Favorite Things

OK I figured if Julie Andrews and Oprah can do it then so can I. Here is a list of my favorite new discoveries this year.
1. Mr. Clean multi purpose cleaner with fabreze scent. You not only clean your kitchen you make it smell great too.
2. Mr. Clean magic erasers with fabreze scent. Same reason.
3. Magic eraser MOP yes you can now mop your floor with the power of the Magic eraser. It is the only thing that makes my scratched up stained linoleum look half way decent.
No more magic eraser products I promise.
4. Floss sticks. It's like floss on one end and a tooth pick on the other. SO cool. I use to floss like once a month (don't judge me when was the last time you flossed?) Now with my flossers I floss like every day. I keep a bag in my car and if I get something stuck in my teeth I just whip one out and go to. If you see me on the road doing strange things with my mouth just know that I'm flossing.
5. Dawn Hand Renewal. It's dish washing liquid that promises to help your hands look better in like five uses. IT DOSE. I have seen this promise on other dish soap but this really works. You know what it is like to wash your hands a thousand times a day. My hands end up looking and feeling like sand paper. But no more I just wash with Hand Renewal its cheaper than Bath and Body works and smells good.
6. Last but not least. Aveno 24 hour hand lotion. Dawn and Aveno work hand and hand (pun intended). I wash with Dawn and use the Aveno it works great. It says it last 24 hours even through hand washing and it dose. I put it on in the morning and before bed and I haven't had any problems with dry hands this season.

I know you are all extremely busy getting ready for Christmas but I hope this was as good a break for you to read as it was for me to write. Take time to enjoy the season and remember the true reason for it. God bless you my blog buddies.
Now your turn. Let me know your favorite products I may run out and pick some up.

Thanksgiving

Hello all! We Gardner's are all alive and well. We have had some trouble with strep throat but everybody has finished their antibiotics and is doing well. I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving. We did, we spent time with family and friends enjoying each others company and being thankful. Katie had to do a writing assignment around thanksgiving and it was so cute I thought I would share it with you all.
The prompt was to write about your best thanksgiving meal and she did. Bear in mind that she means the whole thing as a complement.

"Did you ever feel like you were going to explode on thanksgiving? Let me tell you about my best Thanksgiving meal

Initially my family goes to my NeNe and Dada's house with Uncle Mike and Uncle Greg, and sometimes Uncle Greg's girlfriend. My NeNe makes the best turkey. After that we sit down. I eat salty mashed potatos, greasy turkey, and yummy peas. It was so good I had two more helpings, but I had more room for the best part, the Strawberry Cheesecake. Finally when I ate as much as my little tummy could hold I felt sick inside. I sat down and watched t.v. I can't wait until next Thanksgiving."

The funny thing about it is that Mom didn't serve peas or strawberry cheesecake. If I didn't know how much she really dose love Mom's cooking I would think she was being sarcastic.

I hope you got as much of a kick out of that as I did. Have a good week and don't get overwhelmed with Christmas preparations.

Prayer request.

I know that everyone is going through some tough times and we have been also. I have a few prayer request for you guys.

First, my cousin Matt has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He is 14 years old almost 15. The tumor is 2 cm and the doctors think it is benign however it is interrupting the flow of fluids in his brain which is causing mood swings and blurry vision. For these reasons they are going to take it out on Friday. I can't even imagine turning your child over to people who are going to do surgery on his brain. This is such a precious christian family and I know they would appreciate any prayers on their behalf.

Second, my own darling Katie has a most disturbing illness. It is called HSP. She started having spots show up on her legs and bottom that just looked like really bad bruises or some kind of bug bite, I took her to the doctor on Monday and they said it was called HSP and it will run its course in about a month. She could have some stomach problems and some joint pain, we have to take a urine sample to the Children's Clinic once a week but other than that business a usual. She isn't contagious and she isn't restricted from sports or school or anything. So I'm thinking this is regrettable but manageable. She comes home from school on Tuesday afternoon limping and says her knee hurts. Katie tends towards the dramatic so I just said "Let me look at it Baby". It was so swollen you could not even see her knee cap. The skin was tight and a little purple and her feet were swelling as well. I immediately called the Children's Clinic, they called back a while later and said that it was perfectly normal with HSP to just put a warm compress on it and give her some Motrin. The next day her knee looked better and wasn't as painful. Then last night on the way to Awana she told me her fingers hurt and lo, they are horribly swollen as well. *Sigh* As long as she doesn't have blood in her urine she should recover in about a month. It is just really hard to see your kid in pain and not be able to do anything about it. Just pray for me and her that we get through this.

Thank you guys. It is such a comfort to be able to tell guys whats going on and know you care and you are praying.

Update

Finally, after a week of my kitchen being out of commission it is all done. The plumber finished up the last of it this morning. I can now use all of my kitchen appliances and my sink again. I am so relieved. It was quite a trying ordeal. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts.

Also, everyone is healthy at the moment so we have much to be thankful for.

No words.

