what a day

hey all,

unfortunately i have some not so great news...i took a spill yesterday down a couple steps and tripped over the vacuum...so I am now sporting a broken foot, a hideous blue fracture shoe, and some crutches, which by the way are NO fun to use.

so, I am massively behind on e-mail, snail mail, and packages to my gilberts....so just know, I have your fun stuff, and I should have given it to you while you were here....urghhhh. so sorry. Lil man got his pen pal letter, and he and I have a date tonight to write back...yay! He is so thrilled....

I hope to post again, possibly after tommarow...

hugs to all,

A

holy heat, happiness and hecticness.....

hey y'all

I apologize per usual for the long break, but these kiddies keep me busy! been having lots of summer lovin' around here, and doing lots of visits, short trips and hangin' by the kiddie pool.

lots of plannin' and partying coming round the bend, my SIL Mindy is getting married in sept, and we are having the bridal shower here in just 14 days....holy chaos, MUST CLEAN HOUSE....
Took on the kids playroom today, got lots of pics hung, stuffs organized, and are working through the 600+ stuffed animals....what to do with them........any ideas.....

the folks are coming home on tues. from a super long and much deserved vaca in Italy, and the kids are thrilled...lil man just cannot seem to understand what in the hell they have been doing in the airport for three weeks...(we dropped them off there....)T-bo wakes up every morning looking for Pa, and the lil man has made a nightly ritual of telling me he is sad everynight because he misses mimi and pa...
so alas, we are very excited for their return....

had a fabulous visit with the gilbert clan, NINA - lil man is absolutely in love with gracie. As you all pulled away, he told me is in a very distraught voice, awwhhhh mommy I am so sad....my pretty girl is gone away....will we ever see her again....
it was so wonderful to see you and kev...and the babies...anyday you wanna rock the commune, I am there.

chels....lovin' chatting everyday...things are looking up....

foleys - makin s'mores last night by the fire....just 'bout made my summer....love you guys...
anyhow all, I am sending out mad cool breeze vibes your way. hugs, plentiful gardens and summer sunshine your way, Al

happy dad's day guys!

Just wanted to wish a happy father's day to the two kindest, gentlest, most thoughtful, self-less, warmest, caring dad's that I know.



-

I have been blessed in life to have the worlds' greatest dad,
as my children have the worlds' greatest PA






I also feel blessed that my children have the best Dada ever, and he's a damn good hubby too!


so our hat's off and our beers up to you guys, who rock our worlds on a regular basis. we love you.

Happy Father's Day,

Love, Al, Myles and Teagan

been crazy!!

hey all,

been crazy here as it always is, school is almost done, yearning for long summer nights, bbq's, beach time, and plentiful gardens.

the seedlings are surprisingly happy considering all this rain we get, and only a few didn't make it...nin, looks like you are crazy underwater...kinda looked fun, although I know you guys were just making the best of a toughie...
hope you doulaing went well, sounds like an amazing experience...

t-baby is doing fabulous, she is a happy lil girl, who just loves to sleep. it is phenomenal, considering lil man didn't/doesn't need ANY sleep STILL! The kiddos are more or less climbing the walls and every time the rain stops we head outside to play and puddle-stomp....anybody know of a place to get some cool puddle-stompers for the kiddos??

lil man is doing well, he actually slept for crazy hours...loving that, and woke up in a marvelous mood...yesterday he "chopped down" my dumcane tree," with a piece of wood. I was pretty bummed as I have had it longer than I can remember, and it was almost taller than I am, but I will get over it. these things happen i guess...

hope you all are fairing well...big crazy hugs and mad lovin to yah!

