Happy 35th Birthday, Ryan!

I'd like to wish a very happy birthday to my best friend, my husband and the best dad 5 little girls could have. I have so many memories of the 17 or so years that we've known each other. I think of lunches at Blimpie's, playing spoons at Christen's (I think I displayed my marvelous baking ability that night as well), watching Home for the Holidays on our first "date", ice skating in the West End of Dallas, flying kites and watching "Unsolved Mysteries". Good times, good times. Our daughters are lucky to have you, as am I.



Happy Birthday, Honey. I love you!

Happy 8th Birthday, Katie!

Katie,
You amaze me. There is not a day that goes by that you don't do or say something that stuns me...usually in a good way! I can't believe that we've been lucky enough to have you for the last 8 years! You are so smart and funny and creative and loving. I can't even imagine what the future holds for you, but whatever it is, I know that you will embrace it with every bit of your wonderful being! I am so proud of you and so proud to be your momma!
I love you!
-Mommy

The fast and the furious...

Thursday night we had a storm. Around 8:45 p.m., a crack of thunder, flash of lightning and a fast and furious windy downpour lasting no more than 15-20 minutes went through. I didn't give it any thought really, as late afternoon and evening storms are par for the course here in Central Florida. The kids were in bed, Ryan wasn't home from school yet, so I just relaxed and enjoyed the light show.

SO....Friday morning rolls around and we're all running around getting ready for school/work/meetings, etc. Ryan says to me, "Wondering why the umbrella is at the bottom of the pool." I thought that was an odd comment, why would an umbrella be in the pool? I look and it's not just any umbrella, it's our 5" rainbow beach/table umbrella that is upside down in the shallow end. It was a strong storm, but to lift the open umbrella out of our table was a pretty amazing feat!!! Katie took the task on herself to extract said umbrella...managing somehow to keep dry...odd. I helped her get it all the way out and collapsed, then I looked at the table. Shattered! There is about a 6" gash where the umbrella came up, then fell to the side and broke through the glass, but the entire table top was shattered. Thank goodness for safety glass that held most of the glass in place, there's not much of a mess to clean up, but it reminds us how powerful mother nature can be!!!

Someday, when I get my camera back from NC, I'll take a picture...it's really kinda cool.

Happy 12th Birthday, Ali!!!!

Wow...it's hard to believe it's been 12 years since you burst into my life! I remember it like it was yesterday...ok, well maybe like it was 5 days ago! I'm so proud of who you have become (a future dolphin trainer), what you have done (what other kid brings the Governor for show and tell) and what an amazing young lady you are going to be (I can't wait to see!)! You'll always be my baby!!! I love you, Tiglet!
-Mom

Lily's vital stats!

Lily went to the doctor today for her 4 month check up (granted she is almost 5 months). She weighed in at 14 pounds even, and measured 24.75 inches tall. She's in the 50th percentile for her height and weight and is perfectly, beautifully healthy! What a wonderful baby!

Back to the real world!

You know there's just nothing like being COLD in September!

We were in North Carolina for the weekend for the wedding of Katie's godmother Megan Moses to Paul Staeheli. We got up there on Thursday night, after picking up 2 rental cars at the Charlotte airport...it seems they didn't have anything that would seat 7. As luck would have it, Megan's younger brother, Mikey, had arrived about the same time as us and needed a ride home, so 2 rental cars worked out better than one anyway! It was chilly up in the mountains, but a very welcome change from the unseasonably warm weather we've been having in Florida.

Friday it rained all day...and I mean all day. It was cold, wet, and all around miserable. Ryan and I spent the better part of the day with Lily and Cassidy in town running errands and stocking up on kids' swimsuits (they never go on clearance down here!!!). I don' t know that there's a place I'd rather be cold and wet than in Boone, NC. The mountains just make it all OK!

Saturday started out foggy, but turned out beautiful for Megan's wedding. The ceremony took place at St. Elizabeth's (the same church Katie and Bailey were baptized in). Megan asked me to read the first reading, which I was honored to do! The wedding was absolutely beautiful! The reception was at the Moses' house, in their pasture. A huge reception tent was out in the field dressed up with flowers and lights. It was a great party! We saw friends there from long ago that we'd not seen in years. We had a wonderful dinner and delicious cake and lots to drink (take that how ever you want to...it's probably true). The younger babies were exhausted but the older girls just wanted to dance the night away. It was great. Alison didn't want to leave.

Sunday was an absolutely gorgeous day in the mountains. Clear sky, chilly, but not too cold. The girls went on a hike with Jenise down the ski slopes and had a good time. I stayed home and packed for the trip home. Sadly, we had to leave around 1 to return to the airport. We stopped by the Moses one last time before heading out to drop off Megan and Paul's gift and to pick up a hung over Mikey to take him back to the airport for his flight. Everything was very smooth coming back to Florida. But I miss the mountains all over again!

So, we're back to the daily grind after a pretty fantastic weekend. We've got a busy week ahead of us. Alison will be 12 on Thursday, Katie'll turn 8 on Sunday and Ryan will turn #% next Thursday! It'll be a great week, I'm sure! Look for pictures...although I think I might have left the camera up in NC.

Have a great week!
Laurel

September 11th...6 years later...

There are anniversaries that we honor: celebrations and tragedies alike. Today is one of those days.



Erin's class did a project today. They made an American flag from construction paper and the kids wrote what America meant to them. Erin's said, "I'm happy to live in a country that is free and safe." We went to dinner at our local pizza place with Bob Bob...and again, Erin's deepness showed. She could have picked any songs on the jukebox, but picked, "God Bless the USA" and "What a Wonderful World". Erin and Katie know every word to both, and they belted them out with every bit of heart and soul that they have (which is ALOT!). These kids, these little girls who truly can't have any actual memory of 9/11, honor this day better than most, singing songs of pride in their country and the beauty of their world. Children show us what is good and pure and true in this life. They show us the proof that what those evil people set out to do that clear, crisp, beautiful September day failed. We were hit hard, but no one can destroy the heart, the soul and the spirit of this amazing nation!



God Bless the U.S.A.!

My growing girl!!!

Lily rolled over! On Friday night, 9/7, I put her down to sleep. Before I went to bed, I checked in on her and she was on her belly! I thought it was a fluke, but last night when she woke up at about 4:30am, she again was on her belly! And today, I witnessed a roll over while we were at swim lessons with Cassidy. I set Lily down on a towel and she promptly rolled over! So, I guess 3rd time is a charm and it's official! I don't know when the other girls rolled over, but I definitely don't think it was this early! All that mommy at home playing time has paid off!

She's looking over the computer at me...check out the picture!

Laurel

Labor Day Weekend...

There's not a whole lot going on, I just posted some pictures up of Cassidy that made me laugh. I'll try and capture some Lily photos this week and post them as well!

Happy Birthday to our friends: Mikayla (8/30), Ashley (9/1) and Jennifer (9/7). We love you all and hope you had/have a wonderful day!