10

Happy 10th Birthday to my little girl. I can't believe that you are already 10 years old. It seems like just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital. I sit here in shock as I look at pictures of you from the last 10 years. You have grown so much, way too quickly -right before our eyes. My round faced little cherub is starting to disappear. She is turning into a beautiful young lady. I am proud of you and the person that you are becoming. I love that while you were home sick from school this week you sat there and read 150 pages in your Harry Potter book. I love that you can't wait to read the next and final book. I love that even though you are the least experienced girl on your softball team you want to learn more and you want to be a better player. I believe you will, because I believe in you. I love that even though you complain about your brothers ALL the time, you stood in the front yard and yelled at the little girl down the street who was mean to them. Because even though you guys fight with each other, it is not OK for someone else to treat them wrong. I love that you like to watch Bones with me. Even when I get grossed out you never look away. I love that you want to be a forensic pathologist even though you will have to go to a "gazillion years of school". I love that you chose EMT as your job in your classroom so that you can take care of your classmates who are sick or injured. I love that when I was sick this past weekend you kept piling the blankets on me to keep me warm. I love that you always want to take care of others. Because that is the type of person you are.

I love you. Happy Birthday Emily!

A Family of Superheroes

My Silly Superheroes

Drew is already soaked from walking outside.

My little pumpkin cheesin on the porch

Alex, Emily, Drew and cousin Jodi at Trunk or Treat

Emily and Jodi with our Pumpkin man

Susan, Fred and Jodi. Nice look for Fred don't you think?

Emily and Jodi

The back of Supergirl's hair


Hope everyone had a safe and warm Halloween. Ours was cold and rainy. Much better than our loved ones in the Northeast! We let the boys pick the costumes this year and we were superheroes. Not as fun as princesses and Star Wars, but still cool! They had a lot of fun. We went to Trunk or Treat at our cousins church and had fun as we always do when we see them. We are so grateful that they invited us to tag along . Monday night we trick or treated in our neighborhood. The weather was less than desirable and Andrew and I are already paying for it. It was a nasty night, but we still went out. The kids were already sad that Daddy had to work. This is the first Halloween he hasn't been there. So I figured if I said we couldn't go they would be really unhappy. We actually walked around with a little boy who lives down the street. He was dressed as Josh Hamilton from the Texas Rangers. He is his idol, for those of you who don't know he is also from here! Caleb is about 12 and was quite the help bringing a flashlight and everything. He is a great kid and the boys love him. Many houses were not handing out candy so I thin we went to 10 houses or so. The kids still had fun! When the night was over we had a total of 4 trick or treaters. One baseball player, one Batman, one Iron Man and one Supergirl. I think Billy's guys that work for him will be eating a lot of candy this week!

First quarter down, three to go

As you can see we have been busy around our house. The kids just finished their first nine weeks as a kindergartner and a fourth grader. Drew has adjusted so well and I have to say he has surprised us all. We knew he had it in him!His teacher had nothing but great comments on his report card and he is at or above grade level in every area. She said his behavior is wonderful, he plays well with others and has developed great friendships. He is so funny. He came home the other day and said "Mommy I am friends with almost everybody in my class. " I said why aren't you friends with everybody ? And he replies .... "Well there is this one little boy, his name is Christian, and well, umm he likes to give people the finger in class." I told him that it was ok if he wasn't friends with him. he shouldn't be mean to him , because that wasn't right, but that I wouldn't be mad at him if he didn't go out of his way to be friends with him. I wanted to say really? A five year old? His teacher is really sweet and as Drew says really really tall. She says that Drew is one of the sweetest boys in the class. Apparently he also likes to share his dance moves with the class, so I might be just a little embarrassed by that. Every day that he was on track out he would say have I done my homework yet ? I don't want my teacher to be mad at me. He is too cute sometimes. Seriously, I always knew he could do it, I just wish he could try a little more at home.

Emily has started AIG classes for reading and writing and I hope is enjoying the challenge. I have to say that I am a little disappointed in the program that they offer. I guess because of budget cuts they meet for three days every three weeks, not a lot of continuity if you ask me. She also did well on her report card getting all 3* and 4's. For those of you not used to our ridiculous system that we use here in Wake county that means she is above grade level in everything. She loves her teacher and is having a ball with their classroom economy system they are using. They all have jobs, checking accounts and bills. They have to pay rent for their desk privileges and if they can't or don't they lose them. It is great to see the kids take such an interest in the way a business or household is run and how to stay afloat. The kids keep coming up with new business ventures and ways to earn extra money. Everything from selling homemade bookmarks and artwork to making duct tape bracelets, or making popcorn balls. They had an auction the other day and Emily sold some artwork for $1000. That is more than her monthly rent. Emily is the class EMT and gets to carry around the first aid kit when they go to recess. She is also in charge of "transferring" all the sick kids from class to the office if the need arises.

