Merry Christmas!

Well, not exactly, but very soon. We've had a rough week here. Last week a pipe broke under our kitchen sink while we were not home. Water ran into our living room and basement. I know things can always be worse and I am thankful it was clear water and not gray or black. Regardless, it is no picnic. Our floors on the first and second floors had to be removed. Yes, the ones Victor spent his vacation last year installing. The basement sustained the most damage. Phoebe's room sits underneath the kitchen, so you can imagine. We have insurance and they have been terrific thus far. The new floors are being installed as I type.

Besides the bad news we are keeping our spirits high. Santa is coming tomorrow night and the kids couldn't be any more excited. We haven't exactly made any definite plans, but we will be celebrating as a family.

I am on winter break from school, which is going terrific. I took some time off from work for Christmas. After New Year I am taking an additional two weeks off form work to get things together around here.

Phoebe flew out Saturday :(..
I hate to see her go everytime. She was excited to see her Dad and other relatives in Miami. Victoria is going to Florida on the 27th, to visit her Grandma. She is celebrating her 12th birthday Friday. When I first started dating Victor she had just turned 2! It doesn't seem possible. The years fly by us and we don't even take time to stop and smell the roses.

Madelynn and Colin are doing great as well. Colin amazes me (as much as all of my kids do). He has a "workshop" that I bought him for hus 3rd birthday. He plays with it alot. Although he doesn't bang on the hammer or use the battery operated drill; instead, he puts the foam "wood" pieces together. Yesterday he made an actual boat. He has the ability to create things that I wouldn't have the sense to build. Puzzles that just give me a headache, Colin manages to put together. I think we may have an engineer or architecht on our hands.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Eleven days Until Christmas

We've been super busy around here. Thanksgiving came and went. We had a great holiday and are thankful for each other. Christmas is right around the corner. I've completed my shopping with the exception of some stocking stuffer items. The kids are so excited and just can't wait.

Madelynn and Colin had their last day on Friday. I am looking forward to take them in the morning. Phoebe and Victoria have 4 more days. Phoebe has been working on a few papers that are due this week. Victoria has a book report she is working on. Between the kids and I, someone is always working on something. It keeps us young, I say. They both are heading to Florida for part of their break. Phoebe will leave on the 20th and Victoria on the 27th.

Work and school for Victor and I are going smooth. I will have a winter break for 10 days. I look forward to my break very much. It is the only break all year. I don't mind going straight through, I want to graduate before I'm 50.

Have a great week!

38 Days until Christmas

I know Thanksgiving is next week, that doesn't even see possible. We have a lot to look forward to around here. My birthday (not) is Saturday. Victor and I are going to try and hit up a pretty cool place in Atlanta for dinner. I am only working one day next week, as the kids are out of school. Heidi, the boys and mom are coming in the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. They are staying through Saturday. Madelynn and Colin haven't stopped talking about Grandma here lately. They are so anxious to see her. They are equally excited about seeing their cousins, Christian and Matthew. We are planning a few activities to keep them busy while they're here.

My classes are coming to a close; this is my last week. No break, I will jump right into another set of classes. I look forward to completing my paper and powerpoint, ugh. It is not so bad juggling it all now, as I am working 3 days a week.

Madelynn and Colin both have their "feasts" at school this week. Madelynn brought home her songs to rehearse for the Christmas program. She is playing Mary in the performance. I will begin helping her recite her lines. She is receiving her report card this week as well. She is doing fantastic with her reading. I am happy to see her excited about learning.

Phoebe and Victoria are hanging in there. they are anxious about there upcoming week out of school. Who could blame them? We all need a break from time to time.

Have a great week!

Happy Halloween 2008

We had a great week! The little kids had parties at school and stayed well all week. Wednesday we carved pumpkins, our family tradition. This year we carved four. Madelynn really enjoyed the carving very much. Colin fell asleep before the fun began. A friend of mine let us borrow a cow costume for him to wear this year (thanks Heather), and he has worn it every day, even sleeping in it! It will be a sad day for Colin when it is returned.

Phoebe and Victoria had a good week. Victoria continues to get better and better playing her trumpet and went to a couple of parties last week. Phoebe was accepted into the Coweta County Youth Leadership Program, "Way to go Phoebe!" Victor and I will be attending the welcome dinner with her on Monday.

School is coming along for me. In three weeks I will start two new classes. Work is going okay, I'm still hanging in there. Victor is taking some time off this week. I will have to get the honey-do-list started, just kidding!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Another year

Victor and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary yesterday. We went out for dinner and a movie. We then came home and watched another movie, can we get anymore boring? We skipped the gifts, well I did, Victor brought me flowers and a sweet card. I sort of already bought myself a new purse, which wasn't cheap. My paternal Grandmother, gave me very good advise. She told me to always take time for myself, and also to treat myself once in a while. For those of you who know me, I rarely purchase "things" for myself. I like to buy the kids "things" and I like to buy "things" for my home. I don't ever buy expensive clothing, shoes or anything for that matter. I try to keep it simple. So, I decided that I wanted a nice purse, so i bought one.

