Megan Elizabeth is Here

No, we did not have another baby - My brother and sister in law did! David and Leah welcomed Megan Elizabeth yesterday afternoon weighing in at 6 lbs 7 oz. Check out their new blog at http://david-leah.blogspot.com/ or my sister's post about the baby http://allthingskelly.blogspot.com/

Megan couldn't wait to get here, arriving an hour after Leah's water broke, and almost getting delivered in Nana's minivan! She was delivered by a nurse about 5 minutes after arriving at the hospital. What a dramatic entry into the world.

She is a beautiful baby who resembles her big brother. Speaking of Alexander, he seems to love being a big brother. Already calling baby Megan his "sissie".

Here are The5Jones meeting baby Megan.

Cousin Ashley couldn't wait for Megan to wake up and open her eyes. Birdie just kept saying "Baby". Daniel was over playing with Alexander, who I think thought we were all there to see him, not his new sister!

Welcome to the Family Baby Megan!!!

Chores + Money = Happy Boy!

I have a willing little helper for all household chores. Daniel LOVES to get paid money for chores. All I have to do is ask him to do something, then add, you'll get a dime/quarter/nickel - it's a chore! and he runs to do it. For example, he will bring down the dirty clothes, empty garbage, water plants, run the little vacuum on the hard floor, put away his clothes, get clothes out of the dryer, etc.

After getting paid (which I admit, I don't always remember to actually do) he must count his money. This morning, after receiving two dimes for bringing me his and Laurie's laundry, he sat down to count his money.

According to Daniel, he is saving up to get PaPa a new Davey the bull. He says PaPa needs one because Davey is getting too old to "take care of" the cows. Huh, I wonder if he even knows that what means!

Munchkin is quite the miser. At a store last month, Ashley wanted a new DVD, so I told her she had to pay 1/2 of it, she said OK. Daniel picked one out also, but when I told him it was $8 for 1/2, he said "oh, nevermind". A serious little boy about his money. Hmm, wonder where he gets it? Definitely not from me. Must be the daddy.

Birdie loves Chips

Birdie and I had a snack of potato chips and dip on Friday. She just looked so cute sitting on the counter w/her dress and hat on sticking her chips in the dip.

Sprinkler Fun

The kids had fun last weekend running through the sprinkler.

Sleepyhead

Daniel was so tired tonight, that he feel asleep at the dinner table. Brian and I were laughing so hard that he would wake up and look at us for about a second, then nod off again. Good thing I grabbed my camera for a video to share it with you.

Cute Pictures

These are a few recent pictures that are just too cute so I had to post them.

Playing Wii

Given the All Clear

I talked with our pediatrician tonight, Dr. Dickerson, about the results of Laurie's EKG. We had an EKG and chest x-ray done on Laurie a few weeks ago because Dr. D had heard a heart murmer at the last several visits. The results of the tests, as reviewed by a pediatric cardiologist, were normal.

Yesterday when I talked with Dr. D. there was some hesitation because the computer registered some abnormalities in the EKG. She let me know that sometimes that happens with children, so the results weren't final until the specialist took a look at the test. Then today, she said the Cardiologist said her heart size, and everything was normal.

We just will continue to listen to the murmer at her future appointments.

This was a relief, but not a real surprise to me. Laurie does not have any symptoms of heart trouble and both Shelly and myself had innocent heart murmers as children. But I'm still happy we have the confirmation.

February 1998 Flashback

I realized recently that it has been 10 years since Dad and I met US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. It feels like it was yesterday. I can remember vividly that Justice Thomas said I was like "Where's Waldo" because I kept popping up everywhere. He was very personable and had a great sense of humor while mingling with the guests.

When I picked up the developed pictures from the drug store, they had automatically enlarged the picture of Dad with Justice Thomas to see if we wanted to buy it. I did, but the funny part was, the clerk had no idea who he was, but enlarged it because it was a good picture. Even after I told them who it was, they didn't know. (Is that one of your Jaywalkers Shelly?) A few years later, I had the picture of myself with Justice Thomas on my desk at work. I remember one co worker who was very ugly to me when she saw his picture - she evidently hated him and thought he was an "Uncle Tom". Of course, I had another co worker who asked me if he was my husband. ???

