tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8557130675874841782012-01-31T00:19:54.006-05:00Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.comBlogger1781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-349864448229020422012-01-30T10:14:00.000-05:002012-01-30T10:14:39.710-05:00

I want to use the word "busy" to describe my life lately but that seems silly. My life has been busy for six years.... or at least I thought it was busy before I knew better. I now know better. We have hit overdrive here. It just seems now that Vivi is crawling and cruising around, now that Isabella has officially started homeschooling, now that only half of the children nap everyday.... its

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-90182056773425670712012-01-10T11:34:00.001-05:002012-01-10T11:44:24.963-05:00

My leader at Weight Watchers (Hi Grace!) asked us to write a "Dear Me" note this week. She handed me a tiny piece of paper and I laughed.... I have much too much to say. So here is my letter to me. Specifically the me of January 1, 2013. Dear Me,                 If you are reading this we have survived another year. Hopefully we have not only survived but thrived. The point of this exercise is

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-1206573466298237232011-12-25T02:02:00.000-05:002011-12-25T02:02:19.652-05:00

Dear sweet complicated Isabella, Santa is make believe. You are right, he is not the nice man in the mall. He is not those look a like's you see in the movies you love so much. He is not at the north pole either. I have always told you so but also probably I have confused you by allowing you to believe if you wanted, only telling you the truth when you asked directly. I just tried to treat it

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-48168034466792623752011-12-20T23:47:00.000-05:002011-12-20T23:47:57.906-05:00

These pictures are from about two weeks ago when we decorated our tree... that is how behind I am.  The boys have since had haircuts.... they look so much older with short hair.It makes me weepy. I always get a little crraaazzzyyy in the last few days before Christmas. I always feel the pressure to make it more, better... more sparkly.  Please tell me I am not alone? But I notice if I am not

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-38855481592494441652011-12-05T23:56:00.003-05:002011-12-06T09:31:45.439-05:00

Dear Tommy,                       Today was your fourth birthday. I must say it was not what I had pictured. You were all partied out from yesterday's festivities.... that is a nice way of saying you were a little more than a little emotional all day today. And what should I do? It was your birthday so I let you get away with a lot. By my standard's that is. I am sure you didn't much notice the

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-31134611150749783842011-11-27T23:47:00.003-05:002011-11-28T00:16:43.775-05:00

This holiday weekend seemed a bit more like a work week.  Our back yard went from this... To this with the help of our Dad's and all six of his brothers... more pictures of that coming soon. Tom is finally getting his garage. Which means more than I can explain. More time together, more work done faster, more dreams that can be realized on the back of this one. Every time we pass a milestone

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-55029435915209727592011-11-21T15:51:00.000-05:002011-11-21T15:51:58.143-05:00

It is dreary rainy and cold.... I just spent thirty minutes hiding under the covers with the kids and still I can't get warm.My to do list is a mile long, I am sleepy, and I crave chocolate.Tomorrow is weigh in day so I had better behave. I decided I would distract myself with writing and I found these pictures from Septembers camping trip that I had never posted.... this is where I wish I was

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-57296184665551529692011-11-17T15:17:00.001-05:002011-11-17T15:20:40.933-05:00

We are still alive.... Busy busy busy. And the first thing I let slip is the blog.Homeschool, Children's Church, dance class, chores, working out, holiday preparations. And of course little miss sunshine decided to start army crawling all over the house in the last few weeks. When big sister was her age she would barely roll over!Of course Bella had no one to follow so where did she need to go?

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-47771286948131611452011-10-26T00:13:00.000-04:002011-10-26T00:13:07.912-04:00

Too tired for this... want to go to bed. I have been meaning to write for days but I have been way too busy with school, children's church, weight watchers, working out.... BUT.... someone got a loose tooth today!The first one for her. She goes from excited to freaking out.She came in the kitchen saying she had a pretzel stuck in her tooth and it hurt.She was whining so much I was worried...

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-54130716086144810742011-10-05T23:48:00.001-04:002011-10-05T23:48:56.189-04:00

Cooking at Camp.I don't do it... the men folk do it mostly.The girls handle mostly the inside things like rolls or french fries...  or ice cream, women are great at ice cream. The following is their way of adjusting the heat.I can barely get it right on a gas stove indoors.... On this night they were making Chili. Tom usually makes it, but his Dad cook's every other night. In the morning

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-82806467528093287242011-10-03T21:35:00.002-04:002011-10-03T21:41:19.384-04:00

I would like to say I fell off the weight watchers wagon at camp... the truth is I jumped.Feet first.Into ice cream, s'mores, cheesy bacon fries.... I need to stop now before I drool... I am back on now, mostly. Two of the kids Uncles bought these remote control helicopters for the weekend.They also bought about six of the new light sabers which I somehow did not get pictures of.The life

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-59430017426274306212011-10-02T00:35:00.000-04:002011-10-02T00:35:47.012-04:00

Two weeks ago we packed up what seemed to be our entire house and headed to camp. My husbands family does this every year. This was our first year not staying in the "big cabin" with the grandparents and younger Aunts and Uncles. We had held out as long as we could but we had finally really out grown our little room with the two full bed, and we needed a quiet place of our own for nap times, So

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-9932635901696178842011-09-27T23:22:00.000-04:002011-09-27T23:22:12.840-04:00

We are back from a week away at camp. Catching up on school and mountains of laundry. Journal time, patterns in math, sentence structure, rhyming.... oh dear Lord the rhyming!Why is that what takes up most of our time? She really will never be a poet. Patterns are her thing. She loves it and she breezes through it.Tommy is keeping up with her pretty well. He watches all the same videos and

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-59730631452828277872011-09-14T23:34:00.001-04:002011-09-15T08:31:26.391-04:00

                         Here is Aunt Julie doing Bella's hair for her first Ballet and Tap class! Mommy cannot do it all... least of all hair styling.That is and always has been Julie's department. The other thing I can't do is keep a calendar correctly.I thought dance started Tuesday. I called to verify the time and found out we had missed out first class which was supposed to be Monday. 

