The McKenna's

A Movie.

2012-01-20T23:12:00.001-05:00

About 43 seconds in the baby starts scratching her nose and you can see her cute little fingers!!!

The Baby.......

2012-01-20T21:55:00.013-05:00

is a GIRL!!!

This week has been a crazy up and down week! I have been so set that this baby was a boy and I was ok with that. This week however, my attitude had changed and I was starting to get really sad about it being another boy and kept thinking I would be heartbroken if it wasn't a girl. Of course I would still love the baby even if it's a boy, but it would take time to wrap my head around it.

We got to the ultrasound way early today. They told us they would record a little of the baby if we had a dvd so Dave ran to the store to buy one. While I was sitting alone I got emotional and felt it was going to be a girl. I told Dave and then I said I'm sure it's not going to happen and I'm just being crazy.

The baby had her legs crossed almost the whole time. The tech kept kind of hitting my belly trying to get her to uncross them. Then........ I saw it. I saw the girl parts and started to cry while saying, "it's a girl isn't it?" The tech then assured me, yes, it's a girl! I asked her if she was 100% sure and she told me they can't say 100%. She said, "I will tell you this. If it isn't a girl you need to come back to me and tell me so I can figure out WHY it's not a girl!" To me that was her way of saying 100% without saying it out right!

As with dates and all my babies dates being off, the dates have been further along the last two ultrasounds. The last one was a few days further, but today the babies size was 9 days further along. I might talk to the doctor next time seeing if they'll move the dates. 9 days seems like a lot to me! Especially when our babies come fast and they won't let me go full term.

Needless to say, we are beyond EXCITED! I almost still don't believe it! It will be all new territory, but I'm very thankful for the awaiting adventure!!!

The Argument.

2012-01-11T19:33:00.000-05:00

Today I had an argument with Porter. He was insistent that the baby was in his tummy. I finally got him to accept that the baby was in my belly and he started whining and was doing his own made up sign to hold the baby. I told him that he couldn't hold the baby until it came out. The next thing I know, Porter has his face close to my belly and yells, "baby come!" It was super cute that he wants the baby out. A few other times today he has said "baby out". I guess he knows what's going on! He might not remember tomorrow, but he'll figure it out for sure eventually!!!

The Fire.

2012-01-07T18:36:00.001-05:00

About 2:30 a.m. Friday morning I started hearing weird sirens outside. There is a road behind our house that emergency vehicles drive down so I just assumed that they were going elsewhere. Then I started seeing the lights. I looked out the window and saw tons of lights two buildings down from us. We know someone who lives down there and I worried about the woman and that something might be wrong with her. I ran outside without any shoes on or anything and couldn't tell which townhouse they were at, so I ran back in, grabbed a sweatshirt, my keys, my phone, and put on some flip flops and started down the street.

I got almost there before I started seeing smoke spilling out of windows on our side of the street. I was relieved that it wasn't our friend, but stayed out with some other neighbors watching as the firefighters entered a home and started breaking out windows with their hatchets. As I was coming out of our house they were hooking up their hose to the fire hydrant outside our place. I got there before they even started fighting the fire.

I talked to some neighbors who told me they heard lots of pounding and that's what woke them up to begin with. There was a young guy in the unit adjoined to the burning one who smelled smoke and saw the fire. He called 911 and then started banging on the mans door as loud as he could. It took almost five minutes for the man to open the door and when he did he had no skin on parts of his head, hands, legs, and feet. He was bleeding, but insisted he was fine and didn't need to leave his house. He stayed in the doorway until the paramedics got there and took him out of the house.

After about an hour I decided I needed to come inside. My childhood asthma is triggered with smoke and I had inhaled if for too long. I had started to cough and was worried about the baby and being too close the whole time I was out there. I was only about 20 ft away from the unit the fire was in. After I came in I couldn't fall asleep. There were lights flashing outside our windows. About 4:30, 6-7 firefighters came and unhooked the hose and were talking, their radios were up loud going off, and they were banging the hose on the ground while rolling it back up. At about 5:30 I thought I could still hear trucks out there, but when I came down at 7 and the noise was still outside I looked and it was a news crew parked outside our house.

The unit connected was unharmed. The woman and her son who live there are pretty traumatized by the event. I can't imagine when you are the ones who know there's a problem and working against the clock to try to save someone!

Little did I know that this fire would make national news or that we had a coach of an NFL team living close to us. When I saw his picture, I recognized his smile and realized that we went trick or treating at his house and he was giving out candy. He seemed very nice.

This is an article about it:http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CEoQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2Fnfl%2Fsteelers%2Fstory%2F2012-01-06%2Fkirby-wilson-house-fire%2F52413994%2F1&ei=NdIIT72nF8TW0QGIvMi_Ag&usg=AFQjCNEm7-wPdQuz5J4QWkTkGawDO1KTxA&sig2=8zKNQAMsmCql9OK-4Dfn-Q

From reading nienie dialogues, I know with up to 50% of his body being burned he has a LONG way to go for recovery. It will be trying and painful. He will most likely have to have surgery after surgery. Hopefully they won't keep him in a coma for 6 months like nienie was. We will keep him in our prayers and hope for a good recovery. Luckily he has a big team pulling for him and to support him through this horrible tragedy.

The Baby.

2012-01-07T18:14:00.001-05:00

I haven't said much about the baby this time so I thought I'd post a little! I had to have an ultrasound about 3 weeks ago because they couldn't find a heartbeat in the doctor's office. As soon as the lady put the ultrasound probe on my belly, all you see is a black hole and then a leg come out of nowhere and kick it. Then it returned back to a black hole for a minute until the lady started moving the probe around. I told her as soon as the baby kicked it you can stop it's obviously ok! What a relief!

I was worried that once I hit the 16 week mark, my contractions would start like they did with Porter. So far I haven't had that problem! My biggest problem is feeling gross whenever I move. I prefer to sit on the couch and not move. If I get moving around too much I get light headed and feel like I'm going to pass out. I'm beginning to think I don't want to go through this again! I love my kids, but each pregnancy gets more trying on me and I don't know if I could do it again! Obviously though I might change my mind in a few years when I haven't been pregnant for a while......