Over the 10 years, Dad and I have both proudly displayed our pictures wishing we had a copy of the brillant speech he gave that night on "Civility". Maybe one day we will have the pleasure to hear him speak again. For now, I will settle for reading his insightful Supreme Court opinions, knowing he is protecting our country as the Founders would have wanted.

If you want to read about Justice Thomas' amazing and difficult life, his new memoir is excellent. My Grandfather's Son is the story of a determined man whose faith, courage, and perseverance inspired him to rise up against all odds and achieve his dreams. (yes, I stole that part from the review on Amazon)

Easter 2008

We had a great Easter with lots of family time. Below are pictures from Easter with Brian's parent's and at my parent's house. For such an early Easter this year, the weather was absolutely beautiful and warm. The kids loved their Easter Egg hunt and Ashley & Daniel were thrilled to find dollar bills in some of their eggs.

Would you think we were bad parents if I let it slip that the kids didn't dye eggs this year? We just never got around to it. And the Easter bunny didn't hide eggs at our house. We were worried about getting all of us to Mass on time. Oops. Maybe we'll do better next year.

Crazy Things Kids Say

So we were at Mass on Easter Sunday... Daniel leans over and asks me where Jesus is. I'm thinking ... is this a question about Jesus Rising on Easter? I quietly tell him Jesus went back to heaven, but he is with us all the time. He says, "No, he's not here, God's here, but where's Jesus?" Okay. Now what? We are in the middle of Mass and can't have a whole conversation. He then points to the altar and says again, "God's here, where's Jesus". A huge lightbulb went off suddenly. For Easter Mass, the pastor said Mass alone. There wasn't a Deacon by his side. Daniel was thinking the Priest was God and the missing deacon was Jesus. Needless to say, I smiled and then discussed it with him after Mass was over.

What's Up with Us

I know, it has been a while since I last posted. Things have been good and busy as usual.

Big news - Daniel got promoted again in swim lessons! He is no longer a Marlin, but a Kingfish! Since he regularly swims the length of the pool, they are now working on endurance and starting breast stroke. Ashley stays at Swordfish for April, continuing to work on her freestyle and backstroke across the width of the pool. But don't mention to her that her younger brother is now 2 levels ahead of her at swim. She doesn't like it. They are both stopping swim lessons and starting neighborhood Swim Team at the end of the month.

Ashley has lost another tooth! That makes 6. Currently, she is missing 2 top front teeth (with a third loose) and one on the bottom. Talk about a funny looking smile. We keep telling her to slow down or she won't be able to eat, especially when that other front tooth comes out soon. The kids and I went to pick out their own fabric last week so I can make them their own tooth fairy pillow in the shape of a tooth. Just like the one my Godmother made me when I was little. It is the pillow Ashley has been using until I can make her one of her own. At this rate, I'd better hurry and make the pillow before she's done loosing baby teeth.

Wumpy also brought home a great report card today. We are really proud of our wonderful Kindergator.

Birdie is just Birdie. So cute and LOUD! I keep trying to teach the girl about volume control - loud and soft. For some reason, this toddler just can't grasp the concept. She has learned how to jump and get both feet off the ground. She gets really excited about it. I took a video that was cute, but at the end she jumped and fell on her head. Oops. She wasn't hurt, but the video looks bad, so I won't post it.

She and I went to the hospital this week for her chest x-ray and EKG to check out her heart murmer. We haven't heard back from the Dr. yet, but expect to soon.

Laurie just has lots and lots of personality, so sweet and cute, but loud and obstinate. She sings constantly, counts to 20 (well, she misses a few #'s), and loves to give you kisses. We think she is so very special.

Ok, Ok, we think that about all three of them. Each very special in their own way.

Everything else is going well. Allen is basically done with the house stuff. I spent last weekend painting while Brian took the big kids to the Ranch and I plan on finishing up my part of the painting this weekend. I'll post pictures when I'm done.