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-78332317933791908562011-09-09T23:10:00.001-04:002011-09-09T23:15:49.944-04:00

Homeschooling is hard work.... I think I took babyhood for granted the first few go rounds.With my newly minted title of teacher I am soaking up the precious days and hours with the one who just knows me as Mommy. Somehow while I have been focusing on the pressing issues of curriculum, ballet classes starting next week, and potty training I blinked and she turned six months old. How is it

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-90867642183148162082011-09-07T23:20:00.000-04:002011-09-07T23:20:13.835-04:00

He lets them get in the kitchen with him and he doesn't yell like I do... on this night they made pizza. It was a big hit! And only three points for a piece for me! Speaking of Weight Watchers... I finally got through my plateau!I have been stuck at the same weight pretty much for three weeks... so this week I got serious.I only used ten weekly points and I cut out my usual ice cream

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-16714266479845712452011-09-06T22:12:00.001-04:002011-09-06T22:23:38.305-04:00

I have been thinking about what kind of school my kids would go too since shortly after the plus sign appeared for the first time. Public, Private, Christian, Catholic... I am a planner in case you didn't know. Anyway our choices for our kids education involved many things.... as all good decisions should. I am writing this NOT to persuade anyone to choose homeschool... if its not for you that

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-36871629852086484802011-09-06T10:11:00.000-04:002011-09-06T10:11:26.414-04:00

I took these about and hour ago... and now I am sitting next to my Kindergartener at our kitchen table as we take the first steps into homeschooling. We have already got three days under our belts but today is our first offical day.We are following the Little Lincoln program through pa cyber.We heard different things about cyber school... mostly that it was too time consuming. This is

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-62945931817432518282011-09-05T23:17:00.000-04:002011-09-05T23:17:14.848-04:00

We had big ideas for what we should do this summer.I am happy to report as Labor Day nears its end and our first day of school dawns tomorrow that we did most of what we set out to do... and most of what we did not can move to our school year to-do list. Bella is beginning Kindergarten and Tommy is doing an informal Pre-K along with her.But there will be lots of  time soon for reading, writing,

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-11776365126860320272011-08-30T23:23:00.002-04:002011-08-30T23:27:16.010-04:00

This week we had to say goodbye to Aunt Leesha, Aunt Sarah, and Uncle Levi as they headed off to college... the hurricane on the east coast gave us a little more precious family time so we headed out to the farm to go fishing and just be together. By the end of the night almost the whole family was there.No small thing when you consider that is nearly thirty people.I took tons of pictures but

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-91777500979469300062011-08-18T15:50:00.000-04:002011-08-18T15:50:14.234-04:00

This week has been busy, and its only half over.We have more appointments and plans this week than we normally have in a month. Every evening we are running around in the minivan with snacks and caffeine, out much past our bedtimes.... even mine. I find myself longing for a normal night at home where Daddy arrives to great fanfare right before dinner and afterward wrestles the big kids into

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-53356559298683681612011-08-10T22:52:00.001-04:002011-08-10T22:54:05.961-04:00

I am deep in the potty training trenches with Daniel. He has always been a... different sort. He is not compliant or easy going. Sweet and loving yes... but with a mind of his own. For example about three hours after his birth he was going on about... oh... three hours of crying. Yeah. Never have I felt like I needed a break from my three hour old baby before. But I was tired and he was LOUD,

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-61379494710699321852011-08-05T22:25:00.003-04:002011-08-05T22:44:11.657-04:00

Dear Isabella, I plug my headphones into this laptop, with every intention of making a playlist of dramatic ballads and classical music for my budding dancer... that would be you Bella Beautiful...don't feel bad if you are reading this at the age of twenty or thirty and you are a waitress or a teacher. You don't have to be a ballerina, I think for you dancing will simply always be a part of who

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-28223994788884261542011-08-05T17:46:00.000-04:002011-08-05T17:46:16.211-04:00

So along with religion, faith and loving our fellow man there are of course many other very important topics of interest. Namely the size of my hips and whether or not my jeans are gonna fit by fall. I kinda forgot to post my weigh-in last week.  I say kinda because I kept thinking I should but it just didn't seem like to big a deal...it was an unimpressive but very motivational half a pound.But

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-59185968050597018582011-08-05T00:08:00.008-04:002011-08-05T06:34:11.104-04:00

I am a bad at keeping up here with any thing resembling regularity.But in my defense I have been busy thinking very deep thoughts. And watching very pointless tv, and wasting time going on endless Wikipedia rabbit holes, and doing the mundane things that homemaking requires. But otherwise I am thinking about faith, morality, legality, the bigger picture. Reading amazing books,Books which are in

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-59819222030016937402011-07-27T00:17:00.001-04:002011-07-27T00:26:14.318-04:00

