Bad Blogger

I'm way behind on my blogging and I'm sorry.

This was the kids last week of school. I can't believe they are going to be 7th and 5th graders. Where has the time gone???

Noelle leaves next week with her Papa and Gee, (my parents) for their Black Hills and Yellowstone adventure. She has been so looking forward to this. I remember this trip when I was around her age and it was one of my favorite family vacations. Michael and I will be taking care of Sandy. We are going to spend the night there the nights I don't work. The nights I do work, the plan is to go pick her up and she will spend the day at the shop. I think it will all work out.

Michael has soccer camp and try outs the second week of June. He is looking forward to that. Soccer will start up again in August.

It looks like the shop will be open in the next month or so. We are getting closer and closer!! We picked out the phone number the other day and Sean ordered stuff for the sign. We talked to a guy about putting an advertisement on the back of grocery receipts. He is going to get us more information.

I've started working for the new agency and really like it. They do all computer charting, very nice. They system is so user friendly.

I'm still going crazy with the "Grocery Game". I can't believe how much we have saved, let alone the fact that we are buying name brand stuff. The other day I went to the grocery store and was clipping the coupons in the car because I had planned on doing that when Noelle was at gymnastics. (it was cancelled) I was "embarrassing her". I told her I could either clip the coupons in the car or bring my whole binder into the store.

Turns out sitting in the car with your mom while she clips coupons is not that big of a deal.

New Agency

Tonight I start working with a new agency. The hospital I'll be at is only about 16 miles from home. That will be nice.

This agency goes to several different hospitals in the city, so it will be good to get some "all over" experience.

As with any new job, I'm excited and nervous!

6lbs 12ozs

that is what our beautiful Noelle Kathleen weighed in at 12 years ago. Where has the time gone? I've broken down several times today. Here are some pictures of Noelle through the years, enjoy.

Here she is:

Two weeks old...

One year old...

Tiny dancer...

Preschool...

School picture for this year...

A Party, A Broken Toe And Other Stuff

Boy what a busy few days we have had.

We had Noelle's family birthday party yesterday afternoon. I still can't believe she is going to be 12 on Tuesday~I will be crying all day. It's hard to believe that 12 years ago I was having irregular contractions.

I remember walking and walking and walking. I even went swinging at the park. Noelle was due on the 16th and Amy had come in town for Noelle's "arrival". Even then, Noelle was a little stinker. I think Amy's flight to go back to Virginia left around 6 pm and I was in the hospital in labor by about 1:30 am.

On the soccer front, Michael had his last game Sunday and they won. Michael didn't get much play time as it appears he has broken his left pinkie toe. He was running in the house to answer the door and smacked and popped it on the wall. It is a pretty shade of reddish purple and taped to the toe next to it.

Yesterday at church, our Haiti group shared some of our experiences. I spoke at first service and I feel it went really well. I didn't even cry~huge for me. I have started my journal about my trip, and will be adding more today and in the days to come. Be sure and check it out if you'd like.

In other exciting news, I have started something called "The Grocery Game". If you are apart of it, isn't it wonderful. If you aren't, check it out. You can try it for four weeks for $1. Last week was our first week and after I figured it up last night, we saved over $130! If you decide to go for it, please use my email address.

Are We Done Yet?

That's what the kids are wondering about school. Only about two weeks left. Our summer is pretty packed and I'm looking forward to it.

Michael has his next to last soccer game tonight.

I've started my Haiti trip log. I'm only up to the day we left and have much more to go. There are only so many hours in a day and to borrow something from my sister, "I have so much to say".

Dig A Little, Plant A Little

Dig, dig, dig, plant, plant dig a little more. Seventeen holes were dug to plant the haustus I got from my sister.

The area where I planted them is the area where the dogs like to lay. I'm hoping they will find a new place. I'm also hoping that the rabbits will leave them alone. Mom has always had problem with then eating hers.

With three dogs plus a real barker next door, I figure no rabbits will be snacking here.

Tonight is our last Dave Ramsey class. We are supposed to bring something to share food wise. My plan was to make a key lime pie. That changed when Sean and I had to fix the fence and plant the haustus.

We are instead bringing fudge stripe cookies~Wal*Mart brand.

Fantastic Mother's Day

We had a great Mother's Day. After church and a hair cut for Michael, we headed to the Well's ranch for lunch and fun with the boys.

Noelle and Michael brought bubbles and the boys were really entertained. Jon fixed some awesome burgers, dogs, brats and polish sausage. Amy had her mix of usual tasty snacks and salads and I brought a easy to fix pear salad dressing mix. (it sounds weird, but is really good)

My Mother's Day present was an under the counter radio/cd player. I've wanted one for a while, so it was a nice surprise. Somehow, I got to open it Saturday night. Sean was wondering how I was able to do this as he was hooking it up.

Noelle is home not feeling 100% today. I think it was more that she didn't sleep well as she slept until 10:30 and is now eating chicken noodle soup.

I dug up about seven patches of haustas from Amy's. Sean and I are going to plant them along the back of the house under where the kitchen and den windows are. We will have to put up some wire to keep the dogs from laying on them and bunnies from snacking.

Wet Week

It has rained here so much lately, we almost need a boat! Our grass is green, for now.

Michael had a field trip yesterday. Thankfully, it wasn't cancelled. It was at one of the state parks not far from here. Nothing like a bunch of fourth graders spending two hours walking through the woods. Michael found a tick on him when he came home. That makes three for him so far this year.

Last weekend, Michael's soccer team lost all three games. He had fun and that's the main thing.

Noelle had fun at her school mixer and had a great concert. I'm sorry that I missed it, but I was there in spirit.

I'm hoping tonight to start writing about my trip to Haiti. As I said, I'm going to put a link to it from here. I'm planning on being pretty detailed and I'm sure that not everyone is interested in hearing about it. To bad I don't have some way to speak and have the computer type it in. I can't type fast enough to get out what my mind is thinking.

Back From Haiti

I'm back from my missions trip. It was rewarding beyond words. It really puts things in perspective and makes you feel thankful for what you have.

I was amazed at how many people would live in such small quarters. No running water, no electricity. Most of the Haitian people we saw would maybe, maybe, eat one meal a day. How many meals have you had today?

The orphans that live in the orphanage's that are built by sponsors are lucky in that they have two meals every day and a lite snack. They have clothes and are educated.

I think all of us were touched in many ways. I have so many stories to share that I'm going to create a separate blog and link to it.

I missed Sean and the kids so much. It was so wonderful to get back to all of their hugs and kisses.

I Should Be Sleeping

I'm too excited! I leave for Haiti in about 10 hours. I'm pretty much packed and have most of my list checked off. (I know, you're surprised aren't you?)

I have excess with all the things I bought. There is still room in the suitcases of some of the others that are going, so that works out well. Our group decided if we have to pay for extra bags so be it.

I'm going to miss Sean and the kids so much.

Michael, my "mommy's boy" has had such a rough time. After being sick the last few days, it hit him today that I'll be gone. Luckily he has his soccer tournament this weekend and should be busy. Two on Saturday, at 7 am and 12:15 and one Sunday at 8 am.

Noelle has a mixer Thursday and a band concert Monday night. I won't be back in time to see the concert and that upsets me. I'm putting it out of my mind by knowing that I've heard her practice many times, so I've kind of had my own private concert.

Please keep me and my group in your thoughts and prayers. I'll have lots to tell when I get back.