Sounds of the Season

We just returned from doing a little Christmas shopping and on our way home we had to drive around to see a few Christmas lights in our neighborhood. It was so nice to hear Madison and Mercedes singing along with our new Christmas CD "Polar Express." They just love that CD. Madison is going to take it to school this week and sing to her class, "When Christmas Comes to Town." It was so neat to hear Mercedes who is only 2 and 1/2 singing different songs along with Madison. I can't believe how well she knows the words to song. Her vocabulary is amazing for such a young age. We also feel completely and utterly blessed with Baby Madelyn. She has earned the best baby award out of all 5 kids. She is so darn good! She barely cries and is already sleeping 6 to 8 hours a night. AMAZING!!!! None of the other kids slept through the night that young. The Good Lord sure has blessed us with this last one...He new we were going to be balancing with 5 so He helped us out.

I need to be off to do some online work! Have a great night all!

Mall of America

We had some friends of ours come visit us from Georgia last weekend. The Livingstones flew up and spent the day with us at the Mall of America. I had their son, Gavin, in my classroom last year and that is how we got to know each other. They also have a daughter, Sarah, that is only a few months younger than Madison. Gavin and Harley hit it off and so did the girls. We had so much fun with them. We got a few pics of our day together.


Michelle and I waiting for the girls on a ride. She got her hair cut since the last time I saw her and mine has grown out. We both noticed the difference.

Michelle with Baby Madelyn. Too cute!

Gavin and I together when we ate at Rainforest Cafe. Gavin was always one of my special students!

Madison and Mercedes next to Santa at the MOA.

Sarah and Madison on a ride together at Nickelodeon Universe in the MOA.

Madison, Gavin, Sarah, and Harley showing off some cute hats! They all had such a good time together.

Did someone put a hex on us?

Who caused this? ha! This was me Thanksgiving evening. This is when I actually was feeling a little bit better after blowing chunks all morning. Madison also blew many chunks yesterday. Then, around bed time Ben started and Harley finished out the middle of the night. This all began with Mercedes on Monday. The baby is fine...Praise the Lord. Also, amazingly Jason hasn't gotten sick yet. I am shocked at that one. He may still get it though...who knows! Jason did go out and get turkey dinner last night. I barely ate any of mine, but I am eating it the day after so I am sure it will be good. The boys ate all of theirs and just loved it until it came back up. Poor things. I guess Thanksgiving of 2008 will be a memorable one for the Edwards family. ugh!

Christmas shopping, flu, and Turkey Day

We have been busy fighting the Mercedes flu bug at our house. Yuck! I hate the puckies! That is just one sickness I can't deal with. She was bad on Monday. She is better today. She hasn't thrown up since yesterday morning so that is great.

So, being the nice mother I am I took Mercedes and Madelyn with me today as I did some Christmas shopping. I have started a little already and today I did a bit more. It is easy to do with Mercedes because she doesn't realize what I am buying. However, having 2 little ones in toe with a cart full of stuff (meaning Mercedes had to walk) proved interesting. She did quite well for being the little monster that she is, however, it was exhausting for the momma. Now, madison said it was okay for me to wrap some presents to put under our tree. Yes, I didn't even update this to let you know we put our tree up on Friday night. It is a really pretty tree this year. We got a ton of new ornaments that I found on sale last year after Christmas. I love the colors on the tree.

This past Saturday was our 8th anniversary. Jason got me a 8 x 10 of Mommy and Madelyn...sweet! I got him a wallet. I know, not too much, but things are tight in our home right now so we are fine with that. We are looking forward to this Saturday when we are going to see a movie and shop....ALONE!!!! Yes, we had family volunteer to watch madelyn so we could be alone for a few hours. How exciting!!!! I can't wait! I might be able to get out 5 words without being interrupted. ha!

Tomorrow we are off to get our family photo done. We need one bad! We are missing 2 kids from out last professional one. ugh! We will also do baby photos and send out annoucements!

On Thanksgiving we are heading over to my brother's house. The kids can't wait! they love spending time with their cousins! We always have a good time with them! I can't wait for some turkey and pie! hee, hee!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Pictures and more

Can you tell I am having fun putting up new pics? Now I just need for my hubby to get me some more pics. Hint, hint!

Well, now that I have made it public news to most "close" people I feel I can say it on here. It appears we will more than likely be moving back to GA. We feel we need to for my job and for the sake of our family. We have 5 children to raise and with this economy taking such a down turn as it has it has us quite concerned. So, I will pursue getting a job back in the county we left. That way the kids will be able to return to something they know so hopefully the transition won't be as hard for them. There are a lot of things that we still don't know, but this much we know for now. We are excited to get back in a place where we can do well for our family. We are also excited to see our friends and church family from there. We do miss them a lot! We are also really excited about getting near the mountains and the beach! These are things our family just loves. So, on our vacation time you know where we will be! :)

I put up 1 Christmas tree today. Well, Mercedes did help out too. ha! We put one up in our playroom and then will put up the main tree in the living room this weekend. I am getting in the mood. It sure would help if we had a little snow now too.

