Rain Play

With Hurricane Irene making her way into

Massachusetts today, even down graded 

to a tropical storm she is dumping a lot of rain

on us.

The kids asked if they could go out and play in the rain.

Of course I thought no that is not going to happen.

They convinced me by showing me all the other kids outside

 not being swept away in the winds. 

So play clothes on, towels ready for later and cameras in hand

we went outside. 

You know sometimes in life you really do just have 

to go with the flow.

Even if that flow is a tropical storm. 

Here are some of the pictures of the kids playing out in the rain.

Even though I didn't get a picture of myself out in the rain

I think I surprised my kids by actually getting out

and playing in the rain. 

It was a lot of fun and made baby Hulk extremely tired.

He is napping now.

Splash Pad

The base pool here just finished installing

the splash pad behind our pool.

I am happy about this because the "huge" pool

scares Ninja and he all but refuses to swim.

However everyday he wants to get wet.

So I normally end up with my back porch soaked from the water hose.

Yesterday we headed down to the new splash pad

with my MIL who is here to get Rosie and Ninja

for a few weeks.

Of course I forgot my camera in all the hustle and bustle 

to get us there.

So here are my phone pictures once again...

The best part of it all was that other than a friend

of mine and her 2 children there was no one else there.

We stayed for about an hour and a half then came home.

I think I will go back often with little Hulk.

Lazy Days of Summer

I feel as though I have been a bad blogger.

With summer here and the kids needing to be 

entertained all day I have been busy.

I can't really say we have done anything extraordinary

but we have been busy nonetheless...

trips to the park

long walks

playing with friends

water fun

trips to Chuck E Cheese

playing in the dirt

None of course I have had my camera for.

I did happen to have my cell phone with me for a few

so for your enjoyment not so good

cell phone pictures....

Enjoy!

I pinky promise swear I will do something great this week

and will have decent pictures to post of it.

Although on Wednesday my MIL 

is coming to kidnap my children for a month. 

Rosie, Ninja and my MIL will fly back to GA on Friday

and then it will be just me, the hubby and the not so baby Hulk.

Giving me more time for craft projects and some home organizing. 

Have a great Monday!

Summer Vacation- flashback Friday

has officially started now.

Last Friday was Rosie and Ninja's last days of school. 

Rosie is now a big 1st grader and Ninja will still be a preschooler

for another year.

Yesterday was Carter's last day of 4th grade. 

She is officially a 5th grader. 

When did all this happen?

I swear Carter just went off the kindergarten...

and now she is a 5th grader?

DON'T BLINK... I repeat DON'T BLINK

or your babies will grow up in that second.

It seems like just yesterday Rosie graduated Pre-school...

 and here she is on her last day as a Kindergartener.

This transformation is just in 1 year! :(

We had to go back to get one of Rosie with her other teacher...

Let's not even get me started about MY boys.

Ninja I swear was just born or at the very least still running around in 

his underwear playing.

(yes this is Ninja and not baby Hulk)

Here he is with his preschool teacher after his "graduation"

I just want to say that we have been very lucky 

with teachers this year.

With 3 out of my 4 in school this year I felt very blessed

to have such great teachers.

These women are an excellent example of how inspirational 

teachers can be in a child's life. 

I will forever be grateful to them for all their hard work 

and dedication they showed towards the children in their classes. 

And just so not to not include MY BABY who will

probably never go to school now....

Here is "baby" Hulk

Here is to a lot of summer fun and memories to be made.

We have already begun with a few sprinkler fun filled afternoons,

smores in the evenings, picnics in the park and now visits from Ma.

(my mom)

Hope you all are having a great summer as well!

So far...

Oh Happy Day...

Or at least that's what my kids tell me. 28 years ago today I was born, ok so that is a good thing. But at some point don't women stop aging? HAHA I know normally it's after they are in their at the very least 30's maybe 40's. Well, for me it was 25. For my 25th birthday I was living on an exotic island, ok well Okinawa in Japan but still exotic enough. So I am always going to be 25 and on the beaches of Okinawa in spirit for my birthday. But since you are suppose to have birthday cake on your birthday whether you want it or not here is my wish cake. It's all the cake I need this year. Looks beautiful and I bet it even taste wonderful. Best thing about it is I wont gain 5 pounds eating it.



So Happy Birthday to me and anyone else who may be celebrating this weekend!

A little bit of this and that...

So Friday night was a test for me. Letting the kiddos stay up past bedtime to see Mackenzie come home. She has been gone for 7 weeks for her summer visitation and then an additional 2 weeks to visit with her grandparents (my MIL and Grandmother). It had been 10 weeks since the kids had all been together and man were they ever ready. I kept telling them, " I don't know why you are SO excited it will only be a day or so before you guys are fighting like you always are". Sibling rivalry gotta love it right? Well, here is the picture I snapped as Mackenzie walked in the door and was bombarded by Madison and Nealon, poor Elliot didn't make it to see sissy when she got home late Friday night.



