School pictures are here!

I really tried to narrow it down to only 2 pictures per child but I just couldn't pick.  Nancy Morrison of Pretty Pix by Nancy has again produced beautiful work.  She provides her services every year to the homeschool community.  This is now our third year having our pictures done with her.  You can see her awesome work here.

 

Happy Anniversary!

Today, Dave and I will celebrate 12 years of marriage.  Dave proposed in the basement of his newly purchased townhouse in Gainesville with the song "Reminiscing" by Little River Band playing in the background ... hints the name of the blog.  We had a beautiful perfect wedding ceremony and a blast at our reception.  We even had more fun on our honeymoon ... wait a minute... we didn't go on one.  Oh yeah, that's right, you spent the next weekend in Cape Hatteras with your friends.   You still owe me a honeymoon!

Dave, you are a wonderful, awesome, and amazing husband.  You will never know how important you are to me and how much I love you.  Happy Anniversary!

This is our engagement picture. Doesn't he look good in a suit?

Take a good look. You'll never see him in one again.

What's your favorite candy? Or least favorite?

Our Friday before Halloween started off with attending Rachel's Essentials writing class in Winchester.  During recess, Joseph, while running to catch a football, was tackled into a wooden fence.  His forehead lost to the fence.  After recovering, he quickly went back to playing with a bunch of 9-12 year old boys, this should have been a red flag.  I then went inside the church and the next thing I know a mother is bringing my crying, bloody, swollen nosed Joseph to me.  Well ... this time he was running with the football and head-butted the back of another kids head.  Ouch!  Again, Joseph's nose lost, big time.  As all of you know he immediately has a headache and wants to throw-up.  This would worry most people but it is normal for him.  After much debate I determined it probably was not broken and he then spent the afternoon on the sofa in Rachel's class, learning about verb transitive, direct object, and subject pronouns.  Joseph comment, "This is boring!"

Then .... on the way home I notice something is not right with my car.  I look down and the light indicating low tire pressure is on.  I think, oh great, as we are supposed to leave for PA as soon as we get home.  I stop to put air in the tire and notice a drywall screw in the tread, lovely.  I can actually hear the air coming out.  To make a long story short our wonderful neighbor so graciously took the tire off and took in up "to the good ol' boys" in Boyce to have it plugged.  We are now on our way to PA to trick or treat and spend the weekend with cousins.  YEAH!  Everyone has stopped crying!

Halloween night: mummies and spiderwebs

Everyone dressed up.   

White Witch from Narnia

Storm Trooper

Aslan

Elise

A survey of favorite candies:

Dave: Kit Kat  Carrie: Twix   Rachel:  Gummy LifeSavers and Sour Patch Kids  Joseph: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and Dark Chocolate Nicole: Reese Cup and Skittles  Elise: anything with sugar.  We all agreed that the most disgusting candies are Dots and Chocolate Skittles and in my personal opinion, anything with coconut.  It's wrong!

This is what Dave was up to while we were away for the weekend.

We arrived home Sunday afternoon to a very sick Charlotte.  She could not get up. To watch her try it seemed as though she has back hip and arthritis problems.  This is not supposed to happen in a three month old puppy.  Monday afternoon we took her to the vet and currently are treating her for a bladder infection, which she's already had once before, and possible lyme disease.  If she is not dramatically better in 48 hours they will start to consider early hip dysplasia.

Pumpkin' Carvin' ... and other things

Every year we HAVE to carve pumpkins, it's a must, for the kids.  And of course you can't forget roasting the seeds, a little extra work but well worth it.  These have to be the biggest pumpkins we have carved so far.  Can you guess who picked them out?  A hint...  it wasn't the kids.

Yes, there was a big mess to clean up afterwards, but they had oh so much fun.

Here's the finished product.  Rachel insisted on sharing her pumpkin with Elise so that is why she has a two-faced pumpkin.  For whatever reason it didn't look right. 

Aren't they ooohhh sooo scary?.

Among other things, I have decided in order to save my sanity, I am temporarily confining Elise to the packnplay in the school room. A last resort.  For those of you who are gasping don't worry she is not in for long.  Every time I turn my back she is into everything, dry erase markers, Sharpie markers, crayons, colored pencils and did I mention markers.  I walk out of the room for a second and she is on top of the table destroying their school work.  I only put her in when I have to sit down with the kids one on one.  It's either that or I would chase her around all day.  See I told you she is like Joseph!

This picture is just too hilarious.  You really have to zoom in to get the full effect of the expression on Joseph's face.  He just finished his 6th season of soccer but his first with Clarke County.  Is it different out here or what, but that's for another post.  They actually play when it is raining.  He loves soccer but is thinking he might want to try baseball in the spring.  Thanks to Grandpa Robert, he took this picture when he was visiting.

