We are Still Here, Just a Lil Busy!!

What a crazy busy life we all lead and yet I don't think I would want it any other way!  We are busy chasing kids most of the time.  I don't think there is a day on my planner in June that we don't have at least something going on.  Most of the days, is more like 3-4 things going on!!  We now have 3 kids in competitive cheer leading for the Little Steps Cheer team.  Dylan will be on the Senior team this year, Sydnie will still be on Mini, and Xavier is starting the venture on Tiny!! And boy are we excited.  Dylan will be doing some jump offs individually as well.  He has landed his round off back tuck all by himself, even off of the spring loaded floor, so I can only imagine what the spring loaded floor will give him!!!  And Sydnie is close to landing her back handspring!  Xavier, well, lets just say class clown??  and very cute!!  LOL  We are super excited to get started with this season and see how the kids progress at their love and passion for tumbling!!
Madison did super in 7th grade, brought home all A's on her final report card.  She is training for the start of the volleyball season this fall.  She also has found a love for making money:-)  She has been working with Michael everyday since she was out of school, and is catching on and loving her time with Dad. 
Along with volleyball and cheer, we are also participating in the Summer Reading program, Totus Tuus, Vacation Bible School, softball and baseball (in which we go 4 nights out of the week), and fitting all this in amongst swimming and other summer fun.  We start our poker run season tonight, and have one planned for the next three weeks.  Michael and I love to get the bikes out and on the open road with all our friends and have a great time.
I am going to try to keep this a little more up to date than what I have done.  And get some recent and fun pictures uploaded as well.  Thanks to all our readers.

So Much Has Changed!!

Wow! Yes, we are still here. Just took a very, very long vacation. I am looking back at my posts and realize, just how long its been. Sooooo..... I am just gonna start over. As of today, Michael's business is thriving, and we are blessed for that. We currently have 2 employees, plus him and myself. He is coaching football for the 3rd and 4th grade team, and he does love this. Last September, we got our second Harley, and Ultra Classic. And boy we do love this luxury ride in the wind. In February of this year, we go both bike custom painted. I will try to post pictures later of them. They are sweet, thanks to the artist, Michael's cousin, Paul.

In the midst of our vacation, I have become an entrepreneur, and opened my own little gift shop. I still do all the accounting and bookwork for the electrical business, just now it is out of the house kinda work, and along side of that, I have my store. It is so much fun to find new things to fill the shelves. I still stay busy with the kids and the house, but it is fulfilling to be "back at work".

Madison is now in Jr High school. She is playing volleyball with the Centralia Panther team at school. She is still not a grace full girl, but she is trying her best, and I see her striving to improve, which is important. Her grades are still good, and she seems to really like school. She is into hanging out with her friends more and more, and I guess these are all signs, that my little girl is growing into a beautiful young lady. She will be a teenager in 5 short months.

Dylan is still into every sport available to him. He is currently playing soccer, and is probably one of the fastest ones on the team. He loves this sport probably almost the best of all sports and really puts effort into being better. He is still playing the saxophone, and impresses us with his talent. He is currently in the 6th grade, and is learning what it takes to make it through jr high and high school. It is taking a little more effort than he likes to put into it, but with time, we will get through it.

Sydnie, is now in the 2nd grade. She has recently become a member of the Little Steps competitive cheer leading team. They start competition in November and to this point she loves this challenge. She is currently working on perfecting her back hand spring on her own. She is the biggest prissy little tom boy you will ever meet. Never a challenge she won't face. And she is always looking for her best dress to wear to the farm to jump on the hay bales. She too is currently playing soccer, and has had a great start to her season.

That brings me to Xavier! Omg! Omg! This vibrant little 3 year old is full of love and compassion and is still ornery as you'll get out. He started full time day care last spring, and this fall goes to daycare 4 days a week, and preschool 4 half days a week. He loves to ride to school on the big school bus. We are very fortunate to have the preschool facility in our school district. He is finally starting to grow and actually improved his over all size from under 10 percent at his 2 year check up to just around 30 percent at his 3 year check up. He loves to hang with daddy, and help to feed the cows, ride the 4 wheeler or motorcycle, tractor, skid loader, or anything else. He is truly a little farm boy.

