TWO BY TWO - Stories Page 2

Marci came yesterday for my regular Wednesday afternoon off. Papa loves Cuban food so I found a little place about 25 minutes south of here. We had a great lunch and then did some shopping and running errands. We got home around 5pm. Papa watched the babies while the rest of us met Grandpa, Memaw and Uncle Ernie in Alpharetta for dinner. We ate at a place called Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. It was so delicious and the service was wonderful. I had stuffed salmon. It had a cornbread stuffing with a shrimp and lemon butter sauce over the top served with dirty rice and green beans. We had a great time with the older kids. It was a taste of what it will be like next week at the beach. I'm SO excited. We all need a little relaxation. I was worried about getting in late with it being a school night. All the kids are in bed by 8pm Mon-Fri. I still had then down by 9:15pm. I could really tell this afternoon when Jackson got home he's exhausted. Tonight might be a 7:45pm bedtime so he can catch up. Tomorrow is his class Fall party. I am doing the read aloud which reminds me I have to go to the library and pick out a book. Oops! Kim and Don are going to watch the babies while I'm gone. I met GG this morning and handed off Gabrielle and Connor. They went to NC to visit family. GG promised to only stay ONE night so Sissy would go. She said she has to be back after one night or she wouldn't go. They will be back late tomorrow night. Brad is leaving tomorrow to go bow hunting for the weekend. I guess it will just be me with the kids! Ho-hum... I can't wait. Can you hear the sarcasm in my voice?

Brad got Jackson up and out the door for school so I could sleep in. While getting the rest of the kids ready for school Kim called. She said she had something for me and would be over in 15 minutes. Just as I was loading the kids for school she walks up with a hot Starbucks Mocha Latte in hand. What a wonderful start to my birthday. I got the kids to school and then headed to my first bible study at First Baptist Woodstock. It's a Mom's group called MomCare. Childcare is provided for the babies and the hours are perfect for picking up Gabrielle and Connor from school. I was really nervous for some reason. It all worked out and I enjoyed myself. All the ladies were very easy to talk to and the group leader, Annie, was amazing. I'll share more about her at a later time. I'm looking forward to going back. Sometimes you just have to step out of your comfort zone, right?

Last week I soaked my azaleas with an insecticide. I had some lace bugs that were driving me crazy. I decided to end the battle right then and there. The next day Brad and I were walking in the front yard when we noticed the azaleas. They were dead, crunchy and withered. He asked if I had done anything different and I told him about spraying them the day before. His face went pale and he said, "Oh no, Dacia! What did you use?" I told him I used the sprayer with the leftover from a week before. He smiled and said, "I forgot to tell you I dumped that and replaced it with Round-Up for my weeds." Well, I guess I won the war, huh? Yesterday I had to replace 11 azaleas and some mondo grass. Add in potting soil, soil conditioner and a 5 flats of pansies... it was a $330 mistake!!!! Needless to say, we not have His/Her sprayers. Brad planted 7 of the azaleas yesterday evening and I planted the rest today. I also cleaned and organized the garage. I didn't come inside until 8:15pm. My back is killing me from bending over so much. Connor and Owen (our neighbor) helped me plant the pansies. We were all covered with dirt. It was a lot of fun showing the kids worms and telling them how great they are for the soil. It's the little things that make their faces glow. I love it.

Cooper is a challenge. He's in this phase where he wants to kick, bite and hit me. He is only that way with me. It's breaking my heart. At first it made me mad but now I'm taking it personal which I know is ridiculous. I just can't help it! I'm being consistent with discipline. I know it will work itself out I just hope it's soon. Saturday before Jackson's soccer game we took the kids to eat pizza. Before we left the house I should have known it was going to be ugly. Gabrielle and Connor had been fighting like cats and dogs the entire day. She got mad at him for something and hit him over the head with her Hello Kitty purse. I hugged Connor and made her apologize. A few minutes later Connor is still sitting on the couch holding his head. I heard Jackson say, "Mommy! What's wrong with Connor's face?" I looked over and saw blood pouring down the side of Connor's face. I freaked out. It was a small gash where the lobster claw on her purse hit him square on the temple. She got in lots of trouble. Let's just leave it at that! After the boxing match we went to lunch. It was a disaster from the beginning. Memaw was with us so we had extra hands. Cooper poured his bowl of marinara sauce all over the table and then finger painted in it. He spilled my full cup of diet coke all over himself and me! Then he pitched the mother of all hissy fits right in the middle of the place complete with a throw yourself on the ground, scream as loud as you can and kick like crazy. We were so embarrassed. I picked him up like a sack of potatoes and took him to the car. I still could not tell you what brought the fit on but it finally ended in the car. Barney can fix anything, huh? We went to Jackson's soccer game after lunch. On the way there Jackson ripped the patch off his shirt. Then I noticed he had pizza and ice cream smeared all over his jersey. We looked like a bunch of nasty frazzled folks for the game. Jackson played great and even scored two goals for the other team. Isn't he nice? It was adorable watching him run. He played very hard and loved every minute of the game.

It's a sad day today. It's raining and pretty gloomy. I woke up this morning and dressed Jackson in red, white and blue. I tried to explain to him about the terrorist attacks that occurred 8 years ago. How do you explain such tragedy to a 5 year old? He asked me if people jumped out of the building. I was shocked that he could even think of that. I told him the truth. That people were so desperate that they did jump. He acted as if he understood (somewhat) and that was the end of the conversation. I remember I was at work listening to Good Morning America when the first plane hit. We rushed to the t.v. to witness the events that unfolded in front of us. I felt, like most of America, for the first time in my life that I was not safe anywhere... even in the comfort of my own home. I will be thinking of the families for the rest of the day with a heavy heart.

