Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! We plan to go trick or treating for a little bit and then come home to give out candy. It's raining now but I hope it stops or else we aren't going anywhere.

Happy Birthday Preston! This is from bath time last night. I have no idea why I took his pants off over his shoes.

Happy Birthday Lillian! She loves her baby doll, Kitty!

Happy Birthday Ashley

I know this is a day late but it would have been hard for me to write yesterday. My mom asked me if I did anything special for Ashley's birthday? I thought to myself no we celebrated last week in Texas (cake, presents, family & friends). I think that I didn't want to make a big deal of the day because it is so hard for me to realize my first born, my baby girl, my everything, is 14. I am so grateful that she forgives me for not making a big deal about it. Today though I went and bought her a bunch of make up and tried to buy her forgiveness. I had plans to decorate her room, get her a cake and sing happy birthday but I was selfish and did none of this. We did tell her happy birthday we didn't totally think it was just another day.
Thank you Ashley for forgiving your mother for being so selfish..... I love you!

Calling all bloggers

I have found some really interesting blogs by the comments the authors have left for me. I am encouraging you to leave a comment so I can read all about YOU. If you don't have a blog well that's ok keep on reading this one. I love blogging and reading what other's have to blog about. The blogging world really is a small one.

Bottle brigade

Before we left for our trip the babies were only taking a bottle at night. Well that all changed when we were on the airplane, Lily got sick and well I didn't stick with it. So while we were in Texas I caved because...........it's so easy.
So I am back on the bottle band wagon and trying to only do bottle at night. The rest of the time it's sippy cup with formula/milk in their high chair during meals. I don't want the babies to associate whole milk with bottle so I probably won't get rid of the bottle totally until we do all milk. Every thing else as far as meals is great. They are on complete table food. Preston still refuses to feed him self. Lily does great but Preston will just look at his food and push it around. I have seen him feed himself so I am sure that he can do it. He is just a lazy boy I guess.

Fall fun

We took the kids to the park yesterday in hopes to get a decent family photo. I wanted something with some fall colors in the back ground. I know with 3 kids taking a decent family photo is asking ALOT. We pulled it off though. Even though the babies aren't exactly looking at the camera and smiling and our eyes are practically closed because the sun is so bright, I don't care. I uploaded my pic to Costco and will have a new family pic for my wall. Next......... Christmas cards, those are always fun! I want to wait until we get some snow on the ground.

Some more of the park.... the toys were under construction.

This would be our back yard. Just picture it in a few months covered with snow.

Birthday party

It's cake time! Lily is such a girl.

You want me to eat this?

ok maybe just a nibble

that's all the mess she made.

You can tell this boy can't wait to sink his teeth into some cake

oh boy

kind of squishy

I think I will just dig in if you don't mind

yummy..... all done

Ashley's turn. She isn't as messy as Preston.

All cleaned up for presents
what do we have here
Just what I have always wanted

tired boy

love the outfit Ash

tired birthday princess
Why do we torture ourselves like this? Next time we will get a picture at the beginning of the party. All 8 of the great grand kids.

Another year has come and gone. I can't believe my Ash is 14. The babies yea I can believe they are 1 but Ash 14 where did 14 years go? I don't even feel that old. In a year she will be in high school, then a few years she will be driving, then off to college. Tear!

