Today is...

...eviction day.

It's really sad that it has come to this. We really don't want to put a family out on the streets. But seriously... we have been trying to get rent since OCTOBER. It has been 5 months of stress....of paperwork...of court...of broken promises... It is very annoying and very hard for us.
And it all comes down to today. The sherriffs are meeting Art at 10 and we will go from there. We're hoping it all goes down easy, but you never know.
Will update later.

Hello! I'm not sure if Blogger changed its format? I thought it was a new browser I was using make it look wonky. But now I'm in firefox and it's doing the same thing? Weird.

So... we are still here and doing well!! As you can see in the pictures, the kids have been having a ball. I'll try and do an update from last week as it's been over a week since I last posted. So sorry! It takes a little effort on my part to upload my pics onto here because it requires me using the old computer, then transferring them to the external hard drive, and then uploading them here! Not too terribly hard but just not easy :)

Last week we had beautiful weather! I had Owen outside on a blanket and he was happy. Except it was hard for him to be on his belly because the front yard has a slight incline. He liked it better propped on his belly. So much to look at, and you can see that he is listening to the birds. Very cute!! The picture of his big smile with the blue background was taken outside!

The trampoline has been very popular with the neighborhood kids! We limit them to 4 at a time usually, but I had to take a picture of the whole gang! I love the fact that kids come to our house to play. I like it much better when I can see my kids, know who they are playing with, know where they are, and listen to what they are saying. Sometimes that means we have to have annoying kids at our house but I'll accept that!!

Speaking of neighborhood kids, there are new kids that have recently moved in and they've really taken a liking to Will! We are so happy! One of them is Jordan. (There is a picture of Jordan giving Will rabbit ears). Jordan is a sweet kid. He slept over this past weekend. He gets along great with Will, and Colby too. Although he is never without his twin sister, and sometimes his older and younger brothers as well!! It's a madhouse when they are here...but again, I accept it!!

Another boy moved in up the road, and his name is Aldin. So far he doesn't go to this school, but I think he will next year. He always comes around to play with Will. I don't know why Will has always had such a hard time with friends... but it's so nice to see them show up all the time looking for him!!!

Last Friday our Girl Scouts went to Midnight Bowling. 10-12. Talk about Mommy being tired!! And Sam had stayed home sick from school on Wed and Thurs before so I wasn't sure we would go. I'm glad we did- it was a blast. I bowled, horribly of course. Sam was a great sport-- she played some games and won some prizes.

On Friday morning we also went to the Student of the Month breakfast. Sam and Sarah both got awards!!

Over the weekend, poor Owen had a fever. It was pretty high, at night, I could feel it. But all day he was okay, and then sick again at night. Only two nights. I know he is teething because I can see a little white thing on his gums trying to come through. For the most part he's handling it very well... lots of drool and gnawing on everything!! But only 2 hard nights so far. And ONLY wanting Mommy. (That's okay with me too!)

I went with my sister and Renee to register for Renee's baby shower on Saturday! How fun!! Baby stuff is so cool!! It's fun to ooh and aaah over everything. Especially the girl stuff!

I bought Owen some knit wool longies... actually, they are supposed to be shorties but they fit him as longies now. They are green and yellow striped, they are in the one picture taken on St Pat's day. They were perfect for that!! I love these... but I need to figure out how to clean them. Apparently you can put them over a diaper and they are a cover of sorts, and they keep the wetness away! I'm learning all these new things and loving it. My next thing is I want to learn to knit my own!

Notice all the green shirts on St Patty's day???

Mr. Marcy came over and told Owen "Happy name day"... I had 'forgotten' his middle name was Patrick!

So... no money for the house, so we are officially in eviction mode. It is set for next Monday at 10 am. Don't get me started on that: Art has to take the day off of work, do all the work himself quickly, and pay the police $200 to be there. This is so ridiculous!! But it will be worth it...someday!

Owen is so cute in his exersaucer! He bounces and bounces and makes all the balls shake and make noise! And he laughs!!!

Well, now he is crying so I'm going to go get him. Happy Thursday!

