Lots of changes ahead!

I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged! It could have to do with the fact that there has been sooooo much happening lately....WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOUSE!!! We will be moving to berea in a couple of weeks...that means registering the girls in new schools...mckenzie will be in middle school now, and maddie will be starting full day kindergarden! wow. i do have to admit i am a little nervous about both situations...mckenzie is growing, but still very small for her age. and maddie is my baby...can't imagine what its going to be like without her hanging out every day. she is going to ride the bus to school...can she remember what one to get on to get back home?? So, lots happening here..i am also not going to be watching kids in my home anymore and am going to try my hand at selling kids books, as an usborne consultant...we will need lots of good thoughts in the next week!

Family Vacation

We just got back this week from our little family vacation...what a great time we had! We drove to indiana to visit mimi and papa. It was great to be able to see them for a whole week! The kids had a great time, and max finally got to bond with them! He definatly loved to cook with mimi and go play outside in the sprinklers with papa! We already miss them...we had so much fun visiting the indinapolis zoo, children's museum, go to the waterpark, swimming, bowling, and of course shopping! The girls loved going to see a movie with papa too. We visited with grandpa dixon, and got to catch up with family.

So tired of all the fighting...

My girls are about 5 and a half years apart in age...but they fight like crazy!! I can not believe how much bickering and arguing about the stupid things they do! I feel like all I say is knock it off to them...we have started just sending them to their rooms when they start (they share a room) for 20 mins. but somedays it feels like they are in there all day! I don't know what else to do, but it is disturbing the entire family...what do you do to stop the bickering between siblings???

Maddie's Surgery

Yesterday was the big day! Maddie had surgery to remove a stye in her eye...it actually turned out to be 2 big bumps with lots of drainage...She did great! I thought that when I woke her up that morning, she was going to start flipping out....but she was a trooper and we went to the hospital, checked in, got into her gown and went into pre-op with no problems!! She was surprisingly calm while waiting for her surgery...I was able to go into the operating room with her and stay with her till she fell asleep. That is when the freak-out began! She was sooo afraid of the mask to put her to sleep...I felt so bad..she just kept crying and saying momma over and over...finally she gave in, exhausted, and went right to sleep...all the doctors and nurses were great with her! It took awhile for her to wake up and come out of it, but she really did great...I am so proud of her!!

Celiac it is!

Mckenzie's big doctors appt. was this week with her GI doctor. We had bloodwork redone and she has been on the gluten free diet now for 6 months, so this check up was to recheck her numbers and her growth to find out if she has celiac disease for sure....and she does....Good news is, she feels alot better, has actually gained 3 pounds (big accomplishment for her) and half an inch. Her TTG levels went from 176 which is the highest her doc has ever seen to 59 (still high, but getting much better) and some ratio went from 1:320 to 1:10..WOW!! Bad news is she is on the gluten-free diet for life. I have been doing a lot of research, and have found some good alternatives, and we are doing well. If anyone has some good advice, I would love to hear it though!!

Happy 4th of July!

What a great weekend we had! So many free and fun things to do for the fourth weekend....we spent sunday at crocker park at a festival...so many things to do there....face painting, jungle bob show, puppet shows, bouncy houses, bands playing....the kids had a ball, and so did I! On monday, we went to a parade, then had a cookout at our house with great friends....we went to fireworks that night...max totally loved them! It was his first fireworks show, and he would say: boom, again! Sooo cute!! The girls did sparklers, and hung out with friends....hope everyone had a great fourth too! What did you do???

Summer fun!

Tonight I took the kids to Mapleside for a summer fest. It was really fun! We took a ride on a cow train called the moolar express, the kids climbed a hay mountain and jumped on a big air pillow, we had some good food, and then setteled down on the lawn for an outdoor concert by PraiseAccapella. It was a christian band, and they were wonderful...the kids had a great time dancing on the lawn and rolling down the big hill! What a great summer night!

This time I mean it!

So, we just went to a wonderful wedding of my nephew, Paul, and had a great time with the family...but, after looking back at the pictures, I realiaze how big I have gotten....and it sucks! I don't like the way I look at all...So we went to the market today and bought lots of fruits and veggies to snack on. I also want to start trying to jog at night after dinner...I thought the girls can ride their bikes, and I can jog behind them with Max in the stroller. I mean it this time...I have to do something about this weight! I am kinda feeling like the odd man out in my family...everyone is so little, and then there is me...well, I will keep you all updated on the progress, and would accept any suggestions!!

A Hairdresser, I am not!

So, the other day Matt asked me to cut his hair. I laughed. Are you serious? I have never cut anyone's hair before, not even bangs! He insisted, how hard can it be? So, we found a pair of clippers on sale, and away I went...I mean, we could save a lot of money if i cut Matt's and Max's hair every month right? Well......turns out, its a lot harder than it looks!! I did ok with the buzzing the back and middle..then it came time to clean up the sides, and opps! Let's just say he ended up looking like lyod christmas from dumb and dumber....he went to a salon to get it fixed, and took max with him to get his haircut...probably thought I would try the clippers out on him next!!

