Merry Christmas....Family Favorites and Highlights

Merry Christmas is soon to be here....so....I thought I'd share some of the kids favorites this holiday season!

1- Favorite Song: All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth
2-Favorite Present so far: Gideon-How to be a Super Hero starter kit
Lucy-Larger than life Barbie Doll (Bigger than her)
Ella-Lucy's Larger than life Barbie Doll :): and it begins already!
3- Favorite Movie: The Year Without a Santa Clause....or as Gideon says "Miser Brothers Movie'
4 Mommy's Favorite Kids Quotes of the Season:
Gideon: "Mom why can't I watch the "Valicals" of Narnia?
"What?" I say
" I want to watch the Crayonicles of Narnia"
Lucy: "GLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO(forever)
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWEEIA
IN ECSELLYDEEEEEEEOOOOOOO"
Ella: "HI"
5.Favorite Food: Hershey's Chocolate Sticks
6-Favorite Event of the Season- Being in an Ice Storm and Having no electricity for almost 18 hours....BRRRRRR!!!! Candle-light vigil!!Oh....yah...it was 4 below too! YIPEE!!
7- Favorite Gideon Moment: When told me that he was not going to go to live with Satan because he asked Jesus into his heart a lot of times :)
8- Favorite Lucy Moment: When my mom asked if she could fix Lucy's hair and Lucy obstinantly replied...NO!! I BUTISULL! (beautiful) (Her hair was a rats nest but she wouldn't let mom fix it for anything...she just kept saying again and again NO I BUTISULL!!
9-Favorite Ella Moment: Her hearing "I want a Hippopotimus for Christmas" and dancing and giggling...bobbing her head and scrunching her nose!
10- Favorite Thing About Christmas This Year: Gideon beginning to really grasp Jesus coming and why and starting to understand the true "reason for the season"

See ya later! Merry Christmas!

8 days til Christmas Eve...

Can you guys believe it! Christmas is not very far away! I have a lot of wrapping to do! This weekend is the Myers Family (immediate) Christmas so I gotta get moving! Well...the kids are all resting right now and the house is quiet...a perfect time to write!
I am so glad that last week is over! It was incredibly filled up with business of schedule! I like to have things to do but now and then I need a day to just stay home and catch up! Hopefully tomorrow and Thursday will be those days this week!
As you guys can see from the video on the last post Lucy did great at her "performance" on Friday night! We were so pleased! We shelled out 100 bucks for 30 seconds of it but it was worth it to see Lucy smile and feel like a princess! She's still talking about it and insisted upon wearing her outfit all day Sat as well!
Friday night we ate supper with Keith's boss and co-workers...it was good food and good conversation. Not quite as fun as years past (there has been some department rearranging) but still it was a good time and a break from the kids!
Sat we worked around the house and Keith worked from home on some stuff for his upcoming trip to Arkansas(tomorrow and Thursday). Then we headed over to Grammy's to see Kelli and the kids (Keith's cousin) and Aunt Jean and Uncle Doug. It's always great to spend time with them all and this time was fun as always...plus I got an awesome candied nut recipe thanks to Aunt Jean that I plan on using at Christmas YUMMY!! (Thanks Jean)
Sunday night we got to go meet Chad's girlfriend at a Christmas worship/concert up town. It was great and I really liked Greta (Chad--she's a keeper)! Although it was hard to hear I also got to catch up with Todd and Steph who we haven't seen forever so it was a fun-no kid evening!
We just got back today from Lucy's paper signing and seeing her classroom. We decided to go ahead and have her go to Preschool 2 days a week starting Jan 6. She'll be bused to the school around 11 in the morning and then bused home around 230 on Tues and Fri. She'll get occupational/speech/physical therapy while she's there so I am excited to see her progress. I am a bit nervous about her already being in school and being so young but I'm sure she'll be fine. She's going to have more of a kindergarten experience than her brother even because her preschool is in an actual school where she will interact with the other grades at times. SCARY!! I haven't told Gid that...and I don't think I'm going to ...he's so excited about going to kindergarten I don't want him to know about all Lucy will get to do! He did get to meet his principal though! The principal of your school district elementary comes to these meetings for the developmentally delayed kids and he was there so Gideon met him and liked him a lot!
Anyway....I have laundry buzzing so I gotta go! Hope everyone is healthy and happy and not too stressed out about Christmas! Love to all!

Our Dancing Girl

An Unfortunete Turn of Events......

Poor little Silly Fish....he was just too good to be true....this morning I found him floating in the plant...either the new fish we put in last week contaminated him....or the water I added to the depleting tank was not chemically balanced....but yes....it is so.....he met the flusher this morning...how sad...how sad...he was a good little fish....and so here is Gideon and Mommy's epitaph for the loss of this poor fellow:

Little Fish....red and white
So sweet blowing bubbles through the night
How we'll miss your kisses and wiggles
always sure to give us the giggles
Down the flusher you must go
For your true smell will soon be shown
How sad the loss of our little friend
who met a peaceful quiet end
We love you little silly fish
we say goodbye with a flush and a swish

:) Have a good day!

And there were shepards watching their flocks.....

So, it's kinda hard to see most of these pictures because it was so dark in the auditorium but as you can see in the first picture with Nani....Gideon and Lucy were sheep in the Christmas play at church last night and it was a riot!! They had a dress rehersal on Sat morning and there was stuffing EVERYWHERE!!!! The kids were picking it off their costumes and throwing it on eachother! We had to do some repair work when it was all done. Lucy absolutely refused to cooperate on Sat and go on stage so I figured she wouldn't do it last night but....she surprised us and was a total ham! Gideon was a little upset because he did not have a bigger part. The whole evening he was sure to remind mom, dad and Nani that next year when he was six, he would be up with the big kids by Mary and Joseph. Lucy was really cute on the stage. There was a part where all the sheep were to go to sleep and lay on their pillows....well Lucy decided she was going to camp out on her pillow the whole time not just at that one part. The picture of her with the candle in front of her is at the end of the play when all the other sheep were to be standing up helping to sing Go Tell it on the Mountain. Lucy decided she'd rather sleep more...so she moved with the rest of the crowd....taking her pillow with her and her sheep hat off...she plopped her pillow down in the midst of everyone and went to sleep...peeking up every once in a while to check out the crowd...hilarious!! She is so funny! Anyway it was a cute play and the kids did well for as little of parts they had!

We got a lot done this weekend...almost all our Christmas shopping is done...in the bag...literally in our bedroom closet. Friday night we hit the local shops and picked out our annual ornament of the year at Candy Cane. Gideon chose a "bass" it's really a rainbow trout but that's alright! Saturday we finished up shopping in Toledo. Let me just say....the crowds were terrible! We decided to take the kids with us after their practice on Sat and Keith spent a lot of the afternoon in the car watching videos with kids while I ran in and out of stores, standing in massive lines to pay!! I thought if we went 3 weeks before Christmas we'd be good....NOT AT ALL!! I think everyone had the same idea. I spent 45 minutes in Kohls and only 20 was spent shopping. I had to stand in line for almost a 1/2 hour to pay!! AHHHHH!! That's enough to drive me to insanity! Toys R Us was actually the most efficient! Once I found what I wanted I had to only wait for one person to check out ahead of me!

Sat. night we relaxed and unwound with Keith's mom and dad. It was really a great weekend despite the rushing around and we got a lot done.
This week is going to be a big one! Today is our regular manic Monday and was added to by Lucy's eye appointment this morning which...HALLELUJAH her eye sight is back up to 2020 in both eyes so now we can stop the patch for awhile and don't have to go back until March. Then we took Gideon to Preschool and will pick him up at 330....come home and at 445 rush Lucy to Dance. Lucy has dance 4 outof the 5 nights this week because her recital is on Friday. Tomorrow Keith leaves for San Fran for another meeting and then Lucy has dance and then we may head to my moms because Wed. morning I work at the hospital. Thurs Keith comes back and Lucy has one more dance practice before Friday on which we go to the dance recital at 6:00 watch Lucy....leave the kids with my mom and rush to arrive late at Keith's work Christmas which I love because his boss is an exceptionally excellent cook. We usually have steak on his indoor grill...shrimp, scallops....a really good salad...potato and veggie....and a yummy dessert! We'll probably make it just for the dessert but it all depends on how Lucy's dance goes!! Anyway Sat is a free day but we may go over to Keith's parents to see cousins coming into town. On Sunday we have most of the day free after church but then we're going to Stella Blue's to watch some people sing and visit with Chad and his new girlfriend who will be in town....anyway...I feel a little frazzled! It doesn't help that Keith is gone the entire middle of this week and the next but I must not complain about his job in this economy! I hope everyone is having a less frantic holiday season! Love to all!