We have been extremely busy with fall ball. Spring baseball and softball ended in July and we started again mid August. We are pretty much tied up 5 days a week. There are nights when I have to struggle to fit in dinner and homework, but that is okay. The kids are having a blast. They have both improved so much since they started in the Spring. Billy is working nights and has been since the second week in August. He works 7-7 Monday through Thursday. Which should say 5:45-8:00, because of travel time. It has been a big adjustment, for the whole family. There are so many things that went on over the summer that I haven't shared yet. Emily went to FL with her Great Aunt Kathy for a trip to Harry Potter world, we had a short but lovely trip to GA for a reunion with the Johnson clan, a baby shower for my cousins new and precious little boy Elias, Mom had another surgery for the malignant melanoma that keeps popping up on her face, Dad had some gross pterygium removed from his eye,I had surgery in August and Alex has an upcoming surgery this month . As you can see we have had a crazy packed summer and have so much to catch everyone up on. - Oh and I am having PC issues, so I am trying to link you to facebook for some pictures. Hope it works!

2011-2012 School Year

Meet the Teachers

Visiting one of the kindergarten rooms.

Emily and Andrew at their first Meet the Teacher night together.

Emily- soon to be a 4th grader

Posing in front of the wall made entirely of artwork that the students did last year. Pretty cool, it is one of my favorite things at the school.


We had Meet the Teacher night last night. It was Andrew's first time in the school for himself so he was extremely excited. We met one of the teachers who may teach him and she seemed really nice. The other track one teacher wasn't in the room when we were there. They do staggered entry here in NC in kindergarten. That means they go one day during the week and the teachers divide the kids up by skills and readiness between the two rooms. Then we find out on Friday who his teacher is and start the following Monday. He is just counting the days until July 11th!

We went and met Emily's new teacher. She seems really sweet. Unfortunately I am not as fond of Reapicheep, the class pet. He is a big nasty hairy rat. Not a hamster, guinea pig, or anything remotely fuzzy and cute, but a gross rat. Maybe Emily will misbehave and we will never be given the option of him coming home to our house. I can just see the boys letting that rat loose in my house. I think with Emily's track record I better start preparing myself for an overnight stay.

Happy Memorial Day

Hope that everyone had a safe and happy Memorial Day. It was a beautiful day to remember those who serve our country. This who have served, who are still serving and those who have given their lives to protect freedom.

Our weekend was spent at Mom and Dad's house being lazy lounging about in the pool. It was nice. We really were just lazy. Coming right after both Emily and Alex being sick it was relaxing - just what the doctor ordered! School is winding down only one and a half weeks to go. I am sure we will have lots to report on these last few days!

Can I Get a Frequent Shopper Card?

They have rewards cards, discount cards, frequent shopper cards for just about everything now in this world. You can get them with airlines, grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, auto services, you name it and it is probably available somewhere out there. Lately I wish they had a "frequent visitor " card for the pediatrician's office. Maybe like a sandwich card you get at a sandwich shop. Buy ten sandwiches and you get one free. Between Alex and Emily we have been five times in the past three weeks. I am used to it with the boys , but not Emily.

We were in there two weeks ago with Alex. He was coughing and rattling when he was breathing. I was giving him his nebulizer, but he wasn't responding really well. So I took him in. We had been in there a few weeks before and he had been on an antibiotic for a sinus thing and drops for an ear infection. This time the first words out of the peds mouth were, when do you have to pick your daughter up from school? That good, huh? His oxygen levels were low so they immediately started more breathing treatments. After an hour and a half his levels came up and they sent us home with steroids. Two visits later, the start of a preventative inhaler daily, he was finally doing better. I can't believe how much better his breathing is since starting the Flovent.