This Saturday Jason and I will have been married for 8 years. I am so thrilled! I feel we have gone through so many neat things together. It is just such a blessing to have a true friend to share your life with. I am just so happy! I love the family we have made and love him so much! God has richly blessed us!

busy and tired

Boy am I tired tonight! I think I am on here typing so I don't have to move yet and walk up my many flights of stairs to the main living room. ha! I have been going ever since I got up today. I scrubbed floors, cleaned bathrooms, bathed kids, washed clothes, made an amazing soup for dinner, moved furniture around, etc. We are getting ready to put our Christmas trees up so we had to move furniture and figure out what would work best for what rooms. I think it will work well now.

Baby Madelyn has been doing so well. She is such a great baby. We really are blessed with her. The kids have adjusted well to the new addition too.

We are really loving our new church we have found up here in Woodbury. The only thing we don't like is the drive (it is about an hour). The people are so friendly and nice.

We are not caring for the cold weather without snow here now. It has been quite chilly and there isn't a lick of snow on the ground. Jason wonders why we should have to endure so much cold, but not have the beauty of the snow with it. ha!

We are excited about the upcoming holidays. It will be so much fun to spend it with our new family member! All the kids are looking forward to grandparents coming up from the south too! THat will be fun for them!

We have many thoughts on our mind lately with this failing economy. It has us anxious about our job security too and planning on what to do to protect ourselves and our family.

Have a great night!

Baby Madelyn photos

I love this black and white shot of her. Too precious! So, what do you all think of our precious new one? We are quite blessed aren't we?

Baby Madelyn is 2 weeks old here. She is snuggled in with momma! Too cute! Who does she look like?

So, it took me some time, but I finally got some pics of our precious new one posted. Madelyn Grace is such a peach. We think she is our best baby yet. She is already only getting up once in the night. She burps and doesn't spit up. She is just really good. I can't complain one bit. I am so blessed!

I had such a great time going to church last Sunday. I told Jason how neat it was to have 5 kids in our van. It is a full van now as you can imagine! When we dated we talked of having 5 kids and now that dream as come true. Our family feels so complete. I just love having a big family. I look so forward to all the holidays and all the chaos. It will be so much fun! This is the time of our lives and I want to enjoy every moment of it.

Have a great day!

Vote Today

Today is voting day in our country. I already voted by absentee ballot due to the pregnancy. I am glad I didn't have to stand in any lines. However, Jason just returned from voting and was in and out in no time at all. That was a lot different than our last Presidential Election when we both stood there for about 2.5 hours. It was crazy! I think it is very important to vote so be sure to get out today and take advantage of your American right!

Life has been crazy busy for us these days. It is fun, but very busy. The kids were off from school yesterday which was actually a nice transition for me with Jason going back to work. I still had some little helpers around and they entertained Mercedes nearly all day. It was a near record breaking day of high temps yesterday too so the kids were outside much of the day. Snow is predicted for Friday so they had to get their fun in while they can. Today Jason is home (off day) and we have to take Madelyn to the doctor and me to the doctor. I get my staples out today. I can't wait! They are tugging and pulling on me. They hurt! We are going to take Mercedes to the mall so she can play for a bit too.

I have been really looking at my blessings lately and I just have to share. I am so thankful for my children. I am thankful that I met Jason and that he had these 2 precious boys. They have made me see life through different eyes because they weren't naturally mine. They have shown me what true love is. It isn't just blood, but goes beyond blood.

I am thankful for my first born Madison. I didn't think she would ever get here. She was nearly 3 weeks overdue. She had to come in her time. She is still somewhat like that today. She even tells me that she wants me to live with her in her dorm when she goes to college because she will miss me too much otherwise. I am sure that will change, but it is sweet to hear.

I am so thankful that I was able to conceive my darling wild child, Mercedes. She brings such a spunk to our lives. She came into our lives when things in Jason and my life were a roller coaster ride. She brought us closer together and made us realize what family was all about.

I am so thankful for little Madelyn. From the beginning of my pregnancy with her the doctors thought something was wrong. She is here with us today and is perfect. Down to the little, bitty nails on her fingers.... God thought of everything to make her precious and perfect!

I am so thankful for my dear husband, Jason. We have had our ups and downs, but I can't think of anyone else that I would want to do that with. I have learned so much about love from him. I have truly became a better person because of him. I love him so much!

Thank you to all that helped us out while we were transitioning with our new baby. Janet (my mother-in-law) came up from Alabama to help us out with our kids. That was truly wonderful! My mother helped with dinner and coming to visit almost daily. My dad was at the hospital several times too. Connie has been so kind to offer out help with watching kids. I am so thankful to have you all in my life and to feel the love that we all share! Giving is what love is all about! That is the love that Christ showed to us! I am a truly blessed person!

Have a great day!