Gettin' Ready for Christmas

This weekend we all had a great time decorating the Christmas tree and putting up the ornaments...all of us...that is...except Ella.....last weekend when we were at the wedding Lucy came down with what appeared to be larangitis...Gideon started coming down with a croupy cough on Thanksgiving and poor little Ella started Saturday morning. Last night she was weezing so bad that at 4 am I had Keith get the card table out and set up a croup tent with the humidifier. She is doing ok today but obviously not feeling well....so goes our 3rd illness of the year....thank you preschool!!! Anyway other than that we are enjoying this snowy Monday morning tucked in here at home. Lucy's got dance class tonight which she is totally excited about and I'm sure Gideon will come home with homework to do. My dad left about 2 hours ago to get on a plane and fly to Israel. I am suppose to be his master of e-mails while he's gone. He'll e-mail me and then I have a list of individuals to e-mail with the information. It scares me that he going in such a dangerous time in the world. He will be able to spend Christmas in Bethlehem which will be really neat though....Gideon asked if he was going to see the stable and visit baby Jesus.....so sweet!!! He will spend a lot of his time in the city but some of the time he will be walking Palestinian children to school. I guess the kids have to walk by a Jewish settlement and a lot of times when they walk past kids get stoned and there have been occasions where the kids have gotten their arms broke....etc....sounds pretty scary!! Dad says that for this job he has to know some arabic and has to be able to run fast.....GREAT!!! That really helps my nerves....Please pray for him and his safety!! It will be hard for the whole family over the holidays because of his absence!! Anyway so that's what's new! Hope all are well!! Love ya!!

Weird Genetics

So, some things are obviously passed down from generation to generation. Such as: eye color, hair color, stature, even teeth alignment....other things are moderatly obvious like character and personality. The things that really weird me out though are the things that are seemingly not genetic but obviously have no other source. Take for instance what has weirded me out the last couple of days about Gideon and me. Ok so Keith and I have made it a point to try not to pass our aversions and fears onto our children. We want them to make there own decisions up about what they like or dislike in areas of food and fun. We give them a selection of options and try to "expose" them to as many as possible so that they can see what they like or don't like. We also try to not "fear" or in the matter of food say "I don't like that" in front of them so they can format their own opinions. That is why I find it strange that Gideon has an aversion to hair....it totally grosses him out...in the tub....on the floor....in the sink.....on food (who wouldn't) etc.... because I get incredibly grossed out by hair as well....it makes me gag sometimes but I have never really showed that to the kids and yet he somehow he has that same reflex....and even weirder (is that a word?) I have just found out in the last couple days that he absolutely hates oranges...in fact he had to sit at the table on Sunday for 30 minutes until he ate a half of a clementine orange slice and he gagged it all the way down...ironically it has only been in the last few years that I have begun to eat oranges...I hated them as a kid and would gag on them just like Gideon...I can sort of stand them now but every once in a whlie I still get that reaction to an orange....anyway...call it coincidence....call it paranoia....call it whatever....I just think it's really weird that somehow....what can only be described as genetics I guess are passed down from generation to generation....so the next time I judge another parent for pressing their own fears on their children I will think twice....it may just be weird genetics!!

Wedding Bliss

This weekend we took a trip out to PA again to watch my friend Traci get married! HALLELUJAH!! It was really awesome because we have prayed so long for Traci to find someone because she's just so awesome and our prayers were answered! It was a complete whirlwind! We left early Friday morning with just Ella and came back around 530 on Sunday night. I was a bit nervous because I was asked to sing and I didn't know the accompaniest at all but it ended up going well. Because Traci has so many friends over the years she had 6 bridesmaids (mostly family) and then had 10 honorary attendants (that's what Ang and I were) The 10 of us walked down the aisle one at a time with our flowers and put them in a vase at the front of the church and then they brought in the mothers and the bridesmaids. It was a beautiful ceremony and Traci (as you can see in the pictures) looked amazing!!! The reception was at an old school with a huge double spiral staircase and large fireplace in the foyer. I love the historical buildings in the Philly area! They are so beautiful!! Anyway we brought my cousins home with us for Thanksgiving and even got to visit with friends in Lancaster before heading home. It was a really great weekend and Keith and I were thouroghly exhausted at the end of it!

Well, I hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving. We are headed to my moms where all her brothers and sisters are coming home. We haven't been togethor in 5 years so it should be really fun!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Busy Busy Busy

So here is the first real picture taken with our new camera...Keith would be so thrilled to know I posted this....anyway he was talking to Chad the other night and I was messing around so oh well!! I really like it..the camera that is....it's got a huge screen in the back and seems so easy to operate! Keith has never really appeared on my blog except in pictures of the whole family so I thought I would post his pic! Anyway our lives have been total and complete chaos lately so I haven't had a whole lot of down time! Gideon, of course is in preschool 3 days a week and now, lately with Lucy I have felt like she is in preschool too! We have been taking her to meet with therapists, have monitered "play times" where a whole group of people sit around and watch her play listening to what she says and seeing her inter-act with other kids, we've had a home visit, opthomologist appointments, we've been patching her eye 4 hours a day, we are potty training her and on top of everything else she still has dance class once a week and Christmas Play practice for the church program! AHHHHH! This has put her in extremely cranky moods and she is very impatient! That, along with Ella into just about everything and cranky with a cold herself...and did I mention she still wants to nurse EVERY 2 HOURS! another AHHHHH! Keith says to just cut her off but it's hard when I am at my wits end with Lucy worried and stressed and she cries and cries until I pick her up and then tears and bites my shirt until I give in.....it's going to be a hard "weaning" in a few months! We are preparing to go to my friend Traci's wedding this weekend which I am really looking forward too, but my mom had to have "emergency" surgury last week and the recovery has been harder than expected and now I'm not sure she'll be available to watch the kids...another AHHHHH!!! Anyway, I know that I will survive all this it just feels like total chaos with the holidays quickly approaching! I have done most of my shopping on ebay so far getting good deals so that's coming togethor at least!

Gideon turned the big 5 yesterday! Can you believe it...5 years old! He was so excited about turning 5 that's all he could talk about! "Mom...you have to measure me....I'm 5 now" Anyway we celebrated in shifts for his b-day! Friday night we took him out to get his first pet....a fish..but realized you can't just get a fish....you have to get a tank and let the water get just right before you can put fish in it.....it takes 24 hours...so we got all the stuff....took Gideon out to his favorite McDonalds for supper and went home to set it up! On Sat...we ate Pizza at my moms for supper and then he opened his gift from them which was legos...the big kid kind....my mom apologized knowing I had little kids that would eat the little parts but I thought that was fine...now he has something special he can play all by himself at the table with Dad or Mom. Anyway on Monday he got his birthday breakfast of powdered donuts with his Papa while I took Lucy to a "play therapy session" Then we came home and he had his choice of lunch...Chicken Nuggets, Peas and Applesauce. He then took chocolate cupcakes to preschool to share with his friends. While at preschool he got to ....and I quote..."ride in the rocket ship" because it was his birthday...I have no idea what that means....anyway after that we rushed Lucy to dance class and proceeded to go back to the pet shop to pick out fish...He picked out two goldfish...one he named Stripes and the other he named Silly....well stupid mommy forgot she had to go to Walmart too and couldn't leave the fish in the cold car or they'd die and didn't want to risk questions....so I took the fish put them in the diaper bag and ran into Walmart with the kids...we did our shopping and then went to check out....and....dadadada......forgot my purse in the car....so I had to take the kids....and the "secret fish" out to the car....with Gideon saying really loud..."mommy I didn't tell about the fish in the bag" GREAT!!!! Anyway so I run back outside with the fish and kids...(I don't know why I didn't just leave them out there to begin with...) grab my purse run back in with the load in tow....pay and run out.....drive like a mad man to pick up Lucy and get home before the precious fish died.....We got home, and ate Enchiladas (made by Gid and Keith) for birthday supper...while I went and aclimated the fish to the tank. Gideon....luckily got a gift from Uncle Drew and Aunt Melinda in the mail so he actually had gift to open....which he loved!!!(Hot wheels cars and a transformer)....the fish were acclimated but I could tell the little one...Stripes was not doing well....well...this morning....he took a ride in the old throne....poor little guy....at least Gideon didn't have time to fall too in love with him.....We still have Silly and he seems to be doing ok....he ate alot this morning so hopefully he lives! Anyway last night we ended the night getting phone calls from family for Gideon's b-day and playing with his new toys! It was chaotic but fun and Gideon said this morning...."Is it still my birthday" and I had to break the news to him that it was not (although we are meeting Grammy and Papa tonight for his b-day) anyway I love that little booger! He is turning into such a big boy that during the day doesn't need his mommy much but at night after snack still wants me to scratch his back for him! We love him so much and are so proud of him! I see him growing up before my eyes and it's so hard to let him go...a little at a time...he's been asking all these questions lately about heaven and hell and Satan and Jesus and what Jesus did on the cross...understanding more and more about what it all means....it's exciting to see his spiritual maturity but scary at the same time....I want so much for him to understand the gospel of grace and Christ's love for him at an early age...to have no fear and to trust his savior! The responsiblity of a parent is overwhelming to me sometimes when I think about spiritual things....I just don't want to screw him up!!! Ya know what I mean moms? Anyway! This blog has gone on long enough!!! Hope everyone's well! Blog ya later...

