Battel Family

Just a few

2011-04-04T16:48:00.000-07:00

Just a few pictures to prove we are still alive....

happy turkey day!

2010-11-27T12:23:00.001-08:00

ella's a whole hand!

2010-11-07T19:09:00.001-08:00

She is five now! Today was her party-- It was a huge success! A friend came a took some pretty amazing pictures-- but here are a few for the time being! Love every giggle and squeal from 16 precious little girls. One rule for a dance birthday party-- NO BOYS! She got her wish and really it was wonderful! Thanks for all that came and helped!

Life as WE know it...

2010-09-26T13:30:00.001-07:00

There are a few things that Chris and I know to be true-
1- People love to tell US what they think of how we live
2- People have not ONE problem expressing their disapproval of the way we live
3- Our kids are amazing
4- Our kids are what make us a family
5- With or without money, jobs, careers, fancy cars, big houses, or nice furniture.... I love my life

We've had a very different summer this year- but we have made it to fall, we still love each other, and we are blessed beyond words.
Kara Battel

Baby Birdies

2010-09-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

This is just one set of the 6 sets of baby birds we had living on the porch this summer!

South Holston Lake-

2010-09-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

We spent many days at the lake this summer- the kids loved it! No toys- just water, sticks, rocks, and the dogs! It was wonderful!

Kelsey and Ella 6/2010

2010-09-26T11:11:00.001-07:00

6/10

2010-09-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

Some of my summer memories

2010-09-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

IMG00155-20100819-1557.jpg

2010-09-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

My hazardous working conditions! Don't worry- its just mud. But still pretty nasty!

soccer head

2010-09-26T11:04:00.001-07:00

My soccer player :)

just a few changes going on....

2010-06-29T19:08:00.001-07:00

2010-05-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

i haven't posted anything since gracie passed away. things around this house have been a little more than crazy, hectic, out of control, life altering, life changing, big decision making, or out of my hands kind of crazy. we are busy... really busy... way too busy!

there are things going on in our lives that have made us question things, analyze things, and prepare for things.

losing gracie was honestly, the most difficult thing that chris and i have had to do together since we have been married. she was such a gigantic part of our journey as a couple. we learned and grew so much from having her in our lives. we are forever grateful for her, loving her, and having her teach us how to love and live.

mourning gracie has been much more difficult than we ever could have realized. with ella and fisher's questions about where she is, how she is, what is left of her, what it means to "go to heaven", or what star in the sky she is-- talking about her daily, thanking God for her every morning, lunch, and dinner-- and in evening prayers is a constant reminder of her absence in our home. on the deck the other night, we were lotioning up, and putting on pj's -- enjoying the cool air- and fisher starts to yell at the stars-- "come back gracie! i love you! i miss you! come back!!!" oh, the tears that i fought back were like a flood breaking through a dam. horrible- to know that i cannot ease the missing, and longing for our sweet dog back- just tears me up to no end.

chris and i have our own ways of dealing with loss, change, and grief. i am from a long line of "carpet sweepers" where we just keep moving on- moving forward. chris is from "shut--downers" unable to live life "normally" until the pain/hurt/loss is gone. our two styles don't exactly mix well... or for that matter co-exist. we have made huge progress since she's been gone- but the first couple of weeks were really difficult.

we put gracie down on a wednesday. chris and i had a huge discussion about what life is like without gracie. as well as the thought of bringing in a new dog to the family. my thought was that we gave gracie an amazing life... as she did for us. when people pass away-- the thought of doing what "they would have wanted" kept crossing my mind. what would gracie want us to do?? and seeing as she was a found/pound/mut/mix of a dog... in my mind the best way to honor her is to adopt a new member into our family. chris and i promised to look at the shelters the next morning. it would be a suprise for the kids, and for us-- so saturday morning we took off to the shelters and found this sweet little angel...

introducing... lucy grace battel

she is a hound/rotti mix. at the time of adoption, she was 12 weeks old. the kids were thrilled! chris fell in love, and i felt like i had started to mend the hole that was left by gracie. bubba and the kids are adjusting to her well. she has already grown so much since we've had her. she was about 15lbs when we adopted her, and in less than a month she has grown to 22 lbs! we are going to have quite a big girl on our hands.

as well as gaining a new member into our family- our friends have been going through some struggles as well. our neighbors son (payton) spent 9 days in the hospital due to a septic hip- we gained molly (his sister/ella's bff) for several days and night throughout the process. he had a very traumatic experience and it was extremely rare- however, he is almost at full recovery and doing so much better!

as i have posted before about some of my struggles with staying home, or returning to work... we got the call that chris's company will be laying off half of the sales force on june 7th. we have been through two rounds of lay-offs before this... and we survived. for some reason-- i keep thinking that third time's a charm?!? we will be fine no matter what happens. chris hasn't been happy working for them for quite some time. change is hard for chris. to leave a great paying job with excellent benefits is a risk/change that he will have to be "forced" out of-

so in the meantime i started looking around for jobs for me. i don't have plans to return to teaching anytime soon. and, well, june isn't when schools are hiring. so, i looked at the hospitals around here-- thinking something part time/ clerical. something to ease the financial pressure off of chris some. we have been so lucky and fortunate that i have been able to stay at home for the past 4 1/2 years with me doing some contract auditing of pharma companies/reps. i got a call from a sister of a friend of mine- who works in HR and wanted to let me know of a better job that was full time at our new "green" hospital. i applied, took several HR tests, prayed, cried, paniced, stress, and didn't hear anything for a few weeks. last tuesday i got the call that they wanted to hire me. start date-- june 7th. the day that chris will find out what his fate will be, i will start my very own new job.

i have mixed emotions about the entire process. we have so many things to consider with the kids, dogs, schedules, house, housework, etc... it will be an entire new world for our family to have me working.

option A- chris keeps his job
option B- chris loses his job
option C- chris keeps his job and i start working and kids to day care
option D- chris loses his job and i start working and kids stay home with chris until he finds something else

and off of all these options we have all these details to consider as well. it's crazy stress! but realizing that none of this is in our hands... has been the biggest comfort in it all.

we have also had to lend a hand with our other neighbor who after several weeks of not feeling well after giving birth to her daughter-- had a complication during a DNC which ended up with her needing a blood transfusion and a night in the hospital. we assumed responsibility for her 2 year old and 7 week old for 8 hours. 8 hours doesn't sound like much... but we had a 4 year old, 2 1/2 year old, 2 year old, 7 week old, bubba the grumpy old dog, lucy the puppy, lunch time, nap time, snack time, play time, bottle time, dinner time, bath time, bottle time, and exhaustion time.

mother's day was wonderful and simple and amazing. we skipped church and headed with the dogs to steel's creek park in bristol. it wasn't busy and the weather was perfect. little on the cool side which make park walking all the better. we walked about 4 miles with the dogs and kids... no stroller -- and took our time. forgot about schedules, naps, lunch, and just enjoyed the excitement of the kids and dogs. no phones, computers, or technology. just the 6 of us.

the pictures thoughout the post are from that day. i adore my husband and the many gifts that he doesn't even know he gives me. our children are perfect. healthy, curious, and energized. i love every square inch of our family.

i couldn't be luckier than i am to have chris as my husband. there isn't a day that goes by where i don't thank God for him. through the trials, life altering moments, we are here together.

