Happy birthday Miss Elli!

We have a new baby girl in the family! Ellianna Jean made her grand entrance this afternoon. We have been waiting a long time for her and couldn't be happier that she's finally here!  So, welcome to Crazy Town Elli! It's so nice to meet you!

 Ellianna Jean 7lbs 4oz of sugar and spice and everything nice

 Daddy and Elli

 Big brother Andrew

Outsmarted my a munchkin

I hid the scissors. Very well. I knew since Trace and Avery never cut their own hair that it was just a matter of time until Alex did. Well, Avery trimmed a tiny bit but no real damage. I've learned this from years of eating pennies, stamp and ink pen tattoos, liquid soap as body lotion, toothpaste as hair gel, window licking and cleaning shopping cart handles with a tongue. All done by Alex, but not the others. Today, I came downstairs to a trail of hair and Avery calmly informing me that Alex had cut her hair. My first reaction was HOW? I hid the damn scissors! But, NO. That's not enough 'round these parts. Let me back up a bit...yesterday I got my hair cut. Like 6" gone and Alex wasn't happy with me. She's not a big fan of change. But she woke up today loving it and wanting her hair cut too. The three of them already had an appt for cuts before school starts so I told her she only had to wait a few days. I should have known by her blank look that waiting wasn't on her to-do list today.
Ok, back to the hair cutting. Turns out she used a letter opener!! Now, before you turn me in to CPS we don't own the dagger type. It was the "safety" kind. You know, the C shaped ones with the tiny little blade in the corner? So she didn't loose any fingers, just enough hair to create a sweet side mullet. And she was kind enough to leave one long strand of bangs. It looked more like she used a weed eater! I went from mad to laughing in about 2 seconds because she was way more horrified over what she did than I was. She would smile then almost cry, then back to smiling. Here's what I mean....I caught the cry face.

Do you see the HUGE chunk missing?! Sigh....  Anyway, I called Laura who does our hair in a panic and she got us right in. Here's the before and afters. She promised Laura she wouldn't do it "eber, eber again". We shall see.

Me miss you long time....

Well, as you can tell from the previous post from 2009 *eyeroll* I'm not very good at keeping up with this blog. But with the creep-o factor Facebook can have I don't share everything about our life, especially our kiddos, and I know you want to know what we're up to every second of the day! You don't? Well, I will at the very least share what these three crazy kids are up to and throw in some family updates for you who live so far away.

Here's what will bring you up to speed.....

Trace is 13. Yes, I have a teenager. I don't like it anymore than you do. But on the bright side, he's awesome! We couldn't ask for a better kid. The problem other parents seem to have with kids his age just don't happen here. Sure, he can be moody. And messy. Bossy maybe. But all in all we hit the jackpot with this one. He's super smart, very funny, artistic, great at any sport he picks up and exactly the roll model a big brother should be. He is God's way of reminding us that it could be worse....which leads me to his sisters.

Avery is 7 going on 70. At least that's what her choice of clothing is telling me. Picture a cross between Rupaul and an old lady from Tampa. I'm serious. But what she's lacking in fashion sense she more than makes up for in heart. She is the sweetest child I've ever known. She is always saving money to buy gifts for someone else, making us "I Love You" cards and trying to save every animal she can find. This past school year she spent some of her daily class time helping a boy her age with autism because she was the only child he would respond to. Now that will make a momma proud! Maybe one day, if she gives up her dream of starting a bikini soccer league, she will make her mark helping others. As a stylist at a nursing home in Tampa maybe?

Alex. Oh, Alex. Working in at children's clothing store I get asked all the time if we will ever have another baby. I smile and say, "Oh, probably not" while my head is saying screaming "HELL NO!" Let me start by saying that I love her and thank God every day that I am lucky enough to be her mom. BUT if she was my first she would have been my only! I could write a best seller on just the things she has pulled in her short three years. There are those rare moments when she will crawl up in my lap and put her chubby little hands on my face and tell me how beautiful I am or how much she loves me. And she is probably the cutest child I have ever seen, and I don't just say that because she's mine. But she is also the loudest, meanest, smartest, most quick-witted and stubborn three year old ever! She will be keeping the other four of us on our toes (and watching our backs) for a while I just know it!

