Praying for you, cousin Tory!

I know you may feel like this tonight...but breathe deep...

And use my tried and true stress reduction kit....this has saved me many times.

This is another way I deal with stress....though this is not me in this picture, I am quite accomplished at this yoga pose....hee hee.

And this one too...when I'm feeling especially stressed (which seems to be often anymore...) I break out this extreme yoga pose...this may even be me. ha ha.  can you believe how agile I am? yeeee-ikes.


I kid, but really, I am thinking of you tonight, praying that your defense goes AMAZINGLY well tomorrow...and that grad school isn't far behind. While I am running kids to and fro, I will be wondering if you are in the midst of presenting.

Sooooo, what I'm trying to say is...when you get finished tomorrow, however that actually goes...jump on here, after a little celebrating, and let this ol' worn out cousin of yours know how it all went down.

That is at the forefront of my brain tonight.

Enjoyed a nice workout at the (klepto) YMCA with my sister and my daughter.
Had a nice day being at home, getting stuff caught up, bills paid and even got to visit with my adorably pregnant, beauty of a neighbor, Tashena. (Hi Tashena...your cookies and vanilla chai are the best!)
Talked on the phone with SHELLEE....all the way from Japan. soo great to hear her beautiful voice and she explained a beautiful gift she'd sent me that I will be blogging about very soon. I'm so excited and thrilled.
Got some good math (and other stuff but ya know...) done with Levi.
Molly did her school today too, and she bug bug bugs to do hers while I'm in the midst of Levi's so I get her going on her Handwriting without Tears etc. It requires a lot of coloring and pre-k stuff and she quits on the coloring pretty early in the game because she's "tired, pretend tired, from all this coloring. my hand hurts"



handwriting and old fashioned forms of communico really are lost arts.

So, good night...I can hear David bellowing in our room below for all of us to get tooo bed.

praying for you, Tory...

love to all of you.

Driveway Dig Up and oh what a delight!

this was last Thursday, if I remember correctly...

and so was this. but who can remember details like those?

well, there is our gas line...I know I still haven't blogged about that but you can imagine that just the fact that I'm even mentioning it is not good. David knicked it on THURSDAY (our least favorite day of the week), Sept 8...and we are waiting, anxiously, for our Vectren bill to show up. oh boy.

some progress...

This drive will be level. 

weird, huh?

Uncle John and Uncle Vincey, planning how they will conquer that darned tree stump. Notice Jack's sweet garden right behind it.

Don't look at me like that, boy. Vince doubted his mad back ho skills but we did NOT. This guy can do just about anything he sets his mind to.

Uncle John

Our poor canopy toppled...

Saturday: Vince in the bucket, on his way to trim a pesky tree branch.

Whatta guy...

I will have more pix on this latest adventure at our house but for now, I must close my eyes and go to the place where my troubles melt away like lemon drops...


Good night and God bless you...

room swap update...

Ahhhhh......deep breath.....

this is our bed. it's in the middle of everything. it's very.....Little House on the Prairie-ish.

this is the new color of our "new" room. It's been our room before, back in 2002...I'm wondering how I will fit David's ginormously BROWN Hyatt dresser into the new lovely turquoise/red/spa/bright/cheery room. Should I paint it? that's a blog post for another day.

So, tonight we are all a-jitter, as tomorrow is Ultrasound/Find out Day. It's been fun getting people's bets on what #6 is...and most people say BOY. which would be cool...It'd be fun and cute and wild to have yet another son. Who would he be more like? but mostly, and honestly, I pray for health and wholeness. for real. My girl quota has been more than met with Molly (and Melanie, but Mel was soooooo easy and laid back). Either way, it's an exciting night here.

I've got my bottle of Mountain Dew in the car, ready for our trip up....in hopes that bebe cooperates and shows us who they are. Pray for us, for we are anxious/eager and know that God is in total control of all of the situations surrounding this kid.

I'll be back on here tomorrow night to let you know...

Shellee, I know this is how we stay in touch and I'm so glad to hear that your baby girl is developing nicely. I know you are so eager to meet her. I am too! Thanks for your encouraging words on here in the comments and for your prayers. I hope you know we pray for you and your family too.

Hugs to you all...over and out....

past few days....

This is CeCe....aka Cyndy. She was one of my first friends in Indy. She also was a bridesmaid in our wedding. She also just happens to be the sister of my brother in law, Scott. So fun to think we share nieces. Funny how those things work out, eh? In this pic, we are at Nora's little Christmas program last Thursday. Last night, we attended Piper's Christmas program...Surely Tom will be posting pix on Facebook for me to steal. love ya, Cyndy. you're a good auntie.

so nice to see some siding on the ol' abode!

Bye bye Tyvek...you've worn out your welcome.

due to the frigid temperatures, Randypants hasn't been able to finish the siding. Plus, he's working for D's company...there's even more than this above pic finished and even unfinished, David and I are just in awe of what a difference siding makes. Green makes me happy.

