Back to life

I think that everyone is finally better! Lilah is her normal self- if perhaps a little crankier than usual- and Vance is pale, thin, exhausted- but actually talking and no longer puking. Believe it or not that is actually an improvement! 

We are taking Spring Break this week to recoup and refresh- then back to school next week. School is going very well, Jax is down to his last three subjects of the year and Ellie is reading like a champ. She amazes me every day with how quickly she's picking it up- I can't teach her fast enough! I'm working on collecting all of my texts and books for next year already, since we are now doing a year around schedule we'll be taking a shorter summer break.

I hope you all enjoy a few of Lilah's 1 year photos. She's such a sweetie! Every day she's doing something new and fun. We are so blessed by all of our amazing kiddos!

Dat Dat?

Yay! She asked for "dat dat"! "Dat Dat?" is, of course, food. Yes, Lilah is feeling better. She hadn't taken a bite for two whole days so I was very happy to hear her sweet voice asking for something to eat this morning. She's pretty weak, she's finding it hard to keep her balance while walking. :P But she's definitely doing better. Thank the Lord! 

Sweet- and yet not so sweet

Lilah's sick. She has a stomach flu. I feel so badly for her and there's just nothing I can do (except to lend her my shirt to throw up on every hour or so..... ) She woke up with it around 12:30 in the AM and I was up with her until 5 AM. She just can't keep anything down, and I'm just waiting for all the other kids to get it too. 

I guess I can't complain because we've gone quite a while without getting a stomach bug around here. 

And so begins a bout with yuckies..... oh the joys of motherhood..... 

*Sigh*

My friend Deanne wanted me to tell her what it was like to have a night away from the kids. Deanne, this post is for you. :>P

It was so relaxing! We had a great time. We soaked in the jacuzzi and swam in the pool then watched the Office with a bottle of wine and some dark chocolate. It was incredibly freeing to just have a night OFF. Just to be able to relax a little. It was so needed. Now, y'all know that I tend to be just slightly neurotic. 

Well.....

I put the blankets on the bed without tucking in the bottom and doing hospital corners. I left towels on the floor overnight. I left the toothpaste lid off the toothpaste. 

Okay, I made that last bit up. I thought about leaving the toothpaste lid off the toothpaste.

Anyway, by the time we picked up the kids this morning, I was ready to enjoy them again. So the whole "night off" thing comes highly recommended by me! 

What's that word.....?

What's that word that starts with a 'd' and means ''getting to spend time alone with your spouse''?  Oh, yeah- a "date"! And guess what? We get to go on one! Like actual time alone without the kids! Now, don't get me wrong. We LOVE our kids. But honestly, free babysitting for four kids is difficult to come by. So we rarely get a chance to go on a date. But mom's Stoneridge Condo week is this week and my sister has selflessly offered to keep the kids for us overnight so that we can have a quick getaway. So, break out the wine and the chocolate and get that hot tub ready for my sore, aching back! I get to sleep through the night! (although I'm afraid I can't say the same for my sister...)

And by (1) request, here are a few pics of our new place.

Playing Catch up

Yes, we're still alive. We're all moved and unpacked and Gosh- I hate moving!


We're playing with the idea of not getting internet at home in order to save money- since we're close to the studio now- so blogs will be posted once a week and will probably be a bit random.... but I'm sure you will enjoy it just as much, right?

Lilah's birthday party was sweet and fun, Brady already gave you cute pics of the cake eating. My mom gave Lilah a rocking horse and she just loved it! So does Vance, of course.



Speaking of Vance, that kid says the funniest things! At Lilah's party, Vance was sitting next to our good friend, Rich. Rich happens to have a mustache and Vance looks at him and says "You....... have a really pretty mustache." It was hilarious.

And yesterday he was fussing about something silly, and I sternly told him to stop fussing. He sat at the table crying for a minute, then he says "Well, God still loves me!" Of course, I had to snuggle him and tell him that I loved him too. Too funny.

Jax finally lost a tooth!!! He was so excited! He's waited so long to lose a tooth and all of his friends and cousins started losing theirs long ago. And so we begin the toothless years.



My mom came up for over a week to help with the kids while I packed and moved. It was such an amazing help! I don't think I would have ever survived without her! She got a hotel room and took the kids to stay with her for 5 days- I just dropped off the baby in the am and picked her up in the pm. The kids had such a blast playing in the pool and spending time with gramma!

Well, the kids are starting get impatient with being here so time to head out.
Until next time!