Last night I went to preview the pictures from last Saturday. I was surprised to find they turned out great! The group picture was just perfect. I placed an order for a big framed 16x20 to place on the wall. I also got a few wallets. I got a 10x10 of Gabrielle and Connor holding each other with their natural stoic look. I put that one in Sepia. They remind me of the old man and woman with a pitch fork. They have no expression and I love it. It is going to look great in her room. The last pose I ordered was Cooper and Brady together. Cooper is looking down, rubbing his little eye, while Brady is staring at the camera with a little mischievous grin. I guess the disaster of a day turned out to be worth it after all.

Brady and Cooper are cracking me up with their language development. Cooper wakes me up in the morning to the sound of him screaming, "Moooommmmaaa!" He tells whoever is upset at that moment, "Don't Cry... Don't cry" with his sweetest caring voice. Melts my heart. When I take my medicine in the morning he says, "I want pill. I want pill." That's when I give him his vitamin. They think they are so grown up. Brady is talking more, too. He tells me he wants "More... All Gone... All Done... Night Night... Love you." In the evening when it's time for bed I say, "Are you tired?" They jump up and say "Yeahhhh... Night Night... Love you" and then they head upstairs. It's honestly that easy. They love their cribs and the alone time they get when they are in there. I can't say that I blame them either. I wish someone would put me to bed at 7pm.

Tonight, if it doesn't get rained out, we have soccer practice. Jackson's first game is tomorrow. He's super excited and honestly so am I. I love watching him run around the field. He's aggressive and really goes after the ball. It's a great outlet for him to play. The other night before his bath he looked in the mirror and said he wanted all his hair cut off like Daddy's. He said he got too sweaty and hot with it long. It's been long for a while now so I considered the idea with a bit of sadness. I told him to ask his Daddy first. I shaved his entire head with a #4 guard. It was heart breaking to watch all those sweet blonde locks hit the ground. I have to admit it looks really cute on him. He looks more like a little boy. He came home from school yesterday so proud that he didn't get sweaty at recess since he had short hair. When I asked him what everyone thought of his new do he said, "They all said they liked it... even the girls!" Oh mercy... not yet PLEASE!

Last night Brad and I had a date night. Marci came over to watch the kids around 6pm. Brad and I left the house running! We were so ready for a break. We went to dinner at Red Lobster. It's becoming our "usual" date place. The foods good and our service is always great. We started eating in the bar area because there is no wait and we can see the games on t.v. We watched Georgia lose! We took our time eating and came back home around 8:30 or 9pm. When we drove up in the house we saw Don starting his nightly walk. He asked Marci to watch their kids so Kim could go with him. I don't know how it happened but they talked me into walking, too. For those of you who don't know our neighborhood is full of hills. Not just slopes but straight up vertical hills. It's awful and I hate walking it. So after eating Red Lobster I went for a 4.5 mile interval fat burning walk. I thought I would die. It took a little over an hour but I survived it.

We had a Braves game today at 1:30pm. Marci watched the kids while we went with some friends to the game. It was a lot of fun although they did lose. We got home around 6:15pm. The kids were playing outside when we came home. After Marci left we stayed outside for an hour playing baseball with the kids. We all had a really good time. Brad was surprised that I could actually hit a ball. He has such little faith in me. I'm not really good at sports so I can't blame him. After the game we brought the kids inside for a much needed bath and got them to bed. Kim called and told me to put my walking shoes on that she was on the way. I dreaded it. Just the thought made me sick! I was already so sore and all I wanted to do was sit down. However... I put on my shoes and took off. I hated it as much today as I did yesterday but I was still glad I did it. Kim is like a track coach. She does a lot of running and puts me to shame. She's 44 years old and leaves me in the dust. I guess it's a goal I can work towards.

We've had a nice weekend so far. Brad works half day on Fridays and we love it. It's such a treat. We took the 4 kids to the park. It was a really beautiful day. The kids loved it. It was something fun for us to do. I packed a bag full of snacks and juice. We played for a little over an hour and came home for naps. Jackson has been asking... make that begging... to ride the school bus. "Pleeeeeease Mommy. Let me be a bus rider... just ONE time." I am nervous over riding the bus because of stories I hear from bus drivers. My cousin, Lisa, is a elementary bus driver and the things she tells me would scare anyone. I flagged down the bus driver Thursday afternoon and talked to her. She assigns seats for the little ones and they sit in front. So Friday I let him be a bus rider. He walked off that bus so proud! He said, "Mommy. I got to go through other neighborhoods and see where some of the other kids live, too." Very big deal to a 5 year old.

Yesterday was Jackson's first soccer practice. He's playing for Cherokee Impact. It's a recreation league in the county. He's very excited. I took him and the other 4 kids to Dick's sporting goods to pick out cleats, chin guards and a practice ball. Gabrielle and Connor kept showing me the shoes they would want when they play. Then Gabrielle said she'd rather do ballet. Be still my heart! Can you see that sweet little girl in tu-tu's and leotards? Anyway... back to Jackson. The kids were very excited about going to practice. Jackson did great. He's very aggressive and runs a lot. That's the reason we wanted him to play... an outlet for all that energy. After soccer Brad wanted to go to Long Horn. That's Jackson's favorite place to eat. I reluctantly agreed. I knew the babies were getting tired and it could turn into a disaster. We took our chances and headed out. We were seated right away which was great. The babies did fine for the first 10 minutes then the "throw it down and watch Mommy pick it up" game began. After that was the "cry and put my head on the table so I look pitiful and Daddy holds me" game. All of these games work really well... FOR THE BABIES. We rushed through dinner. It was one of those trips out that it just doesn't work out well. We made it through and two tables next to us even complimented how well the kids do at sitting and eating. But I know we've had better experiences. Brad and I were eating so fast. I wish one time someone would video our family when we are out to eat. It's hilarious. Brad and I are shoveling food in our mouths a ridiculous rate of speed. Brady and Cooper are yelling, "I want mo! I want dink! I want shew! I want down!" Jackson is playing with the giant knife while Gabrielle and Connor call each other wonderful names like "Poo Poo face" or my personal favorite put down "I'm not playing with you any mo!" It's really not relaxing but we keep doing it. It's easy to just stay home and never take them out. But they have to learn how to be in those environments. As longs as we keep the attitude of "there's always the take home box" we'll be fine.

