Germies and Sickies...

We are on something like day 15 of someone in the house being sick! Ryan is just recovering from a cold that for a day or two in the middle, really knocked him down...fever and everything. For a while I was able to dismiss Lily's fever as possible teething...but now that the nose is yucky and there are no teeth, I can't deny the fact that it, too, is a cold. And Cassidy has been home all week with a fever, cough and runny nose. The older girls have been fine, though Ali battled through strep a few weeks ago. I haven't managed to catch anything, which is quite unlike me. I will chalk that up to a generally more healthy lifestyle...or at least I'll try to.

Other than the sickies, everything has been going on pretty smoothly in the BK Seven household. The kids are doing well in school. We're moving ahead with plans to remodel the house. Ali tried out and made the cheerleading squad at Horizon. The olders are all taking tumbling lessons and are doing quite well!

Hoping and wishing for health!!!!

Laurel

Heavy Metal!

Metal mouth, brace face, look out, there must be a train comin' down those tracks!

Ali got braces today! I don't think she was as dejected as she'd like anyone to believe. The reason I surmise this would be the cute metal smile she flashed for her "after" shot.

Katie also started orthodontic treatment this past week with a palate spreader. I feel terrible when I have to turn it (2 turns every night). She's been really good about it, not complaining at all, but I really feel like I'm slowly tearing her mouth apart.

Stay tuned for some dazzling grins!

A new milestone!

Lily is now 9 months and 1 week old. A little while ago, I heard her "talking" in her crib after taking a 4 hour nap (yeah!). I went in to get her up, which is the high point of my day! I was greated by this absolutely adorable, wide-eyed, sunshine-y face peering at me from not between the bars of her crib, but OVER the rail! She pulled up in her crib! I keep looking at this super tiny little girl...at 9 months she still only weighs 16.5 pounds...and thinking that she's going to be walking soon and it's going to look so funny. She has such a great personality and she's getting more and more coordinated every day! She's eating finger food. She LOVES freeze dried bananas and strawberries along with Cheerios for breakfast. She humors me with a jar of baby food for lunch, but usually likes to have some peas (not squished, but actual peas) to keep her busy. She's very verbal and the highlight of HER day is when her sister Cassidy pops up around her. Enjoy the pictures...she was climbing on her mats today and pulling up to kneel or standing!

She's growing up!

Ryan drives at Daytona!

Well, today Ryan got his Christmas present. He drove 8 laps at Daytona International Speedway with the Richard Petty Driving Experience! My dad, Erin, Katie, Cassidy, Lily and I all witnessed him driving up to 141 miles per hour around the track! It was very cool. The best thing about a present that rocks is seeing the expression on the face of the one receiving. That was cool when he saw on Christmas morning what he was getting. The only thing better than that was his triumphant exit from the track! He had a great time and we all had a blast watching him! I bet he felt like I was standing still driving 75 home from the track!

Go Mariner Cheerleaders!!!

I have to brag on "my girls". I am the very proud assistant coach of the Bellalago Mariners Cheerleading Squad. We started off the year with 15 girls, were down to 13 by winter break, 2 couldn't participate in our first competition, so we were down to 11 and 1 was dismissed from the squad (as of yesterday afternoon) leaving us with 10 girls. These girls worked their behinds off to get a routine down, with the constant shifting when teammates have left or been dismissed from the squad. It's been a work in progress, literally going to 9:30 this morning changing the routine. But, it paid off!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS! They placed third in their first ever competition!!! So, congratulations, Katie, Keyanna, Elizabeth, Amber, Kristin, Kailynn, Kiara, Jamie, Essence and Ebony! I am very proud of you!!!!