Pictures

As they begin to play together more - it is interesting to see what they get into!

Everyone had to get in on the cooking for FESTA action - now aren't you sorry you didn't eat what we brought :-)

Daddy got in trouble for not "taking turns"

This and That

Chase was/is still in his crib.  The end of the summer Callie received a new daybed.  She and I have worked on a new patchwork comforter for her new bed - almost done.  She wanted to do a project and learn to sew.  More on that when I can post a pic of the finished product.  So for Chase, we took her old bed and Shannon painted it blue to make it more boy.  I found Thomas bedding and he was so excited for his big boy bed.  The first time we tried was nap time on a Saturday.  He laid down and called me back in after a couple minutes to quietly tell me there was a space he could get out :-)  However he napped fine and slept all night that night in it and then Sunday took a nap in it.  I thought wow that was easy but yet I knew better.  Sunday night he just wanted in his crib.  We left the crib in his room too for now.  So he slept in his crib.  For the first two weeks or so he slept on and off in his crib or big boy bed.  Now most nights he sleeps in his big boy bed but around 3-3:00 he slips into our room to sleep in "max's spot" (the overstuffed large chair in our room that Max sometimes sleeps on and Chase would full time sleep on if we let him).

End of September, John and Linda kept the kids while Shannon and I headed to Garnett to pick up our new Explorer.  Callie loves it - especially the rear vent controls!!!   We traded in the Escape we got when pregnant with Callie. 

One Friday Mary was off for a funeral and Linda was subbing so Chase got to spend the day with Grandpa John all to himself!

KINCAID FAIR WEEKEND - Friday after work/school the kids and I went up to mom and dad's to the Kincaid Fair.  We had fun at the fair and then Chase and I crashed while Callie helped Mom make salad's for the church dinner.  Saturday Mom and I did the walk in the morning while Grandpa kept the kids.  Chase was all ready to go feed the cows with Grandpa when we got home.  Mom went along with them.  Then he got to feed a bail of hay with the tractor - talk about a happy boy.  Shannon came up in time for lunch and the parade.  The kids loved the parade but Chase was so tried.  Who plans a parade at nap time.  So we rested for awhile in the afternoon and then headed back in to ride rides after supper.  Callie was so good to ride with Chase but she really loves the big rides.  She rode several of those with Shannon on Saturday night.  Chase was so upset he couldn't go.  I thought he would ride with Trenton or Trevor but no he just wanted Callie.  I finally figured out that his love of french fries would fix the tears.  I remembered my camera and then never took it out of the car. 

Callie decided after the first session of gymnastics this year that she wanted to switch back and give dance a try.  Her friend Catheryn switched to the same class.  Then when we arrived that day another of her friends was in that class.  A few classes in and they seem to be enjoying it.

The kids have gotten to having quite the conversations in the backseat and I just think it is too cute.  They were discussing something the other day and I was giggling in front.  Callie said don't laugh.  Chase said yah don't laugh I talkn' Callie.  So cute.

One Monday we were getting ready in the morning and Chase got a little booboo on his thumb.  He as quite concerned about it.  Then he said you call Grandma Peg and tell her bout my booboo?  When I get home from Mary's she come my house see my booboo?

FESTA - Oct 8th was Festa so mom again came down to help me.  Shannon was roofing at his parents house so Dad came down and watched the kids.  Callie had a bowling birthday party for Katherine that I took time to run her to in the afternoon.  I was exhausted by the time the food was over at FESTA so mom and I skipped the silent auction for the first time and headed home to get the kids in the bath.

Rylan and Dylan's 6th Birthday Party - Saturday the 15th we headed to their house for a fun birthday party in the afternoon/evening.  Chase LOVED all their toys - especially trains!  Happy boy!

Funny Chase - Lately he likes me to pat his back, but he calls it bump my back.  As I rock him or lay down with him he says "bump me mom" and lately it has been "bump my back for a long time" when he doesn't want me to get up from laying down with him to go to sleep.  But then I was bumping his back the other night he said "not to close to my face"  - guess I am a crazy mom huh?  He has to protect himself:)

I do not have many photos lately but I had a couple cute ones I was going to post but I can't get it to work.  So I will try to add pics later.  What fun is a post without some pics!

News - What do you think?

