a very special day today...

SILVER BIRTHDAY. Do you know what that means? I didn't until a few years ago. It is when you turn the same age as the day you were born. Confused? Today was my (and my twin) golden birthday. We turned 31 on the 31st. Cool, right?

My mom actually spent the night just so she could baby-sit all 4 of my kids so Bonnie and I could go do something special on our golden birthday. Well...as my present from my sister's boyfriend...he watched all 4 kids so my mom could go with. AWESOME!

We went to the casino (I was only $5.50 out). And then to my favorite place to eat (you all that know me know where I am talking about). The casino was fun. What was more fun? Messing with my mom like we used to. We had to go get gas in her car. Well...what I used to do was change the radio stations, the mirrors, the blinkers, the wipers, etc. So childish. So immature. So juvenile. And yet...I couldn't help myself. And what's worse...I couldn't stop giggling about it after. My mom was extremely nervous about the possible things we did (Bonnie and I both couldn't stop giggling). All I managed to do was turn the blinker on (which I think Mom didn't even realize it was us that turned it on), the wipers, and the mirror got moved a little...so many memories. I will have to do a post on all the funny (to me) stuff I used to do my mom. I am already smiling about that post. So anyways...we went to lunch after the casino. And my favorite guy that works there actually gave me and my twin our meals free (mom-you said you were going to buy us lunch so now that means you owe us another lunch---hee hee). I gave him a big hug. What an awesome birthday. And it was only just after lunch! Next I went and got all 4 babies from my sister's boyfriend. The kids were good for him (THANK GOD!). We then headed out to my best friend's house. She had surgery last week and I wanted to give her her present. Which was cereal. Yep-I gave my best friend cereal as a get well gift. Only she would appreciate that. And she did. She is the reason I survive so much of what I survive so it's only fair that I give her cereal. I know she is reading this and smiling just like me right now. CEREAL KILLER :) Love ya Katie! After Katie's I got home and Paul brought me a bunch of BBQ sunflower seeds. I am addicted to them. We also went to dinner tonight with his family to celebrate me! There was a live musician that sang Happy Birthday to me. It was a great birthday! Here are a few little things from today...

this is the cake that Paul's family got me.

My mom and me and my twinkie.

Happy Birthday sissy. Dang-are we getting old? Hmmm...maybe we just need to keep doing funny stuff to Mom to keep us young. I have a plan...

Mom-don't be nervous...it won't hurt...much!

Insert a picture of me grinning ear to ear here.

The day with many...many...posts. PART V

So PART V of the day with many...many posts is upon us. I had the pleasure of doing a quick shoot of a very cute little girl. Mo~ You are too pretty little girl! I can't wait to get a more formal shoot of you!

The day with many...many...posts. PART IV

This post would have been named "To Slip? or to Slide? that is the question" but since it is part of the day with many...many posts, I left it as Part IV.
So at the birthday party for my nephew was a slip-n-slide. I have horrible memories of them from when I was younger. Bright yellow. Rocks. Bruises. They are different now-a-days (I am so getting old) kind of. The girls only went down a couple of times. They quickly learned the pain factor didn't sit well with them. Connor had a different approach.

First, he watched others go down time and time again. And then when the bigger boys had had enough, he decided to start off slow.Actually...very slow...army crawling because for some reason he didn't slide.

So he just kept crawling along...

Until finally...he made it to the end.

It was really one of the funniest things I have seen this child do. He makes me smile. And everyone else that saw him doing this. Ah. My Connor.

5.30.2009

The day with many...many...posts. PART III

As seen in a previous post (you know, the one from 5 minutes ago) my nephew turned one. Saturday May 30th (the day of many...many posts) was his party. I baked and decorated the cakes for (which I don't have a picture of!!). There was volleyball. There was a slip-n-slide (another post coming on this in a few).There was a trampoline (only 3 kids at a time). There was food. There was music (thanks D). There was family. There was friends. There was the goodbye to Vinny's first year.

Vinny and his momma (also my beautiful (inside and out)big sis)

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The music that my other nephew D was playing.

------------------------------------------------------------------The birthday boy himself. Dang he's cute!

------------------------------------------------------------------My bigger girls getting Vinny to laugh.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------The goodbye to Vinny's first year. Okay-maybe a little dramatic there. Maybe what really happened is my son let some of the balloons go before anyone could stop him. Maybe that's what happened. Or maybe they just got loose on their own. What do you think?

The day with many...many...posts. PART II

My little baby is now big enough for this...

Oh--you can't tell what that is? Well-how about this then?

How terrifically sad that my baby has been upgraded to the next carseat. Yep--you see she had outgrown her carrier a few inches ago. It was me holding onto that baby-ness that kept her in it. But I kept banging her feet into things. Better than her head, but still. It was time for me to stop being the selfish mom that I am and let her grow into her next carseat.

