Family Vaca

We just got back from a great family vacation to Pineview Reservoir just north of Salt Lake. We went with some friends and stayed on the lake and enjoyed boating, jet ski's and the beach. All the kids had such a blast and we really enjoyed being together as a family.

Here is Evelyn waiting for her turn on the jet ski, she loved it. Brian said that she wanted to go faster and faster, he would floor it and she was loving it. Little did we know we had a dare devil on our hands, she even went on a ride on the tube with Coleman.
My little princess Leland, she had a great time playing in the sand and loved just going for rides on the boat, she LOVED being with her family and is just our sweetheart
Daddy and his little girl out on the boat.
Priceless!!!!! This girl LOVED the boat she would have stayed on it all day. She loved watching her Daddy wakeboard and surf and was always very concerned when he went down. She would look over the side of the boat until she found him and then she would laugh and say "Hi Dada" It was so fun to see her excitement and it even made us want to buy a boat of our own. Maybe next year, but as for now we'll just be happy to have great friends who like to share, " Thanks Kimball's it was a BLAST"!!!!
Coleman loved the boat and especially the jet ski's. He went on ride after ride and just couldn't get enough. He also got up on a wakeboard for the first time and we were all so proud of him. He definitely loves water sports.

I loved watching all my kids have fun and loved getting a little sun on my very pregnant body. Three more months and counting!!!!!!!!

Yoga

Brian has just started doing yoga and roped Stacie into doing it with him. I couldn't help but watching just for the shear entertainment. Here are some good pictures of the hour long session.

This is Stacie doing the move the right way
This is Brian "trying" to do the move
Here is the beautiful downward dog, just so fun to watch. I was laughing so hard at Brian I am surprised he could even do anything, but I will say he is getting better- you go Brian!

Water Park

The other day we took the kids to a water park. The only problem was it started raining about 2 hrs after we got there and I mean it poured with thunder and lighting. So we tried to get some lunch and wait it out, but miles got sick and Claire was so tired that Brian and I took Claire, Miles, Coral and Evelyn home and Stacie and Grant took the others back for some more rides. Despite all the rain we still managed to have a little fun.

Evelyn coming out of a slide, she even did some of the big slides with her daddy and we were really proud of her- sometimes she can be a little scared of new stuff.
Leland loved it, she jumped right in and had a blast.
Here is Claire going down one of the baby slides, she looks a little concerned doesn't she? Mommy caught her at the bottom and she loved it and went right back up to do it again.
Happy Girl!

I've been Tagged

I have never been tagged before and was starting to feel left out. I feel so special to be able to share such wonderful things about myself with all of you, hope you are all enlightened


What was I doing 10 years ago?

Sadly enough I was doing the same thing I am today : making a baby, I was 7 months pregnant with our first child and really hoping I would go into early labor. We were living in Boone NC in college and I was bored to tears and very HOT in our none air conditioned apartment.


What is my to do list for today?

Laundry, help my sister clean up the disaster our kids have made in her house, pack for the beach and hopefully get in a little nap(I do love a good nap when I am pregnant)


What are three bad habits of mine

1. I like to speak my mind and sometimes people don't like what I have to say. I personally think this is an endearing quality but not everyone sees it that way.
2. I bit my nails
3. farting- hey I eat a lot of fiber and sometimes I just can't help it. Sorry!


Three things you may not know about me:

1. I have ran a marathon
2. I wish I was the star of a Broadway Musical
3. I love the beach!


4 Movies/TV shows I love:

1. So you think you can dance
2. The Office
3. Smallville
4. sadly enough I do enjoy a good soap-The Young and the Restless is the best. Listen if any of you are judging me then you haven't watched it, it is good times!


4 books I love:

1. Snowflower and the Secret Fan
2. The Secret
3. 100,000 baby names
4. Piglet and Mama ( this is a children's book, we read it everyday!)


4 jobs I have had:

1. TCBY
2. Hostess
3. Nanny
4. MOM!
I know these would make anyone jealous but what can I say I got married at 19 and had my first child at 20, so I have been a stay at home Mom for a long time. I did sell Tupperware once and I sucked at it.

4 places I have lived:

1. Asheville NC
2. Spartanburg SC
3. Cary NC
4. Berkley Heights NJ

5 of my favorite foods:

1. Cheesecake
2. Sushi and all fish
3. A really good Steak
4. Salad

Bloggers I am tagging:
Stacie, Candy, Emily, and Eva

Out to Sea

Last night Brian got into town and the kids were sooooooo excited to see him. We decided to go out on the boat again and get some more scallops. The kids really had a good time and it was a lot easier for me with Brian there to help with our small army of kids.