Al
oh, and if anyone knows anyone looking to buy a truck...pass 'em to me, we got one to sell....

back on the bus y'all!

hey all! sorry again for yet another hiatus, but I am happy to finally be able to say, the PORTFOLIO IS DUNZO!!! fabulous. Only thing that bites is that I don't hear back till between sept.1 and nov 30th. oh well. nothing I can do now right???

anyhow, hope you all have been doing wonderful...I miss you all as I have been so totally pent up and portfoliod/birthday'd till I was blue in the face! It was so wonderful to see everyone, and the kiddos/we really appreciate having you all in our lives.

nin, been loving your updates, and you hair is fabulous!
I am still not done with your snail mail lovins, but I do promise now that all is quietting down I am on it!

half-thanksgivingers, I am on board for the 10th o' june! I can't wait to meet the new addition, um, adorable, but I could only see small pix!!

fania, it was so lovely chatting/venting/debriefing/ and giggling on the tele, went to woostah to see annie today, it was delightful, even hit up da-lat for some bangin' spring rolls...!

dooby, we are so happy you are feeling better...it was so wonderful to see you!!

seedie updates, some have gone to the garden and I am happy to report doing beautifully, I expect them to be crazy plentiful, as my lil man totally dug taking care of them...



he is a rough and tumble guy, but my sweet pea still....


the big guy is demo- demo- demo these days, but I have to say, he does such amazing work....I am one lucky mama!



and the lil lady, the one year old lil lady....she is sweet...
always good for a laugh...


oh, and all the mama's happy mama's day to you all

mad lovin'

A

keepin' busy

hey folks,
sorry for the brief hiatus, and thank you to all who have been voting for T, she put up a good fight, but my goodness, some of those people, 4,000 votes in three days?? They must have some sort of way to beat the system! Oh well, I'll keep voting, but I guess I can kiss my spa trip good-bye!

Things here have been great, I was on vacation which was lovely short of a few bumps in the road, a run in with the law, and some stairs that T took a spill down, we have been well! I did work a great deal on my portfolio, though it is not done yet, I am less stressed than I was before! SOOOON.

The kiddos b-day is Tues, and I cannot believe how fast they are growing, T is actually climbing the stairs all "by self" as lil man says. (NO, these are not the steps she spilled down, those where heavily carpeted, and a result of an open door that is ALWAYS closed....)

Lil man is so excited to be turning three it is beyond his realm of normal excitement...he is ecstatic!

I am exhausted...April is a CRAZY month - chels's b'day was the begining of the month, mimi's was yesterday, Campions today, M & T on tuesday and Kate-Emma, Bry, Mindy, and my gram on friday....holy b-days.

Nina, thanks for missing me, makes me feel loved, I am sending you virtual love and kisses.

anyhow all, I will be back soon, gonna go have some yummy pizza and salad courtesy of flatbreads, and some brownies for dessert, we are celebrating our last day of vaca together, and the rain hopefully ending soon....

seed update*** all the sprouts are happy and getting big!

hugs and sunshine to you all!

mama A

a contest...

okay y'all, I don't usually do this stuff, but I entered Teags in a contest, using my favorite pic of her!

so i know this is a repeat, but if you wouldn't mind, it would win teags a savings bond and send mama to a posh spa in the area.....to be pampered....

go onto
http://www.babbalu.com
then to the beautiful baby contest logo on the left
and you can vote once an hour if you feel so inclined!

love you all!

hugs and kisses.

mama al and teags

oh, and a new pic for yah

hey all,
hope everyone is doing well...
here all is good, workin away like crazy trying to get my teaching portfolio done, and be deemed worthy of keeping my job or not. I feel like I must not have even gone to school, and studied, and student taught, and blah, blah, blah....because what it comes down to now is this damn portfolio. URGGGHHH.
It is due the second week of May, though I am trying to finish by April break, so I can have a BREAK.

Lil man is doing great, no accidents today, and he actually asked to wear "big boy underpants" this morning....good deal. He spent the day playing with mimi and pa so I could get some work done, and T-baby slept for 3 hours, then got up and played while I worked....UNHEARD OF!!

Teags is walking...amazing. She is doing really well, and is up and going at every chance she gets. These lil beans grow so fast I cannot believe it.

Chel, happy belated! sorry I didn't get to chat, but I hope y'all are having a super vaca.

Kevin, Happy B-day to yah. Wish I lived closer, your festivities make my mouth water.

Nin, I know I keep telling you, but truly amazing.....you really are.

