Jason REALLY has his hands full!!

Jason: "Hey Gabriella-- in 2 minutes we will read 1 new library book and then head
to bed"
Gabriella: But it is really special and I love reading with you at nightime....

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Jason: Hey Gabriella did mommy call and order the pizza
Gab: No
Jason: I heard her on the phone are you sure
Gab: Well she was asking if they have had dinner and what they were doing afterward--That doesn't sound like the pizza man ----DOES IT!

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Our Trip to Ne-Ne and Mi-mi's

I took Gabriella out of school on Friday and the girls and I headed to NC at 5:30am. My master plan of the girls sleeping was quickly foiled by Aubrey. We had a good trip down ......well until the portable DVD player that we were borrowing stopped working 15 minutes into Matilda! Because we had so much time to talk on our trip, Gabriella was asking me about Tuesday. If you read my facebook you know that we have "No T.V. Tuesdays" Gabriella asks me what will happen at Aunt Jeni's on Tuesday. Then she answers her own question. "I think that Aunt Jeni will want to have no TV because, well, you know, she will just want us to play together."
We made it safe and sound to Jeni's (Ne-Ne's) Once we got out of the car it was time to play outside for a while. Gabriella found Katey's roller skates in the garage. Guess what Gabriella wants? Roller skates!!! So we have added going roller skating to our list of things to do.
Aubrey decided that Mom and Jeni would have to work for her trust. She has been quite a mommy's girl. She will however, wave to Uncle Mike and Peri every time she sees them. Jeni has been working hard trying to get Aubrey to talk. I guess she did not appreciate her non stop uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh or loud MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA. So Jeni is getting her to say Mi-Mi for Grammy. Ne-Ne for Jeni. Now Aubrey could say Hi-- and she likes to as she waves. But her down south Auntie decided to teach her to say "Hi ya'll" in her best southern accent and she does. It has to be the cutest sound I have ever heard.
We got to have lunch with Kat, Trevor and Alex on Saturday. It was great to visit and to hear all about Trevor's 1 yr trip in Japan.
On Sunday we all went to Mom's church and then went to eat. The plan was to come home and rest then go roller skating. With all the kids very excited we pulled in to find not ONE parking spot. This roller rink was BUSY!! We decided to put it off til Tuesday.

Before the trip Gabriella had 1 plan and 1 plan only--To visit Monkey Joe's. Her favorite place in North Carolina. Thankfully it was not busy. We had a great time climbing and sliding. We thought that Aubrey would because she is such a climber. The last 10 minutes the only people in the whole place were us!

Gabriella had her first experience at roller skating. It was a special night for a high school and there were teens EVERYWHERE! Gabriella really believes that they are her peers. She was very cautious at first--only holding my hand if there were no teens watching. Then she saw so many people falling that she finally decided it was okay to be slower. We had a wonderful time and made some great memories!!Gabriella hanging out at Monkey Joe's

Katey and Aubrey on the big slide!

Seth on a slide

Mike demonstrating the nutritional importance of the visit!

Those heart warming moments

Gabriella has to read each night for homework and the other night she chose 2 "mushy" books
The first was "I'll Love you Forever'-- you know the book about the lady that crawls into her childs room and sings the song....I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be. Well then we read "God gave us you". This book is about a polar bear family that expains how baby was a blessing from God. Gabriella looks up at me and asks if I would adopt her. I quickly explain how I don't have to but would want her if she were not given to us from God. Then she looks at me and you could tell she was forming her next question.......
And she looks me in the eyes and says "Is that a zit on your chin?"
These are the special moments I live for:)

busy Busy girl

WOW have things been busy around here!!! Jason and I started working on the tile backsplash for the kitchen. Gabriella turned 6 and we gave her a new room for her birthday. I think pictures are best for all that has happened around here.

Gabriella giving her sister a bath because I have really been that busy:) Here is the kitchen before the new color and the new countertops

2009 April-Dec

UPDATES STARTING WITH LAKE NORMAN

LAKE NORMAN

2009 Summer was fun. Swimming and playing outside. We went to lake Norman with Erin and Puff, Jay and Kathy, Mike and Jen and mom was able to come for a couple of days also!

