I thought it was weird that Corey Haim died. I used to have a big crush on him. What is up with all the people dying, ok well really brittany murphy, I really liked her in Clueless and thought she had a great voice. These people are my age. all the "accidental" overdoses, too sad.

I think there should be some sort of drive-ins, where you could get milk, bread, and essentials and those things you forget at the grocery store but don't want to go back for that one thing even though you have to have it for what you are cooking for dinner. Perhaps a maximum of items so it doesn't get to crowded. It would make my life easier!

My brother john came to visit this past wknd, my kids love him. We were talking and decided that instead of all the fund raisers that schools have the children participate in to win extra cool dollar store stuff for selling 250 or more items, that we should just donate money. I would also prefer that instead of buying school supplies. this year was the first year we had to purchase school supplies and I NEVER want to do it again. The lists were too long and it was annoying and just one more thing to worry about. A big donation at the beginning of the year or raise taxes...we paid high taxes in PA but worth every penny because I am lazy like that.





Anna got three teeth pulled and spacers put in this week, she is on her tylenol on the couch today. Braces next Tuesday. She is making more friends and having less sad days. She is doing jr cotillion and dance and piano and all that other stuff as we push her to be our super child...and she has that birth order first child desire to be perfect and all that. I am pleased with her hard work, and try to remember that when she and are are fussing at one another amidst her tween growing pains.





I am almost doing cartwheels, well tried this morning but then I fell down in the front yard and hurt my foot...because next week C and I are going away for THREE days for my BDAY. My MIL will be watching the kids. We are staying at this supposedly haunted hotel in New Orleans and do all the fun stuff down there. Then we are going to this event for Chris' alma mater...he is even getting a tux. I would be glad to go anywhere, but I think we are going to have a good time.

Jakob is starting to speak with a Southern accent, it makes me laugh when I hear him. Last week H.N. hit him in the mouth with a nerf gun and knocked out his icky half tooth (it was from him sucking his fingers for 6 years). I was sad he was hurt, but glad because that tooth looked kind of trashy. He is doing great in gymnastics and can do all sorts of things and does not fall and hurt his foot when doing cartwheels in the front yard.

Sam got a big boy haircut, he is still cute...and still naughty and a smarty pants. He loves DIEGO and riding his trike outside and even though he is sassy, he makes me laugh.

H.N. is moving into a big boy bed because Sam taught him how to crawl out of his crib (and into Maggie's). This is making nap time and bed time very difficult and we rarely go anywhere because tired children are not really the funnest companions especially to my least favorite place WalMart. Nollie is adding more words to his vocabulary, the best phrase is "you mean mommy". It is satisfying to know I am doing my job well.

EG is becoming sassier each and every day, and super sweet too. Always had the split personality, grateful that she is not 100% sassy. Does anyone remember the Phil Hartman SNL thing about the sassy boat and sassy land?? it was very very funny!! She is still doing her ballet and growing legs as long as a giraffe's neck. She is no longer the teeniest one in her class. She is also hilarious and I need to post her letter to Santa it will make you chuckle.

and baby MOOskers, with encouragement from Uncle John she took her first two steps!! Three is her high number now and I am sure it will not be long before I am chasing three kids around Wal Mart.

I will one day add some pictures when I get tired of talking about myself!!

Instead of uploading some pictures from the last few weeks, I will just talk about nonsense. I find I blog more when I am trying to avoid something, today it is all the cleaning I need to do. I have started the laundry so that is something.
It is the middle of September and I am MISSING the beginning of Autumn. It makes me a bit sad. It is my favorite season.
At our house we have a ton of kids books. We LOVE Kevin Henkes!! I think we started with Lily's Purple Plastic Purse, we love to interchange our kid's names in a lot of the books, Emma for when Lily's teacher got married like Mr. P in second grade and Owen and his blanket for Jake...ok, so the Absolutely Perfect expression we got it from one of his books. So I am trying to make myself not get too terribly sad about missing Autumn time here in the south. I am going to list a lot of the things I think are ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!!

The way Henry (yep, I think I wish we called Nolan by his first name) LOVES his baby sister Maggie, and he is really into baby dolls carrying them around and packing up his sparkly purse to take to the store. It always makes me smile!

great shoe sale at Watermelon Patch!!

