Some Updates

There have been so many reasons to blog in the last week and a half. I wish I had not missed them all!

• House fever is not gone but it is not spiking either. We have decided to wait until after tax season next year before there is a "for sale" sign in our front yard. In the mean time, we have made an enormous to do list to get this house ready to sell. The previous owners put carpet over hardwood flooring down the hall and in the bedrooms. We have been rough on the carpet so it will need to be replaced. However, Jason is thinking of ripping up the carpet and refinishing the hardwoods instead. Crazy, crazy...but way nicer for showing the house.
• Mary Evelyn turned 8! Shame on me for not doing a birthday post for her. Sigh... We had a little mini celebration with my friend Hollie and her guys on her birthday. Then Hollie (being the servant kind of gal that she is) drove the big girls to the movie theater to meet my dad so they could see Prince Caspian. My dad says he still hasn't seen the movie because they sat on the front row and he kept his eyes closed. He says it sounded like a good movie though! Then the girls spent the night with my parents...including little Miss Betsie. The next night we celebrated with Jason's parents.
• The above mentioned night at Mom and Dad's was Betsie's first night away from us...she was not a good sleeper unfortunately. But she told my mom, "I yuv you, Mimi." so I think she was forgiven.
• While the girls were with my parents, Jason and I used a gift certificate to a lovely local Bed & Breakfast. So, so nice. Our 15th anniversary was the day before Mary Evelyn's birthday so it was a special getaway for us. Did I mention that about 2 months ago Jason surprised me with a new van (Odyssey...woo hoo!) for my early anniversary gift? Pretty cool. He got an ipod nano. So come the big day, we were broke and just had to be sweet and skip the gifts.
• I painted my master bathroom. It's lovely. I might have to start a new blog category showing before and after pictures with all the projects we have planned.
• I got excited when David Cook won American Idol.
• Then I was broken hearted just an hour later to learn that Maria Chapman, daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman, was killed in a terrible accident. I have been grieving for them since Wednesday night and praying for them constantly. I just received a prayer email asking for prayers for wisdom about when they should return home. They have been staying with friends since the accident. Please pray for the Chapmans.
• We are almost done with school for this year and excited about our short break until mid-July when we'll start back up.

House Fever

Yep, we've got it. Don't know where it came from, but we've been looking. Now that doesn't mean we're moving. Or maybe it does. But my van sure does have some extra miles on it from riding all over town looking at homes we've found online. We've ruled out several neighborhoods but found a few we like.

We have a lovely home, but we feel a bit crowded much of the time. We bought it back when we thought 2 kids and 1 dog would be it for us. As you know, we have added one of each since then. We are content to stay here though and we just might do that. But the thought of a tub in the master bath sure is tempting. Jason wants a more private yard.

I'll keep you posted, but here's a peek at one that we are seriously considering. Of course the sellers will probably seriously laugh at our offer. I'll keep you posted!

MyPoints

Do you know about My Points? I have been a member for several years and have received quite a few gift cards to places like Starbucks, Target, Barnes and Noble, etc. Basically, you go to www.mypoints.com and sign up. They send you emails with little offers for special deals. You get 5 points for reading the offer and more for taking up the offer (which I pretty much never do). You can also get points when you shop online. They also have other ways to earn points on their website. After you accumulate enough points you can redeem them for gift cards. It really does work!

Anyway, if that sounds like something you'd be interested in, let me know. I'd like to go through their site and refer you so I can get more points. I could give them your email and not tell you but I wouldn't want you to be mad at me. So if you decide to sign up, please let me refer you first. You do get emails most every day but you don't have to spend any money unless you want to. You still can earn gift cards...just for clicking emails.

Just thought I'd share!

Jen

I'm Still Around

Well, I do still exist, but apparently just don't blog much anymore. I'll have to work on that. Now that tax season is over and Jason isn't working at night, I guess I'm hanging out with him and not spending as much time at the computer desk in the evenings!