Callie's due date was Dec 2nd - she was born on Oct 31st at 35.5 weeks - 5 lb 12 oz
Connor's due date was July 13th - he was born on June 20th at like a day before 37 weeks - 7 lb 11 oz
Chase's due date was Jan 18th - he was born on Jan 4th at exactly 38 weeks - 9 lbs 4 oz
This one is due April 26-28th - when will he/she be born??????
Dr. Borello's words after Chase was born was something to the effect of if you ever went full term you would have a giant.  I personally thought 9lb 4oz was pretty good!!!

With Callie I was sound asleep and my water broke at I think a little after 1 in the morning and she was born at 12:20 right after noon so like 11 hours of labor,  a little more than 4 of which were after I had completely dilated - she wouldn't come out!  A LOT of pushing.

With Connor I was sound asleep and my water broke at 12:15 right after midnight and he was born at 7:55 AM so a little less than 8 hours of labor and less than a half hour of pushing.  I thought I had it made.  I had to wear oxygen as my blood pressure wouldn't stay up during labor so that was the annoying thing with him.

With Chase I had been having "leaking" type issues since nightime/early morning on the 2nd.  I went to the doctor on the 2nd because of it but they could not determine that it was fluid and since I was not far enough along could not admit me but said I would be back soon.  That night came and went as did the next day.  The the night of the 3rd into the 4th I had more "leaking" and I was so fed up.  It was a quarter till 3 and I decided I was calling my doctor who was on call the next morning!  As I was laying back down after nothing had come of it, I had a GOOD contraction.  So I decided to start timing them cause if I could get anything at all we were going.  It was 3:00 straight up.  Three minutes later another good contraction.  I decided to time them until 3:30 and if they were still going I was waking Shannon up and we were going. They stayed at 3 min apart and I was having a HARD time waiting to wake Shannon or laying still in bed thru them.  I waited though as it had been no time all.  He asked if he had time to shower and I said sure it has only been a half hour, they may still go away.  I had thought he would call his parents to get on their way to keep Callie before he got into the shower.  He didn't and I got a little worried at that point.  I wanted them on their way.  Yet still I thought I was being silly after all it had been no time.  So he got out and called them and they were there very quickly.  As I got around I was "leaking" enough to be pretty sure my water had broken even though it wasn't gushing like it had with the others.  The ride to Joplin was awful!!!!  And that doesn't even begin to describe it.  With the others we had talked all the way there.  Not this time.  I remember thinking I can do this.  Shannon can make it to Joplin in 30 min I bet and that is only 10 contractions at 3 min apart.  WOW it was bad.  When I stood up to go into the hospital I didn't think I could walk.  I did and they were taking their sweet time.  I told them it was one contraction on top of another.  They were wheeling me to L&D by then and the nurse said is this your first?  I said no my third and attitudes changed quickly.  I was logged in at 5:00 AM and with no time for an epidural Chase was born at 5:32 AM.

Sorry that was long but a history of my birth stories.  It should be interesting to see what is in store this time.

Labor Day Weekend and on

Callie didn't have school on Friday so she and Chase got to stay home and play with Grandma Linda and Grandpa John.  Saturday Shannon went Dove hunting while Mom and I took the kids to ride on the train and to the petting zoo then to eat at the Deli.  They had a great time, Chase especially.  Chase needed new tennis shoes as all he has are sandals. He refuses to wear socks and shoes or even try them on.  That is until we introduced light up shoes (Callie also has light up shoes).  He wouldn't take them off and loves them!

 Callie went home with mom for a sleepover and we headed up there Sunday after church and lunch.  Chase was not happy at all that Callie left with Grandma Peg and he didn't get to.  So I spoiled him that evening while Shannon hunted.  He got a new thomas train piece at Walmart that he carried all the way thru the store.  We went home and I was letting him stay up late to play with it.  We have been playing with potty training.  I knew he had not done #2 the day before because he wouldn't go on the potty and he didn't have a diaper on.  Well he had one on from the trip to walmart and he was obviously trying to go so I asked him to get on the potty.  He didn't want to so I decided to go ahead and let him go as I didn't want him to keep holding it and we haven't been working on it that much.  He was squatted down grunting and Max walked over to him.  He said "I trying to go poop Max" in a grunting voice.  It was hilarious.
Callie had fun with her sleepover but then woke up Monday sick.  She went to school on Tues but ended up staying home on Wed.  Grandma Linda stayed with her.