So that is where we stand today. It is still a busy wonderful life, that I wouldn't change for the world, even though there are days I wonder. Who Doesn't??? Until we meet again.....................

Fall Photos

Just a few of the great pics my sis got of us earlier this fall. These are mostly unedited, so they are just candid. And just a few of the ones I want to get posted. Enjoy

Good bye to 2010, Hello 2011

So, time is already passing quickly, and I haven't even gotten new photos uploaded. I wish I could turn the clock backwards, or at least slow it way down. I do hope to get some photos up tomorrow.
We had some great time with family over the holidays, and also gained a new family member. Michael got me a shorkie for Christmas and he has been with us for a couple weeks now. His name is Deuce and we are really enjoying him. I will get a picture of him up tomorrow too (hopefully). I will be working on year end for the business so we will have to see.
So here's to hoping you all have had a great start to 2011, and hope it is a good year all the way through. More tomorrow.

We Are Back!!

Oh my, where do I start? A whole year has almost passed since I have really blogged. It has been incredibly busy, and I miss visiting all the blogs I used to visit as well as blogging my self. So this is just a quick hello to say I am going to be updating our blog with posts and new pictures ( I think they are well overdue). And I hope all our old visitors will return along with lots of new peeps. So stay tuned for the overhaul. I am sure it will be a long one:)

Merry Christmas 2010

With Love Chartreuse Christmas Card

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Please Please Help me Raise Money for the March of Dimes

Just a quick hello to everyone. We have been enjoying the nice weather that has finally arrived in Kansas. Sring is here and spring break is over. I am once again asking each and everyone of you to think about donating money to the March of Dimes. It is an important organization to us, as all of our kids were born early, yet we were fortunate that they were all born healthy. Not all parents and babies born early are as fortunate. We do walk in honor of our sweet Mariah, even though prematurety was not the cause of her death. However, we hope that with our help the March of Dimes hopes that one day all babies are born healthy and no other parent will have to go through what we went through with the loss of a child at birth. So if you can spare anything at all, even $5, every little bit helps. Just click on my link button on the side and make a donation. Thanks for all your help in advance. The walk is April 11th, I believe in Manhattan, so if you have nothing better to do, put together a team and walk for your support.

Happy Valentines Day

We want to wish all our readers a very Happy Valentines Day! Hoping that you got to spend the day with the ones you love. It is bitter sweet to us. Not only it is the month of my Dad's birthday, but also the day my Aunt was buried. So it definetly seems at times a little over rated, but yet hold those very dear to us close at heart.

Not much has been carrying on in our house. Dylan spent the night with a friend Friday night and Syd had her girls night with Grandma, so it was a little quiet here Friday night. It was nice as I had been out of the house all day and so a quiet ending to the busy day was super nice. A big thanks to Juang and Steve for having Dylan to spend the night with Kenyan. And to my mom for having Syd, so she could make special memories with my niece, Abbie.

Saturday, Michael and I started the day by going out together and cutting wood. None the less, we also go stuck in a big snow drift that is still out there and had to get pulled out, haha! We just chilled out the rest of the day after we got done with the first load of wood. It was quite a workout. It was good to have a little time alone with him, even if it was work, and get a good workout while doing it.

So today we started off the day by going to the casino for brunch. We then went over to see little Alexis Ellerman. This is the first time we have gotten to see her since she was born. I felt we were all healthy at this point and that it was a good time to see her. She is beautiful. She was very content with Syd holding her and talking to her.


So tonight I leave you with a photo of Michael and I on Valentines Day. We have been together for 16 years, and married for 13 this coming June.

Videos

here are the girls doing their Renegade Man Makers. I cannot get the dance video to post. I will try again tomorrow. Looks like I mayb be pulling an all nighter with Syd. She is not feeling well.

Ahhh, Fat Free Sugar Free Cool Whip!!

I know you are all wondering about this post, but keep reading, it's not what you are thinking=)Below I am adding some video of the kids. The first one is of them dancing at half time of last weeks home basketball game. The dance team does this as a fundraiser, and well, our kids love to dance, so they loved it. Dancing is also a great way to burn energy, and calories, and get in a little exercise.


