more about baby names

We still aren't sure what to name the baby....we are still not ready for the baby, she has some clothes, have we put up the bassinet, bought her diapers, new baby lotions & sweet smelling baby wash??? No, and now I see I have 24 days until my due date, my Chris is leaving to go out of town for 8 days on Thursday and though I have NEVER gone into labor early or on time for that matter, still a little fear that he will not be here when the baby arrives. I feel like I need to constantly clean my house and that is making me tired. I have found that washing the walls and ceiling fans and moulding...well I don't usually do that and perhaps I should have. Jakob has started artwork all over the walls and recently the couch to add to the list of tasks.
So here are the names we like
Magnolia (maggie)
Caroline
Sarah Kate
Amelia
Claire
Charlotte
Ellie
and Chris has mentioned some others, however I find most ridiculous so refuse to even consider them.
I feel extremely overwhelmed with trying to please all of my children as the guilt of having yet another child to take away more attention from them, especially the oldest who I feel is on her way to a nervous breakdown (perhaps from my example?!) It's just babies need so much time in the beginning and moms are tired, but the other ones need time too...I cannot find enough time to accomplish all the things that I want to get done. I am not good at letting some things go, like the house cleaning. you know that poem about letting the dust and mess be I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep. how do you do that? I cannot handle the messy junk everywhere and sometimes put that before more important things...I was mean mommy yesterday with the kids AGAIN as the playroom was a disaster, I wish I would just stop getting on to them all the time and have fun with them instead. I am so impatient and want to be a little more easy going, but how???? Not sure how to find that balance.
I do have all the boys halloween costumes and am excited for that coming up, the ladies have not decided what they want to be....witch, Sharpay, Nancy Drew, photographer, a ghost, little Miss Muffett, that is the latest list good thing most of them are pretty simple. We missed Halloween last year since we were in MS for Ben & Angela's wedding so this will be first for Nollie, and maybe if the baby arrives by then hers too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

A big Happy FORTY to my OLDER sister Penny!! Since my internet was lame this week and had to get a new router this is late and lame since I am out of time (I need to feed my kids dinner) to put up pictures of all your favorites Snoopy, Lief Garrett, Harry Hamlin, Scott Bakula, all things organic, no to meat, IKEA, the BeeGees, your smelly running shoes...I rather liked those high heeled slides you had back in the 70's and wished I had a pair. I loved to sneak into your bedroom and try on your clothes like your denim prairie skirt and ruffley blouse . Sorry for always sneaking your clothes (you too Jessica) and for that matter sneaking into your bedroom. Since you were an older bossy sister (and perhaps, perhaps there may have been times when I MAY have been a pest) we weren't always that close growing up, but I am grateful that has all changed and I can call you one of my best friends!!! Thanks for always listening to me, our conversations help keep me sane!! A great mother, hard working, one of the kindest people I know (seriously I am so mean compared to you!). I know you might get a little mad about the picture, but it is all I can find right now but you look so happy holding Nollie in that girl blanket that we made Conner and Anna climb on top of the playground to get after the wind blew it away. I wish you were closer, and I wish you were done studying for tests to get your MPH so you could talk to me more...and bake me some brownies because yours are the tastiest and that German chocolate cake, that is good stuff!! (this baby is hungry right now). I hope when I am forty I will look as lovely as you do!! I wish you lots of good grades, a happy life full of love from a maybe unmentionable gentleman you may have your eyes on, or a new one that will pay your student loans, and that your life will be full of joy!!
I LOVE YOU !!

Pictures

I just found these two CDs with pictures from the last year. I have yet to get Emma and Sam's annual pictures taken that is why they are not included on the sidebar, I love you just as much Emma!! Sammy Lewis does not know any better. That is what he prefers to be called these days. GMA Toni and Papa brought him the DVD MEET THE ROBINSONS and I guess he identifies with the character Lewis? We are looking forward to cooler fall weather and all the fun things the season brings and busy with school and such.

BOY

I was so hot and needed to cool off a bit, also thought it might be fun if we had a swimming pool in our kitchen

My toys were dirty, they needed to cool off as well

Even though I am Trouble...You can't help but still love me, so sweet when they are asleep

exorcism

Perhaps if we were Catholic we could have one....I am unsure what happened to my sweet little girl?? Where did she go? We do not know what to do. her symptoms EXTREME moodiness, some fits of rage, lots of crying, sadness, and that is all in about 5 minutes. As I write this I know she will read it and be very embarrassed, however, I really do not know what to do with her. The older the kids get, the harder it is I think!! Any advice???

Peaches

Last week the boys, and my friend Carol went peach picking. Sam called the orchards a cow farm since that was the first thing he saw a bunch of cows in the barn. It was fun because Sam could pick from the little trees. Thanks to my MIL for peeling the 1 1/2 bushels of over ripe peaches that had been sitting on my counter so I could can them. This weekend our neighbor gave us a big bucket of grapes so my MIL and mom were nice enough to juice all of the grapes and clean up, the grape jelly is quite tasty!!! Now since I have let about half the pears off the tree rot I best get to canning those.

Emma's Great to be EIGHT weekend

OOpps! I put these up backwards AGAIN, when will I ever learn. oh well a look at Emma's birthday weekend in reverse! Thanks to Gma Toni, Papa, Granny Las Vegas & Sam Grandpa for coming out for Emma's baptism and to celebrate, thanks for making dresses, cooking food, buying us lots of stuff, etc.!!!!We ended the weekend with a trip to Cocoa Castle!!

Emma at Chocolate World

Sunday evening S'mores

After party family wrestling

Queen for the day!

I told Emma she could do whatever she wanted since it was her birthday...

Heart from daddy

Yes, he really is full of hot air

Granny LV and Emma full from the Shrimp Boil

special birthday pancake tradition

enjoying dessert at Red Robin

photo by Emma, her baptism sweets

After the baptism

before the baptism