Boo!

Great. . . something more to add to my over-flowing plate.

Say hello to the Dept Mgr of Department 7 (Toys) AND 71 (Large Furniture).

Wish me luck, it's going to be challenging, but the Store Mgr and Co-Mgr's have faith that I can do it.  In fact, they praised me for handleing Toys so well that they felt confident I could take on another department.  I'm thinking it's punishment for doing my job too well.

Our June Calendar

Sunday, June 5th - David's Bridal with Joanna, Amanda, and Mom
Monday, June 6th -
Tuesday, June 7th - Tee Ball Game 6p-7p (Amanda, Jeremy & Carter coming to watch)
Wednesday, June 8th -
Thursday, June 9th -
Friday, June 10th -
Saturday, June 11th- Kenny & Naomi's Wedding

Sunday, June 12th -
Monday, June 13th - Tee Ball Game 6p-7p
Tuesday, June 14th - Tee Ball Game 6p-7p
Wednesday, June 15th- Tee Ball Game 6p-7p
Thursday, June 16th - Tee Ball Game 6p-7p (Rained Out)
Friday, June 17th - Relay for Life 7pm - 7am
Saturday, June 18th -

Sunday, June 19th - Father's Day
Monday, June 20th -
Tuesday, June 21st - First Day of Summer
Wednesday, June 22nd - VACATION / Girl Scouts 7pm
Thursday, June 23rd - VACATION / Chloe's Last Tee Ball Game 6p-7p
Friday, June 24th - VACATION
Saturday, June 25th - VACATION

Sunday, June 26th - VACATION / My 7th Wedding Anniversary!
Monday, June 27th -
Tuesday, June 28th -
Wednesday, June 29th -
Thursday, June 30th - Aunt Karey & Uncle Alan's Wedding Anniversary
Friday, July 1st -
Saturday, July 2nd -

The Shaggy Dog No More!

Jerry and I finally came to an agreement to give Jaxen his first haircut.  And it wasn't him holding us back it was me.  But I think he's loosing some of his hair on the back of his head, so the extra long hair on the top made it look like he had a comb-over.  Enough with the small talk - on to the pictures! 

Jaxen Before. . .

The Pile of Hair Afterwards. . .

 Jaxen After a little Trim!

Now he looks like a handsome little boy!

Okay, it might take some getting used to, but I think I like it!  I think it might make him look a little older.  Please let me know what you think!!!!

Family Update

It's funny how this is my family blog and yet majority of the posts are about Jaxen and Chloe.  Poor Jacob, my middle child.  It's not that he's not as important as the other two (because he is!), he's always caught somewhere in the middle.  And no one gets an update about Jerry and I because updating the kid's milestone is definitely a priority!

So here I sit, kids are in bed and Jerry is at work.  Let me see what kind of update I can come up with!  Let's try biggest to smallest this time. . .

Jerry - I don't update too much on Jerry, mainly because he's grown and doesn't do anything new and exciting things!  It's the same old routine with him (& I, also) - work, sleep, eat, take care of kids, repeat.  But I will take a few minutes and update you all on his new adventure, College!  He's in his 2nd group of 8-week courses.  He's learning how to juggle the kids, work schedules and school work.  And it's no surprise to me on how well he is doing.
On his free time, he is still working hard to secure us a new place to live.  I swear a new person's calling my house every day to go over options and new ideas.  Really what we are trying for right now is an FDA Loan.  It seems to be the best option for us. . . plus there is no down payment.  But all that is for another post.  Just know that our search continues and as I posted before - we are doing things slowly and making sure we finally do what's best for us - and no one else!

Heidi - I'm just fine and dandy!  I'm a busy, busy mom!  My kids keep me going all day, literally!  I hate going to work - I secretly wish that I could just quit and stay home.  I would have time to do my laundry and cook my family meals. . . Plus the stress alone would be a total relief.  But I know, realistically I can't quit.  We need the money and my income, especially if we are trying to buy a new home and trying to put Jacob through Preschool.  I am however trying to transfer.  I'm still trying to get my foot in the door at the DC.  I know it's not going to fix all the stress in my life but I hope it will help.  I'd be making more money and working less days.  Just waiting for an opening. . .
Other than the dreaded work, I'm busy planning Girl Scout camp and doing my domestic household chores!  I can't wait for my vacation this month. . . June 22-26, I'm hoping to get a lot of things done around the house, things that I've put off for way too long.  And I'm hoping to get some much need family time - pool, zoo, and cookouts!!  I hope the weather is beautiful so I can take full advantage of my vacation!

Chloe - I'm sure most of you know exactly what Chloe is up too!  As the oldest, she hits the milestones first and is often the subject of my posts.  My little girl just finished her Kindergarten year, she's active in Girl Scouting and Tee Ball.  She's a little lost being at home all day now that summer vacation is here. . . LOL, I think that Summer Work Folder is going to be completed before the end of June!  Then she'll have to start reading her 1,000 page summer goal!
I've been trying to work in getting the in to swimming lessons this summer, but it looks like we are going to have to wait until the fall. . . I can't seem to fit anything else into her schedule.  But waiting might be a good thing because by then Jacob will be old enough for swimming lessons too!

Jacob - Jake is getting to be a pretty self-reliant little boy.  During the past month, he's finally able to go to and from the bathroom by himself.  Heck, we don't even have to remind him throughout the day.  He's in heaven now that Chloe is here all day with him.  I've been trying to find something to get Jacob involved in, to help fill his summer.  But so far, I've found nothing.  He's still a little young for most things. . . I've even looked into getting him into Martial Arts.  There is a place in Harrisonville that we are going to go look into, it's not a done deal yet because I'm not sure if he's old enough yet and I'm not sure how much it's going to cost me.  I do know it will be nice to get him into something, at last weekend CMN Carnival he did really well being a part of something.  He seemed to of "grown" before my eyes.