Two weeks and we get to find out what the baby is! I'm banking on it being a boy, but I guess I could be wrong! If it is a boy, I had to get all new clothes with Porter unfortunately the seasons are off so I still have to buy everything all new again.... If it's a girl, the girl clothes I've collected are the right season for this baby! It would be convenient. I don't have enough, but enough to get started at least!

Cole's Winter Party.....

2011-12-31T12:46:00.005-05:00

I planned Cole's Halloween and Winter parties in
his class. This one didn't go as well as the
Halloween party, but it went and the kids had fun.

We had snowmen on a stick for a snack, they played a Rudolph relay, decorated ornaments, read a story, and filled some large tubes with candy in a race.

Now...... it's time to start the planning for the Valentine's Day party. Last one of the year!!!

My Parents Visit .....

2011-12-31T12:37:00.005-05:00

My parents came to visit for a few days before Christmas. It was great to have them here! Porter was super excited! We opened my parents gifts while they were here. My mom made each of the boys a blanket, and they also made little picture books of times they've spent with the boys over the years. The boys loved it!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-31T12:27:00.005-05:00

This was our first Christmas in PA. It was very small and simple, but turned out good! The plus side of having a small Christmas is that there isn't much to clean up afterwards! We started the day going to church. The boys were pretty restless and not too happy that they had to wait until we got home to open presents, but they did fairly well! Here are a few pictures of the day!

Dave has been home since the Thursday before Christmas! It's been a nice break to all be home together. We hope you all enjoyed your holidays and that you have a great New Year! We look forward for what's to come!!!

Porter Turns Two!!!

2011-11-27T21:49:00.000-05:00

I can't believe our baby is two already!!! He's so fun to watch. He has a great personality and is changing so much every day! He really loves Elmo so I decided to make an Elmo cake. He's really into babies so we got him a baby doll for his birthday. He carries her everywhere! He takes her in the car, he takes off her clothes, he bounces her, pats her back, gives her kisses, pretends she's crying and happy, he even makes me hold her sometimes!

Flag Football......

2011-11-27T21:31:00.002-05:00

The fourth grade classes have a flag football tournament every year and Braxton got to play this year! It lasted for about two weeks. The first week for three days, two classes played each other. The next week the winners played each other until they were down to two teams. The two teams left in the game got to play a tournament game under the lights at a park in town. Braxton's team didn't win in their second game, but it was still fun to go and watch him play!!!

The man in this picture is Mr. P. He's Braxton's teacher and we really like him!

Carving Pumpkins......

2011-11-27T21:14:00.016-05:00

Our boys LOVE to carve pumpkins! It was pretty fun to do this year! I even carved one! This year was good, no one gagged while pulling out the guts! Our Halloween was cold and rainy so we didn't stay out too long!

Porter decided to put the guts back in!

Cole's pumpkin!

Braxton's pumpkin!

My sad attempt at a mummy!

Porter decided he didn't want to wear a costume!

Cole was Wolverine!

Braxton was a Woopie Cushion!

Braxton......

2011-11-27T20:41:00.001-05:00

is loving scouts and at the end of October received his wolf award!

My Weekend Getaway.....

2011-11-27T20:28:00.017-05:00

My sister Jen sent me an email around the beginning of October asking me if I wanted to go for a weekend to visit family in Lancaster, Pa. It's a little bit more than four hours from here and I hadn't been there since my grandma and aunt died four years ago.

We have a cousin named Dave who has been battling Mesothelioma. His doctor told him a while ago that he has beaten the odds already. He has lived longer than any of his doctors previous patients with the same disease. We know our days may be numbered and wanted to visit him while we could.

My sister drove here on a Thursday night and we left for our destination on Friday. When we arrived our cousin didn't have a good day and spent a few grueling hours at the hospital so we didn't get to see him that day. We hung out with our aunt (his mom) and went to visit another uncle before dinner.

We went to check into our hotel at 9 that night and when we got there they said they didn't have our reservation and that the hotel had been booked for months! We were stranded. We didn't know what to do or where to go. We sat outside the hotel long enough that the girls at the desk felt bad for us. They came out and told us they had a few late check outs and that normally they wouldn't rent out the rooms, but that they would go and clean one so we could have a place to stay. It ended up being a smokers room so we booked it out of there Saturday morning, but at least we had a place to stay!!! After we got settled we went down to the bar, got some cokes, and went back to our room. I've never gone away for a girls weekend and this was so fun!!!

Saturday morning we got out of the hotel, and a few blocks away was a restaurant called The Red Rose that my grandma was a waitress at for thirty years, so we went there for breakfast. I don't ever remember going there as a kid so if was fun! One of the owners was there and came and talked to us. He worked with our grandma for about ten years he said. I learned some crazy things about my grandma that day, but was so glad to share a piece of her that day!!!

When we left the restaurant we went to visit our cousin. It was so good to visit with him and his wife and our aunt! It had been way too long. It's so hard to see those you love suffering, but his spirits are so strong and it's amazing he hasn't let anything drag him down. He's a very special person and he has such a lasting impression on anyone who meets him!!! I am truly blessed to be part of his family!!!

After we were there for way too long we left so he could rest. We then went back to our uncles to visit him one last time and then we headed back for my house! There were some fun things that happened on the way home, but I'll keep those secret!!!

I'm so thankful that my sister allowed the opportunity to go and visit! It's a weekend I'll remember forever!

My Aunt Yvonne, my sister Jen, cousin Dave, and Me!

My sister Jen, cousin Dave, and Me.

Dave and his wife Fran.

My Aunt, cousin, and his wife.

I love my aunt she's funny!

My uncle Ronnie, cousin Anita, and me!

My sister, cousin, and uncle.

My sister, me, and our uncle.

Our uncle has suffered from Kennedy's Disease for at least a decade. We are truly grateful that he is still with us today also! It's always great to see them also! It had been way too long!

Just A Thought.....

2011-11-12T08:07:00.002-05:00

The other day I watched a show called Secretly Pregnant. There was a girl on there that didn't tell anyone she was pregnant because she had delivered a full term baby stillborn. When she posted about the loss on facebook, only 6 of her more than 300 friends made a comment. When I posted on facebook about it about a fourth of my friends commented and two people replied on here. I felt so bad for that girl because I think when someone is having a baby people should be excited! I would rather comment a million times when a friend is expecting than not say anything at all.

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words......

