Oh, SO much to catch up on...

I could make lots of excuses about why I haven't updated in a month and a half (and some of them very legit and understandable), but those of you who know us know what has been going on! ENOUGH SAID!!

I will start with Christmas... I LOVE Christmas! The traditions, the meaning, the family time, the memories and laughter made, the excitement and joy watching it through the kids eyes...
but needless to say, it had to be alittle different this year (and I was not totally sure how that was going to affect it). K decided that we would also start a new family tradition by having the 25 days of Christmas, on which we would do something "Christmasy" on each day- starting on Dec. 1st when we put up and decorated our tree! Well, the 25 days weren't out of control crazy and it made sure that we got in everything that we wanted to do as a family spreading out the fun - baking cookies, going to the nursing home, Christmas parties and dinners, going on the Santa train, and all the decorating, etc. We also wrote down a few things we might add next year!

Next came families and our Christmas'... Since traveling was out of the question, we asked those who could to come here and share it with us. K's family had to work Christmas weekend, but they made a special effort to come the Friday before. Instead of the usual steak, potatoes, and salad; we had a steak salad (which was great). We also (well, I say we, but it was mostly my brother-in law J who was up doing most of the work) put together a new bed for the boys in their room (S will of course have to grow into it, but izz is loving it too!!)! This is the kind of bed that I have always wanted to have for my boys, and thanks to their grandmother they can! It is bunk beds with a dresser in it, but it also has little hide-a-ways and cubbies- COOL!! P kept taking people upstairs to "his bed"- "Wook, Wook at MY bed!" :) Unfourtunately they couldn't stay long, but at least it was for alittle while!
Then my parents came Christmas Eve night, and my aunt Christmas day. With the rest of the family spread from Georgia to the Springs in the Blizzard, Christmas day was a little different - filled mostly with relaxing and eating thru the day. K even got to cook his Christmas goose for everyone! My main excitement/gift was the fact that doodle bug didn't come till after the holidays!! :)

NOW... the news that I know you all have been waiting to read about (and I made you read all about my Christmas things first...hehehe). The day after Christmas the kids went home with my parents to give K and myself alittle time and rest to get a few things done! THANK YOU!! Then Thursday morning I woke up at 4:30 in the morning (can you blame me for not being able to sleep?) to finish getting ready and making sure I had everything. By the time we got to the hospital, finished LOTS of paperwork, started my IV, and the doctor got there to get things going it was after 9. I was alittle disappointed to hear that NOTHING was really going on (or had been to get me dialated at all), so I didn't know how long this one would take since the last time it took 8 hours!! K got me up and we started walking the short hallway, back and forth over and over, for almost an hour! Did you remember that I said I had only had 3-4 hours sleep?!? But then the doctor came back and I had progressed more than she thought I would!! Who knew K was right? :) She broke my water (it was now 11) and things really started! The family started coming in and the time really seemed to fly by! By 3:30ish I knew that it was time, and everyone started getting ready. Oh, the doctor also looked at K and wanted to know if he wanted to help deliver- how cool is that! So he got ready too with his scrubs! Then, what seemed in a way like longer than 20 minutes, but at the same time felt like it flew by with all the excitement- our newest member was here!! Weighing in at only 8-1, but looking like quite the chunk, was 'pencer. Everyone's immediate reaction was how much he looked like so many people!! I could see both my other children in him!! He is such a good baby too! Amazing how it already seems like he has always been part of the family- I hope the the transition keeps being just as easy!

Hope everyone has a great New Year's Eve and a Happy 2007! If you would like to see pictures (and we have lots) just let us know and we can forward them on! Love to you all!

Boy How Time Flies!!

I have always heard that the older you get, the faster time seems to fly... and boy have I felt it lately!! Can you believe that in 6 weeks from today it will be CHRISTMAS and then the New Year (not to forget that we will have a baby between the two! WOW!) It seems like just yesterday we were telling people that number 3 was on his way, and in 45 days or less he will be here!! YIKES!
Don't get me wrong, I am very excited & can't wait to see and hold him, but there is so much I would like to get done before he gets here, etc. I also THOUGHT of including a belly shot in this post, but just couldn't convince myself to do it! I am alittle freaky about that, and really can't find one that looks halfway decent. But I will keep taking them (esp for the CO crew who keep asking), and maybe I will come up with a good one so you can see what we look like now (with 6 weeks to go!!! ) :)
Love to you all!

My little animals...

Our Fall Festival at church had a Noah's Ark theme, so Izz wanted to be animals. She also told me that for the last 2 years her and P costumes went together(Cinderella and the pumpkin, and Dorothy and the Lion), so this is what she came up with...




My little cuties!!! I am just happy that p sat still enough for me to do that much! :)

Happy Halloween

Here is the pumpkin that the kids and K carved yesterday! We are also going to the Fall Festival tonight at church, so hopefully I will post some of those pictures soon! Hope you all have a good night, and are able to see today thru the eyes of a child!

