the munseys blog

Another one....

2011-03-11T12:11:00.003-05:00

....of Campbell's teeth came out. The BIG one!! She looks so much older than she did the day before. Amazing how that works! Now the other big one is loose.

Oh well, it looks like the tooth fairy may be making another visit to the Munsey household very soon.

No Tears

2011-02-09T12:00:00.002-05:00

Today was Riley's 4 year check up with her Pediatrician. The much dreaded booster shots were due and needless to say, Riley was not thrilled about it at all!!!

She had a great check up with her doctor as always. She is finally in the 50% in height(39 3/4 in.) and 25 % in weight(32 lbs). Then the "S" word came up for discussion and Riley's reaction wasn't as bubbly as it had been in the beginning. She was taking it in stride and I promised her that she would get a treat for every shot she received today to help ease her anxiety.

Apparently, it worked because she actually watched the nurse inject the needles in her thighs and didn't even cry...not even a whimper!! Her only reaction when it was all said and done was, "that hurt".

What a big girl!! I am so proud of her!

New Project

2011-01-31T09:01:00.003-05:00

We have been in our house for a little over 5 years now and we finally put up some curtains in our dining room. I'm so excited because it is exactly what I wanted. Thank you Brent for making this possible. : )

Riley's 4th Birthday Party

2011-01-16T18:49:00.003-05:00

My little rock star!!

Princess Riley had a Rapunzel Birthday Party.

Make a wish!

Shortly after Christmas, Brent and I took the girls to see the movie Tangled. It was a huge hit with the girls, especially Riley. She just had to have a Rapunzel birthday party after seeing it. My wheels immediately started spinning and getting into party mode. Between the two of us, we had come up with all sorts of party ideas.

Luminaries in place of the lanterns

Tower cake

Rapunzel party favors

Pink & purple balloons

Well, all of them happened except for the Tower Cake. Unfortunately, I didn't get any before shots of the cake, but it had an unfortunate fall. All the Kings Horsemen and all the Kings Men couldn't put "the cake" back together again. At least I get an "A" for effort....right? I was devastated and I immediately called my sister for help. Her advise was simple....go buy a cake. So, I did and added a few embellishments to it and called it a day.

Sweet Riley didn't mind at all. All she wanted was presents, cake and ice cream. That's exactly what she got! We all had a wonderful time and was extremely entertained the whole night with performances on her new "Rock Show" present. Which includes a microphone and speakers. (videos to follow)

Happy Birthday Riley!!

A Little Behind.....

2011-01-13T08:03:00.004-05:00

It's been a while since I have posted on my blog. There's plenty going on around here, but I have not made the time to write about it. So, here's a few pictures to show you what we did over Christmas and New Years.

Dressing up and going to Hotel Roanoke to look at the Festival of Trees.

Christmas party at our church.

Watching tons and tons of football.

Happy New Year!

Snow Day

2010-12-17T08:53:00.003-05:00

The Christmas break has officially begun....two days early. Both girls had snow days yesterday and today. Unfortunately, that means both Christmas parties at school have been cancelled too. No sad faces here though! The kids were having so much fun in the snow that they didn't mind at all.

Ida and Campbell sledding in the snow.

Jackson and Riley are all bundled up and ready to go!

Jackson's favorite part was eating the snow! Yummy!

Hard to believe....

2010-12-11T14:30:00.002-05:00

...my girls actually got their picture made with Santa Claus. This is the first time they have ever had anything to do with him. They have always been content with looking at him from a distance.

Nana took the girls out to breakfast at Applebee's for a school fundraiser this morning. Jackson stayed home with Brent. As part of the "breakfast" experience, all the kids were able to get their pictures made with Santa. I can't believe I actually have proof!

Maybe we can get a picture of all three of my kids next year.

Merry Christmas!

Halloween Fun!

2010-11-02T11:25:00.003-04:00

Every year on Halloween our neighborhood has a potluck dinner before the kids go out and trick-or-treat. It's just a fun time of year where even the adults can be a kid again. Unfortunately, Jackson had an ear infection and didn't get to join us this year. Hopefully, next year I'll be able to get a picture of all three of my kids in costume.

Campbell dressed up as a cat and Riley dressed up as Tinkerbell.

Hannah and Campbell (BFF's)

Wedgwood kids.

Toothless?

2010-10-26T07:07:00.003-04:00

Sort of.....

I have attached two pictures of Campbell to get a good shot of her permanent tooth coming through. Campbell was one of those rare cases (or so I thought) where her permanent tooth actually poked through first before her tooth came out. After talking to my mom yesterday, she reminded me that it apparently runs in our family. The dentist actually had to pull everyone of my baby teeth because of that same situation. The only difference was that Campbell's tooth was loose and mine were not. My nephew is also dealing with the same situation at the moment as well. Hopefully, he can avoid the dentist.

Thanks to Grandma, we were able to avoid the dentist with Campbell. She worked it loose with pliers. In the end, Campbell pulled it out herself and she wasn't scared one bit. She just wanted it out!

Me on the other hand, I would have been terrified if someone came at me with something metal toward my mouth. Maybe I'm just a wimp! : )

Fall Harvest Party

2010-10-24T16:41:00.003-04:00

Here's some pictures of Riley's Fall Harvest Party at Preschool. All the kids were either encouraged to dress up as a farmer or farm animal. I wasn't able to be there, but Nana and Jackson were there in my place. I think she had a great time!

Farmer Riley....

Yummy snack food!

Mrs. Maynor is helping Riley with her craft.

Saying Good-bye

2010-10-16T12:37:00.002-04:00

My cat, Mittens, passed away today at the age of 20 years old. She had several medical problems and we decided that it would be best to put her to sleep than to allow her to suffer any longer. That had to be the hardest phone call I have ever had to make in my entire life. The Veterinarian Hospital where I used to take her was extremely empathic and listened patiently as I was sobbing over the phone to them. I am truly grateful for all they have done for her.

Thankfully, Campbell had a football game this morning, so we were not here when Brent took Mittens to the Vet. After the game, we all ate lunch (including the grandparents) at McDonald's before heading home to break the news to the kids. The kids took it very well. We have been preparing them all week by letting them know that she wasn't feeling well and was very sick. Campbell even made the comment earlier today that she thought Mittens was dying. I agreed and told her that Daddy was taking her to the Vet to see what they could do for her. Then she asked me if they couldn't do anything for her would she die? I struggled to get the word "yes" out, but I was relieved at the same time that she understood and had already accepted it.

After we explained to the kids about Mittens death, we had a sweet Memoral Service for her to provide closer and have the chance for all of us to say good-bye one last time.

We will miss you Mittens!

Campbell's Field Trip

2010-10-15T19:44:00.003-04:00

I went along with Campbell on her field trip to Johnson's Orchards on Wednesday. We picked apples, learned how apple butter and apple cider were made the old fashioned way. It was extremely fascinating and educational all at the same time. I absolutely love going on field trips with my kids.

We were there most of the day. Of course, I gave her the choice to ride home with me, but she opted to ride the bus instead. That's fine...I hit the gift shop before coming home and picked up a jar of the delicious apple butter. Yummy!

Campbell showing off the apple she picked off the apple tree.

Class photo with Johnny Apple Seed.

She stuffed as many apples in her bag as she possibly could.

Here's the apple pie we made from Campbell's apples. It turned out so good!

A little behind....

2010-10-08T17:01:00.004-04:00

Here's a few things that have been going on in the past few weeks. I'm a little behind on updating the blog. It's been a busy fall so far, but never a boring moment.

Battle at Byrd. Several cheer squads including the Vinton Terrior Biddie Cheerleaders performed in the fundraiser for Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. All the girls did a great job.

Campbell with her pink medal.

Riley's Preschool field trip to Layman Family farms. We are on a hayride to the pumpkin patch.

Taking a ride on the cow train.

Riley's Preschool class. So cute!!

Birthday Apron

2010-09-19T21:33:00.004-04:00

This is my "early" birthday apron. Can you tell what it is?