I have no words to describe this last week. I couldn't even think of a title for this blog. I'll just tell you whats happened. Last week I got my dad to come over and look at my washing machine which has been giving me trouble for about six months. (My poor busy husband just doesn't have time for such things) For the past few months there has been a odor in the laundry room. I could not figure out where it was coming from. Dad looked at it and said it looked like the pipe was clogged where the machine drains and it had leaked onto the insulation. No big deal stop the leak and the smell will go away. The next day the dryer stopped working. My father-in-law came out to look at the dryer. Which is dead as a doornail. It had a good life it was given to us used when we got married. Which makes it about twelve years old. So Thursday I took four loads to the laundry mat to dry. No problem Andy's grandmother recently went into a nursing home so they are giving us her dryer and the washing machine will be fixed on Friday. (We called a plumber) Meanwhile Ian and Emma are sick with a virus which consist of a fever and a sore throat. So Friday comes and brings with is the plumber who unclogged the washing machine drain and said the smell was probably just the natural smell of the old house (I wasn't buying that because I have lived here 4 years and it has never been funky). He decided to look under the house before he left and then he found it. Apparently the main drain pipe that connects the kitchen appliances the Washing machine, the sink and the dish washer has rusted and has a hole in it. So for the past four to six months everything has been draining to the ground under the house. Hench the funky smell. Now there are two silver linings on this cloud. One the hole was past the floor so the floor didn't rot out and two the bathrooms are not involved in the problem. So plumber says he will try to get out early next week to replace the pipe in the mean time we cant run the dish washer or the washing machine and we can't let any water go down the drain in the sink. That is the plumbing problem.
Then Saturday I woke up with the virus the kids had earlier in the week. Now as most of you know those little viruses the kids get over in 24 hours take adults forever to get over. Saturday I limped along and buy Sunday I was down for the count. Unfortunately Andy left Sunday morning for a business trip. This is why I thank God for my parents and in-laws. Mom and Dad took the boys to their church and Becky and Frank took the girls to their church. If it wasn't for them I don't know what I would have done. I didn't feel better until Tuesday.
So if we can get the pipe fixed and I can continue to get better we will be doing OK. Pray that the plumbing doesn't cost to much and that Andy and Katie don't get the virus.

Doggie Drama

Hello everyone! I know I haven't blogged in a long time and this may seem like a weird way to get back into it but I have to tell you about our poor little doggie. Technically we don't have a dog but we consider ourselves part owners with Granny's dog. She got the dog a few years ago and Nathan instantly fell in love with it Granny has been trying to give it to us ever sense. We aren't ready for a dog yet so we take care of Carmen whenever Granny goes out of town and sometimes he comes to visit just because. Anyway, last Saturday Granny gave Carmen a bath and had set him up on the counter in the kitchen to dry him off. She stepped out onto the back porch to get his brush and for some reason he jumped off the counter. He broke his leg. Granny took him to the vet where they wrapped his leg and told her to bring him back on Monday. When he went on Monday the doctor told her that it was a very bad break and Carmen has very tiny bones. They said they could either put a plate in it or amputate it. Thankfully Granny wouldn't consider that option so he had surgery last week and they put a plate in his leg. There were some veins and tendons injured in the surgery and the Dr. said if he moves around to much till it heals there will be no option but the amputation. So he is confined to a port-a-crib for the next 4 to 6 weeks. Poor little guy.

Orientation.

Well the day finally came that the kids returning to school is soon to become a reality. We got to the school a little after eight and went to Emma's informational meeting which we have heard twice before. Then we met her teacher. I think she has a good one. Emma seems a little more excited after today. She sat in her spot at her table and organized and re-organized her pencil box. Then we went to Katie's meeting which was essentially the same as the Emma's. Then we went to her classroom. She had a list of past friends who she really wanted to be in her class. We learned right off that she didn't get her really good friend from last year in her class, but she realized she had two of her other good friends not only in her class but at her table (I hope she doesn't get in trouble for talking)she is excited. She also has her cousin Paige in her class. Paige and Katie have had a love/hate relationship all their lives. It's hard to explain because I don't think it is typical but it is cause for concern. When they were in class together in pre-school they only played with each other so that was a problem. Emily and I figure they will either compete with each other, fight with each other, or be best friends. We explained the dynamic to the teacher and she told us she would watch them and see how they do and make sure they aren't sitting at the same table.
It seems every time we meet a challenge though the Lord sends us some reassurance it turns out their teacher's assistant was their teacher in their three-year-old year in Pre-school. So she already knows them and she is super sweet. Thank you Lord for your provision.

Oh and the Van is fixed. Thank the Lord that it was not the alternator is was something with the post on the battery which didn't cost very much to fix.

Just when you thought it was safe...

Wow what a day. First off we got back from Charleston just fine. Then we went to the airport and picked up my dad who was returning from a mission trip in Peru. He got back o.k. and seemed to have had a great time other than being really tired.

We had SO much to do this week to get ready for school next week, well check-ups, sick appointments, school supplies, a birthday party just to name a few. This morning though was the well check up for Nathan. I knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park because he had to get shots but that turned out to be the least of our worries. We all got up this morning tired and a little grumpy from the fun but exhausting weekend and got ready to go to the doctor. We went out to the car and got everyone buckled in and went to turn the car on and.... nothing. Not a sound or light came on in my van. It was totally dead. So I called my Mother-in-law, who is a saint, she told them he would be late (she works at the children's clinic) canceled a doctor's appointment she had and came to my house and stayed with the other three while I took Nathan in her car. I had called AAA and was expecting them to get there and jump the car off and go on about my day. No such luck, the guy came and jumped it off and it started right up and then died again about a minute later. He said "I'm sorry ma'am it appears to be your alternator, it will need to be towed to a shop." So I called my mother-in-law who called my father-in-law who told me where to have it taken (all this time my Mom is at work, and Andy was in interviews all morning). SO they loaded it up and took it away.

NOW I'm STUCK in a house with one child who got four shots today, one child who has a cold, one who can't seem to stop the baby-talk and one who is very vocal about not liking having her plans changed (doesn't seem to occur to her that this was NOT my plan either). Anyway Just when I think it is safe to return to normal life I need to remind myself that my life is not normal.

Thank you Lord that all my children are safe and healthy, for helpful in-laws and for AAA.

Still alive.

Just to let everyone know I am not stuck under a large piece of furniture nor have the kids staged a mutiny. We are all alive a kicking. The best way I could describe my summer is "the summer of dental disasters." I have had a root canal and a crown and Emma needs to have some dental work done as well. She had a filling fall out. Sometimes when it rains is pours.

Andy finished school for the summer and is enjoying a few weeks off before starting back. Thankfully he will only have one class this fall. Which will be handy with Katie, Emma and Nathan playing soccer this fall. Although the weather is still hot plans for fall are in full swing.

