Elise

Elise is my first born. She graced us with her presence during a huge snowstorm on December 7th, 2005. My lil peanut weighed in at a whopping 5 lbs8oz, so tiny. She was beautiful,a true gerber baby. The first few months were hard, she had awful colic and really gave us a run for our money. Once she hit about 4-5 months, i knew she was a keeper. haha. She is always so eager to help, constantly following I or Wes around and lending us her small little hand. I see myself in her each and everyday. From the way she bites her nails, to the fact that she hasn't taken a nap since age 2. So it was no surprise today that she would do fine as she walked through the doors of her new school. Wes, Ava, Kellan and I all walked her into her class, took some pictures, said our goodbye's. She sat right down and started drawing. Not even an ounce of sadness across her face. It took every fiber in my body to hold back the tears and swallow that lump in my throat. My baby girl is starting her school life. For the next 8+ years she will be attending school. It's amazing how these things can creep up on you. Happy first school day Elise. I know you will do great and make me so very proud, you always do!!

Happenings

I can't believe the summer is almost over! At this point I am more than happy it's coming to an end. The heat has been extreme, and the kids are restless. The house still has not sold and day by day I am getting more and more discouraged. We went ahead and reduced by 5k and still have yet to have any bites. We have had a few 2nd showings which is a good sign, but they all have fizzled. I am just ready for a fresh start. I have been feeling overwhelmed with all this and just want to know that it is worth it.

Kellan is doing awesome. We had his 4mo appt this past week and to my utter surprise he only weighed 14lbs13oz. 50%!! I was thinking he was much much more. ha! He was also 50% in height and head. My baby boy is 100% average and absolutely perfect!!! He also rolled. He flipped from his back to stomach, it took him a few days to muster up the strength to do it again, but now he can't be laid on his back because he automatically flips to his tummy. This is a problem since the child can't stand tummy time. He is constantly screeching and whimpering, and I know exactly why. Silly boy.

My iPhone broke. I literally feel like my right arm has been chopped off at the elbow. It went to charge one night and never came back on. I had the old 3Gs and am now waiting for the 5G which is rumoured to be out in September. Luckily my dear friend John sold me his old 3G to tied me over until I can get the new one. I bought a $20 "GO" phone and that lasted all of 18 hours before i called John. I couldn't handle not having Internet, touch screen, FACEBOOK!! Wow, I am a spoiled brat. So this post will have no pic's since I am unable to upload pic's still.

Elise starts Kindergarten in just 2 weeks!! This is so bittersweet. I can't believe she is old enough for school. I feel like these past 5.5 years are all a blur. At the same time I am ready for her to go. She is quite the handful and with her constant energy she wears us all out. We are taking advantage of Missouri's tax free weekend and purchasing all her school supplies and clothing during it. Why does Kansas not have this???

Anyways, these are the happenings going on right now. Hopefully the house will move, we will move, and I can relax. Who am I kidding...

Love this boy!

Here are some of my favorite recent pic's of little nugget! i just can't get enough of him.

Stress, showings, and more stress.

Whom ever suggested selling our house while raising 3 kids needs to be shot...Oh, wait, that was me. doooh. I am completely overwhelmed. We listed last Thursday and have already had our open house, brokers open, and 7 showings. That is quite a bit of activity for one week and it has paid it's toll. Keeping this house spotless with kids is nearly impossible, but yet I somehow find a way to do it. We are going to have quite a game of hide and seek once we start packing. Mail is shoved in drawers, laundry(every ones) thrown in various drawers, diapers and wipes hidden behind couches. It's crazy!! I have a 30 minute notice to vacate with 3 kids and dogs once i get a phone call for a showing. It usually takes 30+ minutes just to make it out of the house with the kids let alone, 2 dogs and a tornado clean-up. I am trying to stay optimistic in this horrible market, but it's so hard. Last year was an utter FAIL and that's all I keep envisioning. All this hard work and stress for nothing. I want to get out of here and move onto bigger better things, but until that right buyer comes, we're stuck. The kids can feel the strain, i am constantly reminding them to pick up, not make a mess, don't play with that...! Hopefully by next post we will have at least a nibble to report. until then, I will dream of my soaker tub and huge walk in closet...

