Holiday Happenings: Part I

WOW! Happy New Year 2012 already! We've been in KY almost 3 months and in our house just over 2 months. It seems like our lives are the quietest they've ever been (I'm not working, Bobby is home a LOT more, we aren't involved in a lot of activities yet...we aren't even pregnant or dealing with a new baby! ;) However, when I reflect on the recent weeks, I realize we've actually packed a LOT of celebrating into a pretty short amount of time! We've enjoyed Halloween, Mollie's 1st Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and UK games (the big ones count as Holidays in the Bluegrass state, ya know ;). And we've also done a ton of entertaining! On 4 different occasions, we've had large gatherings...meaning 15 or more people. And at least 4 other times we've had various friends over for dinner...if you know us, this is pretty amazing. It's unbelievable how much easier it is to be social when you actually have some room in your house...and when your husband gets home by 7:00 most nights and isn't totally exhausted on the weekends from non-stop work & stressful commutes!

Sooo....here's Part I of a recap in pics & stories of our lives lately (Christmas & New Years will come later):

Halloween: We moved into our house exactly one week before Halloween, and the kids were excited to see that our new neighborhood REALLY does Halloween...like TOTALLY does Halloween (you'll see in a minute why that also thrills me)! Three doors down from us is the "Spooky House" that could make Party City's decorations look chincey. The weekend before Halloween, they even charge admission (canned goods) and set up haunted houses in their driveway and garage and have a coffin "thrill ride" where people can climb in, shut the top, and get the bajeebies scared outta them while people watch their reaction on a big screen...creative, and yes...maybe a little disturbing?!?!

Anyway...you know it's impossible for us to enjoy a calm family event. Halloween afternoon I was in front of our house trying to get pics of our Crazy Crew before Bobby got home from work. Please don't EVER try to tell me that God doesn't have a sense of humor...because the ONLY time I've ever seen a deer in our neighborhood (that wasn't a lit up decoration) was that exact moment...the moment a deer ran randomly down our driveway...just when one of the kids had left the back door open...so that our dog (PJ) could go racing after it. SERIOUSLY?!?! So I grab the baby, command the other 3 kids to stay in the driveway (they're all now screaming and crying...even though they usually barely notice the dog exists), and I take off through the back yard to the main street yelling PJ's name. Remember, we'd only lived in our house a week, so no one knew us or our dog...he didn't know his way home yet...oh, yeah...so did I mention that I was wearing a CLOWN costume?! That's right-walking up to introduce myself to neighbors for the very first time dressed as a clown and explaining that we'd lost our dog...who ran after a phantom deer. As I mentioned earlier, the neighborhood REALLY loves Halloween, so my only saving grace was that I wasn't the ONLY adult dressed up (just the only one dressed as a clown).

Fortunately, Bobby arrived home soon and was able to find PJ a couple streets away (where a 3 yr old yelled at him for not having a tag on the dog's collar), and we were able to head on over to our friend Tom's house for an awesome party & Trick or Treating with some college buddies and their kids. All the kids had a blast, but watching Evie (our 2 year old princess) was PRICELESS...I've never seen a kid so excited, running non-stop until her little legs finally gave out. Here are a few pics...obviously they are limited, thanks to our 4 legged furry friend drama (I actually had a mom ask me at the bus stop if I was the clown who had lost her dog...what's that they say about first impressions?)



Our sweet little black kitty




Pretty Pirate...too bad her parrot & dagger
both broke before the night began!

A Princess and her pony

Yes...he's as fast & hyper as Dash!

Awesome Halloween Party!

Thanksgiving and then some: This was the FIRST time we celebrated Thanksgiving with family since 2002! (Thanksgiving traffic around DC is HORRENDOUS, and we always made the long trip a few weeks later for Christmas, so we usually hung out with friends in VA or took the kids to the zoo.) This year we went to my mom's house Thanksgiving afternoon and enjoyed a wonderful feast with Mom & Danny and his kids and grand kids. The next day, we drove to Owensboro for 2 days of food and fun with both sides of Bobby's family. As my sister-in-law mentioned, between Mollie's birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, & a few things in between, the cousins may grow up knowing each other after all!

