Post #2

Grandpa Bohn came down to visit Amber and was holding a tired baby!

Aren't they precious?!

Amber's home!!!

The school choir singing a special Sunday night!

Going for one last ride before loading up to go home!

Pictures!

having fun in the camper!

watching a movie in the camper...

Curt and Jeremy Wilson on the go cart!

Hi there - been busy as usual - we had a great week and weekend - the weather was beautiful and we spent the weekend at the property, but came home for a bit each day and did some painting. I hate painting! Once we start doing it, it's not so bad, but just the idea of getting started. I am not a great decorator, either - but there is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to spruce things up a bit! We got to the property Friday night and Jeremy hunted then came in to a camp fire and then a movie and bed! We left the generator running all night to run the furnace in the camper! Saturday Isaac, Erin and I had a dentist appt. at noon, but after we went out for breakfast, they called to tell us they had a cancellation, so we headed back into town at 11am. Erin was supposed to have her "first" tooth check up, but Isaac ended up shutting her finger in one of the doors at the office (her finger was in the hinge side of the door - even worse!). Just when I thought about taking her to medexpress, she finally calmed down (about 2 hours later) and started bending it and using it - was very bruised on the tip though! We went home to do some more painting in the garage before going back out to the property. Brooke had a birthday party Friday and Saturday and ended up staying there that night as well and going to church Sunday with Jean... Jeremy W. Came out to Millington with us. He and Curt rode the go cart and Isaac rode his all night til dark. Jeremy went hunting at his dad's. I went for a walk with Isaac and Erin before dark - that was nice! Jeremy and I took the go cart for a "test drive" when we first got there and saw 2 doe and 4 fawns way out back! Sunday we finished up the garage (YAY) and my husband had everything put back in it's place that night for the most part! All ready for Thanksgiving! We had today off for election day - so I took the kids to school, then took Erin to her 3 year old check up and she got her flu shot which devastated her! Went to Home Depot for door paint, then to Kohl's for shoes, then home to start painting 4 exterior doors! Two coats on each door (thank goodness Lyndsay took a nap and was very cooperative even after she woke up!). Then, did the interior and I also painted the pantry door, the boys' closet door and one side of our bedroom door which will probably make my mother very happy:) Like I said, it's not so bad once you get going! I really should be in bed, but I haven't posted in awhile.

Last Monday, Len picked up our turkeys to take them to the butcher and unfortunately hit a deer on the way here:( Jeremy and I picked them up on the way home and the two males dressed out at 40 lbs and 38 lbs! The females were about 20lbs a piece. My freezer is full again! So, Tuesday night, we were busy bagging up turkeys and putting them in the freezer!

Well, Lyndsay is loving standing up on her own without holding onto anything and even took a step last night towards me, so we are in trouble! She is a busy baby and is into everything and starting to try and taste everything so she has to be watched carefully!

Well, I'm off to bed, so I'll post some pictures - have a great rest of the week!

Chris

Sunday, Sunday!

