Still Here

To anyone who may still be checking the blog occasionally (which would obviously exclude me), I am still here! Now let the excuses begin...

I've been up to a few things since May, the last blog entry, including: incubating a new egg, hatching the new egg, keeping the other 2 chicks from pecking each other to death, serving as Mother Hen, trying to keep the roost clean, and, occasionally, venturing out on the farm.

On top of those things, our computer still has serious issues which my Indian IT friends have NEVER been able to fix, and also which prevents me from adding photos to the blog in a reasonable time frame.

Also, I've been cheating on the blog extensively with Facebook. Facebook: quicker, easier, more interactive, and I can do it on my phone at any time. Blogging: slower, more cumbersome, no interaction, and I have to do it on the difficult computer.

Despite all of these excuses, I WILL try to do better with updating the blog (for those of you mentioned above).

So, here goes my update.

May: I turn 31. :( Gabe graduates preschool. We go to Hilton Head, our last major vacation before baby #3.

June: Anniversary # 9, which we celebrate by having dinner at Robert Irvine's restaurant in Hilton Head. YUM! Barry also sends me to a wonderful day spa there before dinner. Ahhhh.

July: Have 4th of July weekend in Atlanta. Fireworks display: cool. Keeping the kids up that late and then having them cover their eyes and ears at the fireworks: not cool. Sadly, we lose Grandpa Landsverk on his 90th birthday. I am very glad I spoke to him on that day but so sorry I cannot make the trip to Minnesota.

August: Gabe starts kindergarten - and loves it! On the 20th, I wake up with stomach cramps, which I mistakenly believe to be a continuation of upset stomach I had a few days earlier. I bring Gabe to school at 7:30 am. Barry brings me to the hospital at about 12:00 pm. Caroline shows up at about 4:00 pm. She has fair skin, bright blue eyes, beautiful red hair, and a smile like Grandpa Landsverk. (As a side note, Caroline also has interesting timing. I had seen my OB/GYN the day before, and, showing no progress, he talked about NOT inducing me on the following Tuesday. Also, the 20th is Mamaw Jones' birthday. Our family members LOVE to share birthdays: Audrey/John's on February 24, Ali/Drew on October 18, Dad/Silas on July 8.) On the 21st, I can see my feet again, and sleep on my back. Hooray!!

September: Honestly I don't remember much of anything about September. I will blame that on Miss Caroline. I think Labor Day happened?

October: On the 4th, sweet Gabe turns 6 and celebrates his birthday with family by way of a pool party. An outdoor pool. In 50-degree weather. I don't know firsthand, but I was told the pool was quite balmy. It is quite a contrast, as the swimmers interact with the observers wearing jackets. He had an Indiana Jones theme, complete with spider webs, skulls, and snakes...in the words of Dr.Jones, "It had to be snakes"!!! In another milestone, Miss Caroline begins sleeping from 9pm to around 4, and then 5, and then 6 am. WOW. On the 27th, Barry turns 32. We celebrate "Halloween Week", which consists of multiple Halloween parties, trick-or-treating sessions, and costumes. Gabe is both Indiana Jones and Darth Vader, Audrey is both a UK cheerleader and Minnie Mouse, and Caroline is both a UK cheerleader and a pumpkin. How's that for diversity?

It is my intention to follow up with corresponding pictures, to the extent that my crazy computer will cooperate. Keep checking back - they will get posted eventually! Also I am seriously thinking about making the blog private. If I do so, look for an email invitation to view. Thanks for hanging around.