I love Shutterfly

Shutterfly has this great offer. If you make a post about them, you can earn some FREE cards. I know, I know... I should already have my cards ordered and in the mail to you. But hey, I've had barfing kids for the past week... and before that Cade had pneumonia.... and before that we had another round of the stomach flu... and before that... well you get the idea. That's for another post. Not sure if Shutterfly will consider this great advertisement. So since I love a bargain and I truly do love Shutterfly. This is a fairly easy job for me.

First up.... their cards... super cute... affordable (even without a coupon)... and easy. Just drag and drop your picture into a card. Shutterfly cards

Next up... their calendars... love them. I made one for my parents last year for Christmas. You can add your own text and add your own events on the calendar part. Very fun! Shutterfly Calendars
(If I were really savvy... I would show you a copy of my calendar here. Maybe by next Christmas I will have figured that one out. I had to go to google help to even figure out how to add these links.)

My last recommendation and by FAR my FAVORITE... you know how Oprah makes her big annual favorite things show. Well... Shutterfly photo books would be one my List. Love them. I recommend you take the time and do the manual book. I've done the automated book once, it turned out cute. But I love the ability to add more text. And you are very limited in the automated books. But these are fun and cute. Everyone should make one. Shutterfly Photo Books

Alright... I took the time and tried to post one of my photo books. I am getting so tech savvy..

So when you get your Christmas cards (and hopefully not late) you can think of my post.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Christmas Photo Shoot

It's that time of year. When I wait too long and then I am in a panic trying to find a time to go out and take pictures for our Christmas cards. I envision it being this beautiful thing. Having each child looking their best, hair combed, and cute coordinating clothes. It came down to it this year and I just did not even attempt. We got a lot of snow last night, so it's going to be kids playing in the snow with coats and hats on this year.

Here's a few pics from our very professional photo shoot.

Aleah gives BIG hugs... I am hoping to edit her snotty nose out of the final card.

It makes you look forward to getting our card in the mail, doesn't it? Well... next year I will have that beautiful card and the kids looking their best.

The House

Hopefully, this will become our new home on Sept. 17.

The stairs.

The office.

The living room.

The very beautiful kitchen.... favorite thing about the house.

The family room... great!

The dining room ceiling.

The dining room.

The master bedroom.

The master bath.

Reid and Trey's room. Who is that little person?

Aleah's room.

Cade's small, but his own room.

The basement.

Time line-

August 2 we printed out the purchase agreement when we were in Michigan at Ben and Carrie's. This is one of those weird things that I just had a feeling was going to happen.

August 3 we faxed the purchase agreement to Mary (our agent). We found out that night that the sellers accepted our offer this time.

August 9 Inspection... that's when I took these pictures. (my mom got to see the house)

Kindergarten here he Comes

My baby boy did it, he started school. I have to admit that I think God put so much craziness in this week, that He just did not give me any time to truly worry and get upset about Trey going to school. Trey was sleepy that morning, because he and Reid would not go to sleep the night before school. So I was setting in the lazyboy holding him and he looked up at me as I was getting all teary. He asked me, "mommy are you sad"? I pulled it together and just told him that I was going to miss playing with him.

We all walked down to the bus stop. He was very brave and then once the bus pulled up he got a little scared. I told Reid to get behind him, instead of in front of him to kind of nudge him along. And that brave little Trey just climbed on the bus. He sat with Caleb and Reid and then Reid helped him get to class.

Side note: Reid can be so mean and rough with Trey, but when it comes down to it, he takes care of his little brother.

I am not sure why Aleah would not stop plugging her nose and she had her other hand in her mouth.

Aleah and I picked Trey up after school. The first thing out of his mouth was that he saw Mrs. Weber in the library. Then he wanted to know where Cade and Reid were and why didn't he get to stay and ride the bus home. Yeah, he really missed me. He told me that Mrs. Weber read Go Dog go. We had been home for a few hours and then he told me that he needed to take his folder to school. I was just so impressed that my little boy remembered that his teacher told him that he needed to bring a folder.

Sweet Trey did fabulous on his first day of school.

New Bike

Today was registration for school. Normally this is a rather sad thing for me, but this year it's just time. We are still renting and it's been an extremely hot summer. Thus, we have been very confined to a small space. Craig is trying to sleep during the day, which has added to the difficulty. So I am sad that my baby boy is starting kindergarten, but it's just time for everyone to head back to school.

I had to buy each one of the boys the new school t-shirt. It has special meaning this year because their friend Lincoln Weber designed the logo. (Tammy is rather embarrassed by the whole thing, because it looks like a giant chicken nugget. And every child in the school has a folder with this design on it.) So the boys all tried on their new shirts and we headed out to check out Cade's new bike.