Here's a little of what has been going on:

• We've been planning trips! Jason and I have a Family Life Marriage Conference coming up (Weekend to Remember). We are going out of town for that. Also, we received a gift certificate for a night at a local B&B so we will be spending a night there soon for our 15th wedding anniversary. In a few months we are planning a family vacation to the Creation Museum and lots of other attractions in the area. So nailing down details for all of that has been fun.
• Foster: He came to us with kennel cough so we have been dealing with that and just adjusting to a new pup in the house.
• Mother's Day! We only got to see Jason's mom very briefly but we had dinner with my mom and dad Saturday night. My sister and her family were there as well.
• School: About 3 more weeks to go. I am still very excited about our plans for next year.
• Betsie: potty training...good days and not so good days. Also, if you've read my blog for a while you know she was a climber and had a crib tent to keep her in. We took that off and lowered her crib rails so that it's sort of like a toddler bed. She is staying put so that is a good thing.

Not sure what else to tell you...we've been watching way too much TV for people who get no channels. Netflix is a good thing. Then there are the swimming lessons we have twice a week and the very cool lake with walking trails we found just a couple of miles from here. So we are enjoying the spring and being together. I am so thankful to have Jason around a little more at this time of year. I hope you are enjoying your spring time too.

Mary Evelyn's Early Birthday Gift

She got to pick out a pooch at the Humane Society. (although I said no to her first few choices for a variety of reasons.) Meet Foster. He just turned one year old and seems to be a terrier/lab mix. Mary Evelyn ADORES him. He is very friendly but needs lots of training. Rose keeps barking but Foster just stands there and looks at her like she is crazy. Maybe Jason and I are the crazy ones!

I am not crazy about his name. Jason and I had a dog pre-kids named Foster and I loved it for that dog...that and this dog has had about 4 names today. I insisted that the name he had at bedtime tonight was the final answer...so I guess we have Foster Jr. Sweet pooch though.

Happy Referral Anniverary!

To all of our travel mates and their Spicy Girls, Happy two year Referral Anniversary!

Our first look at sweet Xiao Ying Hong from Zhuzhou, Hunan, who would soon become our little Betsie. My dad's reaction was: She's either really fat or really warm!

More Party Stuff

Okay...my sister Laura has better pictures of the party at her blog so go here to see more!

Pre-Party Pictures and Stuff

Well, the party was very successful. So successful that I didn't take a single picture during the party. I was too busy helping with food and spending time with friends and family who came to celebrate surviving another tax season with us. Here are a few pictures from before the guests arrived.

Rachel in front of the jump castle. You might be able to see her face paint too. We had the jumpers plus cotton candy machine, a face painter, and a sound system. It was great!

Mary Evelyn getting more and more excited while she waits for her friends to show up!
I felt this slide was a tad obnoxious since it was taller than our house, but no neighbors have complained yet so I guess we're okay. The older kids loved it and I even went down once. My sister made me go with her. I have a terrible feeling that someone else took pictures of that but I wouldn't count on seeing it on this blog anyway.

Mary Evelyn after sliding

Rachel getting ready to slide.

The jump castle. Some of the younger kids loved this one. But not the littlest ones like Betsie and my two year old niece. They were a bit overwhelmed.

Rachel in the jump castle

Jason working two grills with hamburgers and hotdogs

Mary showing me her face paint

Just What We Needed Two Days Before A Party

Did I mention we were having an outdoor party here in a few days? And did I mention we needed a plumber? Well, that call to the plumber has resulted in a bulldozer thingy in the front yard digging a huge hole today. The plumber couldn't get our line clear so he called the utility people and they ended up breaking a pipe...meaning they had to dig an enormous hole and replace the pipe. Oh the joy. The culprit in this whole thing is the big beautiful maple tree in our front yard. Its roots seem to be causing lots of problems and I think that, sadly, it will have to go in the next couple of years.

But for today, here are a few pictures to amuse you. By the way, Mary Evelyn is desperate to get out there and see if there are any worms in our lovely red mud pile. The first picture was taken from inside my bedroom window early this morning. It was a lovely way to wake up today.

About 6 weeks to go

I just counted to see how close we are to achieving the required 180 days of school this year. Somewhere along the way, Rachel did an extra day of school. I don't have a clue how that happened, but apparently she needs only 31 more days while Mary Evelyn still has 32 days of school left. I wanted to finish up before June but I just plugged in the remaining days on the calendar and it looks like we will finish up on June 4th. We can't take many breaks for that to happen so it's time to buckle down and finish these last weeks. Hopefully we can stay healthy and get our work done.

