Roll Video

I finally figured it out. I asked Lori and she led me in the right direction. Thanks Lori!!!

So here it is.....the much awaited and talked about video of Allie rolling over for the first time. Well if you really want to get technical about it then it's actually the third but it's the same day as the first and they were all one right after the other.

5 months

I just can't believe that Allie's already five months old. Seems as though just yesterday David and I were in the hospital getting ready for her big day. Now she's here and brought a new kind of joy into our house that I never thought was possible. Don't get me wrong...it's still as wild and loud here as it ever was but it's just different having my precious girl here.

She's starting to grab at her feet...won't be any time and she'll have them in her mouth. She's talking up a storm(in her own way of course) and she has the absolute best laugh in the world! I would do anything to get that laugh out of her.

My sweet precious girl: You have changed my life in these five short months. Hard to believe that just 14 months ago I just knew that your Daddy and I were completely done with babies..no more for us. The Good Lord had a surprise for us and it was the best ever. Thank you for bringing such joy to my life..I just can't wait for what's to come!

Where's the Eats?

Caleb is by far the biggest eater out of all my children. He eats and eats and eats! When it's time for dinner I will fix all three boys plates and Caleb's will have the most on it. When everyone else is done at the table...Caleb is still there and will stay for approximately 10 more minutes. He loves to eat! Believe it or not...his favorites are veggies...he can eat some broccoli like you wouldn't believe. This picture was taken at Outback when we went for Lucas' birthday. This is actually towards the end of the meal so his plate was getting empty but you gotta love a baby that eats!

Growing up..

Lucas chose to go bowling for his birthday. First we went to Outback(his choice) and then to the bowling alley and back home for cake and presents. He loves cookie cakes so that's what he wanted for his cake this year. Everyone had a blast bowling...Jacob even commented when we got home how he wished he had picked bowling instead of Frankie's. I never thought I'd hear that come out of his mouth!! Lucas got video games and books for his birthday...lots of them. Lucas is an absolute bookworm..give the boy a book and he can read the day away. Hard to believe he's eight years old now...he reminds me that it won't be long and he will be ten. I hope that takes a while..time is going by too fast!



Here's his cake. Ever had a cookie cake from Great American Cookie Company? They are sooo yummy so of course I couldn't argue with him when he said that was what he wanted!



Lucas and Jacob after Lucas opened some of his presents.



Caleb and my mom. This is a cute one...he was happy after he got the pins down! Such an adorable smile!!



Lucas and Jacob at bowling alley.


Lucas at bowling alley...he got pretty good by the end of it!

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

Here's another giveaway at Grosgrain!!! Kathleen does an absolutely fabulous job and is incredibly talented! I just love her clothes!!!! Check it out....all you have to do to enter is post a link! :)

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

We're Back!

What a job! We had a great time and it was so nice to get away for a couple of days but there's nothing like home. Our trip back was just about as eventful as our trip to Gatlinburg. The older kids were wild while Allie just didn't want to be in the car anymore after three constant days of traveling nonstop. Bless her heart....I think she knew when we were going up and down the mountain and that it was going to take a while. She always seemed to do okay until we were headed back and as soon as we turned off the main road to head back up to the cabin she would cry nonstop. We actually got back home yesterday and she slept like a rock last night. She didn't sleep very well the entire time we were gone so when she hit her bed last night it was over. Caleb got sick while we were there and of course the other kids will follow suit. I hate how that happens...one person can't get sick around here without everyone else getting it. Caleb was the calmest for the ride back home until we stopped at a KFC and ended up dining with the Clampets....we couldn't get out of there soon enough. Needless to say when we pulled in the driveway we didn't leave again for the rest of the day. I have tons of pictures from the weekend but here's a few of my favorites. I'll try and go through the rest in the next couple of days. I have a ton of catching up to do on all of your blogs...I feel so out of the loop now!




Here's Caleb and Nendny(that's what the kids call her). I love to watch him play...he's so funny!




This is Lucas with my dad. Love this picture...more to come of them also...they had an exciting adventure and a real bonding experience over the weekend!



Here's Lucas and Jacob at Ripley's Believe it or Not museum...more pictures to come from there too...need to touch pics up though...haven't done any of that yet!



Love this picture....sometimes I just sit and watch David with Allie...I just love to see how he interacts with her and how much he is visibly taken by her! Love the absolute adoration he has for her!

