{The Big 4}

Birthday week has finally come to an end! Conner had a big day yesterday celebrating his 4th birthday! He started off going to pre-school where he had a little party and got to bring snacks. After school he then spent the day at his buddy Hunter's house and was treated to Pizza Hut. Last night we had to wait for Heath to finish his last basketball game (Thank God!) of the season, and Grandma and Grandy came over and he opened his presents from us and finished off with his "horse" cake at his request. Let's say by the end of the night he was beside himself and had too much fun for one day. The biggest accomplishment of turning 4 is that he is back to sleeping in his "own" bedroom! That's right, for the past 3 months he has been sleeping on Corby's floor on a mattress. It all happened when we went to Mexico in October and someone (AKA GRANDY) told him there were monsters in his room! AHHH...so we had to convince him that they were no longer in there and when he turned 4 he had to go back to his own bed. I was unsure that he would follow through, but he did it without any hesitations! Hopefully it will last!

Ok...call me Gina on the wrapping paper! I didn't realize that I didn't have any and this is all I could find! Luckily Conner didn't care how it was wrapped and ripped right into it! He was super excited for more horses to add to his collection. Do you know how hard it is to find horses (Thank Goodness Target.com followed through!) These horses even had cowboys and all the accessories to go along with them. My mom asked him if he had a good birthday and he replied "No". She asked him why and he said "because I didn't get a real horse!" I guess he was thinking we would hook it up to the dog house!

He also requested golf clubs! He was excited to put his new Spongebob golf balls, tees, and golf glove he received from Aunt Quinn and Uncle Matt & girls!

Wal-mart once again didn't let me down on a cake. (You guys know my hate of baking!) Tuesday it was snowing and the roads were getting bad, so I had to call it in. I didn't think it was too bad for not being able to see the selections of cakes. I promise one day I will bake a homemade birthday cake!

He was getting embarrassed with everyone singing to him. I think we sang and blew out candles at least 3 times so I could #1. Take the pictures #2. Take a Video and #3 Everyone got a turn to blow (or spit) them out!

Make a Wish!

Of course one of the horses had to eat right with him.

Well at least I have a couple of months to wind down from yet another birthday in our house. I absolutely love birthdays (always have) and love to see the look on their faces opening their presents. As they get older their ideas of what they want to do on their special day seem to get more expensive. At least at the age of 4 it can be pretty low key.

A Fast 4 Years!

I couldn't wait until Wednesday to post the slide show since I got it all prepared today. I can't believe how fast the past 4 years have went! In watching this presentation, Conner's personality completely shows through! He has quite the sense of humor and always is making us laugh. Enjoy!

Conner's 4 Years!

Conner's Bowling Birthday.

Conner's official 4th birthday isn't until Wednesday, January 28th, but we decided to celebrate on Sunday by taking his best buddies bowling. I didn't realize that everyone else had the same idea! We went to the first bowling alley only to learn that they did not have bumpers... Strike 1! Not going to be fun with 4 year olds! We then headed to the next alley and they were having a women's bowling tournament...STRIKE 2! So I then had to break it to Conner and his buds that if the final bowling alley did not have any lanes open, we would have to go to Bonkers, which is an indoor jungle gym. Luckily we only had to wait 20 minutes and they had a blast bowling.

Hunter, Conner, and Trace. These are his best buds and they have been together since they were little. We are a little bummed in that Hunter and Trace will be going to Kindergarten next fall and Conner falls a few months short and will be the year after them. I'm sure they will continue their friendship and they are so good together!

Conner was excited to receive Grandma and Grandy's present. He received his very own suitcase filled with goodies all to himself. Of course his older brothers said that they shared their presents with him on their birthdays...I'm not for sure how true that is!

He is still very much into horses and has quite the collection from Christmas and now his birthday.

You gotta love the actions that go along with kids and bowling. I love Conner leaning his head to get that one last pin knocked down!

Corby had a great weekend in that he had a bowling birthday party on Saturday also.

We are hoping to take Conner out to eat on his birthday, but Heath's basketball team is in their final week of games in a tournament. His first game is Tuesday night and if they win they play Thursday and if they lose they play Wednesday on Conner's birthday. You guys know his record so you know that his birthday dinner will probably be postponed to a later night. I know that is not a very optimistic outlook, but we are just ready for the season to come to an end.

