Dewberry Farm 2008!! What a difference a YEAR makes..

Today, we went to Dewberry Farm. What a difference a year makes! We got there right at 10a & didn't leave till 130p! We all had a great time. There was SOO much to do. We rode the hayride, pet the animals, picked pumpkins, picked fresh flowers, ate a YUMMY lunch & the girls jumped on the jumpy thing they have! FUN FUN FUN! Last year, we didn't have much fun. The girls were tiny and we were so scheduled that we only stayed for an hour or two. Here are a ton of pics...ENJOY!

Mom & the girls on the hay ride.

The girls on the hay ride!

Out in the pumpkin patch

Dad & his girls on the hay ride! Hannah in the pumpkin patch with the skinny pumpkin! A really good pic of the twins..I don't care what anyone thinks about bow heads..these bows totally make them look soo girly!

Sarah & her baby pumpkin...soo cute! Hannah & her big girl pumpkin! Playing in the hay(Hannah & Sarah)Sam was very bashful and didn't want to play..but Sarah was very playful..

Hannah mid-air! Sarah, feeding the goats! Hannah watching the baby chicks!Hannah watching the baby pigs stick their nose through the bottom of the fence

Of course we HAD to wash our hands after mommy anti-bacterial'd them 10x's! Sarah with chocolate cake all over her face! Sam ate some cake too...did you think otherwise?Hannah in the flower!

did you EVER think we could get a pick where everyone was looking..NOPE..i didn't either! Sarah posing in the sunflower Sam wasn't so sure about the sunflower! Picking flowers..these are my favorite pics! This is a really good pic...SOO SWEET Sarah with the cup full of flowers! Hannah & Sam checking out the flowers! Hannah with the cup of flowersThis is my FAVORITE FAVORITE pic...It's very cute and Sarah looks so serious in the background. I'm not sure what it is about the pic that is soo good!

All in all we had a great day. After our trip, we decided to take the long road home and drive through a couple of neighborhoods we wanted to check out for potential homes. FUN FUN! Paul is pretty much set on one neighborhood with big lots..the houses there are ranch style and look like beautiful houses right out of a magazine for farm houses. The only problem we are finding is that they are WAY too big. The neighborhood is like ours..not many houses since they are soo spread out which we really like. Now that we've lived here we can't imgaine living CLOSE in proximity to another house. We like our privacy. One other problem we found is that the neighborhood's like this do NOT have a school IN the community. So the girls will end up going to a public school across the street in another community, which will be fine, but the won't be able to ride their bikes since it's across a busy street. It won't bother me, but Paul really wantd the girls to be able to ride their bikes to school I don't think there's a *perfect* community for anyone, so this will be something we'll just have to deal with since the neighborhood is soo nice!

Lots of first's-BUT, this is not the one a mother ever wants

I'm talking about the day your daughters Pre-K teacher calls because she wants to have a parent teacher conference!  WHAT???  Seriously, what can a pre-k teacher really say about a child?  I just didn't think i'd have to deal with this one soo soon.  You can't imagine how upset it really makes a mother!  My belly is in knots and i'm upset, mad, worried and everything else.  Sheesh what can i say...i truly thought IF there was a problem, shouldn't i get some kind of fore-warning??  I get all her paperwork, look over it everyday and have never found a sad face..or anything other than happy faces and positive words.  Why did it take her teacher TWO months to tell me there was a problem?  THEN, on top of that, she said we need to meet soon, but the soonest i can meet is THURSDAY!?  WHAT?  Anyway, i'm so upset.  It stings, when it's your child, it stings BAD!  You think your child is the sweetest and smartest in her class(of course ever mom things that).  BUT, when you find out otherwise, what do you say?  How do you act?  I cried and cried...and i was soo angry! 

 

Anyway, i guess it's a small problem that CAN be fixed with a little work at home.  BUT, i'm so mad that her teacher looks me in the face EVERYDAY and has never said ANYTHING TO ME BEFORE!  Why hasn't she pulled me aside and said "Hannah's not doing as well as i'd like".  Nothing negative, just a warning.  SOMETHING would have been nice! 

 

Paul will go with me NEXT THURSDAY to meet with her.  I will have to remain calm, since this lady will be teaching my sweet baby for the next 7 months.  I don't want to explode on her and her take it out on Hannah. 