Selling the house, take 2.

We are listing again. Last year was a complete failure. Although I am not looking forward to all the stress that goes along with buying/selling I am so ready to get out of here. We have met with 3 relator's from 3 different companies, they all presented their information and we finally came to an agreed conclusion on who to use. I am very excited about our choice and am confident that we will get this house moved in a timely manner. If not, I may go insane. I have been "practicing" keeping a spotless house,FYI:IMPOSSIBLE with 3 children. I know it is going to be a huge struggle getting out of here when we have a showing and leaving the house in show quality, but I have to do it. We are going to price the house very aggressively so that it will hopefully sell fast. We already know where we want to move to and basically exactly the style houses we like. The buying part won't be an issue, well, maybe...I'm quite picky and refuse to settle. These next 2 weeks are going o be filled with deep cleaning, caulking, painting, moving furniture, deck staining...the fun stuff! Please pray for my sanity and patience as we go down this path, yet once again!

Well, it's here! Summer has begun, the temps at least say so! So what do we do in the summer...we swim!! Last summer the girls and I must have spent 90% of our time at the community pool down the street. They are little fishes and you literally would have to drag them away. This year we have baby Kellan so things are a bit different. I debated over getting a pool pass for a number of reasons...1. The pool down the street closed(construction), and 2. The baby can't be out in the sun or heat for too long. My solution was to enroll the girls in early morning swim lessons. These began this week and start at 10:30 and end at 11:30. Elise is in the beginner 1 class and Ava in the Intro to swim class. Ava however is by far a better swimmer than Elise but due to age restrictions she had to go in the class under. After our first very successful swim lesson I realized how much they would miss out if we didn't swim this summer. Off to the Community Center we went. Armed now with our pool passes we have been enjoying an hour or two every other day at the pool. Kellan hangs out in the shade and basically sleeps the entire time we are there. Have I told you how amazing he is:-)??? Along with the hot weather comes the hair cut. Every Summer when the heat turns up, off comes my hair. I decided to chop it all off and go super blonde. I LOVE it, and it is a total "pick me up"! The girls are both already the tannest kids at the pool and Elise's hair is turning white! I just love summer!!!



After a long day at the pool

My new Do

Ahhhhhhhhhh

The pool rats

Hot!

Brusha - Brusha

El and the xray

Ava waiting her turn

Well we went for our very first dental visit yesterday! I have to admit, I really thought it would be a nightmare. I know i always hated going to the dentist,still do. I decided on a "kid friendly" dental office. The website showed the awesome waiting room with video games, fish tanks, movies, how could I pass that up. We arrived about 15 min early and I was pleasantly impressed with the waiting room. There were so many different things to choose from to keep them occupied. they even had a coffee bar for the parents!! We quickly got called back and Elise was asked to go first. She is normally a great patient and she didn't disappoint. they started with x-rays, which she breezed through. Ava was next in line for hers and did equally as well. The hygienist was very impressed. We then went into an open area with 3 dental chairs all of which had flat screen TVs overhead. Tangled was the movie of the day. Ava decided to go first for her cleaning and she was so excited to get cherry flavored toothpaste. She laid there motionless until every tooth was sparkly clean. El then hopped up and sailed through it. We then waited for the Dentist to come and check their teeth. They were both deemed perfect. The xrays showed El's adult teeth starting to creep up, so she said by her next apt we should have some wiggles!!! When we were finished, they gave them each a care bag, ice cream, a toy and a report card. Yes, I said ice cream! so proud of my girls and I just love how places now cater to the little ones and make what can be an unpleasent experience fun.

Have to show Elise's crazy curly hair! It's beautiful!