I am a bad blogger

I am a bad blogger. I could lie and say that I realize this and will be better about it in the future but why try to fool you or myself. I love blogging but lately it has seemed like it was another thing on the to do list and it never made it to the top. Plus I think that lately I have felt I should practice if the if you don't have something nice to say theory.

Things in the land of love and chaos have been feeling a little overwhelming chaotic. I wish I knew the reason for the chaos so I could turn it off. I know the source, I just don't understand the reasoning. I am hoping we are now on a path to less chaos with the ultimate destination a happier family. I know it's possible but man the map to that destination looks awful long and hard but then again if you look back at the journey to this point it probably looks the same.

For now I continue the path and hope the road isn't as bumpy as I anticipate and that some of the pit stops will include checking in with you my friends.

Names, Names, Names, everybodys got one

Kelly at Kelly's Korner hosts, Show Us Your Life, each week. This week she is doing Kid's Names and we have several of those so I thought I would participate. I love names and have tons I wanted to use but here is the story of how each of our kiddos their names. All of our kids have 3 names plus our last name. They each have names in honor of someone in our lives. So lets start with the oldest.

William Kenneth Monroe or better known as Liam. He is named William after my step father and great Uncle. Kenneth after both my hubby and Father in Law's middle names. Monroe was the last name of lots of my family on my mom's side.

Then we have Alexis Grace Marie. Alexis is the name she came to us with at 19 months old. When her adoption was final we changed her middle names to Grace after my paternal grandmother and Marie is my middle name and I believe is also after one of my mother's grandmothers

Next up is Landon Joshua Bryan. He came to us at 1 month old as Joshua Bryan and when his adoption was final we added Landon to the beginning of his name. Landon we just liked. Joshua was from his birth family but is also my cousin's name. Bryan is the middle name of my brother and also his birth father.

Brenna Gwendolynne Anne, such a big name for our tiny daughter. We picked her up at the hospital as Christina Lynne. When we knew she was going to be ours forever we named her Brenna, I have always loved Brenna no family name but if we wouldn't have had Landon with Bryan as a middle name Brenna would have been Brynna and after my brother. Gwendolynne is a name Jason liked but also incorporates her birth middle name so she still has part of that. Anne is for my sister and mother, they share that middle name as well as part of my friends middle name.

Finally we have Rogan Wayland Charles. When brought him home from the hospital he was Bryan Christopher. We weren't planning on his arrival to our family and weren't sure what his long term story would be. Shortly after we got home from the hospital with him Jason and I were discussing what his name would be if he stayed with us. We weren't sure but than the TV said "Hi my name is Rogan" We didn't see what it was but we both looked at each other and decided that was a cool name. The Wayland is Jason's grandfather's middle name. He was a cool guy that I unfortunately only got the pleasure of meeting once. Both he and my Grandfather were Harry W's which I thought was neat but Jason's grandfather had the neater middle name so we went with that. Charles is my Father's middle name, my great grandfather's first name and one of Jason's awesome uncle's name. We thought of keeping Christopher but I have a past with a Christopher that I am not found of and even though it wouldn't have been after him I couldn't bring myself to leave it as part of his name.

Other names I love and have considered in our journey to name our youth are for girls Christianna, Paxton (after the character in Message from Nam) Fallon, Harper ( we actually sometimes call Brenna, Harper B. In fact we used it so often that she use to tell me her name wasn't Brenna it was Harper B or Harper Beeb) and Calliope. For Boys I have a shorter list as we got to name 3 of them. I still like Grayson, but it is so popular, Derek, and Airton.

Those are our names and we sticking with them. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what we were up to.

Always Wanted an Ipod Touch

If you have always wanted to join in the fun of playing and learning on the road you have a chance at winning your very own Ipod Touch from Living Locurto You can find all kinds of fun apps from games and puzzles, to news and information as well as about anything you can imagine. So go an visit Living Locurto for your chance at your very own Ipod Touch and learn and have fun on the run.