 

I'm in major denial.  I feel like she's learning a TON.  She is recognizing her letters, writing her name, knows all sorts of prayers, and i could go on and on.  Sheesh, it's not like she's in high school getting ready for college or anything.  I did know she'd be a bit behind b/c of her age and birthday!  But, i thought that was why i had her in school.  To have the one on one help that she needed to stay up to par with the older kidos. 

 

I guess i'll know more Next Thursday, since it's soo important and taking her soo long to meet with me!

Shhh..Don't tell anyone YET!

But i'm un-officially the chair over the March of Dimes/March for BABIES 2008/2009 year.  Melody is going to co-chair with me, which should be lots of fun!  I'm have NO IDEA how it all works.  BUT, as of the next MOMS OF MULTIPLES MEETING(next Thursday) they're going to announce that we are stepping up!  I'm totally excited and ready to get moving.  I'm also nervous because we have some major shoes to fill.  Stacy & Cindy, who have been co-chairing the walk/event for a few years, have done some really great things and helped raise large amounts of money for the March of Dimes(last year our MOMS group raised over 20,000!!!).  I just hope, we can be as good as they have been in the past.  Please cross your fingers that we raise even MORE money THIS YEAR..and SAVE MORE BABIES!!! 

 

NOW, i'm thinking we may start with a new motto for our booth!  In the past 2 years(since i've been doing the walk), they've had the motto "stop, you've just been spotted saving babies!"  I think that this motto is FABULOUS and it has brought tears to my eyes over and over...but perhaps, we should have a new MOTTO this year!  Any ideas??  We need something about saving babies...hmm..now my mind is going to be racing all night. 

Wish me luck with my new "Job" for the next 6 months! 

O yes, and did i mention, i get to go to the March of Dimes Luncheon, next Thursday, with Cindy & Stacy!  SOO GLAD i went to THE LIMITED and bought a new pair of black pants today!  NOW, i have somewhere to wear them!  YAHOO!

 

O yes, and did i mention how proud i am of my hubby?  Last night i had my FIRST Parent/Teacher Organization meeting..Let me tell you, it was pretty boring!  Anyway, while i was away, Paul gave ALL THREE girls a bath, all by himself!  AMAZING!  I was soo proud.  UNTIL, Hannah, came running up to me(when i got home) and told me that she got Sam undressed in their bedroom and Sam pee'd all over the floor!  AHH..the fun of having an older child that wants to take care of "HER BABIES"!  So, here are a few pics of the girls, post bath!  Aren't they cuties??   P.S., where was Hannah during this photo session?

November is Prematurity awareness month

If you read my blog and have not signed the petition for the March Of Dimes..please do so at the link below:

 

Hope this works...

http://www.marchofdimes.com/padpetition/index.aspx?a=1&z=1&c=1 

If this doesn't work..go to

marchofdimes.com & click the little tab that says "sign the petition for preemies"

 

The more people that sign..the better!

 

Thanks for signing!

Brenda

Time for a Way Back When-esday!

Time for a way back when esday post! Thanks to Cheryl over at twinfatuation, it's time for a post of my girls from WAY BACK! Here are a few of my favorite pics:

Mommy & Hannah @ 1 month taking a snooze on the couch together. Something you can't really do with two!Hannah @ 1 month Hannah @ 1 month the babies at 1 day....soo cute!

2 sets of twins..my aunts*fraternal twins* and my identical girls.. Hannah & the girls at 3 months

Our adopted Puppy may have a home!!!

After numerous calls to different shelters and finding out that all were either full or euthanize, we may have found a good home for our mutt!  Since he showed off how smart he was last night, a new neighbor to our neighborhood came by today to see him and wants him.  They are only worried that he may not get along with their 1 yr old lab.  I'm not sure that's possible.  This puppy is so sweet, i think he could get along with any animal!  :)  So, tomorrow i'm going to walk him over to their house and see what happens.  I'm very excited but sad too.  I'm sure Paul will NEVER EVER let me feed a stray again...and i wouldn't blame him.  BUT, this has been one crazy happy ride.  WE FOUND HIM A HOME AND HE WON'T BE PUT DOWN!  YAHOO!  Now i see why Bob Barker used to say "Spay and Neuter your pet and help control the animal population!", after every show!  It's just a sad sad thing...euthanizing pets.  SO, cross your fingers that he is ok with his new home.  I've really grown to like him the past few days..but i'm ready for him to have a REAL home..not a place under our port a cache to sleep and eat.  Let's all hope this works and he likes his new home and doesn't end up on our back door step again! 

