We're still alive

It's been a while since I've written, but we've been keeping pretty busy. It's amazing how fast time goes by when the kids start up school again.

The past week has been quarter-end at work, so with that brings some longer hours and very busy days. I'm happy that we are pretty much done until next quarter-end. Oh boy and it happens right at Christmas and New Years.

Hunter got his special lunch today for his award he received for the Responsible student. They showered him with all kinds of little things, a new pencil and pin for his shirt that says "Most Responsible Student", a small container of play doh that he is just all excited about. He said they took his picture to post up somewhere, so we are quite proud of his achievement. He's come a long way since the first week of school!

Peyton is really enjoying preschool and finally seems pretty settled in. He had a few rough mornings the first week or two, but now is enjoying it. He really likes his teacher and even recognizes her car in the parking lot - so is excited to run in and greet her in the mornings. (We parked next to each other the other day, and walked in together)

Aubrey and Tanner are the lone ones at home now with daddy during the days. I think they are enjoying the quiet time and bonding. I asked Aubrey last night if she liked being home with daddy during the day and she said "NO" Daddy is a cry-baby. I asked her if she loved her daddy and she said "NO", I love my mommy - she is pretty. Ahhh, she is so sweet. She just giggles though after saying NO because she knows it will get a reaction out of her dad and I think it's their own little game. I told her that us girls need to stick together in this house of all boys and she agreed. She is my girl!

Tanner is just walking all over the place now, he has the hang of it and will be running before you know it. He talks up a storm, but most of it is jibberish, but he is starting to say things that are recognizable. His personality is sure coming out and he can have quite the little temper. Reminds me of another little boy, well and little girl for that matter. One thing is for sure, we have strong minded little children running around our house.

Well, David's home from work - guess I'd better go for the evening. Take care!

Until next time.

Dawn

Responsibility

Responsibility...is one of the most important elements of good character. This life skill is being practiced at Hunter's school this month and they are focusing on being good responsible citizens.

Congratulations to Hunter for being chosen as one of the few kindergartener's who are responsible citizens!!! Good Job Hunter! We are so proud of you!

Gone Fishing

The weather this weekend was perfect! We decided to spend the day with Grandma and Grandpa Harris yesterday. We enjoyed the outdoors and I spent part of the afternoon photographing butterflies and flowers in my mom's flower gardens. I have to admit, she has the most beautiful flower gardens of anyone I know!

While Zach, Jon and Dad were helping Grandma and Grandpa move into their new place, mom and I decided to take the four little ones on their first fishing adventure.

We got the tackle box and fishing poles all loaded in the car and headed down to the city lake. That didn't work out so well as the docks were already taken, so we headed down to the pits. The fish were not biting, so we had to move again to the low water bridge where we caught six fish. I even caught one - it was the biggest fish you'd ever see - we were able to feed the entire family dinner on it - check out my fish!

Okay, so maybe not dinner and maybe it wasn't that big! Everyone has to have their fish story. This was the size of about all the fish that we caught, but it really didn't matter. The kids had the best time ever and we didn't eat fish for dinner, we took them back to my parents and put them in their pond. Hunter summed it up as we were getting ready to leave - he said to my mom and I - "This was the best day of my life"!

I have put some pictures of the kids out on the flickr site on our fishing experience, so check them out if you choose. There is one picture of Hunter showing off his turtle shell - the funny thing about this is that he put it to his ear and was using it as a Turtle phone so he could communicate with the Ninja Turtles.

Here is one picture of me with my fish from another fishing adventure. Check out those pants!

The kids are already talking about their next fishing adventure, so hopefully we have some warm weather for a while so they can go again before the cold sets in.

Have a good week.

Dawn

Welcome Home Mom!

Every evening when I get home from work, the kids race to my car to be the first one to give me hugs and kisses. It always ends up that someone is mad because they were not the first, but someone always has to be first and someone always has to be last and I always try to make it where each one is the first at something.

The first to get a kiss on the cheek, the first to get a hug, the first to - well you get the picture. When I'm driving home from work, this is the quiet time I get to make phone calls that are otherwise disruptive at home. So, this evening when I pulled in the driveway I was talking with my Grandma and the following ensued...

Grandma - this video was created right after our conversation - Hunter on the passenger side crying and the other four trying to get in the drivers side. Sometimes I open the passenger side first - so as you can see an upset Hunter was trying to get in first on that side today. Some days, like today, I sit in the car with the doors locked just wondering if I really want to get out!

The hugs and kisses that follow are worth it though.

Dawn

Rain Rain Go Away...

Come again another day - I remember reciting that rhyme as a child and now as a mom - it's a favorite again! Let me paint the picture - 5 kids, four of which are under six - two parents, one house - lots of rain! Oh, Rain Rain - Go Away!

I told David tonight that I think I finally have figured out what I want to do when I grow up. Most everyone knows that I love photography, and I love taking pictures, but I really don't have that business sense to really build a business. It is a dream - but I just don't know how to go about it, as well as, I'm not that organized to really have a business.
I stopped by Hallmark today on my way to the grocery store and was looking through the cards. I have a really hard time buying cards anymore, for one reason they are so expensive, but for another - I always think - I could just make that. Which I usually end up doing - just making a card using one of my photos.
I think I'm going to start making some photo cards and trying to sell them - we'll see how this goes, as I said, I'm not very organized.

We are so proud of Zachary, as he got his first report card already. They have three tristers (never heard this term before) and two quarters and so far he has 4 A's, 2 B's and 1 C. He seems to enjoying school and working hard this year to bring home the grades and we couldn't be prouder of him.

