Greyson is 7!

Happy Birthday to a very sweet, sensitive, gentle young man!

Here are 7 facts about Greyson:

1. He was born 1 week early and was my largest baby at 8 pound 7 ounces and 21 3/4 inches long!

2. He is very sensitive and has had the nickname of 'lover' ever since he was a baby. He still lives up to that name.

3. Chris and I LOVE to hear him laugh. His laugh is contagious and brightens the day.

4. He has the cutest freckles and a redish tint to his hair.

5. He is a very 'solid' build and has always had a 'no nonsense' attitude with food. He sits down, eats and leaves. There is no time for messing around. (All the other kids talk and joke and mess, not Greyson. That boy eats with no interruptions.)

6. He is quite shy. He did not want me to bring a treat to his classroom today so he wouldn't have to be the center of attention.

7. He chose to go to Cici's for dinner tonight. That was his pick. Refer to number 5.

Happy Birthday Greyson!

Trying to catch up

I hit the ground running today. Well, kind of. I'm fighting a sinus infection so I'm taking medicine and flushing my sinuses as much as I can. I don't have time to get sick. I really don't.

I cycled tonight and it felt good, but I certainly didn't feel at my best.

The kids had salmon for dinner tonight. They have been asking for it for a while, and I finally did it. I think that they ate about 3 pounds of it. I am really trying to not buy the junk food at the store anymore and to make sure that they all have healthier options. We'll see how it goes.

Last day

Mom and Dad came over to Mark's this morning for us to have a late breakfast/early lunch together at Cracker Barrel. The food was of course, quite tasty. It was raining today too, just to add to our gloom.

After lunch, Mom and Dad headed down towards some outlet mall in North Carolina and then they will continue on to Savannah for the rest of the week.

Mark and I just enjoyed each other's company until he dropped me off at the airport a little after 4.

My flight was delayed about 30 minutes, but I arrived safely in Orlando around 7:30. Chris and I met at Chili's in Apopka for a nice dinner and then it was home for us. It's nice to be back but it sure was sad for our long awaited weekend to come to a close.

Happy 50th Mark!

Today was the day! Mark is 50!

We all met at Firebird's at noon to celebrate. Mom, Dad, Mark, Kylea and I went to sacrament meeting this morning and enjoyed a spirit filled start to our day. It was very nice to be there with some of my family that I don't usually get to attend church with.

After that, it was time to celebrate.

Reed and me

Mom and Mark

The 3 kids

The whole gang!

After lunch, Reed and Sherry had to head back to South Carolina. Mom, Dad, Kylea and me picked up a birthday cake and took it back to Mark's house where we all spent the rest of the day enjoying each other's company.

The only negative, the visit is coming to a close. :(

Family craziness

After a morning of sleeping in and relaxing, we were blessed to have a visit from the sister missionaries. Mark and Vicki invited them in and they blessed their home with their wonderful and strong spirits and testimonies! I was SUPER emotional, for a few reasons, but mainly because the spirit was so strong and what they were sharing, I KNOW to be true! Families can be forever! The Book of Mormon is the word of God and we are not left alone in this world to wonder. We can pray, seek out the spirit and listen, Heavenly Father will answer our prayers!

Following our great visit, we met Reed and Sherry for lunch.
Mark and me

Mark and Vicki

Reed and me

Mom, Dad and their children

Mom and her children

The kids!

We ate dinner at Mark's and laughed and laughed. It was wonderful to be together after years of not having all of us together at one time.

I'm off!

I flew up to Richmond this afternoon to celebrate Mark's 50th birthday with him and my family all weekend.

Vicki picked me up around 4:45 and Reed arrived in the Richmond area about that time. We all met up with Mark and Joey at Olive Garden about a quarter till 8 and we had a wonderful dinner. For some reason my camera did not want to work properly, so I don't have any good pictures from that night.

You can be assured though, that we had fun!

Tomorrow, Mom and Dad arrive.

Overload

I went out to dinner tonight with Stephanie Shaw and I committed gluttony.

I promise, I will NEVER do that again!

Yuck.

What is our goal?

I was quite frustrated today by the time I got back to church to pick up the 3 older kids that had church activities. I had run around all day trying to get everything done and get everyone where they needed to go.

So, when I got back to church around 8:30 tonight and 2 of my 3 kids were upset. Kerstyn was crying and Brennan was frustrated, I was not happy!

Are we while serving in the church trying to help save the children or run them off? I thought our goal was to save the children. Then I suggest that we do our best as leaders, teacher, and friends, to make them feel welcome and successful instead of outsiders and failures.

Anyone agree?

After I spoke to someone in the Primary Presidency and the Bishopric counselor over Young Men, I felt better. I want nothing more than a forever family and I will be the first to admit that I need help. So, I beg all, help me save my family. Love us, love them and help us find the way.

Isn't that our goal?

Frustration!

We were told yesterday that we will not get into the building this weekend.

The next weekend, that we could move is the weekend that Chris and I will be in Salt Lake City. I thought we weren't going to be able to go at first, but we decided at the end of several very curt phone calls between each other (which is not normal at all!), that we were going to go and that we would postpone the move until the second weekend in October.

We were also told yesterday by the phone company that there is NO WAY to get 8 phone lines into the building by the end of the month. They are currently working on running temporary lines from down the street but they can not handle our call volume. To get the permanent 8 lines, they are going to have to get a permit from the Florida Department of Transportation and go underneath US Highway 441! Why in the world did they wait until the week we were supposed to move to finally look at the property? We called them 2 MONTHS AGO!