S.C. - I do really wanna hang, just been working like crazy on this project. Let's chat soon, I have some new mortifying stories for you....I am quite sure you'll be loving them....


anyhow all, this mama is exhausted and gonna go curl up with a good read and some decaf joe. hugs, and tommorow looks like a garden day. so happy

A

happy spring y'all!

cannot get enough of this amazing weather. kiddos and I have been out working in the yard for hours every day. I feel so blessed to have children that truly love to be outside. gone are the days of tv after breakfast while mommy drinks her coffee and picks up the house, we are outside as the last bite of eggies is being swallowed, and usually with toast in hand. delightful! I spent much of the weekend getting the garden ready for seeds and saplings, and I can allready taste the sweet peas and smell the shiny red tomatoes...I LOVE SPRING....

got some crazy mail lovin' this weekend from nina g and her beautiful kiddos....you are an amazing woman. myles says a huge thanks for his gifties, note the little hand in the top of the pic grabbing the play dough he allready opened and is loving....
you guys are so sweet. I have to say, snail mail really makes a girl feel loved! The pin is gorgeous, and the package was fabulous. T baby loves her treats...as does the lil' man - some of our treats didn't even make it in to the photo because they are already crazy in use...and this mama is delighted. You made our week....possibly more! Thank you....

Stephania - we miss you crazy too.....pick a date girl!

lookin' like another beautiful day in the sticks here, hugs and sunshine your way...
A

having a hormonal day here....
overall just not in a great mood. nothing in particular and everything in between...
have been feeling anxious about a project at school and still a bit of stomach icky from that bug - and how interesting that when you have had two babies in three years and then you aren't feeling well EVERYONE and their great aunts are SURE that you are expecting again...

my bubbies are good today. stir crazy still as we are just anxiously awaiting some sun....
we took a nice trip to the garden store nearby and found some wonderful pots on markdown...and bought a beautiful hoya to hang in the new bathroom....

all else is quiet....hugs and sunshine to you all...

oh, and the final result, was

exhausted.....and in love

Been another long day...

night nights y'all.....

hmmmm.....spring my @##....

hey all....it is snowing here this morning, not sure how I feel about it, other than I think I might just jack up the heat, open the windows and "spring clean," the house anyway. I waaaaaaaaannnnnnt SPRING to come already.

kiddos are well on the mend here, I am still a bit off, but will get there soon I am sure.(how could I not with that smile in my midst??!?) Myles and I played outside for a bit yesterday, just to get some fresh air. I had been in the house with Tea baby for SEVEN days. I was catching just a bit of stir crazy.

bathroom is well under way, bry tiled the floor yesterday, and it looks delightful. 1 room at a time, and this house is coming together. The deck goes up in about a week and a half, I think that is what I am most excited about!

OH, and....***there is a birthday party in the making***!!!


hugs to you all.

A

happy spring

oh my goodness, for starters, happy spring to you all. we are STILL battling this doozy of a virus at my house. Hubby got it on saturday night and was down ALL DAY on sunday. I still feel awful, but am fighting it like the plague, as I just wanna be DONE with it.

on other fronts, Nin, what a wonderful surprise that is, for you and yours, I am thrilled for you all. Huge thanks for my virtual latte, as nobody here stepped it up...;} I realize, I have not yet sent you your giftie fun, I promise, just waiting for the warm weather....also, in talks of a trip to woostah...you in??

missed grey's last night...anybody watch it??

dooby, we have lost you in virtual cyber world - what happened, you appear to have been erased...call me, we so loved seeing you.

hugs to all, and happy spring, much love, A

Sickies....

We have been visited yet again by a horrible case of the sickies...
3 solid days of explosive diapers and spit-ups....YUCK.

I cannot believe as a mama how much it pains me to see my babies hurting. T-bo threw up to the point we debated taking her in to the childrens hospital...but alas, this morning she awoke with a smile for the first time in three days. It warmed my soul.

Lil man slept for 12 hours, yes folks, I said 12 hours....amazing, his lil body must be fighting like hell to beat this bug.

I am home for the day, couldn't leave my babies in this state to care for somebody elses healthy kiddos....
nin - I love the skirt, and where did you score those clogs, I have the same pair and I wanna get lil man a pair, and maybe some for baby T as well....

happy st. pattys day, could somebody please bring me a LATTE!!!!

visiting with pals

her smile makes my day.

We have been great here, just a bit busy. Chad and Steve came for a much needed visit yesterday, and I have to say, the feeling you get of comfort from visiting with old friends, just doesn't compare. Sharing old memories, and laughing....together. Joyous.

