Sunday June 27th

Hi all-

It has been some time since my last post so I have a lot of things to update you all on.

*We are moving again!!! Yippee! This time we are moving only about 30 minutes from where we are now to Kennesaw, GA. We are really excited about this move as it will get us really close to Jason's work.

*We just returned from Hilton Head, SC on vacation. We absolutely loved it there! If you ever get a change you need to go. Our trip started off with the kids breaking out in a rash and us having to go to the ER to find out they had Roseola. Not a great start. The doctor said they would appear to have leprosy, but wouldn't be contagious. Great! We got to see a lot of gators there and we got to ride bike all over the island. We were so relaxed and enjoyed our time so much as a family. See some pics above and to the sides of our trip.

*Mercedes Hope had a birthday on June 7th and turned 4. Can't believe she is 4. Wow! She will be attending Pre K in the fall and is so excited.

*Over Memorial Weekend we took a trip to Hilton Head and Savannah, GA for the long weekend. We had so much fun that is why we returned to Hilton Head for a longer vacation.

*I found out in May that I lost my teaching job with Fulton County Schools. However, I am diligently seeking another job and hoping to maybe even find something in Fulton again. Praying!

*In April Madison Faith turned 8 years old. She will be entering 3rd grade next year. So strange to think I had her 8 years ago. Where did that time go?!?!

*In mid April our son, Ben, injured himself in a fire accident and was flown to Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville. He was only there a few days though. He is doing much better now.

*In early April we took a trip to Gatlinburg, TN-Smokey Mountains and had a great time there with the kids! We had a cabin up in the mountains so that was nice!

We are headed to my cousin, Kari's house, on Wednesday to celebrate July 4th with them. We are all looking forward to that. Once we return we will move and then send Harley and Madison off to Camp Woodland. This is a camp that is run by our chuch, West Metro Church of Christ. This is Madison's first time to ever go to camp so I am really excited for her. Both of them are new to this particular camp though. Hopefully, they will learn a lot about the Lord. Then, our summer will wind down once they return with only about 2.5 weeks left before school starts. I don't even want to think of that right now. I am just enjoying every minute of being home. Madelyn is 20 months now and talking more and more everyday. She has such a nice personality! She just goes with the flow being the 5th child.

I hope this finds you all happy and well! God Bless you and yours!

Spring Break-Smokey Mountains

Hello again,

So we went to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Smokey Mountains for our spring break trip in 2010. We had a blast. We had some confusion and were sent to the wrong cabin upon our arrival, but after that got all sorted out we were able to get in to see our beautiful view from our cabin. How nice! The kids had to partake in the hot tub right away Sunday evening. They had so much fun! Monday we went shopping and boy did we shop. I got some shorts and tops, Jason got new shoes, Harley got new shorts/tops/swim trunks, Madison and Mercedes got new sunglasses and flip flops.....AND little Madelyn got a rattle. She didn't really need anything so she got short changed this time. ha! We went to eat at Olive Garden and just enjoyed our time with the kiddos. After that we took them to one set of go carts and Dad/Mercedes and Harley/Madison road one. They had so much fun. We then returned to the cabin to grill steak and make baked potatoes. All of us got in the hot tub that night. The weather was spectacular too! It was in the mid to upper 80's the whole time we were there. So nice!!! Tuesday we did more go carts and then rides for the kids. We had intentions of going to Clingmon's Dome, but it was closed. We walked about a mile on the Appalachian Trail. So fun! Madelyn even loved it! We got home late and had lasagna and garlic toast. It was so great! Then Wednesday we had to pack to leave. Mercedes cried that she wanted to stay at the cabin and live there. She said she didnt' want to return to Hiram, Georgia. Finally, she agreed to go home if she could go to school and church again and see her friend, Issac, again. Too cute!

It was a great spring break!

Living in Georgia

I never thought of it until a friend revealed to me the importance of blogs...it gives me back the memories. I never thought of it like that before. Realizing this has caused me to come back to blogging a year later. I want to remember this time with my precious little ones and have record of my time with them. I want them to have something to come back to that mom created all about them. I want to share my life with them and all of you. I hope you enjoy!

We moved to Georgia the end of July 2009. Jason got a job at Wachovia/Wells Fargo that started in October and I got a job teaching EIP in K/1st grades in October also. Obviously, October was a good month for us. :) My mother-in-law, Janet, moved in with us at that time to help us care for Mercedes and Madelyn.

In December, we traveled to Kari and Steve's house for Christmas and had a blast with them. We had a great break and made many memories.