It has been a good summer but I am glad that it is almost over. A little routine would be nice right now. We did get to go to Charleston and visit Matt and Kathy and the boys, which was all we needed to make our summer complete.

I never did update my picture though.

Summer fun.

I can't believe I ever thought that summer would drag. We haven't had a minute to catch our breath since school let out. The week after school was out Andy and I went to Wilmington for a few days, he had a conference and I tagged along. We had a wonderful time. The kids have been in art camp and vacation bible school. Then this week I went to Virgina for a few days to see my grandparents (by my self) and had a wonderful time. And I am being blessed with a wonderful bible study that Missy has organized and is doing a wonderful job with.

On the whole summer has been a lot of fun so far. As for the rest of it. We have one more trip to Virgina planned in July I am taking Katie and Emma up to spend a few days with Granny B and Papa Joe. It will be there first time away from home without me, which they are a little nervous about. I think I am just as nervous as them but I think it will be good for all of us. And the summer can't be complete without spending some time with the Beam's, not sure how I am going to work that out yet but I hope it is soon. (Kathy if you have any ideas give me a call)

I hope you are all having wonderful summers and enjoying your time with your little darlings.

Summer goal: update picture of the kids on my blog. That picture is from Christmas and they all look very different now.

My brush with the law.

I am kicking myself that I haven't thought about blogging this before now.

Last Monday night I went to the Yellow Mall with my Mom and the kids. We got done kind of late and made it back to Shelby about 8:30 and I was driving the back way home, I was on Graham Street almost at the stop sign when Nathan said he was going to barf. I stopped in the road because there wasn't anyone behind me and scrambled around to find him something to barf in. After giving him instructions and making sure he was OK I drove on. A white car pulled out behind me and when I turned at the stop sign I saw blue lights in the rear view mirror so I pulled over. I wasn't upset because we hadn't done anything wrong. I rolled down my mirror and looked in the side mirror that's when I realized this wasn't some ordinary traffic stop. The officer had His flashlight in one hand and his other hand on his gun. And he was ALL business. Then he hollered "PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM." I quickly stuck my hands out the window and He immediately relaxed and walked up to the car with a smile on his face. He said "here's the situation Ma'am, we had an inmate get away from us and I saw you stopped in the road back there and I heard voices, I just wanted to make sure that He hadn't gotten in the car with you and your family." I was like "uh no my son was about to throw up." He was very nice and told me I could go. As we pulled off and the kids returned to full volume my mom said "if he had gotten in the car with us he would have turned himself in." At that point I had to agree with her the kids were all quite rowdy. When I told my brother about it he cracked up. He had a few brushes with the law in his younger wilder days and he found it hilarious that his straight arrow sister was told to put her hands where they could be seen.

Any of you who live in Shelby have probably heard about this guy getting away from the police. They lost him at the intersection of Graham street and Kings road about two hundred yards from where I stopped to take care of Nathan. Thank you Lord for your protection.

What time is it!?!?

SUMMER TIME! O.k. for any of you who don't know that is from High School Musical, which I am destine to hear a lot of now that Katie is out of school. Today was her last day. She got an award for A-B honor roll for the whole year. I was so proud of her. Thank you Missy for volunteering to keep the other three so I could be there for Katie's special moment.

Now the fun truly begins. To be totally honest with you all I start dreading summer starting about Valentines day. I know it sounds awful but it is so hard to have all the kids here at the same time. God bless the homeschoolers! I prayed about homeschooling when Katie went to school and I know it just wasn't right for me. However, I still have guilt that I don't want to have my kids with me 24/7. I think the feeling is mutual though. When Andy was out of town last week after about two days any time the door would open Ian would holler "DADDY" I kept saying no sweetie Daddy won't be home for a few more days. After about a day more when he would hear the door he would hopefully say Neenee? (my Mom) as if he needed to see ANY other adult than me. I wasn't offended at that point I was about ready to give him to the Mail man. (Just kidding) (kinda)

After a few weeks we settle into a comfortable routine and before we know it the summer is over. We are excited this year the kids have some opportunities to do some fun things. There is always Vacation Bible School, our church dose one the kids love. Katie is going to go to a few of the summer art camps that the Arts Council is putting on. She is going to do Clay play where she will do pottery and then later in the summer she will have a week of theater camp with my high school drama teacher. I can't wait for Ms. Reger to see her flair for the dramatic. Emma and Nathan will spend a week doing Art Adventure.

I would love to hear you guys stay sane plans for the summer and any fun things you have planned. This year I have the privilege of attending Missy's bible study, so this is shaping up to be a great summer.

Catch up.

I know I haven't posted in a few weeks. I have no excuse except the kids are out of school. It has been quite an adjustment phase having the three children at home all day everyday. They are just finally figuring out how to play together and get along. (Most of the time)

So to catch everyone up... Emma graduated pre-school. We were proud and sad to see our little girl moving on from Rainbow. She is really growing up.

Nathan will move upstairs next year. At Rainbow the upstairs is a real status symbol, the big kids go upstairs. Next year at Rainbow will be his last so he is excited about being a big boy.

Ian will be in the two year old class next year.

Katie will finish her school year with honors. She has done exceptionally well this year. I am so pleased with her progress. I am dyslexic so it is a thrill to me to see her reading and doing math so well. She can read about anything she wants to now. She told me she wanted to read Ramona Quimby age 8, and I was like O.K. baby so she started to read it and about a week later I started reading it to both girls and she knew what was going on! I didn't read with comprehension until the third grade when I had been held back in the second grade and started in a Learning Disabled class. She was writing in a journal the other day and it asked her what her favorite thing to do was and she said "Go to school." Thank you Lord, it is such a blessing.

Andy is traveling this week. He left on Monday and will be back late Thursday night. Which is a bummer because Thursday is my birthday. I will be 29. Somehow I think that will be harder than when I actually turn 30, its like leaving my 20's already. I saw a lady on So you think you can dance the other night who was my age and had four children also. I asked Andy if I looked that old. He was non-committal. He said he couldn't compare because he thinks I am so much prettier than she was and he thinks she looked older than her age. Not sure how to take that.