Here I am with my girls just hangin' out on the tube.

Evelyn holding the fish that Grant speared. I was so proud of her, she thought it was so cool.
Leland dead asleep on Brian, that water and sun can sure wear a kid out!
Coleman was the best and would have stayed out there all day. He will definitely own a boat one day. He was even able to get a bunch of scallops this trip. Way to go.
Claire and her BIG cheese smile.

Ironing?

Coleman has been a little bored at Stacie's house at night. They only have basic cable and of course he doesn't have all his little neighborhood buddies to hang out with so every night he is asking us what he can do.
Tonight Stacie had the ironing board out for a craft she was doing and he asked if he could try and iron something. We said sure, so I gave him one of the little girl baby clothes I had just folded ( I am taking all my newborn stuff back with me so we don't have to ship it, it is nice to have a sister to share baby clothes with). Well he liked it so much he asked for something else, so I gave him a denim dress for the baby and he did a dang good job.
He then proceeded to iron a whole stack of newborn nightgowns and then the clothes he wanted to wear tomorrow.
The funny thing is is that his dad LOVES to iron and I have even caught him ironing a t-shirt before and further more Brian's Dad is an ironing freak, he even irons his jeans-who does that? So I know he will be so proud.
When he was done he wanted to know if ironing could be one of his chores, I just scored big time, I am going to have that boy ironing everything in the house.

Lake Alto

Today we took the kids to a local lake that has a little beach area and the kids LOVED it!!!!
We are trying really hard to keep all these kids entertained so they don't drive us crazy and today we hit the jackpot. Not only was it a blast, but it wore their little butts out. Claire was in bed by 6 and the others weren't far behind.

Coleman in all his manly glory, as skinny as he is he is REALLY strong. He loved swimming in the lake and he even caught a water beetle(at least i think that's what it was), which he and Miles played with till it got away. GROSS!
Evelyn had a great time, she had an even better time once she excepted the fact that she can't swim as well as Miles. She really has a hard time when she isn't the best at something. I just told her she should have trusted her swim teacher more and not wined so much at her lessons, that shut her up real quick. Gotta love this girl!
Leland was in heaven, this girl is always up for some fun. She swam, played in the sand and just had a all around blast.
Claire really surprised me, she loved it. So much in fact that a few times I had to stop her from trying to go out as far as Coleman. She just thought the sand was the best and just played none stop.

Coleman and his favorite pal!

Coleman LOVES Stacie's cat Sylvester, he would sit and pet him all day. Afterwards he always gets the lint roller and gets all the cat hair off of himself and I am reminded why I don't have a cat. It is alot of hair!

Best Buddies

Little Mommy

Last night Leland was dieing to feed Coral so I helped her get all settled and she just held her and fed her the bottle. She sang her Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and then said to me "Aren't I such a good Mommy" to which I said yes. She really is my sweetest child and loves to mother things. If anyone is crying she always asks them if they are okay, and loves to give lots of hugs and kisses. What a little sweetheart!

Yum Yum!

I don't usually blog about food, but when something makes me this happy I want to save the memory forever. In Gainesville they have this great little restaurant called Satchel's. I have been there before but seeing how it has been 2 years since I have come to Stacie's house (I know that is bad she is always the one visiting me) I haven't had it in a while.
Anyway they have the best salad and this magical thing called a steak and cheese calzone. At first I wasn't sure I would like a steak and cheese calzone?, but ever since I tasted this little piece of heaven I have been craving another one. I even wanted Stacie to bring me one at Thanksgiving, but we were both afraid that it wouldn't last. So last night we went and had this amazing meal!!! and I was in heaven. It was so so so good and I just sat amung the chaos of 7 kids and enjoyed this special moment with me and my steak and cheese.

Water Party

Today we had a water party on Stacie's back porch, the kids had a blast running around and going from pool,slip-n-slide, and sprinkler.

Here is a picture of all 7 kids. It is really hard to get the perfect shot, so this is as good as it gets.
Shelbie and Leland stinking a pose
I love this picture of Claire
Having fun in the sprinkler.

Catching up!