This group of kids and their mothers bought supplies for 12 gentlemen...gloves, socks, toothbrush and paste, lotion, etc....to donate to the Wheeler Mission Ministry here in Indy. My awesome, compassionate friend, Tammy, organized this. love that girl.

In other exciting yet scary news, I had my first prenatal with our uber cool midwife, Mary Helen on Wednesday. I am 13 weeks+ along and since it's early, she told me we may not hear the heartbeat. It only took her 30 seconds with her Doppler to find #6's heartbeat and kapow! it was so strong.

so real.

so undeniable that, yes, there is another Young a-brewing. Kinda makes it seem real. She was really surprised at how loud, steady the little ticker was. I bet it's twins. She also poked my finger (youch) and I am slightly anemic, which explains the breathlessness even though I exercise 6 days a week. My liquid iron should arrive on my doorstep today. We are sooo very happy with our midwife. She is so much like our previous one (who just lives too far away from us now)...and such a calming influence....yah.

I shall return later on to hopefully post more pix but for now, Mel and I are ditching the four other kids here at home while we venture out to do a little Christmas shopping/hunting.

See ya later, taters...

all right, all right....the people have spoken :)

Mostly just you, Tory dear....but I'm listening! :) and I be lovin' you...

David and his oldest boys putting together a cheap-o table that we bought from Target and ended up taking back. They'd gotten it almost completely put together and D. said NO! this is JUNK! ha ha. no particle board crap for this cat.

we got another one at Value City...supposedly better, lifetime warranty and such...got it home today, outta the box and dang it if it isn't broken on the side. Needless to say, I get to take it back on Thursday and get a replacement. super.

this is our runner....it would be nice if the door trim was put back up but that's ok. someday.

Flippin' fun...on the new area rug. Saturday night, David and the boys decided to have a "Jump-a-thon"...I actually caught a bit of it on video...love this mid jump pic of my hubby.

Moo fell asleep before all the jumping started...I love when she finds a nitch to snuggle into and falls asleep. and it's true (her shirt, that is)....she's 100% sweet when she's like this.

Friday night, we had the opportunity to visit with my niece, Phebe and her mom, Rachel...it was fuuuuh-reezing cold out there but these 3 plopped down on the crunchy, frosty grass to gaze at stars. granted, it didn't last too long...but it was cute nonetheless.

Phebe's the chick in the front, with Levi, E, Moo, and Will. Mel was at Kaleo...so she missed out on coffee fun.

Pheebs and Rachel, with sneaky Levi in the background.

well hello there...what's new with you?

uh huh....

oh yeah....cool.

really?

Lots going on here...lots and lots.

1.) David's company started their big hospital job yesterday...he's going to be MIA a lot I think.

2.) It's raining today. and it's cold. and nasty. eww.

3.) Will got a hair cut, Mel and I are getting our hairs cut tomorrow and then Thursday, I hope to take updated (new and improved) school pictures since the last ones include Will looking rather hobo-ish. no offense, kid...we learned a lot from Stacy, our hair stylist chick, today. Did you know that the 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioners are bad for your hair, especially the Suave ones? I like expensive shampoo but when I'm on a budget, that's the first area that suffers....Down with Suave...We washed Will's hair with Dawn dish detergent because it had considerable build up. kinda gummy. ewww. he looks like a new man.

4.) Levi's loving karate and piano and I'm so glad!

5.) My house looks so empty with no pics up on the walls in the living area...hatin' it. I took all the pix off the big window wall because when they put the siding up, the pix would get knocked off. or so David tells me. Hoping we get our siding on the front of the house SOOOON. really. how'd you like to be naked? :) Tyvek ain't perty.

6.) Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married. So what you say? I LOVED his mother back when she married Charlie....and I still haven't recovered fully from her death...so sad that she won't be around to see her eldest, handsome son marry. this really isn't going on in my world, I just love the royals. and to think he gave her Diana's sapphire ring....ohhh pitter patter. it was a perfect fit.

7.) I'm going to bed...I'm tired and feel ickish so I hope that this finds you faring well.

man, forgive this post...it's all over the place. good night...

Summer Places...

We realized we hadn't been to our local putt putt place since before Molly was born...we were overdue.

David got a hole in one right off the bat. pull your shirt down, boy!

Six of my most favorite people, picking up right where they left off more than three years ago...

this brought back memories of dealing with Levi at the Putt Putt place...no fun. She lost interest after the first 3 holes.

she just exudes orneriness. good thing she's cute.

zinnias, Tambo sunflowers, love our yard in the summertime.

Eighteen tomato plants, baby...maybe this year, we will get to enjoy some.

fresh salsa, omelets, tomatoes on everything. yum.