What 4 bucks can buy you.....

So I am really excited! I got my Dominican Vanilla and Ranchero...both large containers and it only cost me 4 bucks!! Awesome deal for real vanilla....even in Walmart real vanilla is about 8 bucks for 4 tbls....I got like 3-4 cups for 2 bucks! Woo Hoo!! Now I can make Dominican Rice and Beans and lots of yummy desserts! A big thanks goes out to Carol and Margaret! I am very thankful for my Dominican connections! :) Anyway so enough of that babble! This past week was a pretty busy one and the weeks only continue to fly on! Last weekend we spent some time doing some Christmas shopping with Jim and Nancy while my mom took the kids to see Beauty and the Beast on stage at her college. The kids had a blast and we got a lot more accomplished than we normally do! We also bought eachother a new camera with a lithium battery sooooo...therefore now I should always have pictures of things we do and should have no more excuses! I am really excited about it! Our old camera was just...well....old and slow and ate up battery juice big time so this should be much better! Anyway Sunday was a rainy day so we kinda just hung out at home and relaxed. Monday was Lucy's Help Me Grow home visit which went MUCH better than the other session. This time Lucy talked the entire time...answered their questions with ease and put puzzles togethor, colored, cut with scissors etc...at the end the lady said..."from what I've seen today...I don't think Lucy will have any problems passing the social aspect of the test" AMEN!!! What a blessing that Lucy cooperated! She stated also that Lucy does not have to go to the preschool every day of the week. She could just go on therapy days for her occupational and speech therapy! AWESOME!! I am excited about that prognosis! Anyway it was a much better experience. Today I am catching up on laundry, helping Gid with his homework, trying to work on some Christmas presents and fixing supper for my mom..she has her surgury tomorrow. Tonight I have bible study which I'm hosting...my house is not that clean but we are all moms I hope everyone understands. Tomorrow is Lucy's second eye appointment so it will be good to see how she's progressing. Thursday I am working at the hospital and then in the evening at the auction...so the next few days are going to be a real blur! Hope all's well! Gotta Run!

Weekend Fun

Ok---so now that the vote has been cast I can move onto more important things like....what we did last weekend!!! So last weekend we made a trip up North to visit Gideon's cousins Andrew and AJ!! We had so much fun! We got to their house just as trick-or-treat was beginning and we all "tried" to eat Kelli's yummy pizza while the kids "helped" pass out candy....(Just as a side note.. I think their house was a hot spot for trick-or-treaters! Either the trick-or-treaters wanted in on the pizza party we were having inside or they each recieved about 4 candy bars--we couldn't quite get the kids to understand the "one per person" philosophy...they each wanted to give one to every kid :) Anyway it was fun and relaxing....lots of laughs...Saturday the men braved the cold to fish while we took the kids to Krispy Kremes where the mommy's ....uh...I mean the kids ate free donuts! Then we headed to Fred Meijer Gardens....and let me just say...Kelli was so right....THEY ARE AWESOME....great place for kids! It was a lot of fun! Gideon's highlights were the giant horse, the tree house, the farm house and the plant that eats flies ( by the way Kelli...my mom told me she had a plant like that when I was growing up and we used to feed it bolonga....hilarious) Anyway it was lots of fun. The day ended out with steaks grilled to perfection by my new favorite steak cheif Marc and a caramel custard sundae from Culvers compliments of my husband...YUMMY!! On Sunday the guys tried one more hand at fishing and then came home in time to allow Kelli and I to have a kids-free lunch at Mongolian BBQ...Another YUMMY! I hadn't been there in like 9 years and although the waiter was a bit clingy the food was great and so was the company!! (thanks Kelli) We headed home after lunch and just relaxed and prepared for the week ahead which has been great so far! If you all want to see pictures you'll have to view Kelli's Blog....sorry....I know I'm pathetic...I forgot the camera---AGAIN!!!!! Love to all!!

Vote Early.....Vote Often....Vote Repcratic

So...the vote has been cast with my kids...now I need to decide! I have sometime in the next 6 hours to cast my vote and I must truthfully admit...this has not been an easy one for me. I have done my research.....at least as much research as I can stand...and understand...because let me just say that I do not and will never understand economics, eco-logics (did I just make that word up?)and psycologics....I must base my decisions on what I percieve to be the truth and unfortunetly that's all it is...a perception. These times always frustrate me because though opinion resounds again and again....truth is never transparent...I watched the Saddleback church interview of each candidate and thought....yes now...after hearing their opinions on faith I will beable to deduce the truthful one...the difference between the true believer......and the one that is "saying the right things" and I must admit...after watching the entire interview of both candidates on some real tough faith questions...I came up at an even tie.....the problem was...they both sounded fine....sounded like believers....and the truth of the matter is....they both may very well be!!! I cannot judge my brothers based upon issues and works....I must take them at their words... and their words were....they believed that they were sinners and Jesus Christ was their Savior....so I am forced to choose based upon my intellect and my opinion....which my friends as a sinner myself is honestly quite flawed....so anyway...I will cast my vote today with a prayerful heart knowing full well that at the end of this election....God will still be God....he will still save lives....he will still love us and care for us.....he will still listen to our prayers and answer with miracles......that in the end....history may look back on this day and just remember the candidates name.....in a long list of names...(does anyone really ever remember Millard Filmore or Franklin Pierce?:) Anyway....I guess I am just saying....I am not really worried about it....because if I worry about it I am doing what God has instructed me not to do...."do not worry about tomorrow...for tomorrow will worry about itself...." I will not waste my time in great worry and fret if the candidate of my choice does not win for I know that God can use any circumstance, any person and any place in his plans....not just those circumstances, persons or places I know or believe to be or live near or in....so enough political debate....at the end of the day it will be over and done.....and we'll all say....Amen....Amen.....Amen and Again I say AMEN

I Got my Baby Back Baby Back Baby Back....