we don't plan on having more children. our two are just what i've always wanted. ella is so unique and smart, loving, girly, and just like chris. fisher is outgoing, social, a little wreckless, and all boy. he loves his momma- i worry about him when i do return to work. he doesn't adjust well to change-- (that's chris' issue- not mine;)

we have dealt with change in the past, rough times, fights, illness, and loss- all of these things are life- and that is fine. we are learning to communicate better though all of this. expectations, demands, friends, family, all of it-- we are learning and growing.

our kids have finished their first year of preschool- i have NO pictures from their program-- but it was about as sweet as it could be. my parents made in to town for the night and attended the program, i fought back tears-- mom let them run free :)

this weekend is another hectic crazy one-- my middle brother jaime is getting married. ella and my niece taylor are in the wedding. we will be heading into roanoke on friday morning and the wedding is sunday. pictures and family drama to follow.

our sweet and amazing gracie-

2010-04-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

yesterday was the hardest thing that i have ever had to do- we had to put gracie to sleep yesterday. to type this is difficult. gracie had torn her ACL last year while chasing a tennis ball. she seemed to deal with is okay- a little hobbl-y but, she was managing. she is pretty overweight and older- so surgery wasn't really an option. the night before last- she was outside and a stray dog walked past- and she started to run toward the dog- and fell to the ground. she has torn her other ACL-

so, yesterday we decided after much discussion, tears, sobs, and heartbreak that we would put her to sleep. the vet believes that she had "cushins disease" which is a softening of the joints, causes a pot belly, and some other issues that i honestly don't remember at the moment. the process to heal and rehab would be long and extensive, and this would most likely continue to happen to her. she would have issues for the rest of her life and would never be able to walk, chase a tennis ball, go for a long walk, ride the jet-ski, or be able to go up or down stairs.

it was horrible. the kids and chris are taking it very hard. i know that it was the best decision for her. the last thing i would want for gracie is to live in pain, or miss out on living!

gracie was a wonderful dog- she was the sweetest dog that i have ever known. she has given our family such a book of memories- she has been a part of our family since she was 5 weeks old and lived such an amazing life. my brother said yesterday- "well, kara- she died fat and happy- and thats the way to go!" and i had to laugh- gracie loved her food!

she will be missed so much--- we loved our gracie and will be thinking of you forever!

Why not????

2010-04-12T13:16:00.001-07:00

When it is this pretty outside- why not go for a little dip???

My 'twins'

2010-04-12T13:04:00.001-07:00

Today we have molly as our third little girl, her brother is in the hospital with an infection in his hip. So, off to the park we went! Its such wonderful warm weather this week! Pray for her brother please- he is not doing well- I will keep posting, but very worried about the infection.

Pompus grass after-

2010-04-10T13:38:00.001-07:00

Ella's new garden- birdbath and house- and whirly-gigs!

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Pompus grass be gone!

2010-04-10T13:37:00.001-07:00

Before-

Redneck land!

2010-04-10T13:36:00.001-07:00

We burned our neighbors ottoman- we are very much of the neck of reds decent ;)

Waiting at the doctor...

2010-04-01T11:42:00.001-07:00

Praying its not strep :(

okay... it's almost april

2010-03-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

the past few years march hasn't been all that friendly to the lisle (my real-birth) family- a few years ago my cousin's husband died from a heart attack- then last year jarron had his horrible accident...

march has troubling weather, a lull in the sports season, and usually i am at wits end with the kids indoors and i start craving summer time food- which means that i start hating cooking winter foods!

i made a few march resolutions- i love trying to better myself, take stock of current events, and figure out how to better our lives as a whole in the family. i do feel as though i am the CEO/CFO of this house. i KNOW without me running full tilt-- this family doesn't work! and during march (starting in february) i start feeling the pressures of the winter blues-- and i also get glimpses of spring/summer and i feel that i can do better for my family- than i do in the feb/march months.

so, with march almost behind me, and my sister's birthday uneventful (that is the date of jarron's accident) i feel that with april will come blue skies and butterflies!

welp, here are my april resolutions

- get those 17 pounds off by june (last month it was 20)
- get outdoors with the kids as often as i can
- get my mental health in check-- winter blues do a number on me
- get my house in order (we've been doing several "projects" around the house that need the loose ends tied up)
- plan some events in advance- i am a notorious putter offer-- i wait till birthdays are here, babies are here, holidays are here... without a lot of prep work- then i stress out and end up dissapointed in myself for not being more in the moment)
- remember that i have to take time for just chris and i-- this is the hardest because we are usually with our friends/neighbors/kids and there isn't enough time for us to remember why we fell in love with each other in the first place. i take him for granted and i need to do more for him to remind him that i am head over heels in love with him-- even 10 1/2 years later

hope that everyone had a wonderful march and onto april!

happy birthday to my sweetest sister!

2010-03-29T13:58:00.001-07:00

my sweet little sister is turning 24 today! and i couldn't do a post without mentioning her!

kelsey and i are 5 years apart- we shared a room together growing up- and a bathroom-
we have lived together, we have partied together, been in each others weddings, and thrown a few parties together. we have cried together, leaned on each other, been so damn pissed at each other... uh- i couldn't imagine my life without her in it. i have mothered her, been really mean to her, yelled and cussed at her-- but i adore her!

my husband and kids think that kelsey hung the stars and moon- she is an amazing aunt to my kids, best friend to my husband and all around amazing woman. she is the bravest person that i know-

my sister is my saving grace- i know there isn't a month (hint hint) that goes by that i don't have some major meltdown that she doesn't pull me out of-

she is my inspiration to be better to my family, kids, and husband

she is caring and compassionate

she is hilarious-

she is unselfish and important.

if there is anyone else in the WORLD that i could be like -- it's her.

i talk to her everysingleday! and my day isn't complete without a good morning text.

happy birthday kelsey! i love you!

let me catch you up...

2010-03-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

we love hanging out with our kids. i know it's corny- but seriously- they are hilarious! fisher and ella are almost close enough in age that i could consider them to be twins. fisher keeps me hopping with his constant "dangerous" energy- and well ella is a bit of a daddy's girl that "discusses everything at length"- both of which- i adore!

we have a "cult" of neighbors (as our outsider friends refer to them) that we see almost daily- really you could probably blend us all into one house and it would work- our kids all compliment each others personalities and they are really great friends. we couldn't live the lives that we live without each other- i am so grateful to have an amazing support group of girlfriends and neighbors that i love and adore. so, with that written- we have a new addition to our "cult" --- paige was born last wednesday night and she has made it back home already.

we are so ready for warmer weather so we can get her out of the house and "play" or pass her around. it's been a little while since we've had a baby in the circle.

but, first, the pictures to start are from our "friday night dance party" we go down in the basement and throw all of the pillows off the couch-- and let the kids jump and dance till they start getting whiny (and sometimes a little hurt) but not too bad ;)

molly, fisher, and ella tore it up! ella's dance moves are really coming along-- chris puts on some (old) music-- usually with questionable lyrics-- that will have to change soon- but they had a ball! and i think that we (as parents) forget how much fun it is to just let loose and have a good time. we are so worried about letting them play with the "right" toys or the "most educational" or get them to bed "right on schedule" and don't give them a day off from being kids.