2011-11-08T21:06:00.003-05:00

I was searching for a picture tonight and came across this picture. It is the last picture I have of my Nan and I. I hadn't seen her in about two years. My aunt passed away and I went to Lancaster, PA for her funeral. I will always be glad that I went, I would never replace the last days I got to spend with Nan before she passed away three weeks later. I love them both so much. It is still not easy to think or talk about it, but I know that one day I will get to live with them again FOREVER and not just a little while!!!

2011-10-31T20:03:00.002-04:00

It's Official!

2011-10-24T10:49:00.004-04:00

We are adding an addition to our family, coming in June!!! We've got a while to wait, but I had an ultrasound last week and everything looks good. It's so amazing to watch your baby's heart beating before it even looks like a baby!

Porter.......

2011-10-03T15:35:00.004-04:00

This little guy will be two next month! :( Time is going by so quickly. He's not really a baby any more.... Any time he sees the camera lately he starts yelling cheese and grinning really big.

This was on the day school started!

These were on Cole's birthday!

This was this morning. I got the camera out to download pictures so I could blog. He insisted that I take a picture with him and Elmo!

He too is a handful! One night he was crying for a binkie in his bed and I went in to give him one and found him without a diaper on! That's the first time we'd ever dealt with that! He has succeeded in getting a childproof lid off of a bottle of teething tablets, knows how to unlock and open the sliding glass door, and can scream like no other!

He loves Elmo, binkies, anything sweet, his brothers, his trike, balls, taking off his clothes ( won't keep them on for anything ), and the newest thing he does is stick his fingers in his dirty diapers...... GROSS I know. We have to change it as soon as we see him go just to keep him out!

Lastly, he is obsessed with babies! Any time he sees one he freaks out and starts yelling for it and wants to hold it. He also can't tell the difference between a baby doll and a real baby. He holds the dolls just as nice and caring as he does the real thing!!!

Cole's 7th Birthday......

2011-10-03T15:04:00.006-04:00

Cole turned 7 last week! He too had two neighbors over. A little girl who just moved here from Utah not too long ago, and a little boy who just moved here from Nebraska. They both go to church with us and lucky for us they also live in the neighborhood!!! It was a school night so we just had them here for an hour.

Cole asked for a basketball cake. I'm trying to get better at risk taking I guess cause I stacked four cakes on top of each other and started carving. It's a pretty sad cake, but he was happy with it! Maybe one day I'll have better skills...

Cole can be a huge handful most of the time, but we sure love him too!!! The good days make all of the craziness worth it!!! Maybe someday he'll mellow out, but if not we'll still keep him!!!

The First Day of School......

2011-10-03T14:43:00.007-04:00

We were so excited for school to start! The summer was very L.O.N.G.!!! The boys were very bored and needed to get away from the house. I am excited that they get to make new friends and maybe be more happy here, although they haven't complained about it too much.

We headed off to the bus stop which was different from last year. It was on a curve, right next to the road, and people go pretty fast on it also. Twice while we were there the boys fought and pushed each other in the road. For whatever reason we were the ONLY ones at the bus stop that morning...... When we walked back to the house everyone else in our neighborhood was walking away from the stop we went to last year.

So, me being me, I was bugged and started trying to call the bus garage. The phones weren't working so I called the school. I got a dial tone when I called there also. This continued for almost an hour and I was really bugged by then! I should have been able to reach the school, my kids are there after all! So I DROVE to the school. The principal was helping kids into the school and I spoke with him for a minute. He was unaware that the phones weren't working. I went to the office to ask about the bus stop and why our boys were the only ones there while everyone else was at the other stop. The secretary looked in the computer and for whatever reason the bus garage put our boys at that busy, unsafe stop all by themselves! Everyone else indeed was to go to the other stop 500 ft or less away. She asked if I wanted to change to that stop. Well duh!!!

After that everything else has gone smoothly. I am in charge of the three classroom parties in Cole's class this year and it will be fun, but a challenge!!! They have VERY strict rules and I even have to turn in a permission slip and get it approved first. They can't have treats of any kind, they can only be healthy foods. Also the activities have to be approved. Also there are 5 passes to hand out and if you don't get a pass, you aren't allowed in the school!!! CRAZY huh???!!!

Braxton's teacher mentioned that I could come in each month and decorate the classroom's hall bulletin board also so we'll see if I decide I want that job or not!!!

Braxton Turns 9!

2011-10-03T11:18:00.011-04:00

Braxton turned 9 at the end of August. I can't believe I have a kid that old!!! It only means I'm getting older.... We started the day off with presents first. It was a Saturday and Dave spent all day helping some friends move. He came home about 1 and there were two boys coming over at 2 for cake and ice cream. I hadn't finished the cake yet, nor showered, nor cleaned up the mess.

Last year we ruined Braxton's birthday as it was the day we decided we had no other choice but to move in with Dave's parents for a while. We had a big party with lots of friends over, but he also cried a lot that day because we were going to leave 3 days later.

We haven't met very many people here yet, but Braxton asked if he could have two boys from church come. We were excited he wanted people to come over so we quickly agreed! He asked for a chocolate cake with strawberries in it and chocolate frosting.

His cake was everything he wanted, even though you can't see the chocolate frosting! I wanted to be able to decorate it still so I put a small layer of chocolate frosting underneath and decorated over it!!

All in all he had a fun day! We also let him pick out all of his meals which was exciting for him! We've been eating a lot of cheap stuff lately that they don't enjoy so I think he LOVED having stuff to eat where he loved it all!

We sure love Braxton!!! He's really struggled for the past year and still wants to move back to Centerville. I hope that someday he'll be able to move on and let go. In the mean time I hope that we can just make him as happy as possible without being there!!!

My Double Sided Banner....

2011-10-03T10:07:00.006-04:00

For the boys birthday's we decorate the house every year. They look forward to it and comment for days in advance that we'll decorate for them. Each year I find myself up until late hours of the night making a Happy Birthday sign. I decided I would make one that we could use every time and then I don't have to stay up for hours making new ones. It says Happy Birthday going along both sides. I'm pretty excited I'm already prepared for the next time!

Another Post.....

2011-09-18T18:59:00.004-04:00

I usually don't post much without pictures, but I decided I don't always have to have pictures to make a post! On Friday night we went with the boys to their school for a family movie night. It was on the ball field in the back of the school.

