Family

Some family shots from Memorial Day Weekend.

A very tired Kaitlyn after a long day of playing.

Mamaw Burton and Brycen.

Zach met Kelsey

Kelsey and her daddy

Mamaw Burton and Lizzie

Brycen with his daddy and Lady.

We tried to get a picture of all 6 grandkids. This is the closest to success that we came.

In Back: Jacob

Front left to right: Kaitlyn, Papaw Burton, Kelsey, Zach, Lizzie, Mamaw Burton, Brycen

All tuckered out after being passed around all day.

I told my grandpa to smile and this is what I got! Anyone who knows him will not be surprised!

My Grandma wouldn't smile. Finally, I said, "Fine, be hateful and don't smile." Only then did she giggle!

Kaitlyn was telling Uncle Brian where and what to color.

Another attempt at the 6 grandkid picture. It was going well until Brycen through himself backwards and started screaming. Look closely and you will see his feet sticking out to the right of Zach.

Kisses from cousin Jake

She needed to stretch!

Brian watches the Indy 500 with Kelsey as he "babysits" Kaitlyn's baby too.

Fun, fun, fun times!

Water Balloons

We headed to Southern Indiana to visit family this Memorial Day weekend. One of the highlights for the kids was a water balloon fight. It was fun to watch and the kids loved it, but my fingers were numb from trying to tie those little boogers!

Kaitlyn didn't want to throw hers. She held on to it and treated it as a very special egg.

My kids? Not so much!

He really deserved it!

Ready to let them fly!

SLEEPOVER!!

Lizzie had her first sleepover at a friend's house last Friday night. She went to Madelyn's house. They had a great time. They had homemade pizza, played outside, read books, played Uno, and eventually slept! Madelyn's mom said they did great together.

Lizzie is ready to rock and roll with her suitcase, her baby, and her baby's suitcase!

Sprinkler Time

Today was a hot one - 90 degrees. As soon as we hit the driveway, the boys were headed to the neighbors to swim. Since this is the first real "swim" of the season, I knew they wouldn't keep an eye on Lizzie and even if I went, it would be crazy. So, it told her that she could play in the sprinkler. She had a great time, and I enjoyed getting splashed too!

Taking time to make sure Sadie is well hydrated.

Playing in the sprinkler.

Cool water!!

A wet girl and her wet dog.

Check out Sadie's tongue. She is trying to get the water!

Electric Bill

I can see our electric bill going through the roof. Why? Well, we have only had a few humid days thus far, and on those days I just don't feel well. In particular, I can feel the numbness crawling up my arm and it feels as though I am about to "tense up" like I did last year. So, I did a little checking and all the sources - including the national MS Society page - say the same thing:

Heat or high humidity can make many people with MS experience a temporary worsening of their symptoms. Doctors believe that this occurs because heat causes nerves (whose myelin covering has been destroyed from MS) to conduct electrical signals even less efficiently.

So, the air conditioner may just be running a little more this year.

Where In The World Is Baby Punkin'?

My mom got Lizzie an American Girl Doll, Bitty Baby, for Christmas a few years ago. Lizzie LOVES her. She calls her Baby Punkin and dresses her up in preemie clothes. They sometimes even wear matching outfits.

Mamaw Wellman posing with a matching Lizzie and Bitty Baby.

Shortly after we returned from Christmas this year, Sadie the beast dog, chewed off all the fingers on Baby Punkin's left hand! Luckily there is an American Girl Hospital. So, we packed her up and sent her on her way.

I will be more than glad when Sadie gets over her chewing stage!

I asked Brian to track her via UPS and oops - the records indicated that she never arrived at her destination! UPS tracked her for another week, and just today Brian turned in the paper work to get reimbursed for her. I had it all planned. I was going to buy a new doll and tell Lizzie that instead of coming home in a hospital gown, they sent her home in a pretty outfit like her new cousin Kelsey wore.