so- we gave our kids the night off- and look how much fun they had! i really have about 50 of the same pictures-- all of them smiling, laughing, and really enjoying being a kid!

and now to miss. paige- she is seriously the tiniest baby i have ever held! she is 6lbs 3 oz-

ella is so thrilled to have a "girl baby" born! she has been a big helper to jenn and shawn (at least i hope) by wanting to hold her, rock her, and one day maybe "babysit" her :)

i took the kids to visit them in the hospital- here are a few of my favorite pictures. welcome miss paige!

going racin'

2010-03-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

We are very fortunate (yes, i know i wrote fortunate) to live near the bristol motor speedway. it's one of the main attractions going around here! Chris has been going to the races for about 28 years now- hasn't missed a race since he moved here. (it's kinda his claim to fame) i used to go and camp with him, some friends, and my brother- and i started opting out when i got pregnant with ella- and i haven't been back.

however- since fisher is SUCH a boy- chris has been dying to take him to the track- for something.and last friday when the race was in town- we took the kids to qualifying- it was really a great day with the weather being so beautiful and because it is just qualifying- there weren't tons of people there. we parked with the campers (our friends from roanoke)and walked to the track. here is our awesome visit in pictures!

enjoying the weather (and some sweet videos)

2010-03-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

we are currently having typical tennessee march weather- rain and cold, sun and heat- there is no such thing as the 60's-- we are hot or cold- windy or not- that is it- so, in spite of that- we are staying outside- we are dressing for the weather- day by day :) my sweet children have had wayyyy to much indoor time! here's to spring! we live in a cul-de-sac- which i just LOVE! and we are so thankful for our little bitty sweet circle of friends and their kids that we could easily take in as our own- molly girl has appeared on my blog since it's debut- and here she is puddle jumping with my babies! the pictures are from the birthday party when the weather was just superb! we actually had TWO days of sun and warmth- today we are having nasty rainy COLD weather!
ella's video- i wish that i had more video of my kids- tonnnnnnnnssssss of pictures- but not many videos! well, here's to a march resolution!
i know that ella's is 2 seconds- and again- i know-- i will take more video!

carla's birhday party

2010-03-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

happy 6th birthday to my sweet neice Carla Ann- we haven't lived this close to family EVER! we are so thrilled that they have moved back to the area and seem to be here to stay forever!:) we have missed out on 5 birthday's with this cutie and we are not planning on missing more!

we live about 3 hours from our families and it is always hard for birthday's to make it to the parties! the kids were thrilled to be with their cousins and the weather couldn't have been better! chris was at the race that afternoon- so we were without him for the evening--

it was great to be with family on such a special occasion! happy birthday sweet girl!!!

i am trying to upload some video-- we will see! testing one two three!

The menu this week

2010-03-22T05:25:00.001-07:00

Monday- grilled chicken and broc salad
Tuesday- meatloaf and mashed potatoes
Wednesday- spaghetti and salad
Thursday- breakfast
Friday- homemade pizzas
Saturday- surf and turf- crab legs and steaks

Now- to the grocery store I go!

just so you know...

2010-03-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

i will...
- be losing 20 pounds before june 1 (2.5 months- totally do-able)
- be running in the mornings (as soon as the morning temp is 45 or higher)
- be making dinner everynight of the week except 1
- keeping up with my laundry- one load at a time (or, er... day)
- picking 1 room in the house daily to clean really really well
- seeing some babies (2 to be exact- that don't belong to me)
- be outside
- redecorating my house- one room at a time

i will not...
- be worried about my weight
- pleasing everyone
- yelling at my children
- picking myself apart
- be on my blackberry on the weekends
- be on my blackberry in my car
- hit the snooze button

thanks-- just so you know :)

Wanna play!?

2010-03-13T05:10:00.001-08:00

So, who could turn this football player down?!?

the redos... continued...

2010-03-11T18:23:00.000-08:00

so, it started with a little bit of trim that i wanted put up in our bathroom-- just to see what we could do...

while at lowes- (picking up the trim) i needed a can of spray paint for a bench that sits on our front porch- that is where i found the Rustoleum product for the countertops-- while the lovely associate was tinting my countertop coating he invited ella back to watch him put the color in... she turns her head as soon as the paint tint went in-- he then decided to "mess up" a can so that she could watch again. so, i suggested that he tint in "under the sea" since that was the paint color that ella had decided to paint her room.

so, we left with trim, countertop coating, and paint for ella's room. 3 projects for the price of 1/2 of one! whoohoo!

so, we painted the countertops on sunday- and the only big drawback is that they have to sit for 3 days with nothing touching them. so, while those were in the process of drying- i decided to prime ella's walls and clean the carpets while they were at school. low and behold her carpet was N-A-S-T-Y! OH MY! i couldn't handle it! i won't even go into how gross it really was--

so.... my neighbor had just bought some flooring from lumber liquidators (really cheap) and i got online and looked up what we could do. ella and fisher's rooms are really small, so i found some, picked up the kids from preschool and took off to asheville, north carolina to pick up some flooring for the kids rooms. i have to brag and tell ya' i didn't spend half of what i thought i would have on CARPET! i bought some really beautiful dark cherry laminate flooring- it already had the padding attached! so, all we needed to do was rip up the carpet and get the prep work started!

we painted ella's room last night (with the kids assistance) and it looks soooo pretty so far! i cannot wait to see it when the floor goes down tomorrow!!! and i will post pics as soon as the room is complete!

Cope

2010-03-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

I am hanging on by a thread- or er a drink :) here lately its been vodka, soda, ice and a few limes- bring on spring!!

Painted countertops

2010-03-11T06:59:00.000-08:00

Into the home spring refreshing- we "painted" the countertops!

They look so much better than the green!! Only cost 20 bucks, we will see how they hold up- rustoleum countertop coating.

our weekend visitors

2010-03-10T19:03:00.000-08:00

all of the neices and nephews-
laura, elaina, carla, ella, fisher, and andrew

this is emmie and i dancing on the counters to "soul sister" by train --

this weekend we had some extra special visitors- our neices laura and elaina came to stay with us! thanks girls for all of your help and we loved having you here with us!!!!

i make damn good chocolate chip cookies....

2010-03-10T18:58:00.000-08:00

eating cookie dough

my cookie making buddies

i am a cookie making fool- chocolate chip cookies to be exact. i know the recipe by heart, and i know that mine are the BEST!

i used to only use a handmixer- until my wonderful husband got me the big ol' stand mixer for christmas! now, it's much easier to let the kids help me make them- ella is my official egg cracker and fisher unwraps the butter- the rest is easy as pie!

now, my cookies aren't anything fancy- it's the recipe from the back of the nestle toll house bag-

so, enjoy!

HAPPY MARCH

2010-03-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

It is finally March. We have survived the dreaded February! I woke to snow filled lawns this morning... but it's all good-- it is MARCH! Now, March brings several exciting things- daylight savings, my nieces birthday, my sister's birthday, spring, and of course one month closer to SUMMERTIME!

To update from previous posts- I am still following up on some jobs- I do think that I am ready to go back to work- but I don't want to teach again.

My mom fell last night while walking the dogs- my sister in law took her to the er because she thought that she'd broke her wrists. (she didn't) But, there has been an appointment made for her at the Center for Healthy Aging-- we are hopeful that this will answer some questions that we have, some concerns, some treatment options for her.