A sailboat!

The water is Campbell's hands, the boat is Jackson's hands and the sail is Riley's hand. This has to be the most adorable thing I have ever seen! Something that I will cherish forever.

Friday night the kids had a sleep over with Nana (Brent's mom). This brave soul had the courage to help my kids with a painting project. All three at the same time. She did admit that it took a lot longer than she anticipated. I don't doubt it!

This morning while we were getting ready for church, Riley was telling me something about painting with Nana. She said she couldn't tell me what it was because it's a secret. It's my birthday present.

Little did I know that I was getting it tonight. I immediately put it on and wore it the rest of the night. I love it!

Thank you Nana for pouring your love and time into my children.

I think she's got it.....

2010-09-09T07:33:00.004-04:00

I just wanted to update everyone on Riley's pacifier status. She didn't cry or whine at all for her paci during her nap time or bedtime last night. WOW.....that was quick and easy!!!

Thankfully, no more paci's in the house. Considering Jackson stopped sucking his two fingers on his own about 4 or 5 months ago, we don't have to break him of that bad habit either! YEA!

Riley's 1st Day of Preschool

2010-09-08T08:54:00.003-04:00

Riley loves her new outfit and shoes!

Riley is ready for her first day of preschool.

Riley with her teachers, Mrs. Maynor and Mrs. Keith at Bonsack Baptist Preschool.

Riley woke up at 6:00 yesterday morning and was raring to go to her first day of preschool. By 7:00 she was dressed, fed and ready to walk out the door with backpack and all. I had to quickly remind her that school didn't start until 9:00. When I dropped her off she went right into her class room with no questions asked! I knew at that moment she was going to have a wonderful day.

When I picked her up she was all smiles and couldn't wait to show me the craft she had done in her classroom. It was a self portrait made out of a small paper plate and popsicle stick. So very cute! It went perfectly along with the theme for this week, "All About Me". Their bible verse for the week is, "I am wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

She has also hit another milestone. No more pacifiers!!! We have been preparing her for months that when she started preschool she would give up her paci. She was on board until nap time yesterday. My strong willed (and loud) little girl didn't go down gracefully. Needless to say, she basically cried herself to sleep. The same for bedtime last night as well. The good news is that it will only get better from here.

I am so proud of my BIG girl!

First Day of School

2010-08-23T07:11:00.004-04:00

Here's the new outfit!

My little first grader.

The neighborhood kids.

Getting on the school bus.

Campbell is officially a first grader! She didn't seem nervous or afraid at all. She was basically going with the flow like she has been doing this forever. Although, while I was getting her ready she did say, "Mommy, it's early."

I have to agree!

Potty Party

2010-08-13T20:06:00.003-04:00

Table center piece with Riley's potty seat, toilet paper, potty book, construction paper, and maracas.

Cupcake cake

Big smiles!

Yummy!

We have had a tough time Potty training Riley. She has the knowledge, but not the motivation. We have done just about everything and nothing seemed to work.

Until now....a potty party!!

It took a few weeks for her to be accident free for at least 5 days, but she finally did it. And her reward (per her choice) will be Twinkle Toe Shoes. I'll be sure and post a picture of them after we purchase them tomorrow. She is so excited!!

Way to go Riley! We are so proud of you!

Pump It Up

2010-07-28T22:15:00.003-04:00

We had so much fun at Pump It Up today. Hardly anyone there and it made Jackson's first experience an enjoyable one for sure! Thankfully, he is still young enough that I didn't have to pay for him. In all honesty, I think he played just as hard as the girls.

What fun memories!

Riley attacking the obstacle course.

The kids getting there "bounce" on!

A picture of mine and Jackson's feet before we went down the big slide. He loved it!

Look what we did.....

2010-07-27T21:43:00.003-04:00

Jackson's first experience at Chuck E. Cheese.

The girls in a bubble.

Riley behind the wheel. Heaven help us all!!!

We had initially planned on going swimming tonight, but the weather was a little questionable. Therefore, Nana and Papa decided to take the girls to Chuck E. Cheese instead. We actually had a really good time. We have already been twice this year and I think we have met our quota!
Thanks Nana and Papa!

Tea Time

2010-07-26T14:27:00.005-04:00

Riley's wheat free cookies. Yes, I made them myself with a Pampered Chef Cookie Press. They turned out perfect for our tea party.

The girls are enjoying their tea. What a great way to beat the heat!

Brent is out of town for a few days on business. So, I thought I would post a few things that we have been doing this week. We miss you honey!

Swimming!

2010-07-23T11:16:00.004-04:00

Campbell is swimming. She even went down the water slide at the pool and jumped off the diving board. I am so proud of my little fish! : )

Cheerleading Camp

2010-07-14T11:11:00.003-04:00

Campbell is all smiles!

The instructors teaching the girls a cheer.

Campbell loved her instructors and cheerleading camp. She is looking forward to cheering in the fall.

A friend told me about a cheerleading and football camp sponsored by a local church for only $5. It was Sunday-Tuesday in the evening from 6:00-8:00. They learned two cheers each night and was able to perform the cheers for the football players after they successfully learned them. That had to be her favorite part each night. My little shy girl is starting to come out of her shell.

I am so glad that I signed Campbell up because she absolutely loved it. I hope she continues to enjoy it for a long time!

Summer Fun

2010-06-27T14:06:00.004-04:00

I just love summer! The girls and Brent had so much fun on the slip 'n slide today. Even a couple of our neighbor's kids came out to join us. It's amazing how the simple things in life are so entertaining!

Now it's time for a lemonade break!

Jackson's Baby Dedication and Father's Day

2010-06-21T15:14:00.004-04:00

Is he cute or what?

Getting ready to leave for Jackson's Dedication

Granddaddy and all the grandchildren

Father's Day cookout

Campbell and cousin Josh getting ready to eat an ice cream sundae.

Yesterday was a special day. Not only was it Jackson's dedication at church, but I was able to spend Father's Day with my dad. I was so excited to hear that my sister and her three kids were making the trip up as well.

The dedication was so sweet and we even watched a slide show of Jackson. Once I get my hands on it, I'll post it on our blog. He did great and the crowd didn't even seem to bother him.

I am so proud of my little boy!

After church, we headed on over to The Salem House for lunch to celebrate Jackson's dedication. It was really good, but not as good as The Homeplace. Although, we will definitely be going back there because there isn't much of a wait.

Later on that evening we had our first cookout on our new patio to celebrate Father's Day. We had all the dads in our family represented last night. Brent, Grandpa, Granddaddy and Papa. It was so nice to have all of them together on this special day. The weather was beautiful and everyone had a great time. What more could you ask for!

Happy Father's Day to the best Dad's in the world!

Redsox Game

2010-06-18T22:08:00.006-04:00

Redsox vs. Indians

Jackson's first baseball game. Daddy's Little Slugger!

Riley is having a great time dancing to the music in between innings.

We had the opportunity to go to a Salem Redsox baseball game tonight. This a minor league baseball team in our area and we absolutely love going to the games. Nana and Papa were able to go with us as well. The kids loved it and it was so exciting to watch Jackson's reaction to his first baseball game. He was more interested in the popcorn than anything else, but what's not to love about popcorn, right?
The ball field was extremely crowded and parking was limited. I have never seen so many people there before and it was great! It was simply a great night for America's favorite pastime!
Brent and I left at the top of the 6th inning to put Jackson to bed. The girls stayed with Nana and Papa until the game was over. All the kids did great and we hope to make another game sometime this summer.

First of Many....

2010-06-13T17:08:00.005-04:00

Jackson and the girls are enjoying ice cream from the Ice Cream Boat. Yes, the ice cream boat does come right up to your dock.

Taking a boat ride

Campbell and Riley taking a Seadoo ride with Grandma.

Jackson's first boat ride. He loved it!

Jackson's first Seadoo ride with Grandma.

