Desperate Housewife

This year Halloween came on a Tuesday. Now Tuesdays are notoriously a wasted day for me as I recover from working Monday a long shift and do the grocery shopping, run errands, etc... Of course because it was Halloween I also had to go to Connor's school and help with Fall Centers. It was fun, but now I was really behind. I knew that I needed to pick Kayleigh up at school, get her and Cade down for a nap, get the kids' costumes ready, do laundry, fix something for dinner, pick up the usual clutter, work out, get cleaned up.... Well, by the time I finished all this I was truly frazzled. I could not for the life of me muster up any energy to get ready for the trick-or-treaters, so I just put on my pjs and put my hair in curlers. I got the kids ready only to realize somebody had to answer the door while Ken took the kids out. Well, that is when I became a desperate housewife. Yes, curlers, robe, slippers and cold cream with a nice green undertone were the solution to my dilemma. It's a far cry from the Kitty cat days of 2 years ago, but what else is a mother of three to do?

Scout's Honor

Ken and I decided that Connor should participate in scouting this year. We knew that it would help him learn about team work, dedication and volunteering. Now as some of you know I am a former army reservist, so I am quite familiar with "wearing the uniform". When I was sworn in I remember Ken wishing he had been in the military. He has always had a fondness for the uniform as a former Cub Scout and ROTC member. Little did Ken know what he was in for when he went to the first pack meeting. They were desperate for some leadership help. When I saw the email asking for den leaders I did what any good scouting mom would do. I volunteered my husband. So now Ken is an assistant den leader to 18 very rowdy first grade boys. The first thing he did as a new den leader.....buy a new uniform. I mean quicker than you could say Dudley Do-Right that man had a uniform replete with new hiking boots, patches, and of course the official Scout bolo tie. I think all he needs is a campaign hat (see mounty hat) and he will look ready for the Canadian Border Patrol! The first scout outing? The fire station! Ken said the poor firemen couldn't wait for everyone to leave. Sad thing is they were only there a half hour. Let's hear it for the Hoover FD!

Kids say the darndest things

It's funny how people always ask me how the kids are doing with their new baby brother. I never got that question when it was just two kids, but I guess people just assume with three it must be complete mayhem if not anarchy at the least. So Kayleigh, being the middle child, often speaks to Cade on his level saying, "Goo-goo, ga-ga, baby, boo-boo..." Now Kayleigh likes to speak very loudly...in church, in the library, in the movie theatre... but especially when talking babytalk to Cade. One day she was right in his face doing her "goo-goo" routine and Cade started fussing. Connor, ever the watchful big brother said, "Stop it, Kayleigh! You're scaring him......You're scaring me!!!"
Now that Cade is 4 months old I sometimes pump at home if I need to do things in the evening like Kids market the other night. I was doing my best to discreetly pump a bottle for Cade, yet feeling a lot like a Holstein the whole time. Kayleigh walks up to me and just watches carefully for a good long minute. This does not help the whole milk reflex thing to have an audience, but I ask her if she needs anything. She says nonplussed, "They're both gonna win mommy!" I choke back a laugh and say, "Oh, it's a race?" " Yeah," she says. "And they're both gonna win!" OK, so now maybe I feel more like a thoroughbred.

Talladega nights

On our third day at the beach the kids wanted to go to Tracks for some games. We rode the go-carts multiple times. Connor even got a chance to ride a small go-cart by himself proving why you must be 16 to obtain a driver's license.

Chillin' at the pool

The pool at the army recreation center has a really neat waterfall in the middle of a large 1 foot platform that allows the kids to play all around it.

Probably the most time on our vacation was spent at the pool. Connor and Kayleigh have been swimming so much this summer they are like little fishes in the water. Even Cade dipped his toe in the pool.

Kayleigh felt a little of her inner diva and decided to do some modeling poolside for me.

Connor and Kayleigh both dove for objects in the shallow end (a great way to wear them out for nap time I have learned).

Captain of the ship

We crossed the Florida state line and the clouds opened up and the sun began shining. You could almost hear angels singing the halleluiah chorus. Our first day we made off to the beach for some sand and surf. Cade had his first view of the gulf water and even soaked his little toes in the warm water. We met a lady near us with a little girl Kayleigh's age that took a family photo for us. The kids enjoyed the waves but found all the seaweed to be a little yucky, especially when they found it under their bathing suits. We rented a pontoon boat and took the whole family for an hour on the Choctawhatchie Bay. Connor and Kayleigh each took a turn at the wheel. Cade was not too fond of his lifejacket, but he made the best of it and enjoyed the breeze off the water.

Beach Blanket Baby

On September 13th we took a trip to Destin, FL to the Army Recreation Center. We packed up everything including the kitchen sink, or the baby bathtub anyway. Poor Ken had to pack in the rain the night before with our neighbor Derek as we had to use our neighbor's roof carrier since it was pouring so hard and our's was not waterproof. Ken and Derek were drenched when they were done! Here we had not had any significant rain in over 3 months, but of course Murphy's law dictates we must have 24 hours of continuous rain the day before we leave. That morning in the rain we pulled out of the driveway at 6:07am headed to the beach. Thank God for DVD players and leapster games!

The last combo birthday party

The big birthday party for Connor and Kayleigh was Saturday August 12th at the fun factory. Together the kids had 25 friends with them to celebrate their special day with them. Kayleigh had a "My Pretty Pony" theme for her cake and Connor had a Batman theme. Most of Connor's class from Deer Valley came to his party, and Kayleigh had her friends from dance class and the neighborhood. A good time was had by all!

Introducing the Nelson Press

Friday, August 11, 2006

This is the first official entry of the Nelson Press blog. The Nelson family is Ken, Kirsten, Connor (6, but "turning 7 in less than 110 hours Mommy!"), Kayleigh (4), and little Cade (3 months). Cade gets his first official photo shoot on Tuesday, so I hope to get some pictures of him put in then. Until then we'll just have to use some of our crazy home pics of the kids in action.