I still have some reservations about how I am feeling about all of these things- but I can say that God is good and there have been some amazing prayers answered for both Chris and I. I appreciate all the support that we have been given as of lately- Chris and I are so blessed with the families and friends that surround us.

On a lighter note- we did watch the USA lose to rival Canada-- I didn't mind much, nor did I really watch the game- I did however attend the festivities! I am so glad that the Olympics are over- I think it is cool and fun and go USA but stop messing with my regularly scheduled programs!

There are a few things that I am hoping for during the month of March-
1- warm weather
2- some energy to enter my body so that I can keep up with this house
3- well children (fisher is on breathing treatments and an antibiotic at the present time- due to a chesty cough and some congestion-- ella is also participating the the breathing treatments-- but if they feel better- I'm all for it!)
4- less snow- more school
5- some scheduling/organizing/routine

I plan on also-
1- reading books
2- cooking most/every dinner
3- couponing
4- re-decorating some parts of the house
5- and planning on warm weather to get outside and get some good ol' vitamin D!

Happy March again to everyone! Cannot wait for April!

Clean room time

2010-03-02T12:03:00.001-08:00

Chris was an AMAZING husband this past weekend-- he willingly took our sweet little angels to his parents on Saturday morning so that I could clean, attend a baby shower, and have a stress free bunko night with some very special ladies. All, without worrying about kids, naptimes, dinners, bath time, bed time, etc. I couldn't have needed a day break more!

So, while he was gone- I cleaned some of the house-- not all (laundry is still a work in progress) but I took a picture to send to Chris to prove that I was being produtive (and not sleeping my day away) and as I looked at this picture I realized how sweet and cute my little Fisher's room is! I love his room. It took us a while to realize what we wanted to do with his room, and even after 2+ years- I haven't changed much about it- and I am a serial re-arranger!

I just wanted to share a bit of our little house of love and remember how calm his room always looks. If ever I need a little piece of serenity- I always go to Fisher's room and take a seat and breathe.

Diaper cake 101

2010-03-02T12:02:00.001-08:00

A dear friend of mine is expecting her third baby. THREE BABIES! Her first two are the most precious little girl (twins) that I have ever seen! Her suprise shower thrown by her sister in law was this past weekend-- and I am not an excellent gift giver- and coming up with creative gifts is not my specialty...

My neighbor suggested that we make a diaper cake- now, I have never made one, nor seen one, nor received one- but this I couldn't turn down- over a couple of drinks jess and I created this masterpiece! it's not the best quality photo- but you can see what fun we had!

My girlfriend received three of these things at her shower (which cracked me up to no end) but ours was the best :)

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willing spring time

2010-02-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

we here in the battel house are willing springtime to come, and come quickly! ella wore this to school today- so stinkin cute! the skirt is from old navy (it was less than 10 bucks) and we got it in two colors.

fisher has worn shorts everyday since saturday (when it was still technically too cold for shorts) and he wore them to school today- with snow boots ("uh, momma!? it's ah'snowing-- i need my boots") whatever weirdo :) i forgot to grab a quick picture of him! honestly he looked adorable-

and the cookies were essential to this snowy day-- seriously- we had more snow this morning! so, we made springtime cookies! (the kind that you make with a cake mix- oh so delish) well, here's to springtime coming soon!

our date night with the kids

2010-02-25T12:37:00.001-08:00

wednesday

2010-02-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

i felt strange all day knowing what i had posted about my mom. i don't know how much more i will blog about it- i have some very strong feelings and opinions about what is going on with her- and it might just get too heavy for a blog. but thank you so much for all those that responded and reached out and are now praying for my mom and my family. you have no idea how amazing that feels!

i didn't know what to think this morning when i realized that my dad and some other family members will/might be reading it- but, maybe through this we will all open up more about it. my sister and i have both been going though some of the same feelings about what is going on within our family. it is scary and weird and all a little hard to deal with.

so... to change the mood that i put myself in, i pulled my babies close to me and snuggled in the bed. we watched a movie, let them eat lunch on the countertop, didn't shower until 3 pm today, just tried to wrap my head around what i was feeling. i applied for some jobs- which, we will see what happens with that- putting that endevor in God's hands- i know that there is a plan, there is a solution, and it is out of my hands. i will do all that i am able to on the job hunt- and there will be peace within me.

we also went on our first "wednesday family date" which, i am thinking of making a bi-weekly event. we went to a local sandwich shop- i ate a salad that was fantastic- and then went bowling. it was the kids very first time and they did WONDERFUL! so much fun to see them do something new. i almost broke 100-- but didn't happen- i actually almost beat chris, but my two final gutterballs put that dream to rest.

i know that i have to take some time to find out what i want. what i need. and what my family needs. i don't want to do what everyone else is doing. i want to do what is perfect for our family. we are tied to so many people that are so much alike us- that we have built a common relationship, schedule, and community. it is wonderful and very needed. i just need to spend more time focusing on MY family before i go helping anyone elses.

i don't want to feel like i have missed out on anything- that is my biggest problem and fear. i love being involved in everything! i love to be in the "know" and not on the outs. that is what i am going to fast from. make it a goal to get out of everyone's business, and tend to my own.

so, with the struggles still looming from last night, i am calling it an early night, going to bed with a huge amount of hope and prayer. i know that the answers will come to me-- it will just not be on my time-- i'm sure of that. my time is fast and faster- now and before now. i will have to learn some patience and relax.

thank you again for the support and prayers.

struggles

2010-02-23T18:43:00.000-08:00

i don't quite know where this post is going. i've imagined this blog being about the kids, adventures, everyday accomplishments and the like. however, lately- mostly today, i find myself struggling with some decisions that i've made. in the big picture, it's nothing... but in my day to day- they seem huge. i don't want to pretend all the time that things are fantastic and wonderful- and i'm not complaining- just thinking on the blog i guess... so, here it goes...

- to work or not work - it's the question. i love that the past 4 years i have been able to stay at home with ella and fisher. my kids mean more to me that i could even/ever imagine. i didn't want to be a "working mom" from the second that i had ella- it just wasn't in the cards for us- and chris was amazingly supportive. we've given up so much for me to stay at home with them- newish cars, trips, better clothes, shoes, new floors, huge playsets, fancy pictures, and dinners out. i've been committed to raising our kids. we both felt like without family around it would be better for "our family" for me to stay at home. but, now that they are older and wanting to do more-- should i be working?? should i work to that we would have more money in savings, a huge playset, a minivan, dinners out, new/fancy clothes, trips to relatives, better christmas gifts for family?? is daycare worth all of those things???

- my mom - we have found out that my mom has alzeheimers. i haven't blogged about it- i'm still pretty iffy about writing much. my mom has been through so much lately- and really for so long... i just don't know what all to say- i adore her, and miss her, and want her back. i'm so angry that it is happening to her- she is so young and is missing out on so much- my kids are missing out on her- i am missing out on her- my sister is missing out- and mostly- my dad. my heart breaks more for him than for anyone else. i love my dad so much- and i miss him too- i worry about what he thinks of her, what she is like with him, i wonder if he is as mad as i am about this. oh- it's too much.