This afternoon we had our photo shoot. The kids looked so sweet in their outfits. They were just beautiful. The shoot itself was a disaster. The kids were tired, the babies were irritable, Gabrielle and Connor would not smile and Jackson wouldn't quit over-smiling. The photographer didn't charge hardly nothing for the sitting fee. She said, "I'll be honest with you I don't know what I've really got." I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't one decent shot in that whole process. I was sweating like I had run a marathon. It was embarrassing. I would bend over to move a kid and they would say, "It's raining on me!" My nerves just went crazy. It's that Momma frantic mode that rushes over my body and freaks out. Oh well... I tried. I don't know what it's going to take to get a good picture of these 5. At least I did try.

Yesterday I dropped Gabrielle and Connor off at school and headed out to run errands. The boys and I took a trip to the mall. I was looking for their outfits to have pictures taken on Saturday. I found the perfect clothes. I got all the boys Ralph Lauren button up Polo's. Some of them long sleeved pastel color pin stripe and some are solid. I'm going to roll their sleeves up and put them in khaki shorts or light blue. Gabrielle is going to wear a long blue smoked dress with a big white bow. I am going to have them all bare foot. I think it will be beautiful. I can't wait to see them all dressed up. I really hope the pictures turn out like I have pictured in my mind. This phase is so difficult right now yet I know that there will be a day when my most precious memories will be of this age. I want to capture it so I can keep it in my mind forever. I spent a little more than I wanted to. However, I rarely buy them clothes. Connor and the babies have hand me downs while Jackson and Gabrielle's come from consignment. I also picked up the babies some tennis shoes. Now all 5 kids have shoes for the fall and hopefully part of the winter. They were on clearance 1/2 price at Stride Rite so I got a great deal. After I found their clothes and shoes I got a call from Marci asking if she could cancel on my regular Wednesday outing. Her Mom was coming home from the hospital and she wanted to help with the process. I said of course then hung up the phone and felt really sad. To make myself feel better I decided to check out handbags at Macy's. I had been looking on-line but wanted to see them in person to really make sure i liked the feel. I didn't like the Dooney which is the one I thought I would end up getting. I had almost given up when I saw "the one!" It was sitting in a case with the light hitting it ever so gentle. I could almost hear a soft cry saying, "I'm the one... take me home." I asked the sales lady to unlock it so I could try it on for size. No doubt it was the purse of my dreams. I love love love it. The best part of the entire thing...she was 30% off! They had just marked her down yesterday. There were only 3 left! What's a girl supposed to do? I couldn't just let her get away and slip through my hands. I looked at the coordinating wallets and found the perfect match. She however, was not on sale and had just come in the store for the new season. The sales lady was a smooth talker... "You deserve it, Mam. This is a beautiful bag, Mam. I'm sure this is JUST the bag you've been looking for, Mam." I was sold. Hook, line and sinker. I came home with a beautiful COACH handbag and matching wallet. I am so excited. I can't wait to go out Saturday night so all the world can see. I'll post pictures very very soon. I waited until we got all the kids in the bed and had time to settle down before I dropped the bomb on Brad. I brought the silk carrying bag into the keeping room and unveiled my dream purse. He was pleased that it had been on sale and it was just what I wanted. He did make a note that she's a very rare gift and he couldn't believe someone would spend that much money on fabric and leather. Obviously Ladies... he has no clue how important the right purse can be. (I know that was a little dramatic but wasn't it fun?) Happy 34th Birthday to me!!!

I had a few things to do today so GG came over to watch the babies. Brad went into work a little later this morning so he did a quick Chick Fil A run and got the kids breakfast. Chicken Minis are their absolute favorite. They were thrilled when he walked in the door. Not only for breakfast but to have Daddy home was a big treat. GG got here around 8:30am. I took Gabrielle and Connor to school then ran a few errands. When I picked up Gabrielle and Connor from school I asked their teacher how they were doing. She said, "They are starting to come out of their shells and participate a little more. However, they still kind of look at me like I'm crazy." I wanted to laugh my head off. It's hard for me to believe they are shy when around new people and environments. At home it's such the opposite. They love school and talk about it all the time. They can't wait to get in the car and share with me their new songs. It's really good for them to get into a structured environment with other children. As soon as we all got home I laid down for a nap. With GG watching the kids it was a rare opportunity I couldn't pass up. I must have fallen asleep the minute my head hit the pillow. The next thing I know she's walking in my room to wake me. I was still in the same position I laid down in. It was wonderful. I picked up Jackson and we came home to play. Memaw came over for a visit, too. The kids were thrilled to have GG and Memaw visiting. The weather has been wonderful with a little taste of Fall. The humidity is low and it's been cloudy so there hasn't been any heavy sunshine to bare down on us. We played outside from 2:30pm until 5:30pm. I made chicken salad wraps for dinner. It was so good. I put grapes, celery and walnuts in my chicken salad. The kids ate peanut butter and jelly. I made a big dinner last night so tonight was a lite one. Cooper and Brady were in somewhat better moods today. Still not the best. Brady was better but Cooper was still fit to be tied at times. i don't know what is going on with those two. If I had to guess, and that's exactly what I'm doing, I would say they are frustrated. They want to communicate so badly. Their vocabulary isn't wide enough to tell me what they want. It's still a lot of grunting and pointing. No is the answer to everything... even when they mean yes. It's hard on all of us. Soon they will be talking in sentences and I'll be wishing they were still grunting!

