I have a blog?

I haven't posted on here since the beginning of the school year and now....drum roll....there are only 20 days left until summer break!  wowza. 

Due to moving, a lack of internet, and a laptop that has been packed-up...I still don't really know where, I have been seriously out of the blog loop!

Since I last blogged, we had a 14th birthday, a 4th birthday, a 2nd birthday, a 9th birthday, and a FIRST birthday!  Crazy how big these little guys are getting.  Unfortunately it was a pretty uneventful year as far as extra-curriculars went.  We were so preoccupied with selling the house, having sellers who backed out of their purchase agreement FOUR DAYS before closing (all our stuff was already in storage!), and then selling the house again, that we didn't have a whole lot of time to really enjoy a whole lot of anything, but some very little quality time with one another.

So why did we move?  Well, we couldn't keep up with the nursing that needed to be done on a 20+ year old house.  We couldn't maintain a $250,000 mortgage with 5 kids and Red Ventures going down hill.  We lived on a very busy main road and the kids got out to play very little.

And where are we now!?  One street away from our last house!  We decreased our mortgage by nearly 50%, got into a home that was built in only 2001, and live on a street where the kids run and play from sun up to sun down!  It was one of the best decisions that we ever made for our family.  Cheers to modest living!:)

In all the moving chaos, Trey landed a new job with a new company!  More mature, more established, and a better fit, Trey is now a Sales Manager for a company that sells *basically* websites. (There is a lot more that goes along with it, but that's the gist;-)  While I have to admit I am not happy that we seem to be "stuck" in "salesland", I am happy to see a happier husband who is feeling much better about his job...and the company that he works for~! (Good Riddance "other guys".)

Carly is about to embark on her highschool adventure.  Conner will be in 4th grade and has thrown us for a loop asking to go to ballroom "dance camp" this summer!  Joey is finishing up his first year of pre-school and is signed up to attend one of the pre-school's summer camps..."Play ball camp."  Ailey is potty training and is as "Graceful" as ever!  And finally, Maevy continues to be such a tiny and wonderful baby of the family.  Her latest favorite game is making animal noises. 

As for me, I am enjoying playing homemaker in the new house.  I had Home Depot out today giving us an estimate on finishing the fencing in the backyard.  I am loving just being HOME; vaccuming, painting, installing this and that, assembling this and that, getting my new crock pot warmed up, starting as a sales consultant for Pampered Chef, and training the new pupp, Petunia!

That is all for now!  Hopefully it won't be another 6 months...*wink*:)

Wizarding Summer of Fun and Other Updates....

My last post was when summer had just begun and now we are approaching the end! (Or the end of summer break, I should say.) The kids aren't too happy with me for it, but the countdown is on the calendar.....23 days until school starts! We have them this week, they go to their mom's for a week, they come back and we go to the beach, and the next week SCHOOL SHALL COMMENCE!
Since I haven't blogged since May and it's now almost August, that shows how busy we keep our summers!
I deem this summer our "Wizarding Summer of Fun". While visiting with family in New Smyrna Beach, we were blessed with the opportunity to take Carly and Conner to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If you know us, then you know what a HUGE deal this was. It was not something we ever anticipated being a reality for us so actually getting there was an even bigger deal than it otherwise would have been. We were definitely in our element:)

(Waiting in line outside of Hogwarts!)
When we returned from Florida we went into countdown mode for Deathly Hallow, pt 2. To pass the time, we travelled down to Atlanta and caught Harry and the Potters at the Magnetic Theater. ( http://www.harryandthepotters.com/) Wizard Rock (WROCK) is so fun!!!

(Harry and the Potters)

Finally, on July 15th, our final Wizarding adventure happened: we went and saw the Deathly Hallows, pt 2. We cried, we laughed, it was SO good. The final movie in the book series that we love so much....it really all ended there! Trey and I look forward to the 3 babies being old enough for us to start at the beginning of the books again and re-live the adventure!

The little ones have enjoyed playing with friends this summer. We're usually found at the lake, the pool, the back porch, or IN THE AIR CONDITIONING. I am such a wimp in the heat. ((Cannot wait for fall: all things pumpkin, hoodies, 70 degrees, etc)

Joey will start pre-school this fall....oh boy! Ailey's in the wonderful world of potty-training and being a terrible 2. Finally, Maevy is the happiest baby! Loves to nurse and laugh:) In 2 weeks she will be 6 months old already! TTFN!

The Sticky Season

Here we go....the "Sticky Season" is here! I cannot believe that we are in our last full week of school. This school year has FLOWN by! And while it seems like just yesterday we were preparing our big kids to be the "new kids, so much has happened! Most importantly, both Carly and Conner have made so many new friends and have officially announced they wouldn't want to leave their new schools. (Not that it was an option, but still good to know;) I am so proud of both of them and their many impressive accomplishments this year. I can't wait to see what 3rd grade holds for Conner...and what Carly's LAST YEAR BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL (!!!) holds for her.