WE LOVED THE LAKE! The house was fantastic and the boat was a blast. I may have gotten on Jason a "few" times for not looking where he was driving but no more than any other loving wife might do. We ate way to much and the kids got their Christmas in July. Kathy always gets the kids stuff to play with. We jumped off the dock, learned to ski and went down Mr. Marvins slide. The kids ALL slept downstairs and it was a near perfect vacation. Told you we were blessed!

Jason has been keeping busy at work. We taught the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class at church and have tried to keep it up. BLESSED

Brody and Gabriella started kindergarten. That means I no longer watch Brody--it was sad to see him off but it is only til summer. Gabriella likes is pretty well. She is very quiet and doesn't really talk to the other kids-- even though we have pushed her to. So we stopped pushing and talking about it and life is better. BLESSED

Aubrey turned 1:) She is a happy, busy girl and a pleasure to be around. Monkey is a good nickname for her but we call her "bob". She climbs on everything and has no fear. BLESSED

The treehouse and zip strip.

We have spent a good amount of time at Jay and Kathy's house helping build the large treehouse and hook up the zip strip. The kids love it!! The boys spent the night first followed by the girls. The smores were the best part (and going pee in the coffee can) sleeping outside went better that I thought it would with Mamaw. Are you kidding me-- did you have this SUPER BLESSED

Home Improvements:--

The kitchen is the big project. We are blessed with the large kitchen but that means A LOT of cabinents. And trust me I know-- I sanded each of them 14 times. The backsplash was purchased with birthday money and the countertops will be next. I will post the before and afters

So now it is me and the girls at home. We take Gabriella to school and have fun awaiting her arrival home. I am volunteering and helping with the parties. This was my plan when I wanted to be a mom. Lots of quality time and helping out at school.
Health kids, a hard working, loving husband, warm house and saved by grace through faith.

Can't wait to see what 2010 holds for us

Here are some misc pictures-- Shannon with the very expensive fruit basket from jason

Gabriella as Gabriella HSM for Halloween gabriella, Kyra and harley as Angels

The guilt has set in....

I have gotten a lot of slack for not updating my blog since April. This one is going to be short. We just had a great Christmas with the family. Jeni and the kids were able to come early and Mike and mom followed along on the 22nd. We had a great visit and things were BUSY BUSY BUSY! I will go back and fill in the last 8 months-- you know Aubrey's 1st birthday, vacations, summer and oh yeah gabriella started school!
But for now you get Christmas highlights!
1. Cookies-- many cookies
2. Notes to and from Santa - making sure to tell gabriella that it is okay to listen to her mom and dad and what a great big sister she is
3. Christmas Survivor/Amazing race-- jason's mom created a day of Fun - Dang boys won
4. Grandmas rolls, corn, green beans, shrimp and yes more cookies-- snickerdoodles
5. Aubrey not sleeping- Jeni has a picture of her up at 11pm on Christmas eve
6. favorite gifts- connect 4, Leapster, baby dolls and all that goes with them, guitar-- and yes the "girls just wanna have fun" song will get stuck in your head

Overall it was fantastic. Going into the new year I will not bore you with my plans to blog weekly or update monthly-- Let's not set ourselves up for failure.
Here is what you need to know

We are happy
We are crazy
We are silly
We are loving
We are safe
We are well fed
We are warm
We are healthy
We are blessed!

Things are going pretty good. Shannon just got back from Las Vegas for Arbonne and daddy was busy. Aubrey is 8 months old and going to be crawling soon. I just had Gabriella's school forms filled out at the doctor--can you believe it!! Jason is staying busy and so am I. We are looking forward to the summer and playing outside, getting our garden started and the pool of course.

Here are the latest pictures--the ones of us all dressed up are at Easter and the others are tonight 4/23/09. Hope all is well. Love Shannon