The last week and a half have been rediculously busy . . . I am hoping it isn't like this until Christmas!! We had a good Thanksgiving, we were with the McFeaters for lunch (Bailey took a 3 hour 20 minute nap there - an all time record and in a pack-n-play at that!!). Then for dinner we went to the Hostetter's. The plan was to leave the McFeaters around 2 to get Bryce home for a nap, but since Bailey was snoozing away Bryce didn't get a nap. He did pretty good but I can tell it is catching up with him, he is taking pretty good naps these day! Friday, I didn't join the nuts out there until later in the afternoon (instead we went to get our Christmas tree in the morning). I went to Staples to get a desk (which was an awesome deal) only to find out that I could have stayed at home and ordered it online b/c they ship it free regardless! Monday morning I had a dentist appointment and I took Bryce with me b/c he will have to go soon (new thing, they want to see children at age 1 or within 6 months of getting there first tooth - dumb but I held out til 2-1/2!). He did really good watching me and playing in the corner of the room! Tuesday, I had Lindsay but while she was at preschool my mom and I went to Hornings for some groceries. Shortly after we got home the desk that I ordered on Friday came, I couldn't wait to start putting it together but I had to wait til after lunch and Bryce and Bailey were napping. So that is what I did . . . Lindsay helped (I stayed up til 12:30 working on it and then continued this morning and I just finished now!). Then I made a big purchase on eBay . . . we got a Rainbow (a little less then a year old, newest model for a grand total of $540!!). Last night we went to my parents to check out Ryan's deer. Tonight we have AWANA, which I have to teach, so I must go and study!!

What a busy weekend!!!! Last Thursday night, we went to Walmart (all 4 of us) to get a new TV for in the basement. . . the family trips to Walmart always tend to be adventuresome. Bryce had to go to the bathroom twice! Which I don't understand, I take the kids by myself and he never has to go. Maybe it is b/c I usually move through Walmart at lightening speeds so that there isn't time for tantrums and such, but when you are TV shopping you have no other choice but to browse! Friday morning, a few of my friends from High School came over to visit! We had a great time, as always!! Saturday morning I made BBQ and Cheesy Potatoes and took it over to my mom's for Sunday lunch. Saturday night my parents came and stayed with the kids while Steve and I went to the wedding reception of a friend of mine that I used to work with. Sunday morning we had Baby Dedication at church (Bailey was dedicated). Ryan and Jena and Steve's parents and his sister, Sheila, and her son, Cole were there. Then afterwards, my family went back to my parents to eat the BBQ and potatoes that I made on Saturday! We had a good time. I took the kids home for a nap while Steve stayed and watched the football game with my dad and Ryan! Then in the evening I had Cantata practice at church and then met up with Steve and the kids at his parents for our usual Sunday night gathering there. This morning I did laundry and dealt with a grumpy Bryce (which is understandable considering the busyness of the weekend). Now here I am blogging and checking out eBay (I actually listed a few things this morning - I am a little nervous!!). Bailey is really stuffy again - Steve and I are thinking that she is allergic to Cooper! She cleared up the week that I had the Rainbow and now she is really stuffy again! Now we are thinking a Rainbow is in our near future and the dog may have to live outside come Spring!!! Enjoy the pictures! Bailey actually pushed that toy a few steps before falling to her knees!

My Big Girl!!

Bailey started pulling herself up at the sofa a few days ago, but this morning was the first that she had pulled herself up at her crib!!! Needless to say, I immediately lowered the crib to the lowest setting!!! She is also starting to resist naps b/c she sits up and still tries to pull herself up. So this morning we went to Walmart, got quite a few more Christmas gifts crossed off the list! The kids did really well. Bailey is sleeping soundly now, I hope it lasts - yesterday she took 3 short naps and then was ready for bed early. Tonight is AWANA at church, so early to bed isn't an option!!! Well, that is all for now, I really only wanted to post this picture!!

the end of the Rainbow

Not much exciting has happened the last few days. I had to return the Rainbow! I used it one last time yesterday. Just as I finished loading it in the back of the Escape we got a phone call from the guy who is helping us finish the basement. He called to let us know he would be here in the morning. . . So yesterday I felt so good about my clean house and today he had to saw out the old windows, so there was a layer of dust everywhere!!!! I think I got most of it but it just isn't the same as being able to see the dirt trapped in the water of the Rainbow!!! What can I say I guess I am a fan of that little machine!!!! This morning I wanted to do some Christmas shopping (my mom offer to keep the kids!!). Since it was Tuesday and I had to drop off Lindsay at preschool at 9 and then pick her up at 11:30 it really didn't leave much time. So I decided to just go to the Lebanon Valley Mall . . . I had coupons for KB Toy, so I figured they would have everything I need to get most of the kids done. Well, they didn't have a single thing on my list which consists of Rescue Heroes, Little People, and Thomas!!! So at that point I didn't have enough time to run to Walmart so I ended up stopping at Big Lots, who had some pretty good deals!!! Tonight the Wolfe's stopped by and our "men" when spotting while Ky and I visited while the kids played! It was fun, it seemed like a while since we had a chance to visit.