Speaking of exercise, Michael has been going to the gym and seeing a personal trainer for 2 weeks now. And yes, it is all legit, it is a male trainer (for those who are wondering LOL) and thanks to Joe, Michael is bringing home this "fit" attitude. I have been doing 20 minutes on the treadmill every day, and then doing a great cardio workout and focus on certain area's three times a week. Michael sees Joe 4 times a week, and he is teaching some of it to me and the kids. Along with all that, we are eating a little better as well, not that we ever really ate bad. Which brings me to, fat free, sugar free Cool Whip is really good. You can't tell the difference. So these last three videos are of the kids doing the Renegade Man Maker! It is a big challenge, I can't do very many!! Ok, I am having trouble getting the video to upload. I will try again later!

Eighteen Months Ago, and A Few Days

Well, it's hard to believe that eighteen months ago and a few day, little Xavier came into our lives and once again changed them forever. Since then he has grown into quite a little monkey. As of today, he weighs 24 lbs. oz, and is 32 inches long. He has finally tripled his birth weight! He is a shaker and a mover. He runs, jumps, and climbs on everything. And also tries to do "cartwheels" and somersaults like his siblings. He loves to dance. And he talks up a storm, not all in language that is understood, none the less. He is drinking from a sippy, uses his fork and spoon to feed himself, and eats mostly what we do. He loves to take his clothes off and take a bath. He is still sleeping in his crib in mom and dad's room, he is just not ready for a big boy bed, and since he is not crawling out of the crib, we won't fix what is not broken.

Some of the words he says are: mama, dada, papa, milk, bye bye, juice, shoes, tractor, car, puppy, you see that, where is it, sissy, ball, yes, no

Some words he understands: all of the above plus, coat, hat, boots, shower, bath, blankie, binky, up, down, go get, brothie(brother), Madison, Syd, Dylan, TV, Baby first(his tv program), all gone, drink, hungry

Madison is home not feeling well today. So far that is all it has been, but we shall see what this afternoon brings. She is doing well in school. She is playing the clarinet in band and progressing with it quite well. She has a birthday coming up soon and will be turning 11. Hard to believe.

Dylan is playing league basketball right now. Their games are on Saturday mornings. He does enjoy this for sure. He is doing well in school also. Not to much to report for him.

And Syd, she has some big accomplishments to mention. She stopped wetting the bed. She was finally ready to use the alarm and she really didn't even need it. She wore it for about 6 nights, and was staying dry and decided she didn't want to wear it. So she has been staying dry without the alarm for the last 10 days or so. And has actually wore "panties" to bed the last 4 or 5 nights as well. We are so proud of her. She too is doing well in school. The gets tired of all the reading, but I can't say that I blame her for that.

That is about all we have to post for now. Michael is staying busy as usual, which is a blessing. And for me, well, I stay busy as well.

I am going to leave you with a picture of Xavier with his new haircut and what he looks like at 18 months.

Where to Begin, Ugh, It's Been Too Long!

Wow, can't believe I haven't posted since October. Guess it has been crazy busy here and I just haven't been up to it. So what has happened since then? Hmmm... Well November was just a busy month as always. Nothing major to report that I can think of. I was busy getting our home ready for the Holiday Home Tour put on by the Corning City Library. It was a success. And yes, I was ready for it. With that said, I was also ready to take down the trees the day after Christmas. Oh, Christmas, what a mess this year, but also a time of great memories made. My mom came over, well, Michael went and got her on Christmas Eve afternoon and she spent the evening with us. That way she was not alone and snowed in on Christmas morning. And snowed in she would have been, I think just about everyone was. No mass on Christmas eve or Christmas, it was really sad and different not going to mass. She ended up staying here until Sunday morning. On Saturday, we went to KC and picked up family from the air port. It was alot of fun having them around for a week. The kids were all excited for Christmas this year and it was a lot of fun, just being snowed in with no cares in the world and no where to run.

Sydnie also celebrated her 6th birthday in December. I cannot believe she is already 6. Have no idea where the time has gone. She is turning into a real little lady. She is a mixture of girly girl and tom boy. She will go out and help her dad work, but ususally wants to wear her best Sunday dress to do it. haha She is always willing to help out a friend in need, and is quite the little mother hen. She has a supreme love of baby anythings. Whether it be dogs, chickens, humans, kittins, you name it, she will take care of them.

