WOW!!

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted! I was expecting Joe to give me some guff for not posting. I do have a reason why I haven't posted. Some of you may notice I changed the name of the blog to "Our Simple Life". I also took our last name off the profile along with where we live. I am going to go through the old posts and delete anything that might give up where we live. All this is because of a disturbing discovery I made Tuesday night. I was looking at the videos I have linked to on this site. Most of them have 22 views or so. The one of Reagan in the bath has had over 150 views. I was sickened and troubled by this. Gerrick was very upset. He was mad at me for making it so easy for a predator to find our family. I tried to explain that we have several living in the neighborhood and there is no way to completely shield our children. He wasn't hearing it. He made me make these changes, and I have to do something on the "YouTube" site so that only my friends and family can view the videos. I think Gerrick is over reacting a little, but it is a scary world and there was a lot of info out there to be misused. Just the fact that somewhere some old creep was looking at my beautiful daughter is enough to turn my stomach and make me take a minute to protect my family.
With that being said, we have had a busy week. Gerrick thinks with the girls home I should get more done because they can help. While this is true, they also need to have fun. It is hard to work in fun around the little kids schedule, but we are trying. On Wednesday we went to the Res in Iowa City with a girlfriend of mine from work. I thought we were going to have a picnic first, but she wanted to go straight to the beach. I got the kids fed, avoiding the sand as much as possible. Then we got all covered in sun block and off to the water. Melanie, my friend, grew up in California and is very used to the water. I, however, nearly drowned at 8 and am scared to death. The kids wanted to go far out and I just tried to keep them in ankle deep water. They did go out a ways and had a lot of fun. Dax figured out how to go under water without plugging his nose, and spent a lot of time underwater. This made it difficult to count heads, but was very cute.
Yesterday we laid low because I am burnt to a crisp. I put sun block on, but only after we ate, I sun blocked the 5 kids, gave them lunch, picked up lunch, set up Reagan's play area, and took the kids to the water. I guess that is too long for a red-head to be without sun block at noon on a beach!!! I feel better today, but boy was I sore yesterday. It wasn't fun at work when it is 100 degrees in the kitchen! You would think after 27 years of being a fair-skinned red-head I would get it, use sun block!! The girlfriend that I was with is a beautiful 24 year-old that runs and swims daily and keeps a year-round deep tan. I love sitting next to that on the beach. At least I have the kids to justify the big belly and the sun deprived hue!
Today I am off to PetCo. We have no pets, obviously, but Keghan has a birthday party to go to and instead of gifts they are asking for donations to the Humane Society. I really love that idea. Kids today really have too much stuff. I realize I sound like an old person, but it is true! I think I will copy that idea for the girls' parties, but I have a charity here in town we try to support whenever we can. It is Aid to Women. They help abused and poor women. They supply diapers, formula, clothes and other things women need to raise children on their own. This year at Thanksgiving the kids picked out an extra turkey to take in. They really like to help others, and I think it is one of the most important things for kids to do! Anyway, we are going to get dog food and leashes for that. The kids also like to look at all the animals. They will be bugging their dad for a dog for the next week. Some days I want a dog, others I am glad we don't have any pets. I thought we needed one for a while when I saw the kids teaching Dax how to fetch. It was really bad when Gerrick was doing it too. But, we really have no time for animals. Plus, I am not ready for that kind of responsibility =)
So, that is a lot of rambling. Maybe it is because I just had my one coffee for the day! Everyone have a great day. I know I will!

P.S. Dax is really expanding his vocabulary. This morning

he was in bed with me and said, "Mommy mell

allfull." And we wanted him to talk?