It is hard to beleive that my Conner~Bear as we like to call him will be 4 years old!!! I am putting togther a slideshow over the years for his 4th birthday so you will have to check back on Wednesday!

Some Fresh Air.

We were completely spoiled today by having temperatures reach into the upper 50's lower 60's! That is unheard of for January in Missouri! We defiantly took full advantage of it though! After school we headed out for some much needed fresh air! I originally thought I was just going to shoot some photos of Quin, but the other boys insisted on getting a couple taken of themselves.

It was a whole new world to Quin being outside. This is the first time he has been on foot being able to play outside. He didn't understand that he had boundaries and kept running away from me or heading to the back yard.

This is also one of Quin's new look. The "pout" as we like to call it. This look was due to him not being able to get the baseball and bat that went with his glove. He eventually got over it pretty quick.

He loved just running around the yard and being able to be free! I'm hoping it is a short winter and spring finds us soon!

Preston was all about being outside and playing baseball. He also got his golf clubs out, but they were put up pretty quick as he lost 2 balls across the road in a matter of a minute.

This is what we've seen inside the living room for the past few months...Cart Wheels! We are constantly telling him to stop so today I didn't care how many he did outside.

Take down from Conner. This also happens a lot inside, but Quin actually didn't make a peep on this one.

Conner was excited to hit a few golf balls today. He has requested new golf clubs for his birthday next week. Hopefully we can follow through.

Corby is such a great big brother to Quin. He took Quin over to our dog, Maisey so he could pet her. I have a whole new appreciation for our dog after seeing "Marley & Me".

{Mr. Independent}

In the past month, I really haven't had much to blog about. So today while I was serving Quin lunch, I grabbed the camera and thought I haven't captured any "messy eating face" pictures of him at this age yet. He has now became "Mr. Independent". He refuses to let us feed him, and even when he burned his hands, he insisted on picking up his food with his bandage sock hands. He has now picked up mocking us when we tell him NO and points his fingers at us and jabbers in his own language. We probably don't need to know what he is telling us in English.

I think he finally got all the food in his mouth. He is constantly signing more and please to us when he is begging for more food.

Quite the cheeser. He knows when the camera is out is better be full of smiles.

I have not added this to any of my posts yet, but for those who don't know I am officially a "SAHM"! (Stay at home mom). Heath and I decided that right before Christmas break that we would close the daycare. It served it purpose for 6 years and I was in need of a break. I still watch 2 families during the day, but they are part-time. I have even gotten so crazy that I went back to waitressing at the restaurant that I waitressed at in college on the weekends. I know most of you think that is crazy, but to me it is THERAPY!!! The tips are awesome and it gives me my adult time. Heath swears that he is married to a new woman! I am STRESS FREE for once in my life. I can actually take my kids to school, preschool, pick them up, run to the bank/post office and have some much needed freedom that I had been missing. I felt like my mom roles were pushed to the side for other children's' needs, and now mine are taking on the full advantages of having their mom at home. I'm loving it and I'm so blessed that we finally made the decision.

Coach Eckler.

Heath has almost completed his 2nd year of coaching at our small parochial school....they'll hire anybody right? No, it is really whoever they can find who will volunteer 4 months of their time. He has really enjoyed it for the most part, but he has decided it will be his last season for awhile. As the demands of his job has become more stressful, he decided that letting go of coaching jr. high boys would be one less stress to his plate. Although his record has not been the greatest (1-20???), his team has improved over the past few games. Hey they one won right? I am very proud that he took on this role and was a very good role model to some of these players. I'm sure the coaching duty will be called back to his attention in just a few short years when our boys will be playing. We will defiantly see our time on the bleachers, but for now we will give them a rest.

This is one of his favorite parts of the night when he has to run through the massive amount of cheerleaders waving their pom poms in his face ...hence the sarcasm!

I'm glad I sit across the gym so I cannot hear everything "Coach Eckler" is explaining.

His players played a very good first half, but just couldn't keep up in the second. He really has enjoyed his 2 seasons at Holy Rosary, but he has already been talking about the possibility of going back to referring next fall! Go Figure!

Fun at Fun City.

On Sunday we traveled to Iowa to meet up with the Ruhl family and spent the afternoon at Fun City. Fun City consist of an indoor water park, bowling alley (smoke free at that!), go-carts, arcade, and laser tag. This time we only took part in the water park. It was cheap entertainment for the day as all 11 of us got in for $15 total! They run a special on Sunday afternoons. We then headed back to Matt & Quinn's house for pizza and some down time.