- weight - oh what a weighty issue! i feel like i'm never going to be the perfect size that i want to be in my head- i have no idea how to be a skinny girl-- we are going to give the ol' p90x a go again- this time we are going to do more of the meal plan, 3 weeks of lower carb stuff- quitting the junk, etc. i will see what all this does- i guess you really have to make a "lifestyle" change- ha- with two kids running around me- cutting out the junk and my favorite-- sam's club take and bake pizzas is going to be sooooo hard for chris and i! but being healthier for my kids is more important to me now - than its ever been. i want to be here, be around, and be present in their lives. which brings me to...

- the clean house - why oh why is it so hard for me to keep a house clean!? my kids aren't sloppy- chris and i aren't sloppy, heck- our dogs aren't even sloppy-- but man- our house is! i have accepted that the main decor in our house is primary colored toys, barbies, army men, tiny shoes, panties and underwear, and dog hair- but really- every time i turn around the laundry is piled up and every room in the house is a wreck! a system is much needed! but, i swear i have ADD- especially when it comes to cleaning! i start on one thing- and in seconds i've moved to something else!

- fitting in - i love people, i am social, outgoing, and love a great party- but "fitting in" was always so important to me. i'm giving it up. going cold "fitting in" turkey. i don't care anymore- we aren't flashy, fancy, or elaborate. we are plain, dirty, and full of kids. we have "get togethers/parties" almost every weekend with neighbors and friends. our lives are full and rich in support. our children have amazing buddies-- we are so thankful for all that we have in our lives. but to fit in with everyone-- again... is going out the window. i saw on another blog that she was giving up facebook- or fasting from it- and i thought for a while- well, that is one fantastic idea! giving up what i'm doing/what you're doing/ what you think of my photos/ etc. doesn't sound that bad to me. it's all a part of fitting in.

ramble ramble- blah blah- i needed to get it out- to whomever that reads- thanks :)

Watch Full Episodes Online - The Bachelor - ABC.com

2010-02-22T18:21:00.001-08:00

cannot wait for this! whoohoo! it’s almost over!

Watch Full Episodes Online - The Bachelor - ABC.com

what a busy weekend!

2010-02-22T17:41:00.000-08:00

We had such a busy and fun weekend. It started with this sweet little face that I have come to love just like my own kids. Molly girl is one of the funniest kids I have ever met- straight shooter and just plain beautiful! We celebrated her 4th birthday this weekend at her grandparents home-- it alone is stunning-- add a few pretty girls and handsome boys- you've got yourself a party! The pics through this post are all out of order- but I'll walk you through them.

Holy-Moly we had SUNSHINE this weekend! whooohooo! The boys did a number playing outside! I don't think that I said a word to Fisher the entire time he played-- he was so focused and played with those trucks like it was his job- gotta love boys!

Is this not the most beautiful boy you've ever seen! He is our Godson Ty- and we were so lucky to have them stop by for a little while on Sunday- We have been playing "sick kid avoido" since he has been born... with the swine flu, pneumonia, strep, bronchitis, colds, fevers, we have tried to avoid him at all costs-- till the sun came out!!! He was such a great baby- so sweet and even though it took the kids a bit to warm up to him... they finally did- so cute! And, to know that these kids are going to grow up together means so much to Chris and I both!

fisher and his "mad halo/gun fighter" face-- ready to take off and put on a show for beau and Kendra

the cute boys and ella-- awww we are so blessed and lucky to have such beautiful, smart, and healthy--

me and my precious Godson- we just might have the cutest one ever!

ella enjoying the trampoline-- OUTSIDE! our kids have been going CRAZY being inside due to this crazy winter weather we've been having!

molly's birthday cake- yup- i did it :)

who wouldn't kiss this face????

speaking of cute faces-- just needed to add in my dear sweet nephew weiss-- i give my sister a difficult time about how "cute" he is-- a face only my sister and brother-in-law could love- love you sister and thanks-- for everything (wink wink)

a couple of things..

2010-02-18T17:12:00.000-08:00

looking over my blog (which is mostly about my kids) i realized that i haven't posted enough lately about ella. ella is growing up so quickly and i know that i cannot stop/slow it down... but man i miss her being really little! she is a coloring fool- the girl could color all day and night if i let her! i will post some pics of her coloring- so, here at the superbowl "get together" she was coloring her valentine box for school. super cute!

i am not a huge sports fan- i love that sports exist, i just don't find that i am a "follower" of many sports. i'm not the girl in the crowd that -loves the game- by no means! but on superbowl night i wore the only thing i own that is "superbowl" related... a shirt with a fleur d'lie (if that's even how you spell it) and low and behold the saints win! *** it was because of the shirt- i know)

my 'nastics gal- she loves a great trampoline! we go to open gym at least once a week in the winter -- we are in serious need of some vitamin D soon! i feel like we haven't seen the sun in FOREVER!

a little announcement

2010-02-18T17:09:00.000-08:00

men and women.... i have a new computer! a netbook to be exact. and i could not be more thrilled! thank you, thank you, thank you! i have dealt with the slowest computer of all time... and it has gone on to live in a better place! best buy had a trade in program-- and honey, it's been traded!

i have a few pictures to upload and a couple of events to post about-- soon! now that i have speed!!! and i can skype! i have a built in web cam! whoohoo! and i am soooo pumped!

have a fantastic friday and weekend!

Ella's loves

2010-02-14T17:11:00.001-08:00

Here are a few of ella's loves this Valentines day!

Haha!

2010-02-11T09:02:00.001-08:00

He has been wearing them all morning! Whoop whoop!

How sweet!

2010-02-10T13:43:00.001-08:00

This is how I found fisher's bed after his nap- he got out of bed with such little damage! How sweeeeeet! He must have slept so snug!

I think we are over the snow!

2010-02-10T06:50:00.001-08:00

This is where I found him- I think we need some serious vit. D!!!

Poor guy :( laying in the kitchen floor!

biggest loser

2010-02-09T18:42:00.000-08:00

i don't love the olympics. call me un-american, but i really don't "love" them. i think that it's cool and interesting-- but, again... i don't love them. however, seeing them on the biggest loser- pretty dang cool!

i wanna work out with olypic athletes! and jillian is getting on my nerves- just a side note :)

Cheeze

2010-02-08T05:41:00.001-08:00

Good morning everyone! Have a fantastic monday!

Good morning!

2010-02-08T05:39:00.001-08:00

Happy Monday morning!

Making some progress

2010-02-05T22:05:00.001-08:00

What to do?

2010-02-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

I have got to slipcover these nasty "couch and chair" but what color and where do I even find "nice" slipcovers?

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friday thoughts

2010-02-05T10:40:00.000-08:00

i am learning that i have a bit of an obsession problem- i start to like something and obsess over it until- poof- the obsession is O-V-E-R! done, final, whatever.

so, here is what i have been obsessing over lately-

- caesar salads
- chips and salsa-- seriously the addiction to chips and salsa is unreal!
- redo my interiors-- all of them-- if we had more money of course :)
- the office (but that obsession doesn't really go away)
- my bed being made up first thing in the morning! (my dogs feel the need to hibernate in it while we aren't in the house- and i hate dog hair in my sheets)

i think that is about all at the moment-- but it's enough to throw some issues into my perfectly "normal" mind :)

happy friday!

