Rub--A--Dub---Zonk!

Tub time!

What's a tired boy to do? After an hour at the park this morning and a nice bubble bath with his brothers, Gabriel just couldn't stay awake. I had to wake him up for lunch but he didn't really eat. Even with all that energy, I guess toddlers run out of steam every once in a while!

Einsteins in the making!

I'm totally serious when I say that my boys LOVE the Baby Einstein DVD's.

They really do sit like this, they are not drugged or anything! :)
Thank you to Julie Clark creator! I don't know what I would do without them!

Oops, sorry!

Whoops! Mommy did a bad thing. Here's the story--everyday when I drop Luke off at school he jumps out of the van and says "Let's see who can get there faster!" and he takes off running. I never run, of course I don't run, there are many reasons why I don't run. Well, today, I did. I took off with him and low and behold I tripped him. Of course I didn't mean to and yep, 2 hurt knees. Not only were they scraped but they were bloody, both of them. I guess I shouldn't have grabbed at his backpack to slow him down, huh? Oops. Good thing there were only a dozen parents and kids, plus Luke's teacher and class helper there to see it huh. When I picked Luke up from school he said "Don't worry Mom, my knees are better now, they just look bad!" Uncle Thaddeus would be proud of me for bloodying his nephew, so that was for you Thad!!

More Strawberry Farm photos

Luke and his best buddy Drayce.

Kaden-man saying "Hi Daddy" in the field.

Luke and Kaden running back toward the farm.

Gabriel going for the berries.

I wanted to put a few more photos on. We had such a good time today. I got some good pictures and wanted to share! Gabriel was such a sweet baby of course. He loved the hay ride. Kaden loved being with all the other kids. He got hugs from almost every kid in Luke's class and most of their parents too. He ran up to everyone "Hug please! .... Thank you, thank you" Kaden is so funny. Luke just ran from one thing to another, so excited to have his family and his class at the same place.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Kaden in the "strawberry man"

Family photo on the hay ride.

Kaden, Drayce, and Luke watching the turkey.

Luke as the strawberry man.

The 3 boys and the strawberries.


We went to the Strawberry farm today with Luke's school. We had so much fun. It was 87 before 10 in the morning and humid (of course) but we still had a blast. The boys picked strawberries, then we watched turkeys and pet cows, and then there was the hay ride, actually there was no hay, so we had just a 'ride'. Good times. We missed you today Daddy, there were lots of whole families there. The boys should have a good nap today that's for sure!!

For Daddy

Daddy requested a new picture of his 3 boys for the background on his computer. I did get them to sit together long enough to get some good shots. After repeatedly telling them "I'm gonna getcha" I got smiles from all 3! Yeah for Momma. They are too cute!!!

Barbershop Duo

Luke, and yes, Gabriel got their haricut today. (don't be too mad Grandmom--he's got hair left and he really doesn't look that much older---promise!!!) They both were excellent. What a milestone for Mommy--Gabriel's first haircut at 15 months old. (if Daddy would have been here I would not have been able to wait this long!) I think Gabriel and Luke look great!

Movie Critic

Watch out Ebert--here comes Harmon!! Gabriel decided he wanted to check out the mass selection of DVD's that we have. Nevermind he was crashing on Flash's bed, though she didn't seem to mind too much. The little Dickens can even open up the cases by himself! Gotta keep an eye on this one!

A Must Read

For my trip out to Vegas, my Mom bought me a new book. This book was highly recommended by so many people, one of which was my Aunt LeeAnn who cannot wait to read it again. I read it on the plane, it's amazing. I talked to Michael about it all weekend long. Parts of it have stuck with me as if I am still reading it. The book is Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory. It's wonderful, it's dinner with Jesus. It is honest and real. It is not a long book so even those of you who don't like to read should still pick this one up. It will speak directly to you no matter what your religious views are right now. I could picture the whole scene in my head, I laughed out loud at parts and cried during others. My seat mate probably thought I was a little crazy! There is one part in particular that stuck with me, I don't want to write about it because I want everyone to read the book for themselves. I feel that everyone who reads this book will have their own "one part", the part where God is speaking directly to them. This truly is a Must Read. And after you have read it, you can't help but start thinking about your own dinner with Jesus.

Easter with Grandmas.

Luke at the house egg hunt. Nice bed head, huh? :)

Kaden at the Youth Center's Egg Hunt.

Gabriel playing with his hard boiled egg.

While I was off gallivanting around Vegas over Easter weekend, my boys were spending their time with my Mom and Granny. They of course had a blast.

Kaden-man went to the egg hunt at the Youth Center. Mom said that he was at the fence ready to go and when the hunt started he walked 2 feet from where he was, picked up 3 eggs and sat down. She tried to get him to get some more eggs, but he wouldn't budge. All 3 of his eggs had prize tickets in them! Can you believe it? He left with 3 prizes, one of which was the biggest prize for his age group. Who says you need lots of eggs! It's quality NOT quantity. They had such a fun time.