This was our first weekend at the lake since school has been out. I'm sure we will be there many more times this summer. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a fun weekend!

Field Day and Award Assembly Pictures

2010-06-09T16:56:00.004-04:00

Campbell's friends, Haley and Riley getting ready for the next event.

Campbell participating in the "Sponge Bob Square Pants" event. She had to run with a wet sponge on top of her head and then fill the bottle up with water. The first team that filled the bottle up first won the event. At least it was a good day to get wet!

There were at least 9 events total. All the kids had such a great time running and playing and getting wet with water bottles and water hoses. At the end all the kids received a snow cone before going back into class.

Mrs. Watson's class lined up with their certificates. They did it! Look out 1st grade....here they come!

What a Week

2010-06-09T06:02:00.003-04:00

This is the last week of school and it seems it has been the busiest week all year. Monday-Field Day, Tuesday-Field Trip to see Junie B Jones, Wednesday-Award Assembly and Thursday is the last day of school. Since she only goes half day day I am taking the kids to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch and then afterwards to an ice cream social for all the kids in our neighborhood. Talk about insane!

After being at School for the past couple of days, I have a new appreciation for teachers!

I am looking forward to summer and my relaxed agenda. My calendar is already filling up, but at least my kids will be able to sleep in every day!

I'll be posting pictures soon.

Jackson's first haircut

2010-05-25T01:25:00.004-04:00

Before.....

And after.....

We finally did it. On the spur of the moment (which 50% of our decisions end this way) we decided to take Jackson to get his first hair cut. He sat in the chair all by himself and he was such a big boy. He only got upset once when the stylist pulled out the clippers. It only lasted a few seconds and then he was rewarded with a blueberry sucker.
I guess now the hair saga begins. It's off to the hair stylist every 4-6 weeks from now on with my buddy boy. Riley is 3 1/2 and she has only had two hair cuts in her life. Campbell has only had four. This will definitely be a new experience for me.

(you can view more pictures to the right under the link, "our pictures")

A wonderful time

2010-05-22T21:43:00.004-04:00

What can I say, Disney World was a magical place. We are already looking forward to going back someday. Next time we'll take Jackson with us so he can live the dream just as we did.

We rode all the kiddie rides in the Magic Kingdom as much as possible. Some of our favorites we rode at least twice. Riley's favorite ride was the roller coaster. Campbell liked them all. Brent and I just enjoyed watching the pure joy all over our girls faces. Considering school isn't out yet, the crowd was manageable and the weather was beautiful.

The girls loved getting their picture made with all the Princesses. Riley was a little shy, but ironically Campbell stepped right up and had the biggest smile on her face every time. She was also very eager to give out hugs. Even the breakfast with Cinderella and the other Princesses was a huge hit. It was so sweet how each Princess would come to the table and really spend time talking with my girls and address them as "Princess Campbell and Princess Riley".

The girls did great the whole time we were there. Even though Riley didn't have a nap for three days in a roll, she hung in there like a champ. Thank goodness we took the stroller with us or she would have never made it. By Thursday, she was done and only wanted to get out of it long enough to get on the rides.

It was the best three days of our lives. Come Friday we spent all day at the house just catching up on our sleep and taking it easy.

Be sure and check out our Disney pictures on the side including our day trip to Clearwater Beach on Monday.

I am so thankful my kids are great travelers. Family vacations are the best!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

2010-05-14T06:48:00.002-04:00

Counting down the days until we leave for Florida. I can't wait. I don't know who is more excited, me or the girls. We are planning on taking our laptop, so we'll keep you posted on pictures as much as possible.

We are not exactly sure how Jackson will do on the flight there, but we are hoping for the best. We'll just have to bring lots of snacks. Thankfully, Grandma will be flying down with us and we'll have another person to hand him off to just in case he starts getting a little bored. If worse comes to worse, maybe I'll give him a pair of shoes and let him roam the isle of the plane. (just kidding.....) I'm not worried about the girls. They will be content just looking out the window.

Once we arrive at the airport, we'll rent a car and head to the house. Thankfully, Grandpa drove down on Wednesday with all of our luggage, so we don't have to worry about that minor detail.

We hope to make this trip as stress free as possible. Our goal is to watch at least one show, eat breakfast with a few characters and catch a parade. Maybe get a few autographs and take lots of pictures. I'm sure we'll ride a lot of kiddie rides in the meantime as well. All the other stuff we'll play by ear.

Poor little Jackson will not make it to Disney World this trip, but he will have lots of fun with Grandma and Grandpa and the puppies. We'll take him when he gets a little older.

Thanks everyone for all of your advice and suggestions for our trip! We can't wait to share it with you.

Q & U Wedding

2010-05-10T21:17:00.006-04:00

The Kindergarten Classes at Bonsack Elementary performs the Q & U wedding each year at the last PTA meeting of the semester. It was Campbell's turn this year and she represented the letter "R" for Rainbow Ribbons. She absolutely loves rainbows so this was the perfect choice for her. She has been looking forward to this event for some time. She was especially grateful that she could share it with her best friend, Ida.

The kids were able to choose which letter they wanted to be and the parents created a costume to reflect that letter. I have to admit, some of the costumes were so adorable and very creative!

When we arrived, we were handed an actual wedding program and took our seats. At first all the "letter people" came down the isle and then the wedding party made their grand entrance for the wedding of the year.....the marriage celebration of Q & U!

All the kids did such a good job singing , "Going to the Chapel" and "Stop in the Name of KWA". I have to admit, it was so funny to hear the little kids laughing when the minister told the groom to, "kiss the bride".

Don't worry....they didn't actually kiss each other. The entire ceremony was G rated. : ) The bride and groom were holding a stuffed Q & U doll that went through the motions. Unfortunately, I wasn't at a good angle to get a picture of them.

After the performance was over, everyone left the exact opposite they came in for the wedding. I'm hoping Brent will post the video up sometime this week before we leave for FL. In the meantime, check out the pictures when you get the chance.

I just love Kindergarten and so does Campbell. This has been a wonderful experience for all of us.

Favorite Past Time

2010-05-05T07:54:00.002-04:00

Jackson loves shoes! Oddly enough, he even loves them on his hands. It keeps him entertained for awhile and it makes him happy. He will crawl around the whole main level this way as long as we will let him.

Who needs toys when you have shoes, right?

Wild Flowers

2010-05-04T09:21:00.004-04:00

We have a bank that slopes down at the edge of our back yard. We have been puzzled exactly what to do with it. It can be an eye sore at times. Brent does his best to keep it trimmed with the weed eater as much as he can.

I can't remember exactly when, but at one point Brent planted some wild flowers hoping that they would spread and eventually take over the whole bank. This year the daisies have taken off with a vengeance and they look beautiful! I picked some last night after the kids went to bed and put them in a vase for us to enjoy.

I'll be sure and post a picture of the flowers on the bank once we complete our patio. The crates (or whatever they are called) that once held the pavers are taking over our back yard at the moment. Once we dispose of them it will make for a prettier picture.

Strawberry Festival

2010-05-03T08:18:00.002-04:00

We had the best time as always at the Strawberry Festival on Friday. Campbell wasn't completely thrilled that we went without her this year, but it didn't take her long to get over the disappointment after she saw the chocolate covered strawberries I brought home for her. She had permission to eat them when she got home from school. And what a treat that was!

Once we arrived at the festival, we set up for our picnic lunch before we dug into the yummy strawberries. We were joking that this is the only time we ever have a picnic together as a family. We will have to change that because we really do enjoy the change of scenery from time to time. Not only did grandpa and grandma join us, but we had some new friends join us this year. They recently moved down from Michigan and her husband works at NS as well. It was fun watching them experience the festival for the first time. I'm sure they will make it a family event going forward.

The strawberry festival is famous for their strawberry shortcakes. We are not that crazy about them because we prefer pound cake with our shortcakes instead of the old fashioned biscuits. Therefore, we usually stick with the strawberries and ice cream and the chocolate covered strawberries. This year I actually tried a strawberry smoothie. It was really good!