Well, fall is upon us! We've been busy as usual! Amber was home all last weekend and we had fun! She got home about 11pm Friday night. I let everyone stay up (including Lyndsay) until she got home. Erin was so excited, she bumped her mouth on the couch and then started crying( Lyndsay just kept looking at her like she was from outer space or something! Then, off to bed and up again Saturday. I thought we'd be running into town to get some materials for some of the projects around here, but we were tired out and ended up just hanging out here all day, catching up on games, laundry, etc. So at around 1pm we told Amber to take the van to go and visit her dad. She ended up out and about with Michelle for the day and got home about 8pm or so. Sunday was church and then I made chicken on the grill (Amber's request) and Grandpa Bohn got here around 2pm - he came down to especially see Amber. So, we ate, sang some to the harmonica this time:) and visited until time to go to choir. After church Sunday night we got pizza and then bedtime. Amber was going to keep the kids home with her on Monday instead of sending them to the babysitter, but she had been told she would be leaving earlier in the day. So, she went to the school in the morning and visited with them until she got picked up at 11:30am to leave for college again. Isaac was sad to see her go again... Monday night, we tackled the garage. On sunday, Jeremy worked on the outside of the house, getting it ready for landscaping a bit more. Monday, he finished putting up drywall behind the washer and dryer area after we took all the shelving down and all the stuff off the shelving as well! I am very blessed in that I have 2 washers and 2 dryers and they are in the garage along the wall right behind the kids' bathroom:) Tuesday, I took Brooke over to the barn after I got home from work and she played with Gent and cleaned the barn. I think I went and got her at 9pm. Wednesday was church and Thursday we started painting the garage. That is quite a job! Friday morning, I hit the alarm and closed my eyes for what I thought was a second... I woke up and we only had 10 minutes to get out the door and catch the michivan! I didn't get to make bottles, finish Isaac's lunch (Curt's class was having pizza that day, thank goodness!) So, I called Brooke at 6:45am to warn her she had to get the few things ready for me! They ended up forgetting Isaac's lunch anyway! Usually, I have everything ready and by the front door in their respective bags already so no one can forget anything! I even put the baby bottles in a cooler and everyone has an ice pack in their cooler/lunch to keep everything cold since I put it together at 4:15am! Thank goodness it was only once so far this year! Sorry, Brooke - especially since it was picture day at school and you know she wanted to look even more beautiful than she usually does!

Friday after work, we picked up the apples from the guy from work - he brought them to the car pool lot instead of us going out to his house to pick them up. Now, I hope to can them this week (applesauce, yum-yum). Then, home to see Curt and Brooke before they went to their dad's. Jeremy, Isaac, Erin, Lyndsay and I then left to go out to the property to spend the night. We decided to relax a little instead of working more on the house. We drove separate so I could take some movies back and Jeremy went straight out there to start the generator and the furnace in the camper so it would be warm. Erin and Isaac rode with him and I took the baby with me. Jeremy called me right before I got there to tell me someone had broken into the pole barn. So, I called 911 and a sheriff got there just after I did. Someone used a crowbar to open the entry door (steel, mind you), damaging the seal and the door, but it still works. The only thing we noticed missing so far were 2 -3 containers of gas we had sitting by the generator. We had 6 of them there and they left the empty ones, of course! We were just happy the generator was still there as well as the farm equipment, go carts, hay, etc. I have to call our insurance company and make sure everything is covered just in case someone decided to come back again now that they know what we have in there! Jeremy is going to reinforce the door as well. He has heavy machinery in front of each of the big doors so it would be hard for anyone to take anything big out of there without being noticed big time! We ate at McPherson's then went back to the camper and watched a movie before going to sleep! Saturday morning, we slept in big time (8:30aM) and then got up, went and ate breakfast, then went back and drove out to the woods looking for dead trees to cut down for firewood for home. We loaded one trailer full, then went to Steve's to get his trailer and loaded that full as well. We left for home at 4pm, dropped off the trailers, then drove out to Great Grandparent's Fitch's so Jeremy and his dad could take their air conditioners out for them. We visited with them until 9pm, then came home and got ready for bed.

This morning, I made pancakes, scrambles eggs to go with the sausage Brooke cooked up Friday for breakfast burritos I will put together later. A great way to use the eggs from our chickens and the kids love them for breakfast, sometimes lunches and snacks. They are great with our homemade salsa! I convinced Curt to try them with salsa - he thought it would be gross even though he loves salsa, but after he tried it, he was like - thanks mom, that was great and now can't stand to eat them without salsa! Today we have to unload the wood so we can load the bird crates into the trailer. Jeremy and I are going to load the turkeys up in the morning before leaving for work and his stepdad, Len is going to pick them up in the morning and take them to the butcher for us since they have to be there by 6am! (Thanks, Len) Jeremy and I will pick them up on our way home from work. It will be interesting to see what they dress out at poundage wise! Now, I'm off to church so I will update more later and post some pictures! Have a great Lord's day!

Christine

A few more pictures to enjoy!

See? Standing on my own!
Just, so so tired!
And so so quiet for a change!

Where has the time gone?

I love my princess sweatshirt!
celebrating birthday with Grandpa and ma Coe
Just because I'm cute!