Some more pictures at the Corn Maze

We took a hayride to get to the place, which ended up being more of a fast tractor ride there!



The "cow train" was a 4 wheeler that pulled cow carts behind it! This was by far the kids favorite thing there!









P & his best buddy, Lisey playing on the chickens & in the pumpkin patch while the others went in the maze.

Fall and the Corn Maze!!

It's fall! I know that I have written it before, but I am going to say it again - I love the fall!
We went on a trip with our college/young people group from church (which I am going to add that we had 35 people go!!! WOW! The group is usually around 20 strong, but one guy has been going around town inviting people to our outings and to church! And then 3 of those 15 came the next day to service! Isn't God great and encouraging!). Sorry for that side note, but that rabbit trail was worth taking and mentioning! We went up above Monroe to a Corn Maze. The maze was ok, the older kids and adults went thru it, but said that you didn't even have to answer the questions correctly to figure out which way to turn because the grass had grown up on the wrong paths. HA! But we had a good time together and the weather was great (cool and crisp)!

WOW, What a weekend!!

We started the weekend Friday night with a birthday celebration (luau) for Izz with a few of her friends (pictures are below). We had a great time between hula hooping, playing games, and jumping in a blow up thingy (don't you love my technical words). Then on Saturday, we had a soccer game and then headed to Cola for a USC football game (P's first!!). We really didn't know what to expect or how he would act there, but it was wonderful!! In fact, he didn't move or get down for 2 HOURS!! By the time we left, he could get some of the cheers (first down, Game-Cocks, defense) and could spot Cocky almost anywhere ("Oh, My Cocky, my Cocky"). I wish I could have gotten them on video but it didn't work!! Even 3 days later, he is still talking about football!! I love it!!

Birthday Girl-

Here are some pictures from the party...

Labor Day Weekend

This past weekend was great! It seems like we have been running so much lately- between K having meetings, appointments, visiting the sick, and the normal sermon stuff; Izz having school, friends, and soccer; and p and I just doing doing the normal day to day things- life has been alittle chaotic to say the least!But this weekend, we tried not to do much of anything, except spend time with each other and visit family!!It was great and something we really needed!
Here is the fam relaxing and watching tv together friday night after dinner.

And here the kids were watching Saturday morning cartoons. I remember doing this as a young child!

It's Football Season Again!!

I just love the Fall- the cooler weather, the beautiful leaves, the apples, and of course-football!!

We had our Sunday School Class and their families over to watch the first game last night-18 people all in our downstairs because it was raining. But we had a blast- the kids running in and out to cheer when they heard us, all the food, the fact that we not only won the first game but shut out State, and just spending time with friends! Here is a picture I took right before of the kids (Nana-the pants almost fit!) :)

So far the Gamecocks are off to a good start, 1-0! Let the games begin!! Go Cocks!

Just enjoying being outside...

After it has been so warm today, it was nice tonight-well, not the wonderful cool fall days that we love, but bearable. While the kids were playing beside me, I was experimenting with my new camara phone. I finally learned how to take the pictures and then send them to my e-mail, which just thrills my soul! Now maybe I won't miss those cute snapshots and memories just because I forgot my camara!! Isn't technology great!

Izz and her teeth

Let me start off with alittle background...after our last dentist appt, he wanted us to go see an orthodonist for a consult about Izz's crossbite (which I wasn't all that surprised since I got some of my braces early too). So that is where we went yesterday. We learned some interesting things about teeth, the way they grow and their order, and different ways to fix them- specifically they were thinking about putting an appliance in the roof of her mouth to stretch her palate, allowing the top teeth to sit in front of the bottom. After talking to us, taking x-rays and pictures, and then the ortho examining her; he decided not to put anything in her mouth at this time since the crossbite was really just over the 2 teeth on the left side. He will check it in a year because he is hoping that as her mouth grows it will correct itself. Thank goodness!! Not only for the $700 that we will save, but for her having to endure that and braces later on. Now, below is one of the pictures that they took of her teeth. Personally, I think it looks kind of neat because of all we learned, but K and Izz just think it is funny! And everytime P sees it, he says, "Oh, sissy's teeth"! :) Funny!

My new craze!!

k has always told me that he wants me to pursue hobbies/interests and that he would encourage me in it. Well, I think he is regreting those words. (especially since it is involving money every time) :) I have found E-bay! Now, to stop the sarcastic remarks from the peanut gallery, I always knew it was there. I have even bid on things thru other people, but I now know how easy it is and have found a few really good deals.

While I was searching and looking last week, I made a decision on the boys' room (doesn't that have a neat sound to it). :) Since P absolutely loves anything on wheels, I thought it would be cute to put these all thru the room (and still use the bedding from his stuff with the trains too). Here is a picture of a clock I found for $8 with shipping.