Lots of random and fun the last two days.... Every single picture is followed by then screaming "show me, show me!"It's a simple and lovely magic to them... maybe whatever gene causes them to squeal with joy at their immortalized selves is the same one giving me the itch to write about them..A tiny crumb of their childhood I can sweep up and keep at the end of each day.... if only I can find the

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-49713671557109825962011-07-21T23:18:00.000-04:002011-07-21T23:18:51.002-04:00

Had my weigh-in today, and lost 1.8 pounds again!That seems to be my magic number... and it feels like its not much but it adds up! I have lost 9.8 pounds in just five weeks. If I keep at this average I will be down to 220 by Christmas.Sorry for mentioning Christmas in July. But really time flies for me anymore so that holiday seems to be fast approaching... especially when I think of the

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-39980085088940169102011-07-21T00:11:00.000-04:002011-07-21T00:11:58.466-04:00

Tom got a new phone a few weeks ago. So he put some pictures from his old phone onto my laptop.He gave me access which I feel equals permission to edit and use as I see fit. So here is a little glimpse at the world through Tom's eyes... or at least his lens.Most of these picture were taken to send to me or someone else I am sure.  He likes to show off his accomplishments.... This was

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-48515421076327478182011-07-19T00:35:00.001-04:002011-07-19T06:42:08.213-04:00

I love my family, I love the clear blue pool,I love spending most Summer Sundays in that cool oasis. I can't think of anything else in my life that has been as constant as "Sunday at the pool".It isn't discussed really. It's like church...  everyone knows when and where without even asking.  I can't imagine summer without a pool. When I've tried it is just plain depressing. So a pool is

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-57762774479120267202011-07-16T23:19:00.000-04:002011-07-16T23:19:18.473-04:00

So maybe you have noticed the side bar... ooorrrr maybe I'm the only one who cares about the number on my scale.Either way. This is my place and I'm gonna talk about it.Mostly here I talk about my kids, but the way I see it this involves them since they did this to me...that's right, they put the chocolate in my mouth and held a gun to my head. Ok fine. I did this to me. AGAIN. Let's rewind, pre

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-65199629164134974122011-07-08T15:12:00.000-04:002011-07-08T15:12:33.976-04:00

Awake to cold toes in my rib cage, or playskool power tool in my face.try to force two year old and five year old to sleep with me until a reasonable hour.Get up... sadly. Get breakfast, get bottlestart the laundry,feed the baby read my bible,sweep the floor,cuddle with still sleepy Tommy, make a grocery list, renew drivers license online, make a dish for the party,take vitamins,count weight

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-48537638651177718432011-07-04T22:50:00.001-04:002011-07-04T22:56:23.236-04:00

June was a beautiful busy month.... Hard to believe it has come and gone. As I write this I am listening to freedom ringing through the Pennsylvania hills.... in the form of firecrackers. Happy Birthday America, lets blow something up! Gotta love this country :) We have been spending lots of time in the great outdoors, the weather has been beautiful. So I have been a bad blogger, not documenting

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-88661200057140038512011-06-20T22:55:00.004-04:002011-06-21T07:20:01.756-04:00

We ended up finally getting out to the beach because of Tom's cousin's getting married in Ocean City New Jersey.The picture above is us at the wedding on our last night there, it was the most amazing sunset.The wedding was a beautiful celebration, for such a sweet couple. I think that this was not only the beginning of their life together but a great new tradition for us!Tom's family goes

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-38033068678403094382011-06-19T20:26:00.004-04:002011-06-20T04:07:52.008-04:00

Darling, Crazy, Sweet, Funny, Wild, Obstinate, Wonderful Daniel. This morning on the beach you were one, and this evening in your bed you are two. You are two years old today and I am feeling sad, I feel like I blinked and missed this whole year of your life. I guess being pregnant for much of it could be to blame. We found out Vivian was on her way just before your first Birthday. But I think

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-49738378794690910462011-06-18T10:24:00.000-04:002011-06-18T10:24:06.310-04:00

Last day on the shore today. Heading back out so I have no time to write. But enjoy the pictures and the stolen sentiments. "But more wonderful than the lore of old men and the lore of books is the secret lore of ocean." -- H. P. Lovecraft  The sea pronounces something, over and over, in a hoarse whisper; I cannot quite make it out.  ~Annie Dillard  The cure for anything is salt

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-65153156263914599152011-06-17T08:42:00.000-04:002011-06-17T08:42:09.987-04:00

We are loving our beach bum lifestyle. I'm sitting in bed now feeding Vivian, listening to the sounds of kids playing and smelling Tom's awesome breakfast!     We spent lots of time in the sand and surf yesterday, today even more I hope.We are ironing out the kinks in our operation... with four little kids we have found we need a plan and lots of provisions to avoid many trips back and forth.

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-62404318095065358372011-06-16T09:38:00.001-04:002011-06-20T08:54:49.292-04:00

Yesterday we kissed Jack goodbye, handed my cousin our house keys, and headed for the Beach. Tom's mom told me to remember that the drive is half the fun... I hope not because it was not very fun at all. We hit Phillie right at rush hour.That's a bad thing people. But we made our way slow and steady and kept our optimism... thanks to our new DVD player and micky mouse. And the tunnels...