Two hours after Brian faxed in the paperwork, I came home to find a box on the doorstep. It was Baby Punkin'! And she HAD been to the hospital AND she was all fixed.

Bitty Baby in her hospital gown and hat! Thank you Dr. Julie for fixing Baby Punkin'!

Not sure what happened with UPS, but now we have to contact them and tell them to not send us a check!

Bring a Friend to Lunch

Friday was the 2nd Grader's Bring a Friend to Lunch day. I was going to surprise Jacob. However, on Thursday evening he started getting really sad that no one would be there to eat with just him and he would have to pair up with someone else. I told him I was sorry, but I just couldn't do it. Then he asked "Can't you just get a sub." There were tears in his voice. I couldn't do it any longer. I looked up at him, smiled and said I was planning on being there and I had wanted to surprise him. He was excited and went to bed quickly without those tears spilling out of his voice into his eyes.

My second grader - Jacob

Playing two hand touch football. Looks a lot like tackle to me!

Jacob screaming "I'm open, I'm open!!"

Pop - at SCHOOL! Now he thought was way cool!

Before making my final decision, I went back and forth about whether I should attend. It meant rescheduling a meeting for another time. It meant tackling all that crazy traffic. It meant a rushed chaotic lunch hour. It meant my wondering how it would look to my principal. It meant some early prep for my afternoon round of kids. But, a BIG THANK YOU to those incredible people I work with who reminded me that I am a mommy first and a teacher second! The look in his eyes was pure excitement when he found out I was going. I will NEVER get his 2nd Grade Bring a Friend to Lunch Day back. But I will have plenty of other meetings and relaxing lunches! I left the school with tears in my eyes knowing I had done the right thing.

Movie Night

We had a movie tonight/living room camp-out with Jake and Lizzie tonight. An evening full of snacks, giggles, and a fun movie.

Our movie of choice for the evening.

Snack and movie night complete with movie night popcorn containers and napkins thanks to Mamaw Burton!

Even Sadie got a special treat - peanut butter in her kong.

Brian and Lizzie

The Big Egg Drop

Today was the Egg Drop at Jacob's school. When he brought home the information about the egg drop, I immediately had all these ideas - cute parachutes, soft quilted fabric surrounding the container, etc.. You get the point - all kinds of "cute things." Jacob would have none of that. He wanted a shoebox filled with packing materials and then the outside covered with bubble wrap. So, that is what we did. It didn't look "pretty," but it protected the egg. His egg survived the fall from the cafeteria roof onto the concrete!

"See mom, it DID work!"

Meeting Kelsey

Jacob, Lizzie and I headed to Indiana last weekend to meet my new niece, Kelsey Ann. In addition to meeting an absolutely perfect and beautiful niece, we got to spend time with lots of family as well. We had a great time!

Kelsey Ann

Lizzie and the new big sister, Kaitlyn, playing before bed. They had all kinds of Mamaw's toys out!

No trip to Indiana is complete without a fun jacuzzi bubble bath!

Lizzie was "helping" her Great Papaw do a crossword. This brings tears to my eyes as I remember doing the same thing at about her age.

My nephew Brycen spent the weekend with us. He is at a fun age.

Jacob and Kaitlyn playing around. They were fun together.

Lizzie is loving Kelsey

We also got to meet another cousin, Geris. He was visiting with his grandma and grandpa, my Aunt Kenni Lea and Uncle Rick. Here he is with Kelsey. He is six weeks old and quite a cutie.

Kelsey Ann

All I can say about this picture is - sweetness.

Lizzie and Brycen were quite the pair!

Baby or no baby - there HAD to be time out for some playing in the sandbox. . .

and some clowning around at Mamaw and Papaw Wellman's house.

Great Mamaw Wellman meets Kelsey

Pretty sure she is reacting to the fact that someone just said I was about to leave!

Kelsey in her daddy's hand

Had fun loving on her and looking forward to getting back for some more cuddles soon.