Mom To Mom Column

So the Mom's In Motion mommy group does this Mom To Mom column in there monthly newsletter and they were asking for volunteers, so I did. After doing so I was thinking, why did I do a thing like that, but whatever. So this is what I wrote and then a picture of the family will be with it. Lucky for me this Saturday Lisa is going to take some pictures of the kids in wild flowers at her Dads so I will get to jump in for one.

Hi my name is Andrea, I am a 28 year old proud mother to four wonderful kids. Kirsten 10, Kelsey 7, Ashton 2 and Jackson 9 months. My husband Daniel of 7 years and I moved to Live Oak from Vacaville 3 years ago. I resided in Vacaville for 20 years, I consider it to be my home town. We picked Live Oak for it's affordable housing and we were just so excited about owning our first home we jumped right in not knowing much about the town. After living here for a year or so we had the opportunity to buy 3 local Jiffy Lube stores which my husband oversees. Before my fourth baby was born I was a Territory Manager in the Vacaville area for Kellogg's Snacks. I knew that after the fourth baby was born I wanted to stay at home. I started working for the local Sales Rep. with Kellogg's in the Yuba City area, I now work 10-15 hours a week as a merchandiser stocking shelves in grocery/chain stores. I work really early in the morning which allows me to be home before lunch, so I don't really miss anything. I am fortunate enough to have my husband at home with the kids while I work to escape paying daycare costs. I enjoy gardening, camping, blogging, playing bunco, and spending time with my family and friends. My goal in life is to be the best Mom/wife that I can and to be a successful business owner. The thing I love most about being a Mom is watching my children smile and laugh, it can turn my day around, and it fills my heart. I joined MIM to meet others Moms in the area, since I only have lived here for 3 years, and working out of the area for most of that time I really don't know anyone. I wanted my boys to have the opportunity to play and interact with others there own age. I am excited to be part of this group, if seems like it is going to be a lot of fun for us.

Uncle

Ashton loves his Uncle, he knows his voice on the phone, ask's for him when he sees his picture pop up on the phone and since Uncle comes to visit more often he really enjoys hanging out with him. Today was a EXTRA crazy day today (bad boy and teething baby), but Uncle hung in there, I thought I was going to loose him a few different times, but he made it. I am just so glad that we are close enough to have him over often, we just all love him SO much.

Bunco #6

My dear Donna was sick, which is one of the three reason I LOVE bunco. Besides that it was fun, we had green water, yummy brownie's on a stick and some kind of float desert, it was good. I won most losses, yeah so I am a big LOSER, but at least I got money right.

I totally stole this picture from Teresa cupcake blog, thanks.

Happy St. Patty's Day

Who Signed That Permission Slip Again?

I don't know who signed that permission slip to go to camp, but they aren't my best friend right now, that is for sure. So this morning was the BIG day, Kirsten has been beside herself excited for days, for example this picture was taken at 4 in the morning!! See what I mean, I wonder if she even slept at all, I didn't that is for sure. I woke up at 2 and thought it was time to get up. I started extra early this morning (woke up at 3 AM)so I would be able to see her leave, it just dawned on me last night that I was going to be gone. It made me cry just talking about it with Daniel, so I worked it out, kinda. I went into her room this morning to hug and kiss her and tell her I love her and all the don't forget about that thing we talked about and dont forget all the other 50 things I told you not to do, ok. It was dark so she didn't know that I already cried my eyes out, but in this picture you can tell. I knew I had to be there no matter what when she said, "I really want you to be there Mom".

Why is it so hard, maybe because she is the first kid to leave with someone that is not a grandparent? Or that I am over protective and controlling, or maybe I am just a big baby. But I cried big tears today, streams down my face, making a pouting face cry, and even the out loud cry, like a little kid. Driving, walking down the grocery store aisle, stalking selves, and even standing around 60 people at her school. I couldn't hold it in, it was just so sad for me. How am I ever going to hold out until Friday? It will be to quit without her, who will be mean to Kel's?

I really wanted the shoot of her walking into the bus and waving good bye on the bus, but I couldn't stay any longer. With a pain in my heart I walked away, my little baby girl was leaving me, in a strangers hands.