Lounging at the gym

2010-02-05T10:17:00.001-08:00

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Mohawk-- take 2

2010-02-01T18:51:00.003-08:00

here's another shot of the faux-mo-hawk
(it's faux because it doesn't go all the way down the back of his head-- just the top -- does that make it better???)

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A baby mohawk

2010-02-01T18:51:00.001-08:00

fisher got his hair cut again-- this time i think we have hit the nail on the head with a haircut that matches his personality perfectly!!!!

he has now... the faux-mo-hawk :)

and the little punk looks adorable!

... just kidding

2010-02-01T18:10:00.000-08:00

my kids are out of school tomorrow... again i HATE FEBRUARY!

February love

2010-02-01T18:09:00.001-08:00

--february--

2010-02-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

my love/hate relationship continues... with the horrid month of february!

there are so many wonderful things about this month--
- chris' birthday
- valentines day
- it's the shortest month of the year
- it's a pink/red/purple love month
- it puts us one month closer to march and march = spring

but for some reason- i HATE february! i get in a funk and stay in a funk! i gain about 100 pounds in february! and it is so COLD in february!

but, i will try to love you. really i will try.

so, HAPPY FEBRUARY EVERYONE!

Our snow group

2010-01-31T10:30:00.003-08:00

Fisher and payton

2010-01-31T10:30:00.001-08:00

SNOW SNOW AND MORE SNOW!

2010-01-31T10:29:00.001-08:00

this is my dear sweet and amazing husbands "good idea" of keeping his "drinks" cold and ready for him during the "day of play" in the snow!

we all went out around 10:00am to play, and the kids did really well in the 6-8 inches we had... we were expecting about a foot (so i was really dissapointed) but the kids did so well, and any more snow would have been too much!

* just had to give chris a little love for his cool- cooler of snow :) love you darlin'

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Possible new bff

2010-01-28T14:47:00.001-08:00

So, I just rented my first movie from "the red box"- my sister keeps talking about it and finally I did it! Chris is gone again for the evening and with the snow approaching- no time like the present right?

So with scooby do in hand and pizzas in the oven, I got a date with my 2 favorite kids ;) and they are excellent movie watchers!

Alright... pizza, movie, heating blanket, king size bed, two dogs, and two kids (and maybe a glass o wine for me) I'm planning on an excellent evening!

Thanks to you sister and red box!

My taco soup creation!

2010-01-27T10:48:00.001-08:00

I made some chicken tacos for dinner last night- nobody was in the mood, so I created taco soup today for lunch (never done that before) and oh my its sooooo good! And I am awfully proud of my creative cooking!

My painted cabinets

2010-01-26T16:06:00.001-08:00

This has been a project since we moved in (4 years ago) our master bath cabinets irked me- so, oil based primed- painted white, and now this really cool shade of brown/bronze! Love it- and I love our bathroom again!

Sick kids :(

2010-01-26T06:49:00.001-08:00

Poor pitiful kids- stomach bug has now hit each of us- why can't this be me?

roanoke trip

2010-01-25T19:01:00.000-08:00

ella with coal the puppy-- jaime let us "puppysit" for a while-- which trilled ella to no end! we have recently found two different puppies that we have found new homes for-- we don't need 3 dogs! so, getting to puppysit for a while was all we needed to remind us that puppies are cutest when they go home to someone else!

ella and jarron's lovers spat. i know that ella adores jarron-- and jarron knows the exact buttons to push-- super cute! she was sooo mad at him! and i have no idea why!

gracie and coal playing-- big momma needs a puppy to play with!

fisher and jase-- how stinkin' cute! they would be soooo much trouble if we lived closer to them!

make-up-- nuff said!

the trip started out pretty slow. i had been sick all monday morning with a stomach bug-- praying that the kids didn't get it, and chris was already gone to new orleans for a business trip-- i had to get out of my house, i was sick, exhausted, tired, blahhhhh! so going on with my plans to roanoke was the only option!

me, kelsey, and sister in law denise- but denise has been around us forEVER! so, she might as well be a sister too! we took the kids, mom and jarron to carvins cove (roanoke's resevoir) for a picnic in january-- it was FREEZING! but the kids and mom seemed to really enjoy themselves. there aren't tons of opportunities that the four kids and mom all get together. so this trip was too perfect for getting them all together!

the kids all ADORE mom and jarron- i love that our kids have a great "fun" uncle. the uncle that is for playing ONLY! and jarron fits the bill perfectly! jarron does an amazing job teasing them, pestering them, and loving them... thanks for being so amazing to our kids!

i took the kids to roanoke last week for a visit with mom and dad- jarron's last couple of days before he went back to california and kelsey was meeting us there of course. it's easier to plan visits when we can meet at the same time- instead of her driving 5 1/2 hours to me, or me to her.

Mondays

2010-01-25T10:02:00.000-08:00

Dear monday:
My love hate relationship with you continues. I love that you always show up on time, are consistant, and start each week with gusto!
However, you take my husband away from me, usually come with ugly weather, and put an end to my weekend jig.
But then again, you also give me a day to recoup from my weekend, do laundry, allow my children to lay around and be kids. So, honestly- I just don't know what to do with you!

**** and you do provide the bachelor- I just might like you more than I realize ****

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Fisher's best friend

2010-01-24T18:48:00.001-08:00

How cute sharing a seat!?

Somethings I'm learning...

2010-01-24T18:46:00.001-08:00

- I need to do 1 load of laundry a day- at least
- fisher just might be the cutest and smartest and sneaky-est kids around
- I want to re-do my home- top to bottom
- I love my home
- ella is the sweetest when she is sick
- I am right where I am supposed to be
- I am crazy about my family

Noah's Ark Day

2010-01-21T09:16:00.001-08:00

So, the trip to roanoke was really great- time with dad, mom, kels, denise, jarron, jase, taylor, and my great aunt lucielle. Fun fun times!

I did return home to listen to the message on the answering machine- noah's ark day- dress like your favorite animal! Uh- I've got two grumpy, sleepy, mad, sad kiddos. So, ella wore a cow skirt- and fisher, I was at a total loss!

But, a great neighbor came to the rescue! Egg crates and a green shirt! Presto turtle! The front is an old pillow case circa- 1963 and his hat has rolled up socks with black dots on them- he was sooooo stinkin proud! And thrilled! Love it! And I love my hot glue gun that made it all possible!

IMG00053-20100121-0918.jpg

2010-01-21T09:10:00.003-08:00

The front-

Here's my turtle!

2010-01-21T09:10:00.001-08:00

Noah's Ark Day at school!

Made it to roanoke!

2010-01-19T04:41:00.001-08:00

We are in roanoke for the next two days- this should be lots of fun!

