memorial day dessert & misc

We had a good, but low key, Memorial Day yesterday. I marinated some steak and fixed up some veggies for the grill, one of our friends whose husband had to work came over, and we lounged on a blanket in the grass, watching the kids and dogs play while Tyrone grilled. Everything turned out really well.

Unfortunately, everything these days is overshadowed by how sick I am feeling. Eating is almost out of the question, I am losing weight. If y'all could pray that we could resolve this, that would be really great. We're not exactly sure how much of this is morning sickness and how much in an antibiotic that I have to be on for another week, but either way, it's not good. I'm waiting for a call from my Dr. to see what he wants to do.

Anyway! I decided to make a festive dessert to go with our Memorial Day cookout, and took inspiration from Grandma Bailey. Tyrone even got out his rose glasses from Germany that we NEVER use, so it could be pretty. Per my sister's request, here is a pic of that...






And, K is home "sick" from school today. He insisted that he is to ill to be in class. I know he's got a cough and is not 100%, but, I'm not convinced. BUT, he is home, and is learning (much to his dismay at times) that when we are too sick to do what we're supposed to do, we are also too sick to do fun things at home. He is parked on the couch in pajamas. His sister was feeling sorry for him, and spent a good hour before her nap time laying with him....

zoo b-day party

I know I'm late posting these, but I loved them and wanted to get them up here, even if it was late! Sorry I haven't been around much, it has been taking monumental effort just to do my daily activities!

Anyway, a few weeks ago, we went to a friend's little girl's birthday party. It was a blast, with party games, lots of good food, and a Hannah Montana purple guitar shaped cake. But, this party was at the zoo, so of course the highlight was the animals! Look below for proof that my kids inherited my fearlessness of all things creepy and crawly!



There were 2 of these walls filled with different animals that the kids could look at whenever they wanted

Shiloh spent most of her time here, watching the turtles swim

The boys were watching the snakes :)

Then came touch time! Here is Shiloh with the turtle...

Gabe and K with the turtle...

And, they made me proud! Here's Gabe with the ball python (same kind of snake I used to have!)

K with it.....

And Shiloh and Tyrone! We had so much fun at this party! What an awesome place to celebrate!

proud mommy and daddy

Y'all don't mind if I brag on Gabe for a minute, do you? We are so proud of him! Today, I registered him for Kindergarten. They take almost an hour doing all kinds of tests on various skills and concepts, everything from physical abilities, to writing, shapes, and heat/cold, least/most kind of thing, and lots more.

If you know Gabe, you know that he can be a bit wild. I really was prepared for them to not quite understand that he is intelligent because of his intensity level. In all honesty, I was prepared to fight for him, and demand that the retest him, etc. Well, did I get a surprise!

When the teacher sat down with me at the end of his evaluation, she started with "Gabriel did not test as a 4 year old on anything in this evaluation." Of course, I'm thinking, uh oh, here we go. But, no. She goes on to inform me that on about 30% of it, he scored on a 5 year old level, and on the rest, on a 6 year old level! She even said that several of the concepts she asks him to explain that he was the only child ALL WEEK that she has personally registered that understood and explained accurately. I cried happy proud mommy tears. That's our boy! She concluded by telling me that he is beyond ready for Kindergarten, and hoped that he would be in her class!

Yay Gabe! You make us proud! Oh, and as a side note, I added a little poll over on the side bar, so go vote!

baby!

Tyrone, Gabe, Shiloh, and I went to get my first ultrasound today!!! The baby looks perfect! He/she is measuring 7 weeks today, with an estimated due date of 12/31....maybe New Year's?! Baby had a strong heart beat of 147. Gabe thought that was a weird noise, but it was music to our ears :)

Tyrone is already headed back out to the field, but I'm so excited that they let him come, and he'll be home to stay on Monday (which can't come soon enough!) Anyway, I know to some of you this might not look like much more then a blob, but, without further ado, baby's first picture!

a little help, please....

So I may have been in some denial....I knew I was going to need maternity clothes sooner then later, and my sister (thank you thank you) scored me some on ebay....but I didn't realize how BADLY I needed them until I tried them on when they arrived today. I have been sucking in my stomach just as hard as I could, and let me tell you, it wasn't working out too well. Tyrone's t-shirts and i were becoming good friends!

So, I tried them on, and, voila, I look like a pregnant lady. BUT....I'll only be 7 weeks tomorrow! What is going on here?! Isn't this slightly ridiculous? I feel ridiculous! Is this because of how many babies I've had?! Because I've actually lost a couple of pounds in the last 2 weeks, so it's not that.

Oh, and please ignore my dirty mirror. A little boy I know that will remain nameless **coughgabecough** "helped" me use all the windex and I haven't been to the store to buy more yet. As for the toys everywhere, you can't see her, but there was a Shiloh running around strewing her stuff everywhere :)

Anyway, somebody tell me that my belly and I are not losing our minds!

Happy Mother's day!

I have it good! I mean, I am the Mommy to these 3 pajama clad, cinnamon graham cracker eating kids! (Just picture how my kid line up will look next year at this time!!)

Plus, guess what else I got for Mother's Day?! I got to see my husband! Rather unexpectedly, he was able to come home for a brief "reset" period before going back out to the field! Happy Mother's Day to me, with the amazing husband and the awesome kids!

And, happy Mother's Day to all of you, too!

concocting! (and playing)

Yesterday, we made fruity fingerpaint from our book! It involves kool-aid mix, so on top of being cool (and totally non toxic) fingerpaint, it smells like it's color!


Concentrating!

Shiloh, being all girl, ONLY painted with the pink (pink lemonade) :)....i'm pretty sure the boys never touched the pink, sticking to blue and orange.

I think that Gabe enjoyed this particular project the most....he's a kid that is happiest when he's dirty!

Shiloh accidentally stuck her pink paint covered hands in dirt....she got very upset and that was the end of finger painting for her!

After we got done painting, we stayed outside to play. Working off energy is always good, especially when Daddy's not home!

Have I mentioned that ALL of my children climb and hang off of things like little monkeys?

Would you look at this little girl, only 20 months old, climbing a tree with the big bubbas?! This blew me away!

STILL waiting on those teeth! sheesh!