Warm crocs for winter, thanks Grandma Carol and Grandpa Gary!

 

Charlie playing with his new Geo Tracs, thanks Aunt Maria and Uncle Henry!

 

Jackson dressed up as Santa, belly like a bowl full of jelly and all.

 

Avery in front of Aunt Tracy's house on Christmas Eve. We went to church with our friends Derrick and Lea, they had a beautiful children's service. They also gave out Celtic crosses which Avery is holding in her hand. We had a nice dinner out with family and then drove through the display of Christmas lights on the Virginia Beach boardwalk. The lights are amazing and go on for blocks.

 

 

It is when you least expect a good picture that you finally get one.
After trying the studio and at home, nothing. This photographer took 2 shots and it is fantastic.

Avery was so excited to tell Santa what she wanted, the puppy that listens to commands. Charlie was a little hesitant, but finally warmed up, he thought that if you didn't sit with santa and tell him what you wanted, you wouldn't get presents. Then he thought he was getting the presents tonight, like santa was going to hand him them racecars he asked for...surprised by his request?

And the kids loved all the electric trains set up. They can't wait to take you back daddy!

warm friends and warm hats

These wonderful warm winter hats arrived in the mail last week. I used them for our Christmas card photos, but those photos didn't do them justice.
I am so thankful for warm friends and warm hats! Thank you Lea, for sharing your beautiful craft with us.

pneumonia

Yup. Stephen's diagnosis early this morning after being taken to the hospital in an ambulance. And a sinus infection.

Poor guy.

We're hoping for a much healthier 2009. Anyone have a bubble we can live in for a few weeks?

Not the Thanksgiving I envisioned

I was looking forward to Thanksgiving.

But the 5 of us, all sick, are just going to be thankful in a quiet home, probably eating pizza. Plans to drive 6 hours south to spend the weekend with my family is not feasible they way Stephen and I are feeling.

My voice sounds like Darth Vader. My breathing too.

We will also spend time praying, especially for Kristi. The chemo has wrecked havoc on her body and she is now fighting a bacterial infection. High heart rate, low blood pressure and low white blood cell count. She is in the ICU and the doctors say the next 24-48 hours are critical. I am so sad her family is going through this, but especially this time of year.

Flashback Friday

1 year ago today I thought I was having a breakdown. I couldn't figure out why I was so emotional. Stephen was away in Miami for the final Nascar race, and by the time he returned, I finally realized that I should probably take a pregnancy test.
And then the craziest year of our lives began.




Baby Jackson at about 10 weeks old.

Quote of the day:
To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever.
Henry Drummond

Soup of the week

To cut back on grocery bills, get our family healthier by eating more veggies and to keep us warm this winter, I have been making 1 homemade soup a week. We usually eat it one night with a good bread and then I have it for lunch again another day.

Today it is carrot soup. I didn't even know I liked carrot soup until Melanie introduced it to me. The kids actually asked for carrot soup this week, it helps to have a library book that talks about how yummy carrot soup can be!

I pulled this from allrecipes.com
Creamy carrot soup
SUBMITTED BY: Grace Yaskovic

1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup butter, cubed (can substitute for EVOO)
4 1/2 cups sliced carrots
1 large potato, peeled and cubed
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups heavy whipping cream (can substitute for milk)
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS
In a Dutch oven, saute onion in butter until tender. Add carrots, potato, broth and ginger. Cover and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Cool for 15 minutes.
Transfer to a blender or food processor in small batches; cover and process until smooth. Return all to the pan; stir in the cream, rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat until heated through.

Tuesday Treasure

Avery has been taking an art class this fall. She loves art, tells us she is going to be an artist when she grows up. She has learned about several artists and then painted with the same style and medium.

Jacob Lawerence


Georgia O'Keeffe


Jackson Pollock


Quote of the day:
It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.Erma Bombeck

How a two year old copes with moving

Avery and Charlie have been sharing a room since our move from NC.

Charlie has asked me or Stephen every night before bed,
"Is Avery going to sleep with me?"

75 nights in a row, he has asked this question.

Tonight, he did not ask the question. I think he finally feels settled.

Flashback Friday

We were taking a trip to Virginia Beach summer 2007. It was just me and the two kiddos. We were about an hour from our destination (after 2+ hours already in the car) and the kids were just at their breaking points. I pulled into McDonald's and they were selling 3 chocolate chip cookies for $1. I wasn't really thinking about the sugar content and what that would do to their antsy-ness, I just wanted something to keep them entertained. Thankfully it did the trick.