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IMG00030-20100115-1630.jpg

2010-01-16T16:00:00.001-08:00

we finally made it out of the house-- the only time in the month of january that we have left is to run to the car-- that's it. even with the dusting of snow that we got (a couple of dustings) we have remained indoors due to the 3-15 degree weather. but yesterday was AMAZING for us!

we went outside to PLAY! we brought out bikes, ride-on toys, basketballs, kickballs, baseball, bats, and t's-- i loved getting a small dose of vitamin d- while the kids just wanted to go back inside. ;( but, needless to say- i made them stay outside for well over an hour and they finally adjusted to it-- they have been awfully cramped up- cooped up- pent up- etc...

so, we made it out! i loved it- ella and fisher will take some getting used to it-- ella kept saying "i just wanna swim!" so... come on summer!!!!

breakfast in bed

2010-01-16T15:58:00.001-08:00

let me begin this post with two words "MY ella"

ella requested on her own last night that chris bring her "breakfast in bed" complete with cinnamon rolls, milk, and a tv for her room...

she did get two of the requests, cinnamon rolls and milk- that's it- no tv in bedrooms-- i am a firm believer in that for sure!

anyway-- fisher and ella both got breakfast in her bed-- then i called in the cleaning crew :) bubba and gracie- fantastic job!

a dream i had...

2010-01-15T10:37:00.000-08:00

i have been having some pretty crazy dreams lately. i blame it on not being able to sleep all that well- anyway- i dreamed last night that i was in my Nana's house. Nana has been gone for well over 13 years now... but i was in her house like it was my own. walking around, remembering the colors of the walls, the carpet, touching things, the deck, the yard, the dip in the backyard that lined the pine trees... all of it. i remember the soap, where the washing machine was, i could even smell what the rooms used to smell like. (nana's room to me always smelled like secret spray deodorant) and i loved every second of it. i didn't want to wake up. i remember also dreaming that i would want to write about it on the blog. weird i know. but the house was empty and i was going to be moving into it with my family. i was really excited about it too because nana's house has four bedrooms-- mine only has three. the downstairs had an amazing bar area that could hide toys, books, and games. the backyard is big enough that the kids could play and we could fence it in for the dogs... it was so nice to remember all of these things. i know that my mom would love that i was thinking about nana and her house. we spent so much time growing up there... it was a wonderful walk down memory lane for me.

i miss my nana-- as well as all my grandparents that i have lost. but my nana was someone that i really wanted to be like-- and for a little girl to wish that she was a 70+ year old lady i think is a bit odd. but, she was classy, her purse always matched her shoes, her hair was always perfect, house clean, beds made, and i don't think that i ever saw her mad. what an amazing person to be around. she had the most beautiful roses in her garden, and she drove a Delta 88-- ugliest car that i can remember :)

thanks for the dream and having a night to remember her- and all of the things that made her wonderful-

Kiffin

2010-01-13T06:32:00.001-08:00

Dear coach kiffin,
I don't really know who you are or what you really do... But since your announcement my husband hasn't got off the phone. Football (at least college) is supposed to be over, I would like my husband back.
Thanks,
Kara

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VID 00020.3GP

2010-01-12T09:17:00.001-08:00

Ella's moves

VID 00003.3GP

2010-01-12T09:16:00.001-08:00

Fisher's flying leap

VID 00000-20100112-1214

2010-01-12T09:15:00.001-08:00

Fisher winking

i know it's alot in one day...

2010-01-11T18:23:00.000-08:00

fisher has become a "little man" over that past few months... he's a bit crazy/insane/full of motion... he's ALL BOY! that's to say the least!

i have come to love him more than i ever expected. he is sweet and cute and mine all mine :) i love talking to him in the mornings-- he is a morning person! watching him grow and change and move and run and leap and skip and gallop and again... he is ALL BOY!

my little lady is growing up so fast. it makes me so sad to think that she is already four! FOUR! time flies... i know that everyone has said that and i never understood that until lately. she says the sweetest things-- with a flair of attitude-- i don't know where she would get that from??!!

okay, so missing in action doesn't even explain where i've been... i swear it has been so important to make it through the day, that blogging hasn't even been on the radar. the kids have kept me so busy that we've missed a lot on the blog. but i promise to be back in action-- i love blogging. i love telling little family stories. i haven't done very well with keeping a baby book-- AT ALL so this was supposed to be my little baby book of our lives-

so to catch up-- it is 2010 and my kids will be 3 and 5 this year. chris and i will have been dating/together/married for over 11 years! our dogs will be 8 years old! what????!!!! we will have been living in tennessee for 4 years in march-- oh my! it's crazy what this year will bring! so here's to it! can't wait to see what's going to happen!

thanks for all that might stop by and take in a tiny bit of "battel family"

IMG00022-20100111-1944.jpg

2010-01-11T16:45:00.001-08:00

Ella's favorite thing to do now, color! And she slept in braids last night... Hence the curly-crimpy hair!

IMG00233.jpg

2010-01-11T12:20:00.001-08:00

New boots for the first snow

alrighty now...

2010-01-11T12:17:00.000-08:00

so i think that i have my "phone blogging" working! i hope that it's really going to work, because i really do miss blogging. the kids are changing so much, we have lots going on, and i miss having a few minutes to remember it all! so, here is to hoping that the blogging will start up again! happy 2010! cannot wait to see what is happening this year!

some new year's resolutions for me...

- drink one glass of wine a day-- at least one, no more than 2 :)
- lose some weight... gracie and i both
- learn how to do some redecorating/remodeling around the house

last year was so hectic, traumatic, exciting, and fun that i really hated to miss out on blogging about most, if not all of it! i love that we have really put down some roots around the area, we have real friends, our kids are in school, i've had the same audits for three years now... it is amazing how much times have changed!

i promise to keep blogging, and sending at least one picture a day to the blog-- that way we can go through all this together! yeah!!!! blogging is back!

Fw: IMG00019-20100108-1847.jpg

2010-01-11T12:14:00.001-08:00

This picture cracks me up!!!!

new year 11 days in...

2010-01-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

is it possible for me to get this blog back up and running again???? i think about it all the time, i have tried several times to get it back on track... but it always gets lost in the shuffle of my day.
so i am going to try to start some mobile blogging-- really hope that helps me, since getting on the computer is much more difficult than picking up my phone! so give me a few minutes and lets see what i can get done!

kara

2010-01-11T12:01:00.001-08:00

Testing

booo hooo hooo

2009-11-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

oh my blog has been so forgotten about! it makes me so sad to look back and see how much i haven't posted about!

we had a busy busy summer and so much has been going on and happening that it really makes my head spin.

my computer is going extra-special slow these days and it has taken soo much time that i end up getting frustrated and walking away from the whole thing.

and... i have been facebooking... it's addictive and i am starting to not like it. this is much better, story telling, remembering the cute things that have gone on... oh, i miss those with facebook. and because i don't get to catch up with everyone on a daily basis... i don't get to tell you about them all.

our kids are growing up so fast that it's scary. ella just turned 4! four, four! i cannot wrap my head around that at all! it's scary! fisher is crazy as usual, he moves 100 times faster than i ever could. he gets himself into such crazy situations...

i am really wanting to do better with my blogging... i really need a new computer... but really that just ain't in the picture right now. the kids are now going to school two days a week, and they LOVE it! and so do i! it's actually been really nice seeing how much they have learned in such a short amount of time.

we really keep busy for kids not being in "real school" and not playing "real sports" and with "real social lives"... but in our preschool world... we are crazy busy!

ella started soccer this year. it is a riot! 3, 4, & 5 year olds (we are actually having a banquet tomorrow) they had a pretty rough season, but each player really had a great time... ella scored several goals and most of them were for the other team! but really, lots of fun (3 days a week) and fisher will play next year... he really wanted to this year, and was as big as a few players, but really- he needs a year!

here are a few of the pictures to catch you up to speed!

our trip to alabama

**** this was our first trip without the kids... EVER **** chris' parents offered to keep the kids for the weekend that we were going, and it worked out beautifully! we had a great time with the best people that we have ever met! i loved getting away with just chris, riding in a car without answering TONS of questions, or getting kicked, hit, flying objects, etc! it was a totally wonderful weekend!