Hey Ya'll!! Ella is feeling better and Daddy is home...this all = a very happy mommy!!!
It took Ella almost a week to get over what she had. I think Friday night she started to perk up and be more like herself! I am glad....I have never had a baby sick that little with the pukes and it was muy difficult!!! She wanted to be held literally 24/7 and was irritated when the other kids cried...when the other kids made too much noise...or basically when I moved at all! I am feeling a lot more freedom and to Keith's joy....currently not wanting any more kids anymore! :) It was really wearing on me! It was one of those times that it's hard to see the end and you lose major hope that life will ever return to "normal" again! Well anyway...the weekend here was pretty uneventful. Friday night I had a food auction that ended at 930 rather than 11! I was thrilled! I got to come home and spend some time with my husband who I hadn't really seen for a week! Sat...it was cold, windy, rainy and gray....so Keith and I decided to put all the outside stuff away for the winter and clean out the garage! We got it done...with one watching kids and the other cleaning/organizing ..switching back and forth..the garage is now beautifully organized and clean as well as the back shed being packed full for the winter...YAYYY!!!! We went out to supper on Sat night with Keith's mom and dad....it's alway nice to have people to go out to eat with who love us despite our faults and our loud and sometimes difficult children! We love to hang out with our parents because of just this..we can relax and have adult conversation and are able to "enjoy" our kids at the same time! Thanks to our mom's and dad's I only hope I am as good of a grandparent as you guys all are! On Sunday we went to church...which we have not been to our church in about a month so it was good to be back....the rest of the day we just kinda relaxed and enjoyed eachother! So, that was the weekend.
Yesterday, Lucy had her "Help Me Grow" appointment which is a free screening done by the county to see if Lucy is delayed in Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Hearing, Vision and Speech. We have had some concerns about Lucy's speech and Gross Motor because of her eye issues. Dr Welter the opthamologist said that she may be slightly delayed in these other areas because she has to work so hard to see, and we had noticed especially the speech delay...although in the three weeks between filling out the mountain of paperwork that needs to be done for this testing and her actually having the test...her speech has greatly improved. Well...I have positives and negatives about the experience so here goes my vent.....
When we arrived...not knowing what to expect we were escorted to the hallway where Lucy was weighed and measured. Then we were sent to see the first therapist who did the Fine and Gross motor. When I walked into the room with Lucy I was trying to be positive and I said hello and brought Lucy over to the table and sat her next to the woman (who looked rather cross) anyway so then I pulled out a chair some distance away from them and I said to the woman...."do I just sit here then?"....the woman very rudely responded..." You can just sit out in hall!" I responded..."I'm sorry, I am new at this" with a smile and quickly exited as not to "upset" her. Anyway...once I got out in the hall the workers who were out there stated in shocked voices that they were surprised I was able to leave Lucy and she was ok....I said "Well the woman said I needed to just come and sit in the hall" they were very surprised but apologized for her and said..."All the therapists are different I guess".....therefore....Lucy did her entire Gross and Fine motor testing without me....and later I came to find out that the individual therapists did not read my notes on Lucy so they didn't know she couldn't see right....therefore...where as with me at home...given some time for her eyes to focus....Lucy could do the fine motor stuff....with the crotchedy old cranky woman (excuse the name....I'm frustrated) she couldn't do any of it and failed both fine and gross miserably. I was so frustrated! I knew she was behind with gross motor....because of her eyes...but given time...I knew she could do the fine motor...HOW FRUSTRATING!!!! But anyway...I was rudely excused from the therapy session so I couldn't explain any of this and the judgement was passed. Lucy amazingly did excellent in the speech session! She soared through many of the words and syllabels she is suppose to be saying. She is slightly delayed in speech because by the time a child is three they like to see the child using the "f" sound and she does not...but the speech therapist...who happens to be a friend of the family stated that it wouldn't take much for Lucy to get that worked out! So....her first therapist was a negative experience and her second...was very positive....then came the exit interview....now this woman was the only person who read my numerous notes and studied the tests that I had given Lucy at home...she knew the background....but unfortunetly read into a lot of it too much!!! She saw things like....rarely eats something that is not food....drools occasionally.....chokes occasionally...and occasionally is slightly delayed in response to a question...but eventually and a lot of times in discipline scenarios...will eventually fully respond....and oh....the biggest....she read that Lucy has a first cousin who's autistic...and the assumption was made that Lucy had "social" issues and needed to be put into a preschool...4 MORNINGS A WEEK.....because she had trouble socializing with others....WHAT!!!!! Lucy is soooooo incredibly social!! She'll talk to anyone.....Occupational therapy needed....yes definetly...Speech therapy needed....yes definetly but a preschool????WHAT!!! Anyway she stated that Lucy would get the therapy on 1 day of the week at the preschool but then the other days she would have a real chance to interact with other kids...I was like...UHMMMMMM she interacts with other kids fine in dance class, in Sunday school.....at home with her siblings...with cousins...etc.....!!! I by no means think she needs socialization! Does her occasional drooling and occasional choking upset me and is it a concern....yes will it be improved by simple therapy with the occupational/speech therapist....most likely YES! I inquired as to if she could just get the therapy and not go to the preschool (FYI-the speech therapist...who also had stood with me in the hall and seen Lucy on the Gross Motor testing said that she thought Lucy was great at communication and social issues and would only need some help with her "f" sound) anyway the woman said reluctantly that yes she could just get therapy and not have to go to the preschool....I was relieved but frustrated seeing as though this woman was taking what I had written to the extreme! How frustrating! Anyway we are scheduled for a follow up on Nov 17th for Lucy to see an actual occupational therapist and see Kathy again to re-evaluate her speech...then from there I can set up therapist appointments and in the mean time...work on my own with Lucy !! So anyway...I am not in complete denial...I know Lucy has some issues....and I know partly why....a lot of it has to do with her eyes....it takes her time to do things ....to focus and to trust because her eyes play tricks on her.....I know she needs therapy but these women made me kinda upset (as you can easily see) with there "assumptions" based on events that I seldom if ever see....events that any "normal" child ( a friend of mine has a 5 year old that occasionally still drools and is incredibly intellegent)without eye problems might have! Oh well.....I need to stop the rage....I guess that's my venting on the issue.....
Great news.....Lucy is pretty much going peepee on the potty all the time and occasionally goes number 2...for all you non mothers that's probably more than you want to know...but it is a huge relief to me and Keith.....we are only weeks away from cutting the diaper bill in half!!! YAY!!!

Birthday Bummer

So....I have joined the 29 forever club....the occasion was Sunday and let me tell you it was painful....not because I was turning 30....which was difficult in itself anyway and not because Sunday's weather was bad....no it was cold but beautiful....no the reason my birthday was a bummer was that my husband was in North Carolina and 5 minutes after he left Ella came down with the puke flu....so today is Tuesday....Keith's still gone....Ella still has the flu....and my life pretty much stinks right now....I'm trying to be positive...though it doesn't look like it...but anyway I am.....it just seems that every time Keith goes on a trip of some sort or another one of our kids is puking....and I hate puking and don't handle it very well....and here I am ....alone again to handle it....luckily the last few days I've had the help of my mom's....I don't know what I would do without them....three kids and the puke flu....Ella not sleeping AT ALL....therefore mommy not sleeping AT ALL....makes for some pretty hard days....I love my mom in love though because she stayed last night and the night before to handle the other two kids! So my actual birthday was pretty wrotten....Do you think I could get a do-over to really have a day to truely morn the loss of my 20's ? :) Ya I know pathetic....a positive note is that Keith and I are now in the same decade....that only comes around every 7 years so it's pretty rare :)....

Keith did take me out for my birthday on Friday before he left....he let me go on a shopping spree which he never does and I found out through much trying on that I am now in size 4 jeans!!! WOW>>>>I am really shocked.....but that was a nice birthday present...too bad I'll probably not maintain that weight but, although to the outside world I appear thin I always judge myself harshly....as all women do and it's nice to feel thin again! Ok...so that 's all Hope everyone is weller than we are!

Hopefully you can all see Kung Fu Gideon!!

Silly Scarecrow Day

This is how Gideon went to school today! Hilarious!!

