This morning

To the tune of...

There were five in the bed

and the little one said,

"GO AWAY!"

Favorite Place

Aa: "Mom, can we go to my favorite place for dinner?"
Mom: "Where is that?"
Aa: "You know. The one with the fancy writing on the outside."
Mom: thinking, thinking. "You mean Olive Garden? The place we went with Aunt Niki & Aunt Susie?"
Aa: "No. That's a good place too. No, the one with the orange and green writing on the outside..."
Mom: thinking, thinking. "Oh! Do you mean Village Inn?"
Aa: "YEAH! I love it there!"

My baby girl turned five last month. I couldn't let the year end without saying, " HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUDREY ANN!!" We're certainly glad she is part of our family!

Newborn

3 months

9 months

2 years old

3.5 years old - 1st year of Preschool

5 years old!

True Talent

Some October pictures

We had a fun Halloween this year. The Friday before, Audrey's preschool did a trunk-or-treat and party and Grace's school did a parade & party. Then on Saturday, we went to the combined wards' Halloween Bash & Trunk-or-Treat. Thankfully we had all this Halloween fun, so the kids weren't put out when Halloween actually quietly slipped by without them Trick-or-Treating or Knowing. :-) We are building Raggedy Anne & Andy costumes for us - this year it was the wigs. Everything else came from our closets or Goodwill or someone else's closet.

Raggedy Andy, George the Monkey, Snow White, Gabriella the Cheerleader, Raggedy Anne & Chip the Horse.

The Jolley Monkeys

And just a chubby pic of Ry

Little fishes

Halloween pictures to come or check on FB

Our little Cowboy

Happy birthday Rah-Rah!

A few videos

I just uploaded several photos from my life on to FB. But here are some videos ...

I was reading a talk during Family Home Evening and apparently Luke decided that it wasn't entertaining enough. This is how we ended the lesson.

Ryan loves to look at me and grin & "talk". Apparently he was very excited today (notice the waving arm). It's a long one but you can get the general idea after a bit.

Lucky

So as a mother of 4 children in this day and age, you often get looks and comments especially once people realize that they are all between the ages of 0-6 years. Often, I hear, "Wow! You've got your hands full!" or "Wow! You must be busy!"

Today, on the way into the mall with all four, a gal not much older than me, looked at us and smiling said:

"Wow! You are so lucky!"

Yes, yes I am.

This way or that way?

After a lot of thought, prayer and discussions, Michael decided to not go back to school this fall and has decided not to pursue a teaching career. A lot like the Wights (congrats Shar & Lars), after making the decision and letting his bosses at Veridian know, he was blessed with a full time position with them. He had to move to part time while he was in school so when he decided not to return, he was going to have to wait until a full time position opened up at VCU and then apply. However, VCU has a branch with a lot of Spanish-speaking members and so they created a full time, Spanish-speaking Loan Officer position for him at that branch! This is nearly unheard of within VCU. He had decided on Tuesday, told his bosses on Wednesday, had Thursday off and walked into the offer on Friday!

We feel really blessed!

Toot, toot!

So at some time in my life, someone said, "Sometimes you just have to toot your own horn." So, I'm going to. I started running a few weeks ago (yes, Marci, I'm running!), doing the www.coolrunning.com "Couch to 5K" program. I'm actually doing it and for the most part enjoying it. I've completed 2 weeks worth and been running outside in an Iowa summer. It's been humid, ready to storm and even cold. But I did it. I'm really proud of myself. I don't really want to run a 5K but I just wanted to do something for myself.

Also in my life, I have long hair. If you've seen me lately, you know that it's decent length. If you've known me for a long time, you know that it is really long for me! It's curly, not too frizzy and I'm loving it. My second goal is to grow out my hair to donate for Locks of Love. We'll see how long it takes!

As you can see, I'm just feeling pretty good being me. I've got 4 beautiful kids, a husband who worships me and my body, regardless of it's fluctuating shape and hairiness, wonderful friends who help keep me sane and a beautiful family that encourages, listens and laughs with me. We may not be exactly where we thought we'd be in our lives at this point, but I'm really liking where I'm at!

