Triplets in Toledo

Caitlin in the hat she wore when she had her eye surgery. Notice the bruise on her cheek - teeball injury!

Luke in the hat. What a stud!

Johnny was a tired boy!

Sitting on Nana's windowsill.

Gooey sundaes

How angelic!

We took the trio up to Toledo with us yesterday when we went to see Sean's mom. She was happy to see them. Gabe was with Amy and the girl's seeing GForce. He said it was Awesome, by the way. They were pretty good in the hospital, and then we took them to Friendly's for ice cream while Sean's dad (who rode with us) visited. I was not the navigator this time. Sean is holding to his word. Laura is doing well. She is stabilized and now it is just a waiting game until Monday. Thanks for all the prayers!

Fun with me in the car!!!

Amanda the navigator. Notice how happy I am!

Sean wasn't so smiley. I said look like you love me! This is how he looked. I don't understand...

These are the last pictures you will ever see of Amanda the Navigator if Sean has his way. HE was the driver....he didn't HAVE to listen to me! Then, he had the nerve to be upset with me on the ride home when we spent half an hour driving around looking for someplace to get dinner because I didn't want McDonald's and after the half hour we ended up 5 minutes from the hospital. I just don't get it!! :)

at

Thursday doesn't even start......

Any guesses on the song??? I think I have used it before, and I think Carrie knows.

So yesterday my mil was lifeflighted to Toledo. We got up there sometime around 8-ish. We would have been there sooner but-alas, I was the navigator. We only got lost one time on the way there, and YES, it was AFTER we got off the turnpike (you big bunch of smart asses.) Sean was not thrilled when we realized nothing looked familiar and I took out the camera to document our lostness in pictures. I got some great shots, I will download them later.
When we got to the hospital I saw the elevator doors shutting and a woman that looked like Laura inside. We got up to the 3rd floor and there she was in the hall. They had just taken her for a chest xray. Basically they aren't sure what is going on. They are going to do some sort of heart surgery today and she signed permission forms to say they can do dialysis.
So we are in a wait and see game. I hate the not knowing.

FYI to all parents. They passed the booster seat law finally, so kids under 8 AND under 57" have got to be in boosters. It is a secondary offense so you won't be pulled over for it, but if you are in an accident or pulled for a traffic stop they can ticket you.
Guess we have to replace the boosters again.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Gabe is enjoying the day at Kalahari with his friend, Sam. The trio are playing and watching SB, Sean is taking a nap, and I am getting things done around the house. Thankfully Luke has not remembered the Fireman's Festival in Wakeman which we completely forgot about. He is going to be sore at us when he remembers.
This morning the kids had their VBS program in church. They sang, did sign language, and recited verses. It was really cute. It was not really cute when Caitlin decided to try and take off her sundress. She got the one side down, exposing her perky bosom, when she looked up and saw me shaking my head and mouthing NO!!! I am not sure what she was thinking.
She is obsessed with bras lately. My sis in law brought over all her daughters' old training bras and Caitlin has been in heaven! Yesterday she told me that "it is a good thing she has training bras because she really needs to start training!"
I am cleaning crayon out of my dryer and off clothes today. Both Sean and I had checked pockets, so I don't know how it snuck in, but boy what a mess! I finished Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy - Charity, if your boys haven't read these, they'd really like them. So would you! It is reminiscent of Harry Potter. I read all books like that before I let Gabe read them because I like to know what he is reading and if I feel it is appropriate. We've decided we are getting him the Percy Jackson series and Charlie Bone for his birthday and Christmas. You can never have too many books! Oh, Cheryl, have you read the new James Patterson? Is is Swimsuit or something like that? I wondered if it was worth reading.
Luke just walked behind me and yanked my underwear to tell me he is bored, so I am going to go and entertain the troops. Hope you all enjoy the rest of your day!

Well today was another winning day in Amanda's journey through motherhood. I am so stinkin' frustrated. I won't go into detail, it's the same it always is. Kids don't listen, mom cries, kids think it is a big joke, kids go to time out, mom needs stiff drink.
I wish I understood what I am doing that is so wrong. I guess I will never know.
Today was the final day of Bible school for the kids. They had a picnic afterwards and then Leo's Ark came with several different animals. Gabe held a snake, similar to what was in our basement, just a different kind. They also brought a tarantula, tortise, frog, fawn, and chinchilla. The kids loved getting up close with all the animals and holding/petting. I was a hero for a moment when I rescued the not to bright tortise from going into the street. That thing was heavy! They also had water balloon games that the kids all enjoyed. Then we had playdate at Victoria's. It may be my last time going to a playdate...my kids, not the fellow daters. That's where things started going downhill.
I need to scoot. I have a zillion things to do and motivation and energy for maybe one.
Have a good weekend.