I should back up here, in between registration and putting on the t-shirts was the biggest event of the day. Mom, Cade, Reid, and I all went to Walmart to buy the bike. Everything was going well. Cade had picked out his bike and mom and Reid were going in to find somebody to actually unlock the bike. There was this rather awkward set up at the end of the bikes and mom fell. Not just a little fall. But a full body fall where she hit pretty much every part of her body. I can still see it in my mind, it was so scary. She was pretty shaken up and pretty beat up. Her glasses were bent up and scratched, her face all red, hands looked bad, and she said her knee really hurt. Cade and I helped her move over to the shade and then I went in to the store. Did I mention there was a heat index over 100. So on top of all the drama, we were all baking. We filled out and accident report and then we did manage to buy the bike.

Once we were home, Craig and I wanted her to go see a doctor. Of course, she wanted to give it time and see how she felt in the morning. Now since I am actually writing this story a week later, let me give you the update. She went to her Walmart and they were very nice. She got an eye exam and a new pair of glasses. She went to see an orthopedic doctor on Monday. Her had is broken and she's in a cast. They think her knee is damaged and will probably be doing an MRI.




Little Miss Thing on the Big Wheel. She won't be left out.

Cade was a little uncertain at first. He really has not had a bike since we left Michigan a year and a half ago. So he's a little rusty, but loves his new bike.

Cade and Aleah are really close right now. She actually let him get on the big wheel with her.

Who knew buying a bike would be such an event.

Webkinz Road Trip

Webkinz came to our little zoo on Saturday. This was an exciting event for our household. We don't have a Wii or Playstation, so the boys gather around the computer and play Webkinz World.

I really wasn't sure how Cade was going to do. As we walked into the zoo, he shoved his owl into the stroller. He is in that in between world. He still loves little boy things, but he also loves to sit and watch sports endlessly and has taken a strong interest in girls. (not sure if I am really ready for that one) But I am happy to say, all three boys had a very fun time. Cade even thanked me this morning for taking him.

They won little shirts and shorts for their Webkinz to wear and those popular bracelets. They brought some animals around while we stood in line; a blue tongued skink, a tree frog from Australia, and a big snake. And then the last thing was, they took their Webkinz up for a physical. (I stood in line the entire time waiting for this while they went around to the other tents)

Trey was so cute. He answered all the questions about his Webkinz. It's kind of funny though, his name keeps changing. It was Baby Tasha and now it's Hailey.

We walked around and saw a few animals and then headed home.

Is this too cute... little Aleah with her big brother.....

I don't know Why Daddy is my Favorite....

yum....

Mommy makes me eat yogurt or cereal. Yippee Daddy!!!! Chocolate donuts!!!! that boring mommy.

How's a mom to compete?

Lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh, my!

One of our favorite family outings has always been a trip to the zoo. This was our first trip down to the Indianapolis zoo. Of course, that day it was 90+ degrees outside with 100% humidity. Alright, I don't know the exact details; but it was miserable. This entire summer was just super hot and humid. So if you wanted to do anything it was going to be HOT!

So we got there and we heard about the dolphin show and we knew we were heading there and getting out of the sun. The dolphins were great. We all really enjoyed it. I was so emotional, I cried. I know, stress and emotions will make you crazy. (we had put an offer on a house the day before, among other things)

My pictures aren't great, but the show was so fun.

Cade and I went to the elephant show. Nobody else wanted to come out into the sun to watch it. Aren't elephants amazing?

I went with Cade on his first roller coaster. (this is not an attractive picture)

Poor little Aleah had been bit by a mosquito earlier in the week. So her eye was still all swollen. She did great though.

Giraffes are amazing. How did God come up with them?

Rhinos are just weird. Once again, how did God come up with this?

Daddy's little girl.

The thoroughly melted family.

Eeeek!

I love bears and I love taking pictures of them. I would love to go on some kind of safari to take pictures of animals. If I had a great camera, knew what I was doing, and did not have to sleep in the wilderness.

We ended the day in the shark petting area.

20 Months Plus

Aleah's frustrated scowl, a look that is often used.

Sweet and innocent.

Hmmm???? where did Aleah go?

There she is!!! the little rag a muffin. Is rag a muffin a real term, or is it one of those things that my Grandma made up?

Aleah is full of personality, no doubt about that one. She is strong-willed and has an opinion about things. She's also funny and loves to scream and giggle.

Here favorite things to say:

I want that..... not sure how to spell what she actually says... I unt aat

Off.... she often wants the lazy boy to herself

Cup.... up

Cracker....cackar

TASHA... TASHA

Croc....she loves her little orange crocs from Grandma

Mom....Mam..mam...mamm... mmaaamm.... she only says mom when she is whining to me.

Aleah loves to go to the basement and play with her brothers. Actually, she will just stay down there by herself. Just this week all the boys were upstairs and it had probably been 10 minutes or so and I asked, "where's Aleah?" I actually had to call her and tell her to come up. Independent little thing. She will just walked into the nursery at church. None of the boys even came close to that.

She is not real cuddly, but loves to bring books and climb up on your lap.

Has to SCREAM every time we lay her down, but she usually sleeps through the night.

She's definitely rough and tough, but at the same time she's loves being the little girl of the house.