Cookout Weekend

This weekend was a good one. We had back to back cook outs at our house. The first one was for Chris' Dad's 60th Birthday and the other one was for the end of the school year with the youth group. We still have hamburgers and hot dogs here to have another cook out. I am sure that we will use them through out the summer. On Monday however we got to just be the 4 of us and get a few things done around the house. We went to Lowe's and got some flowers for my flower bed in back and planted them. Chris started to dig up the sandbox for Ephriam and Kendra. Hopefully we will have that finished this weekend so that the kids have something to play in. The next couple of days are going to be hot ones so I am hoping to get the pool out and warmed up so that we can get in it. Tomorrow the high is suppose to be 92 and sunny. It was so hot today that even Ephriam didn't want to play outside and that is a rare thing for him. Tonight I have to go into work so for the next 3 days we won't be going outside till at least Chris gets home. Well I am off to get some rest before I go into work.

G-burg Trip pics

The start of the tripEphriam an Daddy sword fighting

The caber toss

Our family on the last day down at the creek

Ephriam asleep on Grandma at the Highland games

Post Trip

G-burg was great. Had a great time hanging out with the family. Thursday we had a nice drive down. We ate dinner in the car and then I took a nap for about 2 hours while Chris drove. Then we made a pit stop to feed K.C. and I had a potty break. Then back on the road for the rest of the trip. We just got caught up in a little traffic about 1 mile from our exit on 40. We didn't have to stop at all in Pigeon Forge since it was so late. Once we got to the place we were staying at Ephriam got out of the car and said "Nana's?" I had to tell him that we weren't at Nana's house but we were in the car that long. We then got the kids settled and went to bed ourself. The kids were up a 8 the next morning ready to go. We got up and had breakfast and headed out to the Aquarium with Eric, Cindy, Joe, Josh, Caleb, and Clare. We had a good time there but I was a little disappointed because I thought that Newport was better but oh well. Then we went on to get our taffy. Mark was waiting outside the place and got pooped on by a bird. Good thing that we carry baby wipes all the time. After we got our taffy we headed back to give the kids a good nap. All of the rest of us took a little nap too. We then had dinner with Chris' Uncle Mike and Aunt Star. We were up till midnight chit chatting before we decided we should hit the hay. The kids again woke us up at 8:30 and we got dressed and headed next door for pancakes with Eric, Cindy, Joe, Josh, Caleb, and Clare. Then we all headed out for the Highland games. It was a blast to watch them and listen to the pippers. Ephriam got a wooden sword and daddy got one to defend himself with. All of the cousins got swords to. My favorite part was watching the guys throw the cabers (my spelling maybe off I am not sure but I do know that they are long pieces of wood that are like telephone polls.) Ephriam enjoyed that part too. Chris now wants a kilt and I think that his Uncle Mike is arranging to make that happen. Ephriam also got the family clan (Stewart) pin from Uncle Mike. Chris has put it up in a safe place so that he can wear it next year. I am sure that it won't be long before Ephriam wants a kilt of his own. At least he won't have to worry about the lenght that way. After the games we headed back to have a cook out and smores for Cindy's birthday. We were up again late hanging out as family. The kids were up then the next morning at 7:30 so we just got up and got going. Ate breakfast and packed. We a pretty good drive home except for the fact the I had a small case of the runs. We got caught in a ton of traffic on our way out of Pigeon Forge and we ran into a little bit of traffic on 75 on our way back. Nothing too bad though. We made it back safe and sound and Chris headed out to youth group while I wrestled the kids. So that was our weekend. When I get home I hope to post some pictures. Peace.

Pre Gatlinburg

So tonight we are on the road to Galtlinburg for the Highland games. I have A LOT to do between now and then. Here is the skinny: First off I am coming off of working 3 12 hour shifts in a row. (That is tough to begin with but it gets better.) Since Chris' whole fam is going down I don't have a sitter for the kids today (Which equals no sleep for mommy.) So I am picking them up when I get off work. Then we are headed home to eat breakfast and maybe the kids will take a mornig nap. While I pack somethings up to go. Then we are headed out to play group for only like an hour or so since it is a 1/2 hour drive to this months hostees house. Then when we get back the kids will take a nap while I get the clothes pack. (They don't make such great helpers packing clothes.) Maybe I will get a nap in there. Then pack the car, feed the baby, and we are off. We are driving through Wendy's to get dinner. I will be feeding the kids and then I will feed myself and then off to sleep I will be till we get closer or till Sissy needs to eat. Then we will make a quick stop. I really can't wait to get there so that I can get some sleep. I am looking forward to the trip but not to all the getting ready or unpacking. Oh well it will be fun. Chris has been a big help by getting somethings ready. I just hope that I don't forget anything. I am pretty sure that I won't since I have made big list so that I don't forget. Just a matter of leaving the kitchen sink. Well I am at work and need to pump. I will give you a post trip update when we get home.

Pre Gatlinburg

So tonight we are on the road to Galtlinburg for the Highland games. I have A LOT to do between now and then. Here is the skinny: First off I am coming off of working 3 12 hour shifts in a row. (That is tough to begin with but it gets better.) Since Chris' whole fam is going down I don't have a sitter for the kids today (Which equals no sleep for mommy.) So I am picking them up when I get off work. Then we are headed home to eat breakfast and maybe the kids will take a mornig nap. While I pack somethings up to go. Then we are headed out to play group for only like an hour or so since it is a 1/2 hour drive to this months hostees house. Then when we get back the kids will take a nap while I get the clothes pack. (They don't make such great helpers packing clothes.) Maybe I will get a nap in there. Then pack the car, feed the baby, and we are off. We are driving through Wendy's to get dinner. I will be feeding the kids and then I will feed myself and then off to sleep I will be till we get closer or till Sissy needs to eat. Then we will make a quick stop. I really can't wait to get there so that I can get some sleep. I am looking forward to the trip but not to all the getting ready or unpacking. Oh well it will be fun. Chris has been a big help by getting somethings ready. I just hope that I don't forget anything. I am pretty sure that I won't since I have made big list so that I don't forget. Just a matter of leaving the kitchen sink. Well I am at work and need to pump. I will give you a post trip update when we get home.

Getting Better

Things are getting better all around, at least for now. I am getting to do a little bit more at work on my own and it is nice. I have gotten to see a couple of deliveries and that has been nice to be able to help out the nurses more. I am learning new bits everyday and getting more and more confindant about things. Heather is doing much better and I am glad of that. I worry about her being at home by herself but I know that there are a ton of people that are just a phone call away if she needs anything. Just if we can let that baby cook a little bit longer that would be nice. Now if I could find away to just get more sleep. Getting 3 hour inbetween 12 hour work shifts is really starting to bite. I wish there was a way to get more but when you work nights and your kids are up during the day it just doesn't pan out that way. It has been nice going to bed on Friday nights early. It would be nice to get to sit and scrap book some but I would really like the house to have some order before I do that. Things are starting to fall into some sort of routine or so I think. Last time that things got going into a routine around the house we found out that Kendra was coming. I love her to pieces but man has she taken a toll on me. No wonder I am getting gray hair! I am looking forward to taking the kids to the zoo soon. Actually next week I get to lead a some what normal life. Yeah some what. I am working only 8 hour shifts so I will get to come home and get about 6 straight hours of sleep before the kids get up. I am hoping to do something fun with them everyday that week since I will be getting more sleep and still getting to spend lots of time with them. For now I am looking at spending my birthday money this weekend on some new clothes or something. For now I should do some work.