Unfortunately, I brought my camera, but didn't take any pictures this time. Oh well, maybe next year.

Hit another milestone

2010-04-26T11:25:00.002-04:00

I knew this day was coming. Part of me was looking forward to it, but another part wasn't ready to give it up so easily.

As you can probably guess, Jackson dropped his first nap. He is only 12 months old, but he is ready. After a few weeks of trying to shorten his first nap, I realized it was useless. Even if he only took a 30 minute morning nap, he wasn't interested in an afternoon nap at all. Considering Riley and Jackson both nap at the same time, I wasn't going to let anything interfere with "my alone time".

Campbell was 15 months old and Riley was 13 months old when they dropped their first nap. I guess the more kids you have the less sleep they need.

At least we can go out and have fun in the mornings now that all of my kids are down to one nap. (with the exception of Campbell.....of course)

Now, if I can get Riley fully potty trained, we'll be in business!

80's Day

2010-04-22T08:43:00.003-04:00

Today the SCA at Campbell's school is sponsoring 80's Days. Everyone at her school is encouraged to dress up in 80's clothing. We didn't participate because I didn't have a clue how to dress her up and I didn't think her daddy would appreciate me giving her "big" hair. In all honesty, I wasn't that thrilled about combing the mess out at the end of the day either.

While I was getting Campbell ready for school, she reminded me that today was 80's dress up day. We both agreed that it wasn't a priority and simply dismissed it. As I was braiding her hair I was thinking that 70's day would actually be more fitting for this event. Regardless, it wasn't happening.

Then Campbell curiously looked at me and asked, "What is 80's?"

As I was hysterically laughing I promised I would show her some of my old high school photos one day. (That's a scary thought....)

Man, I feel old......

Kite Festival

2010-04-19T07:03:00.002-04:00

The girls are flying their kites.

Along for the ride.....

Penguin and Scuba Diver kites.

Thanks to Nana, we all got our faces painted.

It was a perfect day for the Kite Festival. Extremely windy. I have never seen so many kites up in the air before Saturday. We love Kite Day. Besides the Strawberry Festival, it's one of our favorite Roanoke highlights that we attend every year.

We all got our face painted, participated in the flag ceremony, had a picnic and flew our kites. This was Jackson's first year and he loved it. He didn't have a clue what was going on, he simply loved being outside...and eating.

We are already looking forward to next year!

Campbell's 6th Birthday

2010-04-08T21:27:00.007-04:00

Campbell posing for the camera before her guest arrived.

Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Party.

Sweet picture. You can view the "crazy" picture under 'Our Pictures' link.

Ida's turn to play "where's my stuffed animal" game. She had to pick out her stuffed animal in a pile while blind folded.

Here's some pictures of Campbell's "faux" Slumber Birthday Party from Tuesday. She invited 6 of her friends and had them wear their PJ's, bring a sleeping bag, pillow and their favorite stuffed animal. The best part was when the party was over at the end of the night, all the kids went home to sleep in their own beds. Faux is definitely the way to go!

The girls had so much fun! We started out by decorating there very own pillow case. The girls actually signed their name on Campbell's which turned out really cute. Then they ate pizza and painted their nails and toe nails. Next we all chowed down on some cake and ice cream. After Campbell opened her gifts, we played several games. Just to name a few: Pajama freeze dance, where's my stuffed animal game and the limbo. I also was able to get a shot of them "pretending" to be asleep in their sleeping bags. That lasted a total of 2 minutes. Then they were up and dancing again. I wished I had that much energy.

I can honestly say that I was absolutely exhausted after the party was over. I think next year I will stick to the traditional 2 hour party. Either way, as long as Campbell has her friends with her, she will be happy with just about anything.

Happy Birthday, Campbell. Mommy and Daddy love you very much!

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T14:10:00.003-04:00

Here's the kids in their Easter outfits. No, Jackson isn't walking yet. Although, he is able to stand up if the girls are holding his hands.

Easter baskets for the kids. They rec'd bubbles, chocolate, toothbrushes and toothpaste from the Easter Bunny. Jackson had plastic eggs filled with goldfish and Cheerios in his basket instead of the chocolate. Maybe next year he'll get the good stuff.

Daddy is helping the girls dye Easter Eggs. Don't they look cute in their aprons?

Ta-da!

We have had a fun weekend. Not only is it the beginning of Spring Break, but we've had beautiful weather for playing outside. We've also did our annual Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt, birthday parties, (yes, two in one day) and dyed some eggs. All of this was just on Saturday. Today we did the Resurrection Eggs, Easter Baskets, Church and ate lunch at TGI Friday's. Kids eat free on Sunday's! After nap time we are all heading over to Nana and Papa's house for an Easter Dinner, egg hunt and I've been told Aunt Candice has a fun project for the girls to do. The girls are also planning on spending the night with Nana and Papa tonight too. I love Easter! Honestly, I just love having family so close during special times like these.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

Birthday Blues

2010-03-31T21:40:00.002-04:00

Jackson woke up this morning with a rash all over his body. Of all days...it had to be on his birthday. My first thought was an allergy because he didn't have any other symptoms. I racked my brain trying to figure out what he had to eat the day before, but nothing out of the ordinary crossed my mind.

After his nap he felt a little warm. Sure enough, he had a tempature of 101.9. I'm assuming the rash is a result of a virus. Thankfully, his well visit is tomorrow and we can confirm our diagnosis.

Poor little guy. No one should be sick on their birthday. Thankfully, he's in good spirits, eating and sleeping good.

Happy Birthday Little Man! Hope you feel better soon.

Birthday Boy

2010-03-28T20:52:00.004-04:00

Monogrammed towel from Aunt Marlene

Jackson's very own cupcake. He has been waiting a whole year for this!

My little prince.

I think he likes it!

We had Jackson's first birthday party on Saturday, although, he doesn't officially turn one until Wednesday. My parents came into town for this big event and so did Brent's parents as well. We all had a great time watching Jackson experiencing cake for the first time. Needless to say, he loved it!

He wasn't extremely excited about opening his gifts. I think his sisters enjoyed it more than he did. However, he really liked the tissue paper from the gift bags. You can check out the rest of the pictures under the link "our pictures".

Happy Birthday Buddy Boy!

No More Bottles!

2010-03-19T08:41:00.002-04:00

That's right! The bottles are gone!

I have been offering a sippy cup of water to Jackson since he was six months old. He really didn't show any interest, it was basically a chew toy for him. Although, he was starting to get more comfortable with it.

My goal was to completely have him off the bottle before his first birthday. The past few days I have been taking baby steps and offering the sippy cup at night instead of the bottle. To my surprise, he was doing a really well.

So, this morning I held breath to his reaction when I gave him a sippy cup. He consumed the milk so fast that I gave him a second helping. I had so many emotions running through me...shock, surprised, relieved, happy.... just to name a few.

After breakfast I gathered up all my bottles and threw them away. Cleaned up the sterilizer and bottle warmer and stored them in the basement. I'm clearing off my counters one baby item at a time.

My little man is growing up so fast.

Two Green M & M's

2010-03-17T20:32:00.004-04:00

When Campbell got home from school today she couldn't wait to tell me about her day. She learned all about St. Patrick's Day and Leprechauns. She was telling me this story about two green M & M's with such enthusiasm that I just had to share it. It was so hard to keep a straight face, but somehow I managed.

Here's Campbell's story.....

"Mrs. Sullivan ate two green M & M's before she read us a book today and when she spoke her voice sounded just like a Leprechaun! I tried eating two green skittles just now and it didn't change my voice. I guess it only works if you are a teacher."

I wonder if she will remember this next year and give her teacher green M & M's on St. Patrick's Day......

Fast Cars

2010-03-15T18:13:00.002-04:00

After the kids and I dropped off a meal for a friend who just had a baby, we headed to Advanced Auto to get an air filter for the van. It's rarely a dull moment while we are traveling especially if Riley has anything to do with it. She is definitely my little chatter bug.