Mommy Brain!!!

I just need to tell you all about my day yesterday, I sometimes wonder about myself!!!! In the morning I took the kids with me into Lebanon to get my driver's lisence picture taken which went surprisingly well. Then we came home so that Bailey could get her morning nap in. Bryce and I played in the leaves, and the rest of the day progressed well. I got 4 scrapbook pages done while the kids napped and they both woke up around 3:15. We got the mail and there was a postcard from my parents, which Bryce loved! Then I decided to go to Giant for some groceries, Bryce wanted to take the postcard with, that was fine. We got our groceries, put them in the car, returned the cart and got the stroller out, then walked to Big Lots to look for more "potty stickers". They didn't have any, so we went into Eckert and got some there. We were just about back to the car when Bryce said that he lost his postcard in Giant! So I thought we would just retrace our steps in Giant to look for it. Our efforts were fruitless as we came out of the store without a postcard . . . I am hoping that the nice person who finds it puts it back in the mail! Then as we approached the car I reached into my pocket to get my keys and they weren't there!!! I then search the diaperbag, my other pockets and the stroller (I had the double, so there isn't any compartments for them to get lost in). I could not find my keys, so I thought about where they could have dropped out of my pocket with out my knowing. We went into Eckert where Bryce finished his lollipop and I had to stop to clean him up. After retracing our steps in there and at Big Lots and asking at the register of both places, I decided that I only have one more option . . . I had to call Steve. By this time it was 5:00 and Steve said he was getting ready to leave work, however, work was a jobsite an hour and 15 minutes away!!!! So he kept asking me questions as I did a once over in Giant. We were discussing who to call to come get me and the kids b/c my parents are away and his parents don't have any car seats and we only have one spare key to the Escape and it is on his keyring!!! Then it hit me, I tucked them in the stroller's sunvisor thing. So then everything was okay and we headed home. Once at home, I nursed Bailey and then put the groceries away as the kids played downstairs. On one trip back down the steps I noticed that Bailey was on her way up! Yes, that is right, my 7 and a half month old little girl was ready to come up the steps after me!! I couldn't believe it! The rest of the evening went okay, we went to the Wolfe's for dinner and I managed to dump just about the whole bottle of Ranch dressing on Bryce's plate (I just assumed that it had the top with the hole in it - I was wrong!)!! So I believe that was my day, I don't think I left anything out!!! I hope you get a good laugh out of it, I know I do!

One more thing. . .

I almost forgot to write about this one. On Sunday in church, Steve was doing the soundboard so I sat by myself near the back. Then pretty soon Kylene came and sat with me since Eric had to work. Anyway, through out the entire announcements we had to listen to the people behind us talk. They were older, both single/divorced. However, some of there comments (which we didn't need to strain to hear) were rather interesting! The church presented Pastor Doug and his family with money that was collected during the month of October, this man proceeds to say that he doesn't agree with the whole thing. The pastor has a job and get's paid to do it, just like the rest of us blah, blah, blah! Kylene and I were shocked. At the end of the service, which was over 15 minutes early b/c Pastor Doug wasn't feeling well, they said "Ah, a little over an hour, this is how it should be every week!" Again, we were shocked to hear such comments being made right in church!!!! Ky- if I missed any other good ones please include them in your comment!!

Another year gone by . . .

I am feeling old. . . 28 years to be exact! Somehow my 27th year has slipped by, I don't know where it went but it must have been a quick one!!! I had two surprises today! The first was my bracelet with the kids names on it - I guess this wasn't really a surprise, but I hadn't seen it until this morning! I woke up in a panic at 9:00!!! Cortney spent the night last night, so I went out and found her waking up on the sofa! My two kids were still asleep - though that only lasted a few more minutes. Then out to the kitchen we went to get breakfast and on the table was a little box (wrapped very nicely by the way, Jena). I debated waiting until Steve got home to open it but I couldn't stand the suspense!!! It is beautiful!!! This morning was awesome, the weather is beautiful (68 degrees), so we headed outside and Bryce and Cooper played in the leaves!!! My second surprise came when Bailey woke up from her nap, I went to get her and Oh, my, she had pulled herself up onto her knees and was hanging onto the top of the crib!! My little girl is growing up too fast! It isn't fair, she isn't even 8 months old, she isn't supposed to be doing these things yet! She crawls all over the place and plays with Bryce's toys - it seems like yesterday I was bringing her home from the hospital! And Bryce, he is just a jabber box! It is such an awesome thing to see your kids grow and accomplish things at there own pace! And how different can two siblings be, Bryce was such a laid back infant (he still is laid back for the most part) but Bailey has a bit of determination in her!!! I guess she feels that she must keep up with Bryce! My babies are growing up!! Well, I gotta go! I thought you would enjoy the picture of Bailey crawling with Cooper by her side! Enjoy!