Decorating the Christmas tree

I slacked this year and didn't get the tree up on Thanksgiving day for the kids to decorate the next day. We got it up not much longer after and the kids did a great job decorating it. Now that Jordan and James are getting taller, we don't have so many ornaments on the bottom of the tree! I didn't put up the Hallmark ornaments. I wanted to wait and see how Jenna would do with the ornaments. It was obvious after a day or two of her *redecorating* and *rearranging* that it would be best to leave them off of the tree this year.

Watching Daddy Blow Leaves

I don't know how Richard kept up on all the leaves all the time. Jamie had to tackle this and of course the kids thought it would be fun to watch. Jamie finally gave James on of the leaf blowers to help which he actually enjoyed. Now we know the older boys can help Daddy blow all these leaves.

I got a *new* van!

On Monday, I was driving home (after a wasted trip to the dentist) and the van started driving funny. Then it just wouldn't go so I pulled over and got on the cell. Finally I called Jamie's cousin's towing company to come get me. Luckily the older kids were at school and the younger two were with my mom. Jamie was hunting.

We got the van towed to the Ford dealership. Tuesday we get *the call*. It needs a new engine and new front suspension among other things. GREAT! We just paid it off! Jamie and I hopped on our laptops and began the search. After a few phone calls and vehicles *just* being sold, we had one lead. A 2001 Chrysler (I'm so sorry Ford!) Town & Country LX for the right price with low miles. It's in Fairfax and it was getting close to the time the kids get out of school, so we will wait until Wednesday to go.

*Oh, I should add before you even begin.....I wanted used. I don't want brand new for my kiddos to destroy. I don't want brand new. Brand new means monthly payment. We like not having payments.*

We go on Wednesday. We check it out. I test drive it. Jamie checks the CarFax report and other paperwork. I sign the paperwork. Jamie signs the check.

On the way home, turning onto the street before one more to home, it won't go anymore. It was fine. Now it won't move. Jamie is behind me and we switch vehicles. Jamie gets it across the street and to the side of the street. He checks it out and it's the transmission. I killed the transmission already! Oy!

Jamie makes the phone calls and such. It will be towed back and checked out. Thursday rolls around and it's definitely the transmission and will take until Friday to be fixed. Friday rolls around and it's done by 3 or so. Well if you know this area, 3 pm plus Friday equals bad traffic. They let me know that it's ready to pick up and I inform that I'm ready for it to be delivered. The service manager couldn't authorize that *because it's used*. I finally talk to the sales man. He said it will definitely be delivered but because it's getting later on Friday, it might be Saturday. OK, that's fine.

Friday, 7 pm and they call to see if it will be too late to bring the van. Nope. So it got here around 8 or 8:30 Friday night by tow truck. It has a new transmission that was under warranty and now has an even longer warranty on that piece. WOO HOO!

Here is my new van which I totally love, even if it's not a Ford.

Jacob and His Gun

Jamie got Jacob his first real gun. It's a .410. Jacob loves it and can't wait until he can use it on his own. I was surprised at the kick this little thing has. It will be no time before Jacob can handle it on his own and will be dragging a deer down the mountain with his Daddy.

*Sorry the pictures are a tad blurry. Not sure what happened there.*

What a good daddy!

Jamie was playing with Jenna earlier. 4:50 pm to be exact. Well he did something and hurt his back. He's not sure what; just turned wrong or whatever. He screamed and laid on the floor and couldn't move. He could hardly talk as it hurt to breathe at this point. He couldn't get up. He couldn't do anything. I told him I was going to call 911 and he said no, just get him to the clinic by our house. So I yelled for Jordan who was upstairs playing video games to round up the other kids and start getting them in the van for me while I got my purse, cell phone, diaper bag, etc and helped Jamie up. Jordan had them all buckled and Jamie finally made it out to the van. We got to the clinic at 5:10 and they were already closed. Dang. So off to the ER we went.

Well they just opened up this new facility that is the same thing as the ER at the hospital but just around the corner from our house. It's Shady Grove Hospital ER; just a smaller unit. It's where I took Jacob when I thought he broke his wrist and we were there an hour including x-rays so I didn't think we'd be gone long. So we check him in and see the waiting room is PACKED. great. Jamie is not one to stick around. We got there are 5:20. The kids are being goofy and keeping the people around us entertained. Jamie keeps begging to leave.

So around 7:30, they take him back. My SIL calls to find out how Jamie is doing and says she is coming to get the kids for me!!!! WOW! So she came and got them and fed them dinner and all that for me. I go back with Jamie and he still hasn't been seen by the doctor yet. It's like 8:30. He says "Where are our kids? You left them out there ALONE?!" I said No your sister came and got them.

Finally the doc came and checked him out. She said she was going to send someone in with meds to see if they relaxed the muscles. Well 30 minutes later she comes and says "How ar eyou feeling?" He said "Um, in pain because no one came to give me the meds yet." So she goes off in search of his meds. They gave him Valium and Percocet and said she'll be back in 20 minutes to see how he is doing. 30 minutes later she comes and he is still in pain and the meds aren't doing anything for him. She said she is ordering a shot of Daulidad and an x-ray to rule out a blood clot near his lungs. They come right in to do that and get the x-ray. It's around 10 now and he is straight drunk from the Daulidad and being super goofy. Way more goofy then he normally is. Then he pukes everywhere because he hasn't eaten anything except like 20 Slim Jims all day (you know, the little ones in the ecomony box from Costco). The doc comes in and said he tore a muscle and prescribes his Mortin 800, Daulidad and a muscle relaxer that I forgot the name too and ordered him to rest.

