2011 Pumpkins!

And this one...

I love this man.

Truly, this costume is pretty far outside his comfort zone.

But he went for it and agreed to humiliate himself on my behalf.

I'm not sure I would do the same in return!

Thank you for a wonderful weekend away Jordan.

I am so thankful that you make time with me a priority.

And that great amounts of laughter are always part of our time.

Making memories with you is the best part of my life.

Where's Waldo?

We had much debate over what we should dress-up like this weekend.

Somehow...we settled on Waldo.

Robert of course embraced this idea a little more than the rest of the group.

He was willing to 'become Waldo' hours before the rest of us.

So we had fun watching everyone around us 'Find Waldo'.

Robert really had fun with it and was a great sport.

Another favorite part of the weekend.

Can you see him up by the Bean?

Robert pretty much became a celebrity here.

EVERYONE wanted their picture with him.

It was unforgettable.

These people will be surprised to get their wedding pictures back and 'Find Waldo'!

Waldo even went to Buckingham Fountain.

And spent some time along Lakeshore Drive.

And had a cute moment in the MIDDLE of Lakeshore Drive.

And played pool while listening to the Blues...

When the 4 Waldos hit the town we got a mixture of strange looks, annoyed

stares and comedic laughter. It was really a lot of fun!

Another reason to love the big city...no one knows you! :)

Chicago!!!

Jordan and I spent the weekend in Chicago with Jen and Robert.

We've been planning this for a couple of months and have been looking forward to it SO much!

My happy place...great view of my favorite city from our room.

Chicago style pizza at Geno's East.

Another happy place...with one of my brothers.

We laughed SO hard this weekend.

The view from the lounge at the top of the John Hancock building at about 11 pm.

Wait, that's Herbie Hancock...durrrh!

Jordan's happy place...cause this just doesn't happen in Iowa!

Love him.

And the newlyweds are just as cute as I remembered.

One of my favorite parts of the weekend...

After breakfast there was some commotion downtown and it turned out that some man had climbed a light pole and refused to come down.

Yep, a light pole. The fire and rescue had to be called in.

And yes, this was a favorite part for me because 'this just doesn't happen in Iowa'!

A GINORMOUS Marilyn!

The boys got a big kick out of it!

The weekend was perfect...my only regret was not getting a picture of the four of us together and that none of my other brothers and sisters could make it.

Next year guys...same city, same weekend!

Update

This was Torrance Monday night.

This is pretty much what she's looked like since Thursday.

Or if she is awake and upright - there are no smiles.

The past three days have been rough.

My poor girl has been so very sick.

Today we had a chest x-ray. Not fun.

I was starting to wonder if my girl was going to smile again...

But tonight...suddenly...we saw some of this!

And cant you just hear this giggle through the picture?

I'm praying she is really on the mend.

Thank you for your prayers...and keep 'em coming...He's answering them!

the verdict

Finally took Torrance to the dr. this am.

Pneumonia.

do your thing meds!

To Mondays!

some weeks I'm so glad God gives us Mondays.

really.

a fresh start.

a new beginning.

time to try again.

and while I know today brings with it all the same trials that yesterday and the past week held(still have lingering sickness, POUNDS of laundry, disinfecting my entire house, open houses tonight, meals to plan)...I also know that Monday is a fresh start. A gear up to do a better job.

Always with Jesus by my side. The only way I can do this. His promises are new each morning. His promises are constant. And He gives me fresh starts.

And maybe its the lysol infecting my nose...and brain...but this Monday smells fresh. And for now I'll take that!

Psalm 51:10-15

'Create in me a clean (some versions say renewed, FRESH would work too!) heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.'

Try reading that and not feeling a boost to your spirit this morning!

Happy Monday!

update

This was not the birthday weekend that I had envisioned for Torrance. We've had a number of bright spots including Tori's adorable performance with her cake, carving pumpkins and supper by the fire pit but the smiles and fun were definetly strained with the lingering sickies and fatigue of everyone.

I tell you...if this bug comes knocking at your door kick it right out. Because its a doozie and it tends to linger.

Just because someday I will look back on this and laugh...I hope:

Jordan and I: We are back to feeling well. For me it wasn't until yesterday afternoon that I really would say I had at least semi-normal energy back. Now if I could just get a decent night of sleep!