They hung a white tarp on a fence and projected a movie on it. The screen was small and the sound was way too loud, but it was fun! We got there a few minutes early and they had music playing and kids were running around playing. Ours were standing in front of the speakers dancing like crazy! Once it started, it got dark fast and pretty cold. They played the movie Rio. Porter fell asleep after a while and I just kept him wrapped up and close to keep him warm. After the movie was over we left and stopped at the store for hot cocoa mix and went home, had hot cocoa, and went to bed!

We had fun and are excited to go next year! We will be more prepared then with lawn chairs, sleeping bags, and treats. This time we just sat on the ground on a blanket and didn't bring any snacks!

Excited For Fall!

2011-09-09T20:20:00.017-04:00

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm so excited for fall!!! I can't wait for cooler temperatures and it also means the boys are back in school! I'm hoping I can finally get settled from the move. The last year has been a whirlwind and I'm looking forward to it maybe calming down.

Dave and I both took turns being sick for almost a month each and in separate months. Needless to say, our boys didn't have much excitement this summer. I did venture downtown with them by myself once. There were these free Friday activities in Market Square during the summer for kids. We went to The Bird Guy day. It was a free show, but the parking was $12 for less than two hours!

While we were on the drive there, the radio started talking about how at the Steelers Stadium that day there were American Idol auditions going on. I was worried it would be nuts down there, but it wasn't. Needless to say, we decided we would go and check it out. I found parking and it was cheap! Only $3 and we even found a spot! We got out and walked over and overlooked where everyone was waiting and people were coming out. There were some that were completely heartbroken and crying as they walked away. Braxton was worried that I would get arrested and they would get thrown in Juvie for being there. I tried to tell him it was a public place and we weren't causing problems so we'd be ok!

After that we walked across the street to the Ohio (I think....) River and watched the ferries and boats come through.

At the bird show.

After the show the bird guy let kids hold a few birds. He placed five birds on them if they would wait in line and hold still. The boys thought it was cool!

The American Idol hopefuls! There were more than 30,000 people there. This was just a small section!

The boats and ferries!

We were right next to the Carnagie Science Museum and this sub was in the water outside of it. It was kinda cool to look at!

Our Visit With the McKenna's!

2011-07-26T16:46:00.013-04:00

Dave's parents came out East for a family gathering in Nauvoo. They flew to Michigan, stayed with Dave's sister, went to Nauvoo, and then drove here with Dave's sister Bethany and her two little girls. They were here on a Friday afternoon and left Sunday early afternoon. It was a quick trip. On Saturday, there was a water main break in town so the ten of us had no running water for HOURS! We went to the pool for a swim. Afterwards, we can home, still no water, ate lunch, and went to see Cars 2. Pretty fun movie. Porter actually sat through most of it! Afterwards, we got pizza and went to a park to let the kids play! That pretty much sums up our visit!

Dave, His dad, Martha, and Cole.

I know, it's a "head shot," this is Braxton having fun!

Porter was a bench warmer, like with anything else that includes water (I sat out with him)....

Cole just taking a breather!

Dave.

Dave's dad and Martha.

Dave's sister Bethany, and youngest daughter Alina.

Dave's mom.

4th of July Festivities!

2011-07-12T12:02:00.043-04:00

We went to my parents house for the 4^th. We love being on the lake to watch fireworks and have a bonfire! We roasted hot dogs, bratwurst, and marshmallows! Our friend Robyn came to visit us and hang out for festivities also! My sister Jen and her family were there also!

My Aunt Josie makes donuts with all the kids. This is the first year my kids were here to help! They had a lot of fun!!!

My sister Jen and I.

Porter just hanging out!

The boys fishing with my dad!

My sister brought a few fireworks and sparklers to use at my parents house!

Every year the lake association has a boat parade. People decorate their boats and go around the lake in a line. The boats are judged and you can win prizes!

The fireworks!

Cole's Ocean Night at School!

2011-07-12T11:46:00.006-04:00

The last week of school there was an ocean night for Cole's class. They had been studying oceans and made lots of pictures and projects to decorate the hall with the ocean!

Here's his sea urchin.

The turtle.

The octopus.

The jellyfish.

Cole and his starfish.

Cole and his shark.

Last but not least, his rainbow fish!

This is his sweet teacher, Mrs. Follett. She was so nice to Cole and he never complained about her! She helped make the moving transition smooth for him!

Mother's Day!

2011-07-12T11:28:00.007-04:00

The kindergarten classes at Cole's school had a Mother's Day program right before Mother's Day weekend. They had prepared several songs to sing for their mothers that day!

After the program we went back to his classroom for treats and "tea" (we had pink lemonade. sweet tea is huge here and that was the other option.)

A few days before his teacher sent home a note for me to send in a picture of the two of us for something......

When we went back to his room this was displayed in the hall!

The Last Month....

2011-05-09T11:03:00.004-04:00

has been so busy! Last week I was sick and spent most of the time sitting on the couch or laying down. Unpacking has been quite the chore! Our movers made a huge mess of everything! In two boxes they put open bags of sugar, needless to say I spent a week at the kitchen sink washing all of our dishes because they were coated in sugar. In another box, they put an open box of pancake mix, it too was all over the other food contents of the box. I still have to deal with that one. We have been looking for our computer cord, printer cord, hard drive cord, and mouse for three weeks. We couldn't find them ANYWHERE!!! We'd gone through all the boxes with contents from the house over and over again with no luck. Finally, beyond frustrated, I opened a cardboard picture box one night and they had placed all of the missing items in it!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think I ever want anyone to move us again!!! I'd rather do it myself and know where everything is when I'm done.

It has been great for us to be back together as a family. We are adjusting well to Dave being home with us all the time! We miss people, but it's bearable most of the time. This morning when I woke up I was about to cry though. I miss my doctor who delivered Porter, I stressed out because I forgot to get a copy of Porter's immunizations before we left. I worried that it makes me the WORST mom in the world. I don't even know how to get it now that I'm gone. The last time I tried to get a copy the office I called told me I had to personally pick them up (not Uncle Russell's office).

We officially have PA driver's licenses, and are working on our title and car registration now. On Friday we will be able to complete it. That kind of stressed us out too. They told us if we had a hard time getting the title from our bank who has our auto loan, we might have to find a new lender here to get the registration done. For us, we have too much outstanding debt right now and that would be impossible. Luckily it worked out!!!

