kitty is growing

Melody is growing! She started at 5.25 ounces and tonight weighed in at 22 ounces! She has become VERY playful and lots of fun. She has learned to use the litter box and eat from a bowl this last week! Good, good kitty, means a lot less work for me!! She continues to do well. We took her with us up to my folks and she did well in the car and played nicely at their house. She is very loved and extremely SPOILED! Her eyes are still blue, from what I read what they are at 7 weeks is what they will be. We just passed the five week mark.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a 24 hour trip to my folks on Saturday to help them celebrate their anniversary with my siblings. We even managed to get in a group walk, definately not the exercising kind of walk but an enjoyable one none the less.

The big girls stayed with my folks for a few days and the little ones are enjoying their break. They are playing and having a good time together without distractions.

PJ was very pitiful the last couple days with pleas to go fishing so we made him happy today. He and Pete fished for a bit and then it was off to discover the sailboats and check out the lighthouse. We are lucky to have a lake within a mile of the house.

Taylor Swift

Makayla was rewarded for being an excellent girl, daughter, big sister and such a great helper with tickets to Taylor Swift. What an amazing show, truely a very good concert. Constant movement and very entertaining. Out seats were perfect for a fist concert for a seven year old.

Two jumbo trons, and big screen directly behind Taylor and a great view from our seats. Taylor changed 9 times and I am not sure how many set changes but a lot!! The music never stopped playing during any of it!

At one point she walked directly below us to her tree that was at our end.

The camera does not give it justice but we had great seats for her songs at this end of the arena. She has such a pretty voice.

If you want to the last song Taylor sang was Romeo and Juliet and I recorded it for Makayla. TS loaded up in a basket and they "flew" her around the arena so most could get a great look at her. Taylor Swift does an excellent job of seeing as much of the crowd as she can and really keeps her stage moving and entertaining! Kayla was tired by the end but I am sure it will be a night she will dream about for a long time to come.

Maggie's last day of school

Maggie had her last day of preschool Friday, we are all offically on summer vacation. Maggie too was done with school and ready for a break. She has had a great year and has come a long ways. We are very lucky to have had such a great environment for our number two kiddo. All those that have a second child you know what I am talking about. Second children have such a great personality, so free spirited, fun loving and stubborn among other traits!! We love her dearly and are very proud of her.

Kayla is on summer break!

Kayla is off for the summer and very happy to have a break!! I cannot find the first day of school pictures right now but she has had a big change this year in looks. Her face has lost the little girl look and is changing into the more grown up girl look. It was lovely to not have to go anywhere today and it was fun to have everyone home with me.

Melody

Here is a story for you! We went to Dr. Shawn's to hang out one night and Makayla cried for the next three days about how badly she wanted a cat. Pete and I discussed it. Kayla tested allergic to cat at the same time she tested positive to eggs. Since then we now feed her eggs and she does not have a problem, so I thought hum... her reaction was less to cat than egg and she handles eggs okay so maybe? Pete too seems to be allergic to cats, however I have tested him myself in the past and he did not have a positve skin reaction.?. I talked to the allergy nurse at work and she said she would skin test the two of them if we wanted. So Pete and I discussed it. I too am allergic but grew up with pets and also kind of wanted a cat. I thought if we did get one it would be best to get one as early in life as possible, like the kitten being six weeks old or so. A co-worker was looking on the computer and found an ad: Urgent help please, momma kitty died last night, four 7 day old kittens need lots of attention and love. I seriously thought the ad was placed the week before and I sent a note. In fact it had been placed that morning and she got 41 responses to it. We had been selected for one of the kittens. Pete and I discussed it. He had a ton on his work plate that day and said I need the day to think about it. I said well we have to tell her in 20 minutes. I called back 20 minutes later and got a very reluctant do what you want. He came home in time for me and Maggie to go get Kayla and head to the kitties house. We went in and they had like 6 cats, 2 dogs, 4 fish tanks, and equal number of ashtrays. The girls were facinated with all the animals and then the lady showed them the kittens in a basket now 9 days old. Kayla asked if she could hold one and the lady said well here honey hold your kitty. Kayla responded oh no my daddy would never let me get a kitty! I looked at Kayla and said no daddy and I discussed it and we are going to try it. She about melted into a pile of tears of joy. Maggie was a bit confused about it all however because Kayla was happy so was she. So this top picture is the day we got her home. She was 5.25 ounces big and kind of a mess. I sat the girls down and explained how fragile she was and that she only had a 40% chance of survival. After a lot of phone calls and internet reading we began caring for our precious cargo. She required every 2 to 3 hour feedings among other mommy kitty things. All we could do was our best and wait and see. She remained nameless till Mother's Day. In the car on the way home Maggie immediately said we should call her Melody. I asked why and the name comes from Barbie and the Diamond Castle movie, Melody is the dark haired princess in the mirror. We tossed around a lot of names, I even suggested the black princess Tiana from Princess and the Frog as she is black. The girls responded "she is not black, she has brown skin! we cannot name our black kitty after a brown princess." okay I will not argue. I really did not want another M name in this house but Melody is the name that has stuck. Melody has gone to work with me everyday and has become the office cat. Everyone is in love with her. She only has a few days left of going in with me and then she should be big enough to stay home. She will be dearly missed by many at my work! I think she may end up with visitors at the house. We have agreed as a family to raise her to the best of our ability until she is 12 weeks and then we will evaluate how we are all coping and if things do not work out I have a few homes that want her. She met Pete's mom and my mom, though they certainly are not happy about a cat addition they did very well with her over the weekend. I am proud to say that last night the scale read 16.25 ounces! She is doing great, this weeks challenge is litter training and weaning from the bottle.

