Home Alone

I woke up at 3:30 this morning and got my family ready to go to the airport. The kids were real troopers (so excited to go to the Elmer Family Reunion that they didn't even complain about the absurd hour at which they were being awaken).

Casey said the flight with went well (how many dads would take 3 kids on a long flight alone? Or even if they are willing to do that, how many dads would assume full responsibility for those 3 kids for a whole week? I know HE'S AMAZING)

So now I'm wondering what I should do with myself for the next week. It's so weird having only Fraidy as company. I've never been without my children, and it's surprisingly lonely. Don't get me wrong, the are some absolutely wonderful things about it like

• When I set something down I know it'll be there till I move it
• Getting myself ready for church was a snap (I woke up late and still got there on time)
• When I'm doing the dishes from a meal it's super quick
• As I'm working in one room there is no fear of what is happening in the next room
• The project possibilities are endless...

But as always, along with the good comes the bad

• There was no one to greet me, with coloring pages and hugs, when I left my young women's classroom today
• The house is so quiet it's creeping me out
• The cat is kind of driving me nuts
• I haven't heard little Benny say "momma, grampy, truck" in over 12 hours
• Casey wasn't here to tell me how great I look as I got ready for church
• There is no Porter to jingle around the Lego's in the Lego bucket (IT'S JUST TOO QUIET)
• I haven't been able to catch Maya sucking her thumb
• I guess most of all I just miss seeing those cute guys...

But for now I'll just be sitting here with my legs crossed, trying to hold this baby in until daddy gets home.

Now that's one BRAVE girl!

Notice anything different about this little cutie?

Look closely...

It's something small and pink...

She got her ears pierced, and boy does she feel fancy!!!!!!

Maya's cousin Addie has been wanting her ears pierced for a while now, but Maya always said she didn't want hers done "cause it'll hurt, right mommy". I would have been happy for her to be earring free for the rest of her life, but my Aunt Rhonda came to visit this week with her 7 year old daughter, Jenna. Jenna explained the whole ear piercing process to Maya (Jenna just got hers done a few weeks ago) and it really excited Maya. So Maya has continued to ask to have hers done since Jenna left. Yesterday at 4:30 she says "Mom I really want to get my ears pierced today and surprise daddy." So off we rushed to Wal-Mart, where we were told there was only one jeweler who could do piercings so they would have to do one ear, then the other. I had visions of loud screaming, and leaving the store frustrated, with a little girl with only one earring. The jeweler did tell me that if we wait till Tuesday there would be two jewelers and they could do both at once. Maya wouldn't have any of that. After assuring me she would be brave she hopped up onto the chair, hugged her elephant and proceeded to be pierced. They pierced the first ear and she just sat the with a little smirk on her face. I was AMAZED!!! Only 5 years old and not even even a whimper. They they did the next ear, and she hasn't stopped smiling since. I keep catching her touching the ear rings and smiling this really self satisfied smile (oh and she brags about it to everyone she sees).

I haven't posted in a while...

because I haven't taken any pictures in a while. I know that is a pathetic excuse, but its true. I hate posting with out pictures. Some people are interesting enough to get away with this, but not me. In order to get some info out there with out writing a novel I'm just going to make a list of some of the events we've had in the last little while.

• I had my ultrasound and despite my measuring big, the baby is only weighing in at 6lbs 6oz. So no luck with my dreams of a super early induction. He did say he'd be willing to induce me the first week of Aug. so at least I will not go over this time:)
• We got our first zucchini out of our garden (Yummy. I love those guys)
• My mom and grandma, and aunt (plus her two girls) came up for a short visit. Although they were here for less than 24 hours we had a blast. We took the kids to a water park called Buccaneer bay and they all loved it. (here's where I really wish I had pictures)
• One of Casey's co-workers gave us an Amish Friendship Bread starter, and now we're all addicted (I don't think its from very health conscious Amish people)
• We finally got our car situation worked out with the shop that faultily repaired Casey's car (remember the burning bronco?). We were absolutely under compensated, but it's done and I'm relived.
• Porter and Maya finished their two weeks of swim lessons. They always love swimming lessons, but sometimes I wonder how those teachers do it. Maya can be quite the little stinker.
• Bennett has started saying Awesome (where did he learn that word?) along with tons of other words. His vocab. amazes me. Some of his most repeated phrases are "truck grampy backyard", "Asher hair" (his little friend Asher pulled his hair like two weeks ago, and he is unable to forgive and forget) "Stev-o truck" (yes he loves talking about trucks, and luckily he can pronounce it fairly well)
• I got all my freezer jam made. I bought 40 lbs. of strawberry's last week and between me, my sister, and my neighbor we got it all made into jam (in only two days). I amaze myself sometimes.
• Last but not least I drank two mason jars full of strawberry milkshake in one setting (I didn't intend on doing this, but I made two milkshakes, one for me and one for Casey, and when I finished mine and noticed Casey wasn't eating his (I think because I snuck a little banana in it) and I just couldn't let it go to waste). I DO NOT RECOMMEND ATTEMPTING THIS. I was miserably full after this episode of gluttony.

I'm sure now that you have seen how jam packed with excitement our summer has been you will be able to understand why I've been unable to post more frequently (OK, so I'm just lazy).