I am a little behind on my blogging. On Weds. of last week I made the long trip to visit my sister and her family in Fl. for the next 3 weeks. I know three weeks is a long time but Stacie and I love to be together and so do our kids -so why not! I flew across the country by myself with 4 kids and a big pregnant belly. I was using some major positive thinking to insure this trip was not a disaster and I must say it worked. Aside from a few small stressful moments; my plane being delayed, Claire getting her big toe stuck in the tray table, leland spilling her drink on Claire, and just keeping up with all of my kids. It went great. Coleman even sat next to Claire on the last flight from Atlanta to Gainesville and entertained her the whole way, talk about nice ( it was only a 50min. flight but still).

Anyway we are here at my sisters house and having a BLAST!!!! It has been 6 mons. since the kids have seen each other and they are not wasting any time.

Below are quite a few Blogs of our adventures so far.

Princess Power!

July 5th

All afternoon today Claire, Shelbie, and Leland played princess. These girls are so girly it is just fun to watch. They spun around and did "ballet" and played ring around the rosy. Sometimes it is hard to believe how much little girls can laugh.

Claire, Shelbie(my niece), and Leland
Leland and Shelbie are such good friends. It is so fun to listen to the way they play. It is always about purses, magic wands, babies and all things girl. Leland is so glad to be at Shelbie's house.
Claire and Coral with be best friends soon, but for now Claire likes to give her a cuddle and then she has to go hang out with the big girls.

What CUTIES!

Coleman's Fishing trip

On July 5th Coleman got up at 5am and went on a fishing trip with his Uncle Grant. He is big fisherman and Coleman was so excited to go with him. They went out in the Gulf of Mexico about 30 miles out. Grants and his buddies were going to scuba and spear fish and Coleman just fished from the boat. I was so worried the whole day, I hoped he wasn't sea sick, or that he didn't get a migraine, or get eaten by a shark. When they finally got home at 11pm that night Coleman had done great. He was so excited he just sat on the couch and told Aunt Stacie and I all about their adventures. They included 2 bull sharks mating, almost losing Todd (Grants brother), lots of fish, and so much FUN!!! It is definitely a trip he will NEVER forget!

I know it is little dark, but here is Coleman chillin' on the boat- My little Fisherman
Here is Coleman, Todd, and Uncle Grant with just a few of the many many fish they caught.
Coleman and the a big grouper Grant speared.
Coleman and Uncle Grant with there many fish right before Grant cleaned and cut them.

4th of July

On the 4th of july we went out on my sister and brother-n-law's boat with some of his family and went scalloping. My kids had never been on a boat in the ocean and I didn't even know what a scallop looked like( in its shell), but I do now. We had a really good time and the kids did really good. The biggest miracle of all is that none of us got sun burned.

Here is Leland, she was a really good sport once she got the life jacket the she wanted-OH MY GOSH, it was a little cray until Shelbie traded with her. All I can say is THANK YOU Shelbie!

She really enjoyed swimming around and playing in the float with her sisters and cousins.

Here is one of the 5 gallon buckets of scallop's we collected. We got a total of 10 gallons which was our limit. That night after they had removed the meat out of the middle of the shell, Stacie and Grant made an awesome pasta dish with fresh herbs and scallop's-YUM YUM!!!

Evelyn and her favorite cousin Miles. They swam together all day and had a blast.

My little Claire Bear. I love this little girl and I was so impressed with how well she did all day out on the boat. She even fell asleep on me on the way back in. She NEVER falls asleep on me anywhere, so she was definitely worn out.

Coleman loved snorkeling and looking for scallops. Uncle Grant even helped him get a few off the bottom. He had such a great time. He really does love any kind of water and definitely loves boats. After all he says he is going to be a boat and jet ski maker when he grows up.

FIREWORKS!

Here we are at The local fireworks show in Gainesville FL. The kids had a blast playing football with Uncle Grant and I was really impressed with Leland and Shelbies tackling skills. (Shelbie was taking down boys twice her size,it totally reminded me of Stacie when she was little, she is one tough cookie too.)

I know this is not the best picture of Coleman , but hopefully you can see he is catching a football. He really had a blast playing ball and of course watching the fireworks.

T-Ball Rules!!!

Evelyn LOVES baseball. We started her out this summer on a t-ball team and she has really done great. She is so teachable and wants Brian to coach her everyday, which he is happy to do! Baseball was his favorite sport as a kid and he is so glad that one of his kids shares this interest. Tonight was her last t-ball game and we all went to support her, here are some of my favorite shots of the night. (Coleman took all these pictures, I think he did a great job)

Evelyn makes a great catch during practice.
She makes great contact with the ball, way to go Evelyn!
My little Tomboy
Here she is at 1st base, she loves 1st base.