My Birthday SURPRISE!!

Well, first let it be known that I HATE surprises. I cannot stand not to know what is going on. Well, my birthday usually turns out to be just another day with a few people calling. This year was totally different! My birthday is actually today, but yesterday we had Zach's football game and then Andrew's first birthday party. (He was a late birthday present! He was born on the 27th, a day after mine!) Well, after Andrew's party, I came home because I have a history test on Tuesday that I need to seriously study for. Todd and the kids stayed over at The Goff's, which was nice because the house was quiet.

After a while, he came home and said that we needed to go and get potatoes. We went and got potatoes and then went over to Ben and Alicia's. Turns out Jessica, DJ, and Paige were there. Everything seemed ordinary to me. I was actually a little mad at Todd because it was 7:30 and we were just starting to cook and he would not let me go and get my books to study! Well, after dinner, we started to watch a movie and the next thing that I knew all the kids were coming around the corner singing "Happy Birthday" and Alicia had a cake. I was so surprised!! Todd had even taken the kids to get me a few presents! I, of course, love presents, but we are a little broke right now, so I could have done without!

I have to say that this was one of the best Birthdays that I have had in a long time! Todd and the kids gave me a $25 gift card to my favorite store, the Jon and Kate book, and some cards! Jessica and DJ gave me a really pretty ornament with a "V" on it and a necklace type thing to put my AUM name tag on!

I was very surprised to hear that this had been planned for a while and I did not know! I must add that the cake was a homemade cake, which means a lot!

One of the best things was Alicia told me that Todd said that I always make sure that everyone else has a something for their birthday and that it is a special day and even though I might be mad he wanted me to have that too!! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED---they are grateful for the things that I do!!!


I will post pics later......my computer had to be sent in for repairs, and I don't want to put a bunch of my pics on Todd's computer!

ANDREW

Please keep my best little buddy Andrew in your prayers. He has been sick for about 3 weeks. The doctor seems to think that about 3 weeks ago he had a stomach virus, then he got an eye infection and was on a strong dose of antibiotics, which caused the symptoms of the stomach virus to seem to worsen, then he developed a yeast infection on his bottom (which was from the antibiotic), they then gave him a different medicine for that. Now because he has had so much of this and that, his little body just can't take anymore. Alicia has been taking him to the doctor just about every week. He lost 4 pounds in a week. We spent the day yesterday at the doctor's office and then getting him settled in the hospital.

When the doctor came around this morning she said that they were going to keep him one more night for sure and they would re-evaluate him then.

Please keep Andrew, Ben, Alicia, and Landon in your prayers.

FALL 2011?!?!?!?

I went yesterday to meet with my adviser at AUM to discuss options for class for Spring Quarter. I just happened to ask her when my projected graduation date was and when she figured it out, I almost fell out of my chair. FALL 2011!! 1 YEAR after Todd. Do you know how old I will be in 2011? 34, I will be 34!! I feel like I have been going to school FOREVER! Well, at least now I have a date to look forward to. The sad thing is when I get done, I am not done. I would like to go back and get my Master Degree in Administration. By the time I finish school, it will be time to retire. Oh well, that is life.



The kids are all acting like they are dying! Morgan has had Pink Eye this week and Zach and Savannah are waking up feeling crummy in the mornings. I just send them on to school because they usually feel better mid-morning.



Todd is doing the same old thing! School, work, school, work, homework! He is going to Missouri tomorrow with his Dad to see his brother for the first time in about 2 years, I think. I know that Todd has not seen him since he has been back from Iraq. I am glad that he gets to go, but I sure will miss him!



We are going to have a busy weekend anyway! Friday night we are going to Clanton to celebrate my brother and my birthday with my family! Saturday morning Zachary has a football game and my parents and brothers are coming to watch, and Saturday night Morgan and I are going to a flash light maze with Ben, Alicia, and their youth group.



We did go to the Auburn game last Saturday and we had a great time except for the loss. Here are a few pics!

Thankful Thursday!!

1. I am thankful that through my struggles, my children can see why it is important to get an education when you are young and not wait until you have a family.

2. I am thankful that Todd and I have the opportunity to go to school and get our degrees, as late as it maybe.

3. I am sooo thankful that it is almost the weekend and I will have a small break from being mommy, a student, a taxi driver, a housekeeper, and a cook! (the kids are going to Dothan!) Sometimes I think that we are so busy I forget who I am!

4. I am thankful that my computer is under warranty and that I can send it in for repairs! I will miss it for about a week and a half. Todd said that he would share his though!

5. I am thankful for my friends in the real world and the cyber world!

6. I am thankful that even after 12 years of being married, I am still so in love with my husband!

Sleeping Dangerous?????

Well, my "big boy" fell out of the bed Sunday night. I was in the laundry room and I heard Todd running to the back of the house. He came back and told me that Zachary had fallen out of the bed and that he was going to have a black eye in the morning. I went back to his room to check on him and I looked at his eye and called for Todd. He had a cut on his eyelid and his eye was already swollen! Poor guy! We could not even get him to wake up. He was so tired. The funny thing is the next morning he did not even remember what had happened. I took him to the bathroom to show him his eye and he was completely grossed out.

Well, needless to say, we went to Target and bought side rails for his bed. Boy, I never knew sleeping could be so dangerous!

a little reminder

I feel like I need a little reminder to trigger my memory about why I am going to school and stressing our so much! I LOVE the Auburn Creed! I highlighted the lines that I am trying to remind myself about! WAR EAGLE!

THE AUBURN CREED

I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn.

Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.

I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.

I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.

I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.

I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all. I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.

I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God."

And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it. -

George Petrie (1945)

Answers from Jon and Kate

So some of you want to know about the questions and answers that were discussed at the Women's Conference, so here it goes.

~~One woman wanted to know about potty training and Kate's answer was to try the M&M reward system (like she did on the show) and to remember they will do it when they are ready! Boys take a little longer!

~~There were a lot of college students there who were in love with the show! I was kind of surprised!

~~The question about how long the show would continue for was a question that was asked several times.
They said that they renew their contract by season and that they sit down as a family and talk about it. They ask the kids how they feel about it.

~~They were also asked if they have a lot of people seek them out when they are in public.

Kate said that she did not have time for autographs and chit chat because she was continuously counting the kids and trying to keep them from running off or having a meltdown.

Jon said that he liked the attention!

~~One woman wanted advice for her daughter who wants a large family in the future.
Kate said to go to college and get a degree first! Then start a family.

~~Would they change anything if they could.......would she go back and do it again.
Kate said that it took some time but she would go back and do it again. She didn't used to think so but she was to the point now where she could say she would do it again.

There were a couple of women there who said that there kids looked or acted like certain ones of theirs.

~~They were asked about their faith and when they became Christians.
They said that they are a family and they have these 8 blessings from God and that they are at their church every Sunday and they pray with the kids. I can't remember when Kate said that she became a Christian, but Jon said right before he and Kate were married.

When Jon and Kate walked out there was a huge applause for Jon! I found this interesting because I have never seen him in this way. I always just saw him as Jon!

They acted just like Jon and Kate. I think that the couple that we see on TV is truy who they are.

Well, that is about all I can remember. I hope this helps, Becky!

Birmingham To See Jon and Kate!

The trip to Birmingham to see Jon and Kate was rather enjoyable. I had orginally thought that they would be speaking, but it was more like a question and answer session. It was really neat though!

Jon and Kate Plus 8

Today my sister-in-law and I are going to a Women's Conference in Birmingham and we get to "meet" (see) Jon and Kate!! I am so excited! I hope to get some pictures that I will post later.