So with the new year brings new goals. I am hoping to keep a few of them this year. I am hoping to keep up the books better and therefore spend more time doing things with the kids that I have been putting off. And I am going to lose those last 10 pounds I have been working on. Hope 2010 brings lots of health, wealth, and happiness to all of our readers out there. I will try to post pictures soon.

Oh What a Week!!!!

So to start of the week, when Syd got home on Monday, she just looked so sleepy. So I took her temp. and it was fine, but I thought to myself,"how could that be?" So an hour later I checked it again and it was on the climb. Funny how a mother knows her children like that. So we started the Tylenol remedy. I had already bumped her Flovent up the night before because she was starting to cough. So with her asthma and all, I decided to go ahead and get her to the ER for influenza testing. And they did an influenza and strep because her throat was so red. Both negative at the time. But they both have a pretty good rate of a false negative also. So we went home for the night with a follow up in the clinic in the am. Fever was 103.5 in the am when she got up, so we got ready and headed to the clinic. Not alot of change, other than the sound to her cough. So they put her on both an oral antibiotic and the Tamiflu as they were pretty sure she had the H1N1. We came home and she laid around most of the day. Fever would go up and down, and held out around 101. Then after her Tamiflu at bed time she started to vomit (because of the med). And with that she spiked a fever of 105!! OMG! What to do? I already had cool clothes on her and she was chillin. But she was not keeping things in her tummy, so Tylenol wasn't going to help. So I again called the ER and got to talk to Dr Kelly (the provider she saw in the clinic), and he said to come down and get some suppositories of Tylenol for her. So I did. She didn't much like them, but it did bring her fever down. And she finally broke the fever around lunch on Wed. So I took her to her Halloween party at school on Thursday. But she still hasn't got much for appetite and is quite pale and out of energy. So it has been a long week here. Just after recovering from Dylan and Xavier's illness, she got hit.

And on the note of Xavier, he's been a little fussier than usual. But I found a molar coming in on the top right side of his mouth. So I am sure that has been the problem. And the fact that his mommy time has been a little on the short side this week :)

So everyone enjoy the weekend and have a safe and Happy Halloween and I will try to post Halloween pictures this weekend.

On My Mind

So I have been thinking too much lately maybe. But there are a few things I would like to share with you. Like, if I had to describe my kids in one word what would it be? And it would go like this.

Madison = hard working

Dylan = Tenderhearted

Sydnie = Sassy

Xavier = Determined

And the other things I have thinking of are this. What is one thing that sticks out in my head about loved ones who have passed? And that would go like this.

My dad loved to eat sliced cheddar cheese with his apple pie. And my Grandma Jeanne ground her teeth like no other. Grandpa Flentie loved pineapple upside down cake and also hated it when us kids would eat all his dried pineapple that Grandma kept in a canister on the dishwasher. My Grandpa Eisenbarth would pop his false teeth, and it was annoying. And he loved sandwiches with those little u shaped bologna rolls diced up on them. And Grandma Eisenbarth, well I have alot for her, but some that stick in mind was that she almost always had an apron on, just one that tied around the waste and house slippers. And she didn't rinse the soap off her dishes when she washed them, strange that I know that huh. And one of my fondest memories of my Aunt Elaine is at Maddy's birth. She told me to PUSH, and she was in my face. And that day she had on these pink scrubs. My mom was video taping and she didn't know that the camera was still on. The picture is of Elaine's legs and the floor haha, and my mom pipes up "she's nice and pink isn't she and Elaine agrees, all the while what you are seeing is her pink legs. LOL. How about my Grandma Ayers. She didn't watch much TV and if she did it was like a Nashville channel or something. Anyway, she used to sit and tap her toes to the stereo a lot. She made the best cinnamon swirl bread, and she always had a Schwan's ice cream bucket of homemade cookies, usually sugar, in the freezer.