Today Was...

The Last Saturday of Tax Season '08!!!!

I think Jason has worked at least a part of every Saturday since early/mid January. But this was the last one for a while. (He knows there might be a "conflict" if he tries it for a few weeks.) We only have a few more days until the 15th and then he is off for a few days, including the weekend. We have a party coming up Friday to celebrate. Lots to do between now and then, including calling a plumber...another post for another day.

In My Dream Home,

there would be a nice big bath tub in the master bathroom. And I'd be in it right now. Alicia asked this question

"What is a feature that your dream house would have to have in order to be your dream house?"

So that is definitely my answer. I could come up with a whole list, but since it has been a long day and I wish I could just sit and soak, that's what I pick. You see, my master bathroom is very small and only has a stall shower. Every time we go to a hotel I take as many baths as I can. I took baths all the time in our other home. And even though this home is larger and I prefer it overall, I definitely miss my tub. And it wasn't a fancy tub...just a plain old tub.

So there you go. Calgon, take me away!

Birthday Pictures

Getting ready to celebrate

Opening gifts (This one is a friendship bracelet kit and how to book.)
At the Japanese steakhouse on her birthday with Jason's parents. The restaurant gave Rachel a chef's hat, a candle in her rice, and a nice set of chopsticks.
Betsie would be fine if she never steps foot in that scary Japanese steakhouse ever again...no matter whose birthday it is!!!

Enjoying her birthday dinner

Mary Evelyn skating on Saturday, with a little help from her Daddy

Rachel, skating like a pro (almost!)

Rachel and her two buddies

After skating, we were hungry and went out to a more kid friendly restaurant (At least Betsie thought so!). All the girls got balloons.

Betsie and her booooooon!

I've Been At This For a Decade

Being a mom, that is. Rachel turned ten a few days ago, but I am a little late in writing about it here. I've had a hard time thinking of what I would want to say about her. She is so special to me and I am truly thankful that I was chosen by God to be her mother. We have been celebrating for a few days already!

Wednesday night, the older two girls spent the night with my mom. She took them to a movie and then brought them home on Thursday before art lessons. Rachel came home to roses from Jason, a cake, and a few gifts. Her biggest gift was the whole earring thing a week earlier. Thursday evening we also went out to dinner with Jason's parents and brother and sister-in-law.

Friday we went outlet shopping with my mom. Then today my dad came by to take her to lunch since he missed seeing her when she spent the night with mom (he was out of town) and two of her friends came over this afternoon to go skating and out to supper with us for Rachel's birthday. How did she manage to have a three day birthday celebration?

I am glad we have been able to prolong the celebration though because Rachel is such a gift to us. She had a few difficult days earlier in the week and I was so thankful that she has enjoyed the last few days. When you consider the fact that she is our oldest and therefore has the least experienced parents of our three children, she is a great kid! Absolutely none of the credit goes to us...we couldn't even believe they let us take her home from the hospital ten years ago!

So Happy Belated Birthday to my lovely, sweet Rachel! You are a treasure and I thank God for you!

Pictures to follow later...gotta get everyone ready for Easter tomorrow.

The Week in Review

We had several "blog worthy" happenings this week, but I wanted to leave the posts up about Cohen and Ellie for a few days so you all would pray. FYI...both children are doing well. Ellie remains critical, but more stable.

Rachel's 10th birthday is next week and I have always told her she could get her ears pierced when she turned ten. (Worked for my parents with me so I just copied them on this one.) So Thursday we headed to the mall and got it done! She was very excited and feels so grown up.

Rachel's nervous face

Here we go...

One ear done!

Here comes the other one...not enjoying this so far.

Yes! It's over! Now she can smile!

In other news...yesterday we went to a horse farm for a field trip. Here are a few pictures from that. Unfortunately my camera battery died before they got to ride the horses. You'll also be able to see that Mary Evelyn is sporting a cute shorter do in these photos...another thing we did this week.