Long way up..

We're in Gatlinburg for the weekend. Most glorious place on earth but it was a long day getting here. We decided last night that we were going to take our time getting out the door this morning so we left about 9 or so. Everyone did pretty good for the trip but nothing is unevenful with four kids. We decided we were going to stop about 1130 to eat lunch and feed Allie so at about 1115 we saw an exit that had a couple of restaurants on it but decided to wait for a couple more minutes and stop at the next one. Needless to say we regretted that decision down the road! We drove and drove and drove...anything and everything that could have gone wrong DID. Lanes were closed and we have trucks in front of us. There was construction going on and cops holding up traffic. Allie started fussing and was getting hungrier by the minute so when we saw the sign for a rest stop we decided we were going to stop and feed her first and then take care of everyone else at the next exit. We came to the rest stop and what do we see...CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS UNTIL JULY 2009. Needless to say Allie got fed in the car driving. We kept on for about another 30 miles or so and after an hour and fifteen minutes of driving after our original plan to stop at 1130 we got to eat lunch. Caleb was about to go stir crazy...Allie needed her space to move and we needed silence! Many a time today I looked at David and wondered if we were meant to be going to the mountains this weekend.

So in the end we are here and settled. Caleb and Allie are in bed. Caleb was absolutely exhausted because he only slept for about 20 minutes in the car and Allie was alittle off schedule today. We'll venture out tomorrow and look around Gatlinburg. For tonight we are in the most beautiful place on earth. I have told many people before but everytime I come it just reaffirms...this is where I want to spend my days! You have not experienced life until you sit on the porch in a rocking chair in a log cabin in Gatlinburg!!! Just love it! I'll try and catch up on everyone in the next few days...I am way behind but here! Will try to do my comment duties :) and will post plenty of pictures in the coming days.

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

This is absolutely one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Can you believe this is a giveaway? I just love it!!!! Go check it out...awesome job!!!



Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Grew in my Heart

I love this picture! This is my stepmom however you will never hear me refer to her as that. When we are all togher(which believe it or not is often) I will say Mom and they will both answer. She is as much my mom as my biological mother is. I love them both more than anything in this world! She came into my life when I was a year old and has been here with me since. During the last few years we have become very close friends. We talk on a daily basis and spend most days chatting through emails. I can't imagine my life without her in it! I am so incredibly blessed to have two wonderful mothers in my life that love me as much as they do...one that brought me into this world and has been by my side ever since and the other that came into my life by choice and has become such a dear friend and confidante of mine! I love you mom!

She's a rollin' now

This happened about a week ago but I haven't had time to post it yet. Allie rolled over...she did it about 5 or 6 times the first day and hasn't done it again since :) Funny those minds they have. Hard to believe she's almost 5 months old. Seems like just yesterday we were in the hospital and now she's rolling over. Lord...I wish the first year really lasted 2 or 3 years and then we went on with the toddler stage. I'm still working on the video...I can't figure out how to post it so pictures will have to do until later. The first time she rolled I didn't have the camera rolling so I clicked every second...sorry..I can't get too many pictures of her!

My first Bling

Yeah!!! I got my first blog bling from Lori over at Teacher turned Mommy. Thanks Lori!!!




I am going to pass this along to

Amanda at The Family News

Alicia at My Two B's and Me

Tami at Muddlin Thru Motherhood

Southern Cooking

This was a huge accomplishment...to me anyway! When you go to my dad's house you get the best sausage gravy that you could imagine. I have always wanted to be able to make it but just knew that I couldn't...I mean there was absolutely no way that I could duplicate that. A couple of weeks ago I decided that I was going to take a stab at it..what could it hurt...I could only fail miserably and then just say that I never tried. I did warn those in my house that it could be the nastiest thing they ever put in their mouths..but no...I got it done and I tasted it and it was simply amazing!!! So yummy!! Will never be the same as Dad's house but there's nothing like waking up in the morning and having sausage gravy and biscuits in the morning. Just one of the pleasures of living in the south!

Tidbits

Just tidbits for now:

*David's still looking for a job. He did get his old job offered back to him but he has to wait 30 days to go back. He is continuing to look until then and see what he can find. He does have an interview tomorrow morning so please say a prayer for that.

*Every child in our house has a cold. Allie started with it yesterday...the runny nose and sneezing thing. However she is still such a content baby even with a cold...amazes me!