Anyway that's what is going on with the Gardner Gang. I hope to be a regular updater over the summer even though I feel like I'm drowning in kids. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Whewww!

It has been quite a week around here. We have had three of the four of our children down with strep throat. It all started the week before with a trip to the Children's Clinic for a well check up for Ian. Everything went great with his visit. When I got home that afternoon I heard that Bella, Missy's little girl had strep throat and she had been to the clinic on Monday. Ian came down with it the next Wednesday. Since the kids had not been together while Bella was contagious I deduced that they got it from the children's clinic. Isn't it funny that we take our kids in well and they leave sick. Something wrong with that. Although they separate the kids out in the waiting rooms to try to cut down on the germ sharing, the exam rooms are the same for all the kids. So you kept my kid from contracting malaria in the waiting room but he got it off the floor in the exam room. Hmmm. Anyway after Ian had it the fell like dominoes. Ian was treated for it on Friday, Nathan spiked a fever on Saturday, and Emma on Sunday evening. Now I have three kids on antibiotics. Ian, is sensitive to antibiotics and is on a stronger one because of his ears. As a result his hind end looks like hamburger meat. Well maybe not that bad but you can imagine. On top of all that I have had some kind of ick that has made me nauseous all week I even took a pregnancy test (*gasp*) it was negative. Hence my ability to be sitting here typing to you fine folks. I hope your weeks have been illness free and wonderful. Enjoy the rest of the school year before we have to figure out what to do with our kids this summer.
On a final note my Mother-in-law works for the children's clinic and I think it is the best place to take my kids when they are sick. We have had good experiences there. We are just aware of the petrie dish that all the surfaces are.

Rocky Mt., Mother's Day, and Friends

Wow what a week. We had a wonderful time in Rocky Mt., I think Joy and Missy said it all and they have great pics so link to their blogs and see the sweetness. While we were in Rocky Mt. I got a text from a sweet friend that I have just recently reunited with. She and I are both fans of The Princess Bride so we texted back and forth quotes from the movie. It was just one of those moment that you see the blessings of friendship that the Lord has given you. I was in Rocky Mt. with Joy and Missy, two dear friends, I had just had my Monday phone date with Kathy (another God given blessing) and texting to another friend in Florida, all at once I felt surrounded by love and friends. I remarked to Missy that it is amazing that sometimes I feel so isolated and alone but the reality is that I have wonderful friends at my fingertips. She encouraged me to trust that my friends want to be there for me and encourage me and all I need to do is reach out. I needed to hear that I think I have been in a friend funk since Joy moved. I kind of felt that no matter how hard I try to make friends (and believe me it isn't easy for me) they will just move away or get to busy for me. (I know pity party table for one) Its just when Kathy moved I didn't think I would ever find any other friend like her but the old girl scout song is right "make new friends and keep the old one is silver and the other is gold" we never have to loose our friends through a move or business we just have to reach out to them and we can stay friends forever.
ANYWAY happy mother's day to all. Pat yourself on the back for another successful year of mothering. I hope all you families make a big deal over you because you ARE a big deal.

Blogfest!

We to have been stricken by whatever computer cold was going around so I haven't been on in a few days. Man did I have a lot to catch up on. I have just spent the last hour happily reading and commenting on blogs. It was a great time. You all blog so well. I get something different from each of you that helps me get through my day. I started the blog because Joy wanted me to so we could keep up with each other. I twisted Kathy's arm and got her to start one so I could keep up with her and the boys. I have found blogging to be very therapeutic and reading yours to be spiritually uplifting. Thank you fellow bloggers and keep it up.

Ian's potty mouth.

I know another post, it really is feast or famine with me. Oh well. Here goes..
Ian is in that adorable little toddler phase where he can say WAY more than people can comprehend. He has his own words for everything. He needs me or one of his siblings to interpret for him. Lately he has two new words that he likes, chip and truck. Unfortunately they don't sound like that's what he is saying. On truck he drops the "tr" and adds an "F". Normally only I notice this because thank the dear Lord the other kids don't know that word. As it happens thought the other day on our way into school (at Shelby Presbyterian Church) he saw a fire truck parked outside the fire house. So he commenced to screaming TRUCK at the top of his lungs (only the altered version). I'm going "Yes Ian Truck" every time he says it so that the passing mommies don't think that he is actually saying what it sounds like he is saying. I could have melted into the sidewalk.

Chip sounds like Sh** which he also says a lot since they are his new favorite food. What will I do with this boy? My dad asked me if he had been hanging around my brother to much, for those of you who know Michael you know what he means.

Mower than you probaly wanted to know.

I learned two things about myself yesterday. One is that I am VERY spoiled and the second thing is I LIKE IT! As you know I am taking care of things around our house lately, well it came time for the grass to be cut. I mean it was like "anyone seen Ian?" it was that bad. So yesterday my Mom (my hero) took all four kids with her when she took Katie to soccer practice, so that I could cut the grass. So I got out the mower and attempted to start it. It is difficult at the best of times down right ornery the rest of the time. I struggled with it for about half an hour. I have to admit there was a point when I thought "Hey if this thing doesn't start I can sit in the house and read my book while Mom has the kids." It was a fleeting thought I really wanted to honor Mom's willingness to chase all four of my kids around. So after much struggles I got the darn thing started and I mowed the grass. Man it was hard! Last year I did I a few times for "Fun" (ick I'm disgusted by my own spoildness) when I did though Andy trimmed in and all I had to do was mow back and forth in a straight line. This time I had to get in close to the house and run under bushes and around trees and all that fun stuff. Not to mention the front yard had to be bagged because it was so thick. I had to empty the bag every second line. I realized that as and adult I really haven't had to shower because I had dirt on me but yesterday I found dirt in unmentionable places. I'm still puzzled by how it could have gotten there.
The yard may look like a drunk monkey mowed it but the grass is short. I have the kind of husband who always looks to my comfort first. He will get me things from the kitchen and take my trash and all kinds of things like that. He is a prince, and now I really appreciate all that he dose.
Love ya, Babe!