National Night OUT!

We had our National Night Out party tonight.  A great time was had by all!  The girls had a blast.  There were tons of kids there.  The food was delicious!  And most importantly, our little mutt for a dog, followed us down the street and made a great impression on everyone, then followed us all the way back home!  What a sweet puppy!  I have contacted numerous shelters, but all do euthanize.  Luckily, one of my good friends/moms of multiples mommies-moms, helps rescue and place animals.   I'm so exicted.  Anyway, so hopefully, if things turn out, she'll come by soon and pick this sweetie up. 

 

What a difference a year makes...last year for NNO, we sat on the ground while the girls try to crawl in the grass.  This year they were yelling for COOKIES & WATER and running all over the place..o yeah and Hannah thought she'd be a monkey and swing around on the tiny tree of the neighbor that held the NNO Party..Yeah, she broke the top off of he tree.  I'm not sure the sweet family will ever have another NNO party at their house again!

 

progress on the fence...updated-fence complete!

Today is going to be some major progress on the fence.  They put the big boards up on Sat.  Sheesh, that took ALL day!  Now, today is just putting up boards and making sure the fence is even!  Hopefully today or tomorrow we'll have a complete fence.  That'll be good.  Last night we let Sugar out and forgot.  Luckily she didn't go far.  She was roaming in the next door neighbors yard.  When we finally realized it, she came right to me!  WHEW!  On top of getting a new fence, we've kinda inherited a homeless dog.  I'm a SUCKER for feeding homeless dogs.  UGH!  So, i've been feeding this homeless dog and now he won't go away.  He gets right into the backyard b/c we don't have a fence.  He even figured out the licksit the dogs have for water.  NOW, it's going to break my heart to not feed him...but we can't have another dog..and we definitely can't have a boy dog...they pee all over everything, which drives me crazy.  On top of that, he's obviously been beat by "adults/big people".  The poor dog won't come near Paul or I, but will go straight up to the girls and let them pet him and sit by him, which scares me, but he's not nervous around them...so i let the girls pet him and then sanitize their hands!  SOOO SAD!  He HAD to have been beat by someone.  Anyway, i'm going to have to send out an email to see if someone will take this poor dog...he can't live in my front yard & i've tried to sucker the nice sweet fence guys into taking him...but they don't have room!  UGH!

 

The FINISHED PRODUCT!!!  It looks SOO different...nice and clean look.  Paul is missing the nasty, rat invested greenery..i AM NOT!  I love the clean look!  I think it's awesome and soo excited.  This fence really lightened up this side of the house...now if i could just get rid of all that icky ground cover that rats live in right where the iron gate starts, but on the inside of the fence! 

 

 

 

O yes and i forgot to add the pics of our "adopted dog"...i fed him once and he won't go away!  He'd now sleeping by the back door outside...and i'm heart broken b/c we just can't keep him.  I will continue to feed him until we find him a good home though.  He is SOOO good with the girls...just a bit scared of Paul and I! 

He looks like he's part chow(b/c of his purple tongue) and part golden retriever..he's soo sweet!  He even learned to use the dogs licksit already!  VERY VERY SMART DOG! 

Xavier Castro

Sweet Little Xavier Castro was born today at 2am!  He weighted in at 7lbs 8 oz and is 19 inches long...totally a cutie pie!  I was lucky enough to be invited up to see him today, while Paul stayed home with the girls.  Xavier is the brand new son of Javier, who is one of Pauls long time and one of his best employees.  His wife Sarahi & the baby are both doing great.  And i have to mention, she did NOT look like she just had a baby!  She looked awesome and was soo calm and collected.  She didn't get an epidural OR was NOT taking any pain meds.  AMAZING!  What a superwoman!

I was able to hold Xavier for a LONG time today...almost made me want another baby, but not quite.  He was soo quiet and peaceful.  BUT, i like holding babies, feeling their sweet smooth brand new skin, with that brand new baby smell, and then giving them back to mommy!   

Now, we are patiently awaiting our next new arrival...sweet baby Gavin(my sisters little boy, due on the 28th).  We CAN'T WAIT TO MEET HIM!  I'm looking forward to spending some time with them, when the girls are all in school on Tue & Thur!

Testing Windows Live Writer...

