My great-grandmother turned 100 years old a couple of weeks ago! I can't imagine living that long and seeing all the changes over those years. We took a picture of the five generations...I think it's so cool! Oh, and those are silk overalls my Papa is wearing!

Yea!!! We finally have high-speed internet! Now that I don't have the worry about tying up the phone line, I plan to blog more! Of course, this all depends on how busy this English class keeps me. We have to participate on a discussion board a certain number of times during the week. So far, I'm enjoying the interaction with my classmates. This is my first internet course involving regular discussion, so it's a whole new world for me.

A few happenings since the last post:

Kayleigh ate three pennies, which I then had to check her poop for. Oh, the joys of motherhood! They passed without a hitch, and hopefully she learned her lesson. She is in an experimental stage right now. Every thought that enters her head must be tried out....this includes taking off child-proof caps and spilling medicine everywhere. I thought the bottle was out of her reach, but she figured out how to get it somehow!

William is pulling up on everything and he can stand on his own for as long as he feels like. He gets this huge smile everytime he catches himself standing. Guess he thinks he's pretty hot stuff or something. His determination amazes me! Kayleigh was a pretty easy baby to redirect, but not William. That child does not forget about what he wants. Yesterday I spent a good 15 minutes pulling him away from the stove while I was cooking. The kid would not give up and when he finally did, he went for the cookbooks on the shelf. And he is a screamer! There is no question he is upset when he doesn't get his way. I think he gets this from Justin!

I am enjoying my laid back summer schedule with daycare children. Right now I only have one little boy on Tues and Thurs. This enables me to focus more on my own children. Some days I feel like my children miss out on quite a bit because I have other children to worry about. I really enjoy the days when it is just me and them. Today I think we will go to the library after William's nap. Kayleigh loves going to the library! Reading is one of her favorite things to do and I am so glad she already loves books!

That's all I have for now....I'll try to drum up some deep thoughts for the next installment!

Abba, Kayleigh and Daddy at the ZOO this last October. Isn't this the sweetest picture!

William watching the men work with tools!

WheelBarrels are so much FUN!!

Kayleigh on her new swing set!

Did you know there is gobs of FREE preschool material on the Internet! I could spend hours ( and to be honest I already have) searching all the websites out there. I have found so many awesome craft and lesson ideas for this next year. I think I am going to work toward about an hour to an hour and a half of "school" time after the summer. Of course this will be totally flexible depending on the mood of the children. Some days they will sit and pay attention and other days I'm lucky to get a five minute story in. I working hard at keeping the TV off for most of the day and getting them outside for at least 30 minutes. I love this weather....we can stay out all day if I want to.

Daddy, Papa, Uncle Mark and Cousin Jeff put together Kayleigh's new fort/swing set this weekend! She loves it and is already a pro at climbing the ladder and rock wall. So, now we have our very own park in the backyard. Although, I do still plan to visit the park down the street at least two or three times a week. That's my exercise!

Still working on school stuff. Only one more week and then the final. I'll be taking British Lit through TWU this summer. Hopefully I won't have problems finding time to read and write some papers. I found out TWU offers a General Studies degree online, so that's the route I'm going to get my Bachelor's. Still not sure what I want to do when I grow up, but at least this degree provides some options (Master's in Teaching or Library Science are two I have considered). I have a while before I'll return to the work force, so for now I'm just going to focus on the BA.

Well...I think I hear a child waking up!

Per Justin's request....here's a picture of Kayleigh! She is cutie pie!

William discovered if he makes razz-berries with food in his mouth it makes a huge mess. He sure liked painting his highchair, though. I had a really hard time keeping my laughs inside. He would spit it out and then laugh...it was so cute! Kayleigh didn't really make noises with her mouth as a baby, so this is a new experience for me.

Justin left for a business trip on Wednesday and he was supposed to be back last night. His flight was cancelled due to weather : ( He should be back this afternoon. Having the kiddos all be myself is a whoop! Kayleigh is officially potty training and she's doing pretty good...I take her every two hours, so she's not doing it on her own just yet. I was trying to avoid the whole Pull-Ups thing, but after cleaning up a few accidents I decided they weren't so bad. When you have four other kiddos running around, the last thing you want to do is clean up pee and poop off the floor!