I am woman hear me ROAR!

With Andy doing so much school and work a few things around the house that he would normally handle have fallen to me. The sprayer on the kitchen sink broke last week. I was waiting patently for him to fix it and then Monday I colored Mom and Sandy's hair and had to rinse them out with a cup I think there ears are probably still full of water (Sorry ladies). So I decided that if it was going to get fixed before summer break I would have to do it. I loaded my three youngest children in the car and headed off to Lowe's. I realized after some research that it would be better to replace the whole faucet (the old one leaked badly). Word of advice if the man at Lowe's and you husband say "AH that's an easy job no problem" take it with a grain of salt. However I set about it with passion and determination. I emptied under the sink and got a flash light and crawled in. First the instructions were ONLY for installing the new faucet NOT taking out the old one. I turned the water off and starting unscrewing everything that screwed. Now I don't fancy myself a girly girl but I do like to look my best. I had just flat ironed my hair and applied makeup before picking up the kids (I don't want their teachers to think I always look like my morning self). So I am laying under the sink working on these screws and things are falling in my face and sticking to my lip gloss. I just about lost it. It was so nasty. I also had Bob the builder and his little brother (Nathan and Ian) either under the sink with me or stealing everything from my screwdriver to my flashlight. I had it all undone except one screw that would not budge. I worked on it for half an hour. I was determined to get this thing fixed though because I had no faucet and no water in the kitchen. SO what did I do? I roared..... DADDY! I called my Dad. If I call my dad on the phone and call him Daddy or D-Da he knows I want something. He graciously came to my rescue. He fixed my sink and also hung a paper towel holder and a hook in the laundry room. I love my Dad he has always been my hero and he proved it yesterday.

What about you guys (girls) even if you don't think of yourself as girly everyone has that one thing that they can't handle be it spiders, bugs, or anything like that. I would love to hear what would push you over the edge and make you scream like a girl.

Here I am.

Hello everyone. I am still her and still trudging on with this thing called life. It is such a challenge to enjoy everyday and not say I will be glad when.... I am posting. I have been fussed at so here is a post. Last week was the week from ..... uh you know where. It was like the perfect storm in bad children behavior. When you have four children you always have one of them who is being more whiny or more difficult. Sometimes you have two which makes life interesting. Last week ALL FOUR were in foul moods all week. Emma was as snarky and sarcastic as she knows how to be which is a lot. For example Nathan would say "Hey Emma look at that pretty tree and Emma would say Ya Nathan that is a pretty tree... NOT." Which would make Nathan dissolve into tears and declare "Emma is being rude-to-me" Katie did her best impression of a snotty teenager, which she is sadly getting pretty good at. I actually sent her to bed without dinner one night last week. Granted she had Yogurt and a pop tart for a snack at 5:00, so I didn't feel like she was going to perish. She did though, she layed on her bed screaming "I'm going to STARVE... you can't do this to me!!!!!" She is no stranger to drama. Ian has been his lovely and mischievous self. He bit a kid at school and had to sit in time out. Which is really hard because you can't talk to a two year old about his behavior hours after the fact.
On top of all that Andy worked until 9:30 or 10:00 every night last week. He is in the final push of his current semester, and doing three jobs at work so he has been really busy lately. We would covet your prayers.
Here's to a better week this week... it can't be any worse! (Can it?)

Reflections on nine years.

Today is mine and Andy's ninth anniversary. It has been quite a ride. I'm pretty impressed with nine years, especially since it seems like we just got married yesterday. I have had a great time being married to Andy. It hasn't been without it's bumps in the road but we have weathered it all together.
Just to give a few examples, right before our second anniversary Andy's father had a heart transplant. Katie was born in January a week after she was born Frank went into the hospital not to come out again until he had a heart. At the end of March Frank got a heart. Andy was at the hospital at least four nights a week while his Dad was there. You can probably imagine what a stressful time it was for us. Andy visiting his Dad and being concerned for his Mom and his Sister traveling back and forth to the hospital. Me at home with an infant who for some reason despised the hospital. I'm serious as soon as we would pass the fountain in front of Carolina's Medical Center she would start screaming so what time I did get to see Frank my Mom or Emily sat in the lobby with Katie so I could go up.
Then, While I was pregnant with Emma, Andy went back to school to get his Masters Degree. He got it when she was about 8 months old. For any of you who have done the school thing with a spouse and then thrown kids in on top of that you know how hard that is.
We had a few years of smooth sailing during which we had Nathan. Nathan was a perfect baby. The kind that makes you scared to have another baby because he couldn't possibly be as easy going as Nathan.
Along came Ian, who is a joy and a delight but comes with his own set of challenges. Most of you know that Ian was born with some health problems. He was in the NICU for a week after he was born. Unlike when Frank was sick this was a crisis in our own nebular family. The decisions that were made were all Andy and I. The outcome would most closely affect us and our children. We felt this responsibility when the other kids were born, sure but not to this extent. It was really hard to watch Ian struggle but it was a great feeling to know that Andy and I were in this together. That he cared about our little boy as much as I did. A few nights after Ian went to Charlotte we got a room in the Hospitality House at Presbyterian hospital. They gave us a family room because we were a married couple. There was a set of bunk beds and a single bed in the room. Andy and I slept on the bottom bunk of the bunk beds because we couldn't stand the idea of being so far away from each other and we both need the comfort of the others nearness.
As you all know Ian is great now he is a thriving two year old who is one of the bright spots in our days.
I guess its true what they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And closer to each other and to God if you will let it.
Now nine years have also brought us many blessings. We have had two houses, numerous vehicles, four wonderful children, continued education and success in business. We also have the support of friends and family. I know all of you loving and praying for us has helped make this marriage a success.
We still work on our marriage and I'm sure we always will. I got some criticism for getting married at nineteen. People said "don't you want to travel and play and experience life before you settle down?" I said to them that there was nothing I wanted to do in my life that I wanted to do without Andy. I'm happy to say that I still feel that way today.
Andy I know you appreciate me being frugal so this blog is my anniversary card to you. I hope you always know that I wouldn't want to be anyone but your wife and the mother to our children. I love you, Babe.