Victor took Victoria and Phoebe for new glasses. Victoria looks very sophisticated. Phoebe's glasses weren't ready. They explained that the prescription in the glasses wasn't exact and they needed to remake them, whatever! I will pick them up today. I will take a photo of them wearing their "new" glasses.

We went Halloween costume shopping yesterday. Madelynn just needed cat ears. She is wearing an old costume of Victoria's. Victoria is going to be a dead bride of some sort. Colin, here is the real kicker. I picked out a firefighter costume because Colin LOVES firefighters, fire trucks, you name it. So, we put the costume on and he looks SO CUTE. I walked him to the mirror and he said, "I don't want to be a firefighter (removing his hat), I want to be Colin!" He killed me. I thought I was going to die. So, I guess we'll think of plan B, whatever that is. I'll keep you posted.

Oh yeah, school is going fantastic. Work, well it's work. But like Victor and I say, at least we still have our jobs and they aren't being threatened, some folks won't be so lucky.

Have a great week!

Words from our Daughter

I want to share with you a couple of paragraphs from Phoebe's "Family History" paper; this paper was written for her AP History class. She worked very hard on it, interviewing her Grandparents, Great-Grandmother, Great Aunt and parents. At its completion, the paper was 18 pages. Ever since Phoebe was very little, she always had a special way with people. She is a giver and not a taker. She makes her father and I proud to call her our daughter. Enjoy!

When it comes to who is most influential in my life that is a hard question. All my family has been there for me since I was born. They all influenced my life in one way or another. They all cared for me, and they all gave me the necessities. I think when in comes down to it though, it has to be my parents.
My mother helps me everyday, and I admire her tremendously. She has four children, goes to school, goes to work, has her own business, but somehow she still makes time for me. She tells me she is proud of me and loves me everyday, which I think is most important in a child’s life. She gives me great advice and talks to me about things I need to know. She doesn’t keep me ignorant, and she allows me to analyze her obstacles from her teenage years. My mother pushes me to be my best and her wisdom makes me sensible about my choices I make in life. She has formed my more caring and loving side. She is my motivator, my friend, my guide, my caretaker, and my mother. I don’t think I could ask for a better one.
My father doesn’t live close to me, but he is what makes me want to do the best in everything. I love to make him proud and happy. He is a smart man, and I admire him greatly for it. In many ways I’m like my father such as his sense of humor, his confidence, and his ability to help people. For this, I am grateful. My father is such a responsible man. He also has four kids and works a stressful job, but somehow he knows just when to call and give me the boost I need. My father converses with me on an adult level, and he has since I was younger. I think this made me more of an intellectual today. He has developed the more liberal side of me, and he teaches me to create an opinion on things going on in the world. He is my coach, my comedian, my role model, my teacher, and my father. Personally, for being so much younger than most of my friends’ fathers, he seems more logical than them. I am proud to call him my father.

rain, finally

We have had the most gorgeous weather the past couple of weeks. Today it is raining, and we need it. I spend a lot of my time indoors taking care of household chores and schoolwork. I try to make time each day to take the kids out. Victoria is very good about going to play outside with Madelynn and Colin.

We are all doing about the same. Madelynn must have picked up a virus at school. She ran a fever for 2 nights, but is much better today. She is active and playing wii as I type. I will send her tomorrow to school. Colin is running around, as usual. He has ALOT of energy. I wish I had some of it.

I took the kids to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua last weekend, it was cute. If you can tolerate 1 1/2 hours of talking animals, then you will enjoy it. George Lopez is the voice of one of the dogs, we love George Lopez in this house.

School is going well for me. I have gotten in my groove. I try to complete the weeks assignments on my days off. It is working out great. Work, well it's work. I am still not sure if I like the 40 hours, as I like being home more with the kids. I will give it a little longer. I may be part-time by Christmas, who knows?

We are looking forward to Halloween. The older girls want to dress up, imagine that. Madelynn is going to wear one of Victoria's costumes from the past, a cat. I haven't gone to look for a costume for Colin. Will do next week.

Have a good week!

Fall is in the air

I have to say, thank goodness for our cooler weather. According to the Weather Channel, we are in for 5 days of beautiful sunshine and highs only in the 70's. This is my favorite time of the year. I typically drag all of my Fall decorations out and spend a day or two redecorating, but not this year. I am going to do a little gardening, cleaning, and I will hang my Fall wreath. I am just so busy right now. The little free time I have, I want to relax with the family.

The kids are still doing great. Victoria managed to get into something last week. She had what looked to be poison ivy; the doctor couldn't really confirm exactly what it was, but said it was a contact allergic reaction. With the help of some steroids, she is doing much better. Madelynn and Colin are really enjoying going to school. Colin was actually upset this morning when I told him that he wasn't going today. Phoebe has decided she wants to play an electric acoustic guitar. A friend of hers is going to let her borrows his guitar and amp, if she likes, he is willing to sell it to her. It's funny how kids go through stages of music. She has gone through many stages, rap, r&b and latin. Phoebe has really taken an interest in rock. She talked me into purchasing Coldplay tickets for a November show at Phillips Arena. Victor, Phoebe, Courtney (Pheeb's friend) and I will be going to the concert. There was no way I was going to let her venture out alone. I think it's great that she wants to "hang" with her parents. That just tells me again, that I have a great kid who isn't afraid to be herself. Anyways, back to the concert; I know of a few of their songs. Phoebe has yet to load my ipod, so I can get acquainted with their music. Wish us luck!

