Happy 13th!

13 years ago I officially became a mom. I am amazed at how quickly the time has gone, yet I have learned so many things. In honor of J-Bell I will list 13 things you may not know about her (Bwaaa Haaa Haaa)

1. She was my biggest baby at 8lb 13 oz.

2. She was born on her due date.

3. By the time she was born on her due date, I had been in labor a day and a half

4. She is my only baby I didn't have pitocin with.

5. She was never a good sleeper. She slept through the night at 3 weeks old, but she only took 2 30 min naps during the day. She gave those up on her own at 9 months.

6. When she was 1 1/2 and I needed a nap, I could put on the tv, put her on my bed and tell her she couldn't get off until I woke up. She didn't leave my bed, ever.

7. She was reading pretty fluently at 4.

8. She was one of my most difficult child to potty train.

9. She is not boy crazy (yet)

10. She wanted the new Barbie Christmas movie for her birthday.

11. She got a new haircut (and styling product) instead

12. She is already saving up for Drivers Ed (she knows that if she wants it at 16, she needs to pay for it)

13. Her full nickname to this day is "Jurnee Ju Ju Bumpkin Boo Boo"

B-day/christmas list

Great! Now grandma is giving me assignments. When will school end!?!?!? Well I guess this one is fun so, grandma gave me the assignment to send her my b-day wish or put it on the blog. So every one knows I'm putting it on the blog. A lot of this stuff I'm not going to get I'm positive about that. I'll get started.



1. Laptop computer. ( I don't think I'm going to get it though.)

2. Cellphone. (If I do get this I won't be able to call anyone. Why cant my mom just let me?!)

3. C.D player ( The one aunt Michelle gave me when I was 10 went bye bye )

4. The 39 Clues cards. (We have the book but need more cards )

5. I-pod.

6. Digital Camera

7. Football Cards. ( Got to beat J-Bird. )



I got my stuff down. Other than that, money will work too.

A peek inside...

We were doing family devotions the other night and we were studying Proverbs 22. We came to Proverbs 22:13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” and our study bible put this clearly that the lazy man is going to make excuses for not working.

The following conversation happened next...

J-Bird--"Ohh! J-Bell is like a sloth!"

J-Bell--"WHAT?!?!?"

J-Bird--She tries to stay in bed everyday!

J-Bell--"You want me to punch you in the head?"

J-Bird--*shaking his head...smiling* "It's just an example.... and it's true!"

Can't you just see their angel halos?

Another Update

So you know my commitment about blogging more, therefore keeping my mother from wondering if we are alive or dead? Oh, you can't tell I've made that commitment? Maybe that's because I am horrible at following through when the weather outside is anything but frightful. (and for those wondering... Yes, my mother keeps up with my life here rather than the phone. Why? Because neither one of us are horribly great at calling anyone, let alone each other!)

Ok, update time...

Strawberry season was late this year. We were able to head out to pick 4 times throughout the season and have lots of strawberries and strawberry jam in our freezer. Expensive, but I'm hoping that it will last until next summer. The kids were excited the first time we went out but quickly remembered that it isn't as fun as they think. We only do a basket a person each time we go so it is not so long picking and I have time to get them in the freezer.

We also had a family reunion of sorts. Knights side all got together at the farm and spent the day enjoying each others company. The family doesn't get together much as a group anymore and it was nice to see everyone. The kids were able to go on a hay ride. J-Bird loves playing with all the boys in the family. Most of them are around his age so he is in heaven not having to hang out with girls. J-Bell and Desti also have girls there own age so they were off exploring the farm on their own.

We also took the kids camping for the first time. We cheated slightly and borrowed my moms "cabin" (a camper set up at a resort). The kids wanted to tent it, so we brought the tent and let them sleep there, while we had the bed. They had a good time and they loved taking the kayaks out to the middle of the lake and jumping off. That was the plan to avoid the leeches (it worked).

I am aiming to start school in a couple weeks so then I will be back on schedule and hopefully blogging more regularly. Between times of cleaning, going to the pool, and kayaking I have been preparing for that.

They're Gone!!!

