Sunday update...

Becky got $ for the iPod she is wanting to get.

not sure if David got anything. ha ha.

Uncle Tom, flanked by his two blonde nieces. I think they were trying to take his birthday money.

this is how Molly digests her carbs.

Ethan, Will and Mel, trying to digest their delicious Grandma-made lasagna before embarking on the infamous Boyden's cake perfection! Love E's expression.

Beck just proves that being 33 does not require one to be serious and boring! (this is one of her famous "self portraits")

My very serious, nearly 40 year old husband. (he won't greet 40 till this coming Sunday, March 6th)...Hello Chief.

David wanted to embrace these two (I mean, they are employees of his and such...) and Beck thought it would be fun to grimace...David made us re-do it...see below

We gather together to celebrate the momentous births of these 3 amazing people! Three of my favorites.

This girl had a busy day...she went to church with Beck and her family...spent the afternoon playing with the girls and there was no time for her nap between pick up time from Becky's and heading back to Beck's for the birthday party. Needless to say, she was grumpy, frenetic, and over tired. We got home by 9 p.m., she got herself p.j.'d up and tried to sneak past me. I nabbed her, and amidst her protests of "I'm not tirrrrrrred", I pinned her down and she instantly fell asleep. it was niiiiiiiiiice. and quiet. whew. she is quite precious when she sleeps though. I'll give her that. :)

(notice I took her stinkin' paci outta her mouth...I'm trying. I really am.)

So, it's Monday again.

I will bullet point some of the things I'm looking at this week:

~Another month starts, which is cool in a way, and with it brings spring. Our beloved Aunt Sherry & Uncle John (remember the Great Adventure trip, Kansas stop) are MOVING here this very week. Tomorrow in fact. Today is her birthday!

~David will turn 40 this coming Sunday. That almost leaves me speechless. hold on...I need a moment.

~I am 23+ weeks today, can't believe how fast, yet how slowly this pregnancy seems to be going. I am trying to "live in the moment" and enjoy this, as it will be my last one (yes, I know I've said this before but now I MEAN IT. if you've been around me, you have to know I'm DEAD serious.) I enjoy feeling the nameless one wiggle around, esp. after I've eaten...and I'm really trying to soak this up. I just know I will miss it. but honestly, I will be really glad to live through another labor and delivery, au naturel. Can't wait to see this guy's face.

~I guess I didn't have as many things to say as I thought I would.

In other news, Melanie and I really enjoyed a Mother/Daughter time away yesterday morning. My sis took Molly for me and David had the 3 boys. We went down to the Edinburgh outlet, enjoyed browsing without Molly. The weather was really mild (though it's far from mild today, due to thunderstorms that rolled thru last night, bringing with them cooler temps). Mel got a cool new Gap sweatshirt and I found a Gymboree blanket for #6 (the same blankie brand as Molly's) with little crocodiles on it.

got me thinking as to how funny it is that baby girls clothing is all flowers, mermaids, and cuteness, while baby boys clothing is bull dogs, sharks, crocodiles, and earth moving equipment. Very non-cuddly. kinda funny to me.

I will leave you on that note...time to gather my strength for the next 3+ hours out of the house tonight. ugh.

Maybe I'll put the crib up.

Saturday happenings....

Our local credit union, Teacher's, hosted a Community Day at our favorite local library, Greenwood Public Library...this magician guy was pretty funny!

Mel got to represent Snow White, along with Lauren as Belle, Sarah as Aurora, and Annie as Tinker Bell. it was so flippin' adorable to see little kids walk up to them with adoration in their eyes....such sweet girls to play these roles. awwww. amazing!

such beauty...all over the place.

Levi really wanted to get his pic taken with all these pretty girls. Who could blame him? his big brothers weren't brave enough to do so...David did, but I will have to scan his pic in...he had it taken before I got there. ha ha. fun times.

Let me explain...look at the pic right below. This blue cat guy is Boomer...he is the mascot for our local Pacers team. As soon as Nora saw him, she kept her face buried for a good part of an hour...it was kinda funny. ya either love or hate him....he was a good sport. as you'll see below.

The princess squad even wanted a pic with Boomer.

Mel had to carry Piper over for her pic...she was none too thrilled.

Boomer was a good sport and snuck up behind our seated crew...notice Nora's hands. hilarious.

Grandpa and some of his girls!

Molly loves her Grandma. you just can't tell here...she was ready for some coffee.

Becky got brave and wanted a pic with Boomer!

Hi.

How are you?

All is well here...we are alive. that's about it. :) waaa. I'm such a complainer. forgive me. it's still winter.

