busy, busy weekend ahead

So the BBQ season for us is almost over...I am so ready for this to be over. The last BBQ that we attend of the year is the American royal that happens the first weekend in October every year. Dad seems to stress the most about this and always drives everyone nuts. This is going to be a fun weekend for the kids as well because they are super excited that they get to go "camping" one last time. They will also have lots of fun at the petting zoo, blow up rides and getting to go shopping. This is also a time for us to meet up with family which is always fun. Ron, Lori and Chris are coming to visit along with Grandpa. To say the least I hope that we have a great relaxing weekend getaway before the baby gets here which will be in about eight weeks....that will fly by us I am sure of that.

Sickness Go Away

So school has barely started and winter isn't here and yet we have already had our first round of illness. Katelynn started to run a temp late Sunday night. She complained of her throat hurting and had a nasty little cough to go along with it. She was very willing to go to the doc on Monday until they went to swab her for strep throat. Thank goodness her test came back negative and that she was the only one in the house that caught anything. Come to find out two of the kids that sit at the same table where sick with strep and one had the same inflamed tonsils just like Katelynn. So back to school she went today and I don't think she could have been more happy to go. She kept telling me yesterday that Caden was driving her crazy.

School Days..

So last week Thursday Katelynn started Kinder-prep and boy does she love it. She has a great teacher this year..Maggi Kennedy. She has learned so much in just the 3 days of being there. She really loves to ride the bus and teach Caden all the new songs that she has learned. She was upset the first couple of days because there was no homework to do. She was really wanting to sit at her new desk and do her homework. We will see how the rest of the year goes and if she continues to love school as much as she does know.

What a busy summer

This summer has been really busy for us between me finishing school, cooters crazy work hours, and the competitions BB Q's that we go to. We have done really good so far and this year will be our 4 summer of competing. We have greatly expanded our number of BBq's that we attend because dad just can't seem to get enough of them. The kids love to go because most places have more than just a bbq. The make it almost like a mini family vacation for the kids with some having carnival rides and plenty of games to keep them busy for the weekend.
Katelynn will start school on the 20Th of august. I am going to be a mess...I almost cry just thinking about how fast she has grown up. She will be in kinder-prep and I don't think could be more excited. She is really anxious to ride on the bus to school and back to daycare.
Caden is doing great. He has finally got the potty training down( thank you Nana). He continues to amaze me everyday with what he does. I honestly do believe that he will be the one to give me the gray hair or as mom would say payback.
I myself am doing great. Just finished school and have started work at Seneca Chiropractic. The baby is doing great. The older kids can't wait for her arrival. Sarah is hoping that I have her a day early so that they share the same birthday.
Chris is keeping BUSY. He has been working lots of extra hours for everybody under the sun besides having his full time job on post. He has been loving the bbq's because that has become his "time out" from the real world and everything that he has on his plate.

Working in the Garden

So this summer we are actually planting a garden and boy am I learning a lot. There is definitely more work to a garden than what I thought. The kids are really enjoying it though. They like to help water the plants with there watering cans. Caden got to help dig some of the holes for the tomato plants and now we can't keep him out of the garden. Katelynn had lots of fun putting the labels in front of the plants and giving them the plant food sticks or "Popsicle's" as she called them. Both of the kids are excited because we planted pumpkins and watermelon. I am going to take a crack at planting pineapple and see how that turns out. I guess besides those items we really have the normal plants in our garden, corn, squash, tomatoes, potatoes cucumbers and onions. I cant wait to eat all of them because I will need some good nourishment after all this hard work.

Oh Wow it has been a long time

It has been so long since the last time I posted anything. A lot has been going on over the past month or so. I have started back to school full time in Manhattan for Massage Therapy. Katelynn is soon to be four in June. Caden is just as spunky as ever and getting into everything under the sun. Cooter is still working at Ft. Riley.
Last weekend we made a rode trip to Odessa Mo. for Akin Family Fun Weekend. It was a blast. We had such a wonderful weekend playing with all my aunts,uncle, cousins kids and my cousins. All the nieces and nephews had such a wonderful time playing. It was so much fun to watch the kids try to play golf and they where so amazed at the volleyball game. I guess the high lite of the weekend was cooters little motor cycle. The kids loved taking turns riding on the bike. It was so hard to leave on Sunday because of all the fun we where having. Thanks to Uncle Ron and Aunt Lori for making the weekend possible.

Childrens Museum

Yesterday, Sarah Mom all the kids and I ventured to Omaha to the Children's Museum. It was awesome!!! The kids had a absolute blast. There was so much for them to do there. Katelynn found her home in the "house" that was equipped with a full kitchen that she was able to do dishes in. She was very "mom" like moving furniture and making beds in the upstairs. Caden found his home in a John deer "tractor". He was so obsessed with it that I had to peal him off of it more times than I could count just to let other kids play. Jonathan found himself to be the little shopper in the "Grocery" store. He had so much fun filling his shopping cart and buy his food items. Caleb was the wonder. He just couldn't decide what he wanted to do. All of the kids loved the fire house and engine. They all got wet when playing with the "fire hoses" to put out the fire. The ball room was awesome. Katelynn was scared at first because of all the alarm noises but soon ventured out and had a great time. The race cars where a real hit and the indoor playground was awesome. To say the least 5 hours at the museum was not enough time. I will post pictures later.