Paul, my computer geek, found this new product call windows live writer...i'm not sure if it's actually new or not. BUT, he's been trying to get me to try it for a while. I am one of those that think: "if it's not broke, why fix it?" BUT, it's actually really neat. I'm not sure if you just load it on to your computer...if it's the most updated version of windows..or what. BUT, if you are a blogaholic as i am, you'll LOVE IT! You can do your post in windows and then after you hit publish..it publishes directly to your blog. It's REALLY neat..that way you don't have to be ON LINE to write a post, but i'm sure you have to be on line to publish it. I could have written many more posts if i had this.

Anyway, this is my first "test post" to see how it works. You can add smiley faces...pics of an address or certain area..etc. I'm impressed! check it out if you haven't already...i promise you'll like it!

Our new bows, and YES, my girls ARE going to be bow heads...these bows are TOO CUTE!

My favorite mall...

you have to click on the map to see it...Memorial city mall when it was under construction..just testing it all out!

BAD BAD INSURANCE PEOPLE!!!

Magically the insurance adjustor came by yesterday. NOT the one that was actually assigned to our policy claim..some other man that came out of no-where. I mean totally out of the blue...called Paul and said he was right down the street and would like to come over. O-K...Please do. So, he came on over and checked out our damage. Of course to me it's bad...to him it was like a walk in the park. The really bad part(or so i am thinking) is that Paul & our neighbor decided to move the fence out and put it out at the street. WELL, the one part they didn't take down was the one DARN piece that was actually facing the other way..like it was our neighbors fence and not ours! ERR...what were we thinking??? Anyway, we went around and showed him all the damage...
1. fence fell down(only get 50% paid for it b/c it was old..asked if it was ours or neighbors...we said it was OURS...which is was and i have pics to prove it THANK GOODNESS) - 158 ft of fence! YIKES! Good thing Insurance pays 30 per sq ft for fence...
2. hole in roof and 2 leaks...roof damage from shingles that flew off...roof damage from where the BIG LIMB hit right on top of our window(all together 3 patches @ 400-500 each)..YES, can you say HIGHWAY ROBBERY! But, that's life right?
3. Inside damage from rain...one in dining room and 2 upstairs in play room....they'll be painting the celing and re-sheet rock the small part of the dining room.
4. clean carpets.
5. fix or replace the antenna on top of the house.
6. fix tie down that is holding the pole that brings our electricity to the house.
Did i mention that our deductible is a full year of private school for Hannah??? Or very close! Errr...soo annoyed. I guess that is just life. Which president is for the middle class working family?

I've become such a cheap person the past year, it's not even funny. I didn't even enjoy my time shopping today(at old navy and the scary ross, that was so dirty i could hardly breathe as i was walking through as fast as i could w/o touching a thing)..didn't buy a thing and thought that 4.99 for a pair of shorts for me was just way to much! What the heck is wrong with me????

I guess that's just life with three kids, lots of ER bills, and now hurricane damage with a ridiculous deductible. I do hope that black cloud hanging over our head is gone!

O yes, speaking of...please pray for my second cousin, Diana. She is mid 40's and has been diagnosed with Lukemia and she's not doing well(she is now in a drug induced coma to keep her still while they give her meds). From what my aunt says...it was very all of a sudden. Diana is older than me, so we never really hung out as friends/cousins. BUT, i do know her and she is very nice and she's one that would give you the shirt off of her back. She is very nice and all about helping OTHERS...i do know that. Her sister Marsha, just adopted a sweet little girl that was a year old in Aug(I think).

BTW, this weekend is going to be FUN FUN FUN!!! We have our sweet babysitter Samantha coming over tomorrow night! Yes, 2 date nights in 2 weeks! We're going to go out to dinner and then maybe go bowling or something fun. Then, Saturday is going to be AWESOME! We are having a FAMILY SOCIAL with my moms group at Clays, which is a awesome restaurant i've blogged about before. They have a sand box, tons of animals roaming around to pet(yes, a germophobes worst nightmare...i'm talking about me), and some other little fun things to do. There are 121 people ttl that have RSVP'd for the social! SOO FUN! I can't wait. All my really good friends will be there...Melody, Stacey, Anseli, etc. I can't wait to see how the girls do this time. Last time they were still small..this time they are pro-walkers and talkers, so we should have a blast. Then, Sunday, is a day of rest!

Sorry for lack of posts this week. I've been ebaying some stuff that i'm ready to get rid of, since i'm not selling at the buy/sell this year. Goodness, ebaying this stuff is taking forever...but i can't wait to get rid of it all!