*I started this post 45 minutes ago but folding clothes,feeding a bottle,getting pecan twirls,milk and cereal delayed everything.

*We have a conference today for Lucas. Hard to believe the 9 weeks is already among us. How come summers go by so slowly but the school year passes so fast? Explain that one to me!





This is my Aunt with Allie. We don't see her very much and believe it or not she doesn't live very far away. Amazing how we let life get in the way sometimes. I LOVE this picture simply because I have so few of her with my kids!



The other night before I went to bed I walked in to cover Caleb up and this is what I found. Every night when I put him down he takes everything out of his bed and then lays down to go to sleep..this time however he must of been too tired to get back in! I picked him up and layed him back down and he didn't bat an eye...think he was tired?

He's 5

Jacob's birthday was last weekend. We decided we weren't going to do huge parties this year so we just made it family. He got to choose where he wanted to go for dinner and then we would go do something he wanted to do before coming back home for cake and presents.

He chose Applebee's(far from my favorite place...but where he chose nevertheless) so we all went to eat and then took off to Frankie's. Frankie's is a local place that has go carts,batting cages,bumper boats and arcade games. Cool place for the kids! Then we came back to the house for his cake and presents. He wanted a Tony Stewart cake so of course that is what he got. I just wasn't in the cake making and decorating mood this year...decided we were going to buy cakes this time around.

He loved his presents...he got the new Wow Wow Wubbzy movie from his grandparents(this child loves Wow Wow Wubbzy...it's on Noggin..they just now came out with their first movie about three weeks ago and he couldn't wait to get it). He also got a remote control firetruck from his grandmother and a computer and firestation from us. He was happy and had a great night.

Now Lucas' is this weekend...don't think I'll ever recover!





This is one of my favorites...this is my mom and Caleb after they ate cake! Just love this picture!!!!

My Great Buy

I am just now really getting into this coupon thing. I haven't gotten very good at it yet but am trying really hard. Last night,however I went to CVS. History of this to begin with is that either Jacob or Caleb broke my Swiffer. I honestly don't remember which one...most days they're one in the same. Anyhow I have wanted to get a new one for a while now but have put it off. I decided a couple of weeks ago I was going to look around and see if I could find a good price or a coupon for one. Well..in the Sunday paper CVS had them on sale for 7.99 so off I went last night after an absolutely horrible day!!!

David's still looking for a job...hasn't found one yet. He got a couple of leads off of yesterday so he's off for interviews again this morning. Hoping today is more fruitful. In the process of being stressed about the job situation the kids were in "rare" form yesterday. Allie was fussy(which never happens),Caleb didn't feel good and Jacob and Lucas were horribly behaved. After they went to bed last night I took off for a few rare moments of peace and quiet.

Here's my buy:

Swiffer Sweeper Reg 11.99 on sale for 7.99
Swiffer dry cloths refill 32 ct 8.79 on sale for 6.99
1 Box of Kleenex Anti Viral(this wasn't on sale but had to have for Caleb) 2.29
2 Pairs of Youth Clogs 9.00 a piece..90% off on sale for 1.00 a piece

So I got up to the checkout and my original total was 26 something...I had a $4.00 off $20.00 and I had 7.50 in Extra Bucks so after all my savings

I paid $8.24 out of pocket
I saved $39.26

Plus I got $5.00 extra bucks for next time since I bought $10 in Swiffer products.

The clogs...were a great buy and I couldn't pass them up. They aren't Crocs but they'll do for playing and such...with all my boys I just couldn't leave without getting them for a mere dollar a piece. So like I said I'm new at this thing but I was so proud of my deal I just had to show it off.Sorry if I bored you with it!! :)

Picture Archive

Amanda over at The Family News posted this. You're supposed to go to the sixth photo file on your computer and find the sixth picture then post it. Thought it would be neat to go back and see what it was. Try it out!!! It's kinda cool to go back in time.



This is Jacob on Valentine's Day last year. Horrible picture actually but you can't cheat,right? Don't know why this one was still on there actually...guess I never edited or deleted it. Anyhow...he was opening his presents and I must of caught him in the middle of saying something. Funny looking :)

Up and Happenings

Jacob's birthday was yesterday. As soon as I have time to go through 200+ pictures I will post them...(sometime this weekend). Lots of things happened yesterday so I will try to post them all this weekend. We have Lucas' birthday next Saturday coming up and my moms is today so lots to do for all that.