Luke was apparently a master egg-colorer (is that how one would write that?) You know the hexagon wire thingys that come with the PAAS dye? Well, Luke used it the whole time and didn't drop an egg. Kaden had fun dying the paper towels with the colors--go figure. It's kinda like the kiddos liking the box the present comes in rather then the present itself.

Gabriel had fun with all the eggs, both the real ones and plastic ones. He certainly loves the sound of plastic eggs being thrown at the dining room tile. (wish I could say the same, it's about to drive me batty!)

Thanks to Grandmom and Great Granny for making their Easter a wonderful one!!!

Mike and Jesse

Mike and I at Blackstone's Steak House in Monte Carlo.

We had the most amazing steak dinner.

We were so happy to be together!

I simply LOVE this picture!!

Wonderful Weekend!!!

inside Ceaser's PalaceMike and I at ESPN Zone (day of Pujols' 3 homerun game!!)

I just had the most wonderful trip. I would say that it was the most wonderful trip to Vegas, but it wasn't Vegas that made it wonderful, it was MICHAEL. It was getting to be with my husband again! It was the chance for the 2 of us to be together alone and reset. That is how I look at it. We both have been under such major and different stresses these first 3 1/2 months of 2006, those 3 days together we were able to break free of it all and just enjoy each others company. We now are recharged for the end of our time apart. As of today, Michael only has 53 more days until graduation. The countdown has begun. This weekend together is what we both needed.

We had a great time. We spent most of our time down on the strip. On Saturday we went down there for 12 and 1/2 hours. We walked all over and I did venture into almost every casino hotel. It's pretty amazing how big and beautiful those buildings are. We had some wonderful food. (I HIGHLY recommend Blackstone's, a steak restaurant--it was beyond words!) We took in 2 shows, The BlueMan Group is awesome, there really are no words to describe what they do, but we LOVED it.


Thanks to Momma and Granny who stayed with the boys so Michael and I could have this opportunity to recharge our batteries!!!

And thanks to Michael for loving me and giving me the perfect vacation!!! (minus le reve of course :) I love you so much and I am so very proud of you!!!!!

Diagnosis Made!!!!

Well, I am NOT crazy. My boys truly were sick. They were sick with something AND now I know the name of that something---it's ROTAVIRUS!!! Gabriel tested positive and we figured what one had, they all had... But the good news is they appear to be over it. It usually lasts for 4 weeks, which it did for us. The boys have been symptom free now for over a week!! I am so thankful. My prayers have certainly been answered. Thanks to all of you who prayed for us.

THAT'S A WINNER!!

Congrats to the Cards! No, the end wasn't pretty, but we won our home opener! The game started off great I thought, with the crowd singing the National Anthem (good touch). Willie McGee's appearance was enough to elate the already crazy crowd. A couple of home runs and great plays. Here's to Mulder for pitching a great game and getting Busch's first curtain call for his first ever home run. Jack Buck would have been proud. It was a good day for the Cards. And this Cardinal fan is happy baseball has started once again! Welcome to baseball heaven.

Crackers in bed

While the term crackers in bed usually applies to an annoyance of some kind, this Momma was thrilled to have her boys fill the bed with crumbs!!!! Kaden has been lethargic ALL day but perked up a little when I said he could watch a movie in Mom's room. He actually asked for a cracker, his first food since Tuesday! I was thrilled. So there they are, eating in bed. And here's a Mom with a little hope that her middle boy is getting better.

(Baby update: Gabriel is still pretty weak today, just wants to lay down all the time. Poor angel, he has not eaten since Tuesday either, thank goodness for Pedialyte!!!)

A Day in the Life...

A day in the life of --------- fill in the blank. It could be Luke, Kaden, or even Gabriel. (okay not really, he still gets a bucket) I had to take this picture of poor Kaden-man. I think this really shows how awful my boys feel. Yep, still sick. Luke is showing no symptoms right now, but Kaden and Gabriel are barely hanging on. Kaden got worse again today, he can hardly get off the couch. He is so tired all the time. Gabriel can't even sit up right now. He just folds himself right over. They are both so weak. Bless their bones. Any prayers would be more then appreciated. I know that there will be an end to all of this, I just pray and pray that it comes sooner then later. It is absolutely breaking my heart to see my babies so sick. 26 days and counting...

Michael ANAKIN would be SOOOOO proud

Luke Thomas is sure one in a million. He is still sick, bless his heart. He was going to bed tonight, to sleep with Mom again, and wanted to watch The Empire Strikes Back. Well, that's enough to make Daddy proud right there, huh?! It got to the end where Vader and Luke are fighting and Luke called me into the room. He said in all seriousness "Why am I fighting Darth Vader when I get bigger?" He cracks me up. I would love to see how his little mind works. I had to share this quote. Michael would have loved it! (And yes, he did hold the mask while watching the movie.)