Some Random Things

I have been working on a paper for school non-stop for the last week and a half and it is finally finished. I just have to proofread and drop it in the dropbox this afternoon. I have only grabbed my camera to snap a few pictures lately but I thought I would share some of my favorites.

Last night the kids were playing with Bey Blades and I thought it was just too cute so I had to snap a few.
All of them were gathered around, even Zeke. Doesn't he look excited to be in the middle of the chaos? (Maci Clare had just finished her shower and couldn't even get dried off and put her clothes on so that is why she is sitting there in a towel.)

Back in December I ordered a Plum District deal for a canvas and this is the picture I chose. It is going in my hall bathroom after we get it painted. Just have to decide on paint colors. I love this picture.

Maci Clare's friend, Lynnlee, had a Princess party on Saturday. Of course, she had to dress in her royal attire and attend. It was really fun. And short. I love short birthday parties. Thanks, Lynnlee for inviting us.
Valentine's Day was a quiet affair at our house. We don't really celebrate Valentine's except for the parties they have at school. I did get some Brownie Pops made and Zeke loved them. Of course, they are really messy for a one year old. Jim said he looked like he had a soul patch. He wasn't very happy to be held but I did get the picture.
As soon as Zane put him down, he ran. (Don't look at the mess all around him.)

Just a few highlights from the last week or so.
Everyone is well at the moment (which is really saying something in this family).
Jim and I are headed for a weekend alone in the mountains. Can't wait.
For now, I'm off to do 2 article critiques for school. Hopefully I can get it done so this weekend can be about us instead of school. We really need a break from the kids for a while.

I REALLY AM TRYING

It just seems to fly by. Time, that is! I just can't seem to keep up with the blogging. I promise I am trying. The 5th kid has really put a kink in my scheduling and time management skills. Not to mention the grad school thing. Grad School! Very time consuming. I am barely keeping up with all the reading not to mention the writing. It seems just when I think I am ahead, I fall behind again. A friend is keeping Zeke one day a week (really just to play with her grandbaby) for a couple of hours so I can catch up on school work.
I always think about cool posts and pictures I should be taking but it seems it never gets done. Oh well, I will keep plugging along and maybe one day there will be time to blog.

Just a prayer request for all my praying friends. My best friend's niece was killed last Thursday afternoon. She was 7 years old and playing at a neighbor's house. She stepped into the road to go home and a car hit her. Please remember this family. I know we need to pray for their strength and peace but I just can't imagine ever having peace if I lost one of my children. I know that God is all knowing and in control so that gives us some kind of hope that there is a reason for her death. One good reason was that 3 people accepted Jesus at the funeral.
On a happier note, my son, Zane has started a Bible Study group on the playground. They do a five minute "devotion" and last Friday he got the chance to pray with someone his own age who accepted Jesus.

In the presence of Greatness

I had to run some errands today and one of those was to stop by Hobby Lobby. I had Jack , Zeke, and Gabe with me and no one wanted to go in with me. So as I was walking out the door, I saw a couple hand their baby to big tall black guy and take a picture. I knew he had to be someone important by the way they were talking to him. The couple walked out in front of me into the parking lot and I asked them who he was. He was TAJ BOYD! I knew I had to get Gabe. So off I ran to the car. Gabe’s face lit up and we grabbed his IPOD and raced back in Hobby Lobby. We started hunting the poor guy down and finally found him. This is the result.

He is really a nice guy and spent a little time talking with us. He told Gabe to do his best in school and keep trying. He was super patient and very kind to take the time out to talk to us and get a picture. Gabe is elated. Now the boys have decided it might be worth their time to go into Hobby Lobby with me from now on. I love it.

Really?

Really?! The last time I posted was Sept, 2010. Unbelievable. I'm back and here's what has happened. In case you are not my friend on FB. Here it goes:
Dec. 2010- Ezekiel Asher Sickels was born. ZEKE!
Jan. 2011-Huge snow in SC and kids were out of school for a week (just after a two week Christmas break)
March 2011- I turned 41. Yes 41 with an infant.
June-2011- Summer Vacation Begins
July 2011- The longest football season ever begins.
August 2011- Beach (need I say more)
September 2011- School starts back
November 2011-Palmetto State Championship won and now on to All-stars.
Dec. 10- Lost the State Championship All Star game
Dec. 15-Zeke turns one and a new household project is started. New hardwoods in the downstairs (1000 square feet)
Dec. 2011-Christmas once again
Jan. 2012- I started Graduate School
Now hopefully that catches everyone up. Maybe there will be pictures and maybe there won't. I hope that this is not a temporary thing but I can't promise anything. We will just see.
New blog about my school adventure here

We Had A Blast

Back at the beginning of the summer, I was emailed some information about hosting a Kung Zhu party. I told them I would do it and so after 2 months of my kids patiently waiting we had the party. We invited our closest friends, bought pizza, and had Kung Zhu battles. The kids had a blast. (3 of the children that attended are not pictured in any of these pictures.)It took them a long time to get the arena and all the tracks together. (I'm not sure they ever got it all set up.) But it didn't stop the battle.

These little hamsters are hilarious. The things they can do are amazing!
At one point, Jack was all alone still playing. Everyone else bolted into the kitchen for pizza. Jack would much rather play than eat. I'm sure that we will have many battles to come.
Thanks MomSelect and bsmedia for this great opportunity!!!!

One On The Way

I really had good intentions for my poor neglected blog but life gets in the way. With all 4 kids in school this year at 3 different schools the running has increased dramatically. Gabe started youth group this year at our church (which is 45 minutes away). Zane is playing football and practices or plays 3 nights a week and sometimes on Saturday. Jack is just exhausted from his all day at Kindergarten. And Maci Clare is just her usual energized self everyday.
With another baby on the way, this has been an exhausting 6 months.
So there you have my excuses.

With that being said, here are some highlights of summer.Jack finished up his first season of t-ball. He loved it and actually learned to hit with no tee. So way to go, Jack.

My dad got the chance to baptize Gabe and Zane. We all tailgated while everyone was baptized. It was fun.
In June, we took a road trip to Iowa and got to visit with our Mid-Western cousins. They are just as silly as my own children. Maybe that's why they get along so well.
On our roadtrip, we stopped for a night in Indiana. Jim had to work a little so the kids and I killed some time at a zoo.

After we left the zoo, we stopped at Marengo Cave in Kentucky. It was really cool. Jack bought a stuffed bat while we were there.

The Cub Scout camp out was at Lake Greenwood in July. All the boys went and left the girls at home. They had a great trip but it was really hot.Maci Clare played her first game of putt-putt.

Jack made his first hole in one. We took a trip to Myrtle Beach for a few days.

The day before school started, we visited our zoo.

Jim built a new chicken coop for our flock. We like to refer to it as the "chicken mansion".

Jack turned in to our chicken farmer. He loves and takes care of the chickens. This is one of our smaller hens. Right after I shot this picture, it pooped down Jack's leg. That is what he remembers most.
Jim found this 45 inch rattlesnake on our front walk on a Sunday morning. He killed him and they skinned him. He had 12 rattlers.
My nephew, Luke was here for a visit from Virginia Beach and he even got in on the rattlesnake action.My doctor asked me if Jim was like Grizzly Adams or something. What do you think? Does he look like Grizzly Adams? Nah, just Chris Daughtry.And last, I am 6 months pregnant with another baby boy! Hopefully I will find the time to keep up with the blog more in the next few months.

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