Mckenzie's 11 birthday party

What a great birthday party we had for Mckenzie's 11th birthday! We had a backyard carnival. We set up games such as, Lucky Ducks (you pick a duck with a star on the bottom from a pool), Ring toss (throw a shower curtain ring over pop bottles), a tatoo and face painting booth, a fortune teller booth (a bowl of fortune cookies) a bowling table, and a ball toss (we threw footballs threw the tire swing). We made carnival food, hotdogs, popcorn, nachos, cotton candy, and snow cones! All the kids got clown noses to put on for a picture at the end.....all the kids had a great time!!
Pictures to follow soon!

Maddie's big month!

Well, it has been a very busy few weeks for a certain little 5 year old! My big girl has graduated from preschool (tear;) They did such a great job with the little ceremony...they sang a few songs, signed a few songs, and each got their diplomas! Maddie was a little sad about leaving, but she is really looking forward to kindergarden. Her other big thing was her dance recital! She had 2 numbers, a jazz on and a ballet one. She was right on top of things, and knew those dances!! What a great time we have had these last few weeks!

Impromtu beach trip

Well, it's the weekend again...I have really been not liking the weekends much lately, mostly because matt works 3 12hour shifts friday, sat, and sun. So, I play single mom these days. Today I was not going to let me get it down though. I decided to take all 3 kiddos to the beach. On my own. Now, I was pretty nervous about what could happen....I mean that's a pretty scary place to have to keep only your set of eyes on 3 active kids. So, I layed down the ground rules, packed up some dinner and beach toys, and set off for hunington beach. I have to admit...the kids were great, and we had a wonderful time! Max loved the sand, and the girls loved to walk along the edge of the water collecting shells. The hardest part was trying to get everything packed back up and sand off the kids to go home! I sure give you single moms credit!!

Another bump in the road

I have not written in awhile...well, my computer had been down, but I have also been so busy with the kids lately that when they go to bed, all I want to do is sleep! I have a doctors appointment tommorrow with maddie to check on the hordeoula in her eye. I have a feeling they are going to suggest surgery...we have tried everything else and it still looks horrible! I am pretty nervous about them putting her to sleep because of her asthma...Has anyone had any experience with this?I have heard they have a hard time coming out of it...Let's see...what else has happened these last few weeks...Mckenzie has made the level 6 gymnastics team and is very excited...more practice but she is ready for it. Max has given up the bottle...he is getting to be such a big boy!! I am working on the Cinderella show for the red shoes dance theater...so excited to be working in the dance world again!! Well, my responsible little maddie just came out of her bed to inform me that I forgot to give her her eyedrops before bed, so off I go........

At a crossroads....

I have had so much on my mind latley, that it seems to be consuming all my thoughts and energy....I am going to write them out in hopes that I will let some of it go...

*I hate waiting to see whats going to happen with the whole house thing...I know that at some point in the next month or so, we will get out tax refund (our downpayment) and should be able to be preapproved for a loan.

*Until the house thing falls through, and I know where we are going to be living, I can not persue any more kids to watch. When summer is over, the 2 little girls that I have been watching will be in first grade, and I will not really be needed anymore :( So I need to find someone new!

*I have been really unhappy about myself lately...about how I look (never did lose that baby weight!) wish I had money for a total makeover on my wardrobe too... I have also been not liking all the yelling that I am doing to the kids...seems like my patience has been shot to hell!

On a positive note, Matt and I have gotten alot done around the house latley (cleaning, organizing in prep for a move). And the kids and I have gotten outside a little more..finally this weather may break! Maddie is learning to ride her bike without training wheels, and max totally loves bike rides...he stands at the garage door screaming bike ride more! Hopefully I will get the patience to get through the next month or so, and things will fall into place...

Finally, Nice Weather!

Today was a beautiful 75 degrees finally!! We spent the whole day outside...playin in the mud, pushing babies in strollers, blowing bubbles, and jump roping....so nice to get the kids out for some fresh air and let them run off some of that built up energy!! Maddie took her training wheels off her bike, Max loved to pick up everything (and eat it!) and mckenzie was dying to try out some of her gymnastics in the grass! Can't wait till its this nice again!

Easter basket hunt

So, we have colored eggs...very fun...now it is the night before easter, and I am making up our clues for our annual easter basket hunt. Each easter, the kids wake up to clues to help them find where their baskets are hidden...here is what I have for this year...
Clue 1: Now that you have opened your eyes, Let out two big sighs...
move quickly to the living room, look out the window, do you see the moon?
Here is where the first clue will be, so turn on the light so you can see!

Clue 2: You are on the right track, a few more clues, now don't look back!
Hop on one foot, wiggle your nose, tap your toes.
Now go to the room where you watch your favorite shows!

Clue 3: Great job! Your doing your share,
Now move to the room where mommy dries her hair.
But first, just wait, will you take my bait?
Jump up and down, make a face like a clown!

Clue 4: Now skip to where daddy likes to nap in his favorite chair...Lets see, will your baskets be there???