Wow, it's been awhile since I've been able to blog - sorry! We've been sooo busy! I told you Jeremy and the kids had been digging out the crawl space under the front of the house (we have basement under the rest). I believe it was Monday night we all went down there with 6 buckets and formed a chain to get dirt from one side of the house to the hole on the other side for about 2 hours or more until we got it done! The hole on the side of the house is pretty full and ready for black dirt and landscaping, the crawl space is done except for plastic vapor. Jeremy finished replacing all the duct work and hooking everything up! Tuesday night, we tackled the red barn and cleaned and organized that, Wednesday night we did the garage. Last night we went grocery shopping and did banking not getting home til 8:00pm only to get ready for bed. I've been faithfully exercising on the Norditrak except for the nights we worked (MON,TUES). I was pretty sore from the dirt in the bucket thing, but that's a good thing, right?

Tonight, we came home from work and the kids got home from school. We have 2 extras for the night. Amber is going to be home late tonight for the weekend. Brooke and Curt are going to a youth conference in Sheridan, Michigan (Beth Haven) tomorrow and are playing a few volleyball and flag football games there as well and are really looking forward to that! The girls had practice after school today for a few hours. I tackled cleaning floors and getting laundry caught up so that I can enjoy the rest of my weekend! Last Saturday Jeremy and I wrestled the old couch up from downstairs for the living room. Now we have 2 couches up here and the basement looks a lot neater as well. I cleaned that up last week.

We only got to the barn one night this week and Gent accidentally stepped on my foot after spooking ever so slightly at Carly coming out of a stall next to him. But, thank goodness that didn't hurt too bad for too long!

I started a different job this week at work. I don't mind it, but I hear there's another job opening up down the line near my husband and it's even better, so I might put in for that one. Right now I am installing the left rear door latch/lock system. Before I was putting in the air bag sensor, the rear door handle base, pushing in some rosebuds and more rose buds and wiring in the trunk. Doesn't sound like much, but I only have 55 seconds to do each car as it passes (the line runs continuously unless there's a problem). I do that 425 times a day on a good running day.

Erin got to celebrate her birthday again with Grandma and pa Coe. Grandpa just got back from moose hunting in Newfoundland (if you look close, you'll see the antlers in the one picture). She just loves all of her gifts. I don't know what this weekend is going to bring, but I'm ready. We have to work next saturday so I'm really going to enjoy this one which is why I worked so hard at cleaning tonight! The kids all enjoyed riding the go kart tonight out back. I have to take the camera out and get some pictures of that one! But, here are a few new pictures for now!

Lyndsay has started standing up, then letting go of what whe was holding on to for balance! She just woke up and is cuddling, so I'll get the pics posting. Have a great weekend!

Wednesday finally

who knew a baby toy could be made into a tent!
Curt opening Grandma Coe's present
Not funny!
Sisters...
Grandma Coe, Brooke and Lyndsay

I can't believe how busy every day is! I haven't checked email in over a week! The week has been busy - last week, Brooke took her segment 2 drivers training on Mon, Tue, and Thu night in Birch Run, so I'd go to Birch Run to drop her off at 6:30, then come home, then go back to get her at 8:30pm. Sunday in church, Brooke and Isaac got the giggles and after being admonished and threatened, finally got it under control. Isaac then said to me mom, are you still 39? I wish, no I'm 40, and dad is 30? No, 34. Then, after thinking a few minutes, he says, then why is dad so much longer than you? I say - you mean taller? Because he's a man and men are usually taller than women. He gets all excited and says,you mean I'll be taller than you when I get big? Sigh, probably! Then, another few minutes and he says, Mom, no once is ever going to marry Eric Wilson. (He is a very tall kid that graduated with Amber and is at Hyles as well). I said, why not? He says because he is way too long! (HEE HEE). Last Sunday night, Heather and Brian and my mom stopped over to celebrate Curt's birthday and Erin was in her jammies already. She got chocolate cake all over the top, so I told her to go and change. A few minutes later I saw her in the hallway with Maggie, pushing a doll in a stroller with no shirt on! Erin, go and get your shirt on! She looks at me funny, pulls her pj bottoms up to her armpits and keeps right on going! No, that's not it, into your bedroom with you! Stinker! She thinks because the boys go without shirts once in awhile, that it's okay for her, too!