Pink Lemonade with sprite, Shirley Temples, and cranberry juice with lime!

Matilda Jane

Orange

cool fabrics, chenille, vintage tablecloths

Anna being so excited at the orthodontist yesterday, she has not been that happy in awhile. as a side note, we found out she is missing 3 permanent teeth, anyone else with that??

A great online sale 75% at fgmnk!! TEA collection! a miniboden $50 credit for filling out a survey!! I love kids clothes!! I used to love Gymboree, but now after having quite a few things fall apart and that there is too much to choose from, and EVERYONE else wears it. I no longer am an avid fan.

Emma Grace collecting bugs and lizards.

Jakob singing all the time

central Air

finding a great new pizza crust recipe

Williams Sonoma kids cookbooks

pink lemonade cupcakes

really good tomatoes, and basil too

my new side bangs, which of course you only see if I don't wear my hair curly, so not too often

Toy Story 3 is coming out

the possibility of HN getting out of diapers SOON

Philosophy products

MK satin hands

flavored tortillas for wraps

Havarti, smoked Gouda (really any cheese) and bread

paninis

YBB, Zumba

being able to fit into some clothes that I used to couldn't

that having a large family in MS is not quite the freak show it was in PA

Bumble and Bumble products

my new sewing machine

Hobby Lobby with ribbon that matches the fabric

NordicWare

texting during the day with Chris

getting my grandma's very old art deco punch bowl and old handmade wooden biscuit bowl and rolling pin!!!

Any big mixing bowls, yelloware

baking and cooking

visiting with family

getting a good night's rest

a book that you just can't put down AND love the ending

laughing so hard it hurts

a good cry when you need one

waking up and being happy, not wanting to put your head under the covers.
I am glad to having more of the happy days lately.

Only TEN days until we close on our house!! Yippee!! I am fairly confident it is a sure thing, but you never know. Since my better half caved and got cable...I am hooked on that HGTV, I love that Real Estate Intervention show. Our second realtor Rose, was like that guy Mike...we hoped we would make some money on our first home and were emotionally tied to it. She said if you want it sold, lower the price. It worked.

We bought it at the height of the real estate bubble...put a lot of money into it, but selling it after the bubble burst. Well, I am thinking in most cases people are sometimes even lucky to sell their home (we have friends who have had a house on the market for over 1 year), and to break even that would be lucky too, but just not the case :(!!! So many people have loved to share their real estate experiences and all I am thinking if it was not in this market then ZIP IT UP!!!

On the other hand, it is possible for us to get a great deal on something now. We are not ready to commit to that now, though I hate renting a home. I do not like anything out there . Needs to be PERFECT to spend good money on. SO we are looking for land and will build unless we find something close to perfection.

Maggie got her first tooth two days ago!! She finally crawls like a real baby, no more army crawl. She is cruising around the walls and tables and gets so amused by her big brothers.
The kids are getting more adjusted to things, as I am. Think we are getting into the groove of the never ending chaos of taxing around to different activities, homework, playdates, etc etc. Having a lot of kids is BUSY!!! BUSY! BUSY! BUSY!!

I went to lovely Hobby Lobby and got a bunch of art supplies... paper, charcoal pencils, gummy erasers, pastels, colored pencils, blenders, etc. I love to draw, but have not done any real drawing since well I cannot even remember. college?? when Anna was a baby I was still in school, then we had Emma, and then Chris went to med school, and then I Had a boat load more kids and I have NOT DONE Anything for myself. no time, no money for a sitter. I am pretty much a mom, but who is Nikki??? I am not sure anymore.
I enjoy reading and read a book probably once a month, but mostly just brain candy.
I enjoy sewing, kind of...more now that I have a better sewing machine.
I love to bake, and cook with my kids
I don't love laundry and cleaning but I do a lot of that.
Where is my passion??
I used to draw as an escape from reality, and go into my own little world. Kind of as therapy. I probably should have been doing this the last 11 years.
I am committed to finding out who I am now, if there is any of the artist Nikki left in me. My first attempts were not exactly fabulous.