Friday Fun at Victoria's

Steven and Andrew

Gorgeous Gretchen

Johnny with the color puzzle

Luke showing his musical abilities

Steven and Andrew showing brotherly love

Gretchen

Caitlin and Steven doing a puzzle together

Steven in one of his many get-ups that day

Scarlett and Caitlin

Since Vic and I are obviously the coolest, we had a playdate by ourselves Friday. Between the 2 of us we still managed to have 10 kids for awhile. I had my 4 and my 2 nieces, and Vic had her 4. Kellie was in PA and Lura was selling a garage, so I guess they are still cool. :) We had a nice time visiting - as always - and the kids played, and were sometimes even well behaved! Gretchen amazed me with pushing herself up to standing on my lap and almost being a crawler! She is quite advanced for a four month old. I love the fact that she always has a smile for Auntie Amanda as soon as I pick her up. She is such a doll! I got to see the next quilt that Victoria is doing, which will be beautiful, I'm sure and I copied a lot of bread machine recipes. I don't know anyone with a greater cookbook collection that Vic!

The kids went to Bible School today and I am enjoying my few hours of quiet time. I pick them up at noon and hopefully they will be angelic for the rest of the day. Being at church should do that, right???

We had the Harris reunion on Saturday. It was nice, a lot of people from all over the country. I am always surprised at how far they travel to come. The organizers of it live in Arizona and do all the work from there to make it happen. Sean has some really neat relatives and they always make it fun. I wasn't wanting to go this year, but I am glad that we did. We only got slightly lost on the way there - it always seems to happen when Sean listens to my directions. I don't get it.

I need to go and fold laundry - will it ever end?! I am thinking of having my children become nudists, just so I don't have to wash their clothes. Caitlin changes outfits several times a day and my boys strip down to their boxers as soon as they walk in the door anyways!

Have a good day!

I am cranky today. Blah. Just motherhood issues as always. I am running out of patience and ideas. Gabe has an appointment scheduled on Wednesday with a new doctor for his football physical and ADHD. I am going to inquire about stimulants. I was against them for a long time, but I think we have exhausted other options. When I say stimulants, I am talking about ritalin (sp) and that class of meds. The non stimulant class of meds was not effective. I have talked with several people who are around Gabe on a regular basis and they all feel that this is the best option now. The triplets are just feeding off of his behavior, so it is not pleasant at this house right now.

I keep trying to plan fun activities for the kids. We don't have much in the way of money, so I am looking for cheap or free things. We go to the library alot, to the park, we have been making homemade bread and watching how the dough changes, playdates, swimming, hiking, fruit picking, crafts.....I keep trying..

I was given a much needed laugh by Mr. Kevin W. yesterday! The picture of him and Alan is priceless~ Thank you Kevin!! Someday I will make it to Disney. If only to take a picture of myself next to all the Alan Alda memorabilia!

I have been reading up a storm lately. I haven't been sleeping to well, so I have been enjoying escaping into books. I have read The Last Olympian and Inkheart and recommend those books to everyone! The Last Olympian is the final book in the Percy Jackson series and it is a fantastic series!! I am reading Mean Season right now and also finished This Pen for Hire yesterday. I told Sean that when we buy a house again, I want a library area. I don't care if it is a closet lined with Bookshelves or designated space in the basement. I would love an area that I can surround myself in the books I love and escape for a few hours. I grew up with parents that always had a book with them and overflowing bookshelves all over the house. My aunts were the same, my sister, my cousins.... I guess that is why there are so many teachers in my family - and a librarian! I can remember being on vacation and waiting for one of my parents to finish a Dean Koontz or James Patterson and waiting for the chance to read it next!

I am rambling. I had a lot to talk about, but will do it later. I just wanted to say hi!

I am on my way to the library with Tanis and the Triplets. Say a

prayer for me!!!!! They have promised to be good and leave all

of their clothes on and NOT discuss body parts or functions.

I hope that you are all having a good day.

Apron Giveaway

I discovered this via Lura's blog and it is a fun read! You should all check it out.

Geocaching Fun

Kellie talking to the group about the rules. Notice she is not addressing anyone inparticular......

Finding the first 'treasure!'

Tinkle break. This prompted a "Why we do not tinkle on our friends' talk.

Carmen and Aunt Amanda

Scarlett and the dead fish

creek hiking

Kellie going over the rules...........again!

Off we go into the woods! Everyone is still dry and wearing shoes.

Spontaneous reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Yesterday Kellie and I took my kids, Tanis, and my nieces Carmen & Scarlett geocaching and hiking. It was really a fun time. We started at the Nature Trail and while unsuccessful at the geocaching, we had some fun hiking. Caitlin, Jonathan, Luke and I decided against the creek hike part - I was not prepared, but instead we got to climb down a steep slope and see lots of green goo. Despite accidentally leaving Carmen's shoes in the van when I made a quick stop back, and then having to piggyback her for the rest of the way, it was fun. We ended at Woodlawn Cemetary where we found 2 treasures and got in a lot of walking. Great exercise and great fun!!

I am going to take the lazy girl way out and direct you to Kellie's blog to read about the rest of our adventure.

Happy 4th!