Jeremy and Curt and Brooke are working a little each night in the crawl space under the front of the house, digging out dirt - something we never finished when remodeling! There has been a big hole on the side of the house since we got a new septic field/tank 3 years ago that they are filling in with the dirt from under the house! So, it's nice to see progress being made towards being able to finish the landscaping out there! My mom was in town for a week and bless her heart, came over 2 days in the morning and painted 1 closet door/jam and 2 bedroom doors/jams for me! Only 3 more to go... One step closer to being able to put this place up for sale and then pray that it sells so we can move to Millington! We've had some deer/fawns (3 of them) in our garden out here the past few days - they are eating the beets we have left out there:( Brooke better go and pick the rest.

Wednesday, Jeremy and I took off the day from work and went hunting out at our property. We got up in the tree stand, and a few minutes later, I started dozing off! After about an hour of trying to stay awake (I don't sit still very often and when I do...), I was about ready to get out so I wouldn't fall out, when Jeremy gave me his belt so I could tie myself to the stand! Felt much better after that. We did see quite a bit of activity (4 in all), but it was behind us. So, we went out to breakfast at 10am, went back and built a ground blind over by where the activity was and then I came home while Jeremy stayed to hunt again.

Friday night, we went out to dinner to celebrate my mom-in-law and Erin's birthday. Erin just loves her treasure chest! Saturday, Jeremy and I went hunting in the morning, then out to breakfast, then stopped at the new Meijer in Birch Run to get Erin her birthday gift (the Cinderella dress/accessories, the play dough toy and cook outfit), then home. Just did housework all day until I went out to Millington to Grandpa Steve's to celebrate Erin's birthday with him! Sunday, we didn't go to church - 4 of us are sick with colds, but had venison roast for dinner with Dad, Teresa, Heather, Brian, Maggie and Carly. We had a lot of fun singing and visiting. Dad and Heather have a birthday on the 8th and the 5th as well. Now, we don't have any more birthdays until December, I think!

I took Monday off for a doctor's appointment to check on my leg (all is well). Then I ran a few errands, got groceries and went home to catch up on laundry. I was going to try and paint, but ran out of time! But, I did try and be helpful by cutting up tomatoes to get ready to can. I learned a big lesson - don't do tomatoes when you have a cold - can't smell the bad ones! But, Jeremy could when he got home from work and everything was in the pot! Big waste doggone it!

Lyndsay is very busy - starting to let go while standing up - she'll probably be walking soon! She is eating cheerios now and loving it!

I think that is all for now, gotta go and get supper started! Had to squeeze in computer time while no kids are on it! Have a great rest of the week!

Post #3

Lyndsay and Grandpa Steve
Getting ready to open presents from Mom, Dad, Grandpa & ma Bohn, Aunt HEather and Uncle Brian
Grandpa helping read the cards
We have a few October birthdays - so they all had to blow out candles!
Heather and MAggie

I have a few more pics to post but will do so hopefully tomorrow - have a good Tuesday!

Chris

Post #2

Erin opening her gift - a treasure chest filled with princess dresses, jewelry, crowns, slippers, etc. A very excited little girl!
Great Grandma Reid and Lyndsay
Ironing her princess dresses with cousing Mike
Getting ready to blow out candles at Grandpa Steve's Saturday night!
Celebrating at Grandpa Steve's Saturday night!

Birthday weekend pictures!

Singing with Grandpa playing his guitar
The princess - notice the glass slippers! Three years old!
Remember the picture I posted when he was only a few weeks old? The turkeys weighed 40-45 pounds yesterday! Pretty much ready for Thanksgiving!
Cuddling on the couch!
The birthday girls at Baldwin's Restaurant Friday night!

We've had a busy week - but I'll write more later,want to post some more pics real quick before bedtime!