We got out of there around 11. I dropped him off at home and went and got the kids from Becky and picked up his meds from the 24 hour CVS.

We got home a little after midnight after doing those errands and now I'm just sitting down for a few and settling down before trying to go to bed.

So my poor husband who lets his daughter paint his nails, tore a muscle being a good daddy and playing with Jenna.

Halloween 2007

What another great Halloween! All the kids picked out great costumes this year. Jenna was SuperGirl. Jacob was Buzz Lightyear. Jasmine was Princess Jasmine (hard to believe that this was her first year doing that!). James was Venom (or the evil Spiderman). Jordan was Blade.

Early in the afternoon, we went up to the school for the kids' parties. They were a lot of fun.

Jenna really enjoyed it up there.



Jasmine and Mrs. Howington



James in the parade



Jordan in the parade



Jamie took the kids around. Becky and Chady came along this year as well. Chad was a cow. Sooo cute!! They all got tons of candy.

As usual, I made up the little baggies of candy to pass out. The kids really enjoyed helping to hand them out when they got back.

My new toy

Since Daddy got a new toy, it was definitely Mommy's turn. Jamie knew I wanted a new sewing machine and took it upon himself with Becky's help to get me one. He got one much better than what I had been looking at. I haven't be able to use it much because I have a pinched nerve in my back and using the computer and other creative things like sewing, put a hurting on my back. It's a super nice machine though and I can't wait to really get into making some fun things.

This is my new baby....

Jamie's new toy

Well I guess it goes without saying that if you get a new deck, you get a new grill, right? Jamie was looking online and found the Weber (is there any other kind of grill? I think not!) he wanted. Silly me told him about a store near us called Barbeques Galore who just happens to carry this grill. I went to the fabric store and came home to find Jamie and Jacob putting this monster together.



Boys and their toys. Hey, don't get me wrong. A little part of me wanted him to get it. It means less cooking for me and lots of yummy grill eating for all of us!

Cool Crayons

I stumbled upon (literally...check out www.StumbleUpon.com) and found this really cool site to make these crayons. Check out Crayon Nibbles!

Here's a pic of creation. The kids love using them and we look forward to making more for the kids and gifts.

Who knew the deck would save on the water bill?

Who knew that this wonderful investment would also save on our water bill and in turn help the environment saving on the water.....



Yes. Busted.

Our deck is done!

The great crew that came out to build our deck worked feverishly today to get it done. It's almost there. We can walk on it and everything. The temporary supporting posts are still there while the concrete completely dries and one of the guys will be here tomorrow to do a little finishing work around the french doors. Oh and the french doors! Jamie is awesome and picked out the kind that has the blinds INSIDE the glass. That man ~ always thinking! Love love love the doors.

The kids just loved it. It was bittersweet for Jamie. He totally loves it but like so many things lately, wanted to call his Dad and tell him about it. Richard sure would have loved that deck.

We will be getting some new patio furniture and of course a grill for it! We can't wait to be able to just sit and enjoy!

Here are some pictures of our new "room"!



Here are the kids getting ready to enjoy dinner, picnic style!

Cleaning, decluttering and decorating

We so many changes this year, Jamie and I are trying to get our house to be more like a home. We recently got new windows on the house, which we love. Not only are they nice looking, they keep the cold or heat out and don't have mold. They are super nice.

We are getting a deck soon. We are just awaiting the approval of the Homeowners Association....so honestly, who knows how long it will be! It's just a basic deck and it's going to be so nice to have it.

I just cleaned out the girls' room today. I'm hoping to paint it this weekend. I have some really nice fabrics to make them cute decorative pillows that match their curtains I made. I'm also hoping to get the crib/toddler bed out and the bunk beds up. I'll post pictures when we are done.

The boys want their room painted as well but can't decide the color. Once they do that, we will go full force with getting it done.

Last night Jamie and I talked about redoing our room as well. I think it's time to go to Home Depot to get paint samples to see what we like best.

I'm also on a hunt for a new kitchen table ~ it's a corner nook breakfast table. Just trying to find the best price since so many people have this set. Once we get the french doors for the deck, we will need something that is closer to the wall.

I love our house. I just want to make it more of a home.

My next project is finding five matching frames to put each of the kids' pictures in. We just got back the older ones' school pictures which turned out great. I'm going to attempt to take some of Jacob and Jenna because I just don't think they will cooperate at a portrait studio and that stuff isn't cheap!

The kids are gearing up for Halloween. We got their costumes last weekend. Jenna is going to be Supergirl. Jacob is Buzz Lightyear. Jasmine is Princess Jasmine. James is the evil Spiderman, also known as Venom. Jordan is going to be Blade. You will have to wait for pictures on Halloween.

I really need to get to the store and get the candy and bags. Sandy always made up bags with lots of candy for each child. This is very dear to Jamie's heart so I like to keep it going.

Lots of fun changes going on around here and I'll be sure to post pictures when each project is complete.