Nate update.

As I was sitting her blogging yesterday about how concerned I was about Nathan's leg I realized that I wasn't going to wait until today to know what was going on.
So I pulled the power of Mommy and called the Children's Clinic and told them I wanted him seen that day. I wasn't rude I just told them that I was concerned and wanted to know what was going on. So we went and he got to see Dr. Noodle (Dr. Hayek, my kids have called him Dr. Noodle since Katie was a baby). He examined his leg and said that he couldn't see anything wrong with it and Nathan didn't flinch when he mashed on it. He dose have a definite limp that is very noticeable. We are to give him children's Motrin twice a day for a week and see if it improves. If it doesn't he will go next week and have his leg x-rayed. Dr. Noodle also said that it was not MERSA and not to worry about what I heard on Dr. Phil, he said a lot of that information was sensational anyway. It always helps me to talk to him he is so level headed. So now we have a time frame and we are watching him closely. Thank you for your prayers. I will keep you updated.

O.K. people time to pray!

Nathan has been limping for a week. He started last Saturday, we were at my in-laws house for Easter and my Father-in-law has a heal spur so we thought he was imitating Papa. However no three year old can imitate that for a week without ever not doing it. Some days he limps worse than others. He has a doctor's appointment tomorrow to have it checked out. I have to admit I am feeling pretty anxious about it. Then today I watched Dr. Phil and he was talking about MERSA so now I'm a basket case. The strange thing is he says it doesn't hurt. He limps wether he is wearing shoes or not and no matter what he is wearing. Once we ruled out all of those factors it has us pretty concerned.

Pray for me to leave this with the Lord and to be anxious for nothing. I am not usually alarmist but this has me pretty alarmed.

Wow I'm flattered!

Hello people I hope everyone had a wonderful spring break. We had a great one. We traveled to Virgina to visit my grandparents. We left on Tuesday and came home on Friday. My parents went with us and stayed until Thursday. On Wednesday the guys went and played golf while we ladies kept up with the kids. Then on Thursday Granny B, Mom and I went and got manicures and pedicures. It was great. Andy and Papa Joe took the kids to the airport to watch the planes take off and land and then to Papa Joe's limo company to see the limos. (Papa Joe drives for a limo company) Nathan was very impressed with the "limbos." We had a great week.

Over Easter I got several comments from people who said they really liked my blog and wanted me to post more. I was blown away I didn't know anyone was reading. If you read my blog and would like to read more leave me a comment so I know who I am talking to please. I dearly love to read all of your blogs and I am flattered to think that some of you may be enjoying mine.

I'm Trippin!

We have done a lot of traveling lately. I happy to do them all but it is also nice to be home.

The end of February my cousin had a baby shower on Saturday then on Sunday my uncle got married. Me, Mom and the girls went and had a girls weekend. We went to the shower and then went shopping for the girls Easter dresses and then to the wedding on Sunday. We had a good time it's nice that the girls are old enough to travel with without to many headaches. When we were shopping at the Children's place the girls decided to do a little window modeling. So I did what any good mom would do... I went outside and took pictures. We got some giggles and "how cute" from passers by so I think they sold it. Funny thing was that most of what they were wearing was from Children's Place.

Next we had the trip to Gatlinburg with our friends Matt and Kathy.

We got home on Sunday and Andy left Monday morning for a conference in Greensboro and then went from there on Wednesday to a conference in Asheville. He got home on Friday evening.

Then this Wednesday my Mother-in-law and I are leaving to go to a Joyce Meyer conference. We get to do this about once a year and I love it. It is so good to go and get spiritually refreshed and it's great to get to spend some alone time with Becky.

I'm also looking forward to a trip to Rocky Mt. to see Joy and the Boys, and her new house. I will be traveling with Missy and Bella and some of my kids so that will also give us time to spend together.

We also may be going to Virgina to see my grandparents over spring break. I hope we get to do this. Andy will travel with us and he could use some rest and relax time.

Anyway that all about me Trippin' hope you all are well. Have a God Blessed week.

Wonderful Weekend

Andy and I went to Gatlinburg this weekend with some dear friends of ours, Matt and Kathy Beam. We use to travel together all the time. In fact we were sitting on a beach together the year after Andy and I got married and we named Katie. We were looking for a good name to go with Jeanette, which is my middle name, and Kathy said "Katherine is a good name". And that was it we loved the idea of calling her Katie. So Katie is named after our friend Kathy. We loved the idea of honoring her as well. We had a great time with them which included a lot of "Remember the time when...?" It was so fun.
We got to do this great thing called Ober Gatlinburg, which I have never done. We rode a trolley car up to the top of the mountain and then a ski lift to the very top. It was so cool to look down on the world from that height and enjoy God's creation and man's ingenuity. We also did this thing called and Alpine Slide if you get a chance you should try it. It is a concrete slide that you slide down in a yellow sled thing. Kind of like bobsledding in the Olympics. Andy and I raced the first time and I won, he says he slowed down for me but I don't know.
We also enjoyed just hanging out with our friends. We have 8 kids between us and soon there will be 9 (Kathy not me) so this was a rare opportunity.
Anyway the new week brought a hefty dose of reality. Andy is out of town for the whole week and Emma and Katie woke up sick on Monday. That and all the other delights of taking care of four kids alone should make for an interesting week. I'm glad I got some time to recharge.

My kid is a Genius!

