. Little Kiale was such a big helper. Vincent was crying after Lindsay had breastfed him, and following his suppliment of formula, and Kiale couldn't find his pacifier so he decided that maybe he was still hungrey so he went (all on his own) and grabed his bottle and started feeding him what was left in it. Needless to say he was right Vincent was still a little hungrey. And Kiale new exactly what he needed. He is such a wonderful Big Brother/Cousin!! I am so pround of my little man!