Bad Weather

Well, today was rough. Because of the rain last night I woke up with children all around me. The only one who sleeps in her bed all night it Shaelynn. Although, if you ask her, she never sleeps! So, needless to say, I have a sore back and no sleep! I was supposed to go to a meeting at work today. I got there 10 minutes early to see the girl that was supposed to watch the kids while I went, and she never came! She is one of the girls I work with and had said she would be there. I left, oh well. If they really wanted me to be there they will let me know.
On my way home we drove right through a funnel cloud. Anyone who knows me knows that I have an unrealistic fear of tornados. So, I drove 90 mph to get through it and home. I was listening to the radio and knew that if I just got further north I would be out of it. It was strange to see pitch black on one side of the van and perfectly sunny on the other! In the end of it, I was just glad to get the rain. My garden needed it, and I am sure the farmers needed it more!
I have a correction to make. Gerrick had told me his Grandma is 94, but she is almost 96!!! She is really amazing! I hope when I am old people will think I was 1/2 of what she is. She really has the respect and love of everyone who knows her.
I am heading out to the Res. tomorrow. I am taking the kids for a picnic and fun. Two of my girlfriends are joining us for a while. Hopefully I will get some good pics of the kids, they love being outside!!!
Have a great night!!!

Monday at last

WOW, What a great weekend. We really did a lot!
Saturday we took the long trip to see Gerrick's Grandma. She had fallen and broken her pelvis. When we got there she was sleeping. We tried to wake her, but she was really out. I think Gerrick really thought she was just out of it all together and was very upset. But I saw a huge smile on her face when she saw the kids. We decided to leave and let her sleep for a while. Gerrick's Mom only lives about 20 minutes from there, so we called her and planned to meet. When she got there we tried Grandma again. This time she woke up and was excited to see the kids. She had never met Reagan, and was impressed!!! With her pelvis broke she was only able to lay in one position---facing the wall. This made it difficult to visit, but we worked with it. We lifted the kids over the bed so they could kiss her and say hi. They really love their Great Grandma! Gerrick was impressed by how well she is doing, and encouraged to still hear her laugh! We really had a nice visit.
Afterward we went to the Big Chief for ice cream. It was pretty bad! I didn't think you could mess up a hot fudge malt, but they did. Anyway, then we took the kids to the park and played. They had been pent up in the van all day, and it was getting to....me!!!
Then we headed to Z's for pizza. After working there for 11 years, the food is a necessity in my bloodstream. My cousin Sherry was there with her 3 kids. Then her dad and Mom came in and walked right past me. I was a little offended. I do see my family every once in a while, and I would think my family is pretty recognizable. Then my other Uncle Tom came in and did the same thing. I guess I just blend in to the background...with my 5 kids!
Sunday we did a bunch of running after church. Trying to get stocked up for when Gerrick left town again. I really hate him leaving now. I just start to get used to him being here, and he leaves! Then, we went to the pool. Reagan really didn't like the water at first. But, we got her to sit and play for awhile. Then, Keghan got cold. The girl is always cold. I told her to eat a steak and maybe she could keep herself warm! Gerrick and I were obviously warm enough!
Today was the girls last day of school, finally! They had 1/2 day. Keghan cried, and Shaelynn was also sad. I have vented about our kindergarten system before, but it is ridiculous. They send them to one school for kindergarten, then split them all up for the rest of their schooling. They don't even try to get kids in the same class that will be going to the same school. When Keghan went to first grade she only had 2 people in her class that she actually knew, and she didn't even really know themIt really sucks that the street we live on is the cut-off. Our side goes to one school and the kids across the street go to another. It is very annoying! But anyway, they have the whole summer to not think about that.
We went to the pool again tonight. We were the only ones in the shallow end. It was GREAT!!! Reagan go to play without being splashed and Keghan went on the slide as many times as she wanted!!!
Well, I am going to try to get some sleep. I haven't been feeling that great. Major stress headaches and I am very tired!!!
Hope all have a great day tomorrow!

The other one

Here is the other video that didn't take the first time. They are really cute, and I really wanted to get them on. Reagan really loved her Great Grandma!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukL_7x2PwUU

TRY THIS

TRY THIS ONE...IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT7ONYAZPpE