and I am wondering who has some great lunch ideas for kids??? something funner than a wrap, pinwheel, or sandwich?? by the way if you have not tried Horizon organic strawberry milk, it is great!!! I am also wondering why I ALWAYS misspell have ahve????

do you think my hair is too crazy to add one of these hair fancies?

yes it is about 2:15 in the a.m. and I am not asleep
I am moving in TWo days so I was thinking about that
not looking forward to the drive,
but I am pretty much all packed up...just some odds and ends
I did a lame job at labeling the boxes though
so we will all be surprised when opening them
that could make for some extra FUN when getting our house organized
and I sometimes have a hard time sleeping when CNP is out of town/on call

not sure how my parents moved around so much,
this one is making me tired
and stressed out'
YES people I am still talking about my house NOT selling
we are getting more interest because everything else has sold
including the charming home down the street
BiTTeR!
I think realtors like to use the phrase "it is what it is" when referring to a multitude of things
I don't like it
I NEVER want to sell a house again
or not in "this economy" (in case you forgot I despise hearing that too)
if I could sell a house when we bought this one
that would be Fantastic!

however, I do not need to clean my house for showings and go someplace to entertain my kids anymore! today was the last one
I took the little ones to (close your eyes for this next part C)

the store Gabriel Bros. as usual I found some treasures
but when you buy stuff for six kids and yourself the total can get up there, even when bargain shopping
of course I struck out with Anna, she would like some more dresses. I bought two, she approved of one. so I will run over there in my next two days to return. I have to exchange her viola at the music store near by anyway.
I really do much better under pressure, a procrastinator I am
but I produce great results that way.

I wish I weren't so melancholy about leaving here
or not more excited about this next chapter of my life
THE chapter that I have been dying to get to for oh so long!

Chris has been a student since we got married
and we've always been looking to this MOMENT
and talked about when he is done
and what we would do
and how it would feel

I am just not sure how to wrap my head around all this, it is a bit surreal
huh, there are no fireworks
or a big parade
to mark this occasion like I feel it deserves

he is not even here, I wasn't around for his first day as a non peon resident
boo hoo!

maybe after we get down there and get settled
gee, there I go again always looking ahead
why can't I live in the moment and Savor it
and enjoy my blessings

live each moment to the fullest
get the most from each moment, hour, day

nothing wrong with preparing & planning for the future
but if that is all I seem to do
then I don't know how to BE in this moment in time (can you hear Whitney now??!!)

so tomorrow, nope today not just figuratively either it is the morning, we will use our fancy china and linen napkins (aka fiesta ware and dishtowels)

summer

Now it is Summer. We made my SIL Regan's tomato basil pasta last night. I LOVE tomatoes. and ona grilled cheese with basil too YUMMY! We have only one plant this year...though it is probably better because we have had TOO many to handle the last few years, those and the crazy zucchini. we have no luck with corn though.

it is also summer because it is H O T!! outside. A preview of coming attractions to get me properly acclamated. Big Joe's lucky number SEVEN birthday tomorrow and headed to Hershey Park. I am trying to get a party together for him, last year he had a lame birthday too as we were away. as a matter of fact he has only had ONE friend party. I am ashamed because his sister's pretty much always have one. His was a cool pretend camping party, guess I just don't want to diminish how great that one was.

today, we said good bye to one of the nicest people I have ever met, the best piano teacher ever Miss Julie. We will miss her, such a wonderful example of kindness.

in other news...my house is still pretty messy, a bunch of junk still thrown in the garage. still need to return about a million things to various stores (I have a little bit of an issue with that, small steps C. Just be patient with me). I tried really hard not to be annoyed by my kids bickering and stuff..was not in the cards today though. but when I buy some produce from the side of the road, it makes me feel very happy and really I am pathetic because I am having a hard time finding anything that makes me smile a lot lately. WAAHH!!

right after I put this up I am thinking MISTAKE, it looked happy when it was a small thumbnail but I don't know how to delete it and there are too many I just put up so just move on...

the little lady was trying to escape so we had to lower her mattress,

photo shoot after her day on set at the Gladiator

pay back Sammy Lewis!

