42 inches and 44 pounds

Sullivan had his 4 year old check up this week. He did great. He was fascinated with the blood pressure cuff. He pumped it up so many times and so tight the doctor was surprised that he could still feel his hand. He is healthy and strong and growing great. His vision and hearing were also fine. He will go and get his shots next week with Eric. I've just decided Dad gets to be the one to do that with the older kids now.

Why?

Because I feel like posting a picture of some dude with spectacular mullet standing by his pickup...that's all...because a I feel like it.

Welcome to the Family Baby Lily

Eric's sister Tonya and brother-in-law Sam had a baby this last week. Lily AnnMarie was born Sept 10th at 10:01am. She weighed in at 6 lbs 3 oz and 19 in long. We are so excited for them and to have her here healthy and strong. We made a quick trip down to Oregon this weekend to see them and meet her. Uncle Eric is in love. He is just so happy that his sister is getting to be a Mom.

It's going to be fun to be an active Aunt and Uncle again. It's been so long since we've had neices or nephews around. We love you Lily!

7 Years Old and in 1st Grade

Can you believe it? Amara...... our little Amara is 7 years old and in the 1st grade. Where has the time gone? It feels like just yesterday that we were bringing her home from the hospital and thinking "No one is gonna stop us? We really get to just take her home?" She is a great little girl. She is loving and caring, most of the time kind, funny, adventurous, brave, faithful, and smart. We feel very lucky that she is our daughter!

Poster

I just finished this poster for a friend who owns a longboard company in Salem, Oregon. I think it turned out well and I hope to do more in the future.

I still can't believe that moon turned out so well. I drew that moon from scratch in photoshop.

A Little Taste of Buble

So I took my camera ( I know, I know it's against the rules) and I recorded 4 of our favorite songs. This is one Amara enjoyed the most. She made a deal with Aunt Jeni before the concert to sing all the words, so if you listen real close you can hear her. It was so cute. She was really rockin' out!

Hot Dog

Matt and Mary Rodgers, this one goes out to you.

The Bublites (Buble'-ites)

So what can I say about the Buble' concert.............. it was FABULOUS! We had so much fun I don't even think I can put it into words. We took pictures with his poster in the foyer of the concert hall and then we took our seats, just waiting.


His opening act was a lady named Jann Arden. She had a popular song in the 90's called Insensitive. I thought she was pretty amazing, but Amara didn't like her at all. She was a little loud because she hit high notes. She sang about 30 minutes or so, then we had another 25 minute wait. We ran to the potty, got a drink and prepared ourselves for the next few hours. Then it was time.



The lights dimmed and the music started. OOOOOOOOOOOH GOODNESS! And then he stared to sing. We all went crazy. There was hooping, holloring, screaming, maybe even a tear. It was an amazing show. He is really funny and talks to the audience alot. He sang all of our favorite songs, the worst part is that it didn't last long enough. It felt like he only sang for 20 minutes when in reality it was over 2 hrs.





Here are the post concert pictures, can you see it? The Buble glow. We had the greatest time, the only bummer part is that Eric and Dan didn't get to come with us! But they will next time! That's right you heard me, there will be a next time and we will be there!

First Backpacking Trip

It was amazing. 2.2 miles to beautiful Barclay Lake. Amara did amazing. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

Click here and go to a slide show

Uh wha?

Do your momma proud honey!!!

Count Down to Buble'

37 hours........... only 37 hours until Amara and I are downtown Seattle seeing Mr. Michael Buble'!

We purchased the tickets a few months ago and it felt as if the day would never come. But here we are only a day way and I am so excited I can barely stand it! Amara is funny, she is not so sure what to expect. She is gonna have a ball. We'll post tomorrow with pictures.

1 Month

Alright so here's the situation, I have not lost 1 pound since my 6 week postpartum appointment after having Finn. For you who don't know Finn just turned 1.  What the H? This has never happened to me before. With the other two kids I was down to my pre-pregnancy weight within 6- months. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, I don't know.

So I've decided it's time to make a change. I really suck at this though so I'm not real sure how it's gonna go. Come September 1st I am going to start trying to lose weight and exercise.  I am going to do it for exactly 1 month and see what I accomplish. If I am successful with less calories and more exercise I'll do it for another month, if not TrimSpa here I come. I just want to feel good about myself, get in better shape, and not throw up in my mouth when I see myself naked.

So say a little prayer for me and maybe I'll post some pictures when I'm looking hot.

Tagalicious

I just read our friends the Gunnell's blog and we have been tagged to share a few things. I don't normally do these but what heck.