This is just as bad or worse than building a house. What were we thinking?

Dentist

I had a regular dentist appointment this morning. I just changed dentists, to one that is right across the street from our current office. He explained a few things to me.

Number one, it is NOT normal to get food stuck under my crown. The dentist that did it apparently did a very poor job and it is decay and trouble waiting to happen. Now I get to decide the most convenient time for me to have it DONE AGAIN. I'm not looking forward to that.

Number two, I am a serious teeth grinder. I need to get some type of night guard to save my poor teeth since I am not a manatee and will not grow another set.

Linger Longer

The choir sang this morning, we ended up with about 8 to 10 people less than the rehearsal the week before, but, I still think they sounded pretty good. I need to try to recruit some more people and since I can't sing myself, singing well is not a prerequisite to being a member of the Eustis Ward choir. :)

Following church today, we had our first linger longer activity in a long time. I was supposedly 'in charge' of it, but I delegated quite a bit to the other members of the activity committee and they all did great. We had a nice turnout and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Success!

Chris ended up attending our ward today since he didn't get back from Lakeland until around 1 this morning. It is always nice to have him with us.

Now, on to planning the next choir pieces and the next linger longer. We're having fun.

Busy Saturday

Chris woke up this morning early and headed to the gym. I headed to Publix and we left all 5 kids here alone for about 30 minutes.

Well, apparently that was 30 minutes too long because during that time my measuring cup broke and then 'the breaker' subsequently tried to fix the broken measuring cup which resulted in super glue all over the boy's room carpet and on my granite counter tops.

Needless to say, when I returned, it wasn't one of my best moments as a mom...

But, I had to get in Sunday dress and go with Kerstyn to her last Activity Days activity. I was asked to play the piano and Kerstyn was attending.

I'm thankful for the opportunity that I had to attend because it gave me the opportunity to 'detox' and refocus on what is truly important. Not the carpet of the counter tops, that is for sure.

We both had a good time.

Here is Kerstyn making her hair pretty.

Here she is wearing it.
Following the activity, Kerstyn and Brennan went over to the Markham's to spend the afternoon and I took the 3 younger kids for ice cream and to Target so Greyson could spend his birthday money that he got from Yoo-Ma and Mam-Mom.

Greyson purchased a remote control boat. Now he has 2 because he wanted one from us and he had already gotten it. So, this is what happens, he and Lauklan both take them 'out on the pool'. It's kinda cute, I think.

Aislinn sweet talked me into some play groceries and she is really enjoying playing with them.

I also purchased Toy Story and Toy Story 2 on Blu-Ray because our previous copies had been 'played to death'. They are all enjoying watching them.



Chris left around 1 to go to Lakeland to help Ricky, his brother, move over here. So, here I am, winding the day down with the kids. Thank goodness my perspective is much better this evening than this morning. :)

Seventeen years ago today...

Seventeen years ago today I had my last first date.

Seventeen years ago today I was in my first semester of my sophomore year in college and a music major loving absolutely every minute of my program.

Seventeen years ago today Chris and I went to a movie with my room mate who proceeded to sit in the front seat of Chris' jeep on our date. (What a great memory!)

Seventeen years ago today was the beginning of forever for me.

There have been ups. There have been downs. But Chris has ALWAYS been there for me and I am blessed.

I'm thankful for this 'ride'.

Wow! 17 years!

Icing on the cake

When I was getting dressed this morning, Chris was still at home and we were chatting.

I was putting my blouse on, one that I haven't worn in a long time that is a leopard print.

He asked, "Is that your mom's shirt?"

No, it's not my mom's shirt.

Really?

When it rains, it pours!

First, I'm getting a 'belly roll'.

Now, I'm wearing my mother's clothes.

What's next?

I'm scared

I'm noticing on the scale, that the number keeps creeping up.

I don't like it. Not at all!

I went to Chris this morning with my concern. It went something like this, "Honey, I'm worried. My weight keeps creeping up on the scale and I don't know what is going on. All of my clothes still fit the same. What do you think?"

To which he replied, "Well, I did notice last night when you were on the bike at the gym that you had a roll at your belly. It used to be flat. Maybe it is going there".

UGH.

I've struggled with my weight for way too long! I don't want to gain it back. I'm scared.

Back at it!

We hit the ground running this morning.

Up, eat, brush, etc., out the door in enough time to not be tardy and have to 'hustle' as I call it when we're running a tad bit late.

Chris and I promised to each other that we were going to try really hard to make sure that family prayer happens every morning and every night. Yes, we're supposed to do that, and yes, it should probably be easier to do than it it is for us, but it is hard.

We're doing it!

It's making a difference and I'm glad.

All the kids are well and the parents are surviving, so I think, we're doing all right.

All ready for church

We got ready a little early this morning, so I decided to do a photo shoot. Here we are, all ready to go!

Boys

Girls
Me

What a beautiful Sabbath morning!

Proud to be an American

We were blessed to spend the day with family doing exactly what we wanted to do.

We're blessed to live in America where we can go where we want to go. Where we can live where we want to live. Where we can believe what we know to be true!

Calls a parent doesn't like

Mrs. or Mr. Shipley,

Example 1: This is so and so and your child has had a rough day and is on yellow. I have them here right now to talk to you. Not only did they get in trouble in my class, they also got in trouble in Music. Please call me back this afternoon.

Example 2: This is so and so middle school and I am calling you because your child has 3 tardies and the next time they are tardy to class they will receive a detention. Please speak with them about being on time.

Sound like fun to you?

Not to me.

Facade Sign

Please, please, hurry up and finish! We're making progress though.