I think Kayleigh is ready to start phonics. She knows all the letters, upper and lower cases, and that's the first sign. She also pretends to read to herself and is constantly asking me what a word says. Over the last month, I have searched the internet for some sort of preschool curriculum, but I have decided to just develop my own as needed. Most of the programs incorporate writing and she's not quite to that point yet. This is somewhat scary to me...I am a needs direction kind of person. A trait I not too happy about most of the time. I was the only kid in my family not in LEAP. I was tested twice, but horribly failed on the creativity part. They give you a drawing of half a box and tell you to create a picture. I made the other half of the box...sad, isn't it. Oh well.

Oh, Kayleigh had her first minor-major injury last week. She decided to twirl into the coffee table and used her teeth to break her fall. Luckliy, no permenant damage was done, although the dentist said her teeth might discolor over the next few years. It looked pretty bad and I wish I had taken a picture. She had a pretty fat lip for a couple of days and it was all bruised underneath. Of course she cried for maybe a minute when she did it and it hasn't bothered her since.

Well, Kayleigh is needing attention, so gotta run!

Nothing like a little tonsil cleaning to brighten up your day!

The house is quiet...the kiddos are napping. I'm taking a break from writing code for the programming class I'm taking. That's why I haven't blogged in a while. It seems that when I have time to get on the computer, there is always work to be done!

We are finally all well! For about three weeks at least on of us had a cold..that includes me. I thought moms were immune to sickness. At least my mom was! It was a rough cold season for all of us, except Kayleigh. I guess she got it all out of her system last year ( she ended up with pneumonia last January). I contracted two different colds this year and that's two more that normal. William has been sick since about the beginning of December, but he's finally getting better. He had two bloody noses last week, so the doctor put him on a stronger antibiotic and that seems to have taken care of everything. I'm hoping he is like Kayleigh and just has one bad year!

On to other happenings!

Since Kayleigh was born I have been throwing around the idea of homeschooling my children. At first I thought I would just do it until about 4th grade, but I think I am now leaning towards going through middle school. It's a little bit of selfishness on my part...I want to have more time with my children. Five years just doesn't seem long enough! Plus, I want to be the one who sees them light up at understanding something for the first time, or share in their excitement about a favorite subject. Maybe I'm romanticizing the experience a little. And maybe, once I start I'll realize I only want to do it for a little while. It's bit scary to think I'll be the one responsible for teaching them...there's a lot out there to learn. I'm finding out, however, there is so much support out there for homeschooling parents. Kayleigh still has over two years before she would start kindergarten, so there's lots of time for research! Although I think I am leaning towards the classical style of homeschooling.

Well I thought I would have time to post something, but it seems William wants to eat now. Sorry...maybe I'll get lucky another time!

My children are so cute!

I was thinking....I used to have BIG THOUGHTS. I used to ponder those BIG QUESTIONS. I used to sing something besides Wiggles, Barney and Doodlebops. My children have taken over my mind. Now I have "mommy brain"! There are days I miss life before children. Adult conversation is limited now (well any conversation really...two year olds don't really have conversations). I get out of the house on Mondays and Sundays....sometimes if I'm lucky on Friday or Saturday night. I'm in bed before 10 pm most nights. I remember when my night was just beginning around then. I remember being able to sleep in if I was up late the night before. I remember being able to go somewhere without it taking 20 minutes to get loaded into the car. Not that I'm complaining. I love parenting my children and I wouldn't have anyone else do it for me. Still there are days when I wish for the freedom of pre-children days. Then I look at pictures such as the one above and realize how fast those two are growing. This parenting business will be over before I know it!

UPDATES!!!!! (finally!)

I'm really not that busy...I just haven't made blogging a priority these past few months. Forgive me!

Okay so here's what's going on....Justin has been out of town since Thursday. He's skiing with his uncle, lucky bugger. Hopefully his flight will be on time and he'll be home late tonight! Yea!! Our four month old dryer decided break right after Christmas and it's still that way. Whatever provides power to the heat source melted, so we have to replace the main component thingy. So much for quality electronics. Good thing we have family around...can't imagine having to go to a laundrymat with two kiddos in tow. Let's see what else....

Kayleigh Update

Kayleigh figured out how to climb out of her crib this week. She mastered the old crib about a year ago, but the new one is bigger and it's taken her a while to get this one. Wednesday night she climbed out and hopped into our bed twice. She hasn't done it since then, though....climb into our bed that is. She still climbs out whenever she wakes up in the morning and after nap. Guess it's time to get her a big girl bed. Potty training is officially on the back burner for now. She absolutely refuses to sit on the potty for me and I really just don't want to deal with that right now. We'll try again over Spring Break, but I won't force her until this summer. She is totally capable, but she's digging her heals in right now.