When we're not chasing the kiddos or working, Justin and I are busy fixing up this old house. It's a work in progress and will be for some time. Hey, if you were 104 years old you would need some fixing up too! Other than that we enjoy long walks on the beach and trying to achieve world peace. Or at least date nights and a moments peace.

MY EYE!

Sorry. I haven't been good about getting on here lately. Now that the holidays are over I have a bit more time. I don't have much to tell, only a really funny Avery story. I know you're shocked! Here it is.....



After telling Avery for what had to have been the 1000th time to clean her room (there were less than 5 toys on her floor that needed to be put away) I had HAD IT!!! Through gritted teeth with the psycho mom voice I said, "AVERY!! Go pick up those TOYS!!" Without missing a beat, and not trying to be funny, she salutes me and says, "MY EYE CAPTAIN!"



HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!



Needless to say I laughed and laughed! Which doesn't help get the point across that I'm serious about her cleaning. It finally got done, 3 hours later. But that's how it goes around here.

God, give me strength

As my children were watching the Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon Linus got up on that stage and made his sweet little speech:

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men'. That's the true meaning of Christmas Charlie Brown"

I made them both pay attention when I knew it was coming. After, as I was getting ready to ask what Linus meant, Avery leans to the side and.....

FARTS!!! (loud!) then asks even louder "WHO IS CRUSTY LORD?!?!"

Well, at least it didn't happen during Sunday morning Bible school!

Tis the season to be sneezin'!

Sorry I haven't been around in awhile. Everyone has been sick! I started it off with a little cold, then Alex with ear infections, followed by Avery. Then Trace, not to be outdone, had pnemonia! Justin is following us all with the sniffles. Not much has been happening during all that except we're going through Lysol and tissues like crazy. Just some Christmas shopping here and there. I did wrap everything I've already bought. That's pretty exciting to me! Avery did come up with something pretty funny last week. She came and told me that she told Alex a secret. When I asked what it was about this is how it went:

A: Mom! I told Alex a secret!

M: Really? What was it about?

A: I can't tell you but she said "OH NO YOU DIDN'T!" and I said "OH YES I DID!"

M: (laughed till it hurt)

She added the head bob attitude and all to her story! I really need to put her in acting classes! The pictures are my attempt at making Christmas cards. It didn't work out too well. I think if they would have kissed her one more time she would have hurt them! Hope you enjoy these last few weeks till Christmas!

Get ready to laugh!

As I was adding pictures to my last post I found these from last week. I forgot all about them!

Kinda quiet round here...

Not much has been going on lately. Well, I take that back. I've been busy but the kids haven't pulled anything worth telling on them for. I've been trying to get things around the house pretty for the holidays and trying my best to tackle the laundry monster. The monster is winning. Christmas shopping has been high on my "to do" list. I really want to finish so I can spend the school break making cookies and playing games with the kids. Justin and I celebrated our 5th anniversary on Saturday. Actually, we celebrated it in September in Disney World but we wanted to do something special the day of. But after Ann's wedding we were so whipped that our hot date was Christmas shopping, a late dinner and bed by midnight! Have fun checking out the latest pictures and maybe you'll hear from us soon. Avery can't go that long without doing or saying something note worthy!

Oh my!

My bank account is in trouble! I found matching clothes for the girls! They are so sweet! Check them out!

GROSGRAINSTORE.COM

Just Another Normal Week

My oldest kids are nuts. Completely crazy. I'm pretty sure they haven't thought many, if any, of their actions through this week. At least no one got hurt and it was all pretty funny so no one got in trouble either. I'll explain...Thursday Trace decided to see if he could fit the top to his piggy bank in his mouth. Wouldn't have been a big deal except that the top is a large plastic baseball! I thought he was kidding until he had to write me a note to explain what was going on. I was starting to worry (while laughing so hard I was crying) cause it was REALLY STUCK behind his teeth. 30 minutes, lots of drool and one very sore jaw later he jerked it out. Thank goodness! I think the threat of visiting the ER and me taking more pictures may have helped.

