Ladies and Gentlemen, from Greater Cleveland....

Introducing the Bay Village Bee Bouncers

Porter participates in an afterschool trick dribbling program a few times a week. It is so amazing what some of these kids can do, and even though I do not like sitting on a gym floor for a few hours every week, I love to watch them. Porter was one of many kids chosen to go and perform at the Harlem Globetrotters game. He had no idea what he was in for and I think he was a little nervous when he walked into the Q arena last night, but he still did it. I am so happy and proud of him!





The one and only Mr. B

Porter and his friend JP made it on the jumbo-tron!!











*The first video is of the pre-game show, and the other two are of the half time performance.

Christmas Wrap Up 2010

Well, Christmas was not at all what I imagined it would be this year. Instead of happiness, baking, traditions, and laughter, we had vomit, belly pains, and sleep. Everyone in our family, except for Marin, got the flu or it's cousin. It was terrible and disappointing. We still managed to have a great Christmas morning and spent our weekend playing and resting. I don't know what I would have done without Andy. He took care of everyone and did ALL the laundry, what a guy. He get's serious props for taking care of Carlee and Tessa as they were throwing up at the same time!! I am happy to see all of it pass and looking forward to a healthy new year! Thank you to everyone who sent us stuff for Christmas, it really made our Christmas morning so special.


Carlee asked for the Barbie Dream House.


Porter asked for a DSiXL and a lasso.


Tessa asked for Lanie.


Tessa clearly as still not feeling well, she fell asleep in the middle of this mess.




How the rest of the day went.

Oh, and here is our Christmas card for this year.

What really goes on....

The other day at our white elephant party a few of my friends commented on how I always have things "together" or something along those lines. It was a very nice thing to say, but I honestly don't feel that way. I feel like I try very hard to have things together, but there are times, many times to be exact, where "together" is a word I cannot even spell and things are a total mess. Today was one of those days.

It started last night when Porter came down with a weird look on his face, like he had a bad dream. Andy took him back up to bed but ten minutes later, there was Porter in our doorway with the same bad look. Andy jumped up and got a bowl just in time for Porter to start throwing up his bacon spaghetti dinner. We had this same scenario 4 more times throughout the night. Andy was up and gone before 8:00 a.m. and when I got out of bed I walked into the kitchen I saw how my day was going to go. First start all of the throw up laundry, poor Porter threw up in his bed), next-feed and change Marin, next, help Porter throw up again, next- get Porter back into my bed and find him a movie and new pillow (still need to throw the other pillow out), next- feed the other two girls, actually just Tessa because Carlee was clearly aware of the craziness and made her own frosted mini wheat cereal, next, get Marin to sleep, next get Porter a new throw up bowl, and finally some time to myself in the shower (in my dreams, halfway through Tessa came in and sat on the potty and announced that she had gone poo!). So it just continued on from there, but it got better. Porter stopped throwing up, Andy came home in between hunting and work and changed a poopy diaper for me, I made the kids dinner (or another version of dinner since today was my going to the grocery store day), and now I am blogging.

As I started to pick up the house I noticed how things were and I felt that I needed to take pictures and document how it was today.


Andy's shoes from pheasant hunting, I actually didn't mind seeing them on the floor. Seeing the shoes like this with the feathers in them made me smile. I know he had a great time today and was feeling very manly, and no, I will not be trying the pheasant.


Me trying to keep Marin entertained, look how big she is in the Bumbo! Also note the basket of laundry waiting to be folded in the background.


My awesome sink of dishes, note the container of freezer jam in the back. Mr friend Sara taught me how to make it and now it is a fav here in our house.


Carlee and Porter watching "Elf" in my bed, I think we have watched 3 or 4 movies today.


Tessa was here, that is all I have to say about that.


My messy counters, I can't stand having things on the counter. Note in this picture a few things, the many wrapper from Kisses in my moments of desperation, Christmas cards still not on display, my choice of music Bruno Mars and the Step UP 3soundtrack, and my braclet from Erin that I love.