Recently, she has been fascinated with my driving. She insist that I go faster. I have to remind her daily that I can't because I might hit the car in front of me.

Just to prove it, here's a little conversation we had on our way home from running errands today.

Riley: "Mommy, did you buy an air filter?"

Mommy: "Yes, Riley I did."

Riley: "Where does it go?"

Mommy: "Under the hood of the van."

Riley: "Will it make the van go faster?"

Mommy: "Riley, you are a girl after my own heart!"

The Bible Says....

2010-03-11T13:01:00.002-05:00

I was in my room minding my own business earlier today while Riley and Jackson were playing near the bed. It's very common for Riley to get Brent's bible and open it up and start "reading" it. (I wonder if he has noticed that it's in a different place each times he reaches for it).

Anyway, Jackson was getting a little rough with our cat and I over heard Riley tell him something. I didn't quite make it out the first time so I asked her to repeat it. Here is what she said:

Riley: "Jackson, the Bible says not to bite your cat. You can only pretend!"

Well, there you have it!

Just thinking......

2010-03-04T06:19:00.002-05:00

It's hard for me to comprehend that Jackson will be turning one at the end of this month. A week later Campbell will be turning six. Not to mention that Riley is already three years old and will be starting preschool in the fall. Where does the time go? The next thing I know my babies will not be babies anymore.

I truly believe that being a mommy is the hardest job I have ever had, but the most rewarding. Thank you Brent for allowing me to stay home with my children while they are still young. I wouldn't trade this time in my life for anything in the world!

Weekend Guest

2010-03-01T15:08:00.005-05:00

It was Campbell's turn to bring home the class pet, Fluffy, over the weekend. Fluffy, as you can tell from the pictures is a Guinea Pig. I picked him up Friday morning from Campbell's school and then took him back this morning. It was a new experience for all of us. Even our Cat, Mittens didn't seem to mind the visitor. Just in case, we put our little guest on top of the dining room table to keep the "innocent....innocent."

I had no idea how messy these little critters could be. Each morning when I came down to check on him he would have hay all over the table near his cage. Some of it even found its way on the floor. I found myself using the dust buster everyday to clean up after him. I didn't care too much for that.

Even though he was a little messy the kids loved him! Fluffy on the other hand simply tolerated us for the most part. Campbell loves all animals and of course asked to hold him as much as possible. We found out very quickly that he had extremely sharp claws. So, as long as we wore our gloves, it didn't seem to bother us that much.

Honestly, as much as I enjoyed seeing my kids happy, I was glad to see Fluffy go back to school. The last thing I need is something or someone else to clean up after!

Star of the Week

2010-02-23T15:39:00.004-05:00

Campbell is "Star of the Week" at school. All the kids in her classroom get a turn to bring home the class mascot, Star. Over the weekend we took tons of pictures and put it in his journal and printed out all of Campbell's favorite things to be turned in on Monday. She presented it to the class in addition to sharing something special from home each day of the week. Yesterday she brought in a Barbie. Today she took her Diamond Castle Laptop. Tomorrow she is torn between her camera or one of her favorite books. On Wednesday she will eat a special lunch with her teacher, Mrs. Watson and invite a friend to join them. On Friday she gets to bring in a special snack to share with her classmates. She has already decided to take those yummy cookies from Wal-Mart with the pink icing. I hope they have some left over! : )

We really did have a lot of fun doing it even though it was a lot of work on my part. You can check out more pictures of Star under "Our Pictures".

Sweet Moments

2010-02-09T13:56:00.006-05:00

Riley was looking intently at my wedding photo placed on top of my jewelry box in my bedroom the other day. Then she said, "Mommy, you look like a princess in your dress".

My heart simply melted right then and there. Oh, so sweet!

On a different note, Campbell is growing up so fast and it amazes me how independent she is becoming. I have really enjoyed having her at home from all the snow during the week. She is such a huge help to me with the two younger ones. Although, with this new "independence", she brought something to my attention that I wasn't quite ready for the other day.

She wants her ears pierced!!!

We have openly communicated to her that when she is older she is allowed to get her ears pierced, but she has never actually asked for it. I don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that she has been spending a lot of time with her Nana and all of her "accessories". I simply told her that I would talk to her daddy and we'll decide on a good time for this to happen. She hasn't brought it up in a while so I'm hoping it was a one time deal.

Riley's Birthday Party

2010-01-16T21:03:00.003-05:00

Riley is excited that she gets to decorate her own cupcakes!

Riley has a wheat free and egg free cupcake. The rest of them are
from a regular cake mix. You can't even tell the difference!

My sweet Riley!

As soon as the grandparents arrived at the party, we immediately let Riley open her gifts and then dug into the chocolate cupcakes and ice cream. It was pure and simple, but we all had a wonderful time watching the kids play with all the new toys. Even Jackson got into it there for a few minutes before he went down for his nap.

After the party, my mom and I got away for a much needed manicure/pedicure and a short trip to the mall. Once we returned we all went out to eat at Smokey Bones BBQ! Yummy!

I just love birthday parties and family time! It's a great excuse to eat cupcakes and ice cream without the guilt!

The Big Day

2010-01-15T08:59:00.003-05:00

Riley will officially be turning 3 years old on Monday, but we are having her birthday party tomorrow morning. My parents arrived in town yesterday and we are all getting the party preparations together for the big day.

Every since we moved to Roanoke, it's been our tradition to take the girls to Captain Party before their birthday so they can pick out all the party favors. This year Riley chose "My Little Pony". She loves My Little Pony. Therefore, it was the right choice!

Most people know that Riley is allergic to wheat and eggs. Thankfully, the new Kroger in town has a good selection of wheat and egg free products. Considering, I'm not a baker, it's extremely convenient to be able to purchase a wheat free cake mix from there. I simply substitute an egg replacer for the "real" thing. This was the first year I tried this particular kind of egg replacer in her cupcakes so I was a little worried about how they were going to turn out. Ironically, it looks like a thumb print in the middle of each cupcake, but they taste delicious. I had a nibble of one of the "not so pretty ones" and I was pleasantly surprised how good they are. Once I slap a little icing on top, Riley will not even know the difference!

Today I need to make the regular cupcakes for all the rest of us. I love birthday parties. Pure and simple, I love cake!

Dance Recital

2010-01-11T08:24:00.003-05:00

The girls getting ready to perform.

Campbell doing "High Kicks"

Campbell and her friend, Hannah

All the dancers with their teacher, Miss Emily.

Campbell had a wonderful time at the dance recital. She wasn't looking forward to it in the beginning because she wasn't wearing a tutu like all the other dancers. Considering she was taking Jazz, her teacher wanted her to wear a Jazzy costume. As you can tell, we had to improvise on the costume just a little. She is so long wasted that the outfit was a little low cut for my taste. She didn't seem to mind. I think she liked standing out and being different once she arrived and saw all the different colors and styles.

Campbell's class was the last class to perform and she did a great job. She is really shy, but when it comes to performing in front of others, she tends to come out of her shell and get the job done. It surprises me at times to see how determined and brave she can be with a crowd of people.

After her performance, Brent gave her a bouquet of flowers. What a great way to end the day!

Ironically, she isn't interested in taking dance this go around. She just wants to focus on school and that's OK by me. When she is ready to get involved in other activities, I'm sure she will let me know.

Well Visit

2010-01-07T18:05:00.002-05:00

Jackson's well visit went really well this morning. He weighs 18.8 pounds and is 29 1/2 inches long. He is 70% in height and 25% in everything else. He didn't even cry when the nurse pricked his finger when she checked his iron level. (iron levels were good...by the way) He only cried for literally 2 seconds when he got his Hepatitis B shot.

So far he has two teeth and the doctor could feel where his top teeth were starting to come through. He just found a new love for cheese and yogurt in addition to all the other fruits and veggies that he eats.