Slowly, but surely we are getting back to a normal life. My parents are coming for two days next week so I hope to be completely settled by then!!!

The New School!

2011-05-09T10:37:00.007-04:00

I feel bad that this is the SECOND new school this year for the boys. They seem to be adjusting well and the transition has gone pretty smooth. It makes me not want to move for a LONG time! We have moved six times in just under ten years.

The new school seems to be really good. They are in a lock down mode all the time. You can't get into the school unless you go through the office. None of the outside doors are unlocked. If you need to take anything to your child you have to sign in. There are drop off and pick up procedures that are strict. They have staff standing outside monitoring them. If not done properly, they approach your car and let you know. You can't pick up your kids at the end of the day without signing them out. EVEN WHEN school is over! You have to sign a sheet requesting them and they check your id to make sure they should be going with you. I thought it was a pain in the beginning, but I think it's a good way to keep kids safe. We live in a very safe area, but you never know. I guess one year they had a problem with a custody battle and since then they have become very protective.

When we were first here and in the hotel all the time, we would go to the park in the mornings to play. That is if it wasn't raining......it has rained most of our time here.

More To Come!

2011-04-08T20:28:00.010-04:00

I have way more to blog about, but.....Dave's computer has crashed twice since I've been trying to update. The last round I couldn't get the pictures up so rather than get frustrated I'm going to stop. Something I don't do easily. Usually I just keep trying, but its not worth it to me tonight! However, we are alive! Plugging away, trying to get in a groove if that's possible while living, yes living, in a hotel. One week left in this small room before we can get into our place!!! YAY!!!!

Porter's First Trip To Michigan!!!

2011-04-08T19:51:00.022-04:00

Yay!!!! It only took 17 months to get back with him, but on our way cross country we stopped to visit my family! After 3 LONG days of driving, we got to my parents at 9 p.m. last Tuesday. We decided to stay until Sunday so that we would be in a hotel for less time after making the rest of our journey to the new destination! We were able to see quite a few people! Still didn't get enough time, but it was good to be back.

Us & My Aunt Lorene!

Us & My Grandma Tomlin (my mom's mom)

Us & My Mom & My Grandma

Us & My Dad & My Grandma

Four Generations!

One cold, muddy day, we went to the park to play. Cole was off playing basketball with Cole and so there are no pictures of him....

"Oh no I fell in the mud!!!"

We can't get away without fishing! My dad had the boys practice casting in the front yard without any hooks until they got the hang of it!

Then it was time for the real deal!

There were 17 fish total when they were done!

Dave even had a go at it!!!

Well, even though short it was still fun! I didn't take any pictures, but we spent dinner one night at my sisters with her husband and two girls. My friend Robyn also drove to my parents for a day and it was fun to hang out with her!!!!

Kangaroo Zoo.....

2011-04-08T19:51:00.019-04:00

When we found out we were moving the boys and I went down to Centerville to play with a few friends. We ended up at Kangaroo Zoo and they all had a blast!

Aaron, Josh, Zakk, Logan, Cole, & Braxton!

Marissa & Paige!

Braxton & Logan!

They even had a clown that came in to do balloon animals while we were there!

A Few Other Good Friends...

2011-04-08T19:40:00.009-04:00

These two friends of Braxton's were really good friends! He really had a hard time when we moved in with Dave's parents because he was going to miss them. He truly has and there were some nights he cried because he wanted to go back.

Braxton & Sam

Braxton & Brian

One of the first things Braxton even said when we got to Pennsylvania was promise we'll move back next year...... probably not!

It's Way Past Official!!!

2011-03-22T21:58:00.002-04:00

I have yet to post the exciting event taking place on Saturday! We are leaving to start our journey for Pennsylvania! Dave got a job near Pittsburgh and starts there the beginning of April. We are going to make the 1900 mile drive and stop in Michigan for 2 days on the way.

So....if you haven't heard before now, now you know!!!

We will be in transition for a while also. The place we are renting won't be ready until the middle of April, so for about 2 weeks we are going to be in temporary housing until we can move in. Once we are settled and change the mail into our name I'll get the specifics out!

This Little Guy........

2011-03-03T13:02:00.008-05:00

is super cute.....

very daring.....

sometimes tired of errands.....

NEVER tired of bbq sauce.....

obsessed with suckers.....

and lately.....

JUST PLAIN MOODY!!!!!

Currently at 16 months he has four teeth coming in on the top, two of them are molars. He will cry for hours some days and as much as I know he's in pain and I feel bad, there's only so much crying ones ears can take!!! Hopefully it won't last much longer!!!

I'm Sick.......

2011-02-17T14:16:00.002-05:00

of being sick!!! Seriously. It started 2 weeks ago with Cole. He threw up on Monday. Braxton threw up all day Tuesday, and was still sick Wednesday. I took him to the doctor and he had strep. He stayed home on Thursday so he wasn't contagious, finally went back to school on Friday. The next week went by ok. Saturday night I was up helping Dave get ready for his flight to Pittsburgh on Sunday. It was midnight, I had heard a noise from the bedroom, but ignored it. Porter started crying. Dave went in to find Porter, Porter's bed, all down the side of his bed (and ours), and the floor covered with vomit! Poor kid, his first round of being sick. I slept on our love seat, biggest piece of furniture we have with us at the moment, and he threw up for an hour and a half every 10 minutes. All night long he was sick. Most times before I could get the bowl to his mouth. I don't know how many times he got me. Sunday around 7 a.m. the diarrhea set in. It was awful!!! He couldn't eat or drink anything the whole day. He did go most of the day without throwing up. Monday morning I wake up to him throwing up in his bed. Great still sick. Now, I'm starting to not feel hot. Tuesday, Porter is better, me....not so much. Wednesday, worst day for me! Couldn't eat or drink anything. I lost more and more energy all day and by 2 could barely move anymore. Needless to say I've dealt with this and everyone on my own for two weeks.