Nathan went back to school today after his two sick days. He was so excited to see all his friends. They had a Doctor in to talk to the kids about staying healthy and getting check ups. When I went in to get Nate the Dr. had just finished his talk. There were quite a few moms around waiting for their kids and a few said "your kid is so smart" and things like that. I had no idea what they were talking about. One of the moms said "did you know that he knows what an otoscope is?"(if any of you don't know it's the thing they look in your ears with) I was like uh... he dose? What happened was the Dr. held up a stethoscope and asked if anyone knew what it was, a few kids did. (Nathan among them) Then he held up and otoscope and Nate said "That's and oteoscope." His teacher said she almost fell out of her chair. They were all stunned that he knew it. I asked him "Son how did you know that?" He said, "Blues Clue's." I was so proud of him. Thank you Joe and Steve, they really are listening.
P.S. I had to research how to spell otoscope because I had no idea. I don't feel to bad though because I doubt Nathan could spell it either... I think.

Tidbits

I have just a few thoughts to share.
1. I have recently decided to read some of the classics. I like to read things that I have heard about and never read. I just finished Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I loved it. I don't know how I missed it all these years. I look forward to reading other books by Dickens. If you haven't read it you should give it a chance. I think next Dad and I are going to read Moby Dick. I hope it is half as good.
2. Do any of the rest of you have trouble with the letter identification when you post a comment on someones blog? I have a horrible time with it. I am dyslexic and my eyes just don't see what is there. It takes me three or four times sometime. I love to get comments on my blog so I try to regularly comment on other people's. If I comment on your blog just know that I had a hard time with those crazy letters. And I love you. :)

Oh well.

I had such a hard time getting back into the swing of things after Christmas this year. I felt like I was always a step behind. Last week was the first week that life felt normal, with various illnesses and other things happening life has been unpredictable at best.

Routines were clicking and things were going like clock work. Well this morning Nathan woke up with a fever, or a feber as he says. So I was in the land of a sick three year old all day today.
My house which had finally gotten clean last week looks like a tornado hit it. I know you can't predict children's illnesses but sometimes they are so inconvenient.

Oh well, such is life. Pray for Nate, he has a fever and a runny nose. Maybe life will be normal next week.

The Sweetest Hour

I love to cuddle with my kids. We love to lie on the couch and cuddle up with each other and watch Arthur and Curious George. The spot that is most coveted is my “nest” as long as I can remember that is what Katie has called the space behind my knees when I’m laying on my side.

Some afternoons I feel like a mother Cat with all my little kittens laying all around and on me. I love it. I lay on my side; I have one kid on my arm (usually Nathan) and two in my “nest” (Katie and Emma) and Ian sitting on my hip. You may all think this sounds weird but it’s what we do.

I didn’t come from and overly affectionate home so I love that I love it. I found out as a kid that kissing and hugging your children is not as irresistible as I find it with my children. I have loved them so much and told them so, so often that it is like breathing. This is weird because I don’t remember anyone except my Dad and Andy ever telling me they loved me before.

It’s interesting the things we determine to change when we become parents. This is one area that I have to say I made up my mind to make it different and I did. I know this because of the evidence. I have four very confident children. In fact I don’t think that Katie would think it possible that people not think she’s beautiful and clever. She can’t think why anyone wouldn’t like her. I hope the balance comes as she matures but I’m glad she gets to start life with her love tank full.

So if you haven’t today and I’m sure you have, cuddle your children and tell them you love them.

By the way, my friend Kathy has a “fort” instead of a “nest.” Any of you guys have anything like this?

Regarding Spell Check I'm typing post in Word and cut and pasting to the Blog.

Dolls, teeth and Skates

About Dolls, Teeth and Skates.

My girls have had some pretty big events in their lives the last two weeks. Katie turned 7 and she got her American girl Doll for her birthday. The doll's name is Molly and she is a member of our family now. She sleeps in a cloths basket at the foot of Katie's bed. Katie changes her cloths as much if not more than I change Ian's. Emma wants one so bad she can't stand it. She has decided to save her own money and buy her one. We told her she could get one for her birthday but she doesn’t want to wait until October.

She has made some strides towards her savings though she lost two teeth last week. One, one day and another the very next day. She was thrilled, the tooth fairy was generous and she put ten dollars in an old tang can that says American Girl Doll. Andy and I are going to start them on an allowance. I know we should have already done this but we haven't. Anyone have any tips on chores and payment?

And lastly. Katie had her first birthday party in which she was able to invite friends from school. It as a skating party at Kate's. She had a great time she loves to skate. She invited 12 friends and 11 showed. We couldn't have expected a better turnout. Now four of those kids were Emma, Nathan, Paige(cousin) and Bekah (basicly family). She had friends from Kindergarten all the way back to Pre School. Now the kicker was that I asked her what kind of cake she wanted and she said She wanted a cake that looked like a skate. And she wanted it to be purple. Now I learned to decorate cakes about 3 years ago and Skates were not one I have done before. I had convinced myself to order her a Hannah Montana cake, however my brother got wind of that and he had a cow. My mom always use to make us really unusual cakes like soccer balls and a Holly Hobby cake. He said "twenty years from now she will never remember a Hannah Montana cake but a Skate cake will be remembered." He convinced me so I made one. My mom helped but I think it turned out o.k.



Im in a very mellow mood today so I hope this post isn't boring.

This blog is rated PG-13!