I almost went into shock when Dr. Moore recommended that I bring him back in three months for his 12 month visit.

What??? 12 months??? How can it be?

My little man is growing up so fast.

Christmas Memories and 9 months old

2009-12-31T10:06:00.006-05:00

Christmas is such a special time in our house. The smells of baking, spending time with family and most importantly the anticipation of the birth of our Lord and Savior. The girls enjoyed listening to the Christmas story and lighting the Hope, Love, Peace, Joy and Christ Candles. Thankfully, we were able to slow things down a bit this year and the kids didn't seem to mind at all.

Here's some pictures from Christmas morning with a few of their favorite toys. Campbell loved her Fancy Nancy Doll and Riley was thrilled to receive the pink Three Musketeer Barbie from Santa. Jackson doesn't really know what's going on this year, but seemed to be interested in his stocking for the most part.

Jackson is nine months old today. He is such a happy little boy and full of smiles. He is making all kinds of noises and doing his best to talk. Brent and I are convinced that he is saying, "mama and dada" when he looks at us. Maybe he is, but he will never do it on command. He is pulling up on everything and is in the beginning stages of "surfing" the furniture. He is also a BIG eater. I can't imagine how much he will be able to consume when he gets older. Brent will have to get a second job just to feed him.

He has a favorite toy.....balls! Any will do. Between three kids we have plenty of them. Although, now that we have a boy we have accumulated a couple of footballs just his size. One for Alabama and the other for Virginia. I think he is destined to be a football fan...I can't imagine why??

Happy New Year....tis' the season to watch football. Or at least in my house!

Having fun in the snow.....

2009-12-19T12:49:00.003-05:00

We measured up to 13 inches of snow in our back yard. This has definitely been the largest snow we have gotten since I moved to Roanoke. I've been waiting a long time for this. Poor little Riley can barely stand up in it because her legs are so short. She's not a huge fan of it, but will tolerate it for a few minutes at a time. I think Campbell can stay out all day in it if we let her. Although, a nice warm cup of hot chocolate is very convincing when mommy and daddy are ready to go inside.

Taking turns on the snow sled. I think it's time to upgrade with one that has a rope on the end of it.

Riley was having fun making snow angels. We'll get pictures of Jackson in the snow later on today. I'm sure he will enjoy eating it if we give him the chance.

A Big Heart

2009-12-18T11:22:00.004-05:00

I knew I should have gone to the grocery store last night when the kids and I stepped foot into Wal-Mart this morning. It was packed!!! Bumper to bumper carts were everywhere. Thankfully, my kids were being well behaved at the moment and I didn't need to get that much on my list.

In the middle of my shopping run my cell phone rang and it was Brent. He was inside of Wal-mart returning some items and said that he would come and find me. Not only did he help me with my shopping he even offered to stand in line to pay for the groceries while I took the kids home.

He will definitely get brownie points for that one!!! It's the little things he does that makes me love him so much. He has such a big heart and extremely thoughtful.

Thank you honey....I love you!

Gingerbread House

2009-12-17T20:30:00.004-05:00

Campbell's Kindergarten Class did Gingerbread Houses today. They actually made them out of milk carton's. With a little white icing, graham crackers and some candy, it turns into a master piece. This was right up Campbell's alley too. She LOVES doing crafts. The best part was after daddy came home....she got to eat it!

Campbell loves Mrs. Watson.

You can view all the pictures on the right hand side. Just click on "our pictures".

Didn't quite make the cut...

2009-12-13T15:54:00.006-05:00

Brent and I attempted to take pictures of our kids this weekend "together" for our Christmas Card. Needless to say, this particular one was a honorable mention, but didn't quite make the cut this year. Although, I just had to share it because the expression on Riley's face is priceless! Can you tell she didn't want her picture taken?? I just have to laugh every time I look at it.

Thankfully, we did get some pictures of them individually that turned out really cute and we are going to use instead.

Merry Christmas! Hope you have as much fun with your "Grumpalump's", (...umm...kids) as I do!

Feeling better

2009-12-12T21:03:00.004-05:00

Yesterday after I took Campbell to the doctor she immediately started feeling better. Funny how that happens. Today she woke up and you would have never known she was sick at all. Ironically, no one else in our house caught the virus. I thought I was catching a cold earlier, but it turned out to be my sinuses. Thank goodness for Neti Pots!

At it again....

2009-12-09T20:30:00.003-05:00

Well, I thought Campbell was in the clear, but I stand corrected. Her fever just won't go away. She vomited a couple of times today, but it doesn't seem to phase her much. It's so pitiful watching her lay on the couch all day. Poor thing doesn't have an ounce of energy to her name.

Hope my sweet Campbell is feeling better soon.

One of those days....

2009-12-08T08:42:00.002-05:00

It's been one of those days and it has just started. All three of my kids decided to wake up before the crack of dawn. I woke up with my left eye matted together. Therefore, I am headed to the doctor with possible pink eye infection. Campbell is home from school with a fever, Jackson is teething and Riley....well... she is just glad to have Campbell home with her for the day.

Hopefully, Brent will be able to come home long enough for me to take off to the doctor. I'd rather not take all three kids with me if I don't have to.

Other than that....it's a good day. Calm and relaxing.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T13:34:00.002-05:00

It's that time again. We are all looking forward to visiting my family in Alabama for Thanksgiving/Christmas. Considering we do it all in one stop, we have started referring to our visit as Merry Thanksgiving. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Since last year at this time, we have added an addition to our family. I can't believe that Jackson is almost 8 months old. Not only is he crawling, but clapping his hands, sitting up without any assistance and trying to pull up. Not quite there, but almost.

Riley is potty training. We are making progress, but we still have our share of accidents. She actually went to the potty all on her own yesterday without any help. She is starting to get the hang of it. We have to be fully potty trained by the time Preschool starts next year. I think we can do it.

Campbell is loving Kindergarten and seems to be doing very well and absolutely loves her teacher. It amazes me how much she enjoys learning and is eager to share her knowledge with us.

I just love this time of year. Especially being able to spend time with my family makes it even better.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Look Who's Crawling.....

2009-10-26T09:50:00.002-04:00

Earlier today I was in the kitchen when I looked over to check on Jackson to make sure he wasn't bothering our cat, Mittens. That is when I noticed that he was crawling past her and making a bee line toward Riley's shoe. He wasn't rolling or doing the inch worm....oh no, he was crawling! That is the look of determination in his face for the "target". I can only imagine that the goal was to put it directly in his mouth.

Only six months old and crawling.....just like his sister Campbell. I guess I'm going to need to keep my floors extra clean from now on until he starts walking. Easier said than done with a messy two year old.......

Riley's First Haircut

2009-10-20T09:41:00.004-04:00

We have been talking about getting Riley's hair cut for a few weeks now. We just never really had the time to do it. So, yesterday around 5pm I decided it was now or never. Considering it was her first hair cut, we wanted to make it a family affair and all of us go together. Trying to find the time and working around Jackson's nap schedule was a little challenging to say the least.

She didn't hesitate at all once we arrived. She sat in the chair all by herself and had the biggest smile on her face. The best part....she still has her curls!

Six Months Old

2009-10-01T11:27:00.002-04:00

Jackson had his well visit today and it went really well. He weighs 16.6 lbs and 27 inches long. Not as much of a weight gain as I anticipated, considering how much he eats in one day. It must be all that rolling around the house he does when he is awake.

His next visit is in 3 months when he is nine months old. It will be here before I know it!

Not Possible!

2009-09-29T09:44:00.002-04:00

It amazes me how much Riley's vocabulary increases daily. Mind you, she is only two going on five years old. Just yesterday I asked her to sit at the table to eat her lunch. This is her response:

Mommy: "Riley, I need you to sit down at the table and eat your lunch please."

Riley: "That's not possible! I need to finish playing first."

Mommy: "Possible? I think it's 'possible' that you will go to time out if you do not cooperate. I need you to say Yes Ma'am!"