We have not had professional pictures taken in over a year. The last ones we had done were Christmas almost two years ago when Heidi took them in Indiana. I have a photo shoot scheduled for Saturday afternoon. I don't know if we'll do family or just the kids. I want a good quality canvas portrait I can keep forever. I have the perfect spot in mind to showcase it, too. I'm debating over how to dress the kids. I'm thinking all white but with Jackson and Cooper's blonde hair and fair skin I don't want them to look washed out. The background will be a brownish color. Any ideas? If I did do the white thing what do I put the boys in.... khaki's and white dress shirts? I don't want them all to look uniform... just coordinating. Life is full of tough choices, huh?

The weekend is over and Monday is definitely here. I got Jackson off to school this morning and had my bible study over a hot cup of coffee. It was wonderful and I felt prepared for the day. Little did I know that Brady and Cooper were going successfully drive me bonkers as soon as they woke up! After I dropped Gabrielle and Connor off at school I headed to get my oil changed. My suburban hit 100,000 miles this weekend so I want to be sure to stay on top of maintenance. The Chevron is in the parking lot of the Y. It's been pouring cats and dogs all morning. I put the babies in the stroller and off we went to the Y. We were all 3 soaked by the time we entered the building. I did my workout and then sat down at a table to cool off and write out a grocery list. I got the car then loaded up the babies in the pouring rain. We headed to the grocery store. If I had not have needed dinner groceries I would have waited until Brad got home but i thought since it was just the two babies we could get it done together. I was so so so wrong. I was pushing the stroller while pulling a buggy. Right when we entered the store I got them a cookie. As soon as that was gone they decided they were starving. I then went to the deli and got them two chicken fingers. They ate that and seemed okay for about 3 minutes. I rushed through the store while both boys screamed and whined. Cooper was kicking Brady in the back while Brady screamed "NO NO NO NO" Brady started the fit session and then he would tag Cooper and he'd take over for a few minutes. They went back and forth like they had planned the whole thing. I opened half my groceries walking through the store trying to keep them happy. The chicken fingers, juice boxes, fruit snacks and a gallon of milk were open by the time I checked out. When the cashier asked how I was doing today I couldn't answer. Tears filled my eyes while she comforted me with words only a Mom could utter. They walked me out to the car and loaded my groceries... still raining. As soon as I sat down in the drivers seat the boys started laughing their heads off. It was like they were so excited about how much they had frustrated me. I think they planned the whole thing!

We went straight from the grocery to pick up Gabrielle and Connor. I let the boys walk in without the stroller. As soon as they entered the building they shot off in different directions. Which way was I supposed to go first? I headed for the one that was closest then ran to the next one. They would not listen to me. It was like they didn't hear a word I was saying. They ignored every reprimand and that just fueled my fire and exhaustion. I took both of them by the hand and simultaneously they dropped their knees and made me drag them while crying. I popped both their legs only for them to pitch a bigger fit. By this time parents were filled in the halls, I was sweating bullets and embarrassed beyond belief. When we got in the car they were livid. As soon as we pulled in the neighborhood Gabrielle and Connor unbuckled to try and talk to them and calm them down. Gabrielle gave orders to Connor. The conversation went something like this: "Connor. You stand by your best buddy and I'll stand by my best buddy." So she stood by Brady and Connor stood by Cooper. I didn't know they had best buddies but I guess i was wrong. It was really sweet and the babies did calm down. Gabrielle was saying to Brady: "Tell me what you did today. Did you have fun with Mommy?" All of this is in her best Mommy sing song voice. When we pulled in the garage I pulled both the babies shoes off and we went straight upstairs. I had them in the bed so fast it would make your head spin.

I just realized it's been 5 days since my last update. I don't know how the week slipped past so quickly. Hmmm, our week has been pretty hum-drum. Not a lot of new stuff going on. I feel like such a taxi driver! I know it's only going to get worse as they get older and into more activities. Wednesday Marci came to babysit. I went to a late lunch at Red Lobster all alone! It was wonderful. I had popcorn shrimp, baked potato, biscuits and a salad. After I ate lunch I sat and read for a while at the table. When lunch was over I went to a movie. I saw Julie and Julia. It was cute and I really did enjoy it. Brad got home and relieved Marci around 6:30pm. I then went to Woodstock Baptist church. They were having their women's bible study kick-off. I thought I would get involved somewhere so I can meet more people. I signed up for a group called Mom Care. It's on Tuesday mornings for two hours. I will drop of Gabrielle and Connor then head to the church. After Mom Care I'll pick them up and head home. There was also a study on Esther I really want to do that is on Wednesday nights. I'm considering signing up for that, too. I just don't want to over commit myself. I think we will also sign up the kids for Awana on Wednesday nights. We are still going to Brownsbridge and I think we'll keep that up. We just love the activities at Woodstock. Who says we can't have the best of both worlds, right?

This weekend has been a lot of fun. It's also been really busy. Friday night we celebrated Aaron's 31st birthday. Instead of going out to eat he requested a home cooked meal at our house. Of course, I was flattered and willing. He wanted his favorite meal... meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, english peas, deviled eggs and rolls. I topped it all off with a red velvet cake full of candles. We waited to eat when the babies had gone to bed. The older kids sat at the breakfast room table while the adults ate in the dining room. The ambiance was set with candles and a centerpiece. We also had two extra guests for dinner... Don (our neighbor and friend) and The Hulk (a.k.a. Roger). We spent the entire evening laughing and enjoying each others company. After dinner we headed to the outdoor patio, set candles around for light and chatted some more. I love spending time with family.

