Katelyn Rebekah.....

Katie at one day old............She is a good baby so far...... doesn't cry much and puts up with all the poking of big brothers and sisters. Isn't she cute!!

She's here!!!

Katelyn Rebekah was born on Wednesday, March 12th. We are very excited and so are the kids. She weighed 7lbs. 2oz. and was 19 3/4 inches. After laboring for the day she came at 7:57 pm and is completely healthy and beautiful. Mommy is doing well and we are all home and enjoying the rest of the family. Here are some pics........

More Pics...............

Park Days........

This "winter" we have made it a point to be outside as mush as possible. The weather is a lot like North Carolina summers (but without the excessive humidity) and since "winter" is almost over and it is just going to get hotter we want to be out while we can. The only problem with being out in our yard is the fire ants. They are everywhere! So we go to the park up the road quite a lot. ( there is also a large community pool but they won't let us swim because right now it is "winter" and it is too "cold" to keep the pool open). Anyway, the kids rode on the tire swing for the first time the other day (the park finally got around to fixing it) and they had a blast............................

Sammy, Sammy, Sammy.......

Samuel is getting to be quite the character...........He is coming into that "two" year old stage, some may call the "terrible two's" others may not think it is so terrible rather the "terrific two's" but whatever you call it, Sammy is IN IT.............That and everything else he can find.
Samuel has taken cues from big brother Jack and thinks it is absolutely funny to put on masks and walk around the house growling at everyone..........specifically Jack's Fantastic Four the "Thing" mask (the Thing is actually a good guy).
He is mommy's little helper (at least he thinks so). He loves to be right in the middle of whatever it is that I am doing at ALL times and he wants something to do also.........
When left to his own he usually finds something "creative" to do or something "interesting" to get INTO.................................................................................

One thing is for sure, I never really get bored!

What's a Mom to do.............

We have a nice large patio off the sun room with a frame for an enclosure and an awning....... of coures because it is not actually enclosed it is just an eyesore. We temporarily closed it in with lattice so the small kids wouldn't run right into the pond when they were outside. Since they know how to open the sliding doors and have a habbit of getting out when mommy isn't paying attention (or in the bathroom), we needed a solution to keep them away from the water. This idea was a pretty good one until it rained.............. The enclosure frame acts as a barrier so that water doesn't run off the edge of the patio when it rains creating a pool of water about 2 inches deep.........................................It usually takes a couple of days for the water to dry up. Well, Abby and Sammy unlocked the sliding door and waited for the right moment to slip out and of course, had the time of their lives...........
What is a mom to do but get the camera and watch...........So much for keeping them away from the water................................At least it is 80 degrees and mostly sunny.

Life is an adventure............

So, it seems that there is more to share............Today Eve took her first big spill off her bike. Now, all kids scrape their knees or get bruises once in a while but Eve has never really had a big wreck on her bike before. Eve is really a wimp when it comes to pain unlike Jack who wears any and every bump, scrape or scar with pride. So, she wrecked her bike and got a large goose egg on her one thigh and scraped up her knee and elbow pretty good and, because she fell so gracefully, her bike landed hard on top of her causing a large bruise to form on her other thigh. Of course she cried initially but after cleaning her up and comforting her she proceeded to whimper for about an hour. Nothing would help. At that moment I had to just take a deep breath and let her wallow in her pain. When she was finally able to rationalize with me we talked and she apologized for being a difficult patient (my words). Then she looked at me like it was my turn to say sorry (but I had no idea what she was looking for from me so I just starred). Then she said, "See Mommy, That is why I didn't really want to ride my bike today, because I knew I might get hurt............I Like it better when I don't get hurt." (her words)

Apparently, since I had suggested to the kids to go ride their bikes that somehow her falling was partially my fault and if I had not given them the idea then all would have been as it should and no one would have gotten hurt. Well I like it better when I don't get hurt too but such is life...........Thank God for healing.

Wouldn't it be great if life was an adventure with no risks..........................................................