Last night I started to feel better. Got to bed and knew I would be better today. The next thing I know, I hear someone throwing up. I look at the clock. It's only 10:30. The room reeks, Braxton threw up EVERYWHERE in his bed. I asked if he was able to throw up in the bowl he had by him. He said yes. Then grabbed it and threw up the second time.... I stripped down his bed, got his bowl washed out, put him in a sleeping bag on his bed and laid back down. Thirty minutes later I hear it again. "Mom I got most of it in the bowl this time, only a little on my bed." I check things out. Um, Braxton you got it mostly ON your bed, BARELY any in the bowl. Once again strip down his bed, start the second load of laundry. I come back downstairs and Porter is crying.....I got him calmed down and he went back to sleep.

Today, no one has thrown up, or had diarrhea. I hope it stays that way or this mama is going to lose her MIND!!!!! Not that I haven't already!!!

5 1/2 Months...

2011-02-13T20:14:00.007-05:00

We have been in this basement for 5 1/2 months now! I can't believe that much time has passed. At the same time gone so slow! I'm so grateful to my in-laws for letting us stay here for a while! However, I hope the stay won't be much longer. I need sunlight, lots of windows, and my own bedroom. I guess also to live with my husband :) I hope that in the near future we find a way to make things work and spread our wings again!

A Few Pictures...

2011-01-10T13:09:00.003-05:00

What Do I Do.....

2011-01-10T12:52:00.004-05:00

when I don't want to get back to the grind quite yet??? I change up the blog!!! Now that I'm done I should write a little post after an absence of more than a month. We have been trying to adjust to life in our new environment. We still haven't figured it out. It isn't getting any easier. If anything, we have been without Dave home every night for 5 months now. We still miss having him around. The boys and I miss Centerville terribly!!! Braxton I think is having the hardest time. He had great friends there and hasn't made many new ones here. We have gone back a couple times and I always cry on the highway when we get close cause I miss our home!!!

This winter has been long. Not too much snow, just freezing cold!!! The high everyday barely makes it higher than 10 if it even gets that warm. The nights are close to zero if not below. We don't get out much. We don't want to brave the cold if we don't have to. We have cabin fever in the worst way I'm affraid!!!

Christmas was fun. This year was small and simple. It was the first year our boys knew about "Santa" and suprisingly it was still fun for them. They were really worried that there wouldn't be much this year, but when it came down to Christmas morning, it didn't seem to matter and they were happy with what they got.

I have been staying way too busy with the boys, the laundry, the cleaning, the housework, and doing it alone. I have been watching Dave's nephew since shortly after we moved in. He is about nine months younger than Porter and it got to the point I decided I couldn't do it anymore. Everything was always a disaster and I felt bad for Braxton and Cole cause they were feeling left out with two babies in the house. I am only going to watch him now on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a few hours each day. Hopefully it will be easier for all of us!!!

Getting older and becoming more of an adult is a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. We have made many mistakes along the way that have put us where we are today. If I could go back and change it all I would. I would have made wiser choices. I can't go back. I only have to make lemonade out of the lemons we grew, and hope that one day we can find the right recipe to make life sweet!!!

Porter's 1 Year Pictures!

2010-11-27T12:24:00.004-05:00

Porter Turns 1!

2010-11-08T13:01:00.016-05:00

I can't believe my baby is so old already! It seemed to go so slow for the first six months and then the second six months flew by! Porter has been an absolute joy to have around! He is always making a cute face, yelling at one of his brothers, or throwing a tantrum when his toys get stuck and he can't go anywhere! He is crawling like a pro and taking steps slowly on his own away from things. He'll walk along the furniture and then walk on his own to something wherever he wants to go. His toy that he walks behind he's began running behind he's so good, just is afraid to do it alone! He only has 2 teeth and his hair is changing from the black it started out at to blonde! We sure love our little guy and are so glad he has become a part of our forever family! We couldn't imagine life without him!!!

After two failed attempts at a cake yesterday we ended up with goldfish topped cupcakes! I don't know why, but my cakes haven't been cooking well lately and then they fall apart! Porter's birthday was really on Thursday, but with Dave being gone during the week, we only gave him a baby cupcake on his birthday. Yesterday he got the candle.... he tried to grab the flame and Braxton screamed so loud that Porter just cried and wouldn't stop. He didn't want anything to do with the cupcake after that! Poor kid!!!

An Amazing Friend!!!

2010-10-26T18:12:00.006-04:00

Last week my friend Kira came to visit with her two kids! It was a lot of fun and a good break! We ordered pizza for dinner and let the kiddos play. I had picked up some pumpkins for them to decorate and they had a blast!!!

Love it! Can't get enough of those faces!

Halloween Walk

2010-10-26T12:19:00.020-04:00

On Saturday the boys and I went with Grandma McKenna to the pumpkin walk! It was pretty fun! They had different scenes that were created with pumpkins. Dave's Grandma was a witch at the end of the walk! Here are a few pictures:

A Bugs Life

Toy Story

Winnie the Pooh

The Hungry Caterpillar (I didn't post his picture)

Super Mario Brothers

Smurfs

Lilo and Stitch

Polar Express

Finding Nemo

Spongebob

Monsters Inc.

Madagascar

Dr. Seuss

How to Train Your Dragon

Rapunzel

"The Witch" a.k.a. Grandma Bartlett and the boys!

My New Phone!

2010-10-25T00:22:00.002-04:00

I'm posting from it right now! I've been in the market for a while and narrowed it down to two. I spoke with several workers at Best Buy and the manager told me that one of the phones was being released in white today only at Best Buy and it was a Taylor Swift exclusive phone! It came preloaded with all of her songs and rights to her cd that comes out today! I was sold! It's so awesome and it works faster than Dave's i-phone!!! The best part about it was they just happened to have one in the cupboard and they let me buy it before it was released!!!!!!!

Ok I'm Done.....

2010-10-09T17:05:00.005-04:00

for today anyways! Those were just a few things the last two months! The boys and I have moved into Dave's parents basement, while he lives with an uncle and still works in Salt Lake. He comes home on the weekends so we have very limited time together anymore! I was trying to find a job so that we could stay where we were, but with three kids and no degree, working wasn't an option. There was no point in getting a job and then in turn giving all our money to daycare. We are hoping that Dave can find something bigger and better to start paying for his education!!! If you know of anything let us know!!!

In the mean time, Dave is starting a part time job in two weeks for the post office in the evenings. I have started watching Dave's nephew who is 9 months younger than Porter. I do that three days a week. In the midst of it all I still get Braxton and Cole to school everyday and have two babies more that not! It is a challenge, but hopefully it'll all keep me sane!!! Dave's car broke down right after we moved here, so I'm alone all week with the kids, have no car, and live in a basement!!! I'm still trying to adjust!