Wednesday morning we were all getting ready and Chase had gotten a couple left over rolls to eat.  He was carrying them around and I knew feeding some pieces to Max.  He came up to me and said "tell Max to stop spitting.  I no yike that."  So I laughed and told Max to stop spitting.  Not really thinking anything except how funny Chase was.  I walked into the living room and realized Max had not exactly spit, rather thrown up.  I asked Chase if that was the spit and he said Yes like you crazy lady I just told you.  Nice.  I think he had choked a little on a piece of roll.

The sickness went from Callie who just couldn't shake it to me to Shannon to Chase.  Callie went to school on Thursday but started running a fever again by the time she went to the little raider cheer practice after school.  She went to school fine on Friday but same thing had a fever by afternoon.  She missed the little raider pep rally and the first half of practice.  But after laying in my office and letting the Tylenol kick in she went to the second half.  They only do this twice a year and she loves it so much that I let her do what she could.  We went to the game that night and she preformed with them.  Although I don't think she really felt like it so I am not sure how much she enjoyed it.  But she was so glad she got to do it.  I started running the fever by Friday night.  Shannon the next week and then this week Chase.  Although I am not sure if Chase's was the same thing.  If so it went to his ears.  He really fared the best of all.  As he never ran a fever just had an ear ache for a night before we could get him antibiotics.  Long couple of weeks at our house.

Callie had the school carnival last weekend and enjoyed that.  Hopefully we are all finally well for this weekend.
Here are a couple pics.  I forgot my camera a lot lately and haven't been good at getting pics.

Chase snuggled up with me and fell asleep one afternoon.

Again my husband found a snake for the kids to play with - yuck!

He LOVES her so much - we often hear "wait for me Callie"

What she does, he does.

JC Penney Photos

With Callie's busy summer schedule a trip to KC to get photos didn't work out well.  So the second to the last week of July between morning swim lessons and evening Bible School at our church, Mom and I ran them over to Joplin.  I hadn't planned well so I really didn't have outfits that I wanted them to wear.  They both had Mizzou shirts that looked cute and coordinated well and I knew Shannon would love it.  Plus I really gave it no chance of being successful.  We took Chase to watch Callie at swim lessons, changed at the Y, ate lunch and headed over for our 1:30 appointment - yes right at nap time.  Chase has never been a fan of cooperating at pics.  They did great.  Callie helped with Chase and he hammed it up.  We got great pics in no time.  The photographer was great but too good at his job - he kept making up collages which I am too weak to resist.

First Day of First Grade

Callie has been counting down till school started most of the summer.  We have had a great family summer.  This was what I came home to one of the last days of summer.

She really didn't want to slow down much she was too excited.  The first two days have gone great.  She bounces out of bed to her alarm.  Chase on the other hand isn't too excited to get up.  He usually tells us to turn off light and close door.  He has to have some snooze time.  He has enjoyed being back at Mary's and playing with his buddy's.  There is a new baby there and he LOVES the baby.  When we pulled in this morning the baby was being dropped off and he yelled out baby here!

Homecoming and fair

Crawford County Fair was the first week in August.  Friday we went over early to see the animals.  Always a big hit with the kids.  Chase hugged a baby calf like he does Max - good thing it was a tame bottle calf!  Callie was amazed at all the chickens laying eggs.  We went to eat and then Callie and I met her friend and sister to watch the Smurfs.  After a walmart run we went back to the fair that evening for the carnival rides.  We went over about 7 and finally headed home around 10:30!  Callie was too cute indulging Chase and riding what he wanted at first.  Then her friend road with her and the friend's little sister road with Chase.  He wore out long before Callie did though.

The next weekend was the Arma Homecoming.  So for my birthday we went out to eat lunch, Callie and I had pedicures while Chase napped (I made it for the tail end of the nap too), and that evening we went to homecoming to ride again.  Shelby met us there and again they were too nice and rode the merry-go-round a lot with Chase.  They got in a few other rides, maybe an hour to an hour and a half, before it broke loose and rained on us.  We went back to the parade the next morning before heading to my parents house for the day for my birthday.  Mom made noodles so the kids were happy and full!  It was the nicest weather I remember for the parade.  The kids got soooooo much candy.  At mom and dad's Rylan and Dylan and Callie and Chase played hard together all day - Callie is learning to hold her own with all those boys.  She was Ms. Boss let me tell you - it was hilarious as they happily complied.