Here the silly little thing is all sprawled out and comfy with Pete. She really is a sweet kitty.

A comparison picture to the first day home, only this time she was not into sitting still! 16 ounces and 18 days later makes a big difference. The kids absolutely love her and she is very tolerant of their attention. Now that the grandparents know her photo may show up more often. It has been a busy two and half weeks but she is almost self sufficent and soon will be.

LAST Soccer Game

Thankfully this is the last soccer game as Maggie and PJ found MUD!! They had a blast and who can blame them! I LOVE mud too but there is a proper time and place for playing in the mud. Wearing a dress and tennis shoes does not say mud clothes to me! I needed eight plastic sacks to contain each limb in my van!! None the less they had a blast!



Here is Kayla's little soccer team, minus one! Our season is over and we only have a pizza party left to go! I am ready to have a break as are the girls I think.

My mom's visit was two fold, birthday and catching a soccer game. She enjoys watching the kiddos play and they love having her visit! Funny story about this picture: I said to them lets get a picture since grandma is here for your game, okay they said. I snapped a picture and it looked dark, I snapped another and yet it was still dark. Okay lets try this way I thought so we tried a few more directions thinking that the sun was being difficult. Finally like 6 or 7 pictures later I remembered I had my sunglasses on, took them off and guess what!? This folks is picture number one! too funny, we laughed and then ran off to the game.

more birthday!

Friday night Pete's folks came in for a dinner he was playing a part in. We were all treated to a wonderful night filled with the Holy Spirit. God is good. They stayed through Sunday and we had more birthday fun on Saturday and out to dinner wth granny and pop! I have no idea why I do not have any pictures of Mags with them, or any of the kids for that matter!

Love that precious look on Maggies face as Kayla explains what the gift card if for (Build A Bear) she has been begging and now is so super excited!

Granny got the group hit gift of the day!! Magna tiles are a strong recommendation from this house! They all are loving them and they really are creating some neat things!

Grandma and Brie giving the camera a cheese!

Maggie is 5!

Maggie turned five on Thursday and life has been on fast forward since. Pete made a fantastic Rapunzel cake per his daughter's request. It really turned out pretty neat! Maggie's Godfather Mark and Auntie Carol made the trip out and spent the day with her.

Maggie really enjoyed every bite of her tower! She looked like a purple monster after she was done.

Present opening was a hit, thanks for all the gifts. She loved all of them.

Here is a story: we were headed to CoCo Key with the girls and Mark and Carol for her birthday. I checked at noon if I could bring in a meat/cheese tray and discovered the waterpark was closed that day for maintaince! What! we are supposed to be there at 3:30! fast thinking and a few phone calls later we had plan B, off to the Y for open swimming and then to McDonalds and then back to the house for presents and cake. We got to the Y and they said open swim is just for members! WHAT!! think fast any hotels with pools in the area? nope, okay back home to change out of swimsuits and into clothes and off to the Pizza Machine. A very disappointed Mags went along with all the change of plans quite well. We of course had to promise her CoCo Key soon though. So off to pizza we all went with everyone, even Grandma Karen who was watching the little ones. It was an eye opener for three of the adults and the kids did a great job of showing them the entire place! We did bumper cars for the first time, enjoyed bowling, and they took a ride on the go carts. A round of golf, and many more games later their dad allowed them to pick recorders as their prize! One would think that they would break easily right?! Not these, they are built tough! Oh well she had a good day in the end and we appreciate all the company and gifts!

PJ Spring Program

It was PJ's turn to have a program. He did some of the actions and sang some of the words. Most importantly PJ stayed in his chair after giving me a quick hug and was very proud of himself. It is amazing to me to watch a 2 1/2 year old singing in a program.

