finally....pictures

Sorry it's taken so long...It's amazing how little time you have to get on the computer when you have another baby. Anyway, here are some pictures of the little lady. I think she looks a lot like Ava when she was born so, she's pretty stinkin' cute. She is a really good baby and Ava has taken possession of her. She always runs over next to me, sits down and smacks her legs letting me know she wants to hold Olivia. The boys adore her and talk about her to anybody who will listen, even random people in the grocery store. We love her a ton and are very happy to have her here.

Olivia

Well, I know I stink at posting lately, but I just wanted to say that Olivia was born this morning at 7:53 am...with no epidural...I don't recommend it. Everything happened so fast that they said I didn't have time to get one. I was terrified, but I got through it, the most excruciating pain of my life, and now I can say that I've done it, but hope to never have to do it again. She's beautiful and looks a lot like her sister. My parents brought Jake and Tommy by to see her and they were grinning ear to ear and so excited that she was here. Tommy wanted to skip the trunk-or-treat to come see her. MY in-laws brought Ava by after her nap. She was little unsure of the whole thing and looked like she was going to cry when she saw me holding somebody other than her. She warmed up a little though and at least gave her a little touch. We are both doing good despite the bumpy road and look forward to being at home. I will get some pictures up here as soon as I can. (yeah, we walked out the door this morning without the camera, so we will get some pictures later)

What the Hey!?!

So, it's been an interesting week. We had an earthquake and a hurricane within 6 days. I can honestly say that's never happened before. The earthquake was super weird and freaked me out seeing our shed moving and everything rattling and falling off walls. And has anyone ever seen windows get all wavy?? weird. The hurricane wasn't as bad as we were expecting but it did take down a lot of trees and we are without power. We gave in and bought a generator which I didn't want to spend the money on but have grown to have a little crush on even though it is loud. At least we will not lose money on tons of food in our fridge and big freezer, plus with the money we save from not paying for electricity for who knows how long we may recoup the money. Gas is hard to find but luckily everyone in my family and their homes came through it OK. It is weird to be raking leaves up in your yard and have them be green instead of orange and yellow.
In other news...if all the schools in the county get electricity back, school will be starting for Jake next week. He will be in second grade. He's super excited. Tommy is less enthusiastic to be going back to school but I told him it's only three days a week and he'll be fine. I think deep down he may be a little excited...then again...Ava is going to be 18 months old on Saturday. My little baby will start nursery next week, just in time for her to get comfortable in there before the new baby gets here. Whoohoo!!! Ben just started the semester and wants to quit his job so bad so he can focus on school. I agree that it would be good but we have to wait a little while. As for moi, I am 30 weeks pregnant and feeling every week of it. But, the end is in sight and I'm looking forward to it but terrified at the same time. Anyway, that's all for now, the boys just got home from visiting their Papa so I gotta run.

To the Mountains!

This weekend we decided to get out of the house. We went up to Carter Mountain Orchards again (we love that place). Jake likes their apple cider doughnuts and their cider and I wanted some peaches. The kids had a nice time and we took a picnic up there. Now, we will wait to go up there again closer to the end of summer for some more peaches. and then head back up for the apple harvest festival in the Fall for the last time before the baby gets here. We are looking forward to it.

In the Pool

Ben decided to get a pool for the back yard. I was kind of wary of it but it has turned out to be a good thing. The boys spend a lot of time in it and it wears them out which is necessary for summer. Ava doesn't like it very much but is very content and happy sitting in a bucket of water right beside the pool. Who am I to tell her what she should do? If she's happy in the bucket I say let her be. Ben has had some time off of school which has been nice since come Fall we apparently won't see him anymore, he'll be super busy. He was stung on two separate occasions this past week from running over bees nests in the ground. Once while mowing our grass and a couple days later mowing my sister Jess' grass...he vowed never to help Jess again, which we all know is a lie, he loves her too much. He had minor complications from it and his legs still itch but at least his legs don't look like the stay puff marshmallow man anymore. We found out several weeks ago that we are having another girl (for all of those who haven't been informed). So, Ava will have a sister. Ben is happy about this as Ava currently goes around with space shuttles and cars making the appropriate motor sounds and likes to copy her brothers as they dismantle a room. I am not worried about her really. She still gets really excited when she sees dolls and stuffed animals in the store so I tell him she's just well balanced.

update

ok,I've been pretty bad about posting pictures and I still haven't totally figured out the new camera. It's not a point and shoot so I'm having trouble getting in focus pictures. Annoying. Anyway, here are some more recent pictures of the kids. They are growing fast and I wanted to get some pictures up here (especially a header picture with Ava in it to prove that we have three kids) before the new baby gets here. I love my kids, they are adorable and funny and I can't get enough.

There may have been a misunderstanding...

Tommy: I'm the Incredible Hunk!!!
Me: The Incredible Hunk???
Tommy: Yeah, you know, the green guy with the really bad temper.
Me: ohhhh, I think you mean the Incredible Hulk.
Tommy:oh, ok, The Incredible Huck.

Never mind...Looking back, I shouldn't have corrected him...I think I like the incredible Hunk better.