WANTED:

Boy dress-up clothes.

Contact Christian or Luke Jolley

Yummy breakfast

Ryan's blessing

Ry's baby blessing was this last Sunday. It was a very nice blessing performed by his daddy, with my brother Patrick (finally!) in the circle as well as his Iowa Jolley uncles & Poppa Royal and Timmy O., his honorary uncle. Poppa Michael was also here for the celebrations as well as RahRah and Poppa Hollywood, Uncle Tony, Aunt Julie & Sofia. After sacrament meeting, almost all the Jolleys and my fam came to our home for lunch. It was a busy place, but I think it went pretty well! It was a really nice weekend! Thanks for coming everyone!

Pink Tar Heels!

Getting ready to catch!

Audrey hitting the ball...


Gracie hitting the ball...


The girls fielding... (Audrey runs in, Grace stays on the line)

A world of pictures

My two bed buddies (Ry & Audrey)

When he saw this picture, Luke said "Rinin", "No," I said, "Luke!"

With his wonderful new cows at RahRah's.

(The older, iron ones had to be replaced by plastic ones. Luke doesn't know his own strength.)

Ry with Grandma & Grandpa Great

Cousins Sofia & Luke having lunch at RahRah's.

Grace and her best friend Percy.

I can't tell if she's squshing him to keep him there or petting him.

Go Tar Heels!

Last night was Grace & Audrey's first night of t-ball. They both received pale blue t-shirts & "Tar Heel" hats, which go nicely with their pink baseball gloves. They practiced with the rest of the 4, 5, and 6 years running to pick up a ball after another hit it off the tee. They learned how to run the bases (well, Audrey hung on to Michael's leg as she rounded the bases - she got a little embarassed after making a mistake) and then they moved on to groups. They learned how to hold the bat correctly, how to field a ball and how to throw.

They may not have the strength yet but my girls have good form! And Audrey stands like a ballerina, waiting to catch a ball, according to Coach Jay. How did he know? :)

Hopefully Audrey will participate tomorrow night. "Games" start in a week!

Really??

Scene: Me quietly nursing Ryan, watching GMA yesterday morning. Luke enters and turns off the t.v.

M: Luke, please turn the t.v. back on.
L: T.V. off
M: Yes, I know. Please turn it back on.
L: T.V. off. (shrugs) Sorry.

When did he get so smart? And why do my children decide that there's been enough t.v. time only when I'm watching it?

These are just more of our life right now... Luke is growing into his daddy. Grace is helping out her mommy all the time and Audrey is right there in the mix. Luke has discovered the basket under Ryan's bassinet. It serves as a corral for his "Chips" and a place for him to hang out. Luckily, Ryan is use to all that moving around!

Recent Luke story:

Me: "Luke, are your hands dirty?"

LJ: "Yep"

Me: "Come here so I can wash them off. (He runs off in the opposite direction.) Luke, come here. Your hands are dirty!"

LJ: "No they're not, Mom."

Another place Luke has discovered he likes to be....

Ryan's first week

Luke was a really nice big brother and lined up his horses for Ryan to look at while Ry soaked up a little sun. And all was good until Ryan's foot touched a horse....

Uncle Tony, Aunt Julie & Sofia came to visit also. Sofia really loves her new baby cousin! Thanks for coming up and visiting!

And our Glow Baby. Ryan's first weekend was spent on a Bili Blanket. He's still got a little bit of jaundice in him at 4 weeks but that first weekend he was a really nice yellow color. No pictures of Mom or RahRah holding him though. I was pretty much stuck to the couch for the weekend. The things we do for our babies... :)

The newest Jolley!

Ryan Gene was born on June 20th, Father's Day! It's been an adventure already. Everyone loves him and Luke's only concern at the moment is about Ryan nursing. He tells him "no" and doesn't like it. :) I hope you enjoy all the pictures I posted on Picasa. Let me know via email if you weren't able to see them.