We have had an unusally cold winter in Georgia with a few snow falls too. It is nothing like Minnesota snow, but cooler than normal for the folks down here. After enduring the winter of 2008 though we are happy with what we have.

The kids are growing like crazy! Harley is in 8th grade and Madison 2nd. They have both been on the honor roll all year. Mercedes is going to preschool 2 days a week and loves it. Madelyn is saying some words now. She says, "ank u, momma, da da, har eeee, and ids (kids)". She is 32 lbs now and nearly 35 inches tall. She started walking at 10.5 months. She was the earliest walker of all 5 kids. She was our first to climb the stairs so young and also the first to climb out of her crib. SHe has to keep up you know!

God Bless!

where is spring

Boy I wish spring would get here! I would love that. However, I think we may have to wait until May here to see that. It is supposed to be in the mid 40's this week which is swimsuit weather for us, but we still have a white landscape which is depressing to me. I guess I am asking a lot when I live in MN. ha!

I am back to watching kids as of last week. I have 4 during the day now. Reyce 3, Quinn 3 months and then our 2 Mercedes 2, and Madelyn 4 months. I stay quite busy with them needless to say. Those babies keep me on my feet all the time. The older girls play well together so that helps. I can't wait for some warmer weather so we can get out for some walks and play outside. I know the girls will love that.

Ben is about to leave for Basic. Well, that is what he keeps telling us. He has told us that since January, but now everything is done. There is a good possibility that he will go this month. We aren't sure that he will be as successful as he could've been in January now that we will be heading into spring. He will be going to a warmer climate too so not sure how his feet will do. Only time will tell!

I have a baby to feed! Hope you all have a great day!

Madelyn Grace

My good buddy Tiffany tagged me...and I thought this would be fun.So, here's what you do:

1. Go to your 4th folder where you store your photos.
2. Select the 4th photo (no exceptions).
3. Post the picture with an explanation.
4. Tag 4 people to do the same.
5. I tagged Mary, Krysta, Sarah, Martha

This was a picture of Madelyn the first day she was born ...October 27, 2008. She was all wrapped up. You can see she isn't crying at all....she is still like that to this day. Such a great baby! She is so precious! She is laid back and just goes with the flow. Momma just loves that.

Changes

It has been awhile since I updated this it seems. I guess I have been on Facebook too much lately and not on here, but I realize there are others not on FB that would like an update too.

Jason and I have taken a vow to change our lifestyle and commit to healthy habits for our body and minds this year...and from then on. I am in a contest with my sister-in-law where we are competing to lose the most body fat percentage of weight. There are about 100 people in the competition. I am doing really well so far for myself (not in the competition...but that is alright). I am thrilled to say I am down 14lbs and Jason is down 10. We are committed to exercising, eating the right foods, and showing our kids how to eat right too. It will be a long road, but one I am more than willing to go down. I have finally learned that I deserve to be happy and healthy. I am worth it!

The kids are good. Madelyn just went in for her 2 month check up today, but she is 3 months old (yes, a little late). She was in the 99th percentile for height and weight. We always have been blessed with such healthy babies! I am so thankful for that! She is smiling a lot now and trying to pull up. Crazy baby doesn't need to grow up yet! Mercedes is so much fun right now. She just brings me so much joy! She has such a spunky, fun-loving personality! She is so sweet, but yet can be such a little monster all at the same time. I am loving watching her grow. Madison is going through a strong-willed phase right now. It is hard seeing what used to be this sweet, obedient child that now can turn so rebellious. We are taking baby steps and trying to teach her to make the right choices though. Harley is enjoying basketball. He is gone nearly every night till 7pm and still loves it! Ben is preparing to go Basic Training. He will be heading out within the next few weeks. He has had some delays already, but we feel pretty confident it will be by mid February. Jason is about to start back with school online. He has about 2.5 years left so he is anxiously trying to get done! We all can't wait for that.

Well, I need to go watch my Biggest Loser show. Have a great night!

Tough MN --Only 20 below zero

So, we finally found out what it takes for the kids to get out of school here...-20 below zero did it! Isn't that absolutely crazy? I was talking to Jason about not even allowing the kids to go because I thought it was too dangerously cold. I guess the schools finally agreed with me.

The girls are playing nice. They are having a picnic in the LR and talking to Madelyn. I just finished a great workout and shower.. Feels good! The boys are hiding out in their room as usual. Harley was bummed he missed his game tonight, but there will be other games. Unfortunately, Jason had to go to work and deal with the frozen tundra. Now, you can understand why Minnesotans can be such driven, stubborn people....you have to be living here. Well, maybe that is just me!?! ha!

Have a great day!