**** AND TO DEBRA... THIS IS ALL FOR YOU! I DON'T EVEN GET TO CHECK MY EMAIL ANYMORE! I MISSED YOU GUYS LAST TRIP INTO ROANOKE, BUT PLEASE KNOW, THERE IS AN OPEN INVITE FOR YOU ANY WEEKEND! OR WEEK DAY FOR THAT MATTER! ****

the dentist and ella

2009-08-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

so, today was ella's first dentist appointment. ( i know, she should have already gone... but i let my fears of the dentist overwhelm my parental duties) i have been talking about the dentist FOREVER with her in hopes to keep the fears at bay. well, today was the day! i was really considering not taking her this morning... but, i was responsible, mature, and did the right thing... we went. we went, got lost, were 45 minutes late, i have angry tears and everything! I WAS THAT MOM! i called and called and called the office but the phone was busy... the ordeal that it became was very unpleasant!

but, we made it FINALLY! in the waiting room she looked at me with the quiver lip and said i don't want to go back there...

i know that it is better in these situations to not baby her and push her on to do the "mature, big girl" thing, and that is just what i did. and she went back when they called her name, came out in 15 minutes or less.... grinning ear to ear with her "new teeth" and jumping saying "NO CAVITIES, NO CAVITIES!"

sidenote, i thought for sure that she would have 30! but, none! i couldn't be prouder, more excited, or blessed that this child has nothing but great teeth!

and to my lacey... i have even been flossing those chompers (on them both)

** when fisher goes... they will have to use restraints! we have to headlock that boy to get his teeth brushed every night and morning! **

all for now! have a great afternoon!

we're getting close!

2009-08-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

on august 10 chris and i will celebrate our 7th anniversary! i am really excited, moreso because on august 29 we will be celebrating 10 years of knowing, dating, engaging, married life!

i think back on when i met him (i was all of 18) and how much we have grown, changed, stayed the same, moved, grooved, shaked, ate, drank, babied, and lived... i never thought that this is what my life would be like and i couldn't imagine my life any other way. chris and i have learned so much about life (and still so much to learn) but i couldn't be happier or more blessed in life that to be living life with him.

have a great wednesday and thanks for coming back to my posts!

long time gone...

2009-08-04T18:59:00.000-07:00

we have been so busy and my computer has been acting up so much, that blogging has become a thing of the past. we have gone back to cable internet this week, and things seem to be moving faster than before... time will tell :)

so, june flew by! we went to the beach with my parents, jarron, and kelsey and jopo for the weekend-- i turned 28, fished like crazy, swam and played so much that we cannot wait to go again!

july was quick too... really too quick. 4th of july, fisher's birthday, visitors, and a quick trip from jarron and joey-- seriously we are spinning!

now, it's august! really august! i cannot believe that we are more than half way through this year! it was last year that i started this blog, jarron went to california for school, kelsey got married-- and now-- well i gues there is a phrase that sums it up! oh the places we will go!

we are lovin the cooler summer and have really stayed busy just within our little neighborhood-- we never have a "quiet night" which is something that we LOVE!

we are approaching the "preschool years" and ella is going to start soccer this fall... we cannot wait for that to happen!

here is a picture tour of the last month and some from the beach trip! thanks to all who keep up with my page... i swear i will do better! hoping that my computer doesn't die!

bunnies

2009-07-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

molly got two bunnies. here is the proof. they are not ours. they do not have long to live... as a matter of fact the black one has already gone to heaven... it was replaced by two more bunnies. again... they do not live here.

ella's ballet recital

2009-07-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

ella had her first ballet recital in june. it was really just the cutest thing that i ever could have seen!

chris and i were so proud of her and her 1:30 dance... i was seriously "that mom" with a few tears running down my cheek!

when their curtain came up she and the rest of them froze waved and grinned... they didn't do but the last 15 seconds of their dance!

it was so sweet!

my little ballerina was so pretty and i couldn't have had a better time!

overcast

2009-07-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

today is slightly overcast... which in the land of nod my kids take extra good naps!

went down at 1:30... still asleep at 4:38pm--

some might ask just what do i do with all that time?
- put away 3 loads of laundry (chris and i)
- cleaned out my dresser drawers
- started another load of laundry
- cleaned kitchen
- took a shower
- and now... blogged

can't ever complain about a partly sunny day :)

tractor time

2009-06-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

we've got great neighbors... really nice, friendly, awesome neighbors...

look how happy my kids are! all from a riding lawn mower!

fantastic!

and the picture is ella's person! i love when kids draw like this... makes me think she is quite the little artist!

where have i been?

2009-06-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

i cannot believe that it has been sooo long since i posted! again! sorry to mike and charligne!

okay... so here is what is going on!

i have been helping out our neighbors (jess and jason) by keeping their kids a couple times a week. i've only done it four times now... but they are doing great! ella loves having molly girl here... ALL DAY! it's like a daytime slumber party!

and payton who is 6 has entertained fisher more than i ever thought possible!

i'm not going to lie to ya... it's hard work having 4 kids under my care... but, they are all really doing well! i made a mini water park one of the days that they were here... it was crazy, hot, fun, and a lot of wet kiddie! they all seemed to really enjoy it, pizza was ordered after and i needed a big ol' glass of wine--

the start of something special

2009-06-05T10:52:00.001-07:00

cornhole... it is not what exactly what you think of when you hear the name...

it sounds gross and horrible... but, it's not.

it is the obsession sweeping the southeast. and our neighborhood.

chris got cornhole boards for christmas in 2007... he had played with some of his friends before requesting some of his own. in march 2008 he and our neighbors started playing every single weekend. it became an obsession...

now, it's a gang.

our new neighbors next door (just renters until their house is finished being built) are also cornhole players. back in late april they came over for a dark party. we all got along really well and they are great people. and the husband is a sh*t talker just like chris and our neighbor jason. our new neighbor husband (jeff) and his brother in law belong to the Boone Lake Mafia (BLM) it sounds like a fraterity for lake goers... they wear t-shirts and hats, have stickers on their cars supporting the BLM. well, last thursday jason (who works night shift) took the night off to start the weekend cornhole throwing early. the rivalry began. we live in the subdivision Crystal Springs... so, now jason and my husband are the founding members of the Crystal Springs Mafia (CSM)

chris and jason started their sh*t talking with the BLM and the rivalry formed and the obnoxioushness as well. chris and jason needed tshirts made... fast. so, being the handygirlywhirly that i am, i got to it. jason is an overhand thrower, so his shirt reads "death from above" and chris' says " king cornholio"

jeff put a sign in his front yard saturday morning stating "tonight, the professional BLM -vs- the ameature CSM" chris later went and spray painted over it CSM 4 Life-

it's obnoxious, hilarious, and ridiculus.

as for the game... the CSM won... they have not yet released their summer schedule... but for those wanting to attend-- i will post about where to purchase tickets in advance.