A saturday at home! Post #2

Hi Amber - Mom misses you! (After I curled my hair:))
Mom and Lyndsay - like the tongue sticking out?
I don't know what this look was?! I didn't get any halfway decent pics of Erin and Isaac - Isaac was too busy playing his computer game and Lyndsay just was kind of ornery looking in each photo so I took a few of myself - aren't you glad?:o) I thought it might make your day or scare you half to death or give you a good laugh! It's hard getting the double chin not to show!

Well, we didn't go anywhere today - got up at 7:30am and started getting tomatoes from the garden ready to make into salsa and can. Inbetween helping my husband do that, I cleaned the floors throughout the house and picked up here and there - that took a few hours - and did much of it while Lyndsay took naps. She's kind of fussy from the teething thing now! She smiles funny sometimes with her lips all pulled back - it's cute! So, now her knees aren't getting dirty while crawling around the house:) That's the only thing about ceramic tile and hardwood floors and crawling babies! Most of the time everyone takes their shoes off, but not always... Around 5ish, I took Erin and Lyndsay to my sisters and my mom and I cleaned stalls, then put 2 wheelbarrow loads of sawdust in each stall (7?) while Heather was getting the horses' feet trimmed. I did most of it with Lyndsay on my back in the backpack. She fell asleep about a third through the sawdust, so I took the pack off and set her on the grain bin! Erin had a blast playing with Maggie as usual, but we had to come home about 7:45pm (felt like 10pm) to get pizza for supper and get baths before bed! Lyndsay is calling me from her crib right now - gotta get her to go to sleep - church tomorrow! Have a great Sunday, God Bless!

Here's a few pics!

A sand hill crane out at our property last weekend
This was the doe and she had two fawns with her as well, but didn't get great pictures of them
This is another doe that comes out in the same spot every night!
This was today - she loves to have her soft blankie by her face!I'm just playing, Mom - staying out of trouble!

Well, well, well...

Wow, is it Friday already?! We are getting out of work earlier now (2:10pm) thanks to 3 shifts going strong at the plant and straight 8 hour shifts with our last break at 2:10pm freeing us to leave 20 minutes early gets us home by 3:30pm most days! Praise the Lord it's great getting home and having more time to get things done, relax, enjoy the kiddos, fight with Isaac about doing homework:) This is his first year for homework and he is having a hard time having to come home and not play right away. Sunday night, he was pouting about having to go to bed and having school again - it is nothing but work, hard work all day long! Get used to it buddy! He's memorizing Psalm 23 and was on verse 4 last week. He said it to me on the phone this morning when I called from work - his test on that was today. Good job, Isaac! I have had to make sure I remember to call home in the morning to make sure everyone is risen! Thursday morning at 7:20am I was about to call the police because no one would answer the phone when Brooke finally called me back - she had fallen asleep on the couch! She is a sound sleeper, so this will be interesting! So far, though mornings have been going smoothly other than that! I just call to make sure they have put the dog outside, let the chickens out, shut lights off, brush teeth, take medicine (Curt), etc. Everything else (bags, coolers, lunches) is sitting by the door for them to grab on the way out. This week we brought the camper home after an enjoyable weekend at the property. The weather was great and saw some wildlife, etc. We went out to eat at our favorite restaurant in Millington for Saturday breakfast and then went to the apple orchard for donuts, cider and apples, then back to the property to mow for a few hours. Then, just relaxed, went for a few walks, visited with our neighbors, etc. Monday night we started working on cleaning out the camper real good - Jeremy's dad borrowed it for this weekend. I clean it out there, but having more things at my fingertips by bringing it home is nice. We have had an ant problem in there since taking it to Howell in July and we bombed it twice, and sprayed, etc. I scrubbed out drawers, washed all the bedding, towels, etc. When we get it back Monday I will clean windows and sills, etc. For how old the camper is (2002) and how much we use it, it still looks great! If only it were a little bigger (as well as our house!). It's hard to believe we only live in 1000 square feet here with 6 children, but we do! I probably won't know what to do with more space if I ever get to build the 1800 sf house with a walkout basement we have plans for! My mom is coming tomorrow for a week that will be mostly spent at Heather's house helping her with babysitting, etc., but my mom may be able to help me by coming over and doing some painting which would get us one step closer to putting this house on the market and me one step closer to Millington!