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-19441754258690613942011-06-10T14:48:00.002-04:002011-06-10T15:48:32.604-04:00

Bella will start kindergarten this fall so up till now summer hasn't meant much in the way of change for us. Life with little ones is always life with little ones. Life revolves around nap time... skip it and you'll be sorry. But this summer has been different than the last four or five. We are doing more "summer" things.  We are skipping naps in favor of long exhausting days by the pool.Full of

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-51677404893981008712011-06-05T21:13:00.001-04:002011-06-05T21:14:51.919-04:00

This post was meant for last weekend but it got CRAZY busy this week... so I will show you now... Our first weekend of summer!   We got Vivian's three month photo's done. Vivian was three months on June first.... Bella wore this when she was just 6 weeks. Which means either Bella was a tank, or Vivi is a peanut... I think its a little of both. .  We are making a trip to the beach soon and

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-20541513623573669372011-05-30T13:05:00.000-04:002011-05-30T13:05:46.126-04:00

Sunshine, warm weather, shorts, Sandbox fun, flip flops, and lounging in the grass. Summer is upon us. Flowers, swimming, cool breezes, Staying up late, catching lightening bugs, rocking sleeping babies by the campfire. Watching summer storms with wide eyed little boys, or Aunt Julie giving the swimming lessons. Getting sticky, sweet post popsicle kisses, watching parades and

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-6891947153177897672011-05-29T23:19:00.000-04:002011-05-29T23:19:27.681-04:00

My phone decided to put itself put of its misery a few weeks days ago... I don't blame it, life here is hard.... and sticky.So when I got my replacement Tom had to transfer photos to my laptop. Technology and me aren't friends... I knew it could be done but didn't know how. To give you an example of the depth of my problem, Isabella had to show me how control the volume on Julie's ipad the other

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-49782129247246872642011-05-26T00:20:00.003-04:002011-05-26T00:37:14.878-04:00

I'm sitting on the deck feeling a cool breeze, listening to Vivian cooing in her swing and Daniel sitting in the time out chair... "ahh done na Mama? All doonnnee!!!" Summer is upon us and I am finding myself struggling to come back to life with the rest of nature.There has been plenty of drama recently, and for this past month I've not been writing I've mostly been stuck in the past.I can't

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-14581508041460326692011-04-24T02:00:00.000-04:002011-04-24T02:00:16.026-04:00

Its way late...like nearly one a.m.I am an idiot for being awake when everyone else in this house is snoring... loudly. (I will pay for this in the morning when I'm trying to wrangle four little ones into their matching Easter outfits, while trying to make myself look presentable and not be late.) Tom is loudest of all, but he is to cute for me to wake him.I would post a picture but one of the

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-52108052280816208382011-04-21T16:50:00.000-04:002011-04-21T16:50:46.318-04:00

It's beginning to look a lot like springtime. Today its beautiful... its sunny... and its freezing cold. Ah well, I'm just hoping it gets nice in time for Easter, or at least Mother's day. And we have had at least a few nice days that the kids could get out and play these last few weeks. I couldn't find the right flowers to go above the piano so Julie made me this.I love it, she does not... he

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-84227535253206117762011-04-19T23:52:00.002-04:002011-04-19T23:57:48.605-04:00

 Our peanut is finally getting some chubby cheeks.... relatively speaking.We haven't had a weight check yet but both Tom and I can see that she is growing with the help of some formula. It is a bittersweet relief. I put her in a onesie today that says "...if they could just stay little." It sounds good in theory. No falling down and scraping knees, no nightmares and monsters in the closet,no mean

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-64142399021890313932011-04-15T22:45:00.000-04:002011-04-15T22:45:07.636-04:00

 I'm ready to start heading out a bit more now that the weather is warming up. We have been living in our pj's for the last six weeks. Staying home every chance we get. Happily eating whatever junk is easy and available.We have had pancakes so much it feels like a vacation with a breakfast bar.No reason not to make a nice brunch when you are trying to be lazy and not go anywhere.....that is only

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-67142205536648463782011-04-14T18:05:00.001-04:002011-04-14T19:40:53.985-04:00

Six weeks as a family of six. Do I dare to tell the truth? How do you explain the hard things about mothering little ones without seeming ungrateful. I am so completely and utterly overwhelmed by these fourthey are exhausting both mentally and physically...I am also overjoyed, often content, and endlessly happy.I don't think I have the baby blues or postpartum depression, I'm feeling more....

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-42860304488352982582011-03-22T22:17:00.000-04:002011-03-22T22:17:28.702-04:00

Five short years ago Isabella came into our lives and made "us" a family.As I write this and see Vivian now here beside me I find myself marveling that just yesterday Bella was this tiny, new and helpless.She slept in this Bassinet She wore this yellow sleeper with the pink trim.That was her pink and purple binky.I bought her that blanket for her first Christmas. And now her babyhood is a

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-10529105574462013962011-03-15T21:34:00.000-04:002011-03-15T21:34:37.999-04:00

Vivian is two weeks old today.I can't imagine life before her or without her.I have taken to calling her Vivi.Bella calls her "Sissy"... which I think is her way of protesting the fact that she didn't get to name her.Tommy says "Bibian Drace" or Baby Bibian. Daniel says "my baby" or Vivi like I do... only he yells it at the top of his lungs.Her Daddy has his name for her too, Vi... like the

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-4779514970081153412011-03-09T09:01:00.002-05:002011-03-10T08:05:11.283-05:00