Last few days of June...

I love to grow things. things that don't talk back. hee hee. :)

The kewl kats...this is on day one of filming "Blind Justice"...Can't wait for you all to see this!

Can't believe that we are closing in on June's end...not sure about you, but this year is flying by.

David started work with a local flooring company, all while keeping his own biz going. He got his crew of five back together so that is pretty exciting to him! Four ten hour days make for weekends off, so that has also been nice! I like to see the ol' boy slow down....

Kids are doing so well...Levi is swimming like a li'l fish...Molly fell in the pool last week (while she was out there with me) but I fished her out instantly. I think she will be a stunt woman when she grows up. Will, E and Mel are enjoying school work, exercise, youth group and swimming also! We are so thankful for the pool this summer...we've already swam in it more this year than all of last summer.

I'm enjoying our tomato plants, watching sunflowers, zinnias and other random things grow around our house...I love our house in the summertime! hear that, Ol' Man Winter? don't wanna see yer face 'round these parts any time soon...

Ok, time to run Will to guitar and soccer...hope your weekend was faboo and that you are gearing up for the holiday weekend to come...

Yiddle birdies and outdoor fun...

Hello Beaker! maybe you'll grow into your beak soon! and then start pooing all over my porch...

adorable.

from what I can see, there are THREE little birds!

this is where they sit...under the rafters of our unfinished upper porch (which I love in spite of it's need for siding, caps, cedar paint, etc etc)

they remind us of Muppets.

Levi, showing his mad jump jump skills. over and over..."Hey, Mom, watch THIS!!"

Today, we enjoyed a visit from the K ladies....and in spite of the torrential, speedy rain (no lightning), they swam anyway. love those girls!

gotta love the creative titling on this post, eh?

Life is slowing down a bit. At least for the kids and I. This is the time of year that I enjoy being home and find it difficult to be away from our ever-changing home.

Except for the bug/amphibian issues...gigantic spiders, tree frogs, wood roaches....I could do without. I hope you enjoy the baby birdie pix above as much as we have. I have not enjoyed the uber protective momma bird's endless pestering when we are outside....she flies around and around till we go back in...yesterday, though, her babies hatched and we have had a lot of fun spying their tiny, fuzzy, gray heads bobbing in their perch.

Time to shut the 'puter off...we are enjoying an early summer thunderstorm....adios amigos.

last day of April I tell ya..

Photobooth never ever gets old.

Molly's face. o my. I think she has the biggest nearly 3 year old mouth I've ever seen. and with that short hair. sheesh...a head only a mother could love.

As we embark on a new month, let us pause and look back on this fourth month of 2010...

ok. good. I'm done.

gotta go mow, mow, mow...after the fright endured this morning whilst painting cedar on front of house...Mr. Biggy Spider caused me to shave 4 good years off of my life. There's also a bird nesting up in our porch rafters. I mean, whaddya do?

Hope your weekend is intriguing...with soccer, recitals, church, hang time with our MIA hubby/dad, I know ours will be! God Bless YOU!

around the joint

Levi asked me to take this pic of him on his "castle". I have no idea what he's talking about but he sure is a cute one. this picture really depicts Deliverance, does it not? wood stack, pile o' bricks with weird things stacked on it and a huge pile of river rock in the middle of my so-called yard. listen....shhh....you can hear faint banjos playing. yehawww

makeshift pool deck protection, to the right....hard to see it here...but the green garden fencing has helped to calm this weary momma's heart....from a very precocious Molly venturing out into the depths of the pool....the white gate will stay and eventually the pool will be encased in white rail goodness. next year. Vince and Kevin did an EXCELLENT job around the pool area...thanks guys!

My zinnias are hiding my lavender and marigolds....but they are gorgeous! check out my newly but not finished white painted rail...consider that my white picket fence.

we can't wait to make fresh salsa with these bad boys...and there are a bunch! Thanks to my dad, for his ingenious tie up method....who else has 8 ft. tomato plants?

work in progress....our big "baby"

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thought I'd take a few pix of the place today...show Tory my tomater plants, show you the progress from the summer work....far from done but to a nice place where kids are safe from drowning and it's a bit more presentable....mostly. And let you see how cute Levi is (that's for you, Grandpa).

I've really enjoyed the hummingbirds this year....Lawn Boy Vinny put our feeder above the tomatoes and the view is great from the porch or the big winder....those little birds amaze me every time...

so, while the Tyvek is still showing and we have garden mesh around the deck till we can afford the railing of our dreams, the place is home sweet home cozy and I find myself really enjoying it here in the lazy days of summer. All my zinnias, coneflowers, coreposis, impatiens, dead hanging baskets, etc. make my heart swell. I dread winter in moments like this. and all those fall leaves....ahhhh. I will bask.

Hope you have a fantastic Thursday. I'm heading to the YMCA!