Everyone-yes there is a weight limit on infant carriers--you do know there are length limits too, right?

The day with many...many...posts. PART I

What do you think this is?

I'm sure most of you thought gum. Well-I hate to tell you this but, nope not gum. It is Silly Putty. You see, in all of my genius (snort, snort) thoughts I decided what harm could Silly Putty cause? A lot. We have lost a comforter and much of this little girl's hair.

This little girl wanted to sleep with her Silly Putty so that no one else could touch it.

Guess which little girl (I'll wait)...

Ah. Stormy. Only. You.

5.30.2009

5.29.2009*~Birthday boy~*

So my little nephew turned one on the 27th and I got to shoot his pictures today (the 29th)...He is too funny. He moves fast. He doesn't like to have sit for photos. He is such a boy! And it is AWESOME!! I haven't really edited these pictures very much (just cropping). But they are still awfully cute!

Vinny-I love you little man! Happy 1st Birthday!

5.29.2009

Future Momma

Shayne definitely got the "momma gene." She put Sage in the bean bag and then moved her chair so she could keep Sage from tipping out while reading to her. It is so sweet to watch.

5.28.2009

more to come...

Yep-I have been on little break from the blogging world...did ya' miss me? No need to answer. I have so much to tell and so many pictures...but it will have to wait until after my kids go to bed. So if you are up late tonight...I should have my blog updated. OR if you are not up late...make sure to check tomorrow. You will need the following:

a comfy chair

a snack or two

a drink (water, tea, soda---whatever your pleasure is)

new eyes because of the reading you will have done by the end of my catch-up...

Until later friends...

5.27.2009~*many pictures*~

Who is the best biggest sister ever?Yep-Shayne is. She pulled the little rocking chair into the living room and rocked Sage to sleep for her morning nap.

----------------------------------------------------- Sage loves to be surrounded with her little toys!

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Such a cute little man...
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Stormy...my mini-me.

5.26.2009--just because

Just because I love them. Just because...they were actually playing nicely right as this picture was taken. Just because their Daddy let them have breakfast RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TV. Just because Connor laid down beside them after this picture was taken. Just because it made my whole morning that they slept in and I didn't get up until (GASP) 9AM!!!!!

Just because they started fighting after this picture was taken...

Just because...

as mentioned...

One of the robins didn't make it. Paul had found it a couple of days ago. It was alive but had a broken wing. We had called animal control. They never called us back (I really didn't think they would but Paul had high hopes). So the bird died when Paul was out of town. I found him right after the mouse incident .
Paul buried him in our back yard.

I have had enough with animals lately.

funny things my kids say...continued

So I was outside Saturday with the kids. I was sitting in my neighbor's driveway with my neighbor and of course, the baby. Connor is by the tree in our front yard. He is kind of moving his feet around the bottom of the tree. Here is the conversation:

"Connor-what are you doing?"
"Chicken. Chicken. Stupid Chicken."
Crap. He must have found a baby bird in our yard. So I get up and go over to him.

IT IS NOT A CHICKEN. IT IS NOT A BIRD. IT IS A DEAD MOUSE.

EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have I mentioned I do not like critters very much? It has green stuff coming out of it's lower region. BLECK.

My neighbor is kind of laughing because I have no idea what I am going to do with it. If I could have found someone else to take care of it, I would've. Paul is going to be gone until tomorrow. And I couldn't really make my kids clean it up (could I?-never mind). My neighbor says to use my shovel. Okay. Now I have a plan.

I have Shayne bring me a ziploc bag and two Walmart sacks. I put the disgusting green flowing creepy nasty mouse in the ziploc bag and then drop it in the double bagged Walmart sacks. I then take it to our trash can and put it in. I then wash my hands and find Connor.

"Connor-that was not a chicken. It was a dead mouse and we don't EVER play with those."

"Stupid chicken."

Yep-stupid chicken.

5.25.2009---Tired of critters...

So the babies have all left the nest. Not before leaving a poop all over. And sadly, one robin didn't make it. More to come on this in the next post...

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Guess where this little bunny was?

Yep-down in our window well. Paul had to get down and get him out. That poor little bunny was terrified!! He did make a quick getaway after being lifted out.

This window well has housed a few critters over the past 4 years that we have lived in our home. A few toads, frogs, spiders (some of the spiders were the size of small birds!) and last summer a snake (I despise snakes. Of any kind. I don't care if they are not poisonous. I plain ol' despise snakes). Also-Connor. I couldn't find him anywhere one day. I started shouting for him.

"Connor-say Momma!!"

"Momma!"