The girls are at camp for the week. All settled in, their beds made, and thrilled I was leaving the last time I saw them (well... the backs of their heads anyway! lol) We only have the boy. He loves being an only child once in a while.

Sew..Sew...Sew...

I just finished this years swim suits. Camp is next week so I was on a time crunch. I'm done sewing for now. Woo Hoo!!!

Knghts first post

Today was a huge blessing, I had j-bell with me on the route and we almost sold double what our goal is. She is starting to surprise me because she works so hard. We worked a twelve hour day. We have had to tighten our belts a little because of some set backs. But god is providing. These days I have been thankful just to have a job the way the economy is going. Also when I got home we played a board game and rara was so funny, we just sat and cheered after each move. I hope she gets into comedy some day. Sometimes it seems like the less we have the more fun we have.
Good night all
Knight

Fresh Starts

As the new year has started, there is a feeling of a fresh start here at home. We went back to our schedule today...school, work, chores. You know, life.

Are you thinking "Why start a new year off working?"

Are you kidding?

Knight has been barely working since the 23rd. We have had nearly 10 days off schedule. Church services have been limited since they have canceled Sunday evening and Wednesday services.

I feel as if I have been floating aimlessly.

Not a good feeling for me.

So today, J-bell looks at me and says "I can't remember where we are supposed to be in math."

I tell her to look at where she left off.

She then informs me that she has not been keeping up with my schedule.

Then I look at Desti's. She's behind too.

Same with Rara.

J-bird is the only one caught up.

So for now, we are buckling down, getting caught up on school and chores. Therefore, I am shutting off the house phone. Cell is on for emergencies. Call if you must. I am happy to be there for you in an emergency. Otherwise, please give us a week.

On another note, did you notice the change in the sidebar?

I now have all the family able to contribute to the blog. I am hoping to get the kids writing more, and Knight at times has something to share. If it doesn't "sound" like me talking, take note of who the post is by.

Happy 2008. Here's to another fresh start

Weekend update...

This last weekend was a busy one. Knight took J-Bell to her first concert. This was her birthday gift. She was able to see Monk & Neagle, Aaron Shust, and Mercy Me. She was able to bring one of her friends and they had a great time. Listening to all three of them talk, they really were entertained, but what I found interesting is that they all preferred Monk and Neagle or Aaron Shust, even though Mercy Me was the headliner.

Sunday we were able to see almost all of Knights side of the family at a birthday party for Grandma. It was amazing how the family has changed in the last 13 years I have been a part of it. We used to see most of them at least a couple times a year. Aunts, uncles, cousins. We knew the whole family. When we walked in on Sunday I had to explain who is who to J-Bell. My kids were walking up to some of the other kids there and asking questions like "Are you Andie?" These are people that they spent a lot of time with in their young life, but in the last maybe 4 years the family has really sort of split up, as far as we are concerned. I know that the ones who live in town seem to see each other often, but since we are up in our corner of the world, we really have lost a lot of contact with everyone. It's really sad, and I hope that we can change that.

In all honesty, I feel bad for Knight. He grew up with all his family around. His cousins were like brothers to him. He stayed with his grandparents a lot. It was a very close family. I didn't have that. If my cousins passed me on the street, I would not recognize them with the exception of the 4 that Knight was close to. I seriously don't have a desire for family outside of my parents, sisters (and their families) and grandparents. That is plenty of family for me. But Knight...he misses how the family used to be. And it makes him sad to see what it has become.

Oh well, guess that's life.

I was helping a friend go through her garage because she is moving :-( we stumbled across a box with her high school mementos in it. There were medals, ribbons, and a big "C" for a letter jacket for the name of her high school. Because her name is Keri, J-Bell asked if the letter was to put her initials on the jacket (home schooled kids are so blissfully unaware of how schools work). J-bird, overhearing the question, rolled his eyes and dramatically proved that it couldn't possibly be for her initials.
"Nooo. Her name is MMMMMrs PPP___!"
Should I look at this as a positive that he knows is letter sounds?

I gave J-Bell a hair cut yesterday. She likes it short so we thought we'd share. These are the many faces of J-Bell. The bottom left picture is her most common face if she gets her way. We are off to enjoy Saturday with my mom. Yeah!