Still looking into Preschool for next year.  It's really bugging me that I might not be able to place him in two years of preschool like we did Chloe.  Why does it have to be so expensive?!?!  I'm still waiting to see if Kinder Kastle fills their Monday - Tuesday class.  Because then and only then, they will open up a Thursday - Friday class. . . and that's the only class that will work for us next year because of our work schedules.  Unless I get a transfer to the DC where Jerry works. . . then I should be working less days and able to get him to and from school.  So everything is so up in the air. . . I'm praying for a sign of something good.  Jacob needs the 2-years probably more so than Chloe did.

Jaxen - Here's a few updates on where Jaxen stands at 24 weeks old. . . Only 2 weeks away from 6 months.

• Absolutely NO interest in holding his bottle.
• Lovin' the solid baby foods!  I'm up to feeding him baby food twice a day.
• Lunch consists of an entire container of Stage 1 Baby Food Fruits - his favorites so far are bananas, apples, and pears.
• Dinner consists of about 1/4 cup of Baby Oatmeal (made with formula, not water) and 1/2 a container of Stage 1 Baby Food Vegetables.  Jaxen doesn't really care for the Green Beans or the Peas but he will eat them - his favorites are the orange colored ones. . . Carrots, Sweat Potatoes, and Squash.
• Still drinking about 6 - 8, 8 ounce bottles of formula a day.
• Sleeping routines are a little wacky now that Chloe and Jacob are home all day!
• Jaxen sleeps all night - About 1030pm until about 8am.
• Normally fusses around 4am for a bottle, but doesn't drink it all.
• Use to take 2 good 2 hour naps a day, but now that summer is here and both kids are home, he gets about 3 to 4 catnaps in.
• Playtime
• Kicks, laughs, screams, baby talks, blows bubbles with his spit, can sit up - once put in that position, crawls backwards, and can now get up on all 4's and rock back and forth!  Should have an official crawler soon.

Oh, so close!

Well we all knew it was getting closer, especially after I posted those pictures of Jaxen sitting up or reaching for his toys.  The littlest man is determined!!  I have a video for you to watch. . .

I love how in the video, it look slike he has a bald spot. . . he really doesn't.  It's thinner back there but because his hairs a mess along with the horrible lighting - makes him look bald!  LOL
How's that for the first update in JUNE!  (I can't believe it's already June!!)

Top Ten Tuesday - May 31

Being that this Tuesday falls on the last day of the month, I'm going to to recap the top ten moments of May. . .

1. Milestones - Jaxen turned 5 months old and wants to do so much!  You can just see it in his eyes. . . May 30th, Jaxen sat up by himself!  Yet another milestone for the baby book!  Somebody tell this kid to slow down!
2. Tee Ball - On May 10th, Chloe started her 2nd and final year in tee ball.  I ♥ being a tee ball mom!!!  Chloe is ten time more confident this year and it shows in the way she plays.  I look forward to Tuesday's and Thursday's at the ball field!
3. Carter James Noble - I have a nephew!!  First one by blood!  Carter was born on May 6th at 4:11am, weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces & 21 inches long!  I'm floating on cloud nine, he's absolutely wonderful and I can't wait to see the man he's going to become.
4. Volunteering - My family celebrated Memorial Day Weekend by volunteering for Children's Miracle Network. . . We had an awesome time and raised a total of $856.06 in two days.  Jerry and I taught our kids how to make a difference in someone else's life just because they can!
5. Field Trip - I got to go on Chloe's very first field trip.  We went to the Kansas City Zoo.  I got to ride the bus with Chloe and her classmates.  I absolutely loved spending the day at the Zoo with my girl and 31 of her friends! :o)
6. Mother's Day - Mother's Day is always a good day!  My kids are so good to me.  What a difference a year makes. . . it was one year on Mother's Day that the pregnancy test showed that I was going to be a mother again!!  Children are gifts from God - Mothers are just the angels that protect them. 
7. Kindergarten -  Chloe's last day of Kindergarten was bittersweet, she got off the bus yelling, "I'm a first grader!!".  And that she was. . . her grades were amazing and once again she got perfect attendance!
8. Girl Scouts - Chloe's first year as a Daisy Girl Scout is coming to an end, during the month of May we finalized our plans to spend our money.  We are going camping!!  The girls are really excited and for most of them, Chloe included, this will be their first camping trip.
9. Tornado's - By now everyone knows about the EF-5 Tornado that hit Joplin, Mo.  But a week later my family was in the direct line of tornado's. . . I spent the day hiding out at Walmart while tornado's hit Louisburg, KS & Sedalia, MO.  Chloe's school is only 7 miles away from where the tornado touched down in Louisburg.  Sedalia was hit hard on the south side.  Thank God that nothing bad happened. . . Lord knows we were close enough to them all!
10. Osama bin Laden - Everyone remembers where they were on September 11, 2001 and now I remember were I was on May 1st when we found out that Osama Bin Laden was dead!! God Bless America!  US Forces took down #1 on our Most Wanted List. . . we can all sleep better knowing that there is one less terrorist in the world.

CMN Update

This is going to be a short post because dinner is cooking and I only have a minute! 

I just wanted to let you guys know the Grand Total of our CMN Kid Fest that we, as a family, volunteered for last weekend. . .

$856.06!!