Halloween is coming

I love Halloween but for some reason this year I am having trouble get in the mood for Halloween. I am usually planning my pumpkins, making costumes for the kids, finding fun snacks to make for the preschools and so far I have done nothing and it is bumming me out. I wanted to come up with a fun costume theme for the kids but so far nothing has struck me as wonderful yet, that they would agree to. However, my stepdad called yesterday and suggested making them Snow White and 4 of the dwarves. I love this idea but not sure I can get Liam and go for it. Thought we might watch the movie and see if that might convince them. If anyone has a great suggestions for themed costumes please feel free to share.

In the past we have done. Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger



We did a Ghostbuster and a ghost. Along with a sheep and what was suppose to be Bo Peep, but Lexi outgrew Bo Peep before Halloween came around



Then my favorite was the characters from Mario. Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toadette


Last year brought us Pac Man fever with Pac Man, Inky,Blinky,Pinky and Clyde


For more costume fun visit Living Locurto and see what other fun costumes people have come up with.

I am back again

It has been a little hectic in the our family lately. I keep thinking I will get back to the blog when I get time to catch up but realize now catching up is never going to happen. Since we last spoke Rogan was officially adopted, Landon turned 5, MaMee turned 36, Liam turned 9, the kids went back to school, I joined the board for the preschool, I volunteered to be a Read Across America mentor at the kids school, Alexis started and ended cheerleading, Liam joined cub scouts and started the soccer season, Landon lost his two bottom teeth, Brenna and Rogan started Parents Day Out at the preschool, I got Cricut expression machine, we arranged some rooms in our house and repainted and organized our bedroom and that is just the highlights. Now here it is almost the middle of October and I know I will never catch up so I will give you some photos of the going ons around here and call it caught up. If I get inspired to write about some of the highlights you will find them in their own posts.
Our new family at Rogan's adoption hearing.
The crowd that came to see the adoption proceedings.
Liam ready to take on 3rd grade







Little Landon ready for Kindergarten. He good hardly stand the excitement of finally getting to ride that bus.



Ready to go be a big 1st grader.



Liam and his birthday drum set



Liam and Jason, the mii's, skydivng



Sir Rogan of Birthday Partyville







The Boys birthday cake. Their was a knight for each of them



The cousins from Ohio came to visit.


Landon and his big green machine he got for his birthday. (Don't know what was up with his headband though)



With our first travel bug find, while Geocaching

Landon minus his first loose tooth

In honor of the love of my life

Today marks 18 years since the day this picture was taken. In those 18 years Jason, you have made the happiest wife ever. I can't believe I am lucky enough to have been able to share these years with you. 18 years ago as we stood posing for this picture we never thought we would have be celebrating our 18th anniversary with 5 kids 9 and under. That we would have battled 9 years to get the oldest and suffer two miscarriages along the path. That we would sign up to be foster parents and sign adoption papers on a 1 year old 2 1/2 weeks before our 18th anniversary. Although we did speak of adopting one day I don't think we planned on adopting 4. While the journey hasn't been easy, I couldn't have asked for a better person to take it with. Thank you for always being there, to love me, to listen to me, to hold me and to care. I adore you my husband, and can't wait to see what the next years bring to us. You rock baby.

In 18 years we have went from



to this..












































all because two people fell in love.

Sometimes life's just too crazy

Things have been crazy around these parts lately. Let's see we have packed up the car and headed to Chicago for 2 nights with all 5 kids with 2 days of preparation. Then the day after we got back it was Landon's big 5th birthday which was cause for big celebration and a new set of wheels just for him. 5 days later was my 36th birthday which hubby did wonderful by me. Then 2 days after that the boys had their annual birthday bash. The most exciting news of the chaotic last few weeks is that we officially added a branch to our tree. Our official adoption date for Wubba. I have lots of intentions to blog the excitement that has been our live lately but some how time just slips by and I don't get it done. So be on the look out for future blog entries covering these exciting topics and more. A preview to get you started