I thought it was just precious! So this is what I have been up to in the past week. No, we are no closer to a name for Buster (I just can't get used to calling him Bubba). But at least I will have cute room to put him in! :)

And the Tie Breaker is...

Yes, we have all been waiting for the big announcement....
Is it a boy or girl?????
Well...
It's a....








And everyone should have known that it was going to be a boy as soon as Kelly started saying girl! :)
Oh well, can't be right on everything! (ha,ha!)

One tired little boy

I love this picture! And I have been meaning to get it up for the past 2 days. We went swimming Saturday and this is what happened to Little Buddy afterwards. He was even too tired to move his arm...

Nana's Birthday

Friday night we traveled to Aunt Lauren's house to celebrate Nana's birthday. We had a great time with family, which always goes by too quickly, and I loved seeing Aunt Lauren's house and all the touches she has put into it! We are so sorry the CO crew couldn't join us, but ya'll were in our thoughts and talk (Big G- I would love for you to see Cocky come out of the 'moke too!!)

First Day of School

Izz was so excited about today!! Between getting new clothes, (thank you again Mamama!!) making new friends, buying school supplies, and meeting her teacher she was about to burst this morning!! She even woke us up this morning 20 minutes before our alarm went off because she wanted to go ahead and get ready! Hopefully this year will be as good as last if not better! I can't believe how fast my little girl is growing up!!

The Baby Update

Well, this week the pregnancy will be halfway through!! WOW! It seems to be flying by. It has been a pretty good, uneventful pregnancy so far (which in our case is a good thing). The kids are starting to get excited (well, Izz is. Buddy justs pats my belly and says baby- which is sweet when he does it to me, but is HILLARIOUS when he does it to Kyle). I have never been much of a person to get shots of my belly, but someone was asking that doesn't get to see me much, so here it is... Sorry it is alittle blurry, Izz is learning how to hold my camara. Now everyone has a week and a half to make their predictions before (hopefully) we find out and place it here. I would love to hear what you think!!

Lake Party

This Saturday our Sunday School class spent the day at Lake Wateree. We had a ball spending time with friends and family and just relaxing! What a fun day!!
This is how Kyle got to relax! Finally getting to enjoy and use his boat, floating around the lake with his feet
hanging out!




Both Izz and little Buddy got to ride the jetski, the speed boat, and drive the pontoon, but I just put a few of the pictures here. But you would have thought that my kids were raised on boats and a lake the way they took to it! Papa, you would be proud!

The Crew

I can honestly say that life is never dull around my house! Here is a picture of the kids I keep so my family (that hasn't met them) can see what they look like.
Like right now we are listening to Sesame Street Dance songs (ever heard Elmo sing the Macarena?) and they are having a musical parade down the hall for me! Ha! And the funny story for the day...while I was changing the smaller girl's smelly pull-up today, she looked at me and said, "Holy Moly"! That summed it up pretty well! :)

The bike!!!

Izz got her "big girl bike"! Mamama got her an early birthday present so she could learn to ride during the summer. And as you can see has picked up on it quicker than I remember doing it! This is her favorite thing to do outside now, and has only fallen once since getting it (but boy was it a great show of road rash though!). Watch out Tour de France (and Uncle B) here she comes! :)

The Birthday Boy!

Little Buddy turned 2! Wow! We got to celebrate both at the beach with family and at at our house with a few friends! We had Bob the Builder everywhere!

A little Perspective can do wonders!

I have been alittle frustrated with my 2 year old. Nothing bad, just normal(drive mama crazy) 2 year old stuff. My family went out for dinner tonight and as I was sitting there there was a family with a boy in a wheelchair. His mama was so sweet and good to him, talking to him the whole time and he would respond by grunting or hollering (but you could tell he was happy and talking to his mama!!) :) As I was eavesdropping on their moment, Pete leaned over to me, grabbing my arm, said love you momma! WOW, what a much needed smack! Here I have been frustated on what he has been doing instead of thankful that he can do it!! In a nice way God reminded me of my special children and that it is my job to train and guide them with those abilities! So God, thank you for my children - for their curiosity, for their special desire to "fix" things, and for their desire and abilities to want to do it themselves!!

The Beach

Just a month ago, we found out that we were going back to the beach this year!! YEAH! 12 people (and Maggie) in a 3 bedroom condo sounds bad, right? WRONG! It was so much fun to have the whole family together! I hope to get some pictures up of the kids playing and swimming, but for now- here is one of all the cousins. I just wish I had gotten one of pumkin-head gumming it! HA!

Lauren's Wedding

Our crazy month of June started with my sister's wedding. It was beautiful with details that matched Lauren and Charlie perfectly! Here we are going into the reception...
(Thanks to Erika and her mom for the picture of Daddy and Lauren!!)

Here We Go...(again)

As I was reading both some of my family members posts and an online journal yesterday, I became inspired to start this up again; so...

My goal is to include both pictures and a journal to keep friends and family updated. Hey-I can try right?!

Here is a snippet into our life...