September in Pictures and words...

Gabby's pre-school openhouse...
We got to go with Daddy and look in Gabby's pre-school room and meet her teachers! Her teachers are Mrs. Lillie and her assistant is Mrs. Dahlberg. We got there, and she was quiet, but excited. All of the kids got to play in the room and Gabby got to see where her locker would be and had her picture taken to put on her locker so that she would know where it was when she came in for school! She did not want her picture taken by mrs. D, but eventually they got a decent one!





We had a couple of fun days at some parks and then Riley came to join us! Riley is the fourth daughter of some wonderful friends of ours...they needed daycare for her and asked if i would do it! Riley is three months younger than gabby and they are going to be great play mates! I watch Riley every day and we are already having so much fun!

GABBY's FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! I already blogged about this...but here's a few pics!

Some of our fun days at home...cereal necklaces, painting, etc...


Gabby and Riley (lex and Ty too) with their jewelry they made and rockin' out!

Little trip to the Children's museum here in GR...wow, this was a fun day! The video clips do get a little long...but the last one is the longest and the pay off is towards the end. The interaction between riley and Jeremy...i'm still laughing. Some won't get how funny it is...but that's okay.

ok - so i can't get the video on here of the children's museum, so i'll do it in a separate post...






Camping at the Cottage September 20-21. We got to ride on Pop-Pop and nana's new pontoon boat...super cool!



September 25, 2008 - Gabby's pre-school had an openhouse for family to come and see what she's done so far and to see where she goes to school! Nana and Aunt Monica, and Grandma and Grandpa came! We had so much fun!


We celebrated one year in our new house! September 27th is when we got occupancy and we moved on the 29th! Yay! We celebrated with Filet mignon and our bottle of merlot that we got from the Gainey winery in California a few months before Ty was born (october of 2005). It was great!

September 19, 2008 - videos from the children's museum...

like i said, kind of long, but they are kinda cute. the last one is long, but it ends with a convo between jer and riley...we thought it was funny, hopefully her mom and dad do too...

Question of the month

My sister is starting this up in our family - because they live in AL - there's another one in Las Vegas and the rest are in Michigan (there's also one in TN, but not part of the Tell side)...She's sending out a question of the month so that we can all answer and keep in touch and maybe even get to know one another better seeing as how we don't see each other often at all! So, this month's question is...

If you won the lottery tomorrow, how would your life change?

I had to ask how much the lottery was - she replied a billion...cuz, if it was only a small lottery, say $50,000 (ha! small...i'd take 50k too! that would be huge too!) i wouldn't be able to do what is on my list...

so, here's my list...

Alrighty…
I would not let anyone else know besides blood family – as I don’t want “family coming out of nowhere” and hopefully our lifestyle wouldn’t change too much (besides upgrading a bit and oh, my hubby not working…ok, it might be a bit of a change)

give…10% - to our church/other charities (I might change the percentage…depends on how the whole tax thing would workout with all the caps on things, etc…might put it on a yearly giving program…wow…that’s a little selfish for being giving…but – hey – that’s how I roll…and we’re being honest, right?)

I would pay off our mortgage and maybe upgrade house…ok – not maybe, we’d build again…

put away for each of our children to go to any of the best colleges (they can still choose, I just want it to be available)

put a chunk away for each of them to retire on

set a chunk (and a big chunk) for us to retire on and travel with

Get my hubby a custom made cycle – for all he’s provided for us…he needs a special toy for taking care of us! And I’d get my mustang back…

Make sure my parents and grandparents were well taken care of for the rest of their lives (no debts etc…)

Pay off my siblings mortgages and debts

Retirement for my siblings

College funds for nieces and nephews

Pay off debt for our children’s school system so they can better teach our children.

Can’t think of anything else...selfish or not, this is what I would do…

Post what you would do...i'd love to hear...tell the truth! I won't judge you...it's your money afterall!

Love to all!
Chrissy

Changepoint (i stole it, sorry)...