Saturday was also a full day. We had a company picnic to attend for Brad's work. It was at Lake Allatoona just west of where we live. I was able to sleep in and Brad took care of the babies. As soon as we got up we dressed and shot out the door. We got to the lake around 11am. They catered in Williamson Bros BBQ and it was delish. They had also rented a pontoon for boat rides. The kids really loved it. I was a nervous wreck on the boat and being around water. It's not a place I am comfortable with five small children. I would rather spend as little time as possible around a large mass of dark murky water. While Gabrielle was getting off the boat she got a huge splinter on the bottom of her foot. It was pitiful. The thing was huge... like two inches long and wide. It was a chunk of wood. I tried to get it out but it wouldn't just slide out, it kept breaking off. She was screaming bloody murder. One of Brad's partners (Bob) suggested just taking her to their office where they could freeze her foot and take it out the right way with sterile instruments. By that time it was around 4pm and we were ready to go anyway. The kids were getting really tired. After they got the splinters (there were 3) out Bob asked us to come by their house and swim for a while. I was so ready to go home but Brad thought it would be great to really wear them out for a couple more hours so they would be ready for bed when we got home. We went to their beautiful home and played in the pool for a couple hours. The kids loved it and so did we. They have three girls ranging from elementary to teen. The kids loved playing with them. We ordered pizza and then headed home. The kids and I were so so so so so tired. We were ALL very cranky (except for Brad of course) and ready to get home. I was almost in tears by the time we got home and the kids were balling. We had partied too hard! At 8:30pm we were all 7 in the bed. Brad wasn't even tired but since we were all abandoning him he went to bed, too. He fell asleep the minute his head hit the pillow while I on the other hand, exhausted beyond words, could not for the life of me sleep. I was so frustrated. I got up around 10 and cleaned up the house. Went back to bed and then my brother, Steven, called. I talked to him on the phone for two hours. After our marathon chat I was wound up tight. I cleaned for another hour then finally fell to sleep. By the time the alarm went off this morning I had a terrible headache. The rest of the family however was well rested and ready to take on the day.

We decided to try Woodstock Baptist this morning. We did church and then Sunday school. That church is so massive. I felt like I was at the Braves game. Not to mention the miles and miles of walking that is needed to get from the nursery to the service to the elementary center then to Sunday school then back to the preschool/nursery area for pick up then back to elementary for pick up. I wore the absolute cutest and most uncomfortable pair of shoes, too. My feet were screaming for a break by the time we were home. I'm not sure what I think of the church. It's such a hard decision. There are like 16,000 people that come in and out on any one Sunday! It was very very overwhelming. Did I mention that it was pouring cats and dogs the entire morning.

After church we went to Wendy's to eat lunch. Connor wanted salad so he and I split a taco salad. The rest of the kids wanted their standard nuggets and fries. Connor is the only one willing to try new things. He's never met a food he didn't like. He's a boy after his Mommas own heart. While we were eating he said, "Mommy when Jesus say we kiss then we kiss!" I told him okay and sat a little confused. Then he said, "Mommy... Jesus said to kiss now!" He puckered up those sweet little lips and planted one right on my lips. Ahhhhh, he's so sweet. He ate every bit of my salad saying "Mmmmm Mommy. Dis' is nummy (yummy)." We came home and all took naps, let the kids play, fed them dinner, gave them baths and put them to bed. The babies starting to play with the older kids. They love to wrestle with them and run around. The LOVE to play duck duck goose. It's the cutest thing ever. They are not afraid to play rough and tackle the older kids. The babies are starting to talk a lot, too. They will say milk, eat, love you, i want some, night night, poo-poo and a ton more. Not to mention they know all their brothers and sisters names. I love to hear them talk. It just blesses my soul to no end.

With the first week of everyone in school I feel like I'm in a whirlwind. Everything I do is down to precise timing. I wake up at 6:20am to wash my face and wake up. Then I wake Jackson up at 6:30am, dress, feed, brush teeth hand him his bag and have him out the door at 7:05am. I do my bible study after Jackson leaves for school. I fix a pot of coffee and sit down to read my bible. I've started in John. I use a Study Bible and it makes it so easy to understand each verse. It's been wonderful to have the house quiet and all to myself. At 8am I wake up the other 4 kids, dress, feed, brush teeth/hair and be out the door at 8:40am. When I drop Gabrielle and Connor off the babies and I head for the Y. I work out and then sit down while I quit sweating bullets. After a workout I head home to feed the babies the quickest lunch ever and then leave again at 11:40am. I pick up Gabrielle and Connor come home, lay the babies down for a nap, feed Gabrielle and Connor and make them take a rest time. That's my opportunity to shower, check email, laundry and pick up the house. At 2pm I leave the house to pick up Jackson. After sitting in carpool we don't get home until 2:40pm. Then the kids have a snack and play from 3pm-5pm. That's the best part because I can just sit outside in a chair and watch or work with my flowers. At 5pm we come inside and I fix dinner. We eat by 5:45, give baths, dress, brush teeth and play with Daddy. At 8pm all five little Darlings' are in the bed. But my time isn't over yet. I have to wash dishes, fold laundry, make lunches, get book bags together, iron and lay out the next days clothes and pick up the house. By the time I plop down on the couch it's at least 10pm. I feel like I will drop dead if I have to do one more thing at that point! Bed by 11pm and start over again at 6:20am. So goes the life of a Mommy, right? But I wouldn't want it any other way!