just a boy and his baby boy horse, Bruno and his new chaps his daddy brought him. I did get that horse at a yard sale with a buzz lightyear for ONE dollar! I never went to yard sales until I moved here and do enjoy them. I do not hold yard sales because I feel weird about asking people to give me money for my old stuff. I prefer to give it away. I do not have a problem going to them and using USed stuff though?

my brother JOhn with Moo, it was GREAT having him here. My kids LOVED him, he played with them and I got so much done with him entertaining the crazies! yes he is nice and tan and I am white like a ghost, too bad I cannot put up the pic of my other brother Peter (over 6 feet and blonde) b/c my sis Jessica is in it and she doesn't like when people post photos of her. we all look a lot different

sam talking to his ladies

I sure had to wash the sheets after these monsters were eating in my bed UNDER the covers! I have an issue with clean sheets and need a shower before I go to bed so everything is tidy. I wish some person I share a bed with would adopt this habit or atleast wash their feet.

last day of school, emma's class had crazy hair day

she keeps climbing into everything and getting stuck
stuck under the crib, was glad that when I went to get her out I did not find anything that made me frown like chewed up gum I keep finding in other places!

trying to hide from me, she still doesn't like me taking her pictures

here are my kids with Sean, Alexis, and Haley (my nieces and nephew) at Chocolate World, it was so nice having them around for the wknd because the two monsters loved them and I did not have to chase N & S all around. and they are really great nice kids too. My neice Alexis graduated from High school a few days later down in MD. I graduated high school the year she was born, that makes me feel old (but not as old as if she were my own kid;)

here are some cute cupcakes that the ladies made for one of the end of the year parties, I signed up for a bunch near the end of the year because I thought (but not enough) better than the winter when Maggie was a newborn. it was a busy few weeks.

looks like Maggie Moo is enjoying some cupcake, I wonder who gave it to her???

no surprise, he is such a great sharer!

here is Jake at his end of the year Cocoa Cafe poetry reading, if I hadn't packed them up I'd put up his poems. First graders write really cute ones, they were pretty funny.

since Emma and Sam are outside in their winter coats playing with the hose and Anna is busy making some snickerdoodles i will post some pictures, this was supposed to be at the top of the post.... and now the chaos because I cannot ignore my kids for this long with out possible blood loss.

not feeling like putting up a bunch of pictures...I did finally get them off the camera though. maybe I will do it when C is taking his last call at HMC this week!! YEAH! hard to believe we are moving in a few weeks and I have had my head in the sand long enough and need to pack. I do have a garage full of junk, no stuff that is waiting for me to give away or probably beg salvation army to come pick it up. If I weren't still trying to sell my house I would put it all in the front yard and hope people would take it away. We have had A LOT of lookers and I think some more serious people, and I am happy about that but really tired of cleaning it, because it can get messy SO fast. and I am having trouble finding things to do with my kids for the showings besides going to the park. Cute MOOLICIOUS Maggie at Chocolate World when my sister and her kids were visiting.

#5 people in the South must read Emily Post
because they are friendly, gracious, kind, say yes/no sir/mam, mind their manners. I really get quite annoyed here when I say "Thank you" and the other person replies "uh-huh" or "yep". Perhaps they need to be reminded of the appropriate response "you're welcome"
I do believe that after living and visiting many places that the south is where you will find the friendliest of folks.

some more reasons I like the South.

#2 personalized stationery, monograms, kids calling cards, really they use these things another reason #3 people are generally very gracious and sends a hand written thank you note (I have an issue sending these out in a timely manner and to my immediate family in particular sorry GMA T and my siblings, that will have to be a resolution for next year though.)

#4 CUTE children's boutiques everywhere, traditional smocked dresses and you can even dress your boys "like a girl" that quote is from Chris until they are four with knee socks and jon-jons. and those over priced trunk show clothing items that I think if I weren't spending so much time wasting my time I could make those things myself I am sure of it!!

SO I may have been a wee bit negative about moving to Chrisissippi (oh Mississippi) really it is the humidity and no fall. In an attempt to have a better attitude I am going to post all the positives about moving there as I think of them.

#1 housing is very reasonable. I need a larger home and can get a great one there for a wonderful price. Also, more charming architecture and details I think. No looks like everyone else's home for a ridiculous price (like the neighborhood behind me). This fabulous home is where GMA T grew up, even had chickens!