I have a prayer request if you don't mind. Hubby lost his job yesterday and will begin looking for a new one on Monday. I worry about him finding a job right now in the economy. I don't worry about his ability technically in what he does however: 1-things in his field of heating and ac are very slow right now so it might be difficult to find someone hiring 2-I just don't think people are hunting for employees right now to hand money out to given the crisis our economy is in. Please pray that he will find something quickly and there won't be too many roadblocks along the way.

Fireman Jacob

acob's class went on a field trip to the fire station earlier this week. He went to the same station last year but you sure couldn't tell by the way he acted. He was glued to the fireman and the equipment the entire time. Jacob is absolutely in love with what he calls "heroes"...anything firehouse...ambulance or police he loves. Can't make him any happier than that...so he was right in his element here. First they did a puppet show and then took them out to show them the firetrucks. His only disappointment was that they didn't show them the pole this year. Shame on them!!!

Baking

We made cookies the other night. Chocolate chip to be exact...after all that is the best kind,right? Caleb helped me..he loves to help in the kitchen. As a matter of fact he wants to help with anything. He's a huge help around the house...if I'm unloading the dishwasher he likes to take the plates out and hand them to me(one by one) and when I'm putting clothes up he always have to have something to put up with me. So cute!

I was only able to get a couple of pictures but he was adorable when he was helping and of course he had to taste the cookie dough(who doesn't,right?) That's the best part :)

Help

Updated:

Thanks Amanda...I got it FINALLY only thing is that if I deleted the http:// then it wouldn't work however if I left it there then it did. Who knows...but it worked!! :)



How do you link in your post? I've tried but it doesn't work. Help...please!!!! :P

Prayer Request

I recently found this blog He will Carry Me and they need your prayers today.

Stacy gave birth this morning to Isaac who was on this earth for a precious 16 minutes before he went on to live with Jesus in Heaven. They need your prayers today more than ever. Please join with me in prayer for this amazing family. Feel free to stop by their blog and leave a comment if you would like.

Photo Shoot

I took Allie outside the other day to try and get some pics. As if we don't have enough of her....that could never happen!!!! You all know what I mean :)

I got some good pictures of her..going to try and get all of the kids out sometime soon and see what I can get. For now...here she is in all her glory..

Same ole...same ole

Same old thing around here this week. Clothes,clothes and more clothes. Trying to get things ready for winter....cleaning out toys and other junk that's accumulated around the house in the past few months. Changing seasons is always so incredibly hecitc...cleaning out closets,packing things up,buying new stuff,trying everything on....multiply that by 4 and you have an incredible headache!!!

David's birthday was last weekend. Didn't do anything major...just had dinner and cake here and kids gave him presents. Nothing big this year. Lucas and Jacob both have birthdays in the next two weeks so things are getting crazy around here. Fall is extremely full with birthdays...back to back for two months almost we have 6 birthdays. Insane two months is what we end up with! So in the midst of all the craziness...hopefully I can survive and get some good pictures and of course we'll come away with great memories!



Allie loves her swing but everytime I put her in there within five minutes she has scooted her way into position. This is the way she loves to sit in the swing. Looks uncomfortable and I swear if I were to try and do that...1-I would have a horrible crick in my neck and 2-I wouldn't be able to get up.


When I walked in the other morning to get Caleb up this is what I found. For some reason he always throws everything out of his bed and scrunches himself up. On this particular morning he had his head under his pillow....I just love to watch him sleep!


Here's my oldest...he'll be 8 in two weeks. Wow...where does the time go? David took this at my dad's when we celebrated his birthday over there last weekend.

Old Friend and treasured pics

I haven't even sat down at my computer this week until tonight. I felt like I was missing an old friend..amazing how much we depends on these things. I have so much to catch up on and I've missed checking on everyone. Have lots of reading to do!! Plan on getting caught up in the next couple of days and posting some more.

Got some cute pictures of my mom with the kids in the past week. Don't get very many of her so these are really special to me! My kids adore my mom...since we live together they spend a lot of time with her. They have a wonderful relationship with her and I truly can not imagine not having her in our lives. She is an amazing person inside and out. Love love love these pics!




Mom with Lucas and Caleb



Mom with Jacob



Mom with Caleb and Allie


Mom and Allie(this is like looking at pics of her with me when I was a baby....insane how similar)