Yesterday morning when Cooper woke up Brad brought him downstairs and stood him up. Cooper fell to the ground and wouldn't put one ounce of weight on his leg. He did this over and over for the next half hour. Brad and I were in a panic. I called the Pediatric Orthopedic and make an appointment for later that morning. The doctor did an exam and agreed that he was more sensitive and tender on his left leg. They did an x-ray only to show that everything looked perfect. Thank God, I was so relieved but so confused. The doctor asked me to put Cooper down and see how he reacts. As soon as Cooper's legs hit the ground he was off and running! I was so embarrassed. It was like taking your car in the shop and it doesn't make that noise when you get there. Ughhhhhh! That stinker. The doctor said that since the cast has only been off 12 days the memory of the accident is still fresh. He probably did jar it in the slide and Cooper's first reaction was to take weight off the leg. Yesterday morning when he woke up it was more than likely sore so he did the same thing again. The doctor did give him a "Wee Wobbler" to use the next couple of weeks. It's a little walking boot to give him support. We'll use that for a while and see how he does. He was still limping pretty bad since the cast came off. The doctor says he could limp for up to a month. Hopefully that won't happen.

Gabrielle and Connor really like school. When I dropped them off in carpool yesterday they held hands walking inside the building. It was the cutest thing you've ever seen. Bags in hand and her pony tail bobbing made me so proud of my little brood. They are precious and fill me with joy (and headaches). LOL Tomorrow Connor takes snack and gets to bring one toy to school that's special to him. He is choosing to bring a bag of pennies that Memaw gave him. Yep, that's right... pennies. He's so funny. He wants to sleep with them, carry them around and take them in the tub. I don't know what it is about that money that he's so attached to.

Our weekend has been great fun but a whirlwind of being here and there. Friday I had to take Connor to Memaw's house. He was spending the weekend with them at the hunting land. After I dropped him off it was time to pick up Jackson. As soon as I got him we headed straight to meet GG. Jackson was spending the night with her. After meeting her I rushed home, showered and got ready for our company. Jack and Kate were coming to spend the night. Since we only had 3 kids we decided to go out to eat. We had dinner at Provino's Italian. The kids did really well and we had a good time chatting and watching the kids entertain the whole restaurant. After dinner we came straight home and put the kids to bed. We stayed up until after midnight laughing and having a great time together. We really look forward to our time with them. They are expecting their first baby in March. I am so excited for them. Kate and I talked for hours about the pregnancy and all the stuff that goes with it. On Saturday she and I sneaked off for a little girl time. We treated ourselves to pedicures. Our feet were nasty business. I had a callus removal done. I'll spare you the details but it was gross. My feet feel much much smoother. When we got back home the guys headed out for a little male bonding. They went to the golf course to hit a few balls on the driving range. Brad has been wanting to take up golf. I think he was a little discouraged that he couldn't just pick up the club and hit a hole in one. Now it's a challenge he wants to conquer. Great... just what we need! Jack and Kate left around 3pm and I had to pick up Jackson at 4pm. Marci came to babysit Saturday night. We had a dinner party with all the partners from Brad's practice along with the wives. It was a lot of fun to get dressed up and have mature conversations with these people that I enjoy hanging out with. I'm very blessed to be a part of such a wonderful group of men and women. I get a long with all 4 of the other wives and the gentlemen are sweet as can be. I really look forward to these opportunities to hang out with them. We had a wonderful dinner at Dr. Davila's home with beef tenderloin, asparagus, grilled veggies, herb roasted potatoes, salad and bread. Not to mention the desserts, coffee and drinks. By the time we got home it was 11:30pm. We hit the sack and fell right asleep. This morning everyone slept until 8:15 which was wonderful. I woke to the sound of cups dropping out of the cabinet. Jackson and Gabrielle decided not to wake us and make their own breakfast. They had orange juice and brownies. Hey... it worked for them! We left the house at 10am and headed to church at BrownsBridge Community. As soon as service was over we went straight to GG's house for lunch. She had dinner ready when we walked in. The menu was Spaghetti with Meat sauce, Chicken Parmesan, Salad and Garlic Bread. We topped it off with Key Lime Pie. It was to die for... the entire dinner. The chicken was crispy and tender... the cheese was melted and ooey-gooey!!!! Thanks GG it was all great.

After lunch Larry and Brad went to the driving range while GG and I took the kids to the park. They played on the playground while GG and I melted in the sun. GG came down the slide with Cooper on her lap. Cooper extended his leg and must have hyperextened his foot. He started crying immediatley. GG rushed over to me with that terrified look like something was wrong. I carried him over to the sidewalk and put him down. He collapsed! I tried again and he collapsed again! I was trying to stop myself from hitting panic mode but I was quickly on my way there. We gathered up the kids and went home. I tried again to put him down. He took two steps, colllapsed and then to two more and collapsed. I just knew it was broken. The same leg as before. I held him for a long time and got him a drink. He wanted down so we put him down again. This time he walked very methodicaly with a limp. The more he walked the faster he would go but still with a worse limp than before. When I push around on all the bones he doesn't cry. And he's acting like everything is fine but he's still limping. He was still limping from the first break which they said would be normal for a month. But since this accident the limping has gotten worse. I'm just going to feel it out a couple days and see how it goes. I don't think it's broken by any means. I hope he just hyperextended his foot and pulled something. Oh Lord.... who knows!

Once we left GG's we had to go pick up Connor. We let the kids play for an hour and headed home. We traveled a grand total of 2 hours 50 minutes in the car or 118 miles today alone! Whew... I'm ready to stay home next weekend. Once we got home at 7pm Brad went to mow the yard and I still had to feed 5 kids (hotdogs, cheese and grapes) put them all in the bath, put on pj's, get them in the bed, wash clothes, set out tomorrows clothes, make lunch and put out book bags. I finally sat down at 11pm with a basket full of laundry that needed to be folded. Needless to say, I'm soooo glad the day has come to an end.

Hope you have a great and productive week. I'm making a commitment to get back on schedule with my workouts and bible study. I want to glorify Him in everything I do! Without the physical and spiritual workouts it's impossible to have hope for a "good day." And the Lord knows I need all the HOPE I can get.

I have not heard many "comments" as of late regarding my stories, pics or guestbook. Is anyone still out there intrested in my crazy life????? I miss your notes!