We are home. Snuggling and slowly settling into a new routine,a new sort of normal....part of the "new normal" is doing everything with one hand... or less. There is also less sleep than ever before.But for me at least the quality of sleep is better than it was a week ago! This was taken about five minutes before nap time. Even the littlest is feeling the effects of having a newborn in the

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-48003505198454810852011-03-02T18:23:00.000-05:002011-03-02T18:23:51.798-05:00

I don't really have any words that seem to be able to explain our joy. Her name is Vivian Grace... meaning "Abundant life and Grace".  That is what we feel today.Abundantly blessed... surrounded by this gift of life... and all because of Grace.  Our lives have been filled with so many sweet, screaming, needy, beautiful blessings these last five years. Bella was giddy about getting her

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-16551838507878657392011-02-18T14:56:00.001-05:002011-02-18T15:07:30.638-05:00

The day after the "big day".The day that has been circled on our calendar for about nine months. Doing this for the fourth time I knew better than to get all hung up on that day.I remember being pregnant with Bella and feeling more desperate to get her out with every hour she went over due... It was a long week but like all pregnancies it did eventually end, much to my surprise. Bella was a week

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-1084942854942779462011-02-16T22:40:00.001-05:002011-02-16T22:52:18.189-05:00

The purpose of my blogging is to document this crazy life with little ones so that someday we can look back through the haze of laundry, tantrums, holidays, illnesses, and endless hours of sesame street...and remember what it was really like... and how wonderful it really was in the midst of all the mess and stress.What they did, said, played, loved, at 2 and 3 and so on.The things that we are

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-5641858675954015692011-02-09T15:43:00.002-05:002011-02-09T15:47:30.428-05:00

My Mom is so old I have only ever seen her childhood in black and white.She is the small one in the front... this picture is further proof that she was born a "mom".She was probably not even in school yet and already carrying a purse. Today is her birthday...I will not tell you which one exactly, but she is somewhere between 35 and 62. That's her holding Daniel... she looks good for her age right

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-39599723123705748852011-02-08T16:33:00.000-05:002011-02-08T16:33:38.847-05:00

Today is a whole lot of random things with random pictures. And don't mind me if the pictures have nothing to do with the words... its that kind of day. I need ice lately.Not the kind that is covering my driveway and blocking my huge pregnant butt from escape, the kind in the bag at the gas station.The kind that only crazy pregnant ladies and their poor exhausted husbands are buying in the dead

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-20204900266404528992011-02-01T22:10:00.002-05:002011-02-01T22:23:09.050-05:00

I am finding it hard to write while pregnant.Every thought in my head is negative and I can't seem to keep my thoughts running in any kind of orderly fashion. One minute I furious over some random thing that happened two days ago. Then I'm concerned about making a grocery list for the last major pre-baby trip to the grocery store... in three days.Then all I want to do is find the time and energy

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-20027914264957391862011-01-25T22:04:00.000-05:002011-01-25T22:04:30.744-05:00

So this post has been a long time coming and I'm determined to do it before we become a family of six. Along with a million other things like laundry and organizing the pantry... but I'm getting off track. These were taken back in the fall by one of my many sister in laws.I have six by the way....and one sister of my very own, and they are all very talented in their own ways. This post is about

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-47029430165180232312011-01-19T22:12:00.000-05:002011-01-19T22:12:03.936-05:00

I am trying to loosen up.Not worry so much.Give up a little control. So I gave my four year old my camera, and left her to her own devices. The first batch are at our house, the second at my mom's aka Nana. Side note: Please ignore my frightening appearance... showering and putting on make up take energy that I just can't spare these days. The world through Bella's eyes.... What I like most...

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-19790109584275969002011-01-17T12:00:00.000-05:002011-01-17T12:00:05.502-05:00

I'm trying to be patient but I can't.I'm nesting, and that is on top of my normal need to be organized. My Grandmother was an incessant "putter-er" I got it from her I think. The woman simply could not sit still. She would do all the dishes in the house after Thanksgiving dinner, wipe down the counters,turn off the kitchen lights... and then someone would bring in one more dish and she NEEDED to

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-66183149356373061472011-01-13T15:48:00.001-05:002011-01-13T15:57:24.825-05:00

Today I'm 35 weeks pregnant and that also leaves just 35 days till my due date.I like when things are easy to remember don't you?It is snowing again as I sit on the couch under my blanket while the boys are napping and Bella is having a snack and watching a movie.I understand what people dislike about winter but this is what I love about it.Its so predictable, so the same. We snuggle up, we take

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-32030703347671613292011-01-09T22:39:00.000-05:002011-01-09T22:39:29.911-05:00

This weekend...we rested and tried to kick these nasty and persistent head colds.we said goodbye to two of Tom's little sisters who left for college.we did a quick grocery run.we watched movies.we made milkshakes for sore throats.we also made chicken noodle soup and tapioca pudding...we stayed up late, and I slept in... thanks again babe.when I rolled out of bed there were cinnamon rolls waiting

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-41826288576206299262011-01-08T23:54:00.001-05:002011-01-08T23:56:49.906-05:00

I started by just vacuuming the living room because Tommy did a little dance on the goldfish crackers Daniel had dumped out. Then I go motivated and lazy all at once and decided just to vacuum the hardwood in the kitchen and dining room because it was starting to look scary dirty and sweeping with a broom seemed just exhausting and way to hard. Then I realized the chopping block in the kitchen

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-49386696799600063952011-01-06T09:40:00.000-05:002011-01-06T09:40:57.248-05:00