Hunter is now deemed the "Teachers Helper" - she told David that she could trust him to assist with little errands, as we found out the other day with his trips to take Timothy to the buddy room. I am so happy that he is now enjoying school to the fullest.
Hunter only had one mishap this week and it wasn't with school, but with the bus. He is now riding the new bus that drops him off at the driveway, but he had a substitute bus drive on Thursday who didn't really know the route and Hunter became a little upset when the bus driver passed our house and didn't drop him off. It all worked out, she turned around - but he doesn't deal well with this type of situations. He was all worried on Friday that it was going to happen again, but everything went smoothly.

Peyton is having a good time in preschool. He is always a little apprehensive when I first drop him off, but he warms up pretty quickly and is ready to go play. This has been the case, until yesterday when I left him in tears. I think he was just a little tired and hopefully next week we won't have any tears.

I enjoyed an evening out last night with some friends. Lori, Kelly, Chris and I all worked together at Sprint and try to get together 2-3 times a year. We always meet at Houlihans for half priced appetizers and good conversation. It had been 4 years since we had a good political discussion and last night was no different. Lucky for us, we're all pretty much in agreement so it doesn't lend to hard feelings and debates.

Lori and I always enjoy some shopping time after our meetings and last night we battled the rain to spend some quality shopping time together. There's nothing like getting your shopping list at Wal-Mart taken care of in the company of a friend.

Until next time...

Dawn

Every Parents Worst Nightmare...and Other Stuff

This really isn't the Hunter blog - but seems like he is providing quite the entertaining stories here lately.

I'm in the kitchen making dinner this evening and discussing school with Hunter. He's showing me his papers that he did and filling me in on all the scoop. He says "Do you know Timothy?" I say - no, but you've told me about him - he says well, he brought a gun to school today. Oh NO! - what kind of gun, I asked Hunter. This was not the response I was expecting - Strawberry. Strawberry??? Yes, strawberry gum not gun. I wasn't expecting this, I guess I just heard him wrong and am very happy it was just gum that he brought to school!

Well, it turns out Timothy made some bad choices at school today (Hunter's words) and that stoplight smiley face system I was talking about the other day - well, he made it to the "red" zone and had to go to another class to some buddy system they have. Hunter was quite proud that the teacher put him in charge of getting Timothy to the correct place. I asked Hunter how he got to that room and he said, oh mom, it's simple - you walk out our door, take a right go up the stairs, take another right and you are there. I get such a kick out of his matter a fact statements.

He absolutely loves school now - he told me the other day that he just didn't realize that Kindergarten was going to be this much fun. I'm so glad that he has finally made that decision and that he is truly enjoying it.

I never thought this time would come, but I have made the life altering decision to give up my one big vice. I'm not exactly sure what caused me to give it up, but when I ran out one Sunday I just didn't go buy any more. Yes, my dear friend, Diet Coke. I am a true addict! Zachary always teased me that if I was going to give it up that I would have to go into DC rehab. Well, I have not given it up totally, but I have cut back drastically. I am drinking one a day, but I am currently going through major withdrawals. I never realized that the withdrawals would be quite this bad. The headaches can be dealt with by taking a couple Excedrin Migraines, but the irritability and other withdrawal symptoms are unbelievable! I know the benefits of giving it up will outweigh what I'm going through now, but I sure can't wait until this period is over!

Everyone else is doing good. Nothing big to report - other than Tanner is working on his walking skills and walks a little more every day. We are so excited as I was beginning to think he'd be 5 and I'd still be carrying him!

Have a good week!

Dawn

The Little Things

Sometimes it's the little things that excite us so much. Let me tell you my story. I was at work yesterday when I decided to call home and see how Hunter's day had gone at school. He has made leaps and bounds since the first week. He got on the phone and was so excited to tell me that he had stayed in the "Green" zone all week. The teacher has what looks like a upside down stop light, however, it's faces - the green is on top and it's a smiley face, yellow is in the middle and it's a somber face and then red is on the bottom, which is a mad face.
Since Hunter had stayed in the green zone all week, he was able to pick a prize out of the treasure box. He was so excited to share with me what he had picked out and I was quite happy with him for being able to pick out a new little prize. Of the little animals and various toys that could be chosen, Hunter picked out the Kid's Germ Antibacterial spray. The excitement he had about this was to me just funny. I never thought about antibacterial spray as exciting - but to him it was the coolest thing.

I had to run to Wal-Mart the other night for diapers. I will be so glad when we are out of diapers, as I think we've been buying these for the past five years straight! I was picking up some new socks for the boys and decided to go ahead and just get each of them a new pack of underwear and Aubrey a package of new girlie panties. When I got home, they all came running and wanted to know if they had gotten a treat. Well, most certainly - look in the bag, Peyton and Aubrey couldn't be more excited about their new undies, while even though Hunter liked his, he was a little disappointed that I considered his underwear a treat! My intention wasn't that this would be a treat, but since I didn't have one - this is what I used and it worked.

Everything is going well on the school front. Peyton started preschool on Tuesday and he loves it. The first day he came home he told me, I didn't cry like Hunter!
I have been trying to work with the transportation department to get Hunter's bus stop moved since he is a block and a half a way from our house - seems like quite a distance for a Kindergartner. They called us back yesterday and we are so excited that they have moved his bus stop to our house! They will be picking him up and dropping him off at the end of our driveway. I didn't think it would be this close, but I couldn't be happier!

Have a good weekend!

Dawn