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.