I'm thirty-four weeks pregnant today.That means six weeks till the big day... probably at most seven.And really I will be considered "any minute now" pregnant in just three weeks. ...and I have pretty much done nothing to prepare. Wait that's not true, we have bought one box of diapers.So the child will not go totally naked. Its not that I don't have the urge to nest... I really really do.But

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-55094600294385692892010-12-31T22:13:00.000-05:002010-12-31T22:13:14.908-05:00

Sitting on my big comfy couch, with my warm blanket picking at my laptop.Tom by my side trying to find something interesting on netflix.Kids tucked in bed and blissfully quiet.Jack curled up at our feet. This is how I will welcome the New Year. If I'm doing what I love at the stroke of midnight, being cozy at home surrounded by everyone I love.. maybe it will set a precedent for how the rest of

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-80016153137280878242010-12-27T22:12:00.000-05:002010-12-27T22:12:51.750-05:00

It was Beautiful...It was exciting...  and we have been busy and abundantly blessed for the last three days.I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas for me or the kids. And now its over.And I gotta say I'm ready. My husband has come to expect that every year on the 26th of December I will start figuring out how quickly I can get into un-decorating the house... once I find my window of time I

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-65426219737605062422010-12-25T15:17:00.001-05:002010-12-26T08:17:22.448-05:00

I think I have figured it out.Forget the commercialism and the hype that the big companies pump out the moment Halloween ends...forget if you can the neighbor kids who will be getting the ipod, and the wii...and the best of everything else too.... That is not what makes me want to make each Christmas "more" and "better" for my kids.They each only got two toys this year at our house actually.Two

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-52201471477022576872010-12-23T23:02:00.000-05:002010-12-23T23:02:21.794-05:00

Today I had planned to bake, and wrap, and clean... and get ready! But after a lousy nights sleep and lots of fake contractions I thought I would try to take it easy and wait till Tom got home to tackle the Christmas workload....  the children had other plans for me. First Daniel skipped his morning nap, the one where I was planning to stick the other two in front of the TV and lay on the couch

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-49647367989940274942010-12-19T14:15:00.000-05:002010-12-19T14:15:48.042-05:00

In the midst of this very busy weekend I have to stop for a second and write about a little milestone.This one always makes me cry.... but its especially bad when its Christmas and I'm a pregnant hormonal mess anyway. The kids have their Christmas pageant at church tonight, and Daniel finally decided to sprout some hair in the last few weeks.I'm not kidding... the kid had no hair at all for the

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-65149879757684962962010-12-16T15:35:00.000-05:002010-12-16T15:35:30.526-05:00

This has been the scene the last few days... so Monday and Tuesday we just hibernated... happily!It wasn't just snowy, its been bitter cold.We only left Wednesday night for Christmas play practice. I love it, staying in our pj's, baking constantly, making a bigger mess than usual because we have nowhere to be and no need to clean up.Taking extra time to make a nice dinner,watching Christmas

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-65949305040316061402010-12-13T21:39:00.001-05:002010-12-13T22:49:45.823-05:00

God has been calling me out lately.  I hate when that happens... but I guess I'm also flattered that He takes the time to notice that I need the lesson. He's got a lot going on don't you think? So I'm humbled when I hear so directly from Him. It went something like this.... Me: Lord I don't understand why everything is so crazy around here lately... Please help me to be patient. I'm so

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-9824474654751600402010-12-13T00:22:00.001-05:002010-12-13T00:23:43.543-05:00

We had a really busy weekend, and a busy week... and another crazy weekend..... That is why on Sunday night I'm writing (or rather editing) a post I wrote on Wednesday about LAST weekend.... Got all that? So to save my brain a bit of effort I'm going to show more pictures and type less.Here we go... We had a birthday.... this is my attempt at a number three pancake... It was before eight am and

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-65167006777838938792010-12-05T21:51:00.000-05:002010-12-05T21:51:10.055-05:00

Dear Tommy,It's snowing a lot today, just like it did three years ago when you were born. I love it...I can't explain the joy you have given us the last three years. You were the sweetest, most content baby, you ate, slept and smiled all the time.I don't say that lightly anymore... your brother is loved beyond measure but I would never call him "easy going".Its a compliment for sure, but even

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-50399821879516174022010-12-02T23:58:00.001-05:002010-12-03T00:00:33.106-05:00

I cried myself to sleep last night because it was Tommy's last night in his crib.These milestones are getting harder with each child. Since he is going to be three this weekend we thought now would be a good time to take the binky. I don't care what you think of him still having a bink in bed at nearly three.... he's mine and I'll do what I want. Well he is mostly mine....but as you can see here

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-19046040455069657622010-12-01T15:35:00.000-05:002010-12-01T15:35:20.574-05:00

Let it Snow...Let it snow....Let it Snow....Tom woke me up this morning and told me to look out the window :)Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-61620073883180459722010-11-30T16:29:00.000-05:002010-11-30T16:29:02.933-05:00

I had pictured a picture perfect Thanksgiving.Lots of lounging around, lots of baking, lots of food and family and fun.And of course some really cute clothes on the kids and a camera in hand to capture it all. In the end I  did lots of lounging.... Mostly on the bathroom floor....I did no baking, Tom filled my obligation for apple dumplings.I ate next to nothing....And when I finally crawled out

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-67325915622206424772010-11-23T16:05:00.000-05:002010-11-23T16:05:50.044-05:00

