The birds!!

O.K., something has to be done about the birds!!! There are like 5 of them in the walls of our house. They peck, peCK, PECK all afternoon. I especially notice it while the kids are napping. There is one right behind my wedding portrait and I swear it is going to just come flying through the middle of my face at any moment! I don't know how to get rid of them. If we close up the holes, they will just make new ones. We certainly can't afford to reside the house (an option in the future, I'm sure.) I have thought of bird houses and bird baths, but I am afraid that will draw more. I am going to start having Alfred Hitchcock like nightmares. Please help me get rid of the birds!

How I am going to blog more.

It has been brought to my attention (by many) that I have once again neglected my blog. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what my problem is. I think it is a combo of things starting with the obvious time issue. Next, the “what do I write” issue. And finally, the “I am debilitated by my own perfectionism” issue. Now as I write this, as I realize that I have a fourth issue. Privacy. For some reason, I have a fear of putting things in writing for people to see. I guess you can call me blog shy. I have plenty to say and wear my heart on my sleeve in person but seeing my personal thoughts written out makes them very permanent. That, and I lead a crazy life. Do I want to share the craziness? Well, I decide yes.
Back to the time issue. I only really have time at night and a lot of times I am just mentally zapped. Others, it is the only time I get to spend with my very busy hubby and he comes first. I will try to make more time though. I don’t think that is the biggest issue.
What do I write? I tend to always have plenty to say but the second I sit in front of my blog screen, my hands clam up. So, my solution. I will jot down notes throughout the day in my word processor, clean it up at night and then paste it to the blog. We will see if that helps. I originally wanted it to be my journal of sorts. I guess this goes back to the blog shy thing. I type something and then think to myself, “no one wants to know that!” or “that’s WAY too much information!” Hopefully typing it throughout the day will allow me to filter better and then I can keep my “personal” info on the original and not put it all out for the world to see.
Lastly, my perfectionism. This one has been coming back to bite me lately. I am a perfectionist to a fault. A big fault. In fact, I am such a perfectionist that I procrastinate because if I can’t do it “right” I would rather not do it at all. I have always been like this, but had more control over the “right” so it wasn’t as much of an issue for me. Now that I have little control over things (insert 4 kids in a little over 4 years) I notice how this part of me can be a huge problem (the perfectionism not the kids.)
All of this is leading up to my new motto. “Just do it!” Not in an 80’s everyone get high and do stupid stuff way, but in a “let go of your hang ups and get something done” way. So here it goes.

Peyton's 2nd Birthday

Peyton had a great birthday. Some friends came for cupcakes on her birthday and she woke up to her new kitchen set. The next day, we played and took the kids to the Teddy Bear Factory for them to make animals. They really enjoyed doing this. Then, we had some more friends over for pizza and a "Princess Castle Cake" which she picked out. They all had a great time. She is such a fun 2 year old. Her favorite things are "dollies" and her favorite thing to do is to sing and dance. She loves anything pink even though she says it's "lellow." I am convinced it is because it is a fun word to say. She brings so much joy to our home. She walks around singing "Jesus loves me" in her sweet little voice and melts our hearts.

This is Peyton getting a Tinkerbell toy from her brothers.









Peyton and Drew while opening presents.


Peyton and me blowing out the candles.

Peyton opening her fairy doll.

Just a pretty picture of our pretty princess.

Christmas Parade

December 6, 2008

The kids enjoyed the Christmas parade even though it was FREEZING!! Drew said his favorite part was all of the candy and the "parades" meaning floates. Logan said the candy and then Peyton piped up "The Candy!" They really liked the floates with all of the fun characters on them. Logan loved seeing all of the snow men. They are his favorites. Peyton really liked the "Santitas" which are the Santas in her language. Drew loved the train and truck things (and of course, the candy.) We all had a wonderful time. Even Carter enjoyed all of the lights and sounds. As other babies were being carted off by their parents, our little trooper hung in their and was great!

December 5, 2008

December 5, 2008

Well, as it has been brought to my attention, I have failed at keeping this up to date already. I have only 4 KIDS 4 AND UNDER as my excuse!!! Seriously, we have been so busy (having fun) that I haven't thought to share how much fun we have been having. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mom, Bob, and Sam came to Chattanooga for a few days and we all had a great time playing with the kids. Now, we are knee deep in the Christmas season with church functions, parties, birthdays, crafts, baking, and shopping. Peyton will turn 2 next week, Drew is a Shepard in the church Christmas program, Carter is "cruising" along furniture and said "da da" (even though I am not sure he knows it means anything yet) and Logan is wide open as usual. Drew is reading better and better and still has a loving excitement every time he discovers he can read a new book. He has a new friend from church named Ms. Kathleen that comes and reads with him from time to time (while I sneak in a nap). She is a reading specialist at a local school for the first grade and has a wonderful supply of different books for him to read to her. She is a wonderful dear for volunteering to come spend time with him. Logan has started to recognize small words and sounds and loves to "read" with us. He also loves for Drew to make up stories to tell him. Unfortunately, most of those stories are made up after bedtime and get ended before he would like. They have truly become best friends and this makes my heart so happy. They are inseparable. Peyton loves to sing. She walks around singing the words that she can remember to a number of songs. Her favorite of late is "Jesus loves me." I could listen to her sweet little voice all day long. She absolutely loves her baby brother and "squishes" him often. I have to pry him from her arms on a regular basis. She tries to pick him up and put him in her lap for "kisses." Drew and Logan also adore Carter and lavish him with hugs, kisses, an endless supply of baby toys, and praises of how cute he is. He is such a joy. Now for the pictures. These are random pictures that I have taken over the last few weeks. They are mostly self explanatory. Enjoy.

This is Drew's first sentence. I was with the baby and when I got back, he had written this all by himself (notice the "u" for an "a") I was very proud of my little man. He went on to try to write, "it's sunny outside."

October 31, 2008 - Friday

Halloween

We all had a great Halloween! We had a full day of fun things starting with Jack-o-Lantern pancakes. We did Halloween crafts and carved and decorated pumpkins. We made Halloween cupcakes and had other special "treats" throughout the day. When Pete came home, we had a "ghost hunt" with cloth covered lollipops hidden (scattered) through the yard. We went trick-or-treating around our neighborhood then ended the evening on a hayride and with a bonfire with some friends from church. The kids loved the hayride. Logan fell asleep in my lap, Carter thought it was a giant bouncy toy, Peyton was a little scared but still enjoyed it, and Drew just had fun! It was a great day.

October 26, 2008 - Sunday

Picking out Pumpkins

We went to a produce stand to get our pumpkin this year. We can't find an actual "patch" but we are still on the hunt for future pumpkin gatherings. The kids enjoyed looking at all of the pumpkins. Drew tried to pick them all up because he is "so strong." Peyton enjoyed looking for ladybugs since that was the first thing that she saw when we got there. She thought every pumpkin had their very own ladybug.