You'll also be shocked to know that Avery struck again. We went to a festival at Trace's school tonight and in the spirit of things I let her make a candy straw. A 1/2 inch wide, foot long tube filled with powdered candy. She walked around with that thing like it was a magic wand and she was the sparkly pink haired, tattooed, face painted fairy. All was good, she was even ok with waiting to eat it at home, till we got in the van. I got her in and walked around to get in my seat. When I did I started the van wondering why things smelled like fruit punch. As I'm thinking this I hear "Uhh-oohh" from the back. Not good. Avery had taken that stupid straw and spun it around like a helicopter. The top flew off and the powder had gone EVERYWHERE! On my hair, the windshield, on her, on the seats, the floor, the ceiling. Before this the baby was screaming, after she was not. Didn't think too much of that till we got home. Alex was a lime green sticky mess! Most of the candy was on her! No wonder she was suddenly happy, she spent the ride home lapping it up! The picture doesn't begin to show the mess on her but if you look closely you can see the green glow to her face. Enjoy the pictures and laugh at all of it. I did! Which is probably best for those two!

Bye Bye October!

Avery asked me to take this picture. (can you tell?) After taking it she said, "I feel like such a woman!" Referring to her fake nails! Oh, she makes me laugh!

Nothing too interesting to report from last week. Alex did get a tooth though. She's going to look like a little bunny when the other pops up! The kids had a good time on Halloween and thankfully didn't get buckets of candy. Well, Avery did but she traded it for about 8 Twizzlers and a few packs of gummy fish. Better for Mommy's diet! Justin walked Aunt B's neighborhood with the girls, Trace ran around with a group of boys "too cool" to dress up, and I handed out candy with an adult beverage in one hand. Good times all around! Today I had the kids make their Christmas lists. That was interesting. Most everything on Trace's list is over $100. Avery's list is made up of almost all of the animal toys in the Toys R Us Big Toy Book. Alex just wanted to eat the list.

Enjoy standing in line to vote tomorrow!

In a bad nude

Avery's quote of the week, "Ugh! Bubby is in a bad nude!" And that's about how last night went. Here Justin and I were, looking forward to doing something as a family for once, and all the kids did was complain! Alex was fine but the other two...oh my. Avery was mad because "Jasmine doesn't wear clothes under her clothes!" Trying to explain to her that Jasmine lives where it's warm didn't get me anywhere. Trace was grumpy because none of his costume ideas passed inspection (no demons allowed) so he made us pay. He and Avery picked at eachother all night, which makes for a LONG night. Not even bags of candy could cheer them up. They even "hated" pizza for dinner! Why do our kids have to suffer from hangovers every time we do something fun with them?

Oh, and her too

This morning Avery put on her fake smile "grown-up face" and our conversation went something like this:

A: Mommy, I'll love you and Daddy and Tracer so much forever!

M: Are you forgetting someone? (pointing to Alex)

A: Oh, and her too I guess. (not said with the fake smile)

And then on the way home from lunch with Daddy I heard the baby gasping and Avery laughing. Probably not good. Avery was dropping filled straws of ice water all over Alex's face. When I asked what she was doing her reply was "Giving her a bath, duh!" All this before 4:00 and our day isn't even close to being over!
Hopefully this isn't a preview of what's to come years from now. I didn't have a sister, well not a real girl anyway. Chris is pretty close. :) I've heard stories from my friends and they haven't been pretty! We shall see...

Be patient, I'm new at this

So I'm sitting here with plenty to do but still bored out of my mind. I needed to check out a friends blog and decided that since I'm paying for a site that I don't keep up I'd start one on here. She can help if I'm lost, right? Wish me luck!