Safely home

**note** this post was written and saved Wed night. I am just now getting around to finishing it. As we landed in St John's today I thought to myself how much I already miss Texas but I am so glad to be able to sleep in my own bed and get back to normal. We were supposed to fly in last night but since the rain, fog and wind was really bad they cancelled the flight. So off we went with our babies, teenager and a cat to the local hotel. I kind of expected that the flight would be cancelled since we had a perfect check in with 2 hours to spare. That never happens. We sailed through security got Kiki all checked in and had 2 hours to eat and let the babies play while we waited to board. We did have one snag in Houston earlier in the day. Between Aaron , Ashley and I we only had 3 bags. Since we do not want to carry too many bags we stuffed as much as we could into 3 large bags. They were all over weight so I ended up buying an additional bag to off load some of the weight. The ticket agent said its better to have 2 small bags per person than 1 big bag. Obviously he has never travelled with 2 babies, 1 teenager, 1 cat............and a partridge in a pear tree.
While we were in Houston we went to the pumpkin patch, the zoo and had a birthday party for all the kids. We also got to see most of the family and I got to spend quality time with my girlfriends. I am so thankful that this trip was planned when it was. Being there with my dad meant the world to me. He is feeling alot better and is now at home. He has been ordered to walk every few hours and rest. I am sure just being out of the hospital is a load off his shoulders since he hates them anyway. He has a long road to recovery but I don't have any doubt that this is his second chance and he will do what he needs to do to lead a healthier life.
We have alot of pictures but I am going to post some of my favorites.



After our playgroup at Jenn's on Wed we went to eat then, to the local pumpkin patch. I love all these pictures.

Excuse me Lily, mommy said to sit while she takes a picture!

Lily's new booger face
Love, love love this one!

Hey Preston stop eyeballing my pumpkin

Such a beautiful young lady

Jakob my nephew

Katharine my niece

Sunday at my sister's cooking some steaks and hanging out.

My brother multi tasking

Kids birthday party. Ashley 14, Preston and Lily 1

Nana and Preston

Mama Jean and preston

Jakob, William and Katharine playing with their puppets.

Jenn helping Kiera with her crown.

My grandma with the babies

Aaron's grandparents with the babies

My brother with Preston

Nana and Lily

Mama Jean, Nana and Lily

We are all unpacked and settling back into life. It snowed alot yesterday but didn't stick. It was really pretty blowing around in the sky. Sort of like you see in the movies.

I am going to post the birthday pics in a different post.

Such a great time

I seriously am worn out today but my husband has been so sweet and uploaded all of our pictures from the birthday weekend and the zoo today. I will post more details when we get home. We have had an awesome time in Texas!

Zoo pictures

Birthday pictures

You must look at all the pictures especially from the birthday, they are hilarious!

Let me know if you looked at them and what you thought.

Texas pictures

You can see our pictures here.

You may notice in a few that there are life flight pictures. That is because on our way to my brother's on Saturday Tasha and I noticed a helicopter flying over and she said it looked like it landed on her house. Actually it landed right behind it. We still aren't sure what happened but do know it involved a child.

Dad is doing very well. He is off the vent and they took out the balloon pump. He is also able to talk. Tomorrow they will sit him up and start to walk him around. I am so amazed at his strength.

We are going to visit him tomorrow. We are also going to TARGET, Party City, and Babies R Us. I can not wait to go to Target. Seriously I can't believe I haven't been yet. Would it be weird to take pics for my Canadian friends, lol!!!

Texas Tornados

I have felt like a tornado since we rolled into town. We had a great flight on Friday. The babies slept on our first flight then just played and we walked them up and down the aisle for the second flight. Even a few of the flight attendants held them. When we got to Houston I dropped Aaron at his office by the airport and headed to the hospital. My dad was so happy to see us. He looked great and said he felt well. We stayed for about 4 hours before our 2 hour car ride to our side of town. **NOTE**
This car ride should usually take 30 to 45 mins without traffic.
We got to our side of town and settled in for the night. We had a long day.
Saturday we went to my brother and sister in law's house. Aaron stayed there with the kids and my brother while sil and I went to a baby shower. We all met back up at our favorite mexican restaurant. Del Pueblo. Oh how I missed a fried avocado and a margarita!
Sunday we went to watch my brother play at church. He is on the worship team and every Sunday is like a concert. We wrapped up the afternoon with a trip to Costco all kids in tow. We all went back to my sister's for some steaks and potatoes. It was a nice day ending with a nice relaxing night at home my sister's.
Monday we went to the mall for a play date with the kids, mine and my sil with her 2. We met up with another friend who has 1. After the play date we went shopping. Can I just brag how awesomely good all the kids were. I looked at the clock at it was 12:30 so we went to eat. Once we rearranged the tables, got 3 high chairs and went to 3 different places to get food we sat down to eat. We decided the kids were still being really good so why leave. We ended up shopping until 4 pm! So yea from 10 am to 4 pm we were at the mall with 1 teenager and 4 kids under 5 and we all survived. WHOOO HOOO!!
Today was my dad's open heart surgery. They did a by pass on one vessel but could not do the other 2 due to the nature of them. They were calcified and that made the Dr think that he has had a heart attack in the past probably years ago without even noticing. He did very very well. My mom went in to see him after he got out of surgery and he opened his eyes at the sound of her voice. Last news I heard he was off the ventilator and breathing on his own. We are so lucky to have such a close family. I am so glad we were all there at the hospital and he knew there was a waiting room full of people waiting for him to get better. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.
Even in Texas this family is full of adventures.
Until our next one take care.
Pictures coming as soon as my husband goes through them.

