Corey Equals Feeling Crappy

So even though the cartoon I thought was pretty funny, my worry for Corey is not. Last week he got a really bad flu and he went to the Dr. and they gave him a bunch of meds. He never really felt 100 percent and then Monday his fever came back and he hasn't been able to eat or drink in two days. He has already missed too much work, so he drags himself out of bed in the morning and goes to work to come home and plop on the couch. He has no energy and can hardly move. He is already on antibiotics so we know it is not a bacterial infection. Viral, probably, but how long will this last? I worry about how pale he looks all the time and he is going to bed around 9pm which is so early for him. I just want him better, and he refuses to go back to the Dr. again. Lets hope that his body can kick this. Although my mom seems to think it is stress related....but how do you get rid of all the stresses of life?

Branson Day 2

Day two at Branson was by far the favorite for me. We got up and went to Silver Dollar City (an amusement park there) and we had a blast. The rides were so cool, and Logan was tall enough to ride every single one. Even the biggest, scariest roller coaster there. Corey and I had to laugh because he would scream and look terrified during the ride and then after claim it was no big deal. Gabe was still too short for most of the huge rides. But he did make the requirement on a ride called the powder keg. I LOVED this roller coaster. You start at zero and it blast you out of it super fast. Gabe really freaked out and I ended up having to carry him off the ride. He cried for a little while. But I loved how excited the kids were the whole time. There was also this really cool cave that you can go into. It was HUGE. It took about an hour and a half to go through the whole thing. I think this was my favorite part of the park. Well worth the time and energy. But poor Corey had to carry Hailey the whole time. He was a good sport and didn't complain too much. I tried to take some pictures, but it was just too dark for most to turn out.

Mom and I next to a 7 foot tall guy who worked there. When I first spotted him I thought he was on stilts, but nope those are his real legs. Pretty dang tall huh?

This is my favorite picture, I was trying to take a picture of the opening of the cave where we came down and mom jumped up right at the perfect moment. We giggled for a long time after seeing how she timed it.

Look how long this is. It starts on the floor and goes up. It was pretty amazing.

After Silver Dollar City we went back to our hotels and got all cleaned up. Then we went to Dixie Stampede. I love this place. We went as a family a couple of times in Myrtle Beach, but it was so fun to see the kids enjoy it. They put on this huge show in an arena and you eat dinner while you watch. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the arena, so we got some waiting to go inside at the pre-show. The food was excellent.

Trying to act all coy with the camera.

This is me looking excited to deal with a fussy Hailey during the show. I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked, but hey that is how life is with an infant.

Boys acting silly before the show started.

The last day we were there we went to the Titanic Museum there. I love the story of the Titanic and I think I always have. I have read so many books about it. This was an incredible place to see so much history and facts. I love to look at old things that have seen so many amazing things. It was ok with the kids. They were crazy and wild. I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't constantly telling the kids to behave. And the fact that there were so many stinkin people there. But I loved it all the same.

After the tour it was time to go home. We stopped for lunch at this little Mexican place and we stuffed ourselves one last time. I had such a great time and I hope that the kids will remember this vacation and love it as much as I did.

Branson Day One

To celebrate the 4th of July, we went to Branson MO, with my parents on vacation. We had so much fun. This was our first real vacation sleeping in a hotel and doing lots of exciting things. The kids just kept saying, "This is the best day of my life." I wish we could do fun stuff like this more often, but our piggy bank just won't allow it. On Friday we got up early and headed out at 8am. We knew that there was a McDonalds that is built over the turnpike, so we decided to stop there for breakfast. The kids thought it was so cool that the cars were going right under us as we ate.

You can't really see the cars behind them, but we were up pretty high.

Then we continued onto Branson. It took us about three hours and the kids were just so excited to finally get there. We parked at our hotel and walked across the street to get some pizza. It was really affordable and that surprised us. Plus it was pretty tasty.

Stuffing our faces with pizza.Truck outside the pizza place, they were so cute.

Then we continued on to our first real tour. Our hotel was centrally located so we could just walk. It was Ride the Ducks.

Ride the Ducks are a military vehicle that they used to use. It can go on land and then drive right into the water. The kids didn't know what they were in for. Gabe looked a little worried when the guide said we were going to drive into the lake. He was by the window and tried to quietly switch places with Lexie. His face was hilarious when we actually drove in. Then once we were on the water, the kids got a chance to steer the duck.

They also got these annoying quackers that we used while on the tour. The kids kept blowing them the whole time. I still hear them.

After the tour we rode down to the outside mall called Branson landing. They had so much to look at. We walked up and down, ate dinner and got the kids a balloon. They didn't last that long, they were all popped by the next day. But the kids really had a blast.

Logan picked a machine gun.

Lexie got a pink poodle.

Gabe got a laser gun with a holster.

Kids taking a little ride together.

To be continued with Day Two.....

