Merry Christmas!!

The holidays did not get off in quite the way I had hoped. First a snow day (woo hoo) and then an unfortunately long bout of the stomach flu took over at our house! As of this posting, we have been officially barf free for going on 36 hours. I have knocked on wood, sprayed Lysol, and had my fingers and toes crossed in hopes of finally bidding farewell to this nasty little bug!

Needless to say, I feel tired, bored, restless, and a little ripped off! No fancy dinners or family gatherings for the majority of us. We were too sick to venture out, and too germy to risk sickening the rest of our family members. Our holidays were spent at home in our PJ's. The kids didn't seem to mind, in fact it actually gave them more time to play with all their new goodies.

No, we didn't get two dinosaurs, but Clara has pretty much taken over the care of Kota for Matthew. For the most part he doesn't mind, as long as he gets to keep it in his room and tell everyone that it belongs to him!

I am still trying to figure out the art of buying for twin girls. Last year I got two of everything, which left some things opened and unreturnable, but for the most part ignored, so this year I tried to get them gifts that were more suited toward their individual personalities, meaning different things for different girls. BIG MISTAKE!! They have spent the last three days arguing over what belongs to who, (whom?) and crying that the one has something that the other one wants. The biggest hit was the matching shopping carts, the $5.00 bathtub Barbies, (one Sleeping Beauty, one Mermaid) and the hooded towels from the clearance rack at K-Mart. Mental note for next year....keep it simple!

The boys of course are easy, as you shop for them you can ask yourself "Is this a game for DS or Wii?" and if the answer is yes, you know you have a winner! Ricky is a BIT tougher, as he is a little more picky about his DS games, and does not like playing Wii, so when shopping for him you must think like a teenage boy, which is weird when shopping for a 7 year old. He loves weird lights (lava lamps, volcano lights, etc.) Ax "cologne", and music.

All in all, I think everyone had an enjoyable holiday, and found what they wished for the most under the tree!

Hope you and yours have a happy, healthy, and relaxing holiday season, and a prosperous 2009!

God is good. All the time.

Ilene's Post....

Well, it's been way too long since I have posted anything. Somehow the year is getting away from me way too fast, although it's not June yet, so "too fast" depends on the day. Most days, my life looks like this... Since the pumpkin patch, we've had the following exciting events... Pumpkin Carving...

Trick or Treating... (No pictures of Clara, she was in "a mood" as we like to say!)

The girls turned three and had a princess party...
Alyssa came home and we had Thanksgiving with the Brewsters and played football... Squish and his Sissy...

Ricky and Grandpa Rick

Alyssa and Ruby...`

The family football game. It was a tie. Rick gave out medals to all the boys. :)

The motley crew that I like to call "family". :)

And last, but not least, Matthew turned five. We had cake and ice cream and he got to go shopping and pick whatever he wanted. He chose a couple of DS games and a light saber.

I haven't transferred any pictures to the computer yet. I'll get to it one of these days!

Noah had his first band concert and played a solo, I couldn't get any pictures because my camera wouldn't zoom in close enough..., but he did awesome. I was very proud! I'm looking forward to Ricky's performance tomorrow night at Pease auditorium, the Jingle Bell walk at Perry, and having two weeks off!

Wishing you and yours a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

God is good. All the time.

Fall Fun Anyone?

Please Daddy??? Can't we get a big big big pumpkin??? (And no...he couldn't resist...but we just got ONE big one, and several "normal sized" pumpkins!

Football season still has us hustling and bustling. Busy busy busy seems to be the key phrase in our life! Briona's sixth birthday came and went, and as usual I was in a bit of a funk for the weekend, but have faith that someday I will be reunited with my baby. Ricky's football season is over. They don't have playoffs in his league, thank goodness, or else we'd have two boys in the playoffs! Noah's team has done really well, and Noah is now playing nose guard. He continues to amaze me with his perseverance. He just keeps getting better and better. The last four games he's gotten his name announced as either assisting with, or making tackles! He's also doing great in school. I'm so proud of my oldest boy. He's in this picture...#4.

Matthew has adjusted well to the full day school schedule. He loves preschool in the morning with Mrs. Bowen and Mrs. Eyeball (okay...it's Arbaugh, but try and convince Matthew of that!) he thinks he's pulling one over on them because he comes home every day and tells us "We didn't even have to do any work!" but truth be told, he is used to Ms. Debra and doing LOTS of work! He of course still worships the ground Ms. Debra walks on, and is a little worried about going to kindergarten and NOT being in her class anymore. He's decided he wants to be in the Montessori room next year. Mostly because of the rats! They have four pet rats, and the teacher lets Matthew come in every day and feed them. She's also been giving him lessons, so he's been getting into their materials as well, and loving it. It will be a far cry from what we're used to, but I think Matthew is driven to succeed, and will do well.Ricky continues to be the Ricky that you all know and love! Full of spunk, individuality, and a bit of sass. Good thing he's such a mama's boy! It saves him many a day! It's hard to get mad when he turns on those big blues and starts to explain himself. Sometimes it's hard not to just laugh. His most recent stunt involves large "gold" jewelery with a dollar sign on it, (bling he calls it) and his school picture. To his credit, he asked if he could wear it, and my answer was "We are going to give these pictures out to Grandma Lucy and in Christmas cards...is that what you want everyone to see?" I guess his answer was yes. I haven't gotten his pictures yet, but I'll post them as soon as they come. :) The girls are quickly coming up to their 3rd birthday. Still as different as night and day. Clara has become a dance class drop out, but Ruby continues to LOVE LOVE LOVE dance class. We took the littles to the pumpkin patch today, and had a nice family day, sans the big boys. They, for the second year in a row ditched us! Actually they were at a birthday party, so we just had fun picking out pumpkins for them!

