News...

I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT!!!!!
YAHOOO!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats to Joe and Catharine!


Oh, and happy birthday, Andy!!!

My Sweetheart(s)

Brooklyn and Andy attended the Sweetheart Ball tonight for the Girl Scouts of Union County. It was a dinner and dance for the girls and their "male mentors." They had to dress up, complete with corsage and boutonniere for the occasion. They were too cute! Andy said Brooklyn went crazy on the dance floor and danced most of the night. At one point she and Andy were dancing to a slow dance. She said to him, "Daddy, this is boring. All we do is rock back and forth. I feel like a penguin. Look, I'm a penguin!" She then did her best penguin imitation and waddled across the floor. Goofball! I have to admit, I was secretly happy when Brooklyn said she wished I was there.

They look so much alike, it's almost creepy!

Brooklyn loved all the "canned" dances. They did the Macarena, YMCA, Conga Line, etc.

Brooklyn with her crazy dancing buds and troop-mates Grace and Lucy.

Get Your Kicks

Xavier is participating in an indoor soccer camp called "Get Your Kicks." It is so much better than last year! He's not crying every week! He's able to control the ball while dribbling on the gym floor...a huge source of frustration last year. It's fun to watch him improve

Xavier and Jack were counting up their goals.


Brooklyn and Jamison were practicing their jumps off the bleachers. Way to be supportive of your brothers, girls!

He really looks like he's having fun!

I'm Stronger Than DeRon!

Every week, before gymnastics, Xavier flexes his muscles and insists he's stronger than DeRon, his coach. DeRon is an accomplished gymnast with the biceps to prove it, but I'm glad Xavier has goals! Xavier usually complains that he doesn't like gymnastics, but while he's there, he loves it! He is in a class with all boys and a male coach. They run around like crazy maniacs, then stand in perfect "soldiers' stance" or pike sits. I'm sad to say Xavier will miss next session. He was absent two weeks ago, during registration, due to illness(surprise!) and his class filled up. I know I'll miss it, but we'll see how he does without it. Our schedule is so crazy, a little down time may do us some good.


Isaac does his own balance routine while waiting for Xavier.

Still Sick

Xavier and Brooklyn have finally recovered from their illnesses. I think Isaac now has whatever bug they had. He started with a fever, and now has green coming out of his eyes and nose and the most lovely cough. Will winter ever end?

I'm Not Cut Out For This

As previously posted, Brooklyn and Xavier had a sleepover at the Gears. From what I understand, they had a great time! Last Sunday, the kids had "Bring a Friend Night" at AWANA. With no school on Monday, it was a perfect opportunity to have the group over to our house for a sleepover. What fun!
Jack and Xavier fought almost the entire time. The girls spent most of their time refereeing which meant they weren't playing either. Yet, when Momma Gear arrived to pick up the extra kids, the tears flowed. Why can't it ever be easy?

What Was He Thinking?

Xavier was sent to his room for being unreasonable. This ususally means he's overtired and needs a break. When Andy went to talk to him, this is what he found. Xavier fell asleep in his chair...with a plastic tub on his head. What?!

The House of the Infirm

In the past week we've had two kids with nasty colds, complete with all night coughing, one adult with a sore throat and cold, one baby with diarrhea, and now this...

I walked into the family room yesterday to find Ellie standing in the middle of the room with all four legs buckled. Her eyes were wide open, pupils dilated, and her head was swaying back and forth very quickly. Panic! I called to her and she didn't respond. I reached out to touch her and she came right back, as if nothing had happened. That evening, Andy noticed one side of her face was bigger than the other. By morning it had doubled in size. After a trip to the vet this morning, the vet seems to think she has an abscessed tooth which caused a fever to spike, causing the seizure. She's on antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory for a week before they will determine if she needs to be put under to drill out the tooth. I'm just relieved that right now they don't think it is a brain tumor.

Now Xavier has diarrhea on top of the incessant coughing, runny nose, and refusing to eat. Yeesh.

Isaac's One Year Photos

Thanks to Julie, I am now a photography snob. We had our photos taken by Jessi Weithman back in October. After that experience, I can no longer take my children to Sears or JC Penney for pictures. She does such a great job! To see Isaac's full session, go to http://www.jessiweithmanstudios.com/ then click on client proofing, and Baby I January 2009. The password is banana. I'd love some opinions!-only nice ones please!

We weren't able to do the classic smashed cake photos so we improvised. Isaac loved playing with this carrot!

He loves these drumsticks! I wish he'd been happier for these shots, but he's still cute!