I am so excited to see her excited, she will have so much fun, but, at least she said she will miss me, like three times. And I even got, "If I was the Mom, I don't know if I would want my kid to go to camp?", wow, that was a surprise. I didn't really think I was going to let her, I wonder who signed that letter still.

So she is gone, just until Friday. Kelsey cried when Kirsten said goodbye to her, until Friday when she asks if she can live somewhere else, sisters, geez.

Pray for Kirsten, that she makes good choices, has fun, and most important that she makes healthy choices.

An Afternoon With The Statham Cousin's

The Statham tribe came up for a picnic at the park (which didn't happen, it was way to windy and cold so we just ate at the house), and a little play time at the park.

Auntie Dani is helping Maddy get across the monkey bars, I can't believe how much she changes every time I see her.

I would love to say I got a cute picture of Jimmy and Ashton, but as you can see that wasn't going to happen. But here they are, well the back side at least being very busy little boys. Sweet Lil Jack just hung out in the warm blanket strap into his stroller, which he wasn't all that happy about.

Kelsey wanted to pose so bad.

The little girls wanted to be baby's.

Maddy just couldn't get enough of Jack, what can I say, he is pretty adorable.

Jessie wasn't feeling well, so I didn't want to annoy her with my camera in her face. I hope you feel better Jessie. Thanks for driving up to see us Dani, it was fun. It always makes me feel better seeing someone else that has a crazy life with four little people, because most just don't understand it unless they live it.

Can You Please Not Do That Baby

Some how constantly the baby gets into the kitchen and does this, it drives me up the wall. He will do it until you move him, so if you are cooking, washing dishes or anything, until you move him away there is no stopping it. Good thing I love this little baby.

39 Weeks Old

Lil Jack has been very busy this week. He has cut three new teeth, that wasn't all that fun, lots of diarrhea and cranky hours. Come to find out, there are two more about to pop out, well at least we get them all done in a package deal. He has started to hold his own baba, I have taken advantage of this already on several days were I really needed to hurry up and get out of the house. Jack has started to crawl on his hands and knees, but only backwards. Also he has learned how to click his tongue on the roof of his mouth, I would love to get this on a video for you. He also is talking up a storm, this video was while we were driving to Vacaville (this explains the shoot quality). All of this is so exciting, but he is the last, what am I going to do. Someone needs to have a baby, who is going to do it?

Picnic At The Park

We had fun, I love family time :)

Brayden Comes To Play

Braydon came up because he love us so much and wanted to play at our house.

While he was here they watched some TV together snuggled under the blanket.

Begged for food together.

Swung on the swings together.

Of course when there is two boys together it is the rule that you have to wrestle, right?

I had to shoot a little clip of how effortless it was for this little people to jump on the trampoline, it made me want to jump, but then I thought of how tired I might get so I decided not. I really got a kick out of how Ashton was rolling himself with the ball, over and over again.

Braydon was really enjoying himself, his Mom never lets him out of the house (only kidding).

These boys were so busy they didn't have time to look at me and stop talking.

Thank you Nichole for bringing up Braydon, and all the dog beds (for my Mom). We enjoyed having you.

38 Weeks Old

Jackson likes to be sat in fron t of the toys then after a while make him self fall gracefully. He is getting to a more content with playing by myself stage, and I think it is fantastic.

Busy Day For Little People

Today was a busy day for the two little people. We had story time at the library, which was really fun and crowded this time. Ashton made this craft while we were there, and got a free book since we turned a reading sheet in (it is a calender that shows what books I read to him and for how long). Right after that we went to Mc D for some good heart healthy lunch.

Then we went to get some stuff at Sam's, and this was Jackson's first time in a shopping cart. I was grossed out that I couldn't use my cover since the cart was a double seater, but how well, next time, the blanket over part of it helped. Doesn't he look so grown up sitting in there, he totally loved be able to see everything too, I could tell.

And of course they crashed as soon as I put them in the van. I took this picture because I just recently took Jackson out of his infant seat, and put him in a big boy seat (well kinda). He looks so grown up in this seat to me too.

Ha Ha I Got You

My Mom's high maintenance dog doesn't like to have pictures taken of him so I tricked him, that is my job as a older sister. He was laying down all peaceful, so I focused the camera then called his name and he had no way to run away, I was totally ready, ha.

