time for change...

Hi friends and family, in case you've wondered where I've been, it's been a heck of a time since the last time I posted! No need to dwell so I'll just let you know that I am now blogging on a new blog-- www.lijthouse.blogspot.com the LIJT stands for the names of our kids (in case you were wondering :)) so from now on, tune in over there and I will be posting more regularly. It is not password protected yet but will be soon so if you want to be included drop me an e-mail kellygbellyg@gmail.com   CHEERS!!

James

so we are at our wit's end with James, our sweet sweet almost 18 month old baby who screams for sport...I can laugh about it when I am not in the moment but he literally wakes up in the 5 o'clock hour every morning  and starts screaming--not just crying, but wailing and screaming at the top of his lungs. And he keeps this up until someone goes and gets him--and he can carry on for 45 minutes plus--usually at that point I go and get him and everyone else is awake. And you would think that once picked up from his crib he would be so happy to be rescued that he would be sweet and calm but many times his fit carries over and continues throughout the morning--sometimes off and on for hours and no I am not exaggerating. He will scream in the car when he's tired and usually falls asleep while I am in the car trying to get back home from wherever we are--and yes, I've tried coming home earlier--he always falls asleep when we are on our way home, even at 9:00 in the morning. And once home, if I try to transfer him to his crib, he inevitably wakes up and the screaming process begins again in earnest--or, perhaps he will sleep for another thirty minutes and then the screaming commences. It usually lasts into the afternoon off and on and then he starts climbing on the furniture--standing on the table etc. and I tell him no and put him on the floor--more screaming--he actually does laps around the house wailing. and then we maybe have a bit of peace during dinner and then he is so tired and fussy that we put him to bed around 6:30--by this time he has not had a real nap to speak of (see above) and is falling asleep where he's sitting. Some nights he cries, screams and carries on, and others he only does so for a few minutes. Now all of this would not be so bad except that I have three other moons orbiting me all day, who also cry, scream, and carry on in a normal way--but by the end of the day--or even by 3:00, I am fried--done. When James is happy, he is a sweet heart, but that's only about 60% of the time. The rest of the time he's miserable and miserable to be around. I only included one video here and not even one of the worst ones because who out there really wants to watch that except for the psychologist we'll have evaluating him? Anyway, sorry to unload on here but I know this is a loving audience and I promise pictures will follow soon--and if you have advice, please feel free to e-mail me. Thanks for participating in my little slice of grumpiness--cheers!

summer highlights...

so I am exceedingly sorry for putting almost a month in between this post and my last, but this summer has been off-the-charts-crazy and I am only now stopping to catch my breath. About a month ago we had a flood in our dining room and ended up having all of our carpet in the house ripped up and replaced with laminate...this looked and felt just like moving only without much more than a few days' notice. As pleased as I am with the results, I was disturbed to the core over the whole process and I know it only added another layer to the already stressful summer we were having. I also started teaching this summer--three days a week at the kids' school for the six week program. The beginning was rough and I taught with a dad so it ended up that all the planning and fretting and worrying fell on my shoulders. I also missed the interaction I might had had had I been working with another mom--I just didn't want anyone to think I was getting cozy with Mr.Ryan so I clammed up...very not like me to be chatty, but I have worked very hard to earn a reputation of integrity and I didn't want people to start asking questions...anyway, Mr. Ryan turned out to be a nice guy and was great with the kids so I got over my issues about planning and tried to make the best of things. I will say that I heartily applaud my friends who work outside the home because after working three days a week and trying to cook, clean, and take care of my babes, there was NOTHING left at the end of the day. I can't imagine working full-time or doing what I did for more than six weeks. I will get a taste in the fall when I teach just two days a week, but that seems easy-peasy after this summer. I should be teaching with another mom too, which will only sweeten the deal. Todd and I have both had New York trips this summer--Todd's with his family and mine with my girlfriends. We both are aiming to go back sometime just us... we've also had the big kids visit both sets of grandparents for extended time this summer, which really helped out with the flooring having two fewer children to keep away from the tools and mess. I also spent a small chunk of time in Venice with my folks and then we've also gone to Disney with them for Lily's fifth birthday!! Can anyone else not believe that she's five????? At Disney we met up with our cousin John and his family--Kristi and their kids Anna Jordan and Tanner, who gelled well with our kids. Lily also got to visit the Bibbidi Boppidi Boutique (thanks a million Mimi and Poppy!!) and was turned into Sleeping Beauty for a day! I will post some NYC pix later but I figured I better post some stuff about the kids soon before everyone abandoned me or the threatening e-mails started :) so here you go and I hope you had a lovely summer!
Disney with my brother John, and cousin John and his family and mine as well

TyTy in Mimi and Poppy's pool--they are so much braver now!!!
it's so easy to get the kid to smile for the camera--just have his face painted like a dragon and he'll do anything you ask!!!

all hail pink people!!! er animals...
here is Princess Lillianna in her styling chair at the Bibbidi Boppidi Boutique--hair, makeup, and nails done and outfitted with a dress, sash, tiara, shoes and wand...oh my

this is me at about 15 months old--thought I'd throw it in for comparison to my kiddos--I can see James and Bella, can you?
Miss Bella Bean splashing around by Mimi's pool--this kid learns like 10 words every day!! She and James have just exploded verbally!
Mimi and Poppy with Bella and James...

Me once again...

This shot just captured my Lily and her maturity!!! I am in absolute awe over her turning five and starting kindergarten...
Mr. Moon in the backyard after our visit to Mimi and Poppy's
Lily and Mommy at the beach--notice that she's soaking wet and in her clothes! After sticking her toe in the water, she couldn't stop and she and Ty ended up swimming in their clothes--I should have known they would want to get wet but they have always stayed away from the water so who knew??....
Me with Lily and Nanny Dulmer who had a birthday Saturday--I bet no one could guess her real age! I hope I age as gracefully!
And here is Melissa, who had moved to Tallahassee and is expecting her first child--a boy--in September! We have been the best of friends since my junior year in college and I am so thrilled to watch her have her turn to go through being pregnant--she is going to be a fantastic mother and I am excited to have her so close so I can visit--Houston was a bit far!

A little slice to hold you over...

Sorry for the delay in posting...life has not made it easy to spend time at the computer! Ty and Lily have started t-ball and we have visited Satchel's again--yum yum! more pix to come but here are a few from our latest adventures!

Satchel's

after dinner tonight at Satchel's, we let the kids play on their little playground in the back--they think this is the greatest place on earth!

Albert and Alberta

since we've been back in Gainesville, I've wanted to take pictures at the Albert and Alberta statue at Alumni Hall--today we actually accomplished this with some cute results