I have entered a new world. The world of friends, enemies, "I like him/her", "i don't like him/her", homework, book clubs, fundraising sales and my children growing up right before my eyes! My first baby, my dear, sweet Gabriella, had her first day of preschool today. I am almost at a loss for words. We worked her up for it, she was excited, she picked out her clothes for her first day and the backpack that she would bring, and we were set to go this morning. I started watching Riley for this school year (for those that don't know - Riley is the youngest (of four)daughters of some wonderful friends of ours. She is just a few months younger than gabby (our oldest.) We are all still kind of wondering, as both of our girls dads went to school together (same age, etc) and were trouble together. Now we're wondering what kind of trouble our girls will get in together...as they will be travelling through Cal together...oye. We're in for it. Riley's mommy dropped her off this morning, and while we were talking, her mommy asked me to be in her wedding - yes they are already married, but they are doing it again, and doing it like they wanted it to be done many years ago...YEAH!! I'm so honored! I don't really connect with females, always felt more comfortable around the guys, but i connect with conny. We're growing a great friendship and i was sincerly moved that she wanted me to be in the wedding! Anyway - so that is how i started the day...wow, GREAT start! Riley came in and we got the other monkeys ready to go and took some pics and video and then packed us all in the truck to drive up the street to gabby's pre-school! We got there - no parking spots open. Sorry to the possible staff that may have not had a parking spot, but i had to park somewhere...i finally park and get all the kids out and head to school. We pointed out where riley's dad works, and where riley and Gabby will be going to kindergarden next year, and of course ty had to tell us all, over and over again, that this was his school too (by telling, i mean arguing, as that's all he does with his sister and riley). I took some pics outside and out in the hallway - she found her locker and put her sweatshirt and backpack in it, and in to the room we went (she was still super excited). I handed her teacher - Mrs. Lillie - her contact paperwork and dr. info, etc, and Mrs. Lillie asked Gabby if she could find her nametag off of the table and Gabby froze. Not terrible, just how she normally does with strangers, heck, she still does that with people she has seen for years! So as i didn't want her to start a freak out moment, i carefully waved at Mrs. Lillie and quietly exited (can you quietly exit anywhere with three children?!?!?!). No i'm not a terrible mother, we said our good-byes and i'm proud of you's before even getting to her room. We all went back to pick her up at 11:30, and that girl came out of the room with her smile beaming from ear to ear and so happy. Happy cuz she had so much fun and happy to hug her mommy! We were all quite excited. Ty was so excited, he wanted to get Gabby's stuff out of her locker for her (fight ensued)...but it ended quickly. Lex just wanted to roam the halls and take the cars of the street that were up on the walls...oye...18 months old, she's a handfull. We happily walked out with our first day of pre-school stuff that Gabby happily put in her big girl back pack (90% of which was for me - scholastic book sales and cookie dough sales, here we come, oh, and my favorite - school pics!). We went home to have a nice lunch and chill before the next thing...ok, so i had a great morning too! my baby is growing so big and is so wonderful! how amazing it is to see the miracle of life from birth on. I am so proud of my little girl. She is wonderful and i am so blessed, even though sometimes it's hard to feel that way, but i'll take all of the bad, just so i can enjoy these little moments! moving on to the next part of the day. Alexis turned 18 months yesterday. We had her check up this afternoon (no, i don't torture myself by filling up my days so much - i just didn't know i was going to be watching riley and having gabby's first day on this same day...but i can say i'm tired and won't plan it this way again.) Our baby still doesn't weigh 20 pounds...19lb 4 oz. she gained about a half a pound in 2 months. Nothing too big to worry about, but she is sending us to an endocrinologist to run some tests and make sure that there aren't underlying disorders, etc that would cause her to be small...so, not bad news, but i tend to worry...praying for peace and that there won't be anything except the fact that she will be petite...Ok, i think that's it for my day. We had fun! I loved today and will cherish it for the rest of my life. I am so thankful to our family and friends (most of those friends we also consider family as well...) We love you all so much. Thanks for being a part of our lives. You are all very special.

oh, and after re-reading some of this, i realize that i have a hard time staying on track...so if you got here without being confused - you get extra points. If you are confused, please don't ask for clarification, as that would take 6 more pages...and you would still be confused.

Love to you all!

my mission...

ok, here's an update on my mission...weight. i haven't been able (and haven't made a total effort) on the exercise front...i've done it, now i just want to work it into an everyday schedule...i got down about 10 pounds from last time, but have been fluctuating up and down - so let's say 6 pounds. i'm watching what i'm eating...we even went camping and i usually snack constantly...but i did great! I eat on the small plates now so that i make sure that my portions are in control! It's going to be a long road, but i will get there!!!