Happy Wednesday!!
We had a beautiful weekend this past weekend!! I can't be sure of the temps...I'm thinking 40s? But the sun was shining and it was just beautiful outside. On Saturady morning Owen, Samantha and I took a quick walk while the boys were at bowling. And then Owen and I took a LONG walk with my neighbor Barb and her little guy Aiden. We walked to the buffalo farm and back... two moms with their babies in mai teis... it was great! Long, but great.
Samantha has been babysitting, she babysit for one family on Thursday and another on Saturday. I thought maybe she'd want to save for a cell phone but apparently not!
Bowling is going well, just 2 weeks left. That's a bummer because Will really enjoys it. We do plan on signing him up for the short summer league...
Basketball is officially over. Will has one last game this weekend but since it interferes with bowling we've decided to have him not play. So aside from the 2 parties Will and Sam will most likely have, basketball is over.
Good timing too, because softball (and baseball too I'm assuming) are about to start. Samantha found out that a couple of coaches were fighting to have her on their team!! Hopefully the one that won will be a good team for Sam, we're a little nervous.
Our Girl Scouts went to the International Fair on Sunday and again had a great time! This year we represented the Bahamas!
Today we are handing in an application for Samantha to possibly be in the Maple Hill Middle School Chapter of the Junior National Honor Society!!! I am so proud of her to even be nominated for it. Let's keep our fingers crossed for her!
Will is really loving chess still... we took some books out of the library and so he's learned a few little tricks. This morning I beat him though!! (He usually beats me)
Colby is practicing to be in a Lip Sync show next week. They're doing "Rubberband Man" but he won't show me, he says it's a surprise. It feels odd not to be involved in it, but it's a great group of moms and I'm sure it will be very cute!
Samantha is staying home sick today, poor kid. She doesn't get sick often.
In just TWO WEEKS Will will turn 10 years old!! WOW!

Happy Wednesday again!

TGIFriday!!
I love Fridays... mostly because it's a day to myself... no kids to babysit, and my kids are at school! I look forward to being able to go to the Y and start my aerobics classes back up... when Owen is a little older and I have someone to watch him, of course.
Yesterday was such a nice day! Only 40 degrees, but the sun was shining. I brought Owen for a nice long walk with my friend Barb and her 2 boys. Owen was in the babyhawk and he loved it.
On Tuesday I picked up a Jolly Jumper for Owen! Bought it from a woman on Craiglist. What a bargain! $10 and he's able to jump around all the time! He loves to jump so this is perfect for him. AND- it has two rings to attach toys to, right at the perfect height for him to mouth them, but they can't fall down! Genius!
On Tuesday Colby also had an appoinment with the dentist to get sealants put on his teeth. He tried 6 months ago, but he threw up when they tried to do it. So naturally he was nervous and all worked up by the time we got there. They couldn't do it. He *woudn't even open his mouth*. He is a very stubborn boy and so I knew there was no way they would get him to open it. So we left again. Dentist called me later and said they'd rather he see a pediatric dentist, and so now I need to find one of those. OY!
The boys are testing next week for tae kwon do. Because of Art working evenings, and having about 2 weeks of us being sick, the boys are way behind and we're having to play catch up! I know we can do it, but it feels like we are always at tae kwon do now. But they are almost halway to black belts, there is a light at the end of the tunnel- and it's a great light!! :)
Samantha is definitely becoming a teen- she is *begging* us for a cell phone. Don't you know she is the ONLY kid in her class without one?? It really doesn't help that most of her friends, and even her younger cousin, has one... but we are sticking to our guns for now. It's an extra expense we just don't need. And we've seen her use her friends' phones for texting....we'd never see her again!!! Ha ha. We really are considering it but it's funny how she is changing so quickly. Six months ago she had absolutely no interest in a cell phone...(She hates talking on the phone)... but then she discovered texting!
Speaking of Samantha... I don't know if I said she was STUDENT OF THE MONTH in December? There is a breakfast next week in honor of her and the other students who got student of the month.
And also, we got a letter saying she is welcome to apply to be in the Maple Hill Middle School National Junior Honor Society!!! Woot woot! I am so proud of her! There is an application we need to fill out, and of course there's a chance she won't be chosen to be in it (they only take so many) but I am still so proud of her! I was in National Honor Society so it means a lot to me!
Still no progress on our bedroom... we're needing to get carpet and we're just so busy. I should just tell Art to get pick one up! I'm ready to have my room back together.

Have a Happy Friday! Enjoy this pre-spring weather!

MONDAY

Good evening, all!
Yesterday they said on the news that we should expect a snowstorm, possibly 8 inches of snow. But we woke up to *nada*. It did snow on and off all day though, and now it is snowing even more!! My meeting was cancelled tonight, so it was just me and Owen for a while because Sam is at a friend's house and the boys went to tae kwon do.

We are busy getting paperwork together for Art to bring to the tax guy tomorrow. I miss doing them myself, but it's better this way, with the extra house and all.

Speaking of the other house... it's March 2nd...and nothing!!! It looks like we'll be looking for new tenants soon...

Kids are well. Will is in the middle of state math testing. Hooray. He says it's easy!! Colby has an appointment tomorrow to get sealants on his teeth... wish him luck, last time he threw up when they tried to do it! So of course now he is scared...
And while we're out I may swing by my mom's house and pick up a phone to use until we get another one... Art threw the phone in the garbage! On purpose... it wasn't working anymore...it wouldn't hold a charge. Anyone know where to find a nice new cheap phone?? The answering machine still works so if you call, leave a message so we know who you are!!!

Sam is growing up... her new thing.. she's BEGGING for a cell phone. Oy.

We rented the movie "Fireproof" so we're off to watch it. Isn't that nice of Art to rent a movie *I* want to see? :)

HAGN!!!!