Oh, and I love this picture of my pants. The big fat scrubs from Andy's work from like 7 years ago. They ripped today and I somehow did not manage to change them even though I tripped on them about 4 times. I am not one of those mom's who has a velour track suit to wear on my stay at home days. If I am going to be home and not wear jeans, I am going to be as comfortable as possible. (I do have a set of the velour pants and jacket waiting to be returned, I just couldn't do it.)


So now, I am going to go and put this cute girl in the bath because it has been 3 days since her last bath, I know it's grose, but that is just how things are right now. Peace Out.

Grandma Roo Review....

I was so lucky and honored to have my Grandma Ruth come all the way from California to visit us. It was so wonderful to have her here and to spend time with us. The kids were so cute with her and they never gave Grandma a moment of peace or time to herself, they were always hugging her and following her around. Example, the night that I let the kids sleep on the floor of her room, I went in hours later to find Porter in bed with her! It was nice to be around her again and to hear her moans and groans, to laugh at her swearing, hug her whenever I wanted, but the best thing was that she was able to meet Tessa and Marin. Grandma Ruth was such a trooper and went along with no complaint. We took her to Costco, which was about a 2 hour trip but still so fun, we went to Bee Bouncers, we stayed up late and watched disappointing movies (I still have yet to see a really good movie since the Blind Side), we shopped JC Penny, she folded my laundry and watched UP with the kids, we ate at the Christmas breakfast at church, we went church (but then Tessa peed and I was having a moment and had to leave), we went to the Messiah performance which was awesome, and to Olive Garden (my grandma had never been there before...HELLO!) I think by the time her time here was up she was spent. I have to give Grandma Ruth all the credit in the world for coming here. She is 79 and has cancer, and even that cannot stop her. I can only hope to be as amazing as she is at that age.

















Saying goodbye to this woman was so much harder than I thought it would be. As soon as I got back in the car at the airport I just started to cry. I miss her so much already and I hope so badly that I can make it out to see her and the rest of the Cali crew this summer. Last but not least I would like to share one of my favorite moments of her time here.

We had just returned home from Costco and didn't have much time before we needed to go to Bee Bouncers and I still needed to feed Marin. I was rushing to put the groceries in the fridge/freezer, and when I do that I often throw away old leftovers and expired items. I had 6 eggs that were 6 days old and being that I had just bought 36 news eggs, I chucked the 6 old eggs into the garbage. Moments later I hear my Grandma gasp and yell "Shay, did you throw away these eggs???!!!" (You would have thought I threw a $100 bill in the garbage) I told her that they were expired and we just bought 36 new eggs, and I was in a hurry, so yes, I threw away the eggs. She then told me that we need to keep the eggs. I asked what we would do with the eggs, she replied "make some meringue". I laughed and asked her what I would do with the meringue and she told me I could eat it. (I am still laughing as I write this). Just what I wanted, some meringue.....uh, no. She also told me to fry them up or scramble them, or to hard boil them, don't the kids like hard boiled eggs??? To sum up the egg throwing away story, two days later we had 6 deviled eggs that were so delicious, I was wishing we had more.

Thank you Grandma Ruth for everything and for making such big sacrifices to come here. We will always be grateful for what you did and I will always treasure the memories that we made with our time together. I love you.

A Visit with Santa....

Our church had a Christmas Breakfast on Saturday morning that was wonderful, you cannot go worng with good food and good company. The kids did a musical performance and we all sang Christmas carols until Santa arrived, it was so magical.




Porter asking for a DS.


Carlee asking for the big giant Barbie house.


Tessa asking for the Lanie doll.


Marin asking for her mommy.

Get it While it's Hot....

Hot, Hot, Hot, Hot Chocolate!!!!! (I love that song in Polar Express and when I dance to it Andy says I would be ready for our 2012 beach trip in no time.)