The kiddos are great, right now, Myles is camped out watching the plumber work(who arrived at 7:15), and telling him all about his tools and he keeps telling the man, "wow, you are a hard working man..." he is too flipping sweet.

T-bo is fast asleep, I don't remember the last time she slept past 6:00, I swear as a mama, I signed a waiver while still in awe of these babies at the hospital, stating I would never again sleep more than 5 hours in a stretch. Nuts how you just adjust to it.

The weather is starting to get spring like which is so wonderful, this little boy cannot wait to get outside and run all day long. This mama cannot wait either, to get a garden going and get her excercise on in the great outdoors.

hugs, and spring-time sunshine to you all,

Al

we're growing a dino in there.....

as lil man would say, "how silly is that."
home with the kiddos today. as much as I do love the human contact of my part-time job, I do often miss being a stay at home mama around the clock.
Got up and excercised again today, that is two mornings in a row, I am commited to getting back into pre-baby shape.
Just looking forward to the warmer days when I can excercise with the kiddos too, walking outside will be great.

Nin, love your new pics of your trip...'specially gracie in the great outdoors. beautiful!

Will probably be a quiet day indoors today, a few errands if it warms up at all...
maybe a project or two to complete, we shall see....

hugs and hot cocoa kisses to you all, A

a cold day in vacationville

hey y'all...
PLEASE tell me you cannot think of anything more fun to do with 8 containers of stinky play dough! (just for those of you that didn't get it, it's a parking garage.) which led to the snooze on the couch....building a parking garage is hard work, don't underestimate!

here all is well, we are down two cars...delightful, and expensivo....
Lil' man has been crazy busy all day whirl winding through this clean house. And T-baby is working to get her walk on, sooooo close.

Chaffer, thank for the visit today, it was great to hang with you guys, and see your peanut smiling away with those big blue ones!

Car, thanks for the chat. I so appreciate your honesty and willingness to take the time to make me get "it." I also love to know that you check this site, it means a whole bunch to know that you care....

anyhow, big hugs and love to you all...tomorrow it's back to work....yucky.

A

longing for spring

sooooo tired of the head colds, stomach viruses, runny noses. I cannot WAIT till spring. the lil mans' pattern has been healthy one week, sick for two, healthy again, sick again....etc. I just want him to be happy and healthy and to play the days away, as he should. I am not wishing away winter, but try this on...fresh garden stuff, long summer days...beach....hmmm. But I shouldn't complain, I know this is small beans compared to what some kids have to go through.

vacation week has been fine, not very relaxing, as I worry about the kiddos so much when they are anything less than 100 percent. mama's any home remedies for these little bugs??

nin, how was your vaca? it sounds like fun, I love that pink hat girl....
kevin....will you join our playdate?

hey, half-thanksgivingers I MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anyhow off to make some grilled cheese for my lil construction man - big hugs and sunshine to all of you.

A

all smiles

hey y'all!
happy vacation week....minus the report cards that I have to do, and the reports that I have to type, it's all good. kiddos are doing great. Nin, I am insanely jealous that Gracie is all trained....my house is a mess! Have a wonderful trip, I am sure getting away is a good thing. We will get together sometime after you get back. Maybe even in the spring so the kids can really play outside!

I just got a note from a far away friend who may be coming to visit, that I haven't seen in years. I am so excited I feel like a little kid who has a playdate.

Not much new, had a whopping sized car repair...and bill. We will be cutting back on all the yummy Trader Joes treats for a bit! Going over to Joe's for dinner, than home to grade, grade and grade some more. Being a teacher definately has it's ups, and downs.

Dooby....are you coming wednesday???? I MISSSSSSS YOU..................

Anyhow,
hope all is great!

hugs, Al

love...

hope y'all had a happy v-day. mine was delightful. my lil man brought me a rose at school, the baby girl brought me a sweet card and my big guy got me a starbucks card...so I can be a latte gal for awile...he loves me!

here all is as usuall, bry and the lil guy are talkin tools and doing a demolition derby on the bathroom, and I am on deck for painting and tiling! yay!

loving this beautiful weather and sending lots of love and sunshine to all you peeps out there!

hugs, A