Preston waiting for the huge bucket of water to dump on him.

Delaney was Miss happy and loved playing in the water.

Sydney and Chloe also enjoyed the water and were pretty whipped after a day in the chlorine. I think my eyes are still recovering.

Heath coming down the water slide about ready to tip over.

We finally talked Conner into wearing a life jacket so he could swim on his own instead of needing one on one attention that he demands in the pool.

It was just a fun afternoon to get away for the day.

My Poor Baby.

Let's say the 13th of January, 2009 has been doomed as a "horrible day" in my books. It all started with Heath on his cell phone during the middle of the night...I'm thinking around 4am..ish. I thought what customer is talking to during the middle of the night. I soon found out that it was no customer, but our electric company notifying them that we were without power. Mind you we are going through a winter artic blast right now and it was a blustery 4 degrees last night. It soon became very frigid in the house and the artic air was filtering fast! I could not even move because the sheets were frozen (in my books!). Anyway our electric was restored at 7am and the temperature in the house had plummeted to a blustery 59 degrees in a matter of hours.


My day then had a major catastrophe when I was trying to go full speed ahead (my Type A personality taking over) and getting numerous things accomplished. One of my main items on the checklist today was to vacuum up the small pieces of wood on the hearth of the fireplace and on the carpet around it. Well Quin decided to be faster than me today of destroying so I thought I would set him at the edge of the hearth and plug in the vacuum that way he didn't get in my way while I completed my task. As I was plugging it in (a whole foot) away from him he was in the process of standing up and placed his palms of his hands on the glass of the hot burning fireplace. I have never heard such a piercing scream or cry for help in my entire life! I grabbed him up and ran him to the cold faucet as I remembered to do for burns. I became panicked and called the doctor and they wanted to see him immediately. I had to call Heath to come home and get him, because I had 3 kids I was watching and there wasn't any way to load them up and head to town. When he returned the doctor said there were quite severe and we have to keep them wrapped for 3 day with special ointment on them. Easier said than done. We have since bandaged them up with socks taped over them so he does not have access to take them off. Luckily he was sent home with Tylenol-3 for some much needed sleep. I don't know who cried more....his momma....or him! AHHHH I can't handle stress like that!

Here is our little boxer checking out his new bandages after his bath. He has been such a trooper and has realized how to maneuver his hands to hold his cup and how to grab his pacifier. He has realized if the pacifier is on the floor just to get on all fours and put his mouth on it to get it...no hands needed.

His precious little hands. The one to the right has a little lighting problems so it is hard to see the full blisters.

So needless to say, I'm ready to put this day behind me! Now I know why they call the 13th such a horrible day....oh I was born on Friday the 13th....now I know what's wrong with me after all these years! :) Until tomorrow, sweet dreams.

{35 Years of Service}.

After 35 years of service to Ralls County Farm Bureau Insurance Company, my dad has finally retired. On Saturday night we celebrated with all the agents in his region and with our family. We decided to leave all the grand kids with a baby-sitters so we could actually enjoy the evening. They had a wonderful meal, pictures over the years of my dad with the company, and lots of great stories. Above my dad giving his "acceptance speech". It got a little emotional at times. I think I defiantly took that trait after my dad! (Also, I am sorry for the quality of my photos, I took off without my camera and had to borrow my mom's...Thanks mom for saving the day!)

Chris and Sheri enjoying the evening. Chris is hoping for more individual tee times with my dad now that he will have more free time available.

This is before the tears! It's amazing to me that someone actually can stick a job out for 35 years! At the age of 32, I have already managed to have held 5 jobs!

The Palmer Family before the in-laws!

This was one of our family friends that is now a Farm Bureau agent. We went on a couple family vacations with his family and we had a tradition of spending each New Year's Eve either at their house or ours! His family now resides in Florida while he has stayed in Missouri. It was great seeing him.

Once again, sorry for the quality of the photo, but here is the added in-laws to our family. Hard to believe that we've also added 9 grand kids to the mix!

Let's say...a little happy after we had all had a couple drinks!

WOW! Look at that young man. That was his company picture at the age of 26!

They presented a trophy to my mom for my dad putting up with Farm Bureau for 35 years and for putting up with him for 37 years!

Having lots of laughs with some of his buddies with the company. (This guy was quite the comedian!)