So, just a little of what's been on my mind lately. The kids are still passing the illness around the house. Dylan had probably had a touch of the H1N1. He has been running a fever for most of the week off and on. And now has a bad cold. And he and Xavier both have or had the hand, foot, mouth virus. Poor X had like 4 or 5 bad sores in his mouth. I had to break down and give him liquids from a bottle today. I guess the sores are in the wrong place when he tries to drink from his cups it hurts. Hopefully with lots of hand washing and disinfecting the house, we are in the clear soon. I am just coming down with what seems to be a head cold. So hopefully I nipped it early. Hope you are all staying healthy.

15 Months and ........

Well I will start with the fact that my little guy is 15 months old today. My oh my where has the time gone? I just cannot believe that he is not really a baby anymore. So what is he up to? Well, he is just into everything. As they say, he is a "shaker and a mover". He loves to run, dance, climb, and he is the biggest outdoors man that I have ever met. He loves to be outside. He is still really big into tractors and big trucks. He still has only 8 teeth in his mouth, and he does like to use them occasionally. He bites aggressively in his defense. He still has every inch of hair that he was born with, minus a trim enough to keep it out of his eyes. I am starting to think that he might be needing a hair cut soon. When you stretch out the curls, they are about middle of his shoulder blades. He talks up a storm, although, most of the time we don't know what he is saying. Some words we do understand are of course, mama, and dada, sissy, milk, tractor, yes, cracker, hmm, I can't think of any others at this time. So that is what Xavier is doing at 15 months.

Now, if you notice the time I am posting this, that is because we have been stricken with some illness at our house AGAIN. Dylan this time. He has been having a low grade temp. and tummy aches off and on since yesterday afternoon. And he got up about 2:30 this morning with a bad tummy ache. So I am sitting up with him and making sure he doesn't need anything. Gives me time to update the blog I guess. May have to hope for a nap later though. Somehow I am sure that will not happen as the girls will be getting out of school today at 11:30 for the end of the 9 weeks. So hopefully he will start to feel better soon, and no one else will be getting it.

And I will have to post pictures later, but the painter was here yesterday and got the wall going down our steps painted with the first coat anyway. And what a difference it made changing the color of that wall. I cannot wait to see the finished product. So the little projects we are trying to get done before the home tour are starting to fall into place. Now just to get it done and the decor up. But I thought I should at least wait til Halloween is over. Speaking of Halloween, Xavier is going to be a monkey, and the costume I got for him is so easy and cute. And how fitting. Can't wait til Halloween night.

So for now you are up to date on what is going on in the Boeckman house.

PRAYERS PRAYERS PRAYERS, PLEASE

I am asking for prayers for a friend today. We have never met in person, but her husband and I have. He used to be a drug rep, that brought us lunch and drug samples, when I worked in the clinic in Onaga. Eileen Huffman is her name and she has been battling breast cancer since her son was about a year old in 2003. She also has two older daughters. She is having surgery today at 1:00 to remove her thyroid gland and other glands to try and control her calcium levels, which are too high. The cancer has spread to her bones and she is in a lot of pain. However this may help and it may do nothing. It is in God's hands, please pray that this is a miracle and gives her peace and time on Earth. Thanks.http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/eileenhuffman

Lazy Day

Well yesterday I went to work for the better part of the day. Michael is just so busy and needed some help to get caught up. When I got home, Xavier was just not acting like himself. I picked him up to change his diaper and he was burning up. Took his temp and it was 103+. And he was breathing fast and just not acting right. So we ended up in the ER. He checked out OK other than the fever and a thick green mucous from his head. So he got a Rocephin shot and we were on our way. Today he started an antibiotic. We are starting him on a Pedisure a day also for a few extra calories, as he is such a little guy. He is a good eater when he feels well, but has had his bouts of not feeling well this year. And since he has not yet tripled his birth weight, and is so incredibly active, we are going to boost him with a few extra calories.

So today was a lazy day. Just laid around cuddling with my little man and catching up on missed sleep from last night. Did some laundry and dishes. Other than that, along with the cool wet weather, made a great lazy day. Xavier's fever did break during the night and stayed away til about 4:30 this afternoon and then it returned, but only 101, not the 103 that it had been.