Victor and I will be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary in 2 weeks. I am still trying to negotiate a 3 day trip to "somewhere". Boy, do I need it.

Have a fantastic week!

School, illenss, etc..

Last Friday I fell ill with the "crud". I missed work and just felt like I did in the early months of my pregnancies. Lucky for me, though, just a bug. Today is the first day that i have felt normal again.

I started my online classes, two business courses, one is communication and the other is a business writing course. I already feel a sense of accomplishment, weird I know. I guess it has been a lot of "thinking" about doing it and now I can say, I've taken the plunge. Victor has been so supportive. He has been helping with the evening rituals, allowing me time to think and compose. He even cleaned the house today, shhh, don't tell him I am bragging on him. Did I also mention he has been doing some laundry and ironing, oh yeah, he fixed us a fabulous dinner last night. Well, it smelled fabulous, my tummy wasn't ready for a meal. I was really a little concerned that it would be a nag session every night, but I guess after being married for 7 years, he knows how to avoid hearing my nagging.

On with the rest of the clan. Phoebe was elected as student of the week for her 10th grade class. She also received a 100% on one of her essays in her AP History class. She is now getting excited about Homecoming. We are going shopping for a new dress next week. No date, just hanging with her girlfriends, phew...
Victoria has been lucky to inherit my Aunt Katrina's bedroom set. This set is about 50 years old. I remember it being in my Grandmother's home for as long as I can remember. I was honored to be asked to take it. I hope Victoria will take good care of it.
Colin, well not curly-headed boy any longer. Daddy took him for a haircut today and boy did they cut it. He looks like a boy now. I will post photos at a later date. Madelynn is just pushing along. She has almost graduated to her 1st grade sight words. I am really proud of the kids. They are adjusting so well and I couldn't be any happier!

Have a great rest of the week!

Sick children

Not a whole lot to post. Colin has had a sinus infection. I think every child in his class has been with some sort of ailment. Madelynn has had a touch of the a stomach bug. Dr. Jackson (our pediatrician), said the stomach thing was going around along with every other virus you can think of. Luck enough, no vomiting! Colin is feeling a lot better, I kept the two of them home today for a little rest. I always think about how it would be to work a 9-5 and have to rely on school/daycare so I can work. When they're sick, your screwed. Well, unless you have a friend or relative that can keep them. Usually, most people have children themselves and don't want your crud in their house to make them sick. Anyways, I just think about how good my arrangement is and that I really won't ever have to miss work, because they will always have mom, dad or abuelita here to care for them.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Well, the week is coming to a close and everyone is ready for the weekend, even me. I have my orientation for school next week and am looking forward to getting that going.

The kids- Madelynn and Colin are doing great in school. Madelynn is coming along with her sight words and Colin is just happy about anything you can imagine.

Victoria- She has her new trumpet and is making alot of progress. Victor is having a great time with it as well. He has a thing for instruments and music. Oh yeah, all a's on the progress report. Way to go Victoria!

Phoebe- Phoebe was recommended by her counselor to apply for the Youth Leadership Coweta Program. Phoebe has to write an essay on what she thinks a leader is and what qualities would he/she posses. This program is geared to develop the students into future community leaders. She too received all a's on her progress report. Keep up the great work Phoebe!

I hope everyone forgives me for not posting any photos. Our camera is MIA and I haven't been able to locate it. I will post more, if and when I find it.

Have a nice weekend!

Our First Day of School

Madelynn and Colin have gotten off to an awesome start. They had their first day of school on Tuesday (yesterday). Madelynn woke me up yesterday, before my alarm clock went off. She climbed into my bed and said,"Mommy wake up, today is an important day." Ever since she went to see her classroom and meet her teacher last week, she was psyched about starting kindergarten. I recall hearing her say, last week, "I can't believe I am going to be in kindergarten." There are no words to describe how happy I am to see my children happy.

Colin, what a brave "little man", as we call him. He walked into his new class yesterday and immediately started playing with the toys. No tears, no clinging, just a sign of what an independent little boy he has become. He still wants Mommy to carry him down the stairs. This morning, as a matter of fact, he put his arms up and said, "Pick me up." I replied,"No Colin. You are 3 and you can walk down the stairs." He then said,"Hold my hand." Of course I held my baby's hand. He has matured so much in the last 3 months, it is incredible. He has transitioned from his crib to a toddler bed, and sleeps there the entire night. He is potty trained, about 95% complete. He knows all of the alphabet, his colors and shapes. He is just so inquisitive lately. Victor and I sometimes look at each other and say, "What did he say?"

Just a quick note about Phoebe's progress in her AP World History class. She received the highest grade on her class on the essay portion of her exam. She was so worried about the grade..I always tell her, she worries enough for the both of us.

School update

We took Madelynn and Colin on Wednesday to meet their new teachers. I can already see that Colin will have to adjust once again. He wanted us to hold him the entire time we were in the classroom, we didn't of course. He has 5-6 children in his class this year from his class last year. I'm sure he will adjust in no time.