Lauren: 100% better as of yesterday. She thinks she was all better Friday...but I could see on her face that the girl was dog tired and drained.

Avery: I let her play in her soccer game yesterday and afterwards I was worried that had been a big mistake. But after a bit of down time she bounced right back and had a wonderful day. She's back to normal.

Sullivan: Had a really great day yesterday but by about 5:30 last night was really fading. His voice went completely hoarse and he was totally wiped. He was falling asleep in Jordan's lap by our fire pit long before bedtime. He requires a lot of sleep anyway so extra rest is all he needs I am sure. He's doing great today but you can hear all the 'gunk' in his chest.

Contessa: Had a rough day and a long nap yesterday. I was hopeful she would wake up feeling much better. The poor thing has had the bug 2 full days longer than anyone else. No luck...she woke up with a fever and puked at about 7:30. ugh. It has moved into her chest and she is full of yuck. She has not eaten anything of substance in days. Luckily she is really doing great with her fluids. She plays normally even with a fever of 102. It takes a lot to stop that girl of mine. The temp of 104 did it a couple of days ago but not for long. I'm really praying that this is the last day for her

Torrance: Oh my poor birthday girl. Yesterday was not a fun day for the poor thing. She did not nap the entire day...her typical day involves about 4 hours of naps. She made a great rebound late in the afternoon and we did her cake and presents and it was exactly what I was hoping for...the pictures are perfect. However she went downhill fast after that and woke up in the night burning up and vomiting. I had Dr. Trina listen to her lungs last night and she said they were 'full'. She has the world's worst cough. I'm really hoping we can hold out till tomorrow to go to the dr. and see our pediatrician but a trip to Urgent Care might be in store for us today.

Happy First Birthday Torrance Reagan!

Oh, Torrance Reagan you are One!!

How can that be so?

I look at you and wonder how a year could pass so quickly.

A year that I begged to pass slowly.

A year that I tried my very best to savor every minute of and remember every moment.

Torrance, You are a special girl I tell you.

Number 5.

Our last baby.

From the moment I held you I felt complete.

Actually from the moment I heard them say, 'Its a girl!'

And that is something that I have never felt before.

You completed our family.

We prayed and prayed for you little girl.

For your health, for your place in our family, for your future.

I prayed that God would complete our family in the most perfect way.

And He did sweet girl...

God gave us you.

Its no secret that baby girls are your daddy's biggest weakness.

And you were no different!

He loved to hold you in those early days...and simply stare at you.

Never doubt all the love he has for you.

Your siblings were infatuated with you.

Moments like these in this picture made me feel first, overwhelmed

- wow that is a lot of kids hovered around me!

But secondly, so blessed, just look at them all loving you and wanting to be close.

We are truly so very blessed.

And you were such a perfect baby to be our last. So laid back and content.

So inquisitive and alert.

You filled our house with such a sweetness.

Now that you are one I will admit that I am sad.

I'm sad to have the baby phase ending.

I'm sad to know that you wont curl on my chest and just let me hold you.

But I can see in your sweet blue blue eyes all the fun that is coming.

Your spit fire and spunk and your love to be the center of attention is already giving us so much laughter and joy.

At one you wave bye-bye, play peek-a-boo, do 'so-big', say da-da, a little version of uh-oh, shake your head no and babble - ALL THE TIME!

You are into everything. You climb like none of your siblings ever did.

You get into all my cupboards and you never play with real toys!

Torrance one thing I know...on October 22, 2010 God gave me a miracle...

just as magical and amazing as the first.

We will forever be thankful and in awe that He chose our family for you.

Thank you sweet girl...for filling my heart to the brim.

All our love,

Mommy and Daddy

when will it end?

Remember how Tess had a fever and no vomiting?

Yeah, not so much anymore.

So bad...you just had to laugh

Honestly, that was simply awful. Really no way to describe.

Seven people - all with the flu.

It was violent.

At one point all I could think of was the horrible puking scenes from Stand by Me and Bridesmaids...

Not cool.

Just when someone starts to think they are better...bam.