Another great perk of living near family: getting to see the big events! We had 5 kids under the age of 5 in our wedding (considering our lives now, does that shock anyone?) The adorable twin 3 year old boy ring bearers from our wedding (Thomas & Scott) are now 16 year old star athletes and play Varsity Football. In early December, we got to watch them play the 6A State Championship game at our old alma mater, Western Kentucky University. They were playing the #1 ranked HS team in the NATION (Trinity), so the final score wasn't so great; however, 20 family members rocked that stadium when Scott scored TWO touchdowns (a 95 yd kickoff return and a great catch late in the game). Yes, we're looking forward to some future college action!

GO BIG BLUE...and Red!!!: Oh, the fun of living in the Big Blue Basketball Nation again! Some of our college buddies who live in the area have come over to help us cheer on UK to victories against UNC and U of L. Guess we're slackers for not having a party for that IU game...

Those aren't the only basketball games we've enjoyed! Bobby's best friend ("Big Joey") has been very generous, giving us tickets to two games at U of L's YUM Center. Bobby took Anna & our "little" Joey to their first college game to see Arkansas State play the Cardinals...these weren't just any seats...they were directly behind ASU's bench practically on the floor (Big Joey played college ball at Samford when ASU's Coach was there)! Evie, Mollie, and I actually watched them on TV and DVR'd it so they could see themselves every trip down the floor. Our drama mama, Anna, was completely thrilled to be a "TV Star."

Just before Christmas, Bobby and I were able to escape for a date night to watch our WKU Hilltoppers take on U of L (again, courtesy of Big Joey's tickets and my mom living just an hour away for free grandma care!) We thought we'd see a complete blowout, but WKU gave the Cards a heck of a fight and didn't go down until the last few minutes...Go Big Red (WKU, that is!)

Keeping with the WKU sport spirit, I almost forgot another exciting Fall outing...we were able to take the kids to their first college Cross Country meet in mid November! The NCAA Southeast Regional Championship Meet was held here in Louisville, and it REALLY got my heart pounding to be around the racing scene again! The kids had a blast racing down the straight-a-way and across the finish line after the meet...over and over and over again (SO happy they waited until AFTER the races to try out the course), and Bobby and I enjoyed a nice visit with our college Cross Country Coach and seeing former teammates.

And now I realize The Crazy Crew's interruptions have caused this update to take almost as long to write as the Holiday season itself, so I'll save Christmas and New Year's for a Part II post! God bless your New Year with love & laughter!!

The Escapades...Part 1:

Sooo...you'd think I would be posting about a new city, new house, the Christmas season, or at least a late update on Halloween or Thanksgiving, right? However, I did warn you that I was terribly random in that first blog entry, so just thought I'd live up to that reputation. If you know us well, then you've probably heard about the following escapades or read them on facebook; otherwise, here are some additional explanations as to why we are, indeed, "The Crazy Crew." Hope you enjoy some chuckles :)

The Store Chronicles
We are legendary...scary...OK, downright over the top ridiculous on most of our store outings. Our children behave beautifully 99.9% of the time when we go to a restaurant, but for some reason, they turn into a total freak show as soon as we cross a store's threshold (mostly Costco & Target...because you can usually find us at, well, Costco or Target). We've been laughed at, fussed at, told I deserve a medal, asked why I'm torturing myself, praised for patience, ridiculed for having my little ones out during nap time or in the rain, asked if I'm taking them all back (while in the customer service line)...you name it. On the rare occasion that I've made a solo trip, I've even had multiple Costco employees recognize me and ask, "Where are the kids?"  But whatever you do, PLEASE do NOT say to me (as one or all 4 of the kids are having meltdowns), "Someone's not happy." REALLY?!?!? Ya don't say? It's about like telling a pregnant woman, "Someone's expecting." But then that's a whole other blog. The following are some of my favorite store adventures:

Language Lesson: When our oldest was probably around 18 months old, we were in Target for a "quick" trip, so I let her walk (which usually doesn't happen until my kids are like 5...I believe in "cart trapping" them). A lady was talking LOUDLY on her cell phone in another language (can't remember exactly what language, but we lived in Northern VA, so just take your pick...anything other than English). I was looking through some clearance clothes when I noticed Anna had slipped away and stopped right in front of the loud foreign language lady, blocking her path. When the lady stopped her conversation and looked down to smile at Anna, my little firecracker started "mumbo jumbo talking" in the lady's face (like she was mocking her in a pretend language...LOUDLY). I'm pretty sure I ducked under a rack of clothes and secretly yanked my daughter out of the aisle and hid until the lady left.