Madelynn will start kindergarten, she is so excited. I know she will learn so much this year and I can't wait to start helping her with homework and projects. Her teacher, Miss Susan, or as she says, "The new Miss Susan." She had a Miss Susan last year. After looking over their daily activities, I know she is going to have a blast!

I will be an official student September 22. I have signed up for classes and am looking forward with starting that chapter in my life. My plate is full, I don't think I will have an empty plate for a long time. I will be turning 33 in November and I think it is time to make a move. I know I can make a good salary with Publix, but I am not committed to working 50 hours a week. I lost that drive many years ago. I just want to enjoy my children. Being mom is my number one priority. There isn't a dollar figure that replaces that. I will work as much as I can and if I find that it is too much, I will cut back. We have been working it all out so far, we'll see what happens after September 22.

Phoebe is doing awesome in school. All A's so far. She is really being challenged in her AP World History, but as I say, "If it was easy, we wouldn't call it work." This is great college prep, I say.

Victoria has decided she wants to play the trumpet in the band. I think being able to play an instrument is a wonderful idea. School comes very easy for Victoria and I think she needs something else to occupy her time, besides the computer and Wii. We are waiting on the instrument to arrive, I will update photos and more information later.

Have a great weekend!

Little Helpers

Being a mom of four, I find that I spend a great part of my time taking care of necessary household chores. I have, for a couple of years now, delegated many of the easier things to Phoebe and Victoria, dishes, dusting and little things here and there. They, for the most part, do an outstanding job. I recently discovered that Madelynn and Colin too, want to be my little helpers. Colin- He knows where to get the dishwasher tab, places it inside the dishwasher, closes the dishwasher and turns it on. He also assists Madelynn with picking up the toys and bedrooms.
Madelynn- she puts away her clean and folded laundry (she puts them in the appropriate drawers) and cleans her room and makes her bed. She really surprised me this past weekend, as she made MY bed without me having to ask. She did a terrific job! Phoebe and Victoria have a lot of friends who are not required to take part in the daily household chores. Great for them, I say. My mother taught me how to take care of a home and I am grateful for that. Phoebe is going to have a "maid", as she says, when she grows up. I hope she does, and can. I, myself, have not been able to bring myself to paying someone to do things that I have been managing my entire life. I would rather keep that money in the bank and take a vacation each year. Maybe when we hit the Lotto, I say.

Good-Bye Crib

It is official, we aren't having anymore babies. Well, it's been official for over 3 years now and I haven't looked back once. We are blessed with 4 beautiful, healthy, smart and kind hearted, (most of the time) children. Okay back to my original thought; We sold Colin's (and Madelynn's) crib and changing table this week. Most people kind of giggled when I told them Colin, at age 3, still slept in his crib. I, unlike the majority, was in no rush to have ANOTHER early morning visitor in my bed. We already had a toddler bed that we bought for Madelynn when she was 2, and he is now sleeping in that bed. It has been 2 nights, and he has slept in his bed the ENTIRE night. I tell you, Madelynn is a bad sleeper, because I made her that way. As an infant, I picked her up at the drop of a dime, and at the time it was the right thing to do. Years later, I am realizing that is WASN'T the right thing to do. After Colin was born, I said to myself, I wouldn't do the same to him. And for the entire 3 years of his life, he has been an EXCELLENT sleeper. This morning was too cute, he woke up a little after 7am. He walked into our bedroom (the potty is in our bathroom), and said, "I got to go potty". He stayed dry all night and woke up and went straight to the potty. I tell you, when they're ready, they will do it.

So, everything else is about the same. Madelynn is a week or so away from completing her swimming lessons, the girls are now in their 3rd week of school. Colin and Madelynn start in a couple of weeks. Phoebe has open house tonight, which we are going to. Victor is off next week and is going to Alabama to help out with some work on my Grandmother's house. I am staying here to hold down the fort.

Have a good week.

School, Back in session..

Phoebe and Victoria survived the first week of school. This will actually be the first FULL week, as they only went last week Wednesday-Friday. Phoebe is in the 10th grade at East Coweta High School. She is taking advanced Literature, Algebra 2, Spanish 4 and an AP World History (she will be able to get college credit after passing an exam). Her plate is very full this year, she has mentioned to me that swimming may not be possible. Phoebe worries like an adult and wants to make us so proud. She has never disappointed me, but only made me extremely proud to say I am her mother. If she thinks swimming will be too much, I will support that decision. I told her I will support her with any decision (within reason, of course).

Victoria started middle school this year at Lee Middle School. She wasn't a bit nervous about her first day. I can still remember my first day. I was so nervous, I made myself sick, literally. Anyways, she is taking the usual load, with the majority of the classes being gifted. She is interested in Drama, which I think is a great idea. As far as athletics, they don't allow 6th graders to participate in the athletic program until 7th grade. That gives her another year to decide if she wants to play sports. I didn't play sports until I entered high school. I believe in letting your children make those deicisons, as forcing them into anything may backfire. She can be successful either way.