Hope everyone is doing well! Sorry for the length in everything!

Can You Believe It?

2010-10-09T17:01:00.004-04:00

This is the face of a baby who has less than a month before he turns 1!!!

Happy Birthday Cole!!!

2010-10-09T16:52:00.004-04:00

Cole turned 6 on September 29th! Dave took the day off work so that he could come up and spend the day with us. We had dinner with Dave's family and then cake and ice cream with some of Cole's new friends.

It's A Race!!!

2010-10-09T16:38:00.005-04:00

The week after school started, the boys school had a race. It was a fundraiser for the district. Between like 5 elementary schools they raised $27,000. Pretty good I think! The boys had so much fun! It was almost 90 degrees out so it was really hot!

So Much Changes....

2010-10-09T16:25:00.008-04:00

over just a few short months!!!

This is when Porter was about a week old!

Here he is nine months later (minus Cole cause he was being difficult and refused to get in the picture)!

Eight is Great!!!

2010-10-09T15:43:00.006-04:00

Braxton's baptism was a good experience. My parents made the drive from Michigan to be here and it was perfect timing! They helped us get a dinner ready after wards and also helped us pack! We would have never been ready without them!!! Dave's parents came also, and a few other family members and close friends!

Dave's parents and youngest brother.

Our not so little family!

My parents.

Grandpa & Grandma Bartlett (Dave's side)

Thanks to everyone who came and participated!

The First Day of School!

2010-10-09T11:20:00.004-04:00

This was a scary day for everyone! We hardly know anyone here and there were many firsts! The big one was that now the boys get to ride a bus to school!!! No more school runs for me!!!! I'm down from 4 a day last year!!!

Braxton is in Mrs. Moore's 3rd Grade class

Cole is in Mrs. Merkley's afternoon Kindergarten class

It even tired out the baby!!!

The Day After.....

2010-10-09T10:55:00.004-04:00

Braxton's birthday was very busy and we were sidetracked. We had even started packing because we had 4 days to leave for Logan so the boys could start school on time. At one point I looked over at Porter and found this.....

I guess he found a way to stay entertained!!!

Happy Birthday Braxton!

2010-10-09T10:41:00.006-04:00

It's only a little late! Sorry bud! Braxton turned 8 on August 20th! It's hard to believe I have a child so old!!! We had a few of his friends over for cake and ice cream and for a slip n' slide! They had a lot of fun. He had a lot of tears that day also because it was the day we made the decision we needed to move in with Dave's parents for a while to save money.... Poor kid!

I Haven't Stopped.....

2010-10-09T03:55:00.004-04:00

blogging that is! Life has been so crazy with the move and getting settled! This has been the longest I've ever gone without a post! Hopefully I can catch back up and get regular again! Hope everyone is doing well!

"Mommy The Sirens Are Scaring Me!"

2010-07-27T12:45:00.012-04:00

That is what Braxton said as he sat next to me while I was laying on the couch. I told him to stop and get over it figuring they weren't anywhere close by. Dave came down the stairs and went outside and came to get us. We went out and this is what we saw:

This lumber supply store right next door had flames shooting out of the air vents in the roof. The spindles were spinning out of control as the flames blasted out of them and then they began to catch on fire and fall off. We continued to watch as the whole building became completely engulfed and the roof caved in! Within 45 minutes of it starting there was a police officer evacuating our building and we had to leave. I grabbed the formula and some water and a few jars of food for the baby and we walked out to leave. We were going to take the car, but realized that our driveway was blocked and the only thing we could grab was the stroller. We were without anything else. We stood around for hours watching, waiting, hoping that our house wasn't the next to go. The police officer told me that if the winds changed (they did) that it would be in danger. Nothing like worrying your house won't survive the night!

This picture is from our back yard.

This is out at the main road across the street from our neighborhood.

If you look closely you can see our silver van in our driveway that the police car is parked at! Pretty intense moments......

This is what it looks like today, a total loss. They were able to keep the wood in the lumber yard from burning which was wonderful.

View from our back door.

View from the end of our driveway.

This was such a devastation! Our maintenance guy is a nephew of the owner and also works there during the day. Another friend of mine is the owners niece. The owner was out of state at a funeral for his sister's daughter when the fire broke out. He got here when there was nothing left. Two weeks before his niece died, his only daughter's husband died of a heart attack at the age of 28. This family has had much heartache this month and I hope you will all keep them in your prayers. They have it cleaned up so much already today! They've been out there for hours working.

We are thankful to have our home and that it was spared. It really made me think of all the things I should have grabbed in the moment, but didn't. Maybe if there is a next time I will be more prepared!

The Distraction of my Week!!!

2010-07-27T12:40:00.003-04:00

This past week I was working on a very special product! Dave's aunt and uncle are adopting an adorable 3 year old girl from China! We are very excited for them. I decided to make her a blanket. I was up until 2 in the morning a few days and put on the binding twice. I finally decided it was ok the way it was and finished it! I hope she likes it!!! Here is the finished product :

Pioneer Day Celebrations (There were 2!)....

2010-07-27T11:28:00.008-04:00

In Utah we have Pioneer Day on July 24th marking when the pioneers reached their destination. It's a really big deal here! They do fireworks and have large parades. We went to Dave's parents the week before for their towns festivities. These were the fireworks Friday night! We were SO close the ashes were falling on us.

This is the parade Saturday morning. This is the "Pioneers of the Future" float!

These pictures are from the next weekend in our town! These are a few of the festivities before the parade. The parade lasted HOURS and there were more than 100 floats. WAY TOO LONG!!!

Yes, these are sideways pictures of the boys rock climbing and bungee jumping! They had a BLAST!!!

These were the fireworks later that night!

An Update...

2010-07-09T14:36:00.003-04:00

So I have no idea where the summer has gone! I have thankfully not gone back to work yet since Dave has finished his masters degree and that has been so nice! I don't think we've ever had time where we were all home at night together and weren't rushing away from each other on our way to other destinations. It's been a rare occasion in our family that we haven't both had to work. I do however need to start looking for a job again, I think I've just been stalling hoping that Dave can find bigger and better things first!