The kids are all getting so big - Lyndsay is just all over the house - she only gets hung up underneath the kitchen chairs but lets you know it so you can come to her rescue! Erin is enjoying her time with the Foelker kids during the day while I'm at work. Thursday night, the girls and I went over there so Brooke and I could practice our song with Jennifer for Sunday and Erin informed me that I took the wrong way to Miss Jennifer's house! Sorry! Brooke got to take a few nights this week and go and ride Gent and clean stalls. It's getting dark a little earlier and makes it more difficult to get over there, but it's still possible a few times a week! I haven't ridden yet, cuz my leg is still a little sore and bruised feeling, so I'll wait a week or so more before I get back in the saddle. Isaac is doing well in school in spite of hating homework! Curt is doing well also, he never has homework and seems to breeze through... He is quick to do his chores and anything else we ask him so he can earn his computer time! Amber is adjusting to college life and is pretty busy! She does get to go to town (Walmart, shopping, etc) atleast once a week by bus so don't worry - she's not going through withdrawal too bad! I text her or call her every morning pretty much. She gets along with all of her roommates and is enjoying herself! I miss her, but I keep thinking thanksgiving isn't so far away! She's already asked if 4 girls from out of state could come home with her, but I don't know... I haven't even figured out the details of getting her back and forth with my work schedule and if I take all of my kids with me, there won't be room!

Tonight, I took Isaac, Erin and Lyndsay to Birch Run after Brooke and Curt went to their dad's for the weekend. Isaac and Erin needed new shoes so we went to stride rite at the outlet mall cuz I can get them cheaper there than in Saginaw. Erin went from an 8 to a 9.5! She really likes her new shoes. Isaac is a 13 still but his shoes were worn out! So, they were happy to get them. We went to Carters for some jammies for Lyndsay and baby gift for Ava who is already 2 1/2 months old:) I could really blow some money in that store, but held back! So, tonight I've been catching up on emails and next is facebook! I will post some pictures in the next few days when I can get on the desk top computer (I'm using the laptop right now). I have a few funnies I'll post, too. For now, here is a few verses I've been reading a few times a day everyday and thought I'd share them with you!

Phillipians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord alway and again I say, Rejoice

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be carefull (don't worry) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be make known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.

Finally brethern, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

In thinking about Danielle a lot with her birthday being last weekend, I really appreciate these verses and others, in dealing with her being gone... I just know God is really enjoying her up in Heaven and in hearing of other little ones going to heaven recently from fellow bloggers who I don't know personally, but still feel their pain, just thought I'd share some verses.

Have a great weekend and look for some pics in the next few days!

Christine

TEETH!

Real quick because I'm late getting to bed and I'm exhausted! I'll post more later, but tonight while giving the girls (Erin and Lyndsay) a bath, Lyndsay grabbed my finger and put it in her mouth and guess what? TEETH! So, I looked and sure enough, 2 teeth poking through! She's growing up too fast, 7 months old now! She turned 7 months on the 19th and on Saturday the 20th, Danielle would've been 8 years old! Hard to believe! This morning, Brooke called me and said that Lyndsay was mowing on a cookie she found under the table and wasn't happy when she took it away! Maybe I can try some cheerios now?!

Have a good day, I'll post more again soon... Goodnight, Chris

Okay, now what do I do?

Can I have some help here please!

Rain Rain go away, come again some other day!

Curt and Jeremy
Big Lungs!
Is he smiling?!
Daddy asked him how his frosting smelled - I don't think he'll fall for that one again!
Aren't they precious? The do's didn't last more than the usual 10 minutes!