I hope that by telling you guys this story some of you will tell me that it has also happened to you and your kids aren’t scared for life. Yesterday afternoon during nap time Nathan and Ian were asleep and Katie and Emma were playing in their room. I thought it would be a good time for a quick bit of alone time for me and Andy. He was working at the computer in our room so I went in and shut and locked the door (or so I thought). We were laying on the bed in ah... the nude making out when we hear footsteps in the hall. Andy stopped kissing me and looked up and said "oh door please be locked" and I said "I locked it." Just like in a horror film everything happened in slow motion. The door knob turned, we froze and Katie opened the door. I grabbed a pillow and covered my chest and Andy hollered "GET OUT" she shut the door in like a second. Andy jumped up and ran into the bathroom in case she came back and I jumped up and locked the door. I was laughing so hard I couldn't breath and Andy was hiding in the bathroom (he didn't know I had locked the door). As we were getting dressed to go talk to the girls Andy could hear Katie and Emma giggling as Katie retold the story to her. We sat down with them and asked them what they saw and what it meant. The good thing about it is that we got to see what our kids know about sex which fortunately is nothing. Emma said "I told Katie I thought you were getting naked and kissing until you die." We're not sure what that means. Katie thought the whole thing was gross and didn't understand why I didn't have any cloths on my back. Fortunately I was laying in front of Andy and we were facing each other so she didn't know that he was naked she just thought he didn't have a shirt on. We explained that married people like to kiss with their clothes off sometimes but you don't do it until you are married. They didn't have to many questions though. I just hope they aren’t scared for life. Later on I thought of all the things the could have seen and the whole thing isn’t quite so funny anymore. Needless to say Andy and I have some unfinished business and from now on he says HE will lock the door.

Ian, oh Ian.

I have heard a lot lately about how Nathan gets a bad rap on this blog. That's just not so He is just the one who offers up the most raw material. This blog however is dedicated to Ian. My once docile, sweet, easy baby is almost two and it shows. You know how if an adult isn't very attractive they are described as having a great personality. Well I am convinced that when you describe a toddler as having a great personality you really mean he is a monster. Now don't think I don't love this little man with everything I have in me... well let me present the evidence it speaks for itself.

1. We moved him into a real bed after Christmas, the other night at three o'clock in the morning we hear a lot of ruckus coming from the boys room. Ian had gotten out of his bed and onto Nathan's bed and was running from the foot board to tackle a sleeping Nathan. I went in there as he was raring back for another run. Nathan looked at me half asleep and said "hes jumpin on me." I told him I was sorry and tried to get Ian back in bed. He did it twice more before morning.

2. Ian takes his naps and starts out the night in a port-a-crib in the play room so that he and Nathan can sleep at the same time. One night when Andy was working I counted how many times he came out that door and I got to twenty before I got to frustrated to count any more. I didn't speak to him and calmly put him back in bed as the supper nanny recommends. Dose this really work? I have no evidence that it dose.

3. And my last piece of evidence is this. If I ever thought any of the other kids were "climbers" I was sadly mistaken. Ian's favorite place to hang out is in the middle of the kitchen table. And now he has discovered that he can move chairs. I walked in the kitchen the other day and found him in the middle of the stove(no lie). I almost had a heart attack. Everything was off but I shutter to think what could have happened.

There that's my proof that my kid has uh...personality. I told everyone who might keep him or try to keep up with him that he is on FULL safety lock down. I don't trust him alone for a minute. And yes that makes baths and potty breaks interesting.

Happy birthday to you!

My darling daughter who it seems just arrived yesterday has turned 7. I remember turning 7 myself. I thought "Wow 7 is almost 10 I am getting old." She was so pleased with her birthday she was out of school so she and I had a date. We had breakfast with my friend Missy and her Bella. Which later got turned into she had breakfast with Missy and Bella. Not sure how I got deleted. Then we came home and ordered her American Girl doll online. Molly will come in 5 to 7 business days. We have it marked on the calendar. She got lots of phone calls from people who love her and she loves attention so she was in hog heaven. We had special dinner of Dinosaur shaped chicken and she got a scarf and hat set along with a unicorn that Emma wrapped up. Then she went to AWANA and got sang to. I think she had a great day. Not to mention that her birthday party has been scheduled for February 2. I wish I could have a birthday like that.

Something to ponder.

I have been thinking of this spiritual insight for a few months now. I am hoping that if I get it out that it will clear up space for the Holy Spirit to hit me with something new. This has challenged me a lot. I am sure all of you have heard of the devotional by Oswald Chambers, My utmost for His Highest. I have been reading it off and on for years. Back in July I read a devotion called All Nobel things are Difficult. He referenced our utmost for Christ's highest. It really got me thinking of the title of the book. MY utmost for HIS highest. If we could really grasp that concept. Its saying that we do our best job ever all for the glory of Christ. It sounds like a no brainier in the spiritual sense we all are striving for that, but think about it in the daily sense. Lets say you have a project to do with your kids school or at work, you work with all your might and invest all of yourself in it. Then the praise goes to someone else. I think we would all like to think of ourselves as unselfish but we all like to be appreciated and acknowledged. Can we do our very best job for the glory of someone else? Can we do our utmost for His highest? Think about it as you go through your day the next few days, in everything you do think that you are doing your very best for the glory of Christ. Lets try to do our utmost for His Highest.

To mothers of boys...Help!

My darling son Nathan has been potty trained for the better part of a year now. He dose very well with few accidents. We have been very pleased. The problem is the smell in the bathroom. I have watched him without him knowing and he dose try to get it in the toilet. Andy taught him to make bubbles and I encourage him to make water noises. I told him if you don't hear water noises you are missing. Anyway he dose seem to be doing these things but my bathroom still smells like a truck stop. I have scoured every surface with cleaner. Floor, toilet, walls, cabinets everything. *ICK* It still smells. If anyone can give any advice I'd be happy for it.

Post christmas funk.

The Gardner family had a lovely Christmas. We were all showered with gifts and many well wishes. We partied and played and visited to our hearts content. We spent new years eve with my parents and the girls actually made it to midnight. As we shared our last day of vacation on New Year's day we realized something... we could not wait to go back to school and work. We have had enough of each other. The kids were tired and Andy was grouchy. (I was a peach) We all love each other so much but we realized that we need to all have our own experiences and come back together and share them in the evening. Now that school is back in and Andy is back at work I miss them all but I also appreciate them more. I may be the worst mother in the world to feel this way but I value our separate live and our coming back together time.

Oh and Ian moved out of his crib into a big boy bed on New Year's Eve. He is determined to leave me without a baby. I am proud of him though he is so sweet and smart.

I hope you all had a blessed holiday season and a wonderful new year.