Braxton is doing well. He started having some problems toward the end of the school year with being scared of things all the time. He wouldn't go upstairs alone, wouldn't go to the bathroom alone, wouldn't sleep in his room, etc. We finally sought out a psychologist and have been taking him to therapy. They diagnosed him with an anxiety disorder and recommended medication. We started him on meds and they were awful! He was on an EXTREME high during the day and would crash hard at night and cry for hours! The last night we gave him medicine, he was worried about if our parents died and we didn't have any money that our family would be homeless. He wanted to get online and start looking for a job! Yep, 7 and he wanted to find a job! It took a while to calm him down and the next day we talked to the doctor and decided that wasn't the medicine for him! Since he's had a week break from our house and me, he's doing great! He isn't scared all the time and will go and do things alone in the house. He still comes in our room almost every night, but he has a bed on the floor and can't sleep with us anymore.

Braxton's front teeth are FINALLY coming back! He lost them what seems like forever ago and they are starting to come in! He still LOVES games and that's an understatement. He loves to watch Phineas and Ferb on Disney and anything else for a good laugh. We even got him to watch a few scary movies this weekend and to our surprise he actually liked them!

Cole is crazy like ever! He has so much energy and keeps us busy with wanting all the attention and doing whatever he needs to to get it! He likes to pretend he can read, wants to learn to box, wants to become an air bender, and also wants to play basketball professionally when he grows up!

Porter turned 8 months last Sunday! He is getting so big! He army crawls fast everywhere and gets into everything! I'm having to learn how to change a diaper while baby is on the move all over again! I have found him a few times at the stairs trying to climb up them! I think he will fit in well with the other boys as far as energy is concerned! I lasted 7 months nursing him and stopped so I could take some medication that was much needed for my sanity and theirs! He is gaining weight a lot faster now it seems! He LOVES food, but would rather feed himself than have us feed him! He is so fun and most of the time is happy beyond belief! He also LOVES to be held and makes it difficult for us to get things done. If you come over and our house is filthy sorry! I'd much rather have a happy baby that I get to hold than a clean house. Someday......

Dave is glad school is over and is enjoying a nice break! He continues to look for a job anywhere in the U.S. and hopes to find something he likes in the near future. We are thankful for all he does for us and his willingness to support our family!

Sorry for the long post, I'll try not to make them often! Hope you are all doing well and that life is treating you good!!!

Wildfire Anyone?

2010-07-09T14:26:00.004-04:00

Yesterday afternoon Dave went to pick up some dinner for us and called to tell us there was a fire outside. Yes, we had been inside ALL day and hadn't noticed that outside just down the road a fire was brewing! Someone shot a gun and it ignited the flames. Today they are still fighting it, but this is what it looked like looking out Braxton and Cole's bedroom window! No homes have been harmed, today the fire is 45% contained.

4th of July Weekend!

2010-07-09T14:03:00.039-04:00

Two weeks ago I had surgery to have my gall bladder removed. It was an outpatient surgery, but my in-laws wanted us to leave the boys in Logan for a week while I rested to recover. I couldn't leave the baby and didn't lightly agree to leaving them. I knew that for my sister-in-law, who has 4 small kids of her own, it would mean having two more to watch during the day. We went back on July 1st to get them and stayed for the weekend. On Friday night we went to watch fireworks!

Porter waiting for the show!

I'm sad I guess I need to learn how to shoot fireworks with our camera. They didn't turn out good and we have a nice one!

On Saturday we helped Dave's dad pour a retaining wall in their back yard. For a few hours that morning I helped! Yes, one week out of surgery I was building a cement wall. It was fun!

Porter was helping us that day too!

In the afternoon Dave's brother and his wife took us out in their canoe. I went out later with just Dave, but didn't last very long for fear of the canoe tipping. I didn't even think about my stitches and what would happen if we did fall in the yucky water!!!

Before we left we also got to visit Dave's aunt and uncle who were visiting from Michigan! It was fun to see them for a few minutes! And thanks to everyone who helping in my recovery process! I feel great now!!!

Updated!!

2010-06-18T16:58:00.005-04:00

Wow! Did I fall behind or what??? I guess that's part of me having three kids now. I still think I can conquer the world and falling short really hits hard for me! Dave is running in a Ragnar relay race this weekend and is gone and won't be back until tomorrow night. Braxton is playing games, Cole has been rollerblading around the kitchen with a wood sword playing hockey, and Porter is rolling on the floor playing peacefully with toys, all while I sit on my butt doing nothing (except updating this)!!! Hope you enjoy :)

Yellowstone.

2010-06-18T16:01:00.033-04:00

Dave's family had planned a trip. Six of the eight siblings came. All the grand kids were there, minus one who has yet to make his debut! This week on Monday we left for Yellowstone. Porter HATES the car so he cried a lot. I feel bad, but we made him anyways. We stayed in a place called Island Park. On Tuesday we loaded up our cars and drove the Yellowstone path. It was cold and occasionally rained. Worst of all the boys were in rotten moods and threw tantrums most of the way back to our cabins. At one point I made Dave pull over and I took Cole out of the van and told him to stop or we were leaving him there! Not my most proud moment and not one that a parent should EVER have, and it didn't scare him anyways. He started to walk away.....

On Wednesday we went to a bear and wolf exhibit and it was fun to kind of see them up close!

There were a lot of car lines! Construction was everywhere! It made me think of, "if you build it they will come!"

This man is enjoying the peace through fly fishing! Beautiful sight!

Boiling mud anyone?

Old Faithful.....

These Bison decided to raid the road! We had to wait until we could get past. Thanks for not ramming us!!!!

In the top of this tree there is an Eagle sitting in that nest! It was pretty cool!!!

All the grand kids minus one still baking :)

Getting ready to come home....

This was the scene we woke up to the morning we were leaving....Snow anyone? It was only like 30 degrees...

A Short Visit!

2010-06-18T15:54:00.032-04:00

One of my sisters and her family came to visit last week! Her kids are all older than mine, but her oldest one by nine months, her middle one by six months, and her baby by two weeks exactly! It was so much fun and the kids are always an instant clique! Wish they could have stayed longer!!!!

We were trying to compare babies, but it didn't go so well....My sister's babies are always much bigger cause her husband is 6'3".

All minus Porter who was taking a nap when they left :(