So, next day after the hype of Sissy coming home was semi-over we went over to the outlet mall to do some back to school shopping with my mom. It was tax-free weekend in Alabama last week. YAY! It was WAY to hot to be out shopping for fall clothes. I mean really who even wants to try on long sleeves when it's 98 degrees out? Oh, how I used to love 98 Degrees, Nick Lachey was and still is so hot! Sorry way off topic. So we sweated out butts off and try to keep from having some serious meltdowns with four kid who were becoming more and more cranky by the second. Overall it was a productive day. Here are a few of the back-to-school outfits. Only 13 more days until school starts back.... Happy Dance! :)










After we left the outlet mall we went to eat at Lambert's. Home of the thrown rolls! I love that place, even if there is always at least a 45 minute wait. It's the only place Joey will wait to eat at. If you've never been to one and live close to one you should go for sure!

Picnic, a Childhood Idol and Cheetos

I took the kids to the Sunset at Plaza De Luna again tonight. This time however I did actually bring our dinner to eat before we played and got soaked. While we were eating Madison decided that I left some of the crust on her sandwich and preceded to throw it out into the grass close by where we were eating all nice. Bread on ground + birds everywhere = Mommy running for the hills. Leaving the kids sitting there surrounded by birds. I DO NOT do birds. Always disliked them and being attacked by a crow a few years ago just hasn't helped the situation. Didn't get that picture since I of course left the camera on the blanket by the kiddos. Did however manage to get a few of the kiddos actually sitting still long enough to seat a few bites.




So as with all the other Thursday nights out there they had a character walking around giving out high fives to all the kids and just being all great. Well, if you have a boy or well I'm sure girl too around 2 and up then Toy Story is a big deal in your house. Well, Toy Story is a big deal around our house too, like Buzz and Woody took out Spiderman like a champ. I mean we watch Toy Story 1 and 2 on a daily basis. Well, the character tonight was the one and only Buzz Lightyear! You would think my 3 year old would be jumping for joy ready to go nuts at the first site of him. Ummm, nope. He was hiding behind me like a chicken. he kept peeking around my legs to see him but dared him to come any closer. So here is my only shot of Buzz. Well, take that back Madison had no problem going up to him and telling him he lost weight since in the movie he was fatter. :) Gotta love kids right!





So after dinner and Nealon's fear of Buzz once he left for the night the kiddos took off to chase birds, run through water and just plain wear themselves out for me! YAY!!! Elliot was crawling around trying to figure out what this green stuff is his Mommy put him into. Our grass at home is horrible so he doesn't get down in it at all. Although that's gonna be a lot harder to keep him from now. He loved crawling everywhere and stopping and running his hands over the blades of grass. He did stop long enough to eat a few bites of his Chicken Noodle dinner and try a yummy new food. He grabbed a Cheetos from me as I handed one to Nealon. before I could barely blink and take it back he had it in his mouth and well the rest is history. He's a Cheetos loving baby!





Well, hope you enjoyed our night. I know the kids did and I sure am enjoying the peace and quiet that is going on now that they are all asleep without getting up 10 times for a drink, bathroom or whatever excuse they can come up with. Night Night all I'm going to go start another book series!

August oh August...

how I love thee... SO many good things happen in August. I mean the list goes on and on but for now here are a few of my favorite things about August...

1. School starts back. Now as a kid this was a horrible thing about August but as a parent oh Happy Day!!!

2. This should have been number 1 on the list but well, sorry babe I need my sanity as much as I need you home. Anyhow, my hubby comes home this month. He will have been gone for 2 months when he gets home mid-month!

3. Back to school shopping. Ok, well I really love to shop but I do hate to have to spend SO much money doing it. Lucky for me we have an awesome outlet mall not far from us and next weekend is the Tax-Free holiday for Alabama! YAY!!!

4. Summer is almost over. I hate hate hate the heat. See blog about how much I hate the heat and am very ready for the FALL and some cooler weather.

5. Birthdays and Anniversary's galore too. I mean I have a big family so there is a birthday or anniversary EVERY month but August is extra special since it's my birthday month. Hello Mrs Virgo and Peridot birthstone and the green stone is wonderful with my red hair. Aside from my birthday is my twin sisters birthday, my nephew's 1st birthday, my besties birthday and then my mom and dad's anniversary.

6. Did I mention school starts back!!! On a side note with school starting back 2 of my kids will be in school this year Kenzie goes into 4th grade and Madison is going into Kindergarten. Be prepared at the end of the month for that tear filled blog.

Hidden Treasure

Well not really a hidden treasure it's been there all along. Every Thursday night at Plaza De Luna they have music, character of the week and a water splash pad. I've heard about the sunsets at Plaza De Luna before but have never ventured down there until last night. Why have I never gone down here before? Seriously, I mean the kids played in the water from 500 until 730 and wore themselves out. From what some of the other smart parents out there were telling me the splash pad is open most days just different times. From now on until the season ends in late September you will catch me and my family down at Plaza De Luna on Thursday evenings. Next time I'll bring their dinner and actually use our blanket and listen to the music, meet the character and play in the water. Here are a few shots of the kiddos enjoying the water.