William Update

William weighs a whopping 18lbs and 13 oz and 25 inches long as of Friday. The kid is HUGE!!! I forget he's only four months old, which is easy to do since Kayleigh was 9 months old at that size. I think he is beginning to cut his bottom teeth, so he's a little cranky right now. Oh, and he had a ear infection and is on breathing treatments. My children and their lungs....I blame Justin! Other than that, he's is the best baby. He is so laid back and happy! I love the whole-face smile he gives me and how he practically shakes with excitement at the sight of me! Yep, he's a momma's boy...but aren't all men!

Isn't this the cutest onesie! 

Miss Adorable and Mr Cutie Pie 

Attention Daddy, Abba and Papa....someone needs a jungle gym! 

Kayleigh the musician 

Playing dress up!  

Princess Kayleigh on Halloween 

Playing video games with Daddy 

Big sister getting "icky" drool off his face. She's very helpful! 

Almost 2 months old!!! Isn't he handsome! Gotta love those cheeks! 

A New Posting!!!

It's about time, I know. I'm going to use having two kiddos to look after as my excuse for lack of posting. Right now I have about an hour a day when both of them are sleeping. During this time I have two choices...take a nap or take a shower. The change from one to two isn't too terribly difficult. William is a very easy baby so far, as was Kayleigh. I think God knows I wouldn't handle a difficult baby too well, so he gives me easy babes.

Kayleigh Update
Kayleigh is still a pretty easy kiddo; I just can't be as laid back as my nature wants to be. She's watching Barney right now...it's about the only time she's still for more that two seconds. The other day I read a book to her and Tre (the little boy I watch). Tre quietly sat beside me and listened. Kayleigh, however, did not stop moving and was constantly talking. It's amazing how different they are, even at their young age.

I am loving this stage with Kayleigh, though. Yes, she keeps me on my toes, but she is learning so much right now! She sings her ABCs....well, some parts are a bit slurred still, but the tune is recognizable. She has about five of her books memorized and will sit and "read" them to herself or William.

We are beginning to work on potty training. I'm not going all out yet, but she's getting the concept down. She's done No. 1 and No. 2 in the potty!

William Update
Let's see....William is growing so fast. He's already 14 pounds! For reference Kayleigh was about 5 months before she weighed that much and he's only 2 months old. He's smiling and "talking" now! He can follow objects with he eyes. He is even trying to roll over from tummy to back! Oh, and he's sleeping about 8 hours most nights.....totally awesome for me! William is my cuddle-bug! He is perfectly content to just sit in my lap or lay on my shoulder. I love it!

Well, Barney is over, so my time is up!

Do you ever have one of those life events that seem to change how the world feels? I mean you know that nothing is really that different and life is going on just the same as did the day before, but something just feels odd. For example, my grandfather passed away this February and although I wasn't close to him, the whole day felt just weird. Or after I found out I was pregnant with Kayleigh every once in a while the realization of what was happening inside would hit, and things felt strange. Well, the world has felt different lately. Something happened in our church family on Sunday, and though I am not intimatly involved, I am still feeling a bit bewildered. Mostly, I think I am just grieving...for myself, my church, but mainly the persons most affected. It will never be as it used to be and as a person who isn't so crazy about change, this is kinda scary. Yet I know God is able to use anything for good, and I know He will bring healing in the situation. I am hopeful about the future of our church. I trust the leadership and rest in the knowledge that they are seeking God's wisdom in all of this. We will survive...in fact we will overcome!

No pictures please! 

Justin and kiddos 

Now I know the parallel bars are a men's gymnastic event, but that could change in 15 years or so. 

Monkey girl trying to climb a tree! 

Big sister Kayleigh! She seems so big now that he's here. 

Father and son. Justin was a little more comfortable this time around! 

Here's proof!!! 

Here he is!!! William James made his appearance at 5:54 pm on August 29th. He weighed a whopping 9 lbs 6 1/2 oz and is 21 1/2 in long! This picture was taken shortly after birth.....he found that thumb right away! 

And he's overdue! I'm not surprised, but I sure was hoping to have this one early! We are scheduled to induce Tuesday the 29th if he doesn't come before then. I'm really hoping he comes this weekend, that way my mom, mother-in-law and sister can be there for the birth. Not to mention Justin starts summer classes next week, so it would be nice for him to be here before then. I'm a little scared of being induced. I've heard the pain is so much worse and I would really like to do this without an epidural this time. Not that I would be totally disappointed if I end up requesting one...I figure, I'll give it a go, but I'm not going to make myself miserable.