Boo-Boo Head: One sleep deprived morning soon after having our son, we were attempting a trip to Target...newborn baby fussing in his car seat in the back of the cart & 2 yr old girl sitting in front chatting, singing, yelling non-stop (as she has done since the day she was born). About 5 minutes and 5 aisles AFTER a stop in the lingerie aisle, I realize what the 2 yr old is chanting: "I'm a Boo-Boo Head, I'm wearing Momma's Boo-Boos on my head...Boo-Boos on my head!" Yep...kid was wearing 2 newly picked out bras on her head and making sure everyone knew...and I had been oblivious. No wonder everyone we passed that morning seemed especially friendly and smiley :)

The receipt mouth: After one very exhausting Costco trip that ended in an even more trying bathroom break/stinky diaper change, I started looking frantically for the receipt for the person at the exit door to check. I found it...in our 2 yr old's giggling mouth. I dug it out and warned the lady at the door that it was a little crumpled and damp. She didn't seem amused.

Potty Break Birth Planning: Speaking of bathrooms...I just can't wait to share with our youngest child that the day & details of her birth were determined...in the Costco bathroom. True story. Our OB called me to see if I'd like to come in the next day to be induced...and I was in the bathroom helping the 3 yr old take care of business (as well as my own, because we all know a lady 9 months pregnant with her 4th child can't "hold it.") I've often wondered what other customers in the bathroom thought as they heard my nonchalant birthing conversation over the tinkling, flushing and other potty time noises...

The Scream: Provoking chaos is not limited to the little ones in our house. When I was pregnant with Evie (#3...who weighed 10 lb 3 oz at birth), I was a little, well, deformed looking. My belly stretched on FOREVER (see above mentioned birth weight for explanation). One day while shopping at Target with Anna & Joey in the cart, I stopped and turned to look at something on a shelf...and nearly jumped completely out of my skin and into labor...thanks to the SHRILL scream of a lady behind me, followed by, "OH, HONEY!!! I'm SO very sorry!! I was following you down the aisle noticing your cute kids, and then you turned sideways and it just FREAKED ME OUT! I didn't know you were pregnant! I've never seen anything like that before!" Sort of a compliment...I guess?!?!?

Of course, there are many more wonderful stories, but you get the picture...basically, we are a "walking billboard for birth control." And most people agree with me when I give them that description. You should see the looks of despair on first time pregnant women's faces when we pass by. I also have grand plans for a teen abstinence program: parents send us their teenagers and we assign them to help families with small children in grocery stores...it's a win/win situation: moms get help with the kids, and teens remain abstinent out of the God-given fear of the consequences.

Stay tuned for The Escapades Part 2 for more "better you than me" laughable moments, courtesy of our blessed little Crazy Crew...

GOOD GOLLY, SWEET LITTLE MISS MOLLIE...1 year old ALREADY!!

Soooo...she did it, too! Just like those other little Wild Wells kids...she turned ONE last Sunday. And yes...I became "one of those" moms. I cried. (I just keep living out all these silly momma cliches :). In honor of our sweet #4, here's a story about her first year or so...

Dear Mollie,

I vividly remember that talk with God on a cold February morning run. I was in tears and totally surrendering my will over to Him. For some crazy reason that I cannot explain, I had wanted a 4th baby so bad, but finally accepted that if it was God's plan for us to hold still as a family of 5, then we were perfect the way we were. Your daddy had a little health scare just a couple months earlier, and we had been blessed with 3 perfectly healthy little ones...why press our luck? Our lives were challenging enough in crazy Northern Virginia with your daddy's work schedule, right? So after that prayer, I still felt like a little something was missing, but I was at complete peace and started sorting through baby clothes & paraphenalia to prep them for donations.

A couple weeks later...the day after Evie's 1st birthday...BOOM! I knew it!! I had a feeling...a feeling of shock...I'll never forget your daddy's face when I told him what I suspected. We honestly couldn't figure out how (OK...so we know HOW, but can't figure out...well, nevermind!!) The first 2 tests said negative, but I knew they were wrong (occasionally, I'm right about a few things...remember that when you're a teenager!)