We are thinking of high-tailing it outta here. just chucking all of our responsibilities and going to a beach or somewhere like that. Frisbee, quiet time, change of scenery. I dunno. we will see.

On a fun note, my little sister turns 33 tomorrow. WOW! I can't believe this...she was JUST 16. really. We are having her birthday party tomorrow, as well as Tom and David's. We figure it's 2 less cakes that none of us "need" (but surely want, yo). And I know she isn't fond of the combination party but....

this year, Tom turns 41. He's really ok with that. David, on the other hand, turns the big 4-0. To celebrate, we are hosting a roller skating party here in town...chock full of 80's music and good times. You know you are invited...you can contact me for the full details. It only costs 3 dollars for skate rental...admission is on us. After the skate, we are caravanning to a local restaurant, dutch, and will finish up the celebration there. This all takes place on March 19th. 3 days before David has surgery to ensure that #6 is our last. Pray for him...it's a wiggish event.

I hope to take lotsa pix tomorrow at the 3 in 1 party...I also hope to get our pix on here from last week's field trip to the Indiana Repertory Theatre's production of The Diary of Anne Frank. awesome. Promises, promises...I'll treadmill now and blog more later...I've posted the February 2011 album on Facebook so you can go see more of today's pix there...adios.

forgive the all over the placedness.

"You're my best friend, that's it...."

My best non-biological friend....we are both going in 150 different directions, kids here, there and everywhere, but it's so nice to know that we can pick right back up where we left off...and we have such a blast. She came into my life rather unexpectedly (I'm sure I've blogged about this) and at a time when I didn't think I needed another friend. Boy, was I wrong. God knew I needed THIS friend. She was a shoulder for me when all the friends I'd had were ditching me. And now that I look back on it, as much as it "hurt", she definitely made those times a lot less painful than they could've been. She is the most tender-hearted chick around, helpful, open to different opinions and looks at things clearly. Tambo, you are such a dear to me.

This pic of TK greeted me when I got onto Facebook today...and it's kept me smiling all day long. Love you, girl :D you are one of the finest! Lost without you, I would likely be. Thanks for holding me accountable in my relationship with Christ...I've learned so many GOOD things from you.

This gal knows me like nobody's business....I always felt bad for girls that had sister's, when I was younger and took her for granted. I knew the pain that was little sister. Now I feel sorry for girls if they don't have sisters or if they have them but aren't "tight".

in all reality, I always rather liked my kid sis. I loved to threaten her that I was going to run away if she didn't do what I told her to. I loved to try to get her in trouble by convincing her to swear when the tape recorder was on (thinking she couldn't hear the grinding sound of those cheap-o recorders)....I also enjoyed the fact that, like my Levi today, she was ALWAYS running around in just a shirt and undies. I love the fact that if I say something funny, she runs with it, getting all the credit for being funny! :D I love that she brought me a bag of Eclipse chocolates at Dr. Quill's last week...and we dug around for the Edward candies, only to discover that there weren't ANY, they were all Jacob. Wha??? she thinks of me in such fun, caring ways. I love her love language of GIFTS.

I know this past few weeks has been kinda rough on you, Beckyboo...I love you, pray for you and hope that things start looking up. I am so lucky to have such an incredible sister and BF. I'd be lost without you, too!

Hope your Wednesday has been most delightful. I don't know about your weather, but ours was simply gorgeous today. Get out there and enjoy it!!

P.S. this day last year is the day we left on our 3 week Great Adventure. hard to believe a year has come and gone. and what a year. whew.

Happy Birthday Month, Beck and E...

Two of my favorite Ethan pix of allllll time. beautiful boy...

My beautiful little sister....

And so we begin...

February hits and Beck reminds us that it is the month of her birth. How could we forget, dear sister?

We can't. We won't. We don't wanna...I'm so thankful for February...for in it, God gave me YOU and my second son, Ethan...what a fine month you are, February.

So we celebrate you and we celebrate Ethan. Love you two.

Blessed to have you

My beautiful, amazing friends....

Christmas Day 2009

Summer 2009

Want to focus on two girls that have been an important part of my life for 1.) the last year and a half and 2.) the last 31 years of my life.

Tammy, there is no one like you. The Lord brought you into my life when I least expected it or thought I needed someone like you...

Levi was up sick allllll night Wednesday, which meant I was up all night with him. Poor fella. Didn't make for a very productive Thursday (though it did end up being a pretty fruitful day). This amazing lady made a double batch of cheesy potato soup & cornbread, braved trekking down our slick driveway on foot, to bring my family some sustenance for dinner. Really, who does this kind of thing? besides someone amazing and thoughtful, unselfish and caring. This is just ONE of the caring things this chick does.