For Sale

So you have figured this out I am pretty sure, but we have decided to sell our first house. How did we come to this conclusion? Well there are many factors and suffice it to say it would be in our best interest to have our house out of the picture. Plus it is getting way too small for our growing family. I like to be close, but when the kids are right on top of you all the time, that is when you need an adjustment. We have not made any definite plans, we just want to sell first.

I have had many sleepless night about this. Tossing and turning. Praying for sleep. That someone will find our house just right and buy it at our asking price. I have not had a very good experience thus far with our realtor. I have had to call several times to change or rearrange things. I am trying to be positive. But I get so anxious when someone else is doing things that I think could be done in a better or more efficient way. So I am the annoying person who keeps calling and complaining. I just want things done right. Now if we can just get some people in to see our little home, maybe we can get some bids. Let us hope that this goes quickly and that we don't have a hard time selling. For my sanity anyways.

Taste of Summer 09

I know this post seems redundant because of so many people blogging about this. But it is one of the most looked forward to days of the summer. How can you beat all you can eat ice cream. I tried to limit myself, and I was slightly careful, but in the end I did eat my share of ice cream. I skipped right over those Popsicles and went straight for the hard stuff. I love ice cream and so do my kids. They have so many things for the kids to do and it seems each year it gets a little bigger. We showed up at 9 am to beat the temperatures and crowds, but it seems everyone had the same idea. It reached 105 that day and it was so hot I thought I was going to die. My kids seemed to fair pretty well, except for Logan who ended up laying down on the ground saying he didn't feel well. Yes overheating was an issue for Logan, but we made sure he kept drinking water and we went back to our AC vehicle after he basically passed out on the ground. But it was great fun and the only down was that Corey had to work and I ended up corralling the kids all by myself. In a huge crowd that is no easy feat. But they stayed close and made it that much easier for mom.

Hailey trying to beat the heat in the stroller. She still broke a sweat.
Logan in the fire truck looking hot and bothered.

Lexie playing her air guitar. There was music and she was getting into the groove.

Gabe on the fire truck messing with stuff that he probably was not supposed to. I have a hard time keeping this on in check.

Aww, the taste of summer Blue Bell jumper.

Hailey is four months old!!

Wow!! Where has the time gone? I can remember so clearly and it seems like just yesterday she was born. She has grown so much and her little personality is just getting brighter and brighter. I love how she will hear my voice and look all over trying to locate me. I also secretly love the fact that Corey can't get her to smile and then all I have to do is talk to her and she will grin at me. I love that I am the only one who can calm her when she gets really mad or upset. I love that I can see she loves me already.

We had her Doctor appointment today and she is growing and looking so great. She is short and fat according to the percentages. She is only in the 25th percentile for height and weighing in at 16 pounds she is in the 75th percentile. But nothing is cuter than fat thighs on a baby. She did real well on her shots, although I know the worst part will be tomorrow after she has kept them still all night. She is rolling over on occasion from her back to her tummy. I love my little girl and every day brings something new.

Look at the pout, right after she was born.
Look at that cute fat face. How could you not love this face.

Classic Summer Fun

I remember growing up and looking forward to summer every year. You get to stay up longer, there is no school and the days last longer. Every day feels like Saturday and you can't seem to get enough of friends and fun. We grew up with a pool in our neighborhood and every year my parents would get us passes. I always thought it was because they loved us so much ( and they do) but as a parent myself I have found it is a simple selfish reason. I go to relax while my lot play and leave me basically alone for hours on end. What could be better than that? Ok, so maybe being able to sleep by the pool would top it, but I am not complaining. So we have spend a lot of days so far lazing by the pool and swimming. As I discussed with my Sister-in-law Sally, we are spending more on sunblock than anything else so far. Here are a few pictures that I took last time we went.

Here is Gabe loading up for another round. He was shooting everyone available and I was just waiting for them to kick us out.

This is Logan's Call of Duty pose. Thanks to Xbox we now do war about 98 percent of the time.

This is my cute blond pool bunny. She hates that she can't venture out of the kiddy area like her brothers, but I just don't trust her yet. She is too sneaky.

And summer would not be complete without the weeds in my flowerbed. I have been trying to rescue some flowers from last year, but I decided just to pull them up and start fresh. I really don't remember there being so many stinkin bugs last year when I planted. They were crawling everywhere and I felt creepy all night long. I really hated that nice ant next I found under one plant. They were crawling all up my arms and legs I was scratching for hours. Corey came out with a blanket and watched from the sidelines with the kids.

Corey took this shot and I have to say I am so grateful for garments. I know that there would be crack involved here.

Logan lounging and reading while Hailey is just kicking back. She loves to hold her feet now and it is so cute.

And the number one on my cute moment list, is when Corey put Hailey in our baby carrier (Thanks Sarah) and totted her while he grilled. Don't worry he was extra careful around the grill. But this just shows what a great dad he is. I was just grateful she didn't spit up on our dinner.

Look at those big old steaks. That was the best Rib-eye I have ever had.