On the road

He did great the whole day until about Lake City. Then he was upset for a couple hours until...ZZZzzzzzzzz

Beautiful sunset on I-10
Our view of Travis the entire day
Sisterly love
Midnight tea party... we got in to Grandpa and Grammy's so late but the girls still had time for a tea party. What 3 and 4 year old don't?

Things you may not know about me

Following the lead of Travis and Jesse, I had to list...

- I went to one school and one church from the time I was born until I was 18 and left for college.
- I met my maid of honor when I was 3 years old.
- I started teaching kids at church on Sunday mornings when I was 14 and haven't stopped since (except to have a baby or 3)
- I had a graduating class of 3 people. I was valedictorian (and I was relieved when spell check didn't have to correct me just now).
- I love sour cream
- I had the same pastor my whole life. He married my parents, he was at the hospital when I was born, he dedicated me (and my brother), he was at my high school graduation, and he married Travis and me.
- I worked at McDonalds for a year when I was a junior in highschool and then Fazolis my senior year and into college.
- My favorite movie is Steel Magnolias and I can almost quote the movie verbatim.
- I was a cheerleader for 6 years
- I was expelled by my dad one time for writing a note in school.
- When I was a Freshman at Lee I was "slimed" at North Cleveland Church at Sonshine Avenue. The slime contained flour and oatmeal and it ruined my hair. I had to cut it shorter to get rid of the damage.
- My middle name is Eileen after my Grandma Hall.
- I have never broken a bone (knock on wood)
- I once dated a guy with purple hair (hello if you are reading this)
- I used to teach drama at church and love acting (it's been a long time)
- Travis and I said I love you after dating for two weeks.

Sunday CHICK-kabob

- What an awesome day! Another morning rain storm could not keep the LPC goers away!
- Jennifer and Krystal do an awesome job in there for first service!
- After set up I made it in to service to hear Travis preach on anxiety. Another great intro video. Where do these guys come up with this stuff?!?!
- We had a rockin two-yr old class today with a total of 7 kids in the first service (I think) and 13 kids in the second service.
- Of those 13 I changed 6 poopy diapers. I guess that is not too good for my recruiting efforts! No one ever said serving was glamorous. I didn't even get a chance to teach a lesson really... it was all about the poo today.
- After church I headed to the mall with Tammy to return a shirt.
- Then tonight we went to Papa and Nanas house for steak and potatoes. Mmmmmm.....
- Great day.Here is a video of Blake chirping at Scooter (Papa and Nana's bird)

Play area southland mall

Play areas have been such a fun part of this stage in our lives. I remember the point when we chose the mall for a play area instead of for what stores were there. That is when I realized I was a mommy before anything else! Blake is a natural at them too. Here he is last night. The video is so short because I forgot my memory stick.

Lunch with Grammy and Grandpa

A couple months ago my parents bought cameras so we could talk and see each other. They never quite worked right until my mom got a new computer last week. So today the girls had lunch their grandparents. They talked for about an hour! Gotta love modern technology.

Candyland

McKenna received Candyland for her birthday from Jesse and Reina. It has been a huge hit in our house. We play it at least once a day. Lammy (the stuffed animal in the picture) played with Kourtney and McKenna today (Kourtney moved her piece for her). What was your favorite childhood game? I personally loved uno and chutes and ladders.

Forbidden fruit

Remember my half eaten apple problem (link)? Since then the girls know not to just go get fruit without asking first. I like to cut the apple instead of the girls taking a whole one because then the entire apple gets eaten. So today the girls disobeyed and each helped themselves to an apple while I was showering (what is it with females and apples?).

Me: Kourtney you know better than to get fruit without asking first. Now you are wasting all the parts on that apple that you won't eat.
Kourtney: (Head tilted down, eyes staring up) Are you going to call the police?

Lost keys, another lesson

I thought I would be ambitious on this Monday morning and head up to Cutler Ridge to the South Dade Government Center and do Kourtney's VPK registration. That took about an hour and 15 minutes in a small, crowded room juggling three kids. But I got it done and was feeling up to taking all the kids over to Southland mall to let them run some energy off in the play area. We were there for about an hour and as I was packing up, I couldn't find my keys. I dumped the diaper bag, cleaned everything out of the stroller and walked around the play area. No keys.

I walked out to the car carefully retracing the route I took through Macy's. No keys.

I took the kids out to the car in the blazing hot Miami sun. I was thankful the car was there and not stolen! It was open and I remembered that I had forgotten to lock it. I went through the car top to bottom. No keys.

I go back to the play area and let the kids loose again while I search. I put my hand down inside of the the cushions all the way around the seats (EEK!) and looked through every plant that lined the seating area. I searched high and low. No keys.

I headed to the other side of the mall to the security office. I was told that a security officer had found a set of keys and he was walking them there right now. I was so relieved and breathed a sigh... but they weren't my keys. We exchanged numbers and I headed to get my starving children a pretzel which ended up being lunch. I couldn't eat, I was too upset and it was getting close to nap time so the troops were weary and showing it. Kourtney said things like, "Do we have to stay the night here? I saw beds in that store (Macy's)"... and, "what will happen to our car, will it just sit there forever?"