Transportation Day

Tommy had Transportation Day at his preschool today. It was super cute, all the kids got to bring their bikes and helmets and they blocked off part of the parking lot. They even had a little lemonade stand and served goldfish for snack. The kids learned how to follow directions on their bikes with cones and stuff and how to cross streets. I thought it was a very good idea and hope that the info sticks...Tommy isn't known for his rule following. I asked Tommy what he did and all he talked about was riding "super fast" and "beating everybody" but he said that one time he lost. I don't know what he was talking about because there was no racing but I'm glad he had a good time. Anyway, no pictures because we have yet to receive our new camera. I am giddy with anticipation and keep looking out the window in the hopes that I'll see some lovely man in brown carrying a beautiful box up to my door...sigh...I guess I just have to be patient.

Snow...in March

It's Snowing!!!! And it's so pretty, but wait, it's March 27Th. That's OK, I'll take it. The only problem is that I can't take a picture to show you. Our big beautiful camera hasn't worked since Jake puked on it. Apparently, the camera has a problem with stomach contents being showered upon it. And our little handy one is on the fritz. You push the power button and it just sits there and spazzes out for a few seconds then shuts down. Not exactly sure what it's deal is. Anyway, we ordered a beautiful new Nikon and it should be here this week...so excited!!! So, I will be able to take pictures again, just won't be able to show you the snow. Sorry.

In other news, we are all getting over the most horrendous stomach bug ever. It pretty much incapacitates you and you are so nauseous you just want to curl up in a ball and die. Weird thing is, there was a like a 3 puke limit. We all puked 3 times, although you still felt nauseous you didn't puke anymore...maybe that's because you couldn't eat anything so there was nothing left after that. The only family member that didn't get it is Ava (so far, cross you fingers) My father in law joked that she looked way too happy and maybe she was the carrier. Then my mother dubbed her typhoid Mary...don't know how I feel about that. But, while we are all still a little weak and recovering, she is surprisingly chipper at the moment. Maybe there's some truth to what's said.

Mom, what is this place?

OK, this is a true story. We were out with kids the other night and Ben decides that he wants to get the kids a milkshake. So he swings over to McDonald's. We don't usually ever go here and for good reason. We are waiting in line and Tommy pipes up from the back "Hey, Mom, what does that say under the road there?", "What road, I don't see it?" "Right there under that yellow road" I finally realize what he's talking about. He thinks that the Golden arches look like a road. So I tell him that it says McDonald's. Jacob finally says "Mom, What is this place?" Wow! this is when I finally realize that I have never taken my kids out for fast food before. I tell them that it's where some people come to get food. Finally after a ridiculous amount of time waiting we get the little milkshakes and give them to the boys and they say "what is this?" WHAT??? "It's a milkshake." "What's a milkshake?" "well, it's like ice cream that you drink through a straw." So long story longer, they drank some said they kinda liked them but they didn't drink much. And you know what? I have to say that I'm not that disappointed that they didn't know what it was, I was kind of proud. Not to mention that in Kindergarten, they were doing recognizable signs and one of then was a Burger King sign. Jake didn't know what that was either and he got it marked wrong and didn't get a 100 on his paper. Are you kidding? my kid should have gotten extra credit for that!!!

Tommy and Ava

Tommy had his 4th birthday on March 2nd and Ava had her 1st birthday on the 3rd, so we had a combined birthday on Friday and had some family over to celebrate. They each got their own cake and got a present. Tommy insisted that he wanted a house cake and was ecstatic to get his Dragon fortress. Ava is happy pushing around her little walker (makes her sound kinda old) Here are some pictures, sorry there aren't more, I wasn't in charge of the camera. So, the close up of Ava is actually a little old she has her 2 front teeth on top now.

But I'll Miss You

Jake: I'll never hear Papa's Dad's voice again
Me: You mean my Grandpa
Jake: yeah, I'll never see him again.
Me: Well, He'll be waiting for us when we go to Heaven.
Jake: But I don't want to go to Heaven, I don't want to die.
Me: Don't worry, hopefully it won't happen until you're really, really, really, old.
Jake: But then you'll miss me too much.
Me: I hate break it to you buddy, but I'll probably go to Heaven long before you do.
Jake: But you can't, I'll miss you and who will make my breakfast?
Me: Well hopefully you will have a wife who will do that for you.
Jake: Yeah, a wife named Joanna
Me: A wife named Joanna?
Jake: Yeah, just like you, because I love you.

How sweet is that kid??? I love him to pieces.

What a Curly Face

my sister stayed with us for a while and was present for this little dance. She's wanted me to post this for a while and I've finally gotten around to it. So, enjoy it Jess.

Update from our World

OK, so I haven't been on here for a while and I feel bad about that. Truly I do. So, if I still have anyone who looks at this thing I will give a brief update. We've celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Jake's 7Th Birthday and many other family birthdays. Ben has finished his first semester of school and is halfway in to his second. Jake and Tommy are doing well in first grade and preschool respectively. Ava is a few weeks away from her first birthday, which is unbelievable, time has flown by. We had my wonderful baby sister stay at our house for a month while her well and water problems were being worked out at her house. It was nice to have her around and have her there on Christmas morning, I miss having her here and so do the husband and kids. I have had my thyroid problems sorted out and am on medication that makes me feel a lot better, more like myself. I got to see an ultrasound of my thyroid. In the ultrasound the thyroid is supposed to look white and smooth, mine however, is black and looks like Swiss cheese. Doc said that even though I'm on medication the antibodies will continue to attack and kill my thyroid and I'll eventually be left with nothing. but, other than that, things are great!! Here are some pictures so you can see the kiddies.