So we finally arrived at Aunt Tracy's house and found this...





Don't miss the chocolate on his leg!

Quote of the day:
If you want to hear God's voice, turn down the world's volume.
Seen on a church welcome sign down the block from us.

Bugs and toes

Avery LOVES bugs. While we were out raking leaves on Sunday (12 bags!) our neighbor entertained the kids with this praying mantis. Avery let the thing crawl all over her and she wanted to bring it inside to take care of it.



Charlie and his turn playing with the mantis.



Jackson's toe 5 days later. Starting to look much better.

My Tuesday Treasure

Dad just sent me this picture he took this summer when they were visiting. I adore this photo. I am 9 months pregnant and the kids were having fun looking like me with balloons in their shirts.

I treasure my family. Every single one of you.

A Hair Tourniquet

A what???

Poor little Jackson had what the medical profession refers to as a hair tourniquet last Friday. A piece of hair wrapped tightly around his toes, so tight a surgeon had to be called into the pediatrician's office to remove the dang thing.

For those who aren't aware (as I was not), loose hairs can get wrapped around phalanges, form slip knots and then tighten as babies kick. Jackson's favorite pastime right now.

His first scar. Quite a story for him as he grows up.

And I must admit, for a brief moment, I thought about shaving my head as well as Avery's.

It is healing nicely and he has complete mobility in that toe. That was my main concern, as the hair cut the back of his toe right down to the bone.

Flashback Friday

A little over a year ago Stephen and I took the 2 kids to the
Asheboro zoo in NC.

Today I am taking the 3 kids to the Baltimore zoo in Maryland.

Man has life changed in 1 year!

Avery as Curious George (thanks Shannon, you saved the day!), James as a train conductor and Charlie as Tony Stewart, the NASCAR driver. Stephen and Thomas had fun taking the kids around trick or treating.



Avery and Charlie with their candy.



Jackson as a frog. This costume got so many comments Lea! It was great!



In the morning, we went to the library Halloween story hour. Avery decided to go as Ariel.



And finally, the BEST news of the day, we have officially sold our home in NC!

while watching a movie Friday night

Avery and Charlie had their own bowls of popcorn. Charlie finished his very quickly and then crawled over to sit next to Avery. He asked me if he could have some of her popcorn, I told him he had to ask her. He asks Avery and she replies, "Sure help yourself. Dig in Charlie." Some of the things that come out of their mouths...

Flashback Friday

2 years ago Stephen and I were invited to a destination wedding in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. It was our first vacation since having children and we had the most wonderful time. Part of the trip was in PV, the other part was in a remote part of Mexico called Yelapa, only reachable by boat.

The day after Matt and Dee's wedding, while still in Yelapa, we went on a snorkeling excursion. On our way out to a snorkeling sight, we saw some weird water movement, so the 'captain' (to use a term very loosely) turned the motor off and we sat and watched. A few seconds later our tiny boat was bumped and a humpback whale surfaced about 10 feet from us.

It was so amazing and scary all wrapped into one moment. I remember shaking, feeling the awesomeness of our Creator and all of His creation.
This is a moment I often go back to when I don't understand what is happening around me. I was petrified of these beings 4 times the size of our boat, but at that same moment I was peaceful, trusting and in awe of God's work, He is in every detail of this world.

Kristi's diagnosis is not good. But I go back to this moment with these same feelings. And this hymn comes to mind:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Urgent prayer

My friend Kristy, my MOPS leader from last year, has just been diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. It is in her bones, her hips, her spine and liver. They are still running tests at UNC.

She has been in a lot of pain this last pregnancy and they decided to deliver the baby early b/c of her pain level. Once she had the baby, there was still pain, so they ran tests. That is when they found the cancer.

Please keep her in your prayers. As well as her husband Chuck, her 4 year old, 2 year old and 9 day old, all boys.

Please pray.

He rolled!

Jackson rolled for us this afternoon. What was thought to be a random throwing of his head motion, turned into his first roll from his belly to his back. Now every time we put him on his belly he flips right over and smiles at us. I was ok with the milestones of smiling and laughing...but the motion milestones make me very afraid. That smile of his is so darn cute and so much trouble all mixed together!