On to Emily. Other than her digestive issues Emily really doesn't get sick that often. The boys are always passing some sort of cold/respiratory thing around, but it always skips over her. On the 9th we were at softball practice and I could tell something was up. Emily just seemed out of it. By 10:00 that night she was running a fever, could barely speak and complaining of her throat hurting. Monday we were in the peds office. I took her in first thing on Monday because it was not a good week to get sick. On top of the 3 softball games, 2 practices, and birthday party she would miss, she had EOG testing at school. They have spent all year talking about this testing and preparing for it and this is the week she gets sick. We were told it was viral and sent home. I kept her home on both Monday and Tuesday. I decided to send her on Wednesday which was the first day of testing. An hour in to it I got a call saying they had to pull her out of the room because she was coughing uncontrollably. She did finish the testing but I was advised it might be best to keep her home . Not only did I have to worry about her performance on the test, but how she was disturbing the other kids in the class. I certainly didn't want that to be the case. So I kept her home on Thursday and Friday when she still seemed to be getting worse we went in again. She had a severe respiratory infection and they didn't like the sound of her chest. This time we went home with an inhaler, a steroid, a Z pack, and cough medicine. We spent all weekend vegging on the couch. She went back to school yesterday and last night we went and cheered her softball team on to their second win. I didn't want her to run around and get winded so we watched from the stands. Hopefully she can play on Thursday, we will see. Today and tomorrow she has her make-up testing for her EOG's . I am worried that she may not be completely up to par. I hope that she does well, the teacher says I have nothing to worry about. We have three weeks left of school and I just want to make it through them healthy!

Nights at the Fields

This is how our nights have been spent the past few weeks. Between T-ball and softball we are tied up 5 nights a week. It has been fun . I love to see the kids play of course because I loved to play. On the other hand it has been really hectic getting in to the swing of things. Some days Emily gets off the bus at 4:30 and we have to leave at 5:15 for practice or a game. Get home 8:00, have to do homework and eat dinner, and the days we have two practices or a game or practice, well you get the picture. If Emily has a 7:30 game we don't get home until 9:30, did I mention it was a school night. We are finally starting to get used to things. But the kids are having a blast. Emily's coach and family actually live in our neighborhood, so Emily has a new friend. Andrew is enjoying making new friends and not paying attention. Let's just say the coach has his work cut out with that team of 5 year old little boys. Every time that Drew hits the ball he runs right past the pitcher to second base. He is so cute - typical of that age , but more in need of reassurance than Emily was. Every 5 minutes during practice he looks at me and waves at me. Like he is looking to me for me to say " Good job buddy" . It has been fun for the whole family. Andrew has his first game this Saturday, hopefully he can remember which direction first is in.

Earnhardt Reunion

Judy, Jill, Chip, and Grandma

Mom and Dad in the crazy wind. Thankful there were no tornadoes here.

Judy listening to tales from the Earnhardt clan

Alexander

Boys will be boys, Drew looks like he is trying to strangle Alex and he is just smiling.

Clowning around outside the beautifully redone church hut

Andrew sitting with Aunt Judy

Grandma sitting there covered in her family blanket.

We had a lovely time attending the Earnhardt family reunion on the 16th of April. This year it took place at Immanuel Lutheran Church. In my opinion the perfect location as it was such a big part of our family's life. I have onlybeen bak there once in the ten years since my wedding. The hut has since been remodeled and is absolutely beautiful. It is soon to be renamed after Pastor Sheeks and his wife Kim for all their dedication over the years. It is hard to believe that he has been serving the people of Immanuel for thirty years. Being there brought back wonderful memories of going with my Grandmother and Grandfather to church and also of both my wedding and my cousin Dawn's.

The reunion was nice although the turnout was not as good as we hoped. Unfortunately the weather forecast was quite nasty for the day. Lucky for us the really sever weather stayed away from the little town of Rockwell. Unlucky for me, the weather hit a little too close to home. Both Raleigh and Holly Springs got slammed with tornadoes along with many other places close by. We were lucky, it stopped about halfway down the road that we live off of. Definitely too close to home!

As usual we were treated with many stories about growing up as part of the Earnhardt family. We also got to see some family memories in pictures and mementos of the family. I chose to bring the barbie dolls that my cousins and I used to play with. The girl was missing half her body parts so I left her at home in favor of the two fuzzy headed boy barbie dolls. I smiled as my kids sat there at a back table and played with those dolls just as I had. My sister chose to bring some of Grandmothers paints, brushes and one painting. I remember her painting pictures, stools, and knick knacks and wish that I could have inherited that gene. It was a lovely day, aside from the rain, and I enjoyed visiting and listening to all the stories so much. The only thing missing was more of the Earnhardt family.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from our family to yours. We spent the day with Mom and Dad at their house. It was a picture perfect day. Clear blue skies and warm weather. The weather was so beautiful that we enjoyed Easter dinner out on the deck. We had a great time hunting for Easter eggs in the yard. The kids had so much fun and we had even more fun watching them. Every time Andrew would see an egg he would yell "JACKPOT", jump and then run to the egg. Alex who was right on his heels would follow closely so that he could pick up all the eggs that Drew dropped each time he jumped in the air . It was so cute, Drew was completely clueless and Alex was quite stealth in his plan of attack. Emily was the perfect big sister, splitting her eggs between herself and the boys when they had too few in their baskets. It was a great day. The only thing not perfect about the day was that Kris had to work and that it was Billy's last day of vacation. We have been quite spoiled having him around this past week.

