Cutie Pie!

Natalie is sooooo cute!

Another Driver on the Road

Mallory is very happy to be behind the wheel. Joe on the other hand is scared to death that she is behind the wheel. LOL

Student Driver

Mallory got her learner's permit yesterday. I let her drive around the elementary school parking lot. Then she got to drive around a closed bank with drive thru teller lanes. Then I let her drive to Sonic which is next to the bank and go through the drive thru window. She was very exicted. Tomorrow I will let her drive some more. Soon she wil be driving me everywhere. Especially since we have so many places to go.

Officially Retired

Joe will be offically retired on May 31st, 2005. The kids and I decorated the house for his last return from DC last night. He starts his new job as a stay-at-home Dad on June 13th, which gives him two weeks on his own to relax before the summer. Way to go Joe!!!

Final Navy Medal

Admiral Gaudio presents Joe his final Navy medal. A Meritorious Service Award which is one of the highest awards a sailor can get.

Pooped?

Bailey took a long nap after an afternoon of jumping on a inflatable at a birthday party today. Look how long she has gotten?

Sleeping on the Floor

Natalie was asleep on the floor when I got home from BINGO today. She went to a birthday party today for a friend's little boy.

Self Portrait

Rachel took this picture. Where did my little girl go?

Peek-a-Boo

Rachel took this picture of herself. I think it's very cool!

Want to Trade?

I found this T-shirt and had to buy it for Joseph. He's got another T-shirt that says I will trade my sister for a hot dog or video game.

Having Fun?

Bailey and Natalie laugh it up!

Nine days and counting...

Only nine days left until Joe retires and then another 2 weeks until he becomes a full-time stay at home Dad. He is getting excited about spending time with the kids this summer.

Taylor at her State Meet

Taylor had her State Meet today for gymnastics. Here she gets a big hug of encouragement from Joe before she starts. His advice is always, relax and have fun and you will do your best.

Taylor and her Medals

Taylor tied for 5th place on the vault for her age group. The bigger medal was because the gym she attends got the 1st place team award for her Level. She was very pleased with her performance today.

Bubble Gum?

Bailey has learned to blow a bubble.

More Teeth

Natalie finally cut 2 more teeth for a total of 5.

Joe and Natalie

Natalie gives her Dad a few pointers.

This Week So Far

Monday - Volleyball for Rachel, gymnastics for Taylor & Bailey and Boy Scouts for Joseph. Luckily Joe took Monday off so he was able to take Joseph to his meeting. Joe also spent Sunday and Monday washing and folding all of our laundry. I was fairly caught up on the kids laundry. A big thanks to Joe, who has actually done our laundry for the past 3-4 weeks as our weekends are always very busy.

Tuesday - Baseball game for Joseph. He walked, struck out and then walked because he got hit in the leg by the ball. They finally won a game, YEAH!

Wednesday - Volleyball for Taylor & Rachel and gymnastics for Taylor. I spent some time straightening up and vacumming the downstairs. I bought a new grill at Target on my way to pick Taylor up at gymnastics.

Thursday - Joe is home again, so he gave me a break and took Bailey to her t-ball game. She hit pitched balls twice so didn't have to hit off the T. Joe said that they were good hits too. We should have mowed yesterday as it rained this morning.

Friday is gymnastics for Taylor, Saturday is sports day and Sunday is the state meet for Taylor.

Busch Gardens

Joe and I took the kids to Busch Gardens today. We got Season Passes because it's only an hour away. We met one of my friends, her husband and their 2 kids up there. The kids didn't get to ride many rides because the park kept closing the rides down due to inclement weather. Joe will take the kids occasionally this summer. A friend of mine will watch Natalie so he doesn't have to worry about her on those days. Sometimes I will meet him up there after I get off of work. Joe is getting excited about retiring and having the summer off to spend time with the kids.

Mallory & Adam sitting in a tree...

Saturday afternoon, Joseph, Bailey, Natalie & I went to meet Adam's Dad, stepmom & stepbrother. The kids spent the time playing badmitten and eating.

Natalie Loves to Eat

Natalie finished up Bailey's ham sandwich. Natalie also ate potato salad, pasta salad & beans. Everyone was surprised by how much she ate. She also played hard as you can see by how grimey she was.