4 is an awesome age! While the boys nap in the afternoon, Avery and I play, I mean play school. Last week we tye-dyed shirts for the entire family, even a onsie for Jackson. She loved learning about mixing colors "more purple mommy!" and enjoyed getting messy (our hands were blue for a couple of days).

Our new home. Pics of the inside to come soon.

The kids have colds and we are about to try Jackson on a round of Zantac for reflux. The boy has some wicked pain many times a day, where he just seizes into arching his back and tightening every muscle in his body. When we pick him up, he burps and then pukes. He just can't get comfortable and it is only getting worse. Our pediatrician reassured me it is nothing I am eating and also said it tends to show itself after the babies are 2 months...exactly when we started noticing these episodes. Some friends also recommended trying ProBiotics as well. Hopefully he'll be feeling better soon.

Eating more veggies

I tried this recipe this week from WonderTime Mag and we all LOVED it!

1/4 C extra virgin olive oil divided
1 medium onion diced
2 lbs. of cauliflower cored and finely chopped (or pulsed in food processor) (I used 1 head and it was a good amount)
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 C plain dried bread crumbs toasted in oven until golden brown
1/4 C. chopped parsley (I only had dried, so i did it by eye)
1 lb. bowtie pasta cooked and drained
Parmesean cheese grated

Cook pasta. Throw bread crumbs on oven to brown.
While pasta is cooking heat 2 Tablespoons of oil in large skillet (the wider the skillet the better) over medium-low heat, add onion and cook stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. Add cauliflower, salt, pepper, and remaining oil and continue cooking (I added chopped carrots at this time too) stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. Stir in bread crumbs and parsley, then add pasta, tossing to coat and heat through. Serve with parmesean cheese on top and extra bread crumbs if desired.
DELICIOUS!!!!!

New beginnings

Amazing what a new day can do for ya!

Jackson's first sleeping through the night. 9pm until 7am and even then I had to wake him up! Feels so wonderful to have a full night's sleep.

I have so much to post. So many pics and a yummo new recipe.

And I am so blessed with my wonderful hubby. Thanks for putting up with your very hormonal wife:)

Ingenious park

My sister-in-law Jenny kept raving about a park in the area called the 'tot lot'. Raved to the point of almost sounding fanatical. Stephen and I kept asking each other "What could possibly make this park THAT great?"
And then I took the kids there.
Nestled in the middle of a neighborhood, it is a super junk yard of kid things. You know all those outside playsets you can buy for your backyard? They are there. Cars, trucks, kitchens, houses, rocking horses, you name it, it is there!
This is besides the regular playground equipment.
Someone had the ingenious idea that instead of selling or throwing away old outdoor kid play things, throw them into this park.
The kids love it. And every time we go, I meet such nice people there.
It is one of our favorite places to visit right now, while we are having such beautiful fall weather.

Tracy's birthday

Forgot our shout-out to Tracy! Hope you had a Happy Day!

home inspection

Today the buyers of our home have their inspection. We don't forsee anything being THAT wrong, but we pray all goes well.

Grandma, Grandpa Doninger and Aunt Leigh are stopping by today! They are on their way to DC and will have lunch with us. The kids are so excited to show them their new room.

My brother runs the DC/Marine marathon this weekend, Go CHRIS! Stay warm and hydrated!

Stephen and I have a datenight tonight - really looking forward to a nice dinner with the three of us (Jackson included on the invite:)). We're going to celebrate Stephen's birthday! The older kids are going to play at their gym for a few ours.

And we also have a party in Delaware on Sunday - Jason and Cathy's wedding reception.

Should be a fun weekend, and we're hoping for some better sleep. Charlie is getting up a few times a night to go to the bathroom and he seems to get up in between Jackson's wakings...making for very long nights.

We have an offer!!!!

God has exceeded our expectations with selling our home.
In this horrible market, with all the doom and gloom, we have a buyer.
And not just any buyer.
The perfect buyer. Ok, not perfect, or we would be getting our asking price, but close to perfect.
A retired couple looking to downsize, putting a lot of money down, can close in 30 days, with no contingencies. Can you say Hallelujah????!!!!!