It Snowed Today

Ok maybe not, but it hailed for about five minutes really hard, it woke up all of us it was so loud, Ashton was scared. I remember as a kid how exciting it was to see it rain really hard or hail, it was so fascinating.

Playdate At Andrea's

Coffee, tea, bottled water, pretty little sandwiches, and some good old Cheese it party mix and what you have is a play date at Andrea. It was my turn today to be hostess, Renee and Sydney, Teresa and Jake came to play. It was nice, the kids got to play in the NEW play room while the Mommy's chatted it up. It ran across my mind several times to take pictures, but maybe next time, we don't want them to think I am a freak or something. I am just a blogging freak, that doesn't count.

The Low Down

Lets start with when I was preggers I decided to put the girls back together in the same room, simply because I thought it would be to hard to have naps with the boys in the same room. So I redecorated the girls room, paint furniture, bedding everything, to accommodate the change. Ashton left the nursery and went into Kelsey's old room, at that time I redecorated his room with all the cars stuff, big boy furniture, bedding, paint, everything. Then Baby Jack got the nursery as is, everything left in its place from when Ashton was in there. As time progressed the girls were fighting CRAZY style, we have to give them there own rooms, there is no other option. So that is how this all started, and boy was it a job. So one weekend that I felt like it I got all of the baby stuff out of the nursery, this will be someones room. And at that time put the baby's crib and dresser into Ashton's room. Doing this I realized how there was no way I was going to get any toys in there room. So I had this great idea, lets move all the furniture from the front room into the living room and make the front room a play room. Oh dear, it has been an ongoing project for three weeks, but it is a lot closer to being done, thank goodness.

So as of today all is switched, I just need to paint Kelsey NEW room (old nursery), get new bedding for her bunk bed, buy Kirsten new queen size bed and bedding (queen to solve the no place for guest problem), and everything will be done with the kids room. Then I am in the progress of making the playroom fantastic, I will show what I am working on in a later post. Here are some pictures as if looks today.

The new boys room, super intimate.

Kelsey's new room, incomplete.

Kirsten's room without Kelsey, also incomplete.

This big blank wall is where I soon where be adding something cool.

Play corner

Quit corner, complete with diapers, wipes, tissue, white board to show days with "friends" (play dates) for Ashton.

Play room at a glance.

The new living room.

Donna this picture is for you so your heart will feel warm and fuzzy and to show our organization in these area's, I love my label maker.

Papa And Grandma Lisa Come Up

Dad and Lisa came up on Saturday morning to visit and do some TO DO LIST stuff. For my birthday Dad did some stuff on The List, like install curtain rods, fix some blinds that were installed incorrectly, rehang little vacuum, move bunk beds to different room, and hang new white board, all kinds of stuff. Lisa help figure out a way that all the furniture worked in the living room, and got to visit with me and kids, it was great. Thank you both for coming up, even though we were sick, I enjoyed your company and all the help with the house, thanks.

Jackson's Happenings

Jackson has a new toofie, this is number 3. It is on the bottom right side, weird huh. He has been feeling it ever since it came in yesterday, as seen below.

AND he is starting to rock and roll, yes folks on his hands and knees, so the funky crawler wont be around for long.

37 Weeks Old

Little Jack is by far the only baby that is really holding onto being the baby. He doesn't hold his own bottle, he prefers you to feed him the puffs (his hands are so sweaty and fat they never make it in), and he is a big Mama's boy. But this works for me since he is really the last baby, but don't tell him I said that.

Ashton's Dentist Appointment

As you all will remember Ashton had a little fall back in December on Christmas Day, that resulted in his teeth being all jacked up. So we got into the dentist, apparently no hurry for them.

Here Ashton is playing in the cool waiting room.

He couldn't wait to sit in the cool chair, and to the staff's surprise he stayed there the whole visit. While she is checking him out she notices all the other scars and boo boo he has on his face and head and says, "Wow he is all boy isn't he?". How did you guess, totally. He did an awesome job, and even without a nap, I know bad Mommy, but we made it, thankfully. So as soon as we got the truck moving he was gone. At his visit they gave him a fluoride treatment and a little goody bag with a new tooth brush and even a infant brush for the lil baby at home, thanks.