Billy's Birthday...

Well, my sweet hubby turned 41 this week and one of the things he wants every year is for the family to run the neighborhood 5K together (includes training beforehand) and then we head to Pappadeaux for lunch. He's pretty easy... So we've been jogging... Simon and Emi stay in the stroller, but we let them out to run a little....

DONE!

Then we showered and went to lunch... MMmmmmm.....

"I don't think I like the calamari..."

Then home for ice cream cake and presents....

Ummm, not sure what the bird pose is...

Yay for turning 41! And Billy, thank you for always being older than me.... :)

Swamped... Completely Swamped And It's Only June...

Whew.... I think this is the summer where the 2 age groups in my house collide. This is really the first summer since we brought the shorties home where I am having difficulty balancing 3 year old activities with 11 and 10 year olds. I am lucky, the shorties go to an MDO 3 days a week, so I have time for the older kids and errands. But now that summer camps and Kevin's athletics have started, I really need to find my groove. This week Aaron is in soccer camp, so I drive from Kevin's conditioning to the YMCA for pick up back to back. Thank goodness I at least have another mom to share drop offs with! I know it's only going to get harder as they start school activities, so I'm hoping I will nail all of this soon. It is no party having to stop and find a bathroom for Simon and Emi and then speed up to get to a pick up. :)

We're also busy in June with Billy stuff. He keeps us busy with Father's Day and his birthday being a week apart. I hope he had a great Father's Day, we grilled and went swimming at my dad's. It was truly a food fest. I have a few more gifts to pick up, but I think we're close to ready for his birthday...

I'd love to use my crock pot more this summer, getting going in the kitchen at 5pm is no fun. I also with my kids would eat salads for dinner sometimes, but when is that going to happen?? Simon and Emi got their last Botox injections in their necks last week. I am still amazed at how far they have come when I see their baby pictures and look at them now. The doctor did say he may want an eval for Simon with an occupational therapist, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it...

I hope you are having a wonderful start to your summer.

Time For A Catch Up....

Since everyone decided to share strep and then Kevin one upping his siblings with hand foot and mouth, I didn't get a chance to post pics from the end of school. Olivia had her piano recital:

Then we finished our stint at our beloved elementary school. I still can't believe that next year I won't have any kiddos at the school down the street. It's a strange feeling to have a school in your neighborhood that you have no affiliation with anymore. She looks so mature....

As far as my older boys go, middle school is kind of anti-climactic. They give out awards, but hey, they're 11 now, no big thing... They did get their yearbooks signed and managed to finish out the year with decent grades (not good enough for me) and smiles on their faces....

Emi and Simon finished their year in class with Miss Monica. I love her. I just LOVE her. I'm sad that when they go back, they will have a new teacher, but change must come and they are getting older and need to be challenged...

So we have easily settled into the summer slow schedule. Emi and Simon go a few days a week to an MDO so I can do things with the older kids that I can't do with 3 year olds. We also have started swimming lessons with the little ones, they need to be comfortable in the water... Big kids have sports camps throughout the summer (Olivia is at a volleyball one as I type.) and we're hoping to get some time at the beach if Billy's schedule allows for it.... Here's to summer!

5 Days, 5 Strep Diagnoses...

What a start to the summer! 5 kids with strep and it's a tough one to get over... Temps of 102 all day and everyone is miserable and achy...

Did I mention Kevin now has hand, foot, and mouth disease?! Calgon isn't enough for this week....

It's Been 20 Years, When Do They Start Communicating With Eachother?

So my dad had cataract surgery this week and when it came time for the recheck, Billy offered to take him since Simon and Emi were home. Let me throw this out there first. Billy and I have been together for 20 years. We started dating when we were 20 years old and I've known him half my life. So during the doctor appointment, my phone rings, it's my dad.

My dad: "Dana, I wanted to check when I can make the next appointment, since I need a ride."

Me: "Umm, ok, Monday, Wednesday, or Fridays. Isn't Billy there?"

My dad: "Yes, he's in the waiting room."

Me: "He knows the schedule and he's 10 feet away."

I called Billy just to let him know that my dad was finishing up. 20 minutes go by, my phone rings.

Billy: "Where is your dad?"

Me: "Ummm, I'm sorry, aren't YOU WITH HIM?!?!?"

Billy: "No, he never came out."

Me: "GO FIND HIM! He could be passed out on the floor or something!"

Billy: "Could you call him?"

Dana: "Seriously?" (This is not happening. I am not the intermediary between these two men that are 10 feet away from each other and I am at home, at least 10 miles away. Sigh... "Ok, I'll call him and ask him if y'all are on the way, you know I'll be calling him because you'll be driving and all."

Billy: "Yep, that's sounds good."  ---BTW, if I was doing this to him I would be told to put my big girl pants on and get moving....

I call my dad's cell 4 times in a row and he never answers... Now I get nervous...

Me: "Billy, he won't answer his cell, get up and ask the receptionist where your 79 year old eye patched father-in-law has gone."  A few minutes pass, my phone rings.....

Billy: "Ok, I found him, he's still making the appointment, I guess."

I am not making any of this up. They get along, they like each other. But the doctor's office was some kind of weird block that I had to help with.... And yes, I mocked Billy as long as I could that afternoon. But he still took off from work to take my dad to the doctor. Not all husbands would do that so willingly.... :)

This is our last 2 days of school for my older kiddos, then we dive into "I'm bored" "what can I do?" and so on... Have a wonderful Memorial Day and thank a veteran and their families for all that they sacrifice....

2 1/2 Weeks of School To Go!

I just cannot believe the school year is almost done... I had a great morning at Simon and Emi's school, the teacher had a Mother's Day Brunch that was so cute, the moms were tearing up. I am going to miss their teacher so much when they start up in the next room in the fall....

I worked out and then ran some errands, before I knew it, it was time to pick up kids from school and come home and start the whole, "what's your homework", "finish your project", "practice piano" routine. Olivia has a piano recital in 2 weeks, and unfortunately, a case of 5th grade senioritis. She's had 2 back to back field trips, so I suppose I can see why she can't get motivated. But there is just SO much to get done before the end of the month. I just hope I make it to June....

The older boys are doing well... I guess... Kevin is fine, if I can keep the eye rolling, I'm 15 now attitude in check. My poor Aaron is bumbling through 6th grade and it kills me. I thought he's get it figured out by now. Nope. I still have to see his homework to make sure it's done, organize everything with him or it's lost forever. I had hoped the year would mature him and it didn't. He is the same, my ADHD, socially awkward boy. Sigh. It physically hurts to watch him sometimes. I want him to realize his worth, make more friends, and be a happy kid. He's happy, but sometimes I'm not sure why....

I should go, laundry is calling, and who wants to do laundry on Mother's Day? (we're celebrating tomorrow) Have a wonderful weekend!

Ugh, I Am Bad At Keeping Up!!!

So much to talk about! Yes, I have been MIA, seems like the last month of school is the best time to do a bunch of projects and book reports, not to mention evening choir and band concerts. Sigh... We have been going full speed, and when I have the time to sit, I'll admit I've been picking Real Housewives episodes on DVR over blogging. No thinking necessary with the tv.

We are closing in on the end of Ryann kids at our elementary school. Boo. Olivia is 3 weeks away from junior high and then the shorties won't start kinder for another 2 years. I will really miss HF, the staff is great, and it's going to be weird. Needless to say, Olivia is up to her eyeballs in Market Day projects, a GT report and on the brink of tears anytime she deems it necessary. I assume it's hormones and the end of her elementary school experience, please don't tell me otherwise. I must be able to believe there is an end to this dramatic tunnel, lie to me if you must....

The boys are trucking along, Aaron, much to my sadness, did not figure it out by the end of the school year. It is still pulling teeth to get homework done and turned in, basically any personal responsibility is off his radar. It hurts to watch. It drives me insane to have to corral an almost 12 year old to do the basics for school. Kevin is in his regular groove, doing well in school, getting ready to start athletics next year, but can be so surly you want to smack him... He seems to be a typical preteen. And tall. 5'2" at latest measurement. We're almost at eye level.

My sweet babies are leaving all traces of babyhood behind. Sniff... Whenever I say "baby" to Simon, he immediately says, "I no baby momma. I big Simon." Way to stab me in the heart. Emi is starting to learn to read at  3 1/2 and is so stinking smart. I just hope she uses it for good. Because right now, her evil streak is pretty long. She is a handful. I find her in my make up, drinking my diet coke I left on the counter, scaling the baby gate  to play in her sister's room.... You name it, she's been caught doing it.

Billy is great, working hard as always, and weekends are full of kids' sports and yard work. I figure it will slow down a bit in June and then we'll get into a summer schedule with  more flexibility... Whew. That's my update, I need to get people ready for the school week and church tonight....