Family Reunion

Alright everyone. I need your help. My brother and I have been selected as "Co-Chairs" to plan our family reunion next year. (It may seem like a long time away, but trust me, we are going to need all the time we can get!)

So, I need some fun ideas of where we can go. What vacation spots have you enjoyed?

It has to be somewhere that will appeal to a wide range of people: my dad/stepmom, 11 kids (some are in the 20s and single), 6 spouses, and 11 grandkids ages 1-12. Yikes. We'll be doing it sometime in the summer months because some of the siblings are still in college. The one idea that has come up so far is San Diego but I'd like to get more ideas!

ps. The last reunion was in Orlando, Florida

Look who's 3!

Megan celebrated her 3rd birthday this week. It is hard to believe that it has already been three years since we brought home that tiny bundle from the hospital.

She loved doing "Heavy, heavy hangover thy poor head" and after Peter did it to her, she wanted to put a present on his head.

A new doll!

Colin loved chasing the balloons around

Colin trying to steal the show


This year, Megan could finally blow out her own birthday candles thanks to speech therapy.

My second attempt at decorating a cake. This time I remembered to put frosting between the two layers.

Peter and Chris spent quite a lot of time putting together the swing, crib, and stroller that came with Megan's doll. Assembly was a lot harder than you'd think!

Megan's First Day of Preschool

Megan started pre-school on Wednesday. (See here for an explanation.) She was so excited to take her new markers and crayons in her Princess backpack!

I stayed for about an hour the first day and then left her. As soon as I walked outside I broke down and cried the whole 20 minute drive to pick up Colin from my friend's house.

We had Megan ride the school bus home the first day to get her used to it and she loved it! She was so excited the next morning to get on the bus again, but once she was strapped in the car seat and realized I was not staying, she screamed and cried. The bus driver and the monitor told me she would be fine so I left. Thank goodness Peter was still home because I cried.

She is doing better every day both with the bus and with school, but I am still having a tough time with it. I'm sure every mother feels this way...just tell me it gets easier!!

I want her to learn and grow and my hope and prayer is that by Kindergarten, she'll be at the same speaking level as her peers. This preschool is something that will help her to do that. I try to keep reminding myself of that and focus on the positive things about this. It means that I will get a lot more one-on-one time with Colin. It means I can do errands and visiting teaching in the mornings with a great deal less stress. It means I can get some projects finished that have been long overdue, like our home food storage. And it means that I will appreciate the time I do get to spend with my children even more.