Riley: "Yes Ma'am." (as her eyes were rolling in the back of her head)

Oh my. She can be a fire cracker at times!

Milestone

2009-09-17T06:09:00.002-04:00

I'm not talking about Jackson this time. However, he recently dropped his last feeding and is getting approximately 12 hours of sleep at bedtime. I just love this baby phase. Actually, I love getting sleep!

This milestone has to do with Riley. I started potty training her a week ago today. So far she has been accident free for the past two days and has pooped in the potty.

It was really by accident. I was in the right place at the right time. Yesterday, she was retreating to a corner and I asked her do you need to go poop. She said, "pee and poop". So, I put her on the potty and she did exactly that. It was that easy. I couldn't believe it.

She was rewarded with three M & M's for that one!

I am very pleased with her progress. She still doesn't go on her own, but at least she is getting the hang of it. Until then, we'll continue using the "pee pee timer" as long as it takes.

Successful Day

2009-09-10T19:15:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I attempted to potty train Riley around the same time she came down with an infection. Thankfully, that has cleared up and we are potty training....again.

I've known she has been ready for sometime now, but her determination actually surprised me. She doesn't waste any time while she is on the potty. She hops on and goes about her business and gets off to wipe, flush and wash her hands. Apparently she has better things to do than to hang out in the bathroom all day long.

So far she has peed in the potty 6 times and has had three pee pee accidents. Her pull up was dry when she woke up from her nap as well. She hasn't pooped yet, but hopefully that is not too far behind. (no pun intended) : )

A successful day??? I think so!

Summer Fun

2009-08-31T15:35:00.003-04:00

We had so much fun at the lake this past weekend. Here's a few pictures to help capture our time with Grandma and Grandpa.

Floating on the water and enjoying a Seadoo ride with Grandma.

We love boat rides with Grandpa. Grandma and Jackson were hanging out at the lake house.

Grandpa and Jackson relaxing on the dock.

First Day of School

2009-08-24T07:11:00.005-04:00

Today is Campbell's first day of school. I knew she was a hard sleeper, but I didn't realize just how much until today. Considering she and Riley share a room now, I had to be extra quiet when I woke her up. I shook her for a couple of minutes and she wouldn't budge. So, I had to resort to a cold wash cloth. Finally, I got her a wake enough to come down from her bunk bed. Once she was up she was raring to go.

It was such a peaceful morning and she was all smiles. Not one bit of hesitation at all. Pure and simple....she was ready!

I love you my sweet girl!

Kindergarten Orientation

2009-08-22T13:11:00.002-04:00

Thursday night was Kindergarten Orientation. It was very interesting to see how the first day was going to play out for Campbell. Her new school is extremely organized and they seem to have their act together. I am thrilled about her new teacher and I have heard some wonderful things about her. I'm confident she will be a good fit for Campbell's personality.

School starts on Monday. My little girl will be getting on the school bus for the first time. Not only is she going to have fun, but she will be gaining some independence as well.

My sweet Campbell is growing up way too fast......

Beach Trip

2009-08-19T17:57:00.002-04:00

We had so much fun on our beach trip. We had some wonderful family time with the help of Diane and Ron. Brent and I actually were able to have a date night and take the kids to play putt-putt. I can't forget the never ending line to Build - A - Bear. I think we'll stick to the one at the Valley View Mall instead. The rest of the time was spent at the pool or beach. I think the kids preferred the pool to be honest with you. They could only take so much sand in their swim suits.

The kids can't wait to go next year!

No Answers

2009-08-19T15:59:00.003-04:00

We took Riley to see an Urologist this morning for the test results from her VCUG. When we arrived he looked at me like I had three heads. He wasn't aware of Riley's history and obviously didn't prepare for our visit, let alone the test results. He gathered as much information he could, but he didn't tell me anything that I already knew.

Needless to say...I was not happy. I felt like this appointment was completely unnecessary.

After I got home and discussed it with Brent, I called the doctor back for some answers. Ironically, he wasn't in the office this afternoon and his nurse assured me he would call me tomorrow.

In the meantime, Riley is scheduled for a 6 week follow up appointment to make sure everything is still normal.

I am so over doctor appointments!!!

4 month check up

2009-08-03T12:41:00.003-04:00

Jackson had a good check up today. He weighs 15.3 lbs and is 26 3/4 inches long. He is 95% in height and 60% in weight. It looks like he is going to be a big boy!

Here's the stats on the girls when they were four months old:

Campbell: Weight - 13.2 lbs, Height - 23 3/4 inches
Riley: Weight - 12.5 lbs, Height - 25 inches

They are all so different, but I love them all the same!

Update on Riley

2009-08-01T08:47:00.002-04:00

I have to admit, Riley definitely has more patience than I do. We had to wait an hour to be seen for the ultrasound. Unbelievable! The appointment itself took only about 20 minutes and then we were ready to go home to play the waiting game for the test results.

The following morning Riley's Pediatrician called with the test results at 8am. Thankfully, her kidneys were clear, but they found a cyst on her bladder. The next step is to see an Urologist and then possibly inject dye through a catheter to see what is going on in her little body. She will obviously be put under so it will not be traumatic for her.

After I received the phone call from her doctor, needless to say I was a little shocked and concerned all at the same time. However, through trials and tribulations, I have found comfort knowing God is in control. He is always faithful and surprises me in some of the most unique ways. At breakfast, Campbell started singing a song out of the blue. It went something like this.... "Jesus is good all the time, yes he is, yes he is." She was repeating it over and over even before I hung up the phone. Right then, I knew everything was going to fine.

We leave on Aug. 8th-15th for our family vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC. As a friend stated earlier in the week, "what a good thing to have coming up!" I couldn't agree more!

Sick Little One

2009-07-29T16:01:00.004-04:00

Riley has had a fever of 102.5+ for the past three days. She has been completely miserable. So, I broke down and took her to the doctor yesterday. Turns out she has a urinary tract infection. It really didn't surprise me considering she would cry in pain every time I changed her diaper. Unfortunately, at her appointment she wouldn't pee in a cup so the medical staff had to do a catheter on her in order to get a urine sample. Thankfully, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. She didn't like it, but at least it was quick and got the job done. We should have the test results in a day or so to find out the root cause of this infection.

Just to be on the safe side, I am taking Riley to a local hospital today to get an ultrasound on her kidneys. Considering it's not normal for a two year old to have this type of infection, it's better to be safe than sorry. The doctor isn't extremely concerned at this point. Basically he just wants to rule it out.

On a positive note, last night Riley was actually laughing and playing with Campbell for the first time all week. It was such a beautiful noise. That must mean the antibiotics are doing its job!

Thank you for all your prayers. Keep them up because they are working! I'll keep you posted as soon as I have more details on Riley's condition.

Quote of the Day

2009-07-28T18:03:00.002-04:00

After dinner I asked Riley what she thought daddy did all day at work.

Her response:

"Play with Barbies"

Riley's Getting Ready.....

2009-07-20T09:41:00.002-04:00

to potty train!

She has been asking on and off for the past couple of months to go "potty". Of course, nothing would come out. It was basically just a game to her.

However, last night and this morning she actually peed in the potty on her own. We have a couple of obligations this week, so by the weekend we should be ready to get into potty training mode. Out with the diapers and in with the panties.

We are going to Wal-Mart today so she can pick out her own pair of panties. Oddly enough....I'm actually looking forward to it.

Salem Fair

2009-07-11T18:27:00.003-04:00

We had a wonderful time at the fair last night. Riley thought she was just as big as Campbell and rode all the rides with her. Jackson stayed at home with Nana, but maybe he will get a turn next year.

VBS

2009-07-10T13:16:00.002-04:00

Campbell attended Vacation Bible School this week and loved it! Everyday she would come home sharing the bible stories and singing songs that she had learned earlier in the day. I just love knowing that she is learning about Jesus in such a fun way.

During lunch today I asked Campbell on a scale of 1 to 10 how much she liked VBS. Her comment was, "more than 100!"