Last night we trekked to the mall to meet Nana for dinner since we knew Daddy would be late.He is always late when they are working on a roof, for some reason they are always fixing roofs under the threat of rain, and always and hour or more from home.... so I planned ahead for a late night. I loved seeing their faces light up in awe as they rode around on the Christmas train.... I remember that

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-14457145626247133892010-11-19T23:03:00.000-05:002010-11-19T23:03:10.090-05:00

We are still here... just very very very busy lately. Finishing up the bathroom remodel....I'll give you the full effect when its all done next week... I'm jealous :)Helped Nana decorate her Christmas tree... and packed up our box for Operation Christmas Child.It's a wonderful project for kids to learn about giving rather than getting... still not to late to do it this year! Then we did our house

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-22077595417719356432010-11-16T15:54:00.000-05:002010-11-16T15:54:10.969-05:00

It is getting cold...long gone are the days of throwing on flip flops and walking out the door.Now we wrestle with hoodies, sweaters, socks, boots, hats, and coats.... and the squirming baby who doesn't want any part of it.He has so gotten that temper from me... this is what my mother was envisioning when I put my sister in the dryer and she said "I hope you have one just like you." I am humbled

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-42394234794262330332010-11-12T14:39:00.000-05:002010-11-12T14:39:49.532-05:00

My parents asked my husband if he could please replace their leaking shower surround.... he said we have to do it in tile... my mom said she would really like the floor redone as well, nothing fancy, just new linoleum.... he said we have to do tile.... my mom asked how hard it would be to do a new sink and cabinet... he said might as well.... and  a new medicine cabinet too.... my mom said ok....

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-10370451253666651932010-11-02T22:54:00.000-04:002010-11-02T22:54:42.634-04:00

I asked Tommy to put his boots on the other day so we could go home from Nana's... I told him they were in the middle of the cleaned up playroom. he ignored me.... twice. So I took away the flashlight he was looking at and made it clear, as he started to whine,that this was a command, not a request.Go get your boots on! He came out of the playroom a few minutes later running with a plastic chair

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-25521336383975597792010-10-31T00:03:00.000-04:002010-10-31T00:03:00.880-04:00

I have gotten into this cold weather by baking way to much....Don't even ask how much of this I ate by myself.... I have fallen hard off the weight watchers wagon, and I landed at Paula Deen's house.Butter, Butter everywhere.... And people keep (unhelpfully) telling me that I'm pregnant and its ok... they do not know the extent of my addictions to sweets obviouslyOh well, only 16 weeks to go. 

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-72621305541753238222010-10-29T22:53:00.000-04:002010-10-29T22:53:14.502-04:00

Blog Post #101 is going to be: Laura 101 I'm going to be even more narcissistic than usual and give you 101 random things and thoughts about me and my life.This is mostly for myself so I will not be offended if you have already quit reading.... I was a June baby, my sister was born in November... and I've always felt it wasn't fair to her since she loves summer so much more than me. I know she

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-89564652095072787802010-10-22T23:39:00.001-04:002010-10-22T23:39:24.778-04:00

This is my One Hundredth Blog Post!I am going to be painfully honest now.... I didn't think I could stick it out this long, its not always fun to document our family. "What did she just say!? She doesn't love her own children!?" Wait... focus... listen... Sometimes the day has been so long and so exhausting that the last thing I can imagine doing is going back over it in my head once the children

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-12561900055512207292010-10-21T23:18:00.000-04:002010-10-21T23:18:50.569-04:00

We are very busy soaking up every crisp, bright, moment of fall.Its much to short.... don't you think?Fall that is....not Daniel, here he is in the leaves for the first time... Two bath times later and I am still finding little bits of leaves in their hair...I think it was safe to say they had fun though. It is surreal to me when I see my kids playing in the same yard I played in at their age.The

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-3374027623233300402010-10-14T22:12:00.001-04:002010-10-14T22:52:06.660-04:00

I think I've mentioned already that Daniel started walking just before we went to camp at the end of September.But words don't do it justice...the cuteness really barely even translates into photos but I'll give it a shot anyway. Please excuse the fuzziness, the boy is already very fast!Adorable if I do say so myself, but he has gotten very busy learning all sorts of things now that he can get

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-64624654877573464672010-10-10T21:07:00.000-04:002010-10-10T21:07:50.397-04:00

My computer has reached maximum capacity!I have no more space left to upload photos.... I think maybe that means I have to many.Anyway my jack of all trades husband will be fixing this shortly but until he does all my new adorable pictures are stuck on my camera. So I thought I would go back in time a bit.Its always a good reality check to see where you've be and compare it to where you are

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-19489297423122747692010-10-05T23:43:00.003-04:002010-10-05T23:53:04.778-04:00

If it takes me a full five minutes to unhook my bra because the hooks are so mangled does that mean I should throw it out? Am I the only person in the world who has trouble throwing out old damaged clothes? And yet strangely when I am able to do it.... (I mean really do it,  like put it in the outside garbage can where I won't change my mind and get it back out) .... I suddenly feel free and

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-44225836263830154792010-10-01T00:01:00.000-04:002010-10-01T00:01:55.521-04:00

Today was one of those.... Tom took my car this morning to get an estimate on some body work.Its not that I had anywhere to go... its just knowing that I couldn't go anywhere that bothered me. Some days I wish that I was stuck at home... but the days when I am I feel nearly suffocated.I guess the reason is that when things reach the boiling point here.. When I know I'll go completely insane if