Madelynn and Colin are still hanging out around the house. Their school doesn't start until after Labor Day. Madelynn is ready to start. Just this morning she asked me when she was going to school. Kindergarten.. I can hardly believe she will be an official kindergartner. I will post an update after she starts.

Colin- well, he is doing AWESOME with the potty. I have had him in underwear for the past couple of days, with no accidents. I took him out to run errands yesterday, and he sat on the BIG potty at Barnes and Noble. I was so proud, so was he. He ran out of the bathroom yelling, "Phoebe, Victoria, I go pee pee on the BIG potty!" Loud enough for all to hear. I thought it was super cute. School- he's not excited about it. I asked him yesterday if he wanted to go to school. He replied, " I no want to go to school." I then said, "Are you ready to meet Ms. Julie and Ms. Pam, your new teachers?" He replied, " I want to see Ms. Janet and Ms. Cindy." (They were his teachers last year) We'll see how it goes, I will post an update.

Everything else is about the same around here. Oh yeah, Victor and I finally broke down and bought a new car to replace his 1996 Explorer. We have been thinking about it for 6 months or so. We purchased a 2009 Sonata. It gets 32 miles to the gallon, compared to my Suburban at 17. If it only seated 6... Well other than that, we are just working and raising our family. I hope we can get away (Victor and I), sometime soon. International airfare is just ridiculous right now, but we'll see. My mom landed a deal with Spirit, $1.11 each way from Ft. Lauderdale to Atlanta. If I find something like that, we'll definitely be traveling somewhere.

Have a great week!

Back to school..very soon

Well August is here, which is so hard to believe. We have all of our family back together. My mom left last week to return to Florida, a sad moment for us of course. We wish she were so much closer... Victoria returned from Florida last week, she had a great time visiting with her Grandmother and other family members on her Mother's side. I took her school shopping today and for her back-to-school haircut. This was the last day of tax-free shopping, which wasn't my motive for going today; I just thought Sunday morning, before church let out would not be too crazy. I was right, it wasn't. We went grocery shopping afterwards, then came home and made dinner. We've just been hanging out around the house, not a whole lot of activity around here.
I had a huge order for hair bows come in last week, which I have been working on between house cleaning, work and getting kids ready for back-to-school. I will try and have it done tonight. I also have 2 large upcoming "shows", that require about 100 bows each. I will be busy for the next month or so. I am also about a month away from beginning my full-time hours at Publix. I have been contemplating selling my ribbon inventory. I really don't know though, it's nice to make a few extra thousand dollars here and there. I will have to see how it all works out in a few months and make a decision.

Have a great week!

Happy Birthday Colin!

Colin officially turned 3 on July 12.We decided since my mom and Phoebe weren't flying in until the 17th, we would celebrate a week later. We had the party at a local pizza place and had a clown come to entertain the kids. Tater the clown, what a name. It reminds me of "Mater" from the Cars movie. She was something else. The face painting she did on the kids was amazing. When she arrived, she came over to Colin to let everyone know he, in fact, was the birthday boy. He turned and gave her the back of his head. It was if he thought that would make her go away. She was very good though, and took the hint. Surprisingly, Colin did allow her to paint his face. He wanted to be "TigerMan". The party went well and I think the guests enjoyed themselves.

My Mom, Phoebe and Madelynn are headed up to TN to visit with my Grandmother. The decision to take Madelynn didn't happen until yesterday. She is a big girl and loves to spend the night with Abuelita, and LOVES my mom (her Grandmother) more than anything. I think she will do great and I want her to spend as much time with her Great-Grandmother as possible. Colin wasn't too happy about them leaving, but he is still too young to travel away from home without mommy. Not to mention, my mom couldn't really enjoy her time with her mom. Colin wants her undivided attention when they're together. She couldn't feel more honored to be loved by such sweet children. I thank the Lord everyday for my family, we are truly blessed.



Have a great week all!

Painting, bowling and hurt kitty...

We had a good week. I finally started painting Phoebe's room. She decided back in the spring, that she was ready for a new bedroom set. She also wanted a new color scheme in her room. Her room was a pink before, with a twin sized bedroom set. She had indeed, outgrown that set. We bought it when she was 8, so it was a bit juvenile for her. The sad thing was, I didn't have a need for it. Madelynn already has a set and it was "girly" looking, so I couldn't use it for Colin. So, I decided to sell it. That was 2 weeks ago, and I just started painting yesterday. Her room isn't very big, so I did get it done in 3 or 4 hours. I just have the closet left to do. The furniture should arrive next week. She'll be home Thursday, and her room will not be ready. She may have to sleep on the sleeper sofa in the basement's living room.

We have been getting together with a friend of Madelynn's from school every week, Andrew. He has a sister a year older than Colin, and they all play together so well. His mom couldn't be any nicer.We decided to take the kids bowling last week. This was Colin's first time ever. The kids enjoyed it, they got a little anxious between turns.