She is already looking forward to going back next year.

The joys of motherhood

2009-07-08T15:04:00.002-04:00

With children, you have to expect the unexpected at any given moment. That became a reality for me when I was at Dollar General today with Jackson and Riley.

Jackson was in his Bjorn carrier and Riley was walking along beside me down the isles. While we were looking at books I heard a SPLAT and felt something wet on my feet. I looked down and Jackson had pooped all over the store floor!!! Considering this was going to be a quick trip, I didn't think I would need his diaper bag.

I stand corrected.

Conveniently, to the right of me was an end cap of baby wipes. I grabbed one and ripped it open as quickly as I could and started cleaning up the floor. Riley wanted to get in on the action and together we had it knocked out in one minute flat.

We went up to the check out counter to pay for our books and the container of wipes without missing a beat.

The next stop.....home to change a messy diaper.

Oh, the joys of motherhood!

Swim Lessons

2009-07-07T06:55:00.002-04:00

We have started swim lessons again this year. This year we are taking them at Hollins University. I really like this place better because it is a much smaller class. Thankfully, Campbell is really showing more interest this year than last. At least she will completely submerge her entire body under the water now. She will be a little fish swimming under water before we know it.

Rolling Over

2009-06-29T09:14:00.005-04:00

Jackson hit yet another milestone today. He can roll from his back to his belly.

I went in to get him out of his bed this morning and he was on his belly. He didn't care for it too much, but he sure did look cute doing it. He is such a big boy!

Smile

2009-06-19T08:42:00.003-04:00

Dance Class

2009-06-16T13:28:00.003-04:00

Campbell has always been on the shy side. She can sometimes get a little clingy when put on the spot. She has such a sweet spirit about her and I wouldn't change a thing. We try not to push her into anything until she is absolutely ready.

We figured this out when we signed her up for softball practice. She enjoyed it as long as Brent was by her side the entire time. So, we decided maybe she simply isn't ready for an organized sport at this time. We are going to wait until she asked us to do something. Then we will know that she is ready. When she puts her mind to something, there is no stopping her. That is the perfectionist in her. (She gets that from her daddy)

Imagine my surprise when she asked me if she could take dance class. We explained to her that we could not be on stage with her. She was fine with it as long as we were in the audience watching her. I was shocked!! Thrilled, but shocked.

So, I guess I'll need to start looking into some dance classes for the fall. This is going to be so much fun!

2 Month Check Up

2009-06-04T11:24:00.002-04:00

Jackson had his 2 month check up today. He weighs 12 lbs - 2 oz and 24 inches long. He is 85% in his height and 60% in weight. His doctor said that he looks fantastic and wants to see him when he is four months old.

He had a couple of shots today and he has been a little fussy ever since we got home. Hopefully, the Tylenol will kick in soon....very soon!

I Survived!

2009-06-02T10:19:00.004-04:00

Today was a new milestone for me. I ventured out with all three kids by myself to do some much needed grocery shopping. I knew that I could handle it, but with a two year old, sometimes you have to expect the unexpected.

We pulled in the parking lot and found a cart that has a car attached to the end of it. The girls got strapped in and I placed Jackson in the cart. Needless to say, I didn't have much room for my food at this point. However, we seemed to manage.

As soon as we stepped foot in the store, Campbell wanted to get out and walk. Once I explained that could not possibly happen because "you know who" would want to join her, we were good to go. I gave them both a snack and we were out of the store within an hour. That is record timing for me!

As a reward for their good behavior, the girls put on their swimsuits and played in the water sprinkler. I think I had just as much fun watching them play together as they did.

Touching Moment

2009-05-28T14:15:00.002-04:00

Earlier today, Campbell was "teaching" Riley her ABC's from one of my favorite books that I received as a baby shower gift. She went through the alphabet first and then proceeded to teach her a word that started with each letter.

Here's how the conversation went:

Campbell: "Riley, this is the letter A." Campbell pointed to the apple located beside the letter. "What starts with this letter?"

Riley: "Applebees!"

Then Campbell went down through the list until she came across the letter H.

Campbell: "Riley, this is the letter H. What starts with this letter"?

Riley: "Heart."

Campbell: "That's right! The love that Jesus has for us."

My heart just melted.......

Memorial Day

2009-05-26T06:58:00.003-04:00

It was a nice change of pace having Brent home during the week for some good family time and good food. The kids had on their red, white and blue all geared up to celebrate Memorial Day. (Actually, Campbell picked out a pink shirt with a flag on it....very cute.)

Brent cooked all day long it seems like. I have to say I married a very good cook!! He started off with cooking a Pork Shoulder night before last in our smoker for at least 12 hours for some pork BBQ sandwiches at lunch time. He also whipped up some cole slaw and potato salad to go with it. I threw in a strawberry shortcake to quench my sweet tooth.

For dinner he grilled some fish and veggies. I made an avocado salad on the side with a berry smoothie. I think the girls liked the smoothie the best. However, I liked it all! There isn't much that I turn down....especially if someone else does the cooking!

My Little Sleeper

2009-05-25T06:08:00.002-04:00

Jackson is not the best napper during the day. However, he makes up for it during the night. My typical routine is to feed him at 7:30p and then it's his bedtime. I'll wake him up three hours later to feed him in hopes to help him make it through the rest of the night.

Although, here lately he doesn't have any interest eating at his last feeding of the night (10:30p). He rather just sleep. Doing so, he'll wake up around 3am starving. Knowing good and well that if he does get a good feeding at that time, he can easily make it until the next morning.

Once again, he didn't eat at 10:30p last night. So, I went to bed assuming that I would be getting up around 3am to feed him.......

NOPE!!

He slept through the night!!!! And he is still sleeping.....

My little sleeper. My sweet boy.

Pics of Jackson

2009-05-23T11:47:00.003-04:00

Several people have been requesting more pictures of Jackson. Isn't he cute? Can you believe that he is almost two months old?

Riley's Day

2009-05-09T14:45:00.002-04:00

Now that Jackson is in the picture, Riley doesn't get as much attention as she did in the past. So, I officially made today, "Riley Day". She and I spent a couple of hours together doing her favorite things.

We both ate a grilled chicken leg at KFC and then headed over to Bratchers for a ice cream cone. We had so much fun together just talking and spending time together. I'm hoping to be able to do this at least twice a month.

One Month Old

2009-05-06T14:47:00.002-04:00

Jackson had his one month doctor's visit today. He weighed in at 10lb 6oz and 23 1/4 inches long. He is in the 60 percentile for his weight and 90 percentile for his height. The doctor was very pleased and we'll go back for another visit next month for his 2 month check up.

First Bottle and Art Show

2009-04-28T15:52:00.004-04:00

Here is the wall of fame from Campbell's Preschool class. There is a train in the center with their pictures in each car surrounded with all their art work.

Campbell, Grace and Caroline posing in front of the tree.

Diane, Campbell and Riley are all helping Jackson drink from his first bottle yesterday. He finished it in 10 minutes flat!!

Well Rested

2009-04-27T08:34:00.002-04:00

Jackson is showing signs of sleeping through the night at only a month old. (officially he will be a month old tomorrow) I put him to bed around 10:30 last night right after I fed him and he didn't wake up until 6:00 this morning!

Ahhh.....I finally got a good nights sleep.

He may not be consistent with his sleeping patterns at the moment, but I'll take what I can get!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-13T21:59:00.001-04:00

daddy post: 26 seconds with Jackson

2009-04-01T11:48:00.001-04:00

Jackson Cole Munsey

2009-03-31T16:50:00.002-04:00

Jackson arrived at 3:08am today. 7-14.5lbs and 20 1/4 inches long. Apparently he didn't want to wait for me to be induced. I was only in labor for a total of 2 hours. Once we arrived at the hospital, he was born 40 minutes later without an epidural. Thankfully, the delivery process was so quick that I didn't have time to react to the pain. I just simply let my body do what God designed it to do. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything!