Any additional life lessons....

need to happen when daddy is in the car....



So while we don't live in the country, we aren't really in the city either....in that we are in the country that has been built up....



and it some places it has been built up to fast....



So this morning we were driving down Main Street, and I thought I saw something dash out in "traffic", but it was still a few cars ahead of me....



Didn't see any major swerving, or anything to show that something had dashed out so just as quickly as I thought about it, it left me....



Well come to find out, 2 cars ahead of me had hit a deer.



Didn't hit it enough to kill it, but Main Street is a 4 lane road, with a center turning lane....



So the truck that hit the deer stops, and the car behind it stops...



Now the deer is flopping like a fish out of water...so I stop cause I don't want to hit it and "finish it off" nor do I want to do any damage to the new car....



So the car backs up and I roll down the window to make sure it had "flopped" into the other lane. The gentleman says yes, and that he was going to pull it to the side of the road, and he and I exchange the "knowing glance" since he can see the boys...as it I was going to move it but it's not dead yet....



So as I pass the truck that hit it, I see a lady in the passenger seat, and her husband is walking back to where the deer was, I roll down my window to make sure they were ok, and she says yes she was fine, just hated to see the animal suffer like that...of course the front of their trunk is completely ruined....



So as we drive the kids start with 50 questions....



The first being what happened why did we all stop. So I try to explain that there was no accident, that no other car had hit another car, but that a deer (an animal had tried to cross the street) and got hit by a car. Johnathan asked if he wanted to go eat at the fish place (yes we eat there on a fairly regular basis) and if he was crossing the street why didn't he look both ways....



Christopher asked me if the animal died, I said no, but I didn't know if he was hurt to bad that if they took him to an animal hospital if they would be able to help him....would anyone other than a mom with kids in the car actually take a deer to an animal hospital????



Of course the mention of hospital gets Xander going, and he wants to know who at hospital....



So needless to say a 10 minute car ride, and atleast 50 questions later mommy was very tired....and had a headache....

So Santa Came and went....

The boys were very excited to see all the fun things that were left for them!!

We got legos, and wooden building blocks!!

Xander got lots of trains, and clothes!!

Mommy and daddy got useful things like socks and sheets!!

Then the sickness came again...

I'm tired of holiday sickness!!!

I have broncitis, and both Xander and Johnathan have sinus infections!! Makes for lots of grumpiness in the house!!

Pictures and video are up on www.dropshots.com/mom_of_3_boys

All in all a great Christmas, and now to get ready for birthdays.....

Where to start???

Christmas in my house is done!!

The tree is up, and decorated thanks to Johnathan and Christopher!! I didn't hang a single ornament. It doesn't look "perfect" and there are lots of places that are missing ornaments but I think the boys did an awesome job!!

Thanks to Caryn, ALL my presents are wrapped and nicely tucked away until Santa comes!! It was nice to be kid free and be able to wrap until I was done!!

I finally got my Christmas cards addressed and mailed!! Although I didn't mail out near as many as I have in years past, it was just enough to cover the family!!

I decided that I really love some of my friends!! How strange is that??? I have met 2 really important ladies in my life, and we all have 5 year olds. One lives in Tennesee, and One lives in California. Just amazes me how close I can get to someone just through phone and internet chatting. Although I've met Julie, we haven't seen each other in years, and she has yet to meet Alexander, and today when I talked to Lisa she just had witnessed a terrible accident and was really shaken up...it scared me that I would really miss her friendship if something should happen to her. She has really become a part of my life and family!

The dizziness is OFFICIALLY gone!! I've been feeling great since Friday!! I'm sooooo excited!! Had a normal workout! Even did the 45 degree leg press. Didn't push 540 pounds, didn't even come close, but was able to do a lot of my normal things. I told Jim we would take the good days as the come and just go with them for now. Hopefully they will continue to come and the dizziness will stay away!! We are starting slowly with the weights again, and I'm not even giving him a hard time about how light some of the stuff is!!

Had a doctors appointment on Friday, and through this whole mess I've lost 5 pounds!! I'll take it anyway I can get it. There is a group of people at church that will be starting a "Biggest Losers" club after the first of the year. It cost $25 to join, and while I don't watch the show, and don't know a lot about it, I'm thinking of joining. If you fall below the "yellow line" it will cost you $5, and so that will help to keep you motivated. There was a couple from Greenville that participated this past season, and they go to church with our CDC Director. They are going to come in and meet with us and tell us about how they got started and how it changed their lives. I know that Amy went from a size 22 to a size 2. I'm not sure about her husband Phil. They also work out at Sportsclub (the gym I belong to). It is suppose to go for a 3 month time frame, so hopefully I can report at the end of 3 months that I've lost quite a bit of weight! That's my goal!!

The rain is here, and school is out! Oh what to do with the boys??? I'm sure of how to fill the rain filled afternoons, but I'm sure we will come up with something fun!

Hard to believe 2008 is almost over, I'm just hoping for an accident free 2009!!

Can someone please take my dizziness away...

I worked out at the gym again today, and I did about 90% of my workout sitting on the floor!



Poor Jim, he is having a rough time thinking "out of the box".



The very first exercise we did, I thought I was going to hit the floor. Then of course it doesn't make me feel any better when I'm back down to "baby" weight. But I know I've got to build back up to where I was.



What is really bad, is that it could take up to a year for the dizziness to go completely away!

My HoHo Hat

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All I want for Christmas...

Seems so unreal that Christmas is just a few weeks away.....

I've finished shopping, all I have left is the wrapping....I guess ideally I would love some wrapping fairies to come and empty my trunk and the Contour trunk of the stash and wrap away...barring that I guess the energy to stay awake long enough to wrap for my monsters!!

I got the best present last week from Michael...he bought me a new car! Thanks to Fr. Hayden we were able to get a great deal and bought a 2008 with 200 miles on it for right at $20,000. I now feel a lot safer running the boys here and there in a car that I know isn't going to quit on me!

When you ask the boys what they want for Christmas you get a variety of answers....

Here are their wishes...

Christopher: an X box, a Wii, and a Nintendo DS. All gaming systems. None of which he is getting. They only thing he is getting that is on his list is an Eagle webkinz.

Johnathan: a guitar, a new set of drums, an aircraft carrier and a webkinz. Thanks to Nana he will get the aircraft carrier. I won't buy it. Christopher doesn't play with his. I told him to steal Christophers :)

Xander: He just wants Choo-Choo's!! And anything his brothers have!!

So since the boys have a list, I figured I know I've gotten my car and that's all I'm getting or need, but I'd make my Wish list as well!

I want....

Money for the gym, since my paid personal training session are just about up
New sneakers
A new griddle
Another pair of blue jeans
A haircut and possibly a color to help hide the greys
and my final wish would be 1 day with out fighting or tears between my 3 monsters!

So my baby is 5 today!!!

So at 11:01 Johnathan entered the world!!

I can't believe in less than an hour he will be 5 years old!!

Next year we will be heading to kindergarten....

Pictures will be up later!!

We had a party on Sunday at Gattitown, he seemed to have a good time, and today we will do something small at home.

So how was my thanksgiving???

I burned myself twice!!



Once putting the turkey in the roasting pan...ended up with a 2nd degree burn there...and a nice purple bubble this am...



Second time taking the lid off of the pot to mash the potatoes!!



All in all it was a good meal...



Hopefully the boys are behaving for Grandma while I work, and Grandpa and Daddy build shelves to store and hide all the backpacks!!



Thought about getting up to get into the hustle and bustle of Black Friday shopping but felt I'd be better off staying in bed :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

My in-laws are in town to help Michael with a project...

I'm FINALLY getting the drawers under the stairs for the boys backpacks, lunch boxes and other things!!

My parents are on their way to Phillie for a wedding, so it's just us!!

Since Michael and Xander have both been sick, Caryn made the smart decision to stay away!!

There is a warm, nice breeze so we've opened the house up to get rid of the gunk that is floating between them...

Off for an after lunch nap!!

Happy Turkey day all!!

So I missed a day...

Wouldn't you know with just the 2nd day into an everyday posting...I miss 1...

Guess I will have to really work on this a little bit harder....

My Hiney hurts....

My poor Xanderman...

He's had the pukies, so I've been giving him suppositories in order for him to quit puking on me...

I did 5 loads of laundry.....just of puked on clothing...

So his wonderful YAYA taught him where and what his HINEY was....

Well when it was time for more meds he'd scream and yell and just in general pitch a fit...

After his 4th bath tonight, Michael was home to see the antics...Holding his diaper up so I couldn't get to his tush....rolling away...trying anything he could...

Then he'd lay on the bed and sob that his hiney hurts....

To make it all the funnier he had completely stopped crying, went into the bathroom to brush his teeth, but wouldn't sit down...his reasoning??? His Hiney hurts...

When he went to give kisses...he kissed his brothers night night, but not mommy or daddy?? WHY??? Cause his hiney hurts....

He finally decided to lay with me, but wouldn't let me rub his back, or pat his tush or any of the "normal" things we do at night....WHY??? Cause his hiney hurts....

Anyone seeing a pattern????

So I did it...

I joined NaBloPoMo.

All I have to do is post every day for a month. National Blog Posting Month...

Think I will have enough to talk about??

One Word Answers

I'm going to invite you to join me in this one too. Put your answers in the comment section if you want to participate.

You can only type ONE Word! Not as easy as you might think.

Where is your cell phone? desk

Where is your significant other? work

Your hair? grey

Your mother? wonderful

Your father? wonderful

Your favorite thing? sleep

Your dream last night? tournament

Your dream/goal? happiness

The room you're in? Office

Your fear? snakes

Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy

Where were you last night? home

What you're not? skinny

Muffins? love

One of your wish list items? cruise

Where you grew up? everywhere

The last thing you did? play

What are you wearing? PJs

Your TV? normal

Your pet? aquatic

Your computer? Dell

Your life? busy

Your mood? frustrated

Missing someone? Kevin

Your car? dirty

Something you're not wearing? bra

Your summer? relaxing

Love someone? boys

Your favorite color? gruple

When is the last time you laughed? yesterday

Last time you cried? Thursday

I finally have video proof!!

That is 500 pounds!!
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What is wrong with me????

I have been extremely depressed the last few weeks or so...

Maybe it's the time of year, or the weather or whatever, but I'm seriously thinking about just running away from my life....

I have a husband who puts up with me for whatever reason...although I think now I've just become a part of him and the routine...

I love him and our family, but I don't know I just feel like I'm making the motions, and not really doing...

I still have thoughts that everyone would be able to get along with me, I'm just an uneccessary part of their daily lives.

My sister is a HUGE help, and the boys LOVE spending time with her. It's great cause I'm able to take a mommy time out and get my head put back on the right direction...but lately even my time outs don't seem to do the trick.

Our 10 year wedding anniversary came and went with Michael working all weekend, and my dad and I working at another church with Advent and Christmas items.

Christopher's last soccer game is Saturday, and then we have our tournament and that's it we are done till February...what will I do with myself those 3 extra days a week....

The weather is FINALLY starting to cool down and it is finally starting to feel like fall, and that possibly winter is just around the corner...

Seems odd to me that in the past 2-4 weeks I've been contacted by old high school friends, and even found the call list for our high school reunion, and I often think "WHAT IF"

Now don't get me wrong, I love my boys, all 4 of them...but what would have happened if Michael and I hadn't married??? Would I still have all my boys??

I find myself thinking about another baby...and then quickly thinking I'm nuts. We are almost out of diapers, and our budget is stretched to the limit as it is...

I find myself amazed that after 13 years Michael and I are still together. A big round of applause for my husband. Who would have thought he would have been able to handle me for that long.

I'm tired all the time, and find myself sitting alone in the dark more than I care to admit.

I know in my heart that life is not easy, but way does it always have to be so damn hard? Can't just once someone say I know you are having a rough time now let me do that for you? Instead all we ever seem to get is more work, more problems and more broken issues.

Who would have ever thought that at 34, I'm dealing with kids, obesity, cancer and sleeping issues? Who would have thought that after 10 years of marriage, and 13 years with the same person that I would begin to wonder why he ever married me, and how he would/could do much better without me. Who would have thought that I would stress about every little thing when it comes to my monsters...from failing 1st grade to never learning how to read to the fact that they don't know how to ride without training wheels. Or that my lovely almost 8 year old has to wear glasses. Who would have thought that I would be worried that my kids would inherit type 1 diabetes, and that I am thinking of ways to get them agree to be a part of a study that Michael's doctor suggested???

Who would have thought that my last REAL VACATION was 10 years ago when Michael and I went on our honeymoon, and then next one seems like it is never going to come???

So yes, while this post is a MAJOR downer, and I know that...it's where I am right now in my life. Scared, feeling alone, and just wanting to go find a hole to go crawl in and hide, and if I can't do that, then I just want to run away!! So sad for me that no matter what anyone says or does I can't seem to shake the feeling that I'm not needed/wanted and I don't know how to make myself believe any different.

The first in a series of biopsys.....

So I had my 1st round of "rechecks" today.

Was a little more scared than I had been before...I guess cause I actually know what this one means...

We are now in the 2 week wait for the results to come in.

All I can do at this point is hope that I will continue to have the same results in order to avoid radiation....

Trying for Christmas Pictures...

We did flu shots first, so that might have been part of the problem...who knows...

Xander was just having no part of pictures...

Here is a sampling...

Notice how in one shot he's trying to run away???

Report Cards are in!!

I'm very excited to say with a lot of hard work we pulled the Language Arts grade from a mid C to a low B...

So he had 4 A's and 1 B!!

I'm so proud of him....

I've got to post pictures as well....he got his glasses yesterday!

So what to say about my biopsy???

Can we just say I'm of mixed emotions?

I came back as 90% cancer free or clean cells.

I was given my option to start radiation now or wait 6 months. I chose to wait 6 months. I have to have monthly biopsys to see if it's progressing, but as long as I stay at the 90% she will allow me to make the choice.

Seems so surreal and like it's happening to someone else, but it's me....needless to say it's been a crazy summer and a summer full of stitches for me.

Luckily the monthly biopsys will just be skin scrapes. I won't require stitches, so that in itself is a plus. The recovery time is also a lot faster.

All I can hope for is that I will come back with 100% clear cells without having to go through radiation.

So proud to get in trouble....

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Progress Reports

Reading
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 93
Class Average: 93

Social Studies
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 94
Class Average: 89

Science
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 96
Class Average: 96

Math
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 91
Class Average: 90

Language Arts
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 84
Class Average: 88

The project is done!!

We are turning it in tomorrow, and it's not due till Friday!!

Just a few short weeks till Report Cards....

And we are still holding strong on our weekly progress reports!

Reading
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 93
Class Average: 92

Science
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 95
Class Average: 95

Math
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 90
Class Average: 89

Language Arts
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 83
Class Average: 86

I'm glad that atleast the Language Arts grade is holding steady! He is right in line with his class, so I just need to stop stressing...although that's easier said then done!!

I spoke with the Accelerated Reader Mom for his class and she was excited to say that he will make his reading goal for the 9 weeks as well. He is currently at 3.8 and his goal is 5. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but she is very excited for him. It's the same mom that did it in his 1st grade class so that makes me happy also!!

So here we go with stitches again.....

So this year I've had stitches in my left thumb, and my right leg.

So lets add to that by adding stitches to the small of my back.

They did the biopsy again yesterday. She took a bigger piece out, and this one required stitches.

I ended up with 4 internal and I think 8 external.

I have to go back in 2 weeks to get the stitches removed and I should have the test results by then.

My back aches a little more today than it did yesterday, but I'm in good spirits. I'm not letting it get to me, right now I'm going on the thoughts that it's not cancer and that whatever "it" is they got it all!!

So now we are back in the waiting game...here's hoping these 2 weeks go really fast!!

Xander's Allergy testing...

Went really well!!

Other than the fact that I thought it was at 8:15 and it ended up being at 1:15.

He was a trooper!! No nap before hand, and stayed awake and a happy camper through the whole ordeal.

We finished about 2:30, and he lasted about 5 minutes in the car before he zonked!!

We are on 3 new meds, hopefully to help dry out his nose some. He has yet another sinus infection, and hopefully once we get the nose dried out that will come to an end as well!

Didn't like the skin test, but didn't cry either. Just was really ticked at the lady.

Progress Reports are out again.

And I'm not sure how how we are doing. There grading scales are different that what I grew up with...

A: 100-93 B: 92-85 C: 84-77 D: 76-69 Below 69: U

So it makes it harder for me to look at his grades and say he's doing ok. We have some extra work to pull up his language arts grade, so hopefully that will help.

Reading
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 96
Class Average: 93

Social Studies
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 94
Class Average: 87

Science
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 94
Class Average: 94

Math
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 90
Class Average: 89

Language Arts
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 81
Class Average: 85

So based on his grading scale we will have 3 A's, 1 B and a C.

We are really working hard to improve the Language Arts Grade, and have taken to having "extra" homework. Both that I have found through internet research and that which his teacher has sent home.

Progress Reports are out again.

Other times it gets right by you.....

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Somedays you get the great block.....

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Monkey See, Monkey Do

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See what happens when you run to fast???

If your Xander, what happens is that you get a bloody nose inside and out.

He was running to fast at school, and fell flat on his face.

This happened Wednesday, and the picture was taken tonight.

You can tell how bad it was to begin with seeing as what it looks like now right??

Progress Reports AGAIN

seems that at Bells the kids don't get progress reports at the same rate as some of the other schools.

Instead of getting them every 4 weeks, and report cards at the end of th 9 weeks, we get them weekly!!

So while some of his numbers are up, some are down. I've emailed his teacher for help on the language arts group...it's spelling, grammer and writing....now how to help his grade improve??


Reading
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 96
Class Average: 95

Social Studies
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 99
Class Average: 88

Science
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 94
Class Average: 94

Math
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 94
Class Average: 94

Language Arts
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 81
Class Average: 85

So needless to say, I'm very proud of my son!! If these grades hold he will have As and Bs come report card time!!

Progress Reports

So after a month of school, we get our 1st set of progress reports.

It's been an adjustment getting REAL grades, which has made homework a struggle.

AND today he brought home an entire month's worth of graded papers. His teacher had a death in the family and was out an entire week, so she is having to play A LOT of catch-up!!

He's gotten 100% on his reading tests...I guess that would be reading comprehension, but still that's good!!

Reading
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 97
Class Average: 96

Science
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 94
Class Average: 94

Math
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 95
Class Average: 95

Language Arts
Student: McCune, Christopher
Student's Grade: 87
Class Average: 89

Language Art is spelling, writing and any grammar rules

I'm so proud of my little bug!!

Christopher and the 2nd grade...

He really likes his teacher, and hates homework :)

This will be the 1st year that we get REAL grades...I am trying to tell him that his homework will count for 60% of his grade.

So far math has been a breeze, it's the spelling that's killing us.

Handwriting counts!! If anyone has ever seen mine or Michael's handwriting they all know he comes by it honestly, but he gets mad and frustrated when he has to redo things cause we can't read them.

Hopefully when progress reports or report cards come out he will see how important it is!!

Soccer is still going great. We got 5 new kids this year, and so far they are working well as a team. We won the first 2 games, and will have a game while Grandma and Grandpa are here.

We are always on the go but it works out good!

Johnathan LOVES K-4

He's getting so big!!

Tells me that he has fun in school, and is all about not getting his name moved!!

They have a behavior chart in his class, and it's a Stop Light. After 3 warnings you go to green, then progress you way up to Red if you can't behave.

He's sooooo proud of the fact that he hasn't had to move his name. Granted it's been 4 days, but I'm being excited with him.

He's a bear to get up in the mornings and doesn't want to go to school, but that will come I hope.

It's hard to believe...

That my baby is going to be 2!!!

Come Sunday Alexander will celebrate his 2nd birthday.

We are looking forward to Grandma and Grandpa coming for a visit, and will have lunch with Nana, PopPop, Tia and the whole gang at my house!!

Things are going well at school.

The first day he cried, but today he seemed to have a good time. Didn't cry when I dropped him off, and was excited to see Tia when she picked him up.

So game 1 was a win...

I was a little nervous cause Christopher wanted to play goalie!!

HE DID AWESOME!! Was quick to get on the ball, and they didn't score!!

Took lots of pictures...

Here's the link!

http://fallreddevils2008.shutterfly.com/

Here mom...

So what happens when you have an extremely loose tooth, and then play a soccer game??

You walk up to your mom and go "Here Mom" without telling her what you are giving her. So I being the mom that I am, just opened up my hand and took whatever he was going to hand to me....

Thanks for the tooth my boy!!

Well here is toothless after the soccer game, and just in time for Fall School pictures next Friday!!

It's been a sad day for us....

We found out last night that Fr. Conner our parish priest had passed away in his sleep!

We were saddened by the news, and hope that he finds comfort in his Father's home. Please keep our church in your prayers as we wait to see what happens....

So what happens at the end of a long week?

We had homework every day this week!! Math, reading, and spelling. 20 new spelling words to learn. Although I shouldn't say "new" they were some of the "staple" words from 1st grade. Our 2 new words were SCRATCH and PICNIC.

So after a week of school, what does mommy decide to do on Friday? Invite Brianna over to play and bring out all of our Crafts!

Here are some pictures of everyone in the act. Poor Xander, couldn't get the glue to come out of the bottle. When he finally did get glue out, he decided to lay in it. So of course that means that I have to take pictures of him with his green onsie and his purple glitter glue spots!!

We used over 200 craft sticks, I think we ended up with 3 empty bottles of glitter glue, who knows how much construction paper we went through...all of the pom poms are gone, and all of the pipe cleaners are gone, but we had a blast!!

There are of course more pictures on the dropshots site....but you can tell we had a blast!!

And the homework saga has begun....

Christopher came home from school with his first day of homework.

20 spelling words.....

In 1st grade they only had 10

A math reading book. Almost like a word problem but with 5-6 pages and pictures.

And a reading worksheet.

He did really well.

We are still having issues with certain letters and numbers, but for the most part he did great!!

Now what does tonight have in store for us????

So what is it about a biopsy....

That makes it soooo painful???

I had 3 moles removed from my back on Thursday.

1 was a little bit bigger than the other 2, and from that one I have a "substantial" hole!

It's right in the small of my back, so no matter how I sit or stand I can't seem to get comfy!

On top of that it keeps bleeding!

Now the Dr. said that I would have some discomfort, but it would be more like a skinned knee or something.

So much for the skinned knee feeling!!

So the 1st week of 2nd grade is over

The best answer I've gotten so far is everything is "FINE"

He hasn't had any homework, and I'm sure that once that starts I will get more information!

We have had lots of things going on...

Lost another tooth, and started school....

Got our first dental x-rays and did great...

Let's not forget our 1st fundraiser for the school year, gotta love that it comes home on the 3rd day of school.

Johnathan's new gymnastics class starts on Monday, still in Level 2, but a new time and day and a new teacher.

School for Alexander and Johnathan starts on the 2nd of September. Johnathan will go 5 days a week, and Alexander just 2 on Tuesday's and Thursday's. I've decided that if after a month he is having more bad days than good I will pull him out and wait 1 more year.

Tonight is the coaches meeting for soccer, so we have that coming up as well.

I love this time of year...it's just a little bit cooler, and the activities are getting under way!!

So I think we are going to try Chess Club...

Christopher has really gotten into Chess.

We found a club here locally that has tournaments and stuff.

It's mostly older people, but they said Christopher is more than welcome.

The 1st tournament is next Thursday. They meet from 7-7:30, so here's hoping we can make it.

For him to play we have to become members of the chess club, and that's only $17 a month, so I will do that between now and Thursday I guess.....

Xander's found a pool his size!!

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Johnathan takes a turn

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Christopher Boogie Boarding

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A tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber

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Where oh where has the time gone???

This is the last week of the church summer program.

After that we have 1 more week and Christopher will be starting the second grade.

He starts school on the 21st, with a meet the teacher day on the 20th.

Things have settled down some.

Caryn has been wonderful with the boys!! She's taking them swimming since I just got permission to go back into the water.

Alexander is adjusting to school, not as fast as I would have hoped, but he only goes 2 days a week, so hopefully he will be doing better.

Johnathan is looking forward to K-4, but that program doesn't start till after the 1st of Sept.

Things have been relatively calm and quiet here lately.

Getting ready for all things to start back up with Soccer, CCD, bowling and the continuation of Gymnastics!!

My Ding a ling

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Look Mom FISH!!

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Proud Mommy Moment...NO FEAR

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Christopher Swimming in the deep end

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Seems that there are so many things going on....

Alexander completed his first full week of school!

HE LOVED IT!!!

Didn't have any problems leaving me at the door....and then napped peacefully when he got home. I was so nervous and unsure cause he hates leaving his Tia....and they weren't going to be in the same classroom. I should have known better than to worry! He did awesome!!

Johnathan splits his week between the K3 summer kids and the K4 summer kids. He is enrolled in the K3 with his school class, but Tia is teaching 2 days a week, and those 2 days he joins the K4 kids. He's ready for real school to start. We keep talking about birthday parties and all things going on when school starts. I think more than anything he just wants to be like Christopher. Buying his lunch and going to kindergarten!!

Christopher is enjoying school as well. Nice that he is separated and with some of the bigger kids. There are days on his calender I'd love to be there and see what he's got going on...one day they were doing a 3-legged race...that would have just been comical for me to watch! He's doing well in Scouts. Tia is doing a great job with helping out since daddy is working so much. He got his Swimming belt loop earned on Saturday. I'm not sure when the next awards ceremony will be, but he's getting it, and he's really excited about it.

The kids have been spending a lot of time in the pool. Xander has no fear. We have taken to letting him wear the water wings. He is constantly jumping off the stairs and will swim from person to person. Johnathan's swimming lessons have given him LOADS of confidence in the water. I'm sure it helps that he can touch the bottom of the shallow end this year as well. And Christopher is still a maniac in the water. Loves to play, jump, and splash. That child does more belly flops than anyone I know.

Brotherly Love

Occassionally the boys do something cute.

Couldn't resist this picture.

WAY to cute of my boys!!!

Coppertone Baby!!

So what happens when Johnathan spends too much time in the sun??

He turns into my coppertone baby!

It's amazing how his legs and back get SOOOOOOO dark, and then the rest of him is as white as can be....

Gotta love the bathing suit for that kind of a tan!

It amazes me that he doesn't ever burn, he just continues to get darker!! I put him in the shower the day I took the picture thinking I was going to have to clean off the dirt since he was working outside with his Tia, but it wasn't dirt....It was all tan....

What happens when you dry yourself???

If you are Alexander, and have scratched your nose at some point, then what happens is you dry so hard that you peel the scab off....

In doing that what happens???

Mommy and Daddy can't get your nose to stop bleeding so when all else fails you let them put a Big Bird band-aid on it...

Then you wander around the house pointing to your nose saying "Boo Boo?"

He was such a nut...

And after about an hour I guess either the band-aid got old or uncomfy and he wanted it off...

Luckily there were no tears when it had to come off!!

A little fun with Grandpa...

Alexander loves to get into whatever his brothers are doing....Christopher and Johnathan run to infront of the fireplace, and he is right in the mix...

Notice how like his big brothers he's looking at mommy and has his feet up just like Christopher


Just relaxing on the couch!

The kids enjoyed their visit with Grandma and Grandpa this past weekend.





Didn't take much for them to enjoy goofing off in front of the camera...the three of them were sooo funny...they would go take a pose then quickly run to mom to "view" it before the ditigal display went away!

It was great to have Grandma and Grandpa here, and especially Abby...Xander LOVES to take the puppy for a walk!

And Grandpa and Daddy got to go the the Belt-Loop bonanza where Christopher got 7 beltloops for scouts!!

Grandma got to watch Johnathan do all of his gymnastics moves to see just how great he was doing!

A fun weekend for all involved!

It feels great to walk....

Like a normal person again....as well as sleep on my stomach without the leg pain.



While I still have some pain it's not unbearable!



I've gotten my medical release to go back to the gym, so that will be happening soon!



I'm thrilled to say that the weight that I lost I haven't re-gained...so I must be doing something right!



Here's hoping all will continue to progress and I hope that I will continue to push myself and get right back into the swing of things!!

WOOHOO THE STITCHES ARE OUT!!!

Went on Friday for my check-up....

With my leg still being infected she didn't want to take them out yet...

So she took out 3...

So I went all weekend trying my best to stay off my leg and keep it iced so that it would heal and they could come out today....

AND THEY DID!!!

There was 2 or 3 that were around the bigger scabs that hurt like hell, and my leg is still a little tender from where she had to pull those out but they are gone!!

Still have 2 more days of rest to see if the infection will "ooze" it's way out then I should be ok...

Still no pool or gym, but I'm getting closer!!!

UGGGG I miss the gym....

I can't get my stitches out yet I still can't have my medical release to go back to the gym....

It's been a little over a week and I just feel blah!!!

Didn't realize how much I missed going till I had everyone telling me I'm not allowed!!

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I've been dealing with my own brand of drama lately!!

I don't want to put up the pictures and gross everyone out, but they are here if anyone wants to see...

PLEASE be forewarned if you have a weak stomach you won't want to look...I've been told they are pretty gross...

I have yet another follow-up appointment on Friday to have my stitches checked again...

I just want to walk without being in pain, and I'm tired of sleeping on my right side!!!

Handstand!!

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Video from the last day of Gymnastics

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What's a train say??

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So in 30 days......

I've lost another 4 1/2 pounds!



I really want to sign up for the class again, I like the weekly weigh-ins and the girls are great....



Just a little bit more money then we have at the time....



So I'm still thinking about it!!



Just a lot to try and take in, but I'll take 4 1/2 pounds and my continued work-out...



Although today my arms are killing me!!

Memorial Day Fun....

So it's been a crazy long weekend in our house...

Lucky for us Michael FINALLY got a day off!! Acutally he got the ENTIRE weekend off....

Granted it's now Monday and he is working today, but it's only "on-call" so hopefully it won't be a very long day!!

Spent most of the weekend rearranging rooms yet again....

Seems now that Christopher is out and in his own room Johnathan doesn't want to sleep in the loft anymore...

On top of that we have a HUGE festival here called Freedom Weekend Aloft. They have a lot of hot air balloons and that is the main attraction for the weekend.

Apparently on the balloon launch yesterday there were a couple of guys who felt the need to land anywhere....and anywhere is where they landed....

One landed in the side yard of a house about 5-6 down from us, and the other in a back yard of a house almost across the street.

Michael, Christine, Brianna, Johnathan, Christopher and Xander decided to take a walk and look at the balloons....

Turns out that was a pretty good idea, cause one guy needed help with his....as it started to deflate it was on a Power pipe....Michael and the boys helped roll it so that it didn't tear on the pipe....

The boys reaction...."IT'S WAY COOL MOM"!!!!

Seems my batteries on the camera are completely dead....pictures of the room will have to wait till later...

I finally got Johnathan to do it.....

Whenever I ask Johnathan to sing to me, he does until I turn on the camera...

I finally got him to sing for me!!!

And Xander just walks around the house saying Mama....

Xander says Mama.....

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Johnathan FINALLY Sings for MOM!!!!

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I should have had girls.....

So last night I was told to sit in the chair so Johnathan could "wash" my hair....



Then Christopher and Alexander got in the mix...



Granted Alexander was more pulling then anything else...



But the older two took turns....



One would wash, the other would comb and "braid" and put hair bows in...



Lucky for me I'm not tenderheaded!!!



Nothing like sitting in a chair for a good hour having your hair done!!

Trying to say the Bobcat stuff.....

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Anyone know where I can get a few more hours in a day???

I started working on Christopher's scout schedule for the month...wasn't till I actually put things in our family monthly calender that I realized how crazy things were going to be....not to mention Michael is work 120+ hours every pay period...

Lucky for me Nana, PopPop and Tia all live close by...

Here is our Summer scouts schedule....

May 24th Memorial Day Project. For Citizenship Belt Loop. This will be the only chance for him to earn it. Meet at Simpsonville City Cemetery by the City Park. Have a ceremony with the VFW, drive to Graceland to put flags on Soliders graves.

May 30-June 1st Camping Trip. They will have plenty of parents there, that if you have little ones that might not make the hike, the scout can go with his den, and parent/sibling can drive to battlefield or wait for kids to get back....They will also have a car following the group for anyone that can't make it.

June 21st Pack Meeting. This will be held at Maulding 1st Baptist. It is a Belt-Loop Bonanza He will have the chance to earn a lot of belt loops in one day....

July 19th Pack Meeting. This will be held at Discovery Island. The pack is paying for the scout....it is a family meeting, however, family members have to pay for themselves.

August 6-7th Resident Camp Go up on Thursday night. Do all the Cub/Parent activities on Friday come home Saturday morning. There are 10-15 activities to do, and he will earn Belt Loops for them.

August 23rd Pack Meeting. They are going bowling...more info to follow...

October 17-19 Catholic Camporee. This is held near Ft Jackson. If he has completed the Religion badge he will get the patch, belt loop and neckherchief at that time. GREAT CHANCE TO EARN MORE BELT LOOPS.

Nov 1-2 Cub Parent Camping Trip

Once school starts, the den meetings will be held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday's at 4.

He will only have 1 den meeting a month during the summer.

There is some patch or belt loop that if he attends all 3 pack meetings during the summer....they are the Belt-Loop Bonanza, Discovery Island, and Bowling.

We need to purchase a Den 3 patch for his uniform, and a Light of Christ Book for the Religious Badge.

Lucky for us Grandma and Grandpa are coming for a visit during the "Belt-Loop" Bonanza...perfect chance for him and Grandpa to work together!!

Big Brothers cause bad sleeping habits...

I'm not sure what's up with Johnathan...

Lately he has taken to sleeping with Xander...

I'm not sure if it's just cause they are "mini-me's" or what...

When he and Christopher shared a room, it was never a problem.....

My poor Xander man though...

JOHNATHAN IS A BED HOG!!! Even with our King Size bed, he takes over....

Can't imagine what he is like in a twin...

So Xander is one tired puppy....

But he soooooo loves his big brother!!!

Gotta figure out something soon so that Xander has room.....

880 Calories Burned...

So I finished my treadmil today...



Took advantage of Johnathan not having school, by getting to the gym a few minutes before the nursery opened, and was able to take advantage of the full hour I had before opening the store....



So my 60 minute walked yieled me a complete 3 miles, and 880 calories burned...



Walked on my "Random" setting and started my "level" out at 15...so my incline is automatically 5.5, with a max of 11.9...



The first mile was a breeze, the last quarter of a mile was HARD WORK!!



But I did it....

BMR and weight loss....

So I learned something at my class and figured I'd pass on the knowledge...

In order to maintain your current weight....you can calculate your BMR to determine how many calories you're allowed to eat.....

If you have no activity, and eat your BMR Calories you won't gain/lose weight....

My BMR is 2058.....

An ideal calorie in take is 1500 calories per day....

Calculate your BMR

BMR=655+(4.35 x weight in pounds)+(4.7 x height in inches)-(4.7 x age in years)

Now, if you want to lose weight you either need to burn (exercise) more calories that you eat, or reduce your calorie in take...

Here are some other things I didn't know....

1 pound of fat = 3500 calories

So if you exercise and burn 500 calories or eat 500 calories less a day at the end of the week you will have lost 1 pound.

I burn about 700 calories on my 45 minute treadmill walk...plus I've reduced my calorie intake....

I really don't think I was eating 2000 calories to begin with, but I've never kept track either....

It's fun for me to learn these facts....I don't really think about food like I probably should...with my depression food has always been my comfort...then with the boys and their activities I just grab and go...I'm now starting to focus more on how to eat better.

I made myself a goal for this week, to eat 1 veggie a day...so far so good...but it's really hard...it seems I buy things and then they just sit there going bad because I'm the only one that eats them...however since the boys have recently learned to like broccoli I am going to start keeping that and carrots in the house...it's better to snack on those then fruit snacks and cookies.....

Oh so proud of my son....

PROUD MOMMY MOMENT!!!

Johnathan has done 2 semesters of gymanstics, and while it's not something that gets a whole lot of practice at home, he is tested every 6-8 weeks.

Well today, he got sent home with a note that says he's completed Pre-School Level 1 testing, and passed all requirements and he will be moving into Level 2 for the Summer!!

I'm so proud of my bug!!

In 2 weeks I will be able to actually go in and sit and watch his class, and will have the camera ready to take all the pictures and video so we all can see just how well he's doing!

Down, Down, Down go the Pounds, Pounds, Pounds

It's kind of hard to explain.

You sit in a circle with 5 other ladies. We talk about our weight, our work-outs and what has been going on in the week since you last met....

Then Lynnette, our group leader and motivator goes around the room and asked us the good and the bad for the week...

Some people maintained, others lost 3 pounds...

I showed up a few minutes late cause the nursery doesn't open till 8:30, the same time my class starts....

So I talk about my week, but get no words of encouragement about my gain or loss since I didn't get to weigh in...

After the work out Lynnette takes me into the room where the scale is....

The results????

After a week of not really trying to watch what I ate, but making a better effort to eat more often...

I lost 1.5 pounds!!!

I'm absolutely thrilled!! Imagine what I could do if I really worked on the diet....

I'm starting in baby steps though...the work-out has been the hardest part for me...

If I can get that far, I should be able to work on the food...

My goal for this week is just to eat 1 vegatable every day....here's hoping!

Only 15 more days of school....

I guess really today makes 14....

Gotta love it when Mrs. Rice sends emails with a count down in them!!

On the upside, there is no more homework....

We are going to continue to read, but no more math!!

She did send home a list of 100 spelling words, and he will be tested on a random 10 of those a week, so all we can do is practice the whole list!

Johnathan's last day is the 23rd of May...so he doesn't have much longer either!!

Now to figure out what to do with summer break.....

HE DID IT, HE FINALLY DID IT!!!

AND I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD!!!



Got an email from Christopher's teacher, and he is reading at a 1st grade level...He has made tremedous strides since the beginning of the school year, and as long as we continue to work with him all summer long he should have no problems with the transition into 2nd grade!!



I know that Caryn is going to work with him, she's already gotten the workbooks to home school the boys during the summer...



It works great for me cause she has the patience to work with them, and help them form their letters and numbers right. And she doesn't take their whinning!!



Hopefully Johnathan will be able to write his full name by the end of the summer...he has master JOHN now we just need the rest of it!



But I'm so excited Christopher is FINALLY there!!!



Party at my house!!!

Sorry for all the videos....

But I haven't figured out how to link more than 1 video on a blog setting, so with this one I will try to explain them all...

Granted they are out, but I'll explain the best I can in whatever order I feel like :)

Alexander--He had gotten bored at the Bridge ceremony for Boy Scouts, and Caryn and he had apparently been working on this for a while, but he will put his hand under his nose and make a trumpeting sound like an elephant...tried very hard to get it on video, but he wanted to play with the stroller....

Christopher--I have pictures of him both before and after the bridge ceremony in the dropshots, here is the link Sheri's_pictures there are 2 videos, one is of a Badger Song...apparently that is done alot and will be done at the camping trip at the end of the month as well. The second is his Bridge Ceremony were he officially became a scout.....he was told he had to bring a parent with him and Tia was with us for the bridge ceremony. He very quickly said come on Tia lets go....So much for needing a parent LOL, although she is a 2nd mom to the boys, so I'm not complaining!!

Johnathan--On Friday Johnathan's K-3 Class had their Mother's Day Tea. We were asked if at all possible not to bring siblings to make this day extra special....Xander slept on the floor at the store while Johnathan and I had tea. I tried to get his entire class in the picture, so there is very little close ups of him. They sang 3 Mother's day songs. Then Ms. Johanna, the spanish teacher had just his class and they sang 2 spanish nursery rhymes. With the first I did the entire class...for the 2nd one I did more of a close-up of just him.

Well that should be all the videos that were posted...

It's been a very busy few days in our house, and Monday is Daddy's birthday...so even more fun and excitement!!

K3 Spanish Rhymes

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Spanish K3 Nursery Rhymes

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K3 Mother's Day Songs

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What does an Elephant Say??

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