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-20708396901198238642010-09-27T14:51:00.000-04:002010-09-27T14:51:43.562-04:00

We are home from a week of camping... and I'm totally exhausted. But its in that contented, relaxed, way... like snuggling up on the couch after a home cooked meal.A meal that you slaved over... but still.This vacation thing is a lot more work when you have kids, but its so worth it to see them have fun.    Isabella wanted smore's every night.... and she pretty much got her wish.They are my

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-29314995084685893382010-09-19T11:46:00.000-04:002010-09-19T11:46:31.477-04:00

I have misplace my sofa....Oh wait there it is......Lord help me I hate laundry. It's the chore that doesn't end.... I have tried and tried to find some sort of organized way of staying on top of it so I don't end up overwhelmed and out of clothes to wear come Sunday morning (the only day I really "get dressed")  This is the only thing I've found that works for me.  My system for getting it

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-44229724950840915252010-09-17T00:19:00.000-04:002010-09-17T00:19:25.417-04:00

The house is quiet, The only sounds are my music playing softly Just like a star cross my sky...Just like an angel off the page,you have appeared to my life...feel like I'll never be the same.Just like a song to my heart,Just like oil on my hands, only to love you.... Every time I hear that I think of my angels.... I can say "angels" with a strait face because they are sleeping and the noise has

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-63947656918813480282010-09-16T07:30:00.019-04:002010-09-16T08:20:01.245-04:00

Our Pastor's wife is always teasing me that Tommy's hair makes him look like Rod Stewart.The only difference is Tommy's hair does this naturally And we don't let it get that long... because it scares me.I start to hear "Do ya think I'm sexy?" in my head often.... lovely...anyway... I also don't like it really short,honestly I like it when its just like his Dad's hair.But I'm awful at cutting hair

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-16596464029310253562010-09-15T09:36:00.001-04:002010-09-15T09:37:35.489-04:00

I told Tommy yesterday..."I love you more than the sun... and the moon.... and the stars!"He gasps and whispers in awe,"How long is that!?"  A few nights ago Isabella went into her room to pray with Daddy and he was laying on her bed waiting.He says, "I love this bed.... you know this used to be Daddy's bed?"Bella is confused,"My bed?""Yep" said Dad, "This was my bed when I lived at Grammy and

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-9998412294956790272010-09-13T13:53:00.000-04:002010-09-13T13:53:35.037-04:00

I've been missing in action lately for a lot of random reasons but here is one... We are preparing for the big family vacation we take every year with my husbands whole family.As much as I'm looking forward to it.... the closer we get to leaving the more all I can see is the list of thingsI need to do and pack before then. You see we are going camping and we stay in a cabin near a state park...

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-55128152806372808212010-09-02T16:48:00.002-04:002010-09-02T18:23:46.212-04:00

Tom has had to work late the last two nights...On Tuesday he worked from 6am until after midnight.On Wednesday he made it home just in time to see the kids for twenty minutes before bed. That means today I am overly tired, cranky,lonely for my husband and could very well lose my mind even under the best circumstances.As I write this it is 2:00 in the afternoon and already I feel I have had a

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-38452291910829683012010-08-31T23:27:00.002-04:002010-08-31T23:30:54.220-04:00

I've found that when I don't write for a long time eventually its like I get full to capacity of thoughts and emotions and pretty soon I find myself sitting here in the middle of the night...when I want to be relaxing, when I should be sleeping, but instead I'm pecking away at these keys... trying to empty my head and my heart of some of its emotion. Today was a weird day,I started out truly

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-82829104961310722010-08-23T21:26:00.001-04:002010-08-23T21:28:44.998-04:00

I am listening to my freshly bathed, sweet smelling, pajama clad babies in the living room quietly watching Cailou.Cailou is asking his mommy when its going to snow, she sweetly says "soon.... do you want to bake some cookies while we wait?"So they bake, then the snow starts.... Cailou wants to go outside... mommy says joyfully "of course!" I hate Cailou's mommy today.She is giving me a complex..

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-42405239901050026512010-08-16T22:51:00.004-04:002010-08-16T22:55:37.432-04:00

This is what the last week or so have felt like to me.... one big crazy blur...please stop the ride I'm going to be sick.We had fun... too much fun for one long weekend.It's going to take awhile to process all this, here is what we did.Went to the annual farm show, went to the annual family day at Idlewild park,went to my moms to visit my Chicago cousins,twice... once Friday night, and all day

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-51304147609195640322010-08-09T22:02:00.000-04:002010-08-09T22:02:24.870-04:00

Why am I sitting here blogging and yawning incessantly when all I want to be doing is sitting in my freshly made bed with a big bowl of popcorn and a cold drink? Why? Because the lovely little people in my life do adorable things, because the love of my life is the best father I could have imagined, because I want to remember these beautiful summer evenings forever. Even when Tom is dog tired...

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855713067587484178.post-39014184355967058722010-08-06T21:54:00.000-04:002010-08-06T21:54:20.740-04:00

We went to my doctor's office at eight thirty this morning.After a long two weeks and much nervousness we got what we had been praying for.A strong little heartbeat.... 166 beats per minute. I have so many thoughts and things to record... Most of all Tommy and Isabella's reaction.... finally getting to find out about their new best friend coming soon. But for tonight I'm just going to breathe

Laura Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15183194771206119305noreply@blogger.com1