4 Things you might not know about me:

(This is a tough one for me because I pretty much just let it all hang out, so to speak)

1.  I make snap judgments about a people I meet and they prove correct 95% of the time.

2.  I took a tap dancing class in college

3.  I am relentlessly persistent and a procrastinator (you figure it out)

4.  I'm very strategic.  I min/max everything: determine the worst possible(minimum)/best possible(maximum) outcome.  It helps me figure out the most likely realistic outcome.  My friend Dan calls this risk/reward.  Whatever it's called, I do it all the time.

4 Things I value the most:

1. Family

2. Close friendship

3. Loyalty

4. People who are there when you need them

4 jobs I've had:

1. Shearing sheep

2. Subway sandwich artist

3. Shari's host and waiter

4. Chemistry tutor  (at community college)

Some websites I check regularly:

1. Every news site you can think of

2. Then I check them again

3. PVP

4. Many different cartoons/cartoonists

5. You Tube

6. Craigslist

Nicknames:

1. Twitch

2. Meathead (two uncles in Oklahoma)

3. Dev, Devy, Big D, E-Dev, Dev-Dogg, Heavy D, Dev-ilweed

4. BadAngryBarney (I use that one for online games)

Places I've lived:

1. Pennsylvania

2. Waldorf, Maryland

3. Owasso, Oklahoma

4. Dallas, Oregon

5. Corvallis, Oregon

6. Bothell/Kenmore, Washington

Important life lessons:

1.  If you need or want some thing ask for it.  No one owes you anything.

2.  If you need something done, do it.

3.  Swallow your pride, it will slowly drag you face down along the rough gravel road to your destruction.

4.  Failure is just another path to success if you learn from it.

5.  Don't wait to be happy.

6.  And do not take Cayenne capsules for stomach problems (thanks Brandi!)

Remembering Walt

My step-grandfather Walt past away this last week. He'd been sick for awhile so it was expected but it's always sad to lose someone. They had his funeral today which we were not able to attend, but my thoughts have been there with my family today.

Walt married my grandma after my grandpa passed away 10-11 years ago. He was a good man who loved my grandma and all of her family, which is not a small task. He was always happy and fun to be around. He was the only great-grandpa my kids new on that side of the family and he was always very loving to them. He was able to give my grandma companionship, travel, and love. For that I am very grateful. He will be missed!

Sweet Lovin'

I love me some video games. Come on guys, who likes the video games?

Clay Aiken is a SUPER "Special" STAR!!!

Muuwhoowhaahahaha! Heheheheeeeee!! Haaaaaa HAaaa!!

Our Day at the Beach

We had some beautiful days last week, and so my friend and I decided to venture out with our kids to a local beach. We had a blast! There are some days it really pays to be a stay at home mom.

As soon as we got there we suncreened the kids and they were gone, right to the water. Amara and her friend Jon decided to dig in the sand and see what they could find. They had great success. They found some kind of shrimp and some clams. You would have thought the discovered a new land they were so excited! Sully just wanted to be in the water. Water brings such joy to Sully. He kept go out further and further which made me crazy but he always made his way back in safely. Finn was not so sure at first. He really enjoyed the water, I just sat him down and let the waves come to him and he really loved that til he got cold. The sand was interesting for all of them. Finn ate a little, and Amara and Sully could not figure out how to get it off there hands so they could eat snacks.
It truly was one of the funnest beach experiences that I've ever had!

Bunk Beds........Finally!

We finally did it! We went Saturday to IKEA and bought bunk beds for the kids. This has been a dream of mine since Sully moved into a big kid bed 2 years ago. The kids were really excited. Eric and Amara did most of the assembling and worked very well together.


They are having a really great time playing on them and it just makes their room more spacious.

They also got some new matching bedding and a new toy storage shelf. Now all we need to do is paint their walls and we have a completed room, any volunteers?

This Time Last Year

We had no idea what a joy Finnigan Jack would be to have in our home this year! I can't believe he is 1! Happy Birthday little man!

Puddle Jumping in July

It's been one of those weeks in Seattle. Rain everyday............. but it's the middle of July. What the h is going on? The kids decided that it would be fun to puddle jump one day when they were bored out of their minds. So the fabulous mom that I am (no laughing) agreed. They spent about an hour and a half just jumping, running through, and sitting in the puddles. Oh to be a kid again!



The reality of the good time hit when they wanted to come in and get cleaned up. I looked at them and thought what was I thinking. But after a quick shower the second outfit of the day for each and a load of laundry, Amara looked at me and said "This is the funnest day of my life!" It all became worth it! The next time your kids ask to do something crazy ( not harmful) just let them, maybe you'll make it the funnest day of their lives.