Dad update

The past few days have been hard to deal with but I talk to my dad everyday and he is sounding better. I am sure I do not have to tell you how hard it is being so far away. When the Dr goes in to his room once or twice then my mom has to relay the information to me it gets confusing. So far I do know that he has blockage in 2 artery's, 1 at 80% and 1 at 100%. He also has a growth on his heart located close to a valve that they are really concerned about. I was lucky to have spoken to my mom yesterday while the nurse was in the room so I got to hear what she was saying as well.
They are scheduling surgery for Monday. At that time they will clear the blockage and remove the mass. I am not sure if clearing the blockage is the right term. He is having a double bypass. Once again sounds scary but they do it all the time, right?
Now last night I had my daughter hat off and my business hat on and it got me thinking. He doesn't have health insurance, can they not do the surgery? I have been told, NO! Since he is there they have to treat him. There was talk of him being discharged to go home then come back but he isn't doing that anymore because it might be hard to get him back in because of the health insurance thing. Another thing I was talking to my sister about is having a power of attorney type thing so that the Dr can call me to discuss treatment, tests and results or whatever else. My mom is in no position to understand everything they are throwing at her. So this morning I printed off some forms for me and my siblings to fill out so my mom can just concentrate on being by his side. I guess people never think abut things like this unless they HAVE to. I will be so happy tomorrow when we get to the hospital so me, my brother and sister can all sit and speak with the Dr and figure this all out. I called to get an appt for a consult with the Dr but since he does surgery most of the day the nurse said it would be best just to page him once we get there. Joy it could take hours, but hey it has to be done. My mom has also filled out financial assistance paperwork and I have advised her to meet with a social worker to see if there is a hospital that will maybe do the surgery as a case study type thing.
Sorry for the ramble. It helps me to get my thoughts out. I am sure I will look back on this post just like I do the other one's so I can reminisce. I do that all the time, look back on this day but a year ago and see what I was blogging about.

ok take care and thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

39 degrees

It is 39 degrees outside. Oh my. I just opened the door & got greeted by a freezing cold breeze. I think we will be staying home today. I can't wait to wear shorts, flip flops and short sleeve shirts when we go to Texas. Although I think I am going to have a hard time getting used to the cold when we return. I think the temp there is around 90 (29 c).
I also added some more stuff to the scrapbook album.

Back to packing while the babies are napping playing in bed.

Please pray for my daddy

I am asking that you pray for my dad. He was taken to the hospital with congestive heart failure and tests show he had a heart attack in the past week. He is ok now and I am ok NOW! Today was rough though being 3,000 miles from the nearest family member doesn't help. He is stable and on oxygen and breathing treatments. He has high blood pressure, age 61 and a smoker. I am hoping and praying he will come out of this and it will encourage him to change his lifestyle.
Thank god we have plans to fly home on Friday. I love you daddy hang in there.

love to all Staci

new pictures and videos

Look mom no hands!!! Your right mom the colors ARE pretty!
Whoa mom could you be any closer!!!
Such a big boy in his big boy car seat. They are still rear facing don't worry.
Does this seat smell funny?
Ummm so where are we going?

Since I am having a heck of a time with videos......again, you need to click the link below.

Preston's video

Lily's video