Six Flags Saturday

It's a nice, quiet, stormy evening, so I'm going to blog. YAY! Did I tell you guys about Six Flags Saturday? Hopefully no one from Kevin's work reads this. :) Papa got tickets for everyone to Six Flags last Saturday because his company buys out the park. He asks about these tickets every year and whether we want to go. I think we went once when I was prego with Rory, but not since then. We made plans to ALL go. Kevin was trying to get out of a work situation Saturday morning, but that didn't happen. So...I drove to Six Flags with him in the passenger seat on the phone and computer with work. He was going to tell them that he lost power and just pretend that the power was restored at 3p when we got home. I know, I know.

Anyway, we got there and he told them we lost power. He went on a ride with Kaelyn, and then got a message that he was an important part of the process they were doing and that if he lost power, he needs to drive into the office. By this time we had split up so the older girls were off by themselves (including Rory) leaving Logan and Marley with me and Kevin. We got them lunch (which was free along with all the water, soda, chips, and beer you wanted) On a side note, who takes their kids to the amusement park and then drinks? It just seemed really ridiculous to me, but I'm not judging by any stretch of the imagination. Moving on.

We finally got Logan and Marley to the "kid" place, and Logan didn't want to go on anything. Marley wanted to go on everything. It turned out to be kind of hot, and they had a water play area. I had packed all three younger kids clothes just in case they spilled something, but now I thought that we would just let them play some. Logan and Marley were cautious trying not to get too wet. At this point, Kevin says that he has to get to work. He had told them that he was driving in. It takes him an hour, and we were running out of time that he should already be there. We had the big girls drop Rory off with us, and since I knew we had to leave, I let them get soaked. They had a good time. I took them to the gift shop next. Poor things. I brought clothes but not a towel, so they had to walk around the air conditioned gift shop freezing. Kevin went on to the car to get on the phone and computer.

Rory had a minor freak out when she heard that we were leaving and the other girls were staying. We still have Hershey Park tickets to use, so we threw that at her, and she calmed down a bit. On the way home, Kevin's phone started to die. This wasn't good because he was supposed to be in the office now, so what would he tell them. At the same time, the gas light goes on. We never really paid attention to how much gas we have left once that happens. To make matters more interesting, we were at a part in the highway where you have to travel a bit of distance to get to a gas station even if there was one off an exit.

Kevin's phone eventually died, and our attention turned to whether we would run out of gas. We decided to go for it and made it to the gas station up the road from our house. We put $45 in and it only got to half a tank. I don't know how bad that is or if we were almost out, but I do know that I normally get more than a half a tank when paying that much. We got home at 330p and Kevin stopped working that night at 7p. It stunk and looking back, we would've just left him here. It was still fun when he was there and not having to be on the phone.

Thank you for hanging in there with me and reading this long thing. Here are some pics.
That's Kevin in between the second to the last bar on your right with the navy blue shirt and sunglasses. He's sitting next to Sam, and Kaelyn and Nicole are in front of them. Maybe you can see Nicole in the yellow shirt in front of Kevin geeking out.
Here's an aerial shot of Kevin waiving as the coaster went up. They were on the Superman.
It was Kevin's idea for us all to wear our "Bucy" shirts that Nana and Papa got us last Christmas. I thought it was a good idea. Here Kevin and Marley are on a school bus that goes around and around vertically.
Logan wouldn't go on this, but he waived to Marley from the sidelines. She was really excited that he was waiving to her.
The end.

Some Happenings

Nothing much is going on, but I just keep forgetting to blog. Here's a recap of pictures I haven't gotten this week.

Rory changed her gymnastics days to Monday. I forgot the camera.
Marley had her first gymnastics yesterday. I forgot the camera. (I didn't really need it because she wouldn't leave my side. We are now enrolled in a Mommy and Me class)
Rory had a Drama class on Monday for the first time. I forgot the camera.
We went to Six Flags. I brought the camera, but I haven't loaded the pictures yet, and I really only got ones of the kids getting soaked in the water park.
We had a friend visit. I didn't even think about the camera. :(

I vow to try and have a better camera week. Friday is our first home school swim class, so I will try and get some pictures while Marley is screaming that she can't go in the water. Or while Logan is screaming to get out of the water. Until then, ciao.

Grateful

I forgot to blog last night. Here is my grateful list for you latecomers.

-making it to a gas station just in time
-Saturday fun and those moments Kevin didn't have to work
-a new movie watched and loved
-early morning hours with God
-prayers answered, others not
-hope for better things
-endurance
-determination
-courage
-talkative teenagers :)
-new freedoms
-mourning losses of life moments that won't be happening again
-smart kids
-steady schooling
-new friends
-love

Marley Take Two - MD Bday

On Monday, Marley's actual birthday, we celebrated at Kevin's parent's. His cousin, Chris, and his family came over too. Nana and Papa have a way of going all out for birthdays and it's mainly called "Sam and Nik." Our nieces do a lot of the decorating and they're young whipper snappers, so they go crazy, which is good because I am not young and I don't whip or snap all that well.
There were purple balloons everywhere and a big sign on the front porch wishing her a happy birthday. Dora was everywhere. Here a Dora, there a Dora, everywhere a Dora Dora. We had a good celebration. Marley is to the point where she just tears open gifts and looks for the next one. I hate that. I like when they still think that the wrapping is the coolest part. Here are some pics.
This was the morning of her birthday. Daddy got her Dora trike from Grandpa put together for her.
"Marley! Let me take a picture of you in your birthday shirt!"
"Can you smile this time?"
Marley and Crazy, Cousin, Cartwheel Karla.
This is a purple trunki. Rory and Logan got trunkis/trunkies for our trip to Canada three years ago because they are little traveling cases that the kids can ride on while you pull them along. This worked very well in Minneapolis Airport when we had to get from one end to the other with these kids. Marley saw these trunkies and Kevin looked them up online for her. Since that day, everyday before Marley goes to nap (if Kevin's working from home, which he normally is) he shows her this purple trunki. So...she got one for her birthday and since then, they have ridden them all over our once beautiful wood floors. :)
Kids get the pinata open.


