Hello and Goodbye to the Last 15 Months!

Why hello there strangers!

I know.. I know.. Where in the world have I been? Let's see where I can begin on updating you all on the past year. I guess I can break it down to the top five moments for my family and I:

5. We have welcomed many new people into our family. From our sibling's weddings to new babies, the family is rapidly growing!

My boys and I * May 2014
photo credit: Amanda Nippoldt Photography

4. We took the plunge and decided that we would 'officially' homeschool the boys.  It has been so much fun!  Parker will be starting 'kindergarten' this fall and Preston and Spencer will be continuing with their pre-school 'curriculum' while Charlie adorably drools in his highchair.

3. I started sharing my passion for essential oils with others.  What started as something that I used on myself and my kids when we were sick, has turned into something amazing and gratifying.  I have made new friends, learned more about something that I already loved and have helped more people start their journey to a healthier lifestyle than I could have ever imagined.

2. We moved into our new home on May 12th, 2012.  I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful it is to have us all under one roof again!

1.  The birth of Charlie! We welcomed our 'not-so-little' bundle on December 15th, 2013 after a wonderful labor and delivery.  Strange to hear someone say that, huh?  I will have to share his birth story soon.

I know you all have missed my family and I dearly (insert eye roll and sarcastic laugh here) and I cannot wait to be back to blogging and filling you all in on the crazy antics of my family and I!

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twelve month rewind...

Oh. My. Goodness.  Seriously, where did the year go?  It seems like yesterday that Preston was just born and now we're already over half way to meeting our newest little man!  So, I thought I would take a minute to look back on our last twelve months so see if *maybe* I can figure out when I lost my sanity...

Minnesota Children's Museum visit on New Years Day 2011

Valentine's Day.. They were so tiny!

Family Trip to Cancun, Mexico

Easter

Parker's First 'Real' Haircut by Mom

A Second Birthday!

A Baptism

A Party

Family Photo Shoot at the River

Concerts in the Park

Standing!

Crawling!

A Parade

The 4th of July at Nana's Cabin

The County Fair

LOTS of DANCING!

Craft Projects

Messy Mealtimes!

A Wedding

(photo credit: Joe Kelley Photography)

A Photo Shoot

(photo credit: Helena Lynne Photography)

(photo credit: Helena Lynne Photography)

A Car Show

Walking!

Family Photo Shoot

(photo credit: Joe Kelley Photography)

Another Birthday Boy!

(photo credit: Joe Kelley Photography)

A Christmas Card

Christmas and announcing that the third baby (due in May 2012) is a BOY!

Before I wrote this post, I felt like we didn't do a whole lot this year.  But now I have realized why in the world I am so tired at the end of every day!  Hope this post finds you all in a time of happiness and health and I am wishing you all the best in the coming year!

daily report

Things I have to report today...

1. Last week was spent wonderfully... A visit from one of my sisters, bumming around the house and a visit from my mother-in-law.

2. I am tired. Like 'drained' tired.

3. My children are driving me insane today.  I cannot wait for naptime so I can cuddle up in bed, with a bowl of apple crisp and some ice cream and catch up on the latest episodes of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (insert judgement here).

4. Last, but certainly not least... The Kelley family is expanding (and so is my waistline)....

Parker is proud to announce (along with Ben, Preston and I):

'There is a baby in Mommy's tummy.'

After the miscarriage in July, we decided to let the cards fall as they may and well.. They fell right where we wanted them to.  I actually never got back to my original cycle after the miscarriage, so I called the clinic (after a very obvious positive home pregnancy test) and rambled on, to an answering machine, about when I thought I concieved, blah blah blah... They made me an appointment to have my blood drawn and then we were going to go from there.  The nurse said it would have to be at atleast 5000 and then they would have me back two days later to see if it double.  Well, I never even needed a second appointment.  My levels came back somewhere around 112,000.  The nurse almost laughed as she said, 'Yeah.. You're pregnant'.  I went in a couple of days later to see the little bugger via ultrasound. 

The baby looks great, and 'it' is measuring right on track... The only upsetting thing is that I have another blood clot on the side of the placenta, so they are going to want to monitor that again.  Hopefully this one will not rupture the way Preston's did (I will save that story for another day).

As of right now all I know is that I feel great (minus being tired) and there is a little vampire/alien thing growing inside me.

Oh... I am due May 6th, 2012

(I was 9 weeks on Sunday)

Yes, three under the age of three.. We ARE that crazy!