Nearly a year has passed...

I can't believe it, but it's happened. Nearly a year has passed since my last post (*smacks self on behind*) and I've decided that has got to change. I've been focusing heavily on my photography skills, and pictures do speak 1,000 words sometimes, but let's face it--words are easier to interpret. So, here goes with a quick glance back and a promise to make future posts more timely =).

We had plans to expand the family and were expecting number 4 last January but miscarried the end of February. We've been blessed with three amazing kiddos and while we could continue to grow our family, we've since decided that 3 is a really good number!

Lilee Anne turned 9 and Holt turned 5 this past June. These are their birthday pics:
Because of age, summer visits to the pool were enjoyable for everyone; the kids could all swim without assistance while I read lots of books :).

Lilee learned to ride a bike and began going to friends houses on her own. My anxiety over this stage was lessened considerably by getting her her first cell phone (a year earlier than planned, but T-Mobile does free kid phones--hey, free is free!). I got my first cell at 17...and it was as big as my head and came with like 20 minutes a month! My my times have changed. Lilee started 3rd grade in yet another new school (as did Mommy!) and has had a solid year so far with all A's and B's. We are very proud of her effort (she hasn't always loved school) and love the random facts she throws our direction: Did you know that Paul Revere was a silversmith and his dad was an "interpernure" (entrepreneur)? And 7 x 9 = 63? And Pop Pop's cabin is in the Application (Appalachian) Mountain Range? She also has her first "serious" beau whose name is Damien. Daddy is not really happy about that, and had originally banned all speak of boyfriends. Mommy helped him see the light that it is better for Lilee to talk about her boyfriends than not! Let's just say he saw the light. (*Ahem*).

Holt--well, he's still our little monster who hopes to be "human" when he grows up (*insert chuckle*). He started Kindergarten with our favorite teacher of all time--Ms. DeStefano. He is the only boy in his class of 4 kids and has no qualms about being with lovely ladies all day. By the end of week one he had pronounced his love for sweet little lady named Ava--and she is cute, cute, cute! I'll post a pic in December as I have plans to visit the class and snap some pictures. Strangely, Daddy doesn't seem to mind Holt's affections (interesting, that is). Holt has developed a great fondness of video games (like Big D) and looks forward to Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays when he gets to play them. His favorites are Batman Arch Asylum, Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones, and the classic Super Mario. I've been spotted on a number of occasions playing the latter with my little Bohemian--until he has a fit of rage because I've died too many times. Holt's little temper is something that we are working on big time. Dr. Lee is helping us address this stage--I love me a good child psychiatrist! And don't worry, we love Holt more than ever. If anything, he's increased his entertainment value! :o

So that brings us to Big D. Daegan has had a rough year but we have been so very proud of him and his even keel attitude towards his challenges. He had a teacher last winter that was less than stellar (the short of it) and we decided to pull him out of school in March and home school. This was an eye-opening time for us as we realized how much work goes into homeschooling (as a teacher, I've been a bit of snob about it--live and learn!). Long story short, we made it from March to May and enjoyed a longer summer than usual before starting at new schools (AMEN) this fall. Daegan started 1st grade with Ms. Sukroo and Ms. Gonzalez (his Spanish accent is awesome when he says her name) and is doing great. His vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds! He told me on our hike yesterday that his Hershey bar (who needs trail mix?) was "impressive." He's working really hard and Patrick and I are very proud of him. He spends his time unwinding with Dragon Ball Z on the PS2 or watching the dvd's on our projector. His understanding of all the characters is "impressive" (to steal his word) and I can only imagine his Christmas list from Santa!

It's been a good year even with the challenges we have faced. Last time I wrote Patrick was unemployed, I'd just found out I was pregnant and later miscarried, we saw wonderful friends we hadn't seen in years (Clay, Dave and fam, Chris and better half), I was working in a school I liked but later was surplussed out of it in June, Patrick began working in July (not a dream job by any means, but he is coping), I was placed in a new school which I LOVE with dream coworkers (and I am determined to survive the Freshman), we hosted Thanksgiving for the first time a couple days ago (who needs a dining room table or china?--Chinette and folding tables work just as well!), sold $95 in the yard sale today, and the kids are all very, very happy. It's a little freaky how much the tough years seem more valuable in the end. It's a good time to be grateful, and that we are.

Daegan Turned 7!

My big man had a birthday and what a day it turned out to be! We only had 2 rsvps as of Friday morning, the day of the party, but by 2PM we had ten more! It was NUTS at our house with 13 kindergartners, Lilee, and Holt running around--and I do mean running! When parents dropped off their kids, I was reminded of the commercial where a young couple drops off their twins with their elderly parents who then go running into the street screaming, "Don't leave us with the babies!" People barely stepped in the door before running the other direction from their children. It was funny...in a sick, masochistic sort of way.

So, how'd we manage? Well, fortunately we planned a movie night, and with brief intermissions to get the giggles and running out of our system, we managed to keep everyone mildly entertained. The night went something like this:

5:50 Several kids arrive 40 minutes early.
(Think parents plotted dinner together and laughed all the way to the
restaurant with their extra 1/2 hour of free babysitting.)
6:30PM Remainder kids dropped off and run around like banchies.
7:00PM Eat pizza bought from Costco, add popcorn to pizza (yeck!).
7:05 Clean spilled apple juice from floor.
7:10 Clean more spilled juice from floor.
7:08 Drop pizza on floor; pick it up and cook another.
7:20 Lose interest in eating; desert popcorn pizza on floor and table
7:30 Start Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with all kids sitting quietly on couch.
7:40 Distribute leftover popcorn (no, not picked off pizza, but did think about it) to kids
7:58 Lose interest in movie. Demand cupcakes and presents.

8:07 Birthday boy get poke in eye, doesn't know how. Opened remainder of presents with one hand and one eye (other hand on bad eye)

8:08 Two more children decide they got poked in eye; need ice to feel better (and feel center of attention)
8:17 Finish opening presents (eyes miraculously healed!)
8:20 Sing happy birthday and eat frosting off of giant cupcakes from Costco.

Happy B-day to you! Happy B-Day to you! Happy B-Day Dear Daegan!
Happy B-Day to you!

Dominic

Abby


Chloe

8:23 Throw away precious cupcakes raped of their frosting.
8:25 Recommence watching of movie after doling out popcorn refills. Try to clean while able.
8:38 Give more popcorn to Ainsley.
8:46 Give more popcorn to Ainsley.
8:59 Give more popcorn to Ainsley.
9:14 Movie ends (drat!). Patrick saves the night with Sponge Bob episodes. (Kids sing theme song very loudly--wished I had a camcorder.)
9:30 Parents collect children.
Decide not to disclose to Ainsley's parents how much popcorn she really ate.
9:33 Fall onto floor laughing at own insanity.

Needless to say, we survived! Four days later I am amazed by our perseverance and have decided that maybe parties hosted at kid themed places are worth their weight in gold...

Transitioning to Adulthood...well, not quite.

We were sitting at the dinner table tonight and Lilee proclaimed that she would like to be treated like an adult. I think the idea stemmed from her repeated requests for a cell phone and to wear make up. So, the conversation went a little something like this:





Lilee: "Mom, dad--I want you to start treating me like an adult."
Patrick: "O.k. Lilee. Between the 1st and the 5th of the month you need to pay us $300.00 for room and board."
Lilee: "No, don't treat me like an adult with money."
Me: "Alright. Then from now on you need to do your chores without being asked and without complaining."
Lilee: "Oh, nevermind. I don't want to be an adult."