We were blown away. Thanks, K family. Because, in the midst of our trying day, Tammy had taken two of her girls to get teeth pulled and other awesome things that fill up a homeschool mom's day. I love you, Tam! You are a definite gift from God. Thanks for making my life and the life of my family so much richer!

Becky boo, Beantzy, Peanut, whatever other horrible nicknames we gave you...you know what I'm talkin' bout...

Shouldn't everyone have a sister like you? I think so. I take you for granted, that much is true. I just assume that not only will you always be around (and you'd better be), but that everyone I know has someone like you in their family or life.

You do things for me that no one else can...I mean, you've been with me for almost all of the babies' births (remember how scared we were of the "unknowns" surrounding Will's?), barely missing Molly's entrance because she came so fast. You were the person sniffing and crying on Mel's birth video when the midwife announced that we got our girl!...I'm so blessed to have shared that with you and to have been with you for Pipe's and Bean's deliveries.

So many good memories with both of you. I'm also so glad that you guys like each other! I love that we can all be goofy together. Priceless...

You know just how to make me laugh when I'm losing it and I love that we lose it together. I love that when we go places together, people actually think we are twins. ha ha. do we really look and sound that much the same? love it. I really do.

Thanks for bringing me three Hershey kisses when I most needed them yesterday. for that other stuff too! You rock. I love you, Beck.

I love my contemporaries fiercely. I am not perfect but I am loyal. I've got your backs. Thankful for the lessons learned over the past year...and praising God for HIS perfect wisdom in all things, including friendship. He knows that I need these females in my life...and He's given me some keepers!

I love you so much, Tammy and Becky!

(I'm getting to you, Mom!)

I love snooping thru your pix, Beck

Beck, these are some interesting pictures I found on your laptop...and as always, I'm a dork and you are a super model. not fair.

I love my sister

during Intermission of the musical, we decided it was high time for a self-portrait...this first pic was me talking to a guy that was offering to take our pic. I was explaining that we were quite good and rather capable of taking our own picture but thank you.

You really are lovely. Now come back to my blog. I promise I'll blog about you more!

this is what I think of your blogless visits. (man, can I make THE faces?)

This spooky statue inside the Murat Theatre was kinda creepin' me out. Or as Levi says "You're kinda creekin' me out".

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I do love my sissy. It'd be nice if she actually visited my blog again.

Since she left her job to come work for us, for David, she says she's only visited my blog twice.

Seriously? two times?

Granted the past two months have been rather iffy for my blog, yes, I know...but c'mon.

So here's my vow, Dad, Tory, Beck, whoever else out there drops by now and then....I will aim to blog at least every other day.

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Mac's home

talk about dedication! here's our A-1 employee trudging thru Keystone Mall with Mac. we actually took turns but she is a trooper and an amazing chick!

yikes...a horrible pic of me but Mo, our salesdude, looks magnif...and of course, my sister is always so photogenic below...I'd cut this pic out but I haven't quite figured that part out yet. Tammy? help....:)

My LOVELY friend Tammy (see below), offered to come sit at the house with the ragamuffins for a bit...and she even brought LUNCH, soda, and good fellowship. You rock, girlie! 

doesn't our porch look so ghetto? I'm used to it but when I see it's unfinished self in pix, it makes me gasp! we really do live in Deliverance. 

yeah, and this pic should be up above but I can't quite figure out how to move the pics around in a post yet....so forgive.

So, that's what is happening down here...the mundane days of May. We took the kids bowling today and I forgot my camera. I also forgot how much I really do not like to bowl. It's challenging and you have to move your body in weird ways (which I'm totally ok with but...)

Ok, so gotta run...hope this finds you well, healthy, enjoying these springy days! Wish I had something deep, funny or encouraging to say but that will have to wait. Peace!

Keepin' up...

Caroline, Nora and Molly, really getting into a.) snacks, b.) an Usborne book, or c.) hand lotion....

Hey Miss Nora...what up?

I like your bangs....and you are such a good auntie!!

Hello stylish!

After the soccer celebration at Mt. P, the kids and I drove up to D's current job, and Will, ever the amazing big brother (they are all amazing big sibs to Sybil), put Mollsy on his back...whatta sight!

Jose and a few of the crew working on taking wax off the floor...man, did the smell of that stripper make me happppppeeeeeee! we were all a little tipsy!

David's younger brother, Nathan! You are doing a great job, NY.

My big brother (in the distance) and Sean, David's cousin that is the same age as Nathan, working hard!

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I will try to keep updating Miss Blog today...since it's a "holiday" and I refuse to do anything productive. I joke.

These pix were taken last Thursday evening....