So it looks like I will be home tomorrow with him as well. We will hopefully get a trip to the grocery store in since Syd needs a sack lunch for the Pumpkin Patch on Friday. But if he is still feverish, we will leave that up to daddy. I also need to work on statements, and get them out tomorrow.

The kids participated in The Living Rosary tonight at church and they all thought it was so neat. They explained it to me and it would have been neat to go, but I couldn't since Xavier was not feeling well.

We are working on getting some new paint done and a little bit of remodeling done. Our house is to be on the home tour for the Library in December and will be decorated for Christmas so we are hoping that it is all done by then.

Not much else to report. Maddy has taken a new interest in cleaning and helping me out today. She is wanting an allowance, so she has done a fair share of house work today. That is really nice beings I was a little on the lazy side today. It just goes to show she is growing up so fast.

We are headed to Nevada Mo this weekend for our Nanny's wedding. I am sure it is going to be a beautiful wedding and I cannot wait to hear all the music. It should be a good time I am sure. I will try to post pictures next week.

Oh Happy Fall!!

Wow, I haven't posted since Xavier's 1st birthday. My how time flies. Well where do I start. Maybe I should start by telling you all "I'm sorry". I know many of you have been checking regularly to see what we have been up to. Well truth be known we have been terribly busy, but that is no excuse. So here it goes. As I sit here trying to pay bills, get statements out, clean off my desk, get the paperwork entered, I look at the blog and decide there is no time like the present to get up to date.

Xavier is my little helper each and every day. Not a day goes by that him and I are not together and I thank God for that. He even goes to "work" with me on the days when I do go and help Michael. Those days have been few and far between lately. Have had a lot to do I guess. He started walking when he was just a week or so past his first birthday. I have video I will try to dig out and get posted. He still has not had an "official haircut". We have trimmed the front to keep it out of his face, but the sides and back is long and curly. He eats table food with the rest of us. He is a little peanut and has yet to triple his birth weight. But he is a good eater for the most part, just very active. He loves to dance, any time anything with a beat comes on he is boogieing. He not only walks not but runs. He goes up and down the stairs. He has pottied in the potty 4 times, each one before his bath which he loves. He still only has eight teeth, which he likes to use I might add. He says mama, dada, milk, uh oh, bye bye, yes, no, hmmm that is all I can think of right now. He loves to be outside no matter the weather. He also throws huge tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He is a lover, he loves to give kisses and hugs and blow kisses. He recently learned to blow his nose, due to a nasty cold and ear infection unfortunately. He loves tractors, which is another word he says, a lot. I am so looking forward to what he learns to due next.

Sydnie is in Kindergarten this year. She is off to a great start. She loves her teacher and loves school. She can write her name first and last. Is reading about 30 words or so. Knows all of her colors and shapes. Can count and write to 100 or past. She has homework every night and doesn't care, she just does it. She is my little helper. Whatever I might be doing, she wants to help and the same with her daddy. When he is going out to the farm to do anything, she wants to go along. She will be turning 6 in December.

Dylan is in 4th grade this year. He is loving school and of course his teacher. Nothing too new to report on him. He is still in the gifted program and has a new teacher in there this year. He started football again this year back in Sept. His team has not won a game, but they play hard and have fun. They scored their first touchdown last week, and it was #25, Dylan, who got to carry the ball in. How exciting! Before long he will be starting basketball. He wants to do gymnastics terribly bad and with his latest accomplishment of doing a back flip on his own, I think we may have to enroll next year. His grades are a reflection of the smart little or not so little boy that he is.

Madison is in the 5th grade this year. She recently made a big accomplishment in getting both tubes out of her ears. She also got her spring jet appliance off her teeth the other day ( just in time for Halloween ha). She is turning into such a beautiful young lady. She went to her first boy girl party on Friday. And she has now informed us that her and a boy are "dating" ha. She started band this year and is playing the clarinet. She is progressing nicely on it. She is still a book worm. And her grades also reflect quite nicely that she is a little smarty. She just has a bit of trouble turning things in once and a while. hmm She is wanting to start babysitting and does a great job with Xavier.