You know how high school kids take home those fake babies as an assignment to teach them that having kids isnt all fun and games and basically to scare them? Well scratch that...they should have just videotaped our house over the past 36 hours and showed them that. No one in their right mind would have kids after watching that! :)

Now it seems everyone is in various stages of recovery. Lauren actually went to school at noon. I dont know how...

Torrance is struggling the most right now. VERY lethargic and fussy. She took a nap on the couch with Jordan and I this afternoon and I'm not exaggerating when I say she hasn't done that since she was 3 months old...she only sleeps in her crib. Her birthday is tomorrow...we MUST be better.

The other 3 at home are starting to realize how hungry they are...they keep bringing things out of the fridge and cupboard to us and asking to eat...If I had it my way we'd be waiting till tomorrow to put anything into our bodies!

Here's to health!

I wish it was 3 am

cause at 3 am I was still sleeping in my cozy bed, blissfully unaware of what 4 am would bring.

4 am - Sullivan screaming in a way that could only mean a wild animal had entered our house and was gnawing his face off...

4:20 - Sullivan starts vomiting

4:30 - discover Tess's fever is 103 (day 3)

4:45 - Avery starts vomiting

S and A continue to vomit all morning

7:30 am - Lauren tries to say she is fine...then starts vomiting

9:15 - go in to get the baby up - she has started vomiting

10:45 - take Tess to the dr. while my AMAZING mom watches the 4 pukers...Tess does not have a bladder infection - YEAH! Just a virus.

12:00 return home and start longing for nap time!

I just had to document the first time all 5 of them were sick at the exact same time...and I'm hoping this never happens again.

Every family's got one...

She is such the baby of the family - such our family clown.

She loves to perform and have us all laugh at her.

We've got some feeling under the weather with colds and Tess has a fever.

So tonight we decided to have a movie night cuddled up on the couch before early bedtimes.

Torrance however, is feeling fine and was not in the mood for cuddling and quiet.

Nope.

She was SO loud!

And wild!

And giggly!

And loving the spotlight as we all watched her from our big sectional.

Here she briefly paused and considered joining us.

Nah, this is way more fun!

Come on...you have to love me!

We did get to watch about 5 minutes of the movie in peace...

while she played with Daddy's Blackberry.

But Daddy had to put a stop to that fun.

We love you Torrance.

And we love the spunk you bring to our house!

Birthday week!

Rest assured that this little girl's last week as my baby will

be fully documented in pictures and serious spoiling.

Here I caught her dancing with Tess this morning.

Serious adorableness.

She's a total cheeseball.

Then it was time for a bottle.

Thought Id get some cuddle time there?

Nope.

This is how she drinks a bottle.

Either sitting or standing and doing something else at the same time.

NEVER sits still. NEVER.

Are you kidding me?

It must be documented...

...that 'RED' won on their early and freezing cold game on Saturday.

And that this cute little thing scored THREE big goals!

So fun!

framed

Jocelyn's got a CHICKEN!!!

There was also a petting zoo with chickens, kitties, pigs, horses, dogs....

At one point Jocelyn came around the corner like this...

I yelled, 'Jocelyn's got a CHICKEN!'

She was holding it like a baby.

Cutest thing ever.

I panicked a bit cause in my mind a chicken will peck your eyes out if you get too close!

Jen Ven told me not worry...Jocelyn is the 'chicken whisperer!'

Too funny.

pumpkin patch day!!!!

I love pumpkin patch day!

It was pretty chilly and windy but we had a blast.

I wish we had a picture of our caravan of minivan mom's rolling down Hwy 20 this morning.

This was not all of the kids but most...even the specks in the distance.

Tori enjoyed her first trip.

With the exception of her non-fitting hat and that I wouldnt let her go wherever she wanted.

(side note - she is wearing a sweater that Lauren wore in her 1 year pics - oh the memories)

We started by painting pumpkins - the newspaper even showed up to document the event.

Serious concentration.

No school today meant the big kids got to join us too!

Next we moved onto the haymow...I think the kids would have stayed here the whole time.

Hayrack ride next!

Sully was nervous so he found a hand to hold.

Personally I think it was just a clever tactic to sit close to Jen!

Lauren - babysitter extraordinaire.