Busy Weekend=Exaustion

This weekend, though incredibly fun, completely wore me out! That and the girls haven't been sleeping well lately! We had a great week last week with Gideon meeting the sheriff on Wed. at preschool and learning all sorts of self defense moves to use on a stranger. I couldn't believe they actually taught him moves but he came home with all of these things to do if a stranger grabs your hand or trys to take you ....I must say I was really glad they taught him that....it makes a mother of a incredibly social child more at ease to know he now understands that not everyone out there can be trusted and we must be careful! Anyway he also got to ride in the sheriff car and got a junior deputy badge which he wore for about 3 days straight! On Friday he got to have a camp out at school and play in a tent, roast mallow's and sing camp songs...man I wish I was in preschool! This week he meets an ambulance driver and gets to ride in the back of it and he also has dress like a silly scarecrow on Wednesday and is having a harvest party! He gets to do so much fun stuff...I'm jeolous!
The weekend was really great we met up with Aunt Jean, Uncle Doug, Kelli, Marc, Andrew, AJ, Uncle Jay, Aunt Les, Jacob and Josh at Grammy and Papa's house and went on a treasure hunt, carved pumpkins, made caramel apples and went on the flying squirrel again...we ended the evening with trick or treat through the camp grounds and a hot dog roast! It was a great weekend the kids were wiped out on Sunday evening! I'll get some pictures and maybe some video of the events eventually....I'm really failing at the camera thing!
Anyway this week was filled with lots of news too! Some bad...some awesome...The good news is that my older brother called and they are pregnant with #2! That is really exciting! More cousins for the kids....Gideon is already hoping it's a boy! That make 2 new cousins this winter with Drew and Melinda due in Feb and Brad and Jana in March! The family is expanding by another 4 feet!!
The bad news of the week is that Keith's cousin Cody....who's only 19 was diagnosed with stage 3 Melanoma. They did surgery to remove a spot on his back but it is in most of his lymph nodes so that's not a great thing. He is going to be placed on a chemo-pill that will make him really sick, but will hopefully work. Keith's aunt and uncle have gone through a lot with 3 of their 4 children's familys hit with cancer in the last few years....all young ...please pray if you think about it! I am sure they feel much like Job at this time! Satan is attacking and they need the strength and the power that only God can give to fight this!
Hope everyone is well! Love to all!

Butchering Day

By all means click on the picture if you can and enlarge it! The kids faces are hilarious and totally expressive of how they acted. Yes...poor little chicky had to die a week early. He couldn't stand up anymore because....as the nurse in my mother diagnosed....he had hip displasia or something the matter with his hips. Anyway he couldn't really walk very well without falling down and so he had to die early. Keith wanted to help and although I had an auction and couldn't be there for the blessed event here is what I have been told....and it sounds like it was hilarious. I dropped Gid, Lucy and Ella off early because I had an auction to go to. Before I left Gideon "read the chicken his last rights" by feeding him his last meal and giving him a little pet...Lucy fluffed his feathers a bit just to make him look nice for his "showing". Then, Nani, Gideon and Lucy went downstairs to prepare the "chopping block" and sharpen the ax. I guess Gideon was all about chopping the chickens head off. Keith arrived and they brought the chicken downstairs. Mom put the chickens head between two nails to steady it and it closed its eyes as if preparing for the inevitable. Gideon was ready to use the ax until this point....as soon as the chicken was "in restraints Gideon backed away and turned his head...he couldn't bring himself to do it...although I did learn from him that the chicken died before nani chopped it's head off because it closed it's eyes. Well....off with the head and the body, as usual flapped and fluttered and the head lay still. The kids watched but wouldn't touch or help with the gutting and de-feathering until Nani put the body in the freezer and took them back outside to "clean up". Then.....with the body gone...Gideon and Lucy touched and examined the head of the chicken...looking at its eyes and ears and then examining the chicken feet.....mom had given them an anatomy lesson earlier in the gutting and Keith thought it was pretty cool too. They got to see the gullet and the gizzard and open it up and see the feed the chicken had eaten for it's last meal so Gideon said that was cool. Anyway....Gideon was a little nervous and would only touch the chicken head and feet but Lucy....my child of no fear picked up the head and carried it to the burn bag and then went back for the feet and put them it.....it was a good anatomy and life lesson for the kids and I'm glad they had it but I wish I could've been there because it was probably quite hilarious to see the kids reactions.

Pictures to Follow

This past week and weekend just flew by! It feels like I have been running non-stop only to find myself at Monday again ready to start a new week of running! Last week, on Wednesday Gideon blest me with a horrendous cold(which he had shared with Keith first and then me). It was one of those bad ones that you can't breathe and it hurts to move and you can't taste your food and your nose is sore Yah.....anyway for 5 days I was in pretty much torture, but then Sunday afternoon it started to clear and I began to feel better. Hopefully we are done with it now and the girls don't get it! The preschool handbook said and I quote "Don't be surprised if your family is especially sick this first year of school. The children will bring home and share their virus'" Yipee!! I hope we are done sharing for awhile! Anyway, so, despite feeling horrible we still went to mom's and fed the chickens on Wed and Thurs night and they literally attacked us in the pen! I have fed a lot of chickens in my lifetime but never have I come across such an aggresive bunch! Gideon even got a little scared! We would open the door to the pen and they would come sqauking and pecking at us! They would peck our shoes and ankles until we put the food in the feeders and then all 65 would try and crowd around the same feeder to eat pecking and fighting and smooshing and standing on eachother. So, I decided maybe they needed more food. I gave them more but that didn't seem to do any good. Thursday night they did the same thing! Oh well! Think how exciting it will be when we have to move them to crates to take to the butcher! Fun Fun Fun! Oh well! Anyway Friday was a slow day and I didn't really feel like doing much seeing as how I felt like a truck ran over me so we just stayed at home. Sat morning I went to the quilt shop at the village with mom to pick out some material for quilts I'm going make for the girls room which won't be painted/decorated until next year this time but I think it will take me that long to make these...so I'm starting now!! Sat afternoon we headed to Camp Palmer where they were having a "free fun" day for the community. We got there a little late but still had time for a tractor ride, sliding down the slide and the best of all......"The Flying Squirrel". Gideon and Gramma were the only one's who actually participated but it was fun to watch and I think we're all going to go next weekend because Nancy is going to rent it for a day. Anyway, "The Flying Squirrel" is where you put on a helmet and a full harness and they hook the back of the harness to a rope that hangs over a 20-30 ft high bar and connects to a group of spotters behind you. You say "Spotter's Ready" and they answer "Ready" and then you shout "Running" and you take off running in the opposite direction of the spotters. They pull and you fly up into the air still running until about 20 ft and then they let you down easy. I didn't know if Gideon would do it but Gramma did it first and of course he was in. They hooked him in and he yelled what he needed to yell and then took of running. I told him to pretend he was Peter Pan and think of a happy thought and he would fly and when he got up he spread out his arms like Peter Pan and flew! He was so brave and so funny! It was a blast. Once I get the pictures off keith's cell I'll post them! I can't wait to take my turn next weekend! After that, we went to Gramma's for a hotdog roast with some of their friends. The kids were pretty cranky so we didn't stay long. Gideon kept commenting on " Why were there so many old ladies at Gramma's" I had to get him out of there before they actually heard him!
Sunday we went to church as usual and then Gideon and I went Grocery shopping while Keith took the girls home. It was such a beautiful day when we got home we went on a long bikeride! It was such a nice day I hope we have more before it gets too cold! For supper I made Keith stuffed Jalepeno peppers and spicy buffalo wings (new recipes) and though they were chaotic to make they tasted awesome! Very much a "keeper" recipe! I am thinking about make a batch of the wings for this weekend but we'll see how the week goes! We are kinda busy with Bible Study here tomorrow night and auction and Ella's 9 month appointment the other nights! Hope everyone is doing well and feeling well! Love to all!

Oh How Time Flies

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Ok, I know, I am really wierd posting these images of myself on the computer but I am sorting through all my pic's and came across pictures of myself pregnant with all three kids and I noticed how happy, awake, relaxed, full of energy, normal, peaceful I looked in my first pregnancy and how tired, worn out, baggy eyed and lathargic I looked in my last....hilarious....if I have another imagine how bad I'll look :)....Anyway enough of that stuff...so this past weekend was really fun. I worked at the hospital on Friday morning and got to catch up with all my work friends and then I worked the auction in the evening and got some good deals on stuff.....$1 a loaf on Aunt Millie's all natural, whole wheat bread and Thomas English Muffins......$3.50 on a large bag of Starbucks coffee.....&1.75 on boxes of Cheerios, Honey Bunches of Oats and Trix cereal.... anyway...there were not that many people there so stuff went really low and I was a happy shopper/worker! On Sat. Keith wanted to watch the bucks smear Minnesota so he watched the kids and I went shopping for shoes to wear to my friend Traci's wedding...it was so nice to be out without the kids, I could take my time, try stuff on and just listen as other kids screamed....ahhh.....so relaxing and nice...when I got home we headed to Keith's mom and dads for a yummy supper and then a trip to the park and fishing...it was a beautiful day and lots of fun. On Sunday Keith went fishing with a buddy so we headed one last time to the zoo with Papa Roynon. We tried to see the things the kids always skip this time so we got to see the snakes and the monkeys..it wasn't too crowded so it was very nice and the kids...for the most part behaved so that was good. Dad kept looking and seeing an aniamel and saying...."Oh my goodness Lucy look at that" so Lucy started saying....oh my goodness papa....oh my goodness it was hilarious! The aniamels were really active so it was fun...the bears, monkeys and hippos were right up against the glass staring at the kids and they loved every minute of it! Keith brought home pizza for supper when we got home so it was a very nice evening! Well that's it from us...have a great week everyone!

