Tag me!!

I've just realized that my blog has only 6 posts for this year!  YIKES!  Back in 2006 I had over 200.  I need something to jumpstart my blog.  Anyone have any new memes they want to tag me for? 

There, I've just completed post #7.  Lame, huh?

Veronica's Birthday Wish

Veronica turns 3 in about 2 weeks.  Its a custom (or bad habit, depends who you are ..... I think its a bad habit) for the kids to start talking about what they want as a gift and party theme about 3-4 months before the actual day.

So it came as no surprise when Veronica started talking about her birthday a few weeks.

What does Veronica want?

A pinata.  That's it.  A pinata!

I wonder if I can postpone her bday by a few days and just throw the kids' Halloween candy into her pinata? 

Best Deal in Town!!

Need to get away? Money tight, though? Then look no further than the Springhill Hotel on Cactus Oak. For only 88 cents you get a private room with all the amenities, including breakfast!!! The staff is very courteous, rooms are clean and spacious and ambiance is like no other.

There is one small catch - you'll have to get up early to cook your own breakfast as well as that of the staff.

Yesterday Craig asked the kids to clean their rooms "hotel clean." They took it one step further and created a hotel. They made signs, had personal sized toiletries in their bathroom (thanks to a travelling dad who brings back the goods) and even made a desk area for laptops. They actually expected me to sleep in their room, too!

This morning I was woken up by an urgent staff member (Sophia) because I needed to hurry and make breakfast. What?! I thought I was the guest? So I went downstairs and made Shrek eggs (fried eggs) for Kolbe, scrambled eggs for Catherine, Veronica and Isabelle, and omelets for Craig and I. Along with toast, bacon, coffee, orange juice and chocolate milk, I'd say this breakfast was stupendous. Sophia proceeded to deliver breakfast trays to sleeping children (and dad) upstairs.

I later found out Kolbe only had to pay 24 cents for his deal. Craig didn't pay at all. And now I'm looking at a sink full of dishes!

Kids have started their school work and our day has gotten off to a good start. Thank you Springhill Hotel!

Dancing Vincent

Here's a video of Vincent's latest hobby, dancing!

**NEWS ALERT**

It has finally happened.

I am the mother of a teenager! I'm excited and I'm sad. Excited for all the wonderful conversations and memories we're going to have. Sad for all the past "little girl" conversations that are gone. Isabelle is a talker. I miss her small, rough voice. She had such a harsh sounding voice when she was little that I even took her to the doctors. He said it was just vocal abuse from all her screaming (the good kind) and loud talking.

She hasn't changed. She's still loud. Actually, she's the loudest of all my kids.

She's also the second mommy in this home. Reaching this milestone is exciting but I wish I could slow down the years.

Happy 13th Birthday to my first born! I love you and look forward to watching you blossom into a beautiful woman of God.

*** Happy Birthday, Blair!!! We were watching an old video from Belle's 1st bday and there you were! She got so excited to see you and said you haven't changed a bit. Enjoy your 25th bday! ;-) ***

Update

I feel like a traitor to my own blog. I've found that facebook is much easier and quicker to update. Mostly because I can do it on my Blackberry instead of sitting in front of my computer.

But I do miss it here! My kids have been asking why they don't see their pictures anymore. And so, while it is already February, I resolve to update at least once a week. Its the best I can do right now. I'm pretty busy homeschooling 7th, 5th, 3rd, 2nd, and preK along with entertaining a 2 yo and holding/nursing a 6 mos old. See why Facebook is easier?!

News Update:
My entire family was sick with the flu for almost 2 weeks. We are just now recovered. Kolbe's eardrum even burst. Poor darling.

Veronica and Catherine are addicted to Dora the Explorer. To the point that they don't want to watch all our wonderful CCC or Veggietale videos. Only Dora. But, hey, they've picked up some Spanish!

Kolbe has been playing CYO basketball. I always thought he was an aggresive boy BUT now I see that he's not. He's just more aggressive than my girls. He's quite a gentle and sweet boy (who just likes to tease and annoy girls). At practice and games he's super excited, runs around, BUT does very little to steal the ball. And when he does get the ball, he hands it off as quickly as possible. That's ok, Craig and I and the grandparents are having a great time watching him play.

The biggest change in our lives. Wii!!

The kids (this includes Craig) received a Wii for Christmas. In addition to games, its has become a source of news and weather for me. Also, we got Netflix through the Wii and WOW! It's wonderful!

Lest you think we're watching tv or playing games all day, the kids only watch movies on the weekends. The Wii is played every other day for about 30-45 mins. Other than that the tv stays off (well, ok, in the evenings Craig and I like to be couch potatoes. Actually, we love to be couch potatoes. Its the only time of day I get to sit and relax).

Is that a good update? Anybody even still reading me? Anyone care to give me any ideas on what to write?

Vincent-boy is sitting up!

I've done a poor job of showing off my little man. Today while sitting on the floor we "discovered" he can sit up! Mind you, its not like we've been working with him or trying to get him to sit. Isabelle just plopped him down and we gasped! He can sit! Guess who's going to be getting lots of sitting practice now?

** I apologize for the fuzziness. I used my blackberry since it was the closest and I didn't want to lose the moment. And ignore all my jabbering. ;-) **