After a few more Marco-Polo's (or Connor-Momma's)...I find him. In the well. He had gotten down there to get a toy that he had thrown. I was too scared to get down there. I laid on my belly and lifted him out.

We need to get a cover for this well. Have you priced those though? Good Lord they are expensive!! Paul is going to make something...you know...when he has time.

What are you doing darling girl?

Sage has decided she likes to sleep a certain way in her bassinet. Not on the pillow I gave her after she was born because it had been my pillow. Not the "normal" way with head at top, feet near bottom way. This way: And to those that I know are looking at this image and realizing:

GASP-she lets her baby sleep with a pillow?

GASP-she lets her baby sleep with blankets?

Yes, peeps. I do. I have had 4 kids. I know a little something or a lot of somethings about taking care of my babies. Each and every one of my kids have all gotten my pillow when brought home from the hospital. I get my pillows smashed and flattened and...I love them. And then, because I love my kids more, I give them my pillow. Two reasons: it elevates their heads so I don't worry about the gag factor; and because it has my scent. It does calm them.
As far as the blanket thing. I can't sleep without something covering me up. Can you?
Also--I check on sleeping babies--a lot. Like crazy a lot. Two reasons: to make sure they are okay; and because there is nothing more calming to look at then a sleeping babe. Don't you agree?
5.24.2009

5.23.2009---a normal normal

I love it when my Stormy smiles. A real smile that is. But it seems that this smile is her new normal. Someday-a real smile will be there but for now...it's this cheesy smile. At least it shows her dimple...
5.23.2009

Funny baby...

Sage thinks she is so funny. Which she is. She has figured that when I use the little camera and the light is on her face that I am going to take her picture. You know what she does then? Watch this...

And I did take a picture too (for the challenge!)

5.22.2009

Am I old enough to have...

...to have a kid that is now officially out of first grade? Am I old enough to have a child that got three awards at an awards ceremony? The awards were for 1)being a great first grader (they all got these). 2) A reading award. 3)PERFECT ATTENDANCE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR! (this is a pretty special award!)

Am I old enough to have my second child be done with preschool and ready for kindergarten? Am I old enough to have my second child grab her shades before heading out to the playground because it was too bright (according to her)?Apparently I am old enough. Because I did have a first grader get 3 awards. Because she is going to start second grade in the fall. I am old enough because my second child had her very last day of preschool ever. Because she did, indeed, grab her shades because it was too bright outside.

5.21.2009

Oh my Stormy...Oh my Stormy

Guess what I did? I ate 3 strawberry cereal bars for breakfast. I then chugged my whole cup of milk. My tummy hurt after that. I was so full! But I got to go to school. UNTIL...

Until 8:45AM (after only being in school for 15 minutes). I ran in the bathroom in my classroom and threw up. Ms. Catherine carried me down to the nurse's office. She was so glad I made it to the bathroom! The nurse called my mommy. Mommy had to come get me. It took her 15 minutes because she had been running errands and wasn't in town. The nurse said I could go back for my very last day of pre-school tomorrow though as long as I didn't have a fever and no more throw-up. Which I didn't. I did make Mommy go a little crazy. I have too much attitude is what she says. Maybe. But I don't care. My name is Stormy.

p.s. I am feeling fine. But Mommy says that I can't eat 3 cereal bars ever again in one sitting. Whatever...like she knows everything...

Just in case you were wondering...

Just in case you were wondering how the babies in the backyard are doing... They are looking for food from their momma...

And like most Mommy's...she was right there...getting ready to feed her brood.

These pictures and my comments about them bring a smile to my face. My kids look the same when they are hungry. And they peck pinch each other. And antagonize each other. While I sit waiting for them to stop. The differences are obvious. Hmmm...I don't have a beak...birds don't wear shirts or shoes...and throwing up to feed kids is so not an option for me...

Hard choice!!

I had the hardest time today...deciding which picture to post...I got quite a few cute ones (I had a cute subject) and finally decided on... 5.20.2009

Not another...

So-can you see it? Yep--sweet baby Sage got another tooth. This one is on the top right.

Guess what else she did?

She covered her face to her mommarazzi so no more pictures could be taken. HA!

5.19.2009

No--I didn't forget...twitter wasn't wrong...

No- twitter wasn't wrong. I did say I would do another post yesterday, but I decided to go to bed early. Hey--a Momma of four needs her sleep so she doesn't turn into Mommy dearest with metal hangers beauty sleep. Ahem...

I mentioned yesterday about a shoot that I did of my little buddy Logan. I have now had the privilege of "shooting" him a few times. But I must say...these pictures are probably even cuter than the others. What do you think?

And this last photo~I knew I was pushing the "potty-not"luck at this point. I was right. He let loose right after this photo. Ah--I forgive him--he's too cute not to!