Happy Birthday, Aaron!!! You're the best Uncle Ernie in the whole world and we love you! Last night some of Aaron's friends had a birthday party in Aaron's honor. Memaw and I were able to go. We had a great time. It was fun to meet a bunch of Aaron's friends not to mention it got me out of the house! Most of his friends are mid to late 20's. I felt my age just a little bit. I loved watching the reactions from them when they asked how many kids we had. Priceless! Jaws were dropping all across the room.

I finally broke down and went to the doctor Tuesday. I was still holding a fever and feeling terrible. 5 days was as long as I could last. Not to mention I was scared to death of getting pneumonia again like last year. My throat is infected but it's not strep and I have bronchitis. I'm on some antibiotics but my throat is still killing me. The cough is better and the fever is gone. Hopefully I'll be better soon.

Today I went and had lunch with Jackson at school. It was so sweet to see him trotting down the hall. He was waving and telling all his friends, "Hey that's my Mommy." I was so proud. We talked the entire lunchtime. it was very very special. He wants me to come everyday. I wish I could. He's growing up so fast and I just can't stand it. This whole starting school thing has not gotten much easier for me. I thought 3 weeks into it I'd be more used to the idea. I just want him home!

My cold turned into a nightmare. Actually, it's still a nightmare. I've been so sick all weekend with fever and congestion. One minute I'm chilled to the bone and the next minute I'm sweating bullets. My throat is so sore I feel like I'm swallowing razor blades. I lost my voice and nothing but a squeak comes out when I open my mouth. Every time I cough I am reminded of having give birth to 5 children. I don't know if it's flu or just a cold. Either way... it stinks!

I just got Jackson off to school a few minutes ago. Each morning he asks me how many more days till no school? When I told him this morning he still had 3 more days after today he said, "Why don't they give me some time to rest?" LOL Poor thing just doesn't realize he's got a long long way to go.

GG came over on Sunday and took Gabrielle, Connor and Cooper home with her for the night. She would have kept them two nights except Gabrielle says she will only spend ONE night! GG's friend, Angie, is visiting from Louisiana. They took the kids to the Yellow River Game Ranch. Gabrielle and Connor would not feed the animals. The deer walk right up to you and you feed them by hand. Cooper on the other hand stuffed as much as he could down the throats of every deer in the park. He has no fear when it comes to animals. One time at Grandpa's there was a stud who has a very bad temper. That horse was pawing at the ground ready to charge Cooper for invading his territory. Cooper was fearless. It was like two stubborn mules having a face off. I had to grab Cooper just before the blasted horse tried to bite him! Cooper's reaction was to giggle. He thought it was hilarious.

Papa came over yesterday afternoon. He was supposed to come today but I was so sick he came a day earlier. Between GG taking care of 3 kids and Papa here to take care of the other 2 I was able to rest. Once again... I'm so thankful for family!

Last night I had to go to the grocery store. Brad had gone to meet GG and pick up the kids. Papa was staying home with the other 2. I felt so terrible but it had to be done. We were down to the bare bones. My pantry and fridge were the worst I think I'd ever seen them. The kids were ready to find a new Mom if I didn't fill the house with some grub. I started with one buggy and quickly filled it up then took it to the front to let it sit while I grabbed another buggy and began filling it up, too. I had the 2nd buggy absolutely filled to the brim. I had the bottom piled with meat and the sides run over with drinks. The produce boy asked me if I wanted another buggy. I said there's no way I'm coming out of the store with 3 buggies of food. When I went to check out they said, "I need a couple baggers on 4... I've got a big one!!!" I laughed my head off. One guy asked me if I was moving into a new house. He'd never seen so much food in one shopping trip. The scanner was starting to smoke by the end of my checkout. I had a grand total of $417.28!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yikes... what's going to happen when they are teenagers?

It's been a few days since I've updated. It's been a hectic week. After Jackson was sick the virus ran through the whole family. Surprised? As of now 4 of the kids have been sick. Gabrielle was the only one who seems to escaped it. But there is still time. Yesterday I woke up with a cold and congestion in my chest. My prayer now is that the virus doesn't start all over again. That has happened before.

We all went over to Memaw and Grandpa's last night. The kids took their bikes and scooters. They had a really great time. Grandpa works for the North American Mission Board for Southern Baptists. The board has gone through some changes lately. The former President has left and now Grandpa is the Interim President. It's a lot of responsibility but we are really proud of him. He's very qualified and will do a wonderful job. Anyway... back to our evening. Uncle Ernie and Roger a.k.a. "The Hulk" were there, too. Of course, the kids loved that. My cousin, Gregg, and his daughter, Taylor, came to visit. They were there, too. I wish Dixie, Anna and Patti could have come but they had other things to do.

We had tickets for the Braves game today. Brad, Gregg, Taylor and Gabrielle went to the game. It started at 4pm but they had to leave the house at 1:30pm. Besides the game there are two concerts, Def Leppard and Paul McCartney, as well as road construction. Downtown will be a mess today. They were going to ride MARTA to the game. That should save them some headaches.

Taylor and I took the older kids to Owen's 4th birthday party today. It was at the Bounce House. Owen's oldest cousin is maybe 13 years old and cute as a button. Gabrielle obviously thinks so, too. I caught her following him all over the place. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "I just want to follow him." Oh my word... really? She's only 3! And to think I had her pegged for Owen. Guess she likes the older men!

I caught Jackson having a little "man to man" talk with Cooper yesterday. Jackson said, "Okay Cooper. There are some things I need to tell you. When you get bigger you won't be a baby anymore. You'll be a man. And sometimes you will throw-up but don't be afraid. You'll feel like a boy but it will be okay." My point exactly... men learn at a early age to act like a child when they are sick!!!