Allie-Belle, our frisky feline, managed to injure her foot the other night. Every morning, she gets up on the rocking chair on our front porch and looks through the living room window, once she hears us "stirring". This is how she greets us every morning. Well yesterday, I found it odd that I hadn't seen her peeking or heard her meowing. When I opened the front door, she came in, hobbling. One of her back paws was swollen 4 times the normal size. I inspected for a bite mark or cut, but nothing. I know there are those folks who would have rushed their pet to the vet and received "emergency care", I on the other hand, am not that person. I would have taken her had I felt that it was life or death situation. I am happy to report that her swelling has come down and her mood is much better. She was even jumping to play with the string on my ironing board.

Have a great week!

Is July here already?

It doesn't seem possible that we've already celebrated the fourth of July. The year is half way over, it doesn't seem possible. School will be starting in a month. Time flies when you're having fun. That's what they say..I say, "Time flies when you are busy".

Colin will be celebrating his 3rd birthday next week. That really doesn't seem possible to me. He is talking so much now. Potty training will be on our agenda here really soon. I have already decided to take a laid back approach and ease him into it. He really has no interest in the potty. I will give it a try for a week. If he doesn't catch on, then we will revisit it again in another month or so.

Madelynn has started taking ballet. She seems to enjoy it. This week she is also going start swim lessons. Maybe she'll follow in Phoebe's footsteps. She loves the pool. Colin, too loves the pool. He likes to hold on to Mommy a lot, so I am waiting another year for him to take lessons.

My mom will be visiting soon, we can't wait. We love having my mom here.. I hope she'll retire in the next few years and make Georgia her home. There's nothing better than spending time with Mom. Phoebe is flying in with her, so we are looking forward to seeing them both. Victoria is staying a little longer with her Grandma. They are planning a trip to California to see Victoria's uncle, who is a Marine.

Work is going well, for both Victor and I. We had a day off together yesterday, for a change. With the exception of going to the gym, we really hung out around the house. I took a 2 hour nap, which is EXTREMELY unusual for me. I might take 3 naps a year. Colin is starting to follow in those footsteps, unfortunately. Madelynn didn't give up naps until she was 3 1/2. Maybe once schools starts, he'll be more tired by noon.

Have a great week!

Happy June-

Today is Wednesday, June 18, 2008. I can't believe the kids have been out of school for a month already. Madelynn is attending VBS at her preschool, she is loving it. Rachel and Andrew sit at her table (they are her best friends). Colin wasn't old enough to attend, next year buddy! I took him to the park this morning after we dropped of Madelynn, what a gorgeous day we are in for.

Victoria flew out yesterday afternoon. She is in Florida visiting family. Phoebe is having a blast in Nicaragua. She is learning to ride a horse, has a Spanish tutor and swim lessons. Did I mention she wakes up at 6am every day? I was lucky to drag her out of bed at noon here. I'm glad she is having fun, but I miss her so much. Summertime is great, no schedules, but I miss my baby when she leaves for 2 months. I guess it's good preparation for college (which is only 3 years away)!!



Our kitchen is 99% complete. We have some trim to do, but other than that it's done. Victor broke down and bought my new stove and fridge. We went a little higher end on the stove, because I wanted the commercial grade top. The fridge is a GE Cleansteel side-by-side. It doesn't leave the fingerprints as a tradition stainless appliance. Our dishwasher is also cleansteel. What's next? Just kidding. I am going to do a Little painting, but that won't require Victor's expertise.



I have also strated pondering on Colin's upcoming 3rd birthday. I have only had family parties in the past, which I like, but I have begun to think he may be ready for something BIGGER. No more bouncy birthdays, I'm over them. I would love to have something at the house, but where would everyone sit? It's too hot outside in Mid-July. Plus, you never know with the weather. I have a few ideas, but I have to run them by Daddy and see what he thinks.



Have a great week.

A new kitchen

As I mentioned in my previous post, we had new granite counters installed last week. We love them. They installed the counters last Wednesday. Victor had to remove the existing backsplash, the drywall had to be removed as well. We replaced the tile around our tub in the master bathroom a couple of years ago, so we knew what we were in for. It took a couple of days to install the new backsplash. We figured we saved over $1k on doing the plumbing and tile work ourselves. Victor can do pretty much anything around the home. I feel sorry for women who have home improvement "challenged" husbands.

Now that we have completed the kitchen, I think we may be able to enjoy ourselves. The kids spent the night with Victor's mom while we did the kitchen work. That was a HUGE help. The weather has been nice, well nice for the beach maybe. HOT, HOT,HOT...and humid. We haven't gotten out much with the kids since we've gotten back from the beach. Plenty of trips to Lowes, but not much entertainment. The bouncy house went up this morning. It's nice that the kids can jump inside. We may hit the pool some this week. The kids have been asking, and we've been so busy and tired.

Have a great week!

Back from the beach

We returned yesterday from our family trip to Myrtle Beach. We rented a condo for 4 nights. the condo was very nice; It was a "home away from home". 3 BR/BA, full kitchen, and washer/dryer. Did I mention it was oceanfront. It had an indoor water park, water slides and lazy river. The kids enjoyed these amenities.

Phoebe spent too much time sunbathing and earned herself a nice sunburn. Victor, Victoria and Madelynn got a little too much sun also on the beach. Colin and I were the only ones to escape the burn.