Porter's friend JP had a great idea of doing the hot chocolate stand and they invited us to come along. We had it last Thursday and it was a huge hit! Sara and I made fresh wreaths, muddy buddies, and the pretzel hug treats to sell along with the yummy beverage. We also put out jewlery, flag garland and towel bags, and some cute posters of "Jesus Words" (inside joke). Porter and JP wanted to keep and save the money for Disneyland and Lego's but Sara and I decided before the sale that we would donate the money in honor of our friend Ally and our other little friend Porter who have Cystic Fibrosis. People were so generous with their donations at the stand with donating to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, it was such a wonderful experience. I am happy to report that we made about $170, I think that was very succesful. Oh, and the local newspaper showed up and took pictures and said they were going to do a story, so we'll see, but the kids were so excited to hear they were going to be famous. Also a big shout out to my grandma Ruth who helped take care three sets of kids while we were outside running the show. We have been having so much fun.


The sweet neighbor lady being the first customer.


Sister Klopp and I. She drove all the way from Fairview to support Ally.


Some major hot chocloate action.


The stand runners Porter and JP.

Old Man Wilcox....

On Monday we went to the Wilcox tree farm and cut down this years tree. It was a beautiful winter day, we lucked out with 55 degree weather. We walked for about an hour before we found the perfect tree for us. It was so nice to be outside this time of year. Andy kept on saying how much he wished he could own land like what we were on, it truly was beautiful. After we chose the tree we headed into the barn for some hot chocolate, and then on our way home we went to Five Guys. I love Five Guys, it is so good, they have great burgers and fries, and the music is always rockin' there, I just cannot help but sing when I am there. After food we came home and got down to decorating business. We had a minor hiccup with the lights, but Andy was able to get us through it and we decided that this year after Christmas, we will be looking for clearance lights.















I love this time of year, I love traditions, and I love having my own family to make traditions with. I spent a lot of time on Monday thinking about traditions and thinking of old Christmas memories. Of course I was thinking of the Leymasters who we went to this farm with last year. I miss them so much and wish they were with us this year. I thought about when I was little and was spending Christmas in Utah with my Dad when he lived in Park City. I got to his house and he had no tree, so he went to the back yard and cut down some random tree for me. It was amazing and huge, we barely got it in the house. I also remember going with my mom to get a tree on a day it was raining really hard, but my mom said we were getting the tree, so we did. Thinking about past memories makes me afraid that one day I will forget and I never want to forget.

On to Old Man Wilcox....when we were at the tree farm waiting to get onto the Wagon ride, the gentleman driving the tractor told us there was an emergency, and he asked us if we wouldn't mind walking because of the emergency. He was very emotional and distraught. Andy and I were confused, was there an issue out on the lot, did someone saw off their leg? Finally Andy asked what was going on and the man told us that Old Man Wilcox was in the hospital, "something was not right with his mind." As I began to understand more of what this emergency was my heart ached for this man and his dear friend Mr. Wilcox. I could feel how much he cared for him and his deep concern. Since Monday I have had many moments where I think about Mr. Wilcox and I hope he is okay, it will be one of those things I always wonder about.

I am almost where I would like to be with our Christmas decorating. I am planning on making a few more things to put up. I am so excited to have a cute Advent my sister in law made me using this tutorial. It was such a nice surprise to get in the mail and came a few weeks ago after I had a few rough days. (Love you D!) Next on my list is preparing for my Grandma Ruth to come, I cannot wait, just 5 more days!!

When Carlee is in Charge of Marin...

this is what happens...







I was cleaning the kids rooms and Andy had Tessa and P in the bath, Marin woke up and Carlee asked if she could play with her on her bed and be in charge of her. I continued to pick up when I heard Carlee giggle and then she said "Mom you HAVE to see this, it is soooooo cuuuuuute!" And she was right.
(oh, and notice the cute pillow case Carlee got from Aunt Erin for her b-day)

Nursery Rhyme Family....

Seriously though, this family is so cute. Jake and Jill are good people and they have two very cute little girls. I love Jill, she has become a great friend to me here in the Cleve, my friendship with her has always been so easy. I have been asking to do her family pictures for almost a year, so when she finally asked a few weeks ago I was pumped. I think the pictures turned out great, I especially love the one of Jake kissing her. Memory of this shoot----when I hit Callie in the face with my giant camera!! Yeah, you read that right, full on right in the forehead with my camera, good thing it was at the end of the shoot and Jill brought suckers just in case. (Sorry again Jill, clearly I am not over it.)