A NOVEMBER BABY??? How does that work? Your 3 siblings were all born in March! Chaos is the norm for our crew, so it should be no surprise that the day of your delivery was decided a mere 24 hrs in advance on the phone with our doc...while in the Costco bathroom :). We wanted to be sure Dr. Forrest would be able to deliver you (just like our other 3 babies), and no one wanted me having a "Beltway Baby" on 495...so we decided you would come a week early...plus, everyone expected you to be huge like your siblings! Surprise again! We were actually capable of producing a "normal" size newborn...only 7 lb. 9 oz. (unlike your siblings who were 8 1/2, 9, & 10+ lbs!). From the beginning, you have looked exactly like your big bro, and your personality is a mix of both big sisters...yet you continue to surprise us in ways the other 3 never did! :)

Our lives have been a little crazy the last 12 months...appropriately, you were born just before Thanksgiving, blessing our family with 4 children in 5.5 years (the day we came home from the hospital, we went to big sis Anna's Kindergarten music program); we immediately slammed into the mad dash of the Christmas season shopping, partying, decorating, etc.; we made our regular (little did we know our FINAL) Holiday trip home to KY...10 days, 30+ hrs of driving, 8 family/friend gatherings...and you were 6 wks old; we returned to VA on Jan 2nd, and your daddy left on Jan 4th for a 2 month TDY to Saudi Arabia. Our church friends loved on and supported us like family (as always) in his absence, and God returned him safely to us the day before Evie's 2nd bday to begin our March Madness of 4 family bdays that month. You never missed a beat, smiling & laughing at him like he'd never left! You were quite a trooper tagging along with me to work meetings and the office (until you were big enough to hang out at Mrs. Christine's with the big kids :). Our spring & summer were filled with the regular busy fun...until August when we got the official word that we'd be moving back to KY, so the next 2 months were packed with getting the house on the market and searching for a new house in KY (another 10 day trip with you hanging in there for visits to about 30 potential homes). We enjoyed several final gatherings with friends as dear as family...and before you even hit 11 months, we were on our way to a new-to-you state and lived in a hotel for 2.5 weeks before moving into our new home! What a year!! :) And although you're our "final"...you got to experience a "first": the first of our kids with a family birthday party (for more than just the grandmas)! You may not have been too thrilled with the cake (you CRIED when you got some on your fingers), but we had so much fun watching your cousins play and spending time with extended family...something we will never again take for granted!

God knew we needed a surprise blessing far more than we did...your sweet, sassy spirit keeps us on our toes, and while the tears keep falling when I think of our baby growing up, I just can't wait to see how you will surprise us next. May our Father make His path clear to you and show us how to encourage you along the way!

Smooches, Snuggles, and Giggles,
Momma

Some shots of your special day...

You said this birthday stuff was supposed to be FUN!!!



My favorite...she quit crying as soon as big bro stepped over & sang to her :)







See...I can smile...just get that cake away from me! (seriously? maybe she WAS switched at birth?)

Takin' the Plunge...Booty First!

Soooo...after "writing" posts in my head for over 3 years (usually on long runs or long drives when the kids are in a movie indused coma moment), I'm FINALLY takin' the plunge into the blog pool!

But I wouldn't say I'm jumping in feet first...because that would imply I have an ultimate goal and a precise action plan. The only two things I've ever been THAT determined and persistent about are training for races and childbirth...but I guess #2 shouldn't really count...I mean, the finish line was coming no matter what I did, right?

And I also wouldn't say this is a head first plunge...because that would indicate I've thought through this whole process and organized all the details. Go ahead...if you know me, you're laughing uncontrollably about now!

But booty-first? Oh yeah, that's totally me! I'm a complete klutz and fall constantly...both literally (seriously, you should see my bruises) AND figuratively (as a Christian, wife, mom, friend, etc.). Fortunately, God is bigger than all my epic fails, and He forgives me and picks me up over and over and over again! And despite being a "mutt" of feet-first, head-first experiences (meaning that I actually do plan out some things and race toward most goals with at least a loose plan), many people would probably describe me as a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda gal. Again, that's mostly because I spend so much time falling, and sometimes God has to drag me along an unconventional route to get me back up on my feet following His plan.

And so, we begin this booty-first cannonball splash: Our Crazy Crew...just the 6 of us keepin' it real...really crazy...and trusting God to help us laugh through our mundane and chaotic lives! Nothing fancy...nothing earth shattering...maybe a whole lot of nothing...but it's our crazy nothing, and we're pretty happy with that! :)

Special note: don't ya love the pics of our little wild ones? Special thanks & kudos to Desi Welch (DesireeAngelle Photography) for capturing those cutie-patooties...especially since I never seem to have my camera when I need it...or working batteries...or enough bribes to get them through a whole photo opp.