No Way!!! We Landed on the Moon!!

Guess what Friday was at Preschool? Yep! They were studying the letter A and Astronauts. They made astronaut helmets, paper "rockets" ate what real astronauts eat and took a walk on the moon! Gideon came home looking so hilarious in this helmet and yelling BLAST OFF!!! BLAST OFF!!! 3 2 1 BLAASSSSTTTT OFFFFFF!!! as he ran around the yard throwing his paper airplane...I mean rocket :) I had to take a picture of him! It was red day also (the color of the week) and if he didn't wear red he would have gotten a red dot on his nose....or so he tells me! So he got to try out his new preschool t-shirt too! He is having SO MUCH FUN at preschool....meeting lots of new friends and learning about all sorts of stuff from astronauts to Adam. Anyway, it's really good to see him so happy about school....I know those days are numbered! I am cherishing every one!!

Keith and I attended a marriage conference at church this weekend that was awesome! It was called "Love and Respect".....I felt like maybe we were a little too young to be going and we don't have a whole lot of "big" marriage issues yet but we decided it was never to early to work on problems and went for prevention therapy :) It was so great and applicable! Keith and I got a ton out of it! I even started to apply one of the biggest things the speaker told the women to do with their husbands and that was just be with them and not talk, right after and it worked! And all of you who know me well know that "not talking" is an incredible feat for me! :) But Keith completely opened up and started talking about stuff which is an incredible feat for him! It was cool and I'd highly recommend this conference!

Ok enough blabbing about the marriage conference! Hope all's doing well!

What happens when.......

Well...a. few days ago....I seem to recall Keith saying...."Have you seen Gideon's sippy cup? I can't find it"....I believe I responded...."I think it's in the fridge but I don't know...." WRONG.....

Wish you had smella blog? I bet not....found it today.....that was last weekend....it was sitting in our sunny window in the front under some toys behind the couch....Yum Yum Yum!!!

Chocolate Milk anyone??

Almost Forgot.....

Ella started clapping her hands and crawling (finally) this past week!! YAHHHHHYYYYY (mommy says) She is already a happier baby just being mobile (sp) She's behind Lucy in crawler history by almost a month....but then again....Lucy didn't have much chub to lug around. She's a little earlier than Gideon....but then Gideon only crawled for 2 weeks before he started walking....Lucy didn't walk until she was 15 months....so we'll see who's the tortise and the hair in the end..... Anyway...it does have one bad side effect......I miss my little baby already and I am getting that "I want another one" feeling back pretty strong right now....Some would call me crazy.....some would call me delusional....some would look at me and say emphatically...." HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND????".....I would have to agree with all of the above....but that doesn't mean the feeling isn't there.....

Don't worry too much.....it would take a lot for Keith to agree with me to have one more baby...I mean a lot....like a time machine or some magic energy beans! :)

another wish I hadda

We spent the better part of the morning moving chickens from one pen to another.....it was a really wish I hadda camera moment.....Gideon and Lucy were "trying" to help. Gideon would do a pretty good job but was hilarious with comments like he made when he first got upstairs and opened up the pen...to the chickens " Hey guys! You remember me? It's Gideon" and then later as he was carrying on his seemingly one sided conversation with the chickens...."You know what?......we're gonna eat ya" :) Poor chicks....and they thought they had a friend in Gideon :) Lucy tried with all of her might to help move them as with a big smile she would smoosh them between her little hands...them chirping desperately for release and carry them to the new pen...slowly so as not to "hurt" the wittle tchiky(which was being smooshed anyway with the death grip she had one it)....But unfortunetly mommy was falling behind and has no pic's to share the blessed event with all....sorry!
The weekend was pretty great....even though it rained a lot. Friday night we went up to Amigo's pizza for the buffet (which Gideon loves) with grammy and papa. We ate 'til we were stuffed and then went to Big Gramma Myers house to visit and dig up flowers to supposedly plant Sat morning. Unfortunetly we woke up Sat to an extreme downpour. ..speaking of extreme did you guys know extreme makeover home edition was in Toledo this past week? A lot of people from wauseon in construction at our church actually helped work on the house...I'll have to find out when it airs so you can all see if you recognize anybody or anything! Anyway so I didn't get the flowers planted. Sat night we headed to Keith's Steiner family get togethor. It was a good time with good company, good food (especially jean's taco dip YUM YUM!!) and great weather despite the morning at home. Unfortunetly we returned to the house on Sat night in time to see the Buckeyes destroy themselves penalty after penalty against USC...I couldn't watch...it just made me sick to my stomach with Keith ....yes quiet Keith (not when it comes to OSU football) yelling at his team from the couch :) Sunday we had a quiet rainy day with the family! Not much to share but a little bit! Hope all's well!

First Day of School!

So Gideon's First Day of Preschool was yesterday. He goes in the afternoon from 1:00-3:30. The preschool is just up the road so we can bike if we want to but yesterday daddy came home from work and we all took him. It wasn't too dramatic because we didn't even get out of the car. You get into a big line up of cars and the teachers come out, unbuckle (if necessary) and escort each child into the church. Gideon jumped out of the car with a nervous but excited look and I teared up as we drove away. I didn't actually cry(which I was happy about) but I was more emotional than I thought I would be. It was a little heart wrenching to leave him there and drive away. He seemed so little! Lucy was a bit distraught. When we came home she kept saying...I want Bubba...I want bubba....she started to cry and I told her we would pick him up after quiet time...she ran and threw herself dramatically on the bed and in a a whimpering voice said I want bubba...she soon got over it ! The teachers escort the kids back out to the car when the day is done so as Gideon was getting in I said..." Hi Buddy" He looked mad...he did not want to come home. He was pretty quiet the rest of the night and has yet to tell us about it all but I know he had fun because he wants to go back today even though he can't until tomorrow.

Lucy had her first dance class as well. She is the youngest in her class but still followed instruction pretty well. She was so funny to watch...hopping around the room with the teacher! She kept talking about her dance cass all night. It was really sweet! She will be even more cute next Monday when she gets to wear the whole outfit!! That's all that's new with us...hope all's well!

Happy 3rd Birthday Lucy!!

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you....Happy Birthday Dear Lucy...Happy Birthday to you!!

Well, it doesn't seem possible that 3 years have past by but sure enough they have! Lucy turned the big "3" on Sat.....it seems like Gideon just turned 3 but he'll be 5 in November!! My kids are growing up waaaayyyyy to fast! Well, we pretty much celebrated all weekend with Lucy for her birthday. Friday daddy took the day off work and we spent the day just hanging out as a family. For supper we went over to Nani and Papa's and then we canned peaches and ate fresh peaches with icecream while Lucy opened up a few gifts! She got a musical birthday card which played "You can Fly" from Peter Pan and she played it over and over and over and over again. On Sat. she got her choice of breakfast which ended up being Pancakes! After lunch a special package came in the mail from Uncle Drew and Aunt Melinda...an Aurora (sleeping beauty) barbie doll that's dress changes from pink to blue....she was thrilled and played with the doll and sang "I know you I walked with you Once Upon a Dream" the rest of the afternoon....she also kept saying "Pink.....No Blue.....No Pink.....No Blue" (If you've seen the movie you'll understand it). Then we headed off to Grammy and PaPa's for supper and fun with cousins. Lucy had a blast at a special supper just for her with corn on the cob, tomatoes, hotdogs and macaroni and cheese. She got lots of nice presents like a Giselle Barbie, a Cinderella costume and a really cool bag that Grammy made for her shoes and tutu for dance classes (which was our gift to her) She starts tonight and I am excited to see what all they do and if she'll like it or not! We finished off the night by taking a walk down to the dock and hunting for and throwing Buckeyes in the water and then went back to Grammy and Papa's for Caramel Corn before calling it a night. On Sunday we went to church in the morning and then met Nani and Papa at Mcdonalds for a birthday lunch and Lucy got another princess skirt made by Nani (she loves it and is currently parading around the room in it) Then, we went to Sauder Village for the afternoon to check out the new areas. It was really fun. Gideon and Lucy milked the cow, played in the cabin churning butter and playing dress up and tea party and saw Oxen and took a horse and buggy ride by Big Guy (a retired race horse) We all had a lot of fun at the Natives and Newcomers area where we sat in a wigwam, a teepee and went to the traders post to pet beaver, fox, bear, fisher, racoon, mink, and ferret pelts. Gideon was especially interested in how the aniamels were killed (yah...) The kids had a blast and were tired last night and ready for a good nights sleep!
So....Happy Birthday to our Princess Lucy......so dear to our hearts.....one minute we can't get enough snuggle and the next we're ready to pull our hair out!! But....we love her so much and can't imagine our lives without our beautiful princess girl!