The section of Myrtle Beach we stayed in was very quiet. We went to the "Ripley's Aquarium", it definitely wasn't worth the $70. The "Broadway at the Beach" was pretty nice. It reminded me of "CityWalk" in Orlando. Lots of restaurants, shops, etc.. We had a nice time there.

Isn't it funny how exhausted we return from vacation. We were all in bed at 9:30.

We still have the rest of this week off from work. Our granite is being installed, Victor is redoing our back splash. What a way to spend his precious days off. He has already asked me what "project" I will be asking him to work on for his next vacation.

Have a great week! I will update with the kitchen photos when we have made some headway.

It was a good weekend

We had a very nice weekend. Graduation on Friday, Graduation party on Sunday. It was good to be around the family. Victor's mother (who lives here in Summergrove), took Madelynn and Colin to spend the night with her last night. It was so nice to wake up at 9:30, make and drink my coffee without any interruptions. I woke Phoebe and Victoria up and we were out the door at 11:30. They had some leftover money/gift cards that they wanted to use. We went and picked out sandals for Victoria and Colin, sundresses for Victoria and Phoebe bought some cosmetics of some kind.

We went to pick Madelynn and Colin up around 3:30 this afternoon; Colin was still taking a nap. He woke up about 45 minutes after we got there and didn't want to leave. This is not new, he NEVER wants to leave Abuelita. So, she told me to go on home and she would bring them both home a little later. It has felt so strange without them running around. I keep going to Colin's room to see if he is "awake". Well, I better enjoy it for a few more minutes, they'll be here soon. I wouldn't trade em' for the world!

Have a great week!

Summer is here, unofficially!!

The kids had their last day of school on Friday. What mixed emotions my children had. I remember only feelings of pure joy on my last days of school. They have a lot to look forward to.



We leave Wednesday for Myrtle Beach. We are all looking forward to a little time away. Victor is taking 11 days off. He thought it may pose a conflict with his work, but it worked out. He really needs some time off, he works really hard for all of us. Thanks, honey. We all love you very much :)



Let's see, what else, oh yeah. My cousin Claire graduated from high school Friday night. She will start at Mercer in the Fall and is planning to become a nurse. It was nice to see my Aunt and Uncle and cousins, they live on the northside of Atlanta. We hadn't seen them since my Grandmother's funeral. It's nice to have family close enough to get together for special occasions. MOM- you're next, time to retire and move on up.



Today, we are having a little graduation party for our nephew, Jeff. He graduated yesterday from high school. He has enlisted in the air force and will leave in early June. I believe he is going to Texas for training and then he hopes to be stationed in Europe somewhere.



Colin was sick with a fever for the past 3 days. He woke up today fever free, yippee! I plan to take the kids outside for a bit today, maybe the park. I have to get my house together first. We are grilling steaks tonight. I am making a chimichurri sauce for the steak, yum!



Have a safe weekend.

Happy Birthday Madelynn!

Saturday we celebrated Madelynn's 5th birthday. Madelynn chose to have a "bouncy house" party. Her birthday isn't until next Thursday, but with Graduations and vacations, I decided to have it the weekend before. Most of the attendees were her classmates from school as well as a few other friends from the neighborhood and her family. The kids had fun and it was nice to just leave and not have to worry about cleaning up the mess. Money well spent! Enjoy the pics and I will be posting later on in the week.

Madelynn- The Gradaute.

Yesterday was Madelynn's preschool graduation. It was so much fun to see all of the 4 year olds up on stage, singing and reciting their ABC's. Everyone, teachers and students have worked very hard to get ready for the performance and it showed. Tomorrow is Colin and Madelynn's last day of school, which doesn't seem possbile. I am looking forward to a few weeks with no schedules or agendas. Tomorrow, I am off for a pedicure in the morning (while the kids are at school) and a little shopping and back to school for the end-of-year party. More photos to come!

Happy Mother's day

On this Mother's Day, I want to stop and reflect on this last year and what I have accomplished? I honestly feel like I am always running crazy. Laundry, picking up kids, and work.. it never ends. I do have to say, that I wouldn't want it any other way. My children are healthy, my husband and I are happy, what else can a woman ask for? Nothing. I always have to remind myself to stop and enjoy the "little things", let the laundry and dishes pile up occasionally. I am going to try my best and cherish everyday a little more.

I want to mention the special women in my life. Mom- you are the greatest mom ever. I still haven't met anyone that can hold a candle to you. I mean that! My witty Granny Dee; Words can't even describe her. She is so independant and selfless, I can only hope to become half the woman she is today. And last, this is the first Mother's Day without my Grandmother Voncile. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her. I can hear her voice in my mind as if she was sitting right beside me. Her words of wisdom stay with me each and every day. She is missed dearly by us all!

Today was a great day. We did absolutely nothing. Victor had to work, but the kids and I hung out around the house. Phoebe presented me with her gift first, a coupon book. Full of free chore and babysitting coupons. I need to check whether they expire. Victoria presented me with my gift second. As she carried her sleeping bag down the stairs and on to the front porch, I could only wonder what she was up to. I didn't let my curiosity get the best of me and waited for my summons. 20 monuted later, Victoria asked me to come on out. There, on the front porch, were my planters. Victoria asked me the other night, what I wanted. I said, "I would like a few planters that hang over the railing." She kind of looked at me strangely and said, "Planters?" I replied, "Yes, the ones that hand over the railing." So, she did a great job at directing Victor to Home Depot. I love gifts for my home.