Above is a rare picture of Clara smiling. She spotted a cow, and said "Cows my favorite!"

And here perhaps is one of the only photos I ever appear in with my kids!

I'll post Halloween pictures this weekend.

God is good. All the time.

Better than Saturday Night Live....

This video makes me laugh. I had to share. Matthew thinks it's the greatest.

We're still in the midst of football, and now it's getting cold. I blame myself. Last week I said to another football mom "I thought you said we would freeze during football...I keep getting sunburned!" Fast forward to now...my butt cheeks frozen to metal bleachers... I know...it's not a pretty picture, even in your imagination!

The girls didn't have dance class this week, so it remains to be seen if Clara will decide to cooperate. She says she will, but I'll believe it when I see it!

Hope all is well in the lives of my few (but loyal) readers. :)

God is good. All the time.

Ballerina Girl....and her sister!

The girls had their first dance class today. Parents are not allowed to watch, so at the end of class when all the girls came marching out. Ruby exclaimed "Dat was AWESOME! I yuv dance class!" Her teacher said she was "Fabulous!" It was a very proud mommy moment.

Clara on the other hand, came slinking out of the room after a couple of minutes had passed and she was sure she wouldn't have to go back in the room. She couldn't wait to get her Crocs back on and get the heck out of Dodge. She says it was too loud, and she is too little, and she did not like it. At least she was in the room...two other little girls just cried in the hallway for 45 minutes as their mothers begged and pleaded for them to go in and join the class!
Hopefully she will get tired of sitting in the corner and doing nothing, and join in the fun in the next couple of weeks. Worse case scenario, I pay money for her to sit in the corner for a year. At least she'll get a cute costume out of the deal.

We have football tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to snap a few pictures of the boys in action. My camera is so slow to actually take the picture, I've only managed to get their cleats and butts. Not something I care to post on a public blog.

God is good. All the time.

Who Rocks the House??

The Braves Rock the House!!

Football season is officially under way!

So far both of the boy's teams are 1-1. Ricky and Noah got their first taste of playing this last week, and are both looking forward to the next game. Noah plays defensive end, and Ricky is playing center. I can't believe how much fun I am having watching them play!!

I promise to take better pictures of them at the next game. I was just too excited about how cute Matthew and Ruby looked in their fan wear. :) Clara has a cheerleader uniform too, but she refused to wear it and wore (surprise) her light up pink princess clothes instead.

God is good. All the time.

We're back!! Now when do I get a vacation???

Disney World was according to my children "awesome", which means I have done my job well. :) Brian and I on the other hand are exhausted. So I am now wondering....when do I get a vacation???? I know, I know, when I retire....right?? Even if I'm wrong, let me live in ignorance for the next 22 odd years until I get there. :)


Pictures speak a thousand words, and if I haven't made it clear already, I am tired...so here in a picture fest is our vacation... :)


Ricky showing how happy he is to be at Disney World...

Help! A shark ate my boys!!

Matthew staring as Sleeping Beauty's prince!! (What a cute couple!)Noah preparing for Driver's Ed...(according to him, he is an excellent driver)

Light Weights!!! (Ha!)

Quality Dad time...except for Ricky...too busy trying to catch lizards..... Mama's boys...yes I am aware that I have several chins...did I mention I'm thinking of starting weight watchers soon??

The whole family (minus the girls)....at Hollywood Studios....

My girls....at home...not at Disney World....

Don't you just love hand me down clothes? My girls were soooo happy to get a bag full from cousin Bella! Ruby couldn't wait to put on some new duds, and ALL of the baggy full of "pretties" in her hair!

That's all for now, I'll post more Disney pics as I unwind and get the time.

God is good. All the time.

And the Winner is...!!!

I guess in blogland I would be considered a blog loser. I do not have people begging me to post helpful hints, or bits of witticism. I'm thinking it may this way since I have no helpful hints, and am not nearly as witty as I would like to think. My blog is basically just bits and pieces of my crazy life, and the occasional rant. Even my enticing offer of a Webkinz could not convince a very long list of comment leavers. However, to be true to my word...we had a drawing here!




First we wrote down the names of the lucky comment leavers....
Then we folded them and threw them into a bowl... Next I asked Matthew to put the bowl on his head...

Matthew was confused...so Ricky filled inAnd pulled out the lucky winner of a new white mouse lil' kinz!!!

Yea Heather! I'll get that little white mouse out to you at our next 1/2 friend/sisterly sis convention!

Thank you for your lovely comments!!!

God is good. All the time.

Happy Birthday Ricky!

It's hard to believe the my once tiny ten pound eight ounce baby boy is now a baseball slingin' football playing, grown up steak eatin' seven year old. We had a Chuck E. Cheese party for friends on Sunday, and today we went to the sprinkler park in Canton, and out to dinner. Ricky picked Lone Star...and insisted on ordering a "grown up" steak. He ate it ALL and his salad, and his potato...maybe football isn't such a good idea after all!

In honor of his birthday, here are the top seven things I love about Ricky...

1. His beautiful blue eyes.

2. His tender heart.

3. His laugh.

4. His ability to make friends wherever he goes.

5. He is so very smart!

6. The way he still plays with his hair when he's tired.

7. The fact that he is still my snuggle bug...as long as his friends aren't looking!

I could go on and on, but the fact of the matter is that I think that I am one of the luckiest moms in the world to be blessed with such a wonderful son.

Happy birthday kiddo!!