It was a nice day full of sunny skies, family, egg hunting, loads of giggles and laughter, and love. We hope that your Easter was filled with all your favorite things

I Two Not Three

I know excuses , excuses. Truth is I guess I am not made for this- blogging that is.

Little man had a Birthday on the 31st and is now 3. Apparently he isn't ready for 3. I have been arguing with him for about two weeks about it. There must be something scary about the word three and something reassuring about the word two. He is growing like crazy, doesn't ever stop talking, and is as lovey dovey and Mommy centric as ever! Be quiet and quit chuckling, the incessant talking doesn't necessarily come from me. He is doing well, other than an emergency room visit the other week for breathing issues. Big fun, especially when you factor in that I was covered in vomit for most of the visit, but we will save that for another day.

Happy Birthday to my little man Alex. I can't believe you are already three. You have grown so much over the last year. We can't wait to see what adventures we get to go on with you this year. Mommy and Daddy love you.

A Very Belated Birthday

My very grown up nine year old enjoying the freshly fallen snow

Emily and some of her friends

As you can see the girls were thrilled to see snow!

Tasting the snow

Posing for pics , trying hard to smile and not laugh

Our corny little goofballs

My favorite of all the pics from her party. Emily with her favorite friends.

Dancing around- so excited to see her friends from her old school.

Working hard on their snowflake theme crafts.

As I have previously stated I have been quite sorry with the postings, especially in November and December. I plan on trying to catch everyone up on what our little family has been up to. November 17, 2010 was a sad day for me . It was on this day that I came to the realization that my little girl was growing up and no matter what I did there was nothing I could do to stop it. This was the day that she turned nine. Alright, it probably wasn't on this exact day, it was over the past few months that I had really seen a change in her. A change both physically and emotionally, especially the latter. She was starting to become more like a little lady than a little girl. She is maturing, she is growing up.

We had a little party with some of her favorite girls . It was snowflake themed and so much fun to do . We had pizza, veggies, fruit, cupcakes and a cookie cake. We did snowflake bags, painted snowflake ornaments and snowflake decorations. The last time we had a party with her school friends they were in first grade. It was so fun to see how all the girls had grown and matured and how much more independent they had become. As we sat there doing our crafts the snowflakes started to fall, an unexpected treat for a snowflake filled day. They took one look outside at the snow, and these girls- the ones who are growing up before our eyes, rushed outside to run and play and giggle like little girls should. It was a perfect ending to our party.

I do not want it to all be about Emily. We must not forget that my wonderful husband also has a birthday that week. He has and probably always will, get pushed to the wayside on birthday week in our family. That is fine for him, he wouldn't have it any other way. But November 19 will always be an important day to me. That is the day that my husband, my friend, my soul mate, my partner in parenting, and my rock to lean on came in to this world. To me that is worth more than words can express.

Happy Belated Birthday (in the blog world) to two of my favorite people in the world. I love you both.

Beach- A Little Late

Emily getting her feet in the sand

It's a big one!!

Drew trying to keep up with the real fisherman

Emily

Alex cheesin in the sand for me

My favorite pic of the week. Three of my favorite people .

Emily looking beautiful on the beach

Pretty beach view

An attempt at a picture of all three. Unfortunately the Sun was in their eyes

Beautiful sunset

Brandon and Emily clowning around

As I have been a really crummy person lately at keeping up with my blog, I thought I would try to catch up and post some of my favorite moments of the last few months. These are pics of our beach trip to Topsail Island in October with Billy's wonderful family.It is nice to revisit them right now as we have had an unusual amount of cold weather lately. It has been a bizarre winter already. I know Ohio girl complaining about the winter in NC, right? I guess I have gotten used to the climate down here and can't handle it like I used to, but anyways- the beach. We had a great time at the rental house and loved spending time with the Ridgeways and Bradleys. The weather was a little cool due to a hurricane the previous week, but warmed up our last two days there. I am always amazed at the beauty and the relaxing effect of the beach.