PJ and his pals, one he refers to by only his last name. No one else in daycare ever does this, the daycare often uses first and last names when talking to the kiddos but PJ nicknamed him and it has stuck!

The daycare has a very sweet, blind volunteer. PJ ran over to her after the program, she felt his face and said "oh PJ you sang just beautifully". He proceded to give her a giant hug and said "yep" and headed for the cake!

CAKE!! finally all the bribing has come true! He was not interested in the perfect picture! HE WANTED CAKE!!!


Spring program number 3 done! Brie did not have a program and in fact played very happily outside during PJ's program.

friends

So our busy Saturday concluded with a visit from what is turning out to be some really nice friends and their five kiddos. We had make your own pizza night and the kids had a good time. They played very well together and the parents even got in some conversations! They really are such a sweet family and we feel very lucky to have been able to get to know them better. We look forward to our next get together, as long as we can keep all 9 kids healthy! :~)

Daisies to Brownies

Makayla and her troop have become Brownies as of Saturday afternoon. This is a photo of her group at the bowling alley where we had the end of the year party. For many of the girls it was their first time bowling. They all seemed to have a really good time. Makayla is asking when we get to go again.

Here is Makayla with her leader accepting the award to become a Brownie Scout. She was very happy with herself and is excited to start a new sash! "I will wear it just like a princess does!" I have no doubt she will and will be very proud of herself!

P.S. Thank you to everyone who bought cookies as Makayla recieved some great prizes for her 173 boxes!

more soccer

Makayla and Pete braved our 46 degree temps Sat. am and went to soccer. I however stayed home with the little three as to prevent any further illnesses! Kayla played a great game via her report and they almost won! It is surprising how much they have improved this spring. She has certainly has enjoyed it and is sad we only have one game to go. I am hoping we get to play on Saturday and do not get rained out.

Dr. C

Maggie had 2 Spring programs last week for her preschool. She is so fortunate to have music lessons 3 times a week with a FANTASTIC Dr. C. He is a retired K-12 music teacher that leads music for his church. It is amazing what he has done with these little people in this past school year!! He is so patient and ALL the kids just love him! Dr. C. always wears a bowtie and thus each of the little kids had a bowtie on for their programs. It is such a joy to go to these programs and listen to them sing their Jesus songs so proudly, and with such happiness. We cannot say enough about how wonderful Maggie's program is. We have sent a few kiddos that direction and the parents have not been disappointed! We sometimes wish they were a complete Pre-K thru 6th grade school, but alas we will be happy that they provide such a great environment for ages 3 to 5. Maggie will be attending their young fives program in the fall. She is super excited.

Brie 15 months

Miss Brie is 15 months today. Where does the time go? What has she been up to, it is more like what hasn't she been up to.! This girl has personality!! We still love our Gabriellie to pieces. She is walking very well, almost running. She demonstrated tonight that she can turn on a dime and not fall also. She does not have very many words, nor signs but she is trying to repeat as best she can. Brie has mastered the steps both up and down. She is wanting to use utensils for meals, not my favorite idea. She enjoys being with her older siblings the most. If they are outside she cries to be let out as well, thank goodness for a fence! She has recovered from her bout of illness and is eating us out of house and home. If she is awake she is eating! I think she feels well and is making up for missed meals for the last 15 months! I do not have 15 month stats, I did her 12 month check up late and now will push the 15 month off for awhile. I am confident she has regained her lost weight though. It is so nice having a healthy house, one not to be taken for granted. All in all I think life is good for Gabriella and she has little to complain about. There are 5 of us that wait on her hand and foot and each of us caves to her every desire far to easily. The bond of siblings really is a gift that a parent watches grow everyday. I try to keep all the trials in perspective and focus on the happy, good times.

All my blog followers thank you for following, it is fun to keep everyone updated and to have a record of our last 15 months. So many memories I think would be lost but with the blog we will be able to remember forever. Everyone have a great May!!

May Day

Happy May Day everyone! We hope you had sunshine and lots of smiles for your day. Here is a photo of the girls with their finished "May Day Baskets", then we were off for a sneaky delivery. I did not know if the family caught you leaving a "basket" they had to then steal a kiss?.... It is a fun little tradition and pretty simple too.

Pete made it home last evening and was able to join us for pizza and hanging out with friends! He was out of town for an overnight, not long but enough to know that I like having him around!

Saturday was soccer per our usual, making some cookies, laundry, basket prep, and catching up and getting ready for the week ahead.

Sunday was church as a family, something that hasn't happened in a few weeks due to illness. Then mowing the grass for the first time, watering the new trees, and again more prep for the week ahead.

Hope everyone had a good day! May is here, do you think it is okay to put away the winter coats?? ha