I thought of my thankful post a few months ago when I locked my keys in the car. So I became thankful... I was extremely thankful that my keys were lost and not my children, that the car was not stolen, that we were in a place where the kids could eat and play. Back to the play area again, out to the car again. No keys.

I walked to every sales desk and person I could find on the bottom floor of Macy's and asked if anyone had turned in keys. I went up the elevator to their lost and found and exchanged numbers. It had been 3 hours at this point. After dumping my bag, going through the stroller, searching the play area, Macy's, and my car about 4 times I gave up and asked Travis to come get me. Blake fell asleep the kids returned to play and Travis went home to look for a spare key.

My prayer turned from "please Lord, help me find the keys" to "please Lord, let Travis find our spare key." Sorry - with three kids ages 4 - 9 months I am not so organized as to know where my spare keys are, but that is a post for another day.

I called Nissan just in case the spare key was not found. We would need to tow the car to Nissan and then pay $210 for a replacement key and $90 for a clicker. Please Lord, help Travis find the key! He pulled up and I watched from the door as he attempted to start the car. It was a beautiful sound when it started up.

I got home from my 4 hours spent in the mall and got an email from my close friend Melissa Browns. We went to school and church together our whole lives. Someone she knew from Toledo who was our age was killed in the line of duty as a police officer. He was married with 3 kids ages 4 - 5 months. He and his wife were saving money to be missionaries in Thailand. Suddenly my lost keys and frustrating day were put in perspective. I never found my keys, but my entire family is safe in my house tonight and for that I am thankful.

Sunday CHICK-kabob

- I was so excited today when I walked in to the "Jungle" and there were new lights! Flagship Cinemas fixed the florescent lights in our pier and what a difference it makes! Just look at this bright picture! Little things make me so happy.
- Unfortunately Jennifer, my first service teacher, was sick - I hope you feel better soon, Jennifer! So I worked both services today.
- 9 am service we had 8 two-yr olds and 10:30 am service we had 13 two-yr olds. So awesome! The 3-4 yr old class had 19 kids in the 10:30 service!
- We continued our "lessons" about Noah. I am not sure you can actually claim it is a lesson though! At this age, most of the kids do not talk very much. I try to get the ones that do talk to repeat a small phrase. Today it was "animals two by two."
- I love my class! I am definitely going to get some back muscles working in there. I spend most of my morning in the bent over position... bent over cleaning up gold fish, wiping up spills, picking up toys, lifting kids, changing diapers. It is quite a work out!
- I felt a little sad today that when I walked in to my room at 8:25 I didn't walk out (except to change a diaper) until about 12:20. So I didn't really get to see anyone today. But that is okay. I used to NEVER get to sit in service! I am so thankful for the two services so that I can serve in one and sit in one! It is so fulfilling. - I had a gormet meal of sandwhiches, chips, and apples with the kids today. - Blake sat in a chair and had some of his lunch that way. What a big boy. Here is a video of it.

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Hot date

Ocean Drive - before all the crazys come out at night!
South Beach
Versace's House on Ocean Drive
It was a magical night. I love you babe!

Gettin around the house

McKenna's first three years of life!

More bug bites

All over his head and face
You can see in this picture his left hand is swollen. Not sure if those are mosquitoes or ants.
Poor baby!!!

Gifts from Grandpa and Grammy

My parents did something really fun this year for McKenna's birthday. They sent McKenna money to go on her own shopping spree. I took her to Walmart. The first thing she picked out was this "Barbie motorcycle" as she called it. It took her a while to realize that she could spend up to a certain amount. She thought if she picked something else she would have to put the Barbie bike back. I finally got her to realize she could pick out more. She chose a pediatrician Barbie, a mermaid Barbie, and a Little People car. My parents also sent a ton of clothes (I am blessed to NEVER have to get my kids clothes). Kourtney has already put in the request... she wants to go on a shopping spree for her birthday too.
McKenna loves her bike. For now I am letting her ride it around the house. She drives to the pantry and gets a diaper and puts it in her trunk to bring to me. She pulls it up to the table and sits on it to eat. So cute.

Thanks Grandpa and Grammy! Wish you could be here!

Fun gifts

This was a package from Uncle Kevin and Aunt Brittany.



This was a tent from Papa and Nana.

My McKenna Banana

My McKenna. She is such a special girl. She loves her brother and sister so much. She has a mind of her own. If I am trying to get her to do something and she doesn't want to, she won't accept any bribe to do it. She has to decide on her own. Kind of like why she waited until she was 15 months to walk. Kind of like how she didn't want to play the games at her own birthday party. She loves to sing and dance and dress up. She loves anything her sister is doing. She likes to tease. She LOVES making people laugh. She tells me sometimes, I will make you happy!!! She loves to eat. She loves her pink blankie and won't sleep without it. She announces all the time what character she is... "I'm Pablo..." and then you have to say, "Hi Pablo" or she will keep saying it over and over and over. She loves church, her friends, and all of her grandparents. I am honored to be her mommy and look forward to watching her grow! Happy Birthday McKenna!

The dress up area
We had a fashion show - the kids loved it!
Cake timeGift timeShe was hilarious with her outfit... she had on a Barbie jean skirt for the party, then put a beautiful dress over it for the fashion show, then Minnie Mouse gloves, then this hat that she got. She looked like a glamorous hobo.Her new Barbie motorcycle from Grammy