Trip Highlights

Well Keith's trip to China was well spent. He got a lot of stuff done....unfortunetly he also still has to do a whole lot more now that he's home. A normal day for him was to wake up at around 6:00, order in breakfast (anything you can think of) and meet his co-worker Doug in the lobby to catch a taxi to the factory of the day or the Sauder Asia Office. He would work til lunch, break and the people would order in from Mcdonalds, Papa Johns or Kentucky Fried Chicken (they didn't feed them the factory food because they would have gotten sick I guess). Nothing like going to China and spending the entire time eating American "shipped in " food :) Anyway he would work at the factory until between 7 and 9 at night....they would hit a restaurant in the hotel for supper and then head up to their rooms only to work for another hour before going to bed...Vacation it was not!!! All he did was work! He did get to do a little shopping one day (for the kids) and he saw a rat (Gideon wanted him to see a Panda Bear....unfortunetly although in the rain forest he didn't get out of the city long enough too!) He also got to try authentic Hot and Sour Soup which we frequently order at our local Chinese restaurant here. Well.....in China (hopefully not here) authentic Hot and Sour Soup is made with Coagulated Pigs Blood....Yah....GROSS!! After eating some he asked what was in it...only to take two more "polite" sips and be done! He also had some good conversation with some of the factory executives in which they discussed tea. Tea is very cherished in China....the favorite being "U-long" (I don't know how to spell it) They were telling Keith all about the preparation and all it did for you and the taste and stuff. Keith said " In America we can go to Mcdonald and order and iced tea with lemon and sugar".......the factory workers were laughing at him....EWWWWW......NONONONONO....that is no good...that is no good. Keith said it was really funny to see their reaction! Anyway so that pretty much sums it all up. It was a good trip but long and he's happy to adjust back to life here! After our busy week away from home...I am too!

My Boy is Back in Town!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keith is back! He got back Sunday around 4:00 and life has been grand since then! We haven't done much of anything but just having him back is awesome! He's still dragging quite a bit because of the time change and all but every day is a little easier! He went to work this morning but we were glad to have labor day to spend with him yesterday and he said last night he may take off work on Friday which is awesome because he NEVER does that unless he has too!! Anyway that's life here! Hope all's well with you guys!!

Makin Our Way.....the only Way we know how

Just the Good Ole' Boys....Colin I hope you're proud! Well-we are makin' our way...the only way we know how without daddy! Everyday's rough but everyday gets us closer to when he comes home and we are keeping very busy so that's great! We spent the weekend at Grammy's house with cousins Andrew and AJ and had lots of fun! Then yesterday Grammy got the day off work and had spent the night at our house so she stayed to help me and my dad set up the kids rooms! They ended up looking great and working out well with the furniture switch and all. It did take dad from about 11:00-1:00 to get the crib torn down, moved and set back up again. But that's not because he's not skilled it's just that crib is a big pain to disassemble. Anyway the kids slept well in there new rooms last night.
Gideon also got to go to his preschool openhouse last night. He met his new teachers Ms. Diane and Ms. Tiffany. He got to test out the toys and paint his progress folder to put all his papers in. He will have math homework Monday nights and Letter homework Wednesday nights. He was a little nervous about going and said to me right before we went in..."Mom are you sure about this" but once we got there he didn't want to leave and was really mad that we had to go home. We went back to Nani's house after and got to help put ceder and newspaper down for the new baby chicks. (That work was much easier than last weeks...shoveling chicken poo for 2 1/2 hours) Anyway today we headed to Big Nani and Big Papa's house and then home where Grammy will meet us to spend the night...So far all is well and all are surviving without daddy Hope all is well with all of you!

Not Paying Attention

Well, today I walked out to my mailbox and witnessed something really interesting. Our road is busy but nothing compared to living on the factory street that we used to live on. It's kinda in the country so people always go way over the speed limit even though you are only suppose to go 35 miles per hour. It is also a double line no pass zone in front of the neighborhood. Today as I was walking out to the mailbox I witnessed a woman going probably around 45 miles per hour pass a car right in front of my house. Now that would be double violation right? So she was risking a lot....or not really paying attention....because the car she passed......was the sheriff! He didn't even turn on his siren...just lights and pulled her right over....I would have loved to hear that conversation!

Well this week was fairly uneventful and that was great! We spent lots of time just playing with the kids and relaxing. I had to work both Thursday morning at the hospital and Thursday night at the auction house so that was a blur of a day but the rest of the week went smooth.
In 2 weeks from Wed Gideon will have his first day at Preschool. I am excited for him to go but sad too because I know from this point on we will be busy with school and activities and won't have nearly the freedoms that we have had....plus it means Gid's growing up and I'm not sure I'm ready for that but....it's all a part of life I guess....the first step to letting them go and be a little more independent! Anyway so we are officially in moving stage...moving Gideon out of the room with Lucy into his own room and moving Ella into Lucy's room. We are painting the former nursury blue for Gideon and doing some decorating. I would like to get it all done by the week that his school starts so he can be sleeping in his own room, in his own bed, just to make it special for him! I hope I get done....I really don't have much to do...hang some pictures....move in the furniture and clothes....organize and find places for toys....ok that does sound like a lot...:) Oh well, it will get done I'm sure. Keith leaves for China Sat afternoon for 10 days so he won't be around to help much....actually we won't be around much either hopefully... We found out disappointingly on Friday that he may have to go to Portland Oregon this Tues-Thurs... which stinks because he'll be home tonight and then not again until Thurs night work Fri and then I have to work Fri night at the food auction from 430-1100. So we won't be able to see much of him....I think we'll be traveling to the grandparents and great grandparents if that happens....I love my kids but 12days as a single mother does my nerves and patience in! not to mention the fact that when he is in China it's not like I can just pick up the phone and call him anytime....he's sleeping when I want to talk to him and I am when he's awake... Oh well I keep telling myself it will soon be over and then he won't have to go for awhile...oh yah...guess how much the ticket was to fly to China....13,000 yah.....not 1300....thirteen thousand....HOLY COW!!! I don't think he should go....too much of an expense for Sauders :) but....I don't think my argument would fly!! Hope all are well! More later!!!

Funny Story

So, I worked at the hospital yesterday and my co-worker told me this really funny story about her daughter. Her daughter has a new principal at her kindergarten. She was telling her daughter...Mariah...."we are going to go meet your new principal tonight, her name is Mrs. Luts" Mariah said..."No mom....girls can't be principals" Her mom answered...."Yes Mariah...you know girls can be whatever they want to be...girls can be principals, doctors, lawyers....whatever" "No mom, Mariah replied, girls can't be principals" "Mariah, her mom said, "Girls can be whatever they want to be, whatever boys can be girls can be" Mariah replied very strongly..."NO mom, girls not be Principals....you know PRINCEiples are boys girls are PRINCESSiples.....HILARIOUS!!!

Gross???? Not Really!!!

Looks like something out of the movie "The Mummy" right?? It's just locust shells that Gideon and his dad found around the yard. They were just having some fun!! Pretty gross looking but harmless really and kinda cool!!