Grown -ups swarm.

A good time was had by all. On Tuesday afternoon, Kaelyn came home from school and asked Marley how it felt to be three. She said, "fine" and that about sums it up.

Marley's B-Day Celebration - VA

We went to my parents on Sunday to celebrate Marley's birthday. I'm going to tell it like it was. First we went to the buffet. It's a place the kids love because after they pick out everything they want, they get dessert from the dessert buffet bar. Heck, even I like that part! We normally go around 1145a. That way we can hit the breakfast buffet and then the changeover to the lunch buffet. I'm not big on their breakfasts, but I like one of their lunch dishes. They were late getting the lunch stuff out, so by the time I got my food, the kids were done their desserts and pretty much everyone was waiting on me to finish.

We went back to my parents and put Marley down for a nap (that she didn't take). Kevin, Rory, Logan, and I left to do last minute errand running for her birthday. I went to Carter's and only spent $16 (with coupons)...and to be honest...I didn't even spend it, my mom did. The point is that I got out of there (CARTER'S!) with only 2 things and $16 on my mom's card. :) Next up was the party store for balloons. We got out of there easily enough, but by the time we got to my parent's, one of the balloons was already deflated from a hole that did not happen while in our care. (just had to get that out there) After that we went to Baskin Robbins for her cake. There wasn't one that we like the ice cream and cake flavor on, but we got one with a rainbow. Marley loves rainbows. But then they said the price was marked wrong and it wasn't $19.99, it was $29.99. So we didn't get that. At that time, Kevin found one with ice cream everyone would like and it wasn't big enough to have leftovers. We asked for "Happy Birthday, Marley" to be written on it. They send the cake in the back with a little boy that looks younger than Kaelyn. After about 10 minutes (which seemed like FOREVER) the little boy comes out with this.
He didn't even spell her name right. Anyway, we ate it. She opened presents. I think she had a good birthday. Here are some pictures from my parents.

Happy Birthday, Marley!

Happy Birthday to my baby, Marley. She is three years old. Here is Marley's birthday acrostic.

M- Mischievous. Marley is by far my hardest child yet. Something about the youngest being the most rebellious. I was the youngest, and I don't remember any rebellion. :)
A- Assertive. She does not get this characteristic from me. If Marley wants something, she goes to get it, whether she is allowed to or not. The other day when I was hiding around the corner in the house from the UPS guy (I didn't want him to think I was stalking him) I asked if he was coming toward our house. Marley said, "no." I did a little whine because I thought he was coming here. Marley ran up to the door and screamed, "Hey Guy! Come over here!"
R- Runner. If Marley isn't jumping to where she's going, she's running. She walks like Kevin and Rory...with her knees turned in, so she looks like she's going to trip over her own foot. She doesn't, but it is a little scary to watch. She's a pretty fast runner. Bouncing though is still her main mode of transportation. If Marley is going anywhere, she is running. (extra points if you say running like Forest Gump)
L- Loud. Marley only has one volume. Even when she tries to whisper, she's screaming. Rory was like this when she was younger and still is sometimes, but she understands better now when to quiet down. Marley...not so much. Right now she's blowing a train whistle and screaming, "Storytime." Her regular volume is screaming, so when I say she's screaming, you can only imagine how loud she's being.
E- Energetic. You might have guessed this with the runner paragraph, but energetic is an understatement for this child. It's as if she literally never turns off. That's how we can tell she's getting sick. She's not moving as much and she's cranky as...I know kids are supposed to be non-stop, but I've never really seen it until Marley.
Y- Y-ild (wild) Marley is crazy. She's a spaz. Anyone who has ever been around her knows it. She's animated, loud, energetic, assertive, mischievous, running, wait...this sounds familiar.

Happy Birthday, Marley. I LOVE YOU!!!!
-Mommy
This picture was taken when I told Marley to give me a big three year old smile. :)

Rory the Gymnast!

Since I had problems with the font, I'm not going to do anything but change the color this time.

Rory had her first gymnastics tonight. All I can say is that I don't think she'll be seeing any Nationals anytime soon. :) She had a rough go at it, but she loves it. I might have to change up the time because her rehearsals for "Oliver" are at the same time as gymnastics. Plus, it makes for a loaded and late night. Rory was really worried that she wouldn't make any friends, but there was really no time to talk. They each had different things to do at different times. We'll see how it goes, but for now I think I can say (with some confidence), Rory seems better at things that require balance. Horseback riding for example or ice skating were things she seemed to excel in.

The other part to tonight was Miss Marley. She wanted to go to Rory's first gymnastic class probably more than Rory did. I had to tell her over and over and over and over that I would bring her next time. I didn't know what to expect or the how the parent area was set up. I didn't want to be stuck there chasing a 3yo out on the mats. One thing was for certain, Marley was going to do whatever it took to be just like Rory tonight. I even found myself looking up classes for her age group. You'll see why right now.

You think that's adorable?

Can someone get this kid some lessons please?