Just checking in...

We are in Iowa visiting Grandma Marge. We left Friday at 2am. Boy, was that a long day! We were in Columbia, MO, by 6:30pm (home time). We were all glad to see a bed that night. The next morning, we took our time getting dressed and had a late breakfast at Cracker Barrell. JJ has asked every morning since if we can go eat at Cracker Barrell. We arrived in Leon, IA by 4:30pm (EST.) This time change is killing me.
Sunday, we went to see Grandma. She was as excited to see us as we were to see her. Luke went right to her w/out a wimper. JJ loved telling her all about his Ninja Turtle. Bekah just walked around the room checking things out. Uncle Charlie, Aunt Judy, and Channy came over Sunday afternoon to visit w/ us a while.
Yesterday, we went to Jamesport, MO, to an Amish community. We went into the candle shop there. It isn't owned by the Amish, but they have the best candles. Then, we went out to an Amish owned dairy farm. They make their own cheeses. We sampled some and bought about $50 in cheese. I'm sure as I'm typing this that Mike and the kids are at Grandma's house snacking on cheese and crackers. On Tuesdays, the dairy makes the cheese, and they have a viewing room for visitors to watch. Too bad we went on Monday.
Tomorrow we plan to visit the zoo in Kansas City, MO. Thursday, (weather permitting) we will be visiting the Des Moines zoo. You know we have to take the monkeys to see the monkeys. We may have a little snow Friday or Saturday. (I'm hoping not!)
Well, time to sign off for now. I'm at the BIG library here in Leon. This computer is almost as slow as mine at home. LOL I have to find Laura. She is roaming around the library, if you can imagine that.
Oh, thank you "Book Fairy" for the books that you had the "Book Elf" to deliver before we left. It was a nice surprise for the kids when they went outside to clean out the van for the trip.
Love to all!

No relaxing around here!

Oh man! It has been a busy day around here. As soon as the sun started peaking from behind the clouds, I started washing clothes. It was such a nice day that I decided to hang them on the clothesline... cuz Aunt Charity does a lot old fashion things like that. I think I have done 5 loads so far. Miss washing the clothes over the weekend and a mountain forms in the laundry room. After Mike left for work, the kids went outside to play. They were in need of some sunshine, and I was in need of some quiet time. I decided to wash the "bus", so Andrew went to Papa & G-ma's to get a ladder. Yes, I need a ladder to clean the top. I think it took us an hour and half to get the thing washed good. I didn't realize the thing was THAT BIG! At least it is done. The kids loved the time outside, and I'm hoping they will be ready for bed soon.
Well, I'm off to play on Facebook for a few minutes. Then it will be time to fold clothes.

Noooooo, the weekend can't be over already!

Please tell me that this is NOT Sunday night. Where has my weekend gone? I want a redo!
We made it to church this morning. We had nursery duty, so unless you had a child in the nursery you would think we played hookie. I managed to take a nap w/ Luke after Mike left for work. I didn't get a good night sleep due to the fact that I was sleeping between Luke and JJ. Luke woke up several times crying, so I put him in bed w/ me around 2am, I think. Then, JJ was standing in my doorway crying around 4am b/c he was having bad dreams. Andrew stayed the night w/ Granddaddy and Granny, so JJ was sleeping alone. He slept on Mike's side of the bed until Mike got home at 5am. Then to the couch Mike carried him. By 6:30am, JJ was back in our doorway crying w/ another bad dream. From then until a few minutes after 8am, it was Luke, me, Mike, and JJ in a queen size bed. We HAVE to get a king size!
I am slowly ticking off the things on my "to do" list for the week. I cleaned out all the kids' junk that had accumulated in the van. I have checked on prices for the aquarium in Chattanooga. Mike and I will make final decisions about what we will be doing on the way home and when, and I will be set to buy tickets for everything.
Okay, I'm going to put some Hillians to bed before I run out of patience.

Just in from the R.R. parade...

We made it back home with my sanity intact, if I had any. Can I say it was COLD?! It was Luke's first parade, but do you think we took any pics? Nope, we were all bundle up in blankets. Bekah Rae was just too cute. She had a pageant wave going. Let's hope Uncle Larry didn't notice it when he came by w/ Hannah. Hannah looked beautiful as always, which reminds me that I need to make a note in my planner to mail Hannah's b-day card Monday. JJ wanted to go to McDonald's for lunch, as usual. When I told him that I didn't have the money to eat at McD's today (no way I was waiting in line there this weekend!), he asked Andrew if he had his money. Andrew answered yes, and JJ's reply was, "Mommy, Andrew has his money! Can we go to McDonald's now?" The boy was determined to go to McD's, but Mommy won.
I now think it is time for everyone to take a nap. We had a late night watching Madea. Then I woke up at 5:3oam b/c I have gotten used to Mike coming home a little after 5am. He isn't coming home, b/c he is helping a guy do an a/c job in Richmond Hill. We won't see him until 5am tomorrow. He is working 4pm t0 4am today. I hope he got some good sleep in his car between 4am and whatever time he went to the a/c job. *sighs* I miss him!
Until later...

Just another day...

Today was a typical day in the Hill house... coffee, schoolwork, laundry, cook lunch, more laundry, etc. Luke is cranky again today. Man, I wish he would cut a few teeth already. Someone please remind me of that comment when I'm complaining about him biting me while nursing. Laura spent a good bit of the afternoon online looking up info about King Tut and China's Terracota army. We are going to take the kids to see the exhibits in ATL on the way home from Iowa. We thought it would be a treat for Andrew and Laura, since we are going to drag them through a few zoos while we are gone. LOL
This time next week, we hope to be somewhere in Missouri. Emi and JJ have asked me a dozen times today if we are going to see Grandma Marge tomorrow. JJ wants to show her the booboo he has on the bottom of his foot. LOL
Well, I'm off to watch Madea's Class Reunion. Sarah brought it over to watch.

Is it Friday yet?!

I am so ready for the weekend, not that it will be any less busy. At least I will have an excuse to sit down on Saturday morning. I will be taking the kids to watch the parade. The church is having a float again this year for the Upward sports league, but I don't think we will ride.
Luke is so cranky today. If he isn't better by tomorrow, he is going to the doctor to make sure an ear infection isn't starting from the teething. We have traded off this morning trying to calm him down. It slowed our schoolwork to a crawl.
Emily says she is going to Canada. She says she has a friend named Chansley that lives there. Chansley is allergic to cake, and all she can eat is spaghetti. Oh good grief. Where do they get their imaginations from?!
Jacob has been pretty calm today. He is actually taking a nap. Let's just pray he doesn't wake up w/ boat loads of energy. At least it is nice outside, and he can go out to play.
Lukey Duke is crying again, so I'm off to see if I can calm him down.

A quiet morning around here

We are all dragging today. It was late when we got home from my parents' house. Then we had to unload the groceries we had bought from "the bus". JJ likes to refer to our 15 passenger van as the bus. Mike tells Andrew that we will be moving up to a small school bus in about 7 years. I'm sure that in 2 years when Andrew is driving, he won't be begging to drive the van anywhere. It isn't a "cool auto," but how "cool" can ya be w/ 6 kids?! We are just happy to survive the days.
I have just been informed by JJ that the reason monster come out is to attack and eat Ninja Turtles. He is a Ninja Turtle today, so he is looking out for monsters. Tomorrow he will probably be Spiderman. The next day? Who knows! The boy has an imagination!
Emily is telling me that owls are "nocturtle." LOL Oh my goodness, where do they get these words?
Well, it is time to get a cup of coffee and check on Andrew and Laura's progress w/ their lessons today. I have a feeling it is going to be a LONG day.