We are all very proud of our dad for such a lifetime accomplishment! He has made us the people we are today and we couldn't have done it without his 100% support (and also my mom). He was grateful enough to take us on family vacations with outlasting memories, put all 3 of his children through college, and now a great grandfather as we all call "Grandy!" We thank him for everything! Congrats Grandy and enjoy your retirement as you deserve it!

Day at the ARC.

We finished up our holiday break yesterday by heading to the Arc (Parks & Recreation Complex) in Columbia with the boys 4-H group. The boys had a blast at the indoor aquatic center and then finished up playing some basketball on the courts.

They were super excited to see there was a water slide.

Preston was bummed at first because he thought his short genetics wouldn't allow him to follow in his brothers footsteps to go down the slide, and was later thrilled to learn he could go down by himself.

Conner had fun just staying under the sprayers and spraying everyone else that came near him.

Fighting over the water hose.

I don't know who had more fun, Quin or Heath. Although Heath told me all day that he didn't feel good and I thought he was just wanting me to take all 4 of them by myself. Later did I realize that he wasn't faking it and we had to make a pit stop on the ride home because he had the stomach flu.

Our niece, Alicia also came along for the day of fun.

Conner was just happy that Heath would lift him up so he could make a basket....although he was a little short.

{YMCA Soccer}

Well Christmas is officially over, and we know that to be true because we head right into our 6 week session of the YMCA soccer league. Corby decided after last year that soccer wasn't for him. Preston on the other hand, any sport with a ball is right up his alley.

Last year Preston's league played only half court and there really weren't any rules to follow. All the parents just thought it was cute when all 12 kids ran after the ball and dog piled one another. This year however they play the entire court and ave positions, and as you can tell from the picture above Preston didn't understand why he had to stay back and couldn't run the entire length of the court. Once the coach let him loose he was off to the races and scored the first goal. I guess I was so busy with the two little ones that I thought that was the only goal scored of the game, but Heath corrected me to let me know that his team did win with 2 others goals added.

He was full steam ahead and I don't think had much energy left after the game. This year the league is down quite a bit, with only 3 teams playing. Next week we have a double header...should be interesting to see how his little legs hold up.

It was fun to watch and I can't believe how into it "us parents"...ok myself get into this little of age games. I am screaming the entire time and holding my breath every time he runs after the ball. We are pretty competitive about our sports and I don't know how it will be when they get older but it is sure fun to watch now!

Ice Skating.

We finally set a day to go ice skating for Preston's birthday. With everyone's busy schedule around the holidays we thought today would be perfect since everyone was off from work. We all met at the Ice Zone, located at the Mills Shopping Center which is also the practice center for the St. Louis Blues Hockey Team.

The boys supporting the Blues Hockey Team in their jerseys. We are not hockey fans, but a lady I know had 4 jerseys all in the boys sizes which I thought would be perfect for the day.

Preston picked right up from his ice skating adventure last year. He did however fall once and took a gash to his eye. He told me he only cried for 2 seconds. I'm thinking tomorrow it will turn black and blue.

Corby taking a break from the ice.

I love to ice skate. When I was little we would visit my grandparents in Northern Iowa and my aunt and uncle in Minnesota and the highlight of the trip was to go ice skating. It amazes me that I still am able to pick it up. Heath opted to watch Quin and not try his luck.

Not as easy for me trying to pull Conner around. He made it about 2 times around and then his ice skating adventure was over.

Kids taking a break as they refroze the ice.

Matt taking Chloe around while holding onto the wall.

Then Chloe helping Matt up as he took a fall.

New Year's Eve.

Happy New Year 2009! We brought in the new year by having a couple of our friends over along with their kids to celebrate. We were smart this year and had 2 baby-sitters entertain the kids so the adults could actually play some games. We only had one minor incident involving some blood when the air hockey puck flew and hit one in the nose. Luckily we had a doctor in the house! :)

The boys were excited all day to have some of their friends over to play. The Wii was a big hit. Corby enjoyed playing Catch Phrase with the adults and especially helped out on the Star Wars answers.

Rodney playing Catch Phrase and trying to concentrate! Let's just say the "women" took all!

I'm sure the parents killed me on their drive home with the blowers I sent with the kids! We tried to watch the ball drop in New York, but missed it by a few minutes. Everyone pretty much was whipped and I think we finished up the night by 11:30. We are all such party animals.

Anyway, hope everyone has a wonderful and healthy 2009.