(Carly with friends after being inducted into the National Junior Beta Club)

(Conner with his football coaches...and little brother...at the end of season celebration)

Joey and Ailey....also many accomplishments this year. Learning how to share a bedroom and sleep in big girl and big boy beds is one big one. (Lately they keep ending up sleeping in the SAME big kid bed cuddled in together and it's one of the cutest sights to behold EVER!) We had a 1st birthday and a 3rd birthday. Ailey learned to walk, run, and TALK UP A STORM! Joey decided he's always right and knows everything...so he needs to learn that that's not a truth;) Ailey decided she would start taking a pacifier for the first time at 15 months of age when baby Maevy was born ....another thing that has to be un-done:) But they are so cute and I am so happy that I had them so close together. They are best friends who do everything together. I can't wait for Maevy to join in their fun! The sound of the shared laughter between siblings is so sweet! And as for sweet little Maevy...well, she isn't so little. I was shocked when I put her on the baby scale last week and discovered that at 3 months of age she is a chunky 17 lbs of sweetness! She is a very unique baby who shows too many signs of independence for a last born. She loves to talk and giggle...especially with big brother, Joey.So....our plans for the "Sticky Season"?
Plenty of popsicles.

So much sunscreen.

Gallons of getting out the sprinkler.

Portions of peaches.....and strawberries!

Plenty of picnics and play at the park.

Bottles of bug spray.

and....

Fun times with family and friends (to include all the above mentioned items which makes them sticky, as well;)

The Sweetest Thing

I wake up to your tiny breath against my skin

I breathe in your delicious baby smell---my nose right on top of your head
I lose sleep just watching you get yours
You are so beautiful and perfect

Little twitches on your lips---what are you smiling about sweet baby?
I feel your little toes wiggle on my knees---you are tucked in to me so close
We are so in sync you and I

It's almost as if we speak a language that just Mommy and baby understand

When you awake your eyes slowly blink open

You recognize my face admiring you--more smiles
This is how I know that you love me too

For a long time we just smile at eachother...speaking that language that is just ours
I sense that you are getting a bit hungry and nurse you

You keep staring up at my eyes--I hope you feel loved back

Slowly we both drift back to sleep
These are the sweetest moments for me
I love you so much Maevy Faith

Embracing What's To Come....

I keep looking down at my sweet nursing infant and while I am totally consumed with love, there is a bit of sadness that lurks during this sweet time with my little baby girl. She is my last. People often think I'm a little wacky when I discuss how sad I am that I'm not going to have anymore babies. "But you've got TWO babies right now!" Yes, I know. I am sooo thankful for my babies! It's not that they are somehow "not enough"...I know I am blessed beyond belief! I'm just a momma who loves having babies and now that the end of the road is so quickly here (I had three babies in 3 years!) I am working to accept it. So, today I have decided it's time to start looking forward....and getting excited about what's ahead! LIKE Firsts! First words! First foods! First hairbows! First grins! (Like the ones I experienced this morning! Gotta love the gums.) First days of school! First birthday parties! First teeth! (first lost tooth!) First family vacations! First team sports! First time without the training wheels! ..and that's about as far as I'm willing and able to get excited about thus far;) There are countless milestones that I have to look forward to with my babies. I'm keeping my heart set on what I have and what's to come. It's sad that I'm done having babies, but in a lot of ways...it's really exciting because there is so much in store:) (Perhaps a first for Mommy....being in fabulous physical shape?! *wink*)

still shocking 5 years later

I hate the term used to describe siblings who biologically share only one parent...."half sibling". It makes me cringe like the word, "step-mom" makes me cringe. Family is family...let brothers and sisters just be labeled as simply that. Lord knows they don't love one another with just half of their hearts. Heck, I have sisters I don't share any blood with at all!

Why is it so hard for bio-mom to just grasp this part of Carly and Conner's life? To realize that, while she is totally uninvolved in it (her choice), it is totally and completely who Carly and Conner are?

Call me step-mom all you want. Remind that I am not the "real mom" as much as you need to. Call me step-monster...I don't care. But don't call my kids "half-siblings"...and don't you DARE call them "step-siblings"....apparently you need a Webster on that one!

That is all.

Oh wait,....
p.s.
8 year olds don't need to be bathed
don't need you to "help" them pee in a cup at the doctor office
and certainly shouldn't be "co-sleeping" with you.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

10 days now...

Our sleep schedule is official! 10-2 and 2:30-6:30....sweet! I got a good little sleeper:) She's a good little eater, too. Maevy nurses about every 2 hours and is already up over 9 lbs at 10 days old. She's a sweet little cuddle muffin and I love her SO much. Everyone else loves her, too...even Ailey...who I was quite concerned about having jealousy issues...but the main issue she has is a curiosity issue:) I am nervous and trying to figure out things like what life will be like when Trey returns to to work next week....how I will buy groceries for a family of 7 with 3 babies in tow...how I will get the big kids to their soccer practices at all different times and locations...how I will have patience...and inner calm...LOL! Truly the sentence, "It isn't always easy, but somehow we make it work" (I know you can name that reality TV show) comes to mind several times a day. That being said, this is our final BABY. And, even though i know that is what's best for everyone, man is it hard to accept! Maevy's first night with us I got zip sleep...I just watched her sweet face and kept her right up against me....taking it all in. Maevy's a sweetheart...thank you God for putting such a perfect finishing touch on our already blessed family!