Dinner Out w/ Mom!

Tonight the kids and I went out for dinner at one of their favorite places...McDonalds....not my first choice by any stretch of the imagination!

After a busy day and while daddy is at a meeting, we took advantage and talked about our days, what the kids want for Christmas (so sad but they are already thinking about their lists!), and what we want to do with the rest of our night. What better place to do this than the home of the their favorite french fries! :)

Big Hair Cut!!!!

Kate wanted to get her hair cut short....I kept questioning her just to make sure and boy oh boy! That girl was positive! So off to get our hair cut we went! I must say...she did not waver once! This was the first big haircut she has had...more than just your average trim (it is a very cute look for her and she LOVES it!!!!!) Here are some pics:

Truman Homecoming

This year we decided to go to the Truman Homecoming game. The kids haven't been to a game and Greg and I wanted to sit near the band and be all nostalgic! It feels like just yesterday that we were sitting in the bleachers, chanting silly cheers, yelling for a Truman 1st Down, etc. And now here we are...11 years and 3 kiddos later! :). Many of the cheers an traditions are the same and some have evolved! :). Loved it!

Family picture!

Pokemon

Pokemon Mania has hit my house!!!!! Chris got his first deck about a month ago...has picked up random cards along the way. We now have hit full blown Pokemon fever!!!! Oh boy! Gotta brace myself!

Blogging from my phone?????

I just learned that I can blog from my phone! :). This has the potential to be really cool!!! So I'm just testing this out and adding random pictures! :). Have a good one!

Hmmmm....

What is this thing in my bookmarks??? The Marshall Family Blog...huh. I think that is the thing I'm supposed to be updating on a regular basis to keep family and friends updated on us and as a way to keep track of our lives so that one day I can look back and remember things (due to my horrible memory!)... Well, shoot! I guess I should be better about this, huh? Especially if there is anyone out there still reading! I will try and be back soon to update, etc...lots has been going on for everyone! Have a great one and I will be back soon!!!!

Blizzard 2011

So the predictions came true. A blizzard actually hit Kirksville. And it was like nothing I have ever seen!!!! The wind and snow last night were crazy! The snow drifts outside are forces to be reckoned with and since I've been up this morning I have seen 2 cars go down Shepherd...and only one down our street...which that poor soul got to the end and had to back their way back to Shepherd! I did hear a snow plow at 1:30 last night but they cleared a path that is big enough for one car and with the wind outside right now, that is quickly disappearing! We managed to shovel a path to the end of our driveway plus an additional 5 feet into the street. Absolutely unbelievable! Here are some pics!

Chris in our driveway...trying to get to the street!

Shoveling a path to the street:

The drifts at the south side of our house:

We can get to the street!!!!! :)

Breaking the Funk!

So the afore-mentioned funk is on its way out the door!!!! I believe it is due to the weather, sickness in the house, etc...so I'm determined to break it!

I love snow...but am not a fan of snow days...I love my days off in the spring when it is nice outside...although staying home with my kids is always a blessing...

As I said good night to each one tonight, I was reminded of this blessing in my life...actually the three little blessings in my life! :) Chris with his newly developing sense of humor...what I like to call his constant need to split hairs...Daniel and his sweet, sweet smiles and his need to still snuggle mommy...and Kate with her constant sense of independence which drives me crazy and makes me proud all at the same time!

No matter the weather, no matter the illnesses that go through our house, no matter the frustration over things beyond my control (cough, cough, medical issues, cough, cough)...I'm very blessed!!!!

Until next time...

Funk...

Ever feel in a funk and it's really hard to snap out of? Yeah...that's been me for the last week or so...I have moments where I think it's broken and then days like today happen and I fall right back into it! :( Ugh...today was just a long day here...nothing really wrong happened...in fact the kids all got along, I got some cleaning done and some surfing Facebook, etc...

Just a funk...a funk that I hope to break soon...

Random Thoughts...

So it seems as though a lot, and yet nothing too new has been going on around here lately!



*Christmas came and went with time spent with family and friends...just enjoying the time together! Church services were attended, gifts were exchanged...lots of love and snuggles! :) I have some pictures I will post soon that tell the whole story!



*Kate had her blood draw and we are waiting to hear from Saint Louis on our next steps. We are actually waiting to see if they ran the right test or not...if not then she will need another blood draw early this week and then we will need to wait for those results for another week at least! This whole process has been so very long...mainly because we really had to wait for the IVIG to wear off so that the immunologist could see exactly what her system is doing! I'm just ready for the blood work to be done...a plan in place and move on. I had foolishly led myself to start thinking that it was all a fluke. That in August her numbers were just low because of fighting the staph infection for so long and her long term bouts of antibiotics. I mean...she hasn't been sick winter at all except for one case of the stomach bug that went around...so surely that means that all is ok...at least that's what I let myself start thinking. Come to find out that I wasn't right...there is something going on and we just have to wait and find out what it is for sure! :) But soon...very soon (I hope!) we should know more!



* The boys got their progress reports for the second quarter and both did a wonderful job! Chris has met all of the curriculum related stuff but apparently likes to talk in class! :) He is very much my kiddo! Daniel is getting closer to being ready for kindergarten...has all of his letters and numbers down...we just have to work on writing his name!



* The Wii....this has become such an obsession in our house! The kids have some Just Dance games, Super Mario Bros (their new favorite!), and Boom Blox...the Wii is played almost daily for at least 10 minutes...and I have to admit...I'm addicted too! It does make for some fun family time! :)



* In July, Greg is going to be rehired by Truman since they have discontinued the contract with Sungard Collegis so we have some things to figure out there with insurance, retirement, etc....but he worked for Truman before Sungard came into the picture so it is all good! :) He loves his job and has been doing some jobs on the side which he really loves doing as well!



Time with family and friends, piano lessons, scouts, Church, school and daily life are keeping us so very busy! I have some pictures that I will be posting soon...just a mish mash of life really...I've not been the best at pulling out the good old camera very often...something I need to get better at actually! These times are flying by and I want to remember it all! :)



Have a good one!

The Last 2 Days!

So after much stress, talking friends' ears off, etc...we have finally made progress with potty training!!!! WHEW!

For the last 2 days, we have had only 1 accident (besides sleep times...which we have to work on!)...we even made it through Walmart today! :) THANK GOODNESS!!!

I thought for sure this girl would never use the restroom...guess she is proving me wrong! :)

Have a good one!