It's such a fun way to get all the kids involved, and a way to make everyone laugh and have a great time...Happy Easter!!

New Pictures!

We got the kids easter/spring pics taken last night, and they turned out sooo cute! I just love getting new pics done of the kids, I try to go every 4 months or so...it is great to hold them up to previous pics and see the difference. The biggest this time was Maddie...her 5 year old pic compared to her 4 year old is sooo different! She has lost that baby face, and it looking like a big girl....max was very different in his too, even though we just had his 1 year old pics done only a couple months ago. Wow, time flies and kids grow so fast! I am going to try to enjoy our time now before it flies by me!

Maddie's big 5

Well, I am finally getting the chance to blog about Maddie's 5th birthday party! It's only been a month...haha...oh well, better late than never....
We had a Barbie Fashion Show party. The invites were barbie, and they asked to girls to wear their best fashion outfit and to bring their fav. barbie. When the girls arrived, we had all Maddie's barbie things set up in the living room (dream house, pool, cars, camper) The girls took turns getting their hair done with tiaras, nails painted, and glittered up! Then we did the barbie's hair. Next, the girls maddie necklaces out of beads. Then we went to the family room where there was a runway set up, and a curtain of crepe paper to walk through. The girls walked the runway with their barbie one at a time. We ended this with freeze dance. The girls then ate heart shaped sandwiches, fruit kabobs, pretzels and pink punch! We then decorated our own heart shaped mini cakes to take home and sang happy birthday to maddie with her barbie cake. It was pinkalisous! Everyone had a ball, including the birthday girl...Happy 5th Birthday Maddie!!!

Lazy Day....

It was so nice to have such a laid back, lazy day today! Mckenzie was at school, and Max and Maddie were just in the mood to cuddle on the couch and read stories, watch movies, and just hang out today....Max found his voice, and tried having a conversation with us...the words I did get out of it were go bye-bye, basement, and pizza. Not sure what they all have in common, but hey, at least he is trying to talk to us! On a sour note, Maddie needs to see a pediatric ophthalmologist for a hard nodule found in here bottom eyelid...hopefully everything is ok...Here is to a peaceful tommorrow!

State Gymnastics Champ!

We attended Mckenzie's state gymnastics meet yesterday, and wow did she blow us away! She is such a natural...I can't imagine if we started her at a younger age, where she would be now. She scored 5 in vault, and 7th overall in the state for her age group...quite an accomplishment! It is amazing what these kids can do....

Snowy day...

Well, here we are: snowed in again! I have been trying to think of some fun things for the kids to do instead of going stir-crazy! Here is what we have come up with so far:
* have a beach party in the basement..put on some beach boys music, take a beach ball downstairs, and have a ball!
*make a fort and watch movies and have popcorn in it
*bring the snow in, and play with it in the bathtub
*after quiet time, we are going to try to put some colored water in a spray bottle, and go outside and "paint" the snow

Hope this gave someone else some great inside activities to do on a snowy day!

Giving myself a break!

For some reason today, I started stressing about a lot of stuff. Money, which is the usual one...but also the fact that Max isn't walking yet, still takes a binky, and still has a couple of bottles a day. I don't know why, but I have been so much more relaxed about that stuff with him. With Maddie, she was walking, no more bottles, and used binky only for night by her first birthday. After thinking about this for a few hours, I thought to myself..hey, give your self a break...this is your third child, I am dealing with some food issues with the kids, and Matt has been working alot! I need to tell myself, it is all going to happen at some point, so I am trying to give it a rest!

One Sick Momma

Today I woke up feeling horrible! I for the first time in my adult life, have an ear infection and a sinus infection. I totally feel for the kiddos now when they get ear infections...they hurt soooo bad!!! It is really hard to take care of 3 kids when mommy doesn't feel good. Let's just say it was a tv kind of day!

New Resolutions....

Well, it has been a little while since I have last blogged....I feel like this time is flying by, and I have a few resolutions I would like to follow before life passes me by....
* try to blog every night, or every other night about what happened that day, or funny things said...
*try to be more patient, and not yell so much about silly things...
*try not to stress so much on the kids schedule, and what got done that day.

We have had a crazy last 6 weeks...
Max turned 1! He had a sports themed party on superbowl sunday! He was not very found of the whole cake experience (which totally surprised everyone, since he is such our little eater!)


McKenzie has been diagnosed with celiac disease...which means a gluten-free diet...added to our milk, egg, and peanut free

Maddie has had great insight on our "eating out". Today after have mcdonalds, she informs me that although she really likes fast food (esp. the toys in the kids meals), she thinks we just should not eat it anymore, because it makes everyone's belly hurt afterwards....smart little kid...

So, here is to new resolutions to being a better mommy, and a better Dawnne!

I can't believe my baby is going to be 1!

Well, Max is only 1 month away from turning 1! I can't believe how fast time flies! Seems like yesterday I went into labor...well I created a cute birthday invitation at shutterfly..cute templates, and pretty cheap! check it out!

Piece of Cake Birthday

Shutterfly has unique birthday invitations for every age and occasion.

View the entire collection of cards.