Abby's First Day at School

Abby started her little school this morning at Hodges Presbyterian AKA Mothers Morning Out!! Her classroom is called the Toddling Turtles. She will be going Tuesday and Thursdays from 9-12 and then 9-1 after the Christmas holidays.  Both Colby & Dylan went to Christ Episcopal when they were Abby's age.  I didn't do it because I felt I needed more time to myself but so that they could have some interaction with other kids.  I truly believe it helped them learn to share better and learn to clean up when asked to do so. 

I am so thankful that we did VBS at this church (Hodges Presbyterian) and we go to church regularly helping Abby to be very comfortable going into the classroom setting.  The boys kicked, screamed and cried when I dropped them off anywhere....sometimes even at Grammy's house.  Abby just walks in as if she owns the classroom :-)!! 

Thankfully Mrs. Becky works there and can check in on her along with sending me pictures of what she is doing.  I also love the fact that they send home a little report sheet telling us what she liked best (playing on playground, art, blocks and puzzles), what she ate and how much, the time she had her diaper changed, and that she was feeling happy, she was busy, friendly, chatty, and helpful at clean up time (needs to do that at home too). 

Although I miss her when she isn't here these days will be perfect when doing school for the boys and I know she is having fun!!!

38 week Appointment and plan for babies arrival

Went to see Dr Barnes for my last and final check up before the baby arrives to join our crazy but fun life! I am still 2 cm dilated and only 50 % effaced so he gave me instructions to walk, swim, and other fun stuff to try and get the ball rolling.  I did acupuncture this afternoon just to see if it could help and plan to walk then swim tomorrow.  If by Saturday we have not gone into labor he wants me to come back to his office for a "check" at 9:00 am.  From there he plans to help things along by breaking my water.  Then we will come home and once contractions start to be 5-6 min apart we will head back to the hospital. 

I have to say I am very nervous for this day since we have always been induced.  Never had to labor at home and time contractions.  WOW!  Hope we don't wait too long and I end up with no epidural :-(! So the next few days could either go by really fast or extremely slow....either way I am very excited to see if we will be bringing home Baby Blake or Baby Teagan (that's what I am calling her...Scott hasn't made a decision). 

Lunch with Grandmommy

Today Grammy took Abby in the morning so I could take the boys to a kickoff for homeschoolers.  After we left we met them at Grandmommy's rehab place to eat Chick-fil-a.  On our way there Colby says to me "I'm glad Grandmommy is still there.  I don't want her to go to heaven.  I will miss her".  Talk about sweet but sad all at the same time.  Thought it was going to be bad enough that I am going to be a basket case when the good Lord takes her.  Didn't know I was going to have to deal with a child understanding it all and feeling sad.  Thank goodness we aren't having to cross that bridge right now. 

While we were there Colby decided he wanted to take pictures with Grammy's camera.  He has never taken pictures before so it was very funny watching him as he would cover the lens and flash with his fingers.  The first one he took was of Grammy and I have to say it was not a good picture at all.  I tried to get her to keep it by saying "but it's his very first picture he has ever taken".  She said "oh well he will have to take another first picture" as she was deleting it.  Then he took one of me and I was in the middle of getting onto Abby and that wasn't such a good picture either and it was deleted too.  Here are some he did take.  Way too cute to see him all excited about his pictures. 

Another Fun Day with the O'Sullivan's

Nikki and I had been trying to plan a day or a night to hang out before our next little bundle of joys arrive into this world.  We decided to join them at their house late in the afternoon for some swimming and Taco Lu take out.  The kids love their pool and love playing with Liam.  Dylan says "I'm a good swimmer at their house!".  One of the first times Dylan really began to swim with his head in the water and further distances was at their house.  Colby had fun playing water basketball and jumping off the wall.  Playing inside is always fun for my kids since Liam has different toys.  Abby was obsessed with the baby swing.  Its going to be fight between her and this new baby we are about to bring into the house. 

Colby and Dylan pulling Abby and Liam around in pool

Pirate Table fun

Abby in swing.  Nikki couldn't stop laughing about this where I am thinking
 "oh no" we are in trouble!!