So, we didn't go to our property this weekend cuz it's raining - perfect for catching up on things inside! I've got everything pretty caught up except the downstairs (which is started) and the garage. So, I feel pretty good about that! I tackled the boys' room last night and today did the main parts of the house and the pantry. Laundry is an every day thing and never seems to be totally caught up for more than 4 hours at a time:) Here are some fun pictures, Brooke and Curt are gone for the weekend and the little ones have been playing good together! Brooke could've killed me cuz her stepmom came up to the door when picking them up Friday and asked to take a picture of her room cuz she said she was cleaning... So, I told her she was more than welcome to go down and take a look herself - so, she did! Maybe I can embarass her into keeping it cleaner?! I know, that was mean and I'm sorry! Curt had a birthday Wednesday and is now 12 years old! Time sure does fly by! I'm sure you'll see some pictures of his gift (which has to be shared) later! Have a great rest of the weekend!

Chris

Thursday already!

I'm sitting here waiting for Erin to bring me her ice cream sandwich - we are sharing one before bedtime! I don't want a whole one, I have reached another milestone in my weight loss quest! I've lost another 5lbs -YIPPEE! Only 4 more pounds to reach my prepregnant weight and then another 15 more to go, hopefully!

I've been getting the kids to bed at 9:30pm each night and that is such a blessing - I can get to bed earlier and everyone is much happier in the morning! I'm shooting for 9pm, but right now, they stop what they are doing at 9pm and get ready and are in bed by 9:30pm.

My leg is doing better, gets sore after being up and about for awhile, but that's to be expected - it had some trauma and is very black and blue bruised!

Today, I went to town after taking Isaac his forgotten back pack and lunch, he has a paper in there I have to sign every night in reference to his behavior that day in school and if I don't sign it, he will get in big big trouble! So, I went into town and got the truck washed, got my favorite chinese for lunch and stopped at Danielle's grave and dug up the flowers, worked up the dirt and put some fake mums there with Erin's help! I know my daughter is not there, only her body, but she is in heaven, but when we leave, I always say "Goodbye Danielle". Erin was wondering why I said that and I had to explain to her that this is where she is buried, but she is in Heaven waiting for us with Jesus! So, her grave looks a bit better now - it's been longer in between my visits there this summer thanks to and 18yr old and a baby, but I like to keep up on it, it's my way of still taking care of my daughter, I guess. Then, I picked up Curtis and took him to his physical - 91lbs and growing! He has to go to a dermatologist to have the birthmark on his back looked at and measured and then monitored to make sure it doesn't change any. I'm not too worried about it, I don't think it's changed other than looking smaller as he grows. But, it's a good precaution these days. So, it's been a busy day and I'm tired and going to bed! Lyndsay went to bed early (8:30pm), and hopefully won't wake up in a bit ready and raring to go! Brooke was working on her bedroom - needs drastic changes! So, I will check on her progress tomorrow and see what damage I can do on my last weekday home! Have a good day!

Here I am!

Well, here I am, home for the rest of the week on sick leave. I got to work yesterday and after a 1/2 hour or so, my leg was sore. My leg is pretty gruesomely bruised and ugly and it's sore expectantly so! My team leader at around 8:00am asked me if my leg was swollen at all, so I pulled up my pant leg to see that my ankle was twice the normal size. So, off to medical I went. I elevated for awhile which didn't help, and there was edema as well (2+ pitting as the nurse said). So, after calling my doctor that did the surgery and talking with medical they told me that the plant doctor would just send me out on sick leave for the length of my restrictions (1 week). So, I didn't have a way home yesterday because we ride in the vanpool, so I sat on the picnic table by Jeremy's job the rest of the day with my foot on top of our cooler most of the time. That was a long day! So, as long as I can elevate my foot every hour, I have been able to really clean out my fridge, and catch up on laundry. So, I cannot go back to work until next Monday. Sick leave is really a pain with all the paperwork you have to do, and waiting for the money and it's substantially less than the pay I get while I work, but it is also a blessing to have for moments like these and I get to enjoy my kids for the week! So, we had pancakes for breakfast this morning and Erin helped me throughout the day. Lyndsay is so funny - she just loves to crawl around and explore most of the time, every once in awhile bellowing for me to make sure I haven't left her! She loves the bathroom, so I have to keep on eye on her at all times. So, I will hopefully have more pics to post this week and some fun things happen that I can actually remember! Have a great night!