After I got Jackson off to school this morning I made a pot of coffee. It's 10:40am and I have yet to have even the first sip. Connor was eating breakfast and spilled a whole bowl of Cheerios on the floor. Cooper has cried non stop and I've already laid him down for a nap. I can't keep my eyes open! What a morning.

After I got dressed this morning I kept my bedroom shoes on. Connor brought me my sandals and said, "I want you put 'dese on 'cause does don't wook cute." When did he become the fashion expert? As soon as his feet hit the floor in the morning he wants his clothes on. He doesn't want to spend one minute in his pajamas. The rest of us could never put clothes on and be happy as a jay bird. This morning Connor told me he wished God would take away all his pajamas so he could always wear clothes!

I was talking to Susan the other day and asked what she was doing. She said she was helping Grant clean his room. Grant had some master plan to organize all his toys so Ryan (his brother) couldn't come into his room and play while he was at school. He added that he wanted to install security cameras so he could keep a close eye on his room! So funny the things these kids come up with.

Marci comes today. I'm going to try and find some bar stools. I can't wait for a little alone time

I forgot to add this to my last post. Earlier today Jackson came in the kitchen holding the broom. He said, "Hey Mom. After dinner can we play Harry Potter and the Half Black Prince?" LOL I can hardly write it without laughing! I said, "Do you mean Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince?" He said, "Yeah, that guy... can we play him?"

After missing two days of school Jackson is finally back to 100%. He was a very sick little boy for three days. Tomorrow he will head back to school. His teacher was very understanding and I got over the "I can't believe he's sick" phase pretty fast. The rest of the kids seem to be fine. I tried to keep everyone as far away as possible. There's only so much I can do before I throw my hands up and say, "I give up." Earlier today Jackson asked if they could have candy after dinner. I said yes as long as they ate all their food. He jumped up spit in his hand and stuck it in my direction waiting for me to shake on it while he said, "It's a deal!" Do I really need to wonder how he's passing germs?

Yesterday was a terrible day. I had zero energy and so much work to do. I accomplished nothing except running in circles thinking how I couldn't wait for the day to end. The kids were irritable and frankly so was I. Brad called on his way home from work asking "What's for dinner?" I told him the babies were having a Stouffer's dinner, Connor was eating a frozen chicken pot pie, Gabrielle was eating oatmeal and toast while Jackson ate toast. Dinner is over, Baby. He asked what he was going to eat and I told him I'd be happy to pop him a bag of popcorn but please don't expect a meal. He seemed fine with that answer knowing good and well he didn't have a choice lest he stop and pick something up for himself. After the kids ate I put them in the bath. Cooper was standing on the side of the tub watching everyone else get a bath. I turned to get a wash cloth and heard him cry. I looked down and he had poured an entire cup of bathwater into his cast. I called the doctor and they said to put the hair dryer on a cool setting and run it over the cast for 10 mins. Oh my word... it stunk so bad and was soaked. I couldn't stand the thought of him soaking in that wet cast until his appointment on Wednesday. I called this morning and made an appointment for today.

This morning we got up and went to Memaw's house. I needed to do some grocery shopping for her. She watched the kids while I went and picked up her items. As soon as I got back and fed the kids we were off to the Orthopedic. The kids thought it was so cool watching them saw off Cooper's cast. They all had to smell his leg so they could "ooohhh gross!" in disgust. When we were walking out of the exam room one of the staff said, "Oh look. It's Kool and the Gang." That was a new one and pretty funny if I might add. Cooper is walking around on his leg just fine. He's a little wobbly but doing really well. I'm so glad it's over. The doctor said he had actually broke his tibia and fibula. The bones have healed perfectly. I can't wait to submerge him in a bath of warm soapy water. I don't know who will feel better... him or me!

Gabrielle and Connor have become Best Friends. For the past few years I've said they didn't really even notice each other. They didn't have any type of twin bond so to speak. It's so sweet to watch them play. They hug and kiss all the time. Of course they fight, too. They have these precious conversations with each other about getting married, riding scooters and anything else that comes to a 3 year olds mind. I love to just sit and listen. They melt my heart!

The weekend started out great but has quickly taken a turn for the worse. Last night Marci came to babysit the kids while Brad and I went out. We were only gone a couple of hours because we were exhausted. I went straight to bed with a headache. Two hours later I was in tears fighting a migraine. Brad gave me Percocet which did ease the pain however I spent the next 6 hours clawing at my skin. It makes me itch terrible. I was hurting so bad last night I didn't even think about what I had taken. This morning I felt better so we all headed to the gym. When I got off the stair master I told Brad I had spots in front of my eyes and thought I worked out too hard. Then came the headache... again. We had already planned to go to Brad's parents for the day and the kids were so excited about it. I couldn't stand to disappoint them so we went anyway. I took Vicodin and rode the whole way with sunglasses and my eyes shut. As soon as we got to Memaw's I went straight to bed. I put a wash cloth over my eyes and slept for a couple hours. I woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a truck but the pain was pretty much gone. The kids had been playing hard the whole time I was asleep. Their faces were so read and they were exhausted. Jackson said, "Mommy, I think I'm sick, too. I don't feel good." I figured he was just overheated so I sent him inside to rest and gave him a drink. A half hour later I could tell by his eyes that he wasn't just overheated. He was HOT... 103.1 to be exact. We gave everyone baths and headed home. Jackson was throwing up within an hour. Can you believe this? One week into school and he's already sick. What's the deal with his immune system? Should I be worried? I mean my goodness he was sick the entire school year of Pre-K and now we are dealing with it again. Is it a fluke? Maybe I should home school and keep him in a bubble!!! LOL So now Brad and I are just waiting to see who's the next lucky winner.

On a lighter note, Gabrielle was trying to say the word "Ibuprofen." She tried over and over again while we all got tickled. Jackson said, "Mom... she just can't get the heck of it can she?" So funny.