Michael and I try to keep to keep up with the kids and the business and still find time for each other. We recently participated in the go pink 5k walk in Sabetha. It is a fundraiser for cancer patients and families. We walked in memory of our family members who have had cancer, including my Dad, Aunt Patty, Grandparents, and cousin. This Saturday we are doing a 5 k for the coins for cause walk in Seneca that is also for cancer patients and families. We have a birthday party to attend and a party at a friends, along with the Cow Creek Opry. Next weekend we have a wedding to attend. We have not even found time to fit in a K State game yet. Michael is incredibly busy which is a blessing due to the economy. So many are looking for work, and yet we are at our busiest yet. Currently we are in some stage of about 25 houses. I try to help when I can, and keep up here and with the kids. Currently that consists of Tuesday night football practice, Wednesday night religion, and odds and ends the other nights, with football games on Sundays. Tomorrow night we happen to have tickets to the stage production of the Wizard of Oz. This is a reward to the kids for their grades. We have made it a point to reward them with something for the whole family for good grades. So as you can see we have been busy. I leave you with a few pictures. Hope you enjoy and I plan to keep this up as much as possible and do apologize for the delay.

Where to Start??

Well, it has been an extremely busy and fast paced summer so far. Sydnie and Dylan played soft/baseball this summer. So that meant a ballgame 4 nights a week. They both did great. Dylan's team finished last night taking first place in the tournament. I am glad to have it over for another year.

We went on vacation back in June. We left on the 18th and returned on the 27. We had a great time while gone. The ride out to Virginia was definitely not one we want to experience again. Madison was on an antibiotic for strep throat and wouldn't you know it the day we left, Syd and Xavier, fevers and sore throat. So needless to say it was a very long trip. We ended up staying over night in Ill. Our plan was to drive straight through, but Xavier was not eating, drinking or sleeping so we stopped for about 5 hours of rest. Then back on the road. We arrived at my aunt's house about 10 o'clock the following night. The mountains we drove through we awesome. While there we visited the National Aquarium in Baltimore, went into DC and saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House, Capital building, the Pentagon and 9-11 memorial. We went to the air and space museum, and the National Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. We rode the Metro into DC and yes we were on it the day of the crash. However not on that train thank goodness. We did however have to ride the red line the following day to the Cathedral. We had a great time while we were there. And the ride home was much better with healthy children. We drove straight through and it took about 21 hours. We arrived home on Sat the 27 about 6:30 am. That night we went down to Havensville to their 4th of July celebration and the kids loved it.

Also on July 11 we had our annual 4th of July party. It is put on by the business as an appreciation for all our friends, family, contractors, and sales reps. It is a good time to be had by all. We had a great day for it and had a great turn out. And I must say the fireworks were the best show yet.

I am still working 3 days a week and have a nanny coming. Her last week is next week and I am not looking forward to that yet. I am enjoying my time out and having some adult conversation. The kids are loving her being here and enjoying summer.

Mr Xavier has turned one. Yesterday was his big day. We are celebrating his birthday on Saturday. So what is he up to these days? Well, he is crawling like a maniac, which he has been doing for quite some time. He is taking a few tiny baby steps, but has no real interest in walking. He will go from a sitting position to a standing position without help. He has 7 teeth currently and has another in the works. He is eating table food and loving it. He is on whole milk and drinking it from a sippy cup. He had tubes in his ears in June and they really have seemed to help him. He is trying very hard to talk, but at this time, mama, Dada, and no no are about all we understand. He waves goodbye. He loves to give out kisses and hugs. He still is very attached to his blankie, but is doing very well with leaving his Binky in his bed and only having it at bedtime. So now you are caught up on where he is at at1 year.

I do have so many pictures to post but tonight is not the right time to download them and put them up, so I will try to get to that tomorrow if you can handle the anticipation of some very cute kids. haha

Happy Birthday to My Big Guy!!

WOW, where in the world has the last year gone? I cannot believe that one year ago today we were celebrating Xavier's birth. And what a year it has been for him. There is so much I have to tell you about what he is now doing (beings I have neglected the blog for awhile). And I do promise to do so tomorrow. I will make time to fill you in on what we have been doing. I just wanted to be sure and give a shout out to the world to let them know that my baby is turning one today.

We just got home from Dylan's Peewee baseball tournament championship game and Corning took first place. Way to go team. More tomorrow, I promise.