Sister Sister...

Brings you back right? Man did I love TGIF when I was a youngin. HAHA Anyway, so my sister was here for a couple weeks a few weeks ago. She's 13 going on like 25 and I mean that in all sense of the word. Like I had to almost take out a couple Sailors. Kathryn is one of my younger twin sisters. Her twin Jacquelyn backed out on me last minute. It's ok though, one day she'll come stay with me. So yeah trying to keep a teenager busy is hard work. I mean I am mostly happy to just lounge around my house making sure that everything stays clean... who am I kidding, no I'm not but there's nothing to do in Pensacola. Anyway, one day we did manage to attempt the beaches, which were not horrible but still we both have oil stains on our bikini's. We're waiting on those new bikini's BP. But nevertheless I did take her to according to her, her first water park. YAY!!! I love them well mostly I hate some of those super high scary rides. So we had a blast and Elliot had a blast and Joey even had some fun too even though he secretly only wanted to go for the go-carts that we couldn't figure out how to get to. We know now so next time watch out, that's where he'll be. Elliot loved splashing Aunt Katie in the water and well he didn't like it too much when she took him under the waterfall mushroom thing. So yeah all in all it was blast to have her visit me for those two week.s Nothing like remembering that not only am I a Mama to 4 kiddos but I'm still a big sister who can give out that one of a kind sisterly advice a teenager needs. I love you Katie. :)


Katie and Elliot at the beach.

Me and Katie waiting in line for a water slide.

Daddy and Elliot playing in the kiddie area

I cant take this heat...

Puh-lease can someone get me the heck out of this heat. I am not an outdoorsy person and this heat is not helping at all. I cant stand to be sweaty and sticky. I am one of those I'd rather be cold and put on enough clothes to get warm than heat to death. You can never take off enough clothes to cool off unless we have become a nation of nudists and in that case I'm moving to another country since there are a lot of people I do not ever want to see with no clothes on. If I could just get somewhere that the temperature is around 65 all year long well with the exception of the winter when bring it on I want the snow. I love the snow!! I would be a happy woman. But for now I am stuck here in Florida home of the HEAT WAVE and its not getting any better anytime soon. Bring on the fall and hopefully bring it on in an whole other state! PCS orders anytime please!!! Fingers and toes crossed.

Water Babies and Fireworks

Last weekend I went to pick up Madison and Nealon from their visit with Granny and Papa. They learned how to swim very well during their stay there. Madison can swim without swimmies now and Nealon can get all over the pool with his swimmies on. Here are a couple pictures of the kids in the pool.




Also, while in Georgia we went to watch the 4th of July fireworks in Lake Park with Maumau, Ma and Papa Cajun. The fireworks were great. Madison and Elliot loved them. Nealon on the other hand got into his car seat covered his ears with his hands and hid under his blanket and fell asleep. Surprisingly Elliot loved the fireworks. He sat in Maumau's arms and just watched all the lights in the sky. He was probably trying to figure out what Mommy put into his bottle. :)

The ruined sands...

So the other day we decided to take a stroll to the beach to see the damage done by the oil spill. Sad to say that there was oil on the shores and pooling in the waters in Orange Beach. As sad as it was Elliot still wanted down to play in the sand. So here are a few very sad pictures of the oil and then one of a very happy little boy playing in the sand. Well, until he took a face plant right in the sand and got very upset.

What am I thinking?

Ok so a few weeks ago I posted about it almost being bathing suit season and posted a picture of a very well toned model wearing the bathing suit I ordered from Victoria's Secret. Well, first let me say I got my suit and was surprised by the fact that without trying it on first it actually fit. I mean I liked it online, ordered the suit and it actually fit my body when it came to my house. AMAZING! Second some of you kidding I'm sure or at least didn't think I'd post a bikini shot of myself online for the world to see told me to model it and post a picture. So for your viewing pleasure or if you need to throw up here are some I took of myself in the said bikini. Mind you I could not get a very good shot of my entire body but trust me it's very pasty white and you really don't want to see that. I mean if you really feel that need I can get my 9 year old to operate the camera and get one so you can pass out from laughing or go blind from the whiteness.

Busy Busy Busy

Sorry I have been ignoring my huge total of like 7 followers but I have been super busy. In the last couple of weeks I have been out of town for my dad's 50th birthday party, soccer games galore and Thomas the Train this past weekend. So here is a short and sweet recap...


The 50th birthday cakes I made for the big party we had...



Myself and the birthday boy



My super star soccer player. They're the Fighting Flamingos!



Thomas the Train was super fun!


OH and did I mention I went to see Carrie Underwood last Wednesday... She is awesome!!!