Happily Ever After...

Well, it's July and so we are now back to school. The girls have been off since April 18, so don't feel too sorry for them. HA! Before they started, they spent 5 days with their brothers and their wives in sunny Florida. Let me just say, for posterity, that this was a BIG deal for Aria. She is unapologetically a "Mama's girl" and does not want to be away from me at any time, for any reason. She went, and had a wonderful time and many, many special memories were made.  What's not to love, right?  My married kids  were SUPER AWESOME in loving and caring for their sisters. And they willingly followed Mom's neurotic safety rules. Ahhh, I love them all to pieces! Meanwhile, back at the Ranch..... I had one quiet night with just the twinnies as Daddy was in England for business.  I collapsed right after they did at 7:32PM. Wild and crazy, I tell ya'.  We went to the airport to get Daddy and I hadn't told the twin...

Okay, I know, I know..... It's a tad sassy. Maybe a little bossy. Quite possibly not as polite as we would like. BUT............ She clearly said THREE WORDS together. This is a first! Sweeter phrases coming soon. I just know it!

I have been a MAJOR blog slacker. Thank you girls for those who were checking on us. With Instagr@m,  and the ease of checking the blogs I read on my iphone, I RARELY open my lap top any more. What is this world coming to when laptops are too inconvenient?!? First.World.Problems. Anyhoo.... here is a little catch up on the goings on of our family: In May, we went to a lovely reception for our son and his new bride. I'd show you all the great pictures, but I had to get a new phone, and I did the back up wrong (NO COMMENTS BOYS!) and so I lost a bunch of stuff. We stayed for a 11 days, and only had two trips to the ER. One for a g-tube infection for our little princess that came out of nowhere, and one to get more oxygen tubing because our little monkey girl can shred them with her toes....while attached to her face. Lil' Booger! We came home and had a plethora of Dr visits, a trip to the endoscopy center, Grandma visits, practice testing for the Iowa tests, Cousin Cam...

Anyone remember the story of Team Awesome? Well, I'm gonna tell it to you again. HA! Last November, we went to pre-op at the hospital for Gianna's FIRST EVER local surgery. The Anesthesiologist told us this sweet story about how she saw someone collapse and went to help at the Peachtree Road Race, and how all the ladies with her had a shirt that said "Team Awesome". She asked them about it, and they told her "that they were ordinary people who wanted to do extraordinary things." She told Gianna that she sensed something awesome about her. And then, a week later, she walks in the OR with a Team Awesome t-shirt for Gianna, and takes her back to the OR chanting, "We are Team Awesome". Team Awesome was born in our home that day. You see, my very nervous little girl who was having a new Dr. perform her surgery in a new hospital with different protocols, immediately became relaxed.... and had fun on her way to surgery. The kindness of a s...

.....Why she melts our hearts on a daily basis:

Unfortunately, due to rainy weather, we had to cancel the big party. It's hard to fit 100 people inside our house in the event that it continued to rain. So at 11 AM, we made the call to cancel, but our family still came on over. She had waited patiently, KNOWING a house was being built for her and there was NO WAY rainy weather was going to stop us from letting her see it.  My sister and her family.  My nieces and nephews. Aunt and Uncle weren't able to attend due to a medical emergency. But all is fine now, so for that we are grateful. They were there in spirit though!  The proud grandparents. And the Proud Papa. I wheeled her down the super awesome ramp to see her Clubhouse for the very first time. I think she kinda likes it, don't you? On a precious side note, as she came down the ramp, her sisters and cousins shouted, "PRINCESS CELIA" Be. Still. My. Heart. The builder presented her with a pink prince...

Ahhh, yes, I remember. March was the magical month that Make-A-Wish began Celia's wish. SQUEAL!! It also was the month we took back the abyss known as our yard. 90 bales of pine straw 160 bags of mulch 1 very dead tree removed stumps ground new tree planted old playhouse stained pavers moved plants planted copious amounts of trips to Home-Depot and it finally all came together.....  It all started with a pathetic backyard, that was forlorn and neglected. And a shabby old playhouse that the sisters couldn't part with.  The contractor made quick work out of the foundation.  At the end of week one, windows and walls were up and the roof was shingled. Good stuff.  Hardiplank siding, a real front door, electricity are now in.  A cool deck, and paint to match our house. Getting pretty homey, huh?  Swing set for 4 girls is off the back. Put in a lil' mulch (okay 160 bags, but who's coun...