Having her Cake and Eating it too?

Natalie also ate cake. Lots of cake. LOL

Tennis Pro

Joseph had a great time playing badmitten. He learned to serve the birdie over the net, but still cannot return the serve from the other side. There was another boy there who was 8 and they served the ball back and forth to each other for at least an hour.

Who You Gonna Call?

Bailey helping Natalie make a call? Do you like Bailey's boots? She took a nap for over a hour while we were visiting. This picture was taken after she woke up.

Saturday Sports

Rachel got picked up at 8:00 am for her volleyball game at 9:00 am. Taylor, Joseph, Bailey, Natalie & I got to the baseball fields at 10:45 am for Bailey's T-ball game at 11:00 am. Taylor got picked up at the fields around 11:00 am for her volleyball game at 12:00 pm and Rachel got dropped off at the fields around that same time. Rachel and one of her teammates worked in the consession stand until almost 4:00 pm. I packed a picnic lunch for the kids and I since we had an hour break between the end of Bailey's game and the start of Joseph's game at 1:00 pm. Taylor got dropped back off at the fields around 1:30 pm. I left Taylor and Rachel working at the consession stand around 3:00 pm. They walked home, about 10 - 15 minute walk, around 4:00 pm. Taylor got picked up later so she could spend the night at a friend's house.

Busy Week!

Starting with Monday - Taylor and Bailey had gymnastics and Rachel had volleyball practice. Joseph was supposed to have a Boy Scout meeting for the first time in 2 months, but I forgot all about it until later that evening. Opps!

Tuesday - Joseph and Taylor were both sick and stayed home from school. Joseph was supposed to have a baseball game that night, but didn't go because he was sick. I should have had a free night, but got a call from Rachel's Girl Scout leader because she needed help with one last cookie booth sale. The troop had 36 boxes of cookies left over and Rachel and the leader's daughter got rid of all but 3 boxes.

Wednesday - Bailey had a T-ball game at 6:00. Taylor and Rachel had volleyball practice from 6:30 - 8:00 and then Taylor had gymnastics practice until 9:30. After Bailey's game and before picking the girls up from volleyball practice, I had to take Mallory to the music store to get some sheet music for an upcoming solo and ensemble competition. Then I stayed up until almost 1 am filing my Virginia State taxes online. I rememebered earlier in the week that they had been due May 1st and I had forgotten to file mine. But I got a refund so I don't know if there will be a penality for late filing.

Thursday - I left work early in order to take Mallory to DMV to take the test for learner's permit. To pass, she had to get the first 10 traffic signs correct and then 80% of the next 25 general knowledge questions. She got the 8th sign incorrect and needs to wait 15 days before she can retake the test. She was crushed, she really wanted to pass the test the first time. It took many of her friends several times to pass it. Now she is just counting down the days until she can take it again. I also had to take Rachel and one of her friend's to a 3 volleyball clinic from 6-9. I dropped them off and then went back home to mow the lawn before it rained. I used the weed wacker while Taylor mowed the lawn. Then I started weeding my front garden and ended up getting Mallory's help to dig up the 3 bushes I have been wanting to get rid of for a while now.

Friday - I left work early in order to complete a 3 hour computer based ethics class that had to be completed by Sunday. Taylor had to be at gymnastics from 3:30 - 6:30 and stay for extra workout time from 7:30 - 9:30. Usually I take Taylor something to eat for dinner, but this week, Bailey had a make-up T-ball game from 6:00 - 7:00, so Taylor had to pack a dinner for gymnastics. I was up until about 12:30 am balancing the checkbook and writing out checks for this week's bills.

Goofy Kids?

Trying to get everyone to cooperate for a picture for me on Mother's Day was not so easy. They were all being goofy. Joseph, Mallory, Bailey, Natalie, Rachl & Taylor.

Great Poses

I took lots of pictures and got some really good shots like this one. Joseph, Mallory, Bailey, Rachel, Taylor & Natalie.

Happy kids!

One last attempt to get everyone to smile at the same time. I gave up after this one. Bailey, Joseph, Taylor, Rachel with Natalie & Mallory.