I guess it's just where I'm at.

Turned 31 at 8am this morning. Can't say I feel different at all - still hoping for a shower sometime today. The morning didn't start out so hot. Three out of four of my kids have crazy snotty noses and coughs. Nothing major, mind you, but still - wiping snot all day is not how I planned on spending my b-day. My day was brightened a bit when I walked out to get the paper and found my favorite cookies on my doorstep, made by my sweet mother. LOVE those cookies. Just something about them. I've eaten about 20 so far today. And then things got a bit uglier. Gabriella has so much snot in her that she choked on her breakfast, and well, you can imagine what I got to clean up...lovely present, Gab. So, when my friend Kim called to see what we were going to do for my birthday I broke down in tears. Nice. I was just upset that my husband is too busy at work to take the day off, I had to stay home all day so I wouldn't get glared at by other moms because I took my snotty kids out in public, and I have wiped snot about a million times. Of course Kim, Em and Michelle quickly came to the rescue (as usual - best friends a girl could have). Kim sent her kids to Em's and then came over to babysit and sent me off for a pedicure. I tried to refuse, but Kim insisted that she didn't mind wiping my kids snot. That is TRUE friendship! Thanks girls! I'm looking forward to eating some b-day cake later and then I'm off to my monthly moms meeting for a night with the gals and a nice glass of wine - yeah! So, I decided it's not so bad to be home with all my sick kids - that's just where I'm at as I turn 31. And you know what? It's not bad at all. In fact, I just may be the luckiest 31 year old in the world.
Hope you are havin' the time of your life!
ST

My One True Love

Here is a blast from the past - Our Wedding Day! Our wedding was the absolute best day ever (minus the birth of our 4 children). It was sooo much fun - most perfect day in the world. I can't help but smile whenever I think of that day.

This was so cool...All of Shawn's fraternity brothers sang for the bride. LOVED IT - so romantic...well...funny anyway...
And the cool trolley that lead us and all our closest friends/family away from the church. A cold Bud Light never tasted so good!!Bubbles!Anyway, just thought I would reflect back on our "day of love" since Valentine's is tomorrow. I am so blessed to have the most wonderful husband in the world. I love you Shawn!!
Hope you are having the time of your life!
ST

Just one beautiful day...

Here's a pic from the park - all the girls!
and one with Austin and his girlfriends -
Hey - is that Gabriella smiling??
And a little chubby smile from Lucas - so sweet.

Yesterday was 70 - today it is snowing. I just love Kansas - there's a little bit for everyone here. The weathermen have it pretty easy - might rain, might snow, might be sunny or cloudy...
We had such a great day yesterday - spent the whole morning until after lunch at the park with a picnic, came home for a little down time, then headed back outside to hang out with friends until dark. The kids were exhausted by bedtime, as was I. It was so nice to be outside all day though - can't wait til spring is really here to stay.
Not too much to report here - Austin has his Valentine's party at school today so he should be sugar packed when he gets home. Ashlyn and Gabriella are playing with their buddy, Kiernan. And Baby Lucas is snoozin'. I've already accomplished doing 3 loads of laundry and putting one of the loads away! I also managed to dump a whole bowl of boiling hot malt o meal all over the front of me. HOT!! Also on my agenda today is to make cookies, since we are out.
Here come the troops ready for a snack.
Hope you are having the time of your life!
ST

A little about me.

Usually this blog is all about my lovely little (big) family, but today I am going to get a little crazy and tell you about ME. You just laughed out loud didn't you? Well, I have been "tagged" by several people to tell 25 random things about me. Here goes...
1. I HATED babysitting when I was younger. You couldn't pay me enough to do that job. I was much happier mowing lawns. Which is funny, now there's hardly a day that goes by that I don't have a few extra kids over here running around.

2. I use to work on a pit crew for my neighbor who was a race car driver.

3. I love math, and I'm good at it. I even have a degree in it.

4. One of my biggest pet peeves is people that don't put their carts away in parking lots.

5. My absolute favorite dessert is Tippins French Silk Pie.

6. I have the most amazing husband in the world who works sooo hard everyday so that I can stay at home with our kiddos.

7. I think crocs are the ugliest things in the universe, but I wear my fuzzy ones almost everyday during the winter.

8. I never would have thought I would have 4 kids. And I sure never thought I would actually pick their noses when needed. Or eat their leftover food off their plates. Or actually take a drink out of their sippy cup because I was desperate for a sip of water.

9. Prime numbers are WAY better than any other numbers.

10. I always set timers to odd numbers.

11. I really miss living in Phoenix - the weather there is amazing.

12. I look forward to getting my body back in shape after being prego the last 4 years.

13. I am a huge K-Stater and look forward to the day when I get to sit and watch a whole game without interruptions.

14. I loved playing flag football in college - and we were awesome - thanks to our great TKE coaches.

15. I love to wear jewelry, but don't get to as often as I would like since I have 8 little grabby hands around me all the time.

16. I have never and will never enjoy putting away clean laundry.

17. I have a hard time with unfinished projects - I like things done and done quickly. (Shawn can expand on that one...)

18. I am queen of putting things in drawers just to get them off the counter. (Shawn loves this about me, but has finally learned that if he didn't put something away, it's not lost, he just needs to look around in the drawer that was closest to where he left it.

19. I love this house. I love that it is on the street I grew up on. I love that my parents live down the street. I'm the happiest girl on the block.

20. Some days I miss teaching and coaching. Then I look at my kids and realize I'm doing WAY more by staying home and taking care of them, than I could ever do in a classroom. I'm proud to be a mom - hardest and most rewarding job in the world.

21. I have killed every single plant I have ever owned. Although, Uncle David got us a plant when Lucas was born and it's still alive - of course that means it is only 5 weeks old...time will tell.

22. One of my goals this year is to grow my own herbs.

23. I'm addicted to email.

24. I recently learned that if you put a big bowl of marshmallows in the microwave, they WILL explode. And it is a MESS.

25. I'm scared to death for my kids to all become teenagers at the same time...yikes!!

And there you have it - 25 things about me - hope you learned something new!
and I hope you are having the time of your life!
ST