In closing, I feel that every day is Mother's Day. My children remind me of this every morning that I wake up. Life couldn't be better.

The weekend is over...

Our weekend was very quiet and relaxing. Colin had croup last week, which caused him to miss the entire week of school. He is much better now, thank goodness for that.

What's new: School is almost out, for the kids at least. My classes start June 9th. Phoebe is having her awards night tomorrow. She is in the top 5% of her class. Madelynn will graduate from preschool in a couple of weeks. Phoebe and Victoria are planning to travel a bit this summer. We are going to Myrtle Beach as a family on May 28. I can't wait to walk out on my balcony in the morning and drink my coffee and watch the waves, ahh... I will give a full report when we return. Victor and I will probably not be going anywhere solo. I have class until the end of July. We are also planning a Disney cruise in October. We may sneak a weekend somewhere in between who knows will us crazy kids!

Speaking of crazy, Victor and I came up with this idea on Thursday afternoon to refinish our kitchen cabinets. We replaced the flooring in our entire house last year. I don't think either one of us have ever been extremely happy with the way the cabinets and floors look together. We have plans to redo the counters and replace the appliances; This was only put off because we had a patio door that needed replacing. So, back to my original thought; Victor had 3 days off and spent them staining our cabinets. He got 1/3 of them completed and they look great. The color we chose was a autumn chestnut, I think. Anyways I will attach a photo so you can see the difference.

Phoebe Turns 15!!

For Phoebe's 15th birthday, she wanted a quiet party with a few of her friends. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and had a few of Phoebe's favorite sides. To finish off the meal, Carvel ice cream cake, yum!! Several of the girls slept over. They played a few games and watched movies. Thank goodness for our basement!!



Because Phoebe's actual birthday fell on a Monday (The DMV is closed on Monday), she couldn't get her permit until the day after her 15th birthday. We took Madelynn and Colin to school and off we went to take her written test for her permit, which she passed (of course)!!

Afterwards, I took her shopping so she could spend some of her birthday money and treated her to Olive Garden, one of our fav's (for the salad anyway). Oh yeah, she had her first "driving experience" when we left Barnes & Noble; she managed to reverse and drive out of the parking lot. Much credit due, the suburban is not the easiest vehicle to maneuver.

Our Fun Filled Trip to Six Flags!

Of course it wasn't our choice, but they outnumber us 4-2. So, off we went to Six Flags. Originally I thought Victor would go with the Phoebe and Victoria, as I didn't think there would be enough for Madelynn and Colin to do. After going online I found that to be not true at all. I highly recommend taking the family!

We decided to split up from the older girls, allowing them to ride the thrill seekers roller coasters. Madelynn and Colin had a blast on the "little kids" rides. It turns out we have another daredevil in the family. Victor is known for his sky diving stunts, well Madelynn went on a big roller coaster, The All American Scream Machine, and wanted MORE!!

We were whipped when we returned home, but were glad we took the kids as they had a blast!

April is already here!

It's amazing how fast the time has gone. I feel like we just put away our Christmas decorations, but we're into the second quarter of the year. I have been wanting to create a blog, simply for our family and friends who live out of state. I am horrible at sending pictures, Mom & Dad will agree. So, I am looking forward to having a site everyone can visit and keep updated on our busy lives.

Phoebe will be 15 on the 22nd; She will be getting her learners permit. I am excited for her but a little nervous as well. She will have to learn to drive our "big green bus" (our family vehicle is a Suburban). I wish we had a small vehicle for her to practice with. I guess it is good for her, driving a car will be a breeze after learning on the Suburban. She is doing awesome in her first year in high school. She is ranked 30 out of 811 kids in her freshman class! She is staying active with her swimming. I'm glad she has found a sport that she truly enjoys. I think I'm looking forward to the days when she can drive herself to those late practices.

Victoria is excelling in all of her studies. She is enjoying Beta Club and chorus at school. She stays busy around the house playing with Madelynn and Colin. She loves her new computer that her Grandma bought her for Christmas, thanks Grandma!! She is really starting to mature; I can't believe she will be starting middle school next year!

Madelynn is enjoying her preschool. She loves her friends and her teachers. Victor and I decided to keep her at Newnan Presbyterian for kindergarten. They have a great program and I like the small school feel for her. This will enable her and Colin to remain together at the same school for another year. I only wish they had a k-12 program. She is excited about her upcoming birthday. I can't believe she is turning 5, what a big girl! She insists that we are going to have a "Chuck E. Cheese" birthday party. We will have to think about it.

Colin is talking so much now and plays well with his sisters. He really enjoys putting together those floor puzzles and he has the best time with them. He is loving Ms. Janet's 2-day class at Newnan Presbyterian. He cried for the first month of school, which broke my heart. I thought we may have made a mistake and put him in too early. Seven months later, he LOVES it. He asks for Ms. janet and Ms. Cindy every day. He is learning so much. He knows all of his colors and a bunch of his letters. He will go 3 days next year.