So, funny story....I am doing a devotional with the kids and today's was about Creation. When Keith got home from work he was asking the kids questions about what God created. Gideon said, "God created trees and grass and the world and the ocean and mommy's and daddy's and kids and babies and.....and....teeter todders" Keith said: "God created teeter todders?" Gideon's reply was " Yah.....teeter todders....like Lucy.... Lucy is a teeter todder" Keith replied...."you mean toddler?" "Yah, Gideon said....teeter toddlers like Lucy" Lucy piped up and said in her biggest of big girl voices with a big smile" I not toddwer I Wucy"

Settling In

Keith returned from fishing on Friday evening and we have just been getting back to normal life. Last week is now quite a blur to me. We spent much of the time at mom's canning applesauce and cutting corn to freeze. On Sat. we decided to take a trip to the zoo and it was great because it looked a little stormy and not very many people were there! Sunday we just relaxed, took a walk at Harrison Lake and had major family time....Ahhhhh....it felt good...let me tell ya it's a lot easier when he's gone with just 2 kids than it was three...holy cow that was hard work and I dread the next session of it at the end of the month with Keith gone for 10 days in China UGH!!!! We'll be at the grandparents a lot of it I'm afraid. Anyway that's life with our fam....in about an hour I'm leaving to take Lucy to get sized for her dance class...that should be exciting! Hope everyone is well!! More later (sorry so boring...there's really not a lot going on and that's perfectly fine with me)

A Busy Week

Well this last week and weekend have been an adventure!! Last week we were busy every evening preparing Keith for his annual fishing trip. During the day it was beastly hot so we were in the sprinkler a lot...our neighbors were on vacation so we weren't so lucky to get to swim. On Wednesday Gideon decided he wanted to dress up like a soccer player and go to the soccer field to kick the ball in the goal so we took a walk with about 5 different sized soccer balls in tow to the soccer field to play. I figured....open field....perfect place for the kids to run....well.....it kinda backfired on me....see...behind the soccer field there is a cement factory.....M&R Ready Mix....yah.....and you see where this is going.....Lucy decided she wanted to run to the other end of the field with her ball....I figure that was fine (first mistake) she ran with her ball and sat in the goal. When it was time to go I called for her to come and she wouldn't budge. I asked Gideon to run down and tell her to come thinking maybe she couldn't hear me. As soon as Gideon got to her and told her to come....she ran ......and ran.....and ran.... I yelled at her to stop and come back....I think my exact words were "LUCY ANN MYERS MOMMY SAYS COME BACK RIGHT NOW" she just looked at me with a smerk and kept running.....I took a few more steps toward her and yelled again. She stopped again and looked at me....laughed and kept running....right toward the cement factory. I freaked out as I realized she was not going to stop. There was a cement truck running back and forth and a fork lift lifting up pieces of concret as big as my couch off of a pile that Lucy was running right toward. I took off in a full sprint to try and catch her while yelling at Gideon to go stand by Ella who I had abandoned at the other end of the field. When I was little kid...out of nervousness I would always laugh before I got spanked......I found my self starting to laugh as I was running but the sound out of my mouth turned to crying at the end.....I was watching Lucy as she rounded the corner of cement blocks heading in the path of a "couch sized cement block" and a cement truck coming at her. They would never expect a kid in their work area so I knew the chance of her getting hit or a block crushing her was high.....it seemed like my legs could not run fast enough...as I neared her I looked at the cement truck driver I realized that he had seen her and was frantically cb-ing back to the fork-lift to tell him to stop there was a child there.....I grabbed Lucy's arm spanked her and carried her screaming and crying back to the other side of the field where she got a major talking to and another spankin. When I got back to the house I called Keith and just bawled on the phone.....You would think that she would have learned not to do it again but the next day when I was babysitting for a friends foster son at the park she did it again. I don't know what we are going to do with her. At the park I made her sit by me and she couldn't go play with the other kids. I just can't trust her anymore and it's really scary!! We'll have to see how this all plays out....I may not be able to go anywhere by myself if she continues to act like this.....oh....when I grabbed her at the cement factory....she just looked up at me and smiled and said....no....no I don't wanna go......yah....she knew she was doing something wrong....she just didn't realize she almost got killed disobeying mommy!!!

Well anyway Keith left on his trip and we headed to Grammy and Papa's and the Bullthistle festival where we got lots of candy and had lots of fun at the parade and festival rides and got to see some great fireworks. It was so hot that I actually climbed in the lake and swam...Keith always gets grossed out by people swimming in that lake but it was so hot I got desperate and took the kids in and it was actually a lot of fun! On Sunday we packed up and went to my mom and dads. I was suppose to work on Monday but got called off Sunday night so mom and dad and I and the kids headed to Grand Rapids for the afternoon. We ate pizza, shopped at some neat places took a walk played in the park and get this......rented a canoe.....and canoed down the canal.....yah....we are crazy.... Dad sat in back, me in front and mom had the three kids in the middle...all in one canoe....before we even got two feet Ella was screaming and Lucy and Gideon were scared we were going to tip....I must admit with the unsteady and wiggly children in thereI was a little afraid we would tip too....but we survived...it was fun but hectic and didn't last very long. We decided to end the trip early and go to the ice cream shoppe down the road before we left town. We spent the night that night and enjoyed corn on the cob, fresh tomato, broccoli, lettuce and cucumber salad, and homemade bread for supper. It was a really fun day despite the chaos on the canal!!
So that's our latest lives in short. Oh...I did register Lucy for a Mini Dance class this morning. She will be taking ballet,tap and gymnastics for 7 weeks. It's her birthday present. I am so excited to see her go...I think she'll love wearing her too too and ballet shoes.....we go for sizing next week. It should be great!!
Hope all are well! More from us soon!

Gideon working on his soccer moves

Wizzing By....

This summer is just flying don't you all think so? This week seems like it just flew! On Tuesday Lucy got to spend the day with Big Nani and Big Papa all by herself and loved every minute of it. We joined her for a great supper and visit with them. Gideon and Keith even got to fish in the pond and he reeled in a 10 inch bass! Way to go Bud!! I think that's the biggest fish he's caught so he was pretty excited. He came up to Grandma and me, Ella and Luc on the gazebo and said "Guys....I gotta tell you something" with a big smile..." I caught a big bass!!" He was so funny. Anyway we had a good visit as we always do and hated to leave!
It was hot all week so we swam in the neighbors pool quite a bit too. Gideon, who was very fearful of the water at first has been doing awesome this summer. He swims around by himself and is constantly dunking his head in the water and practicing his strokes that he learned this winter in swim class. He is really turning into a little boy. We play frisbee outside almost everyday and he runs around after the soccer ball and hits his tee-ball a ton too. For those who don't know this is big progress for my creative but kinda "in-active" boy. That was our goal for this summer to get him more active. It's not that he sits around and watches tv all the time but he does live in a world of imagination a lot of the time, pretending to be lions and hiena's and any other aniamel possible and we really wanted him to spend some time running around in reality for awhile...he's made great strides and while he still plays pretend a lot (which we are totally fine with) he has become very balenced spending as much time doing that as he does riding his bike and running around outside!
On Wednesday I got to get my massage at the therapy clinic in Archbold. It was very relaxing and quite a blessing on a stressful day. THat night we got to meet our friends new baby Natalie. She was really cute and little and they were all doing well.
On Thursday the kids and I took an afternoon trip to a popcorn factory in Napoleon, hitting a park and stopping for some sweet tea at Mcdonalds to wash down our caramel corn. It was fun, although the "factory" was not as exciting as expected. Gideon kept saying...It stinks in here over and over again....
Saterday night my parents offered to watch the kids so we could go out for our anniversary. We ended up going out to a new Mexican Restaurant in Napoleon called Azul Tequila. It was really good food and Keith and I enjoyed ourselves but the service was so quick we were done eating only a half hour after we got there so we decided to take a drive down to historic Grand Rapids. It's so beautiful down there with the river and canal that we walked through the park and down the main street. It was a very relaxing evening and brought back lots of good memories of when I was a little girl with my great grandma (she was originlly from Grand Rapids).
my parents kept the older kids over night and they went to see The Wizard of Oz at the community theater on Sunday afternoon. Although it was long play the kids loved it. I guess when the witch melted it was pretty quiet and Lucy clapped her hands andyelled "Yay Dorthy!!" Pretty funny.