No matter what this world tells us, God can provide. And not just provide, but bless us above and beyond our expectations. I am left in awe this morning, thank you, thank you, thank you Jesus!

our day

After being awake most of last night, I assumed today was going to be rough.
Thankfully with this beautiful weather, I got the kids out of the house and we all enjoyed some sunshine.
We found a park 2 blocks from our house. Avery had fun picking dandelions and Charlie ran off some of his boyness.
We walked around our new neighborhood and admired a neighbor's garden. The woman picked off three tomatoes for us to bring home, prized possessions for the kids!
Charlie is taking a great nap. Avery played with Jackson for quite a while which is so cute to watch. He soaks up every minute of her attention.
Avery and I just finished some school work and it was a lot of fun. Since we moved up to the area so late in the school year, we couldn't find a preschool we liked/could afford. So I told Stephen I would 'school' her in the afternoons. We started today and I think we both enjoyed it.

Some cuteness:
Charlie says "Basquito bites"

He has wet his pants a few times in the last few days and I think the craziness of this summer has finally caught up with his potty training. I am being more vigilant about telling him to use the potty every half hour until he gets through this. Wouldn't be so bad if we had a working washer and dryer in the house:( That should be settled this week, thank goodness!

And I must say, as hard as this summer was, the move has been worth it. Stephen has been home every night this week. I look back on all those moments I questioned this move/transition and now see the greater plan. To bring our family back together under one roof. It feels GOOD!!!

2 showings on the house today!

welcome to the neighborhood

Deep breath. I am finally feeling more settled. There are still boxes to unpack, rooms to organize, but I am definitely feeling better about the relocation.

Our neighbor Doug cut our lawn yesterday! He said he doesn't make cookies, so he wanted to welcome us by helping with yardwork:)
And today we had a visit from our neighbors across the street. Cindy and her 3 year old son Christopher, came with zucchini bread in hand. She is a SAHM and an IU alum!!!!
I already invited her and her family over for every IU basketball game aired on TV.
I so appreciate how nice and welcoming people have been to us. It just goes to show that it doesn't take much to reach out to others and make a difference in their day.
And I can't even begin to list how helpful Thomas and Jenny have been.

Today the kids and I found the library. It is HUGE! The kids had so much fun and we came home with an armload of books for each of us. I found some of the kids' favorite reads and they were so excited to have something familiar, when so much has been new.

Change is new and hard, but each day it is getting a little easier and fun.

I have found our camera and will take pics in the next few days. Of course all pics will include unpacked boxes!

We're here!

Oh Boy! It has been quite a journey and we still aren't *quite* there.

Avery and Charlie spent the last week of August with my parents in Smith Mt. Lake, VA. As they headed out of town, Stephen's parents came to help us pack. As you may have read on the other page (www.nckellers.blogspot.com), Stephen left with a very full car that Tues. while Audrey, John and I kept packing. The movers came Aug. 28th, and with a great sigh of relief, got just about everything on the moving truck to head to Baltimore.

It was so wonderful to see our house empty. That may sound strange, but our house is so pretty and after having months of chaos, it was nice to see the place cleaned up. Jackson and I left on Friday and headed up to get the kids.

Now comes the interesting part. Our rental wasn't quite what we expected. We knew it was older and that there were things we would need to do, but the owners left the place a mess. Cabinets still had dried food in them, crayon all over the walls, leaking pipes...yikes!

So Stephen asked me to stay with the kids at my parent's so he could get things cleaned up a bit, as well as check to make sure the leaking pipes didn't mean mold in the walls.

Stephen has had a busy week doing repairs as well as meeting repairman. And as much fun as we were having with grandma, grandpa and Aunt Leigh, the kids were just having a hard time being away from daddy. My parents helped us drive up to MD, and we are now staying with Stephen's brother Thomas, his wife Jenny and their two year old James. Yup, 4 adults, 4 kids under 5 years old and our black lab. They are so kind to let us invade like this...it is a tight squeeze.

Today we continued to clean up, getting ready for the professional cleaning crew that comes on Tues. Stephen is painting more, and we should be in the place by Tues. afternoon.

Today I got lost in Baltimore, even with a GPS. And it was all while Hurricane Hanna was blowing through. Not to mention Jackson not being himself and screaming almost all day unless being held. It has been a couple of days of "Ok Lord, I really can't handle much more."
Thankfully He promises to handle it for me, I just have to hang on:)

I'll get some photos up soon. The rental really is in a great neighborhood and has good bones (as Stephen and I keep reminding ourselves). It is nice to be so close to family (literally!), the kids are getting along great. And to live so close to downtown Baltimore is going to be FUN!