The men and the kids watching Toy Story

After we ate dinner Nikki and I did a little sewing.  She was helping me embroider on some towels for the kids bathroom.  With a few bumps in the road....needle falling out and hoop popping off....we finally figured it out.  At that point it was late so we decided to pack things up and I would finish the towels at home.  As we were walking out Nikki was acting a little bit weird and once we were outside she says to me "either I just peed on myself or my water broke".  OK...since she was having her c-sec on Thursday there was no actual plan in place.  I told her to go empty her bladder and see if she was still having some leakage.  At this point she wasn't 100% positive so I went home with Scott to put kids down and waited to see if I was going back to stay with Liam.  Doctors told her to come in to be checked out.  They were really sweet and set me up in their room with a movie.  All excited that Baby Declan might be entering the world that evening but then it was a false alarm.  Just glad all was OK and I was able to be there to help. 

Let me just explain this horrible picture of me.  Since Nikki was told to come in and she thought there was a possibility she could be having a baby which meant picture to be taken she showered.  As for me I had not showered after swimming and had plans to go to sleep.  I look like a train just hit me or maybe I always do and am in denial about it!!!

The funny thing about this whole thing was that I kept thinking what if I go into labor while I am here.  We have our plan to call Becky and Trevor to come down til my Aunt can arrive but never was Liam part of the plan.  Was I going to take him home to our house?  What if he would go back to sleep?  Tell Becky "he love Toy Story and Good Luck?" :-) Thank goodness that didn't happen!!!

Outer Bands of Hurricane Irene

As Hurricane Irene passes by North Florida, about 300 miles off the coast, the beach had some high winds and the waves were about 6 feet. I took the kids out to the beach so they could see the waves. When the wind blew or the clouds became dark they would say "there it is there is the hurricane". There were several people out on the beach doing the same thing we were and several surfers in the ocean catching the waves.

Kids played in the sand, acted like they were surfing, and Abby liked being the lifeguard. I couldn't keep her out of the chair for the lifeguards. I decided to not do school on Fridays but since we were part of a hurricane I thought we could add some science into our day.....what crazy weather can do to our winds, our beaches, and our ocean. Great lesson plan!





Colby testing the water

Abby catching up with the boys

Don't forget me I want to play too

Never mind here comes the water I am out of here

Run away its the ocean....Hurry!!!

"Mama"

Is it still behind me?

Seriously? Do I still need to keep running?

Finally made it to safety.....Mommy!!!

Boys digging...making roads and water parks

I'll just watch from here.

Notice the sign then notice my two boys wanting to take a boogie board out

OK here is what we need to do...it's gotta be simple

Ready

Set

Surprise!!  The water is here :-)

1st Soccer game for Dylan & Colby's 2nd season

Colby has played 2 seasons of T-Ball and 1 season of soccer.  Dylan has been a good sport and a great fan watching his big brother and cheering him.  When we told him that he was playing soccer this year you would have thought we told him he just won a year's worth of chocolate :-)! He has been so excited and has told everyone that he starts soccer in 2 weeks (sometimes he mixed weeks up with years but he knew he was getting to play). 

We are lucky to be on Carter and Lauren's team so it makes going to the games more fun for the kids and us! Colby touched (with his feet) more in the first game than he did all season last year. He played awesome defense and kept the other team from scoring a few times. Dylan actually got out there and chased the ball and tried hard to get contact vs running around in circles. Carter scored his 1st goal ever and Lauren decided that picking up the ball was better than letting the other team score...so classic...love it!!! She also decided that the coach was her best friend and would not let go of her hand.

Its going to be a fun season!!

Dylan and Carter wrestling for the ball....
Lauren making sure her socks look good for the game

Colby practicing

Dylan waiting for his turn to practice kicking into goal

First position - goalie

Lauren in full action

Biggest Fan

Lauren as acting like a pure lady

Waiting for ball to be thrown in

In action

Go Colby!!

Doing his best to get the ball

Brothers teaming up to protect their team goal
Colby is telling Dylan "don't let the ball go into that net"

My 2 boys!!

Lauren playing with coach

Assistant coach helping Dylan get ready

Waiting for the ball....hello what's taking so long!!!

Go Dylan where's the ball?

So excited to have a ball and her own water bottle

Best buddies waiting to be called in or "coach Chris" to tell them to go out!

Carter, Colby, Lauren, & Dylan



After the games last year it became tradition to got o Mellow Mushroom for dinner.  Best bet we would get to sit in the front of the bus and the kids would go crazy playing as the adults sat and had adult beverages and chatted.  Tonight we had to wait a little bit to get our spot so the kids decided to do what their daddy's do best....belly up to the bar :-)!!!