Just saying "Hi"

Things are busy here as usual. I have really gotten bad about updating my blog. Hopefully one of these days I'll get organized and actually have some extra time on my hands. Ha!

Here is a quick update on everyone:

Harley put in two applications at KUB (his place of employment) for two different positions that are opening up. We are waiting to hear back on those as either one would be a significant pay increase. He deserves it! He works all day and then cares for the kids while I work at night. What a great husband and Daddy! **Update: Harley has a panel interview on Monday for one position. Please pray that it goes well! :)

I am working 30 hours a week for GMAC and have been there approx. 15 months now. It works well with our schedules and I don't mind it. I'd really love to work during the day while the kids are in school and Harley is working, but for now this is what works. A friend of mine was just hired and will start next week. The referral bonus is nice, but having a good friend there is even better. :)

Havana did not get her two front teeth for Christmas but they are finally starting to come in now. I'm going to miss the gap but we took tons of pictures. Our little Havana is really growing up fast! She is doing excellent in school and is a big help at home.

Haddon keeps us on our toes. He is doing well in school, but tends to get a bit silly. He tries very hard though because he loves to get his Friday ice-cream! The big news is that he is reading!! I love listening to both he and Havana read. He's very smart and he is a wonderful big brother. He loves to hold his baby brother. We were just looking back at his baby pictures and although their faces and expressions resemble each other, they really look quite different. These are not the best comparison pictures, but this is at approx the same age.

Helene is growing up really fast too. She is my big help at home now that the oldest two are in school. She's trying to give up her naps and I'm trying to fight it. LOL! She loves going to church and Sunday School, especially to see Aria and Rebecca, her two favorite friends. She talks about them daily. It's so sweet. She's interested in everything. Currently her favorite new topic is the days of the week. She tells me every day what day it is and what tomorrow will be.

Hayley went potty on the potty for the first time just a couple of days ago! She sits willingly but had never gone before then. She likes her Princess Pull-Ups and can pull them up and down by herself. She has only gone once since then but it's a start. I'm so excited to be so close to having only one in diapers again. Hayley is very stubborn, but so cute that it's hard not to laugh when she's being ornery. She looks so much like Helene now.

Hudson is 5 months old already. He is currently on his second ear infection since November. He is on antibiotics but they're a bit rough on his tummy and I believe he is teething too. Poor baby! He is so sweet and will interupt his fussing to give Mommy a big smile. He adores his big brother and sisters as well as his Daddy. We just recently started him on rice cereal and sweet potatoes. He has tried squash and peas as well, but since his ear infection he has not had much interest in anything other than milk. He weighs just over 15 lbs.

Here are a few more recent pictures. Thanks for checking in!

Christmas

We spent Christmas at home again and it was relaxed and wonderful! We followed our Christmas tradition. After I got up and got ready I made our Christmas breakfast of strawberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, juice and coffee. Everyone got dressed while I was cooking. We all wear red on Christmas! We ate together and then gathered in the living room for the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2. We ended the reading in prayer, thanking God for sending His Son to Earth to live a sinless life, die on the cross for OUR sins, and rise again so that we may have eternal life with Him if we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour! I hope you remember what Jesus has done for us, not just on Christmas, but every day of the year. Happy Birthday Jesus!

Next we opened presents. It's such a joy to see the excitement in our children's eyes! While Daddy and the kids put things together and played, I put out lots of snacks to feast on throughout the day. We had our Christmas dinner around 4 or so. It was a wonderful day!

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in MD with my Aunt Charlene. We made god time driving and all 5 kids were GREAT! We brought lots of snacks, drinks, books, crayons, and coloring books. I'm still thrilled at how well the did!

It had been 3 years since we spent Thanksgiving with Aunt Charlene, so it was a real treat to go. We had a nice visit and dinner was wonderful!! I made all the desserts and brought them with us in a cooler. Everything was great and we ate and ate and ate! :)

Quick but funny side note: Sadie traveled with us and did just fine as well. However once we arrived we took her outside to potty. She mainly walked around checking everything out. All of a sudden she found something interesting and immediately began rolling all around it in. I was yelling to her and she just rolled and rolled. She did this once before and it had been a dead animal so I knew we were in for a not-so-nice surprise. When I got her inside she smelled horrible!! It wasn't a dead animal but something another dog had left behind. UGH!! Sadie ended her road trip with a nice bath!

The following Saturday we drove from MD to NJ to my Aunt Amy's house. My Dad's whole side of the family was there with the exception of my Dad, step-mom, brother and sister, and my cousin Beth and her family. We got to see them in MD though so that was nice. I met 3 of my cousin's husbands for the first time, and 4 of my cousin's babies for the first time. It was a wonderful reunion. I only wish everyone had been there. I miss my Dad and family a lot! Anyway, thank you to everyone who made it possible! I love you!

Here are some pictures...

My Dad's older sister Charlene...and Hudson

My Dad's younger sister Amy, my Uncle Chris and their new grandbabies, Quinntin and Brayden

My Dad's older brother Don, my Aunt Joanne, Helene, Hayley, Sadie, and my cousin's son.

The trip home took us 3-4 hours longer but everyone still did really well. Hudson was a bit fussy and when we stopped for dinner at Cracker Barrel, he had a fever of 104!! The on-call physician, and my Dad, both said to get him to the nearest ER if his fever doesn't go down within 30 minutes after Tylenol. Thankfully he fell sound asleep and the fever went away. The next day, Monday, we tok him to the pediatrician and found out he had his first ear infection. Poor baby! He seemed to feel much better even by the next day on antibiotics.

Besides the stinky dog and sick baby we had a wonderful time! We have so much to be thankful for every day. God is so good!