So far everyone has been healthy, knock on wood.  Aside from minor sore throats we have not been hit with the flu.  Elise had her 2 year well check today and is a whopping 27 lbs. and 35 in.  She is in the 75th percentile for height and only 25th for weight.  Sounds like my child. 

My baby turns 2!

Elise Marie turns 2 today!  After going to the hospital on Saturday morning (yes, Dave stayed home from hunting) and then being sent home because I was not considered in active labor, she finally showed up at 1:41am on Sunday morning.  Yes, we did go back that evening.  I can't believe she is 2 years old.  Elise resembles Joseph in many ways, cried a lot when she was born, spit up a tremendous amount, has eczema like him, is into everything, is very, very busy and most of all she looks like him.... at least we think so. 

She is still not talking real well, but can say Dadden, Mommy, baby and puppy.  Some of her favorite foods are pancakes, cottage cheese, scrapple, steak, chicken nuggets and more cottage cheese, and she also loves chocolate milk. 

We love you sweetheart.  Happy Birthday!

Not ready for winter

Even though summer is technically over I couldn't help but post some pictures of our last week at the beach in August.  As always we had a wonderful time filled with pool time, crabbing, clamming, more pool time, shell shop, boardwalk, fishing at Uncle Ron's, and of course my favorite, Nicola's Pizza ...... and more pool time. 

Most of the time we do not go to the ocean. Those of you who know me, know that I hate sand.  It's everywhere, my clothes, my hair, my drink and food and then in my car.  We are perfectly content with staying on bay side.  Contrary to what my children think, I don't feel a need to see the ocean ... am I depriving them?

Isn't she a cutie!  Yes, I had to chase her around the pool the whole time... exhausting.  Unlike Nicole she would not sit in the stroller for long. 

Dave and Elise coming in from checking out the clamming conditions.  It needs to be low tide with little to no wind.

Dave's famous "Clams Casino".  And no I will not give out the recipe so don't even ask!

This is too funny not to include.  Don't you think Dave is a little too big to be riding the kiddie rides?!  Nicole screamed half the time and Rachel just look horrified.

I don't do merry-go-rounds or ferris wheels.  They make me sick.  So I leave that up to Dave.

Joseph and Grandad, spending time picking crabs.  One of Joseph's favorite things to do.

I'm getting old

Elizabeth graduated!  Most of you know the story but I will tell it again for good measure. Fresh out of high school and just a baby myself, I boarded a plane (for the first time) and flew to Virginia to be a live-in nanny.  At the time, Elizabeth (blue dress) was just 18 months old and her mother was expecting a baby just a month after I would arrive.  Sarah (black dress) soon was born, and then Samantha (Tech shirt) joined the family a few years later.  My plan was to live here for only one year and then return to Utah (I had a contract). That was 1992.  Needless to say, I like it here.  I ended up living with the family for 5 years and after I was married continued to work for 2 more years.  The girls are like family to me.  Elizabeth and Sarah were flower girls in my wedding.  My kids sometimes think the girls are their cousins... that's fine with me. Anyways, before I get all mushy, they are growing into beautiful young women.  Elizabeth graduated this past June and is now attending the Coast Guard Academy.  I am so proud of you, Elizabeth!  Next year will be Sarah.... and then I'll really be old.

Meet Charlotte

I caved! Here is the newest addition to the Gay family, and no it is not a baby this time.  Dave said we had to get either a dog or four chickens.  I went for the dog.  Her name is Charlotte Sadie.  She is a golden/lab mix and is 8 weeks old.  We picked her up today. 

I never thought I would hear myself say this but she is so beautiful.

The kids absolutely adore her and will not stop picking her up.

Nicole just said, "I can't stop thinking about her, she won't get out of my mind."

Lunch Time

This is what happens when you give Elise a bagel with peanut butter on it. By the time she was done it was smeared through her hair. 

Of course she received a bath after.... her second one of the day.

Joining the crowd

I know, I know.  Most of you are probably saying where does she have time to blog.  Truth is, I don't have time.  I hesitated and went back and forth for quite awhile.  When I told Dave I was going to create a family blog he quickly responded, "I want nothing to do with it."  Can't you just hear him? I finally decided since my family lives in Utah and we have friends spread out all over, it would be a way to invite them into our lives.  Especially since it has been 2 years since we have been to Utah.  In the end I just plain decided it would be fun.

As you can see my blog is not creative, not pretty, it's very plain.  I'm new to all this and have no idea what I am doing.  Enjoy!