I was not invited to this picnic...

In fact, I didn't even know about it until I uploaded my photos. Archiving their own mischief could get them into trouble one day. Makes my job easier. Tell on themselves!

Cleaning the Car Battery

Daddy's extra helping hands.

They could be filming a safety video!

Or not!

In season

It's been a while since my last post. We've had a lot going on at the "Jelli" (Jess and Kelli, in case you didn't notice) household as of late. If asked to account for the past week, all I can say is four kids. 'Nuff said, right?! So when I am driving/walking/sitting at parks-in public with my kids, I get some pretty funny experiences and ideas to write about, but never any time to get them down on paper (or screen). Maybe I should go old school and put a notebook in my pocket or something. Anyway, today's story is really too funny to let go with out sharing! Here goes...

We are in south Florida. There are a few things one needs to know to survive in Florida. The biggest, it's hot, always have water and sunscreen with you wherever you go. Always. The other, watch out when it's "in season." What does that mean? No, I am not referring to deer season, or any type of fishing season. I am referring to our massive jump in population that occurs in, oh say mid-November. This is when a bazillion of our closest elderly friends storm the beaches fleeing from the icy north. Why does this involve me you ask? Mainly because it means adding about 5-10 extra minutes to whatever I am doing because of the population increase. We are lucky. We are in a smaller city, so aside from a longer wait at Wal-Mart and a few extra minutes in traffic, we don't notice the invaders. However, I get a crash course in geriatrics 101 every time I go to Costco. They seem to love Costco. Last year it was a lady who was two people behind me in a line that was not moving. She was wearing the soles off of her shoes pacing around, shaking her head and talking about how long this line was taking. When we made eye contact, she says to me, "I'm from New York." That's it. Like that is supposed to explain her inability to wait in line. It's not like she had a screaming child (or 4) that she was trying to keep from entirely melting down. Nope. "I'm from New York." If you ask me, she should be better at waiting line than the rest of us. She should be used to doing everything with millions of her closest friends every where she goes, right?!
Anyway, on to today's funny. I got run over "by a sweet old lady in a motorized cart." Not really, but I did get run over by a very impatient man on a mission to get out of the store. He ran over three of my toes and my two inch flip flop with the wheel of his cart and then looked at me like I was an idiot for putting my toes under there. He shuffled off before I could explain to him that I was trying to legitimately chip my toenail polish (or break my toes trying) so that I could get a pedicure. Seriously. He would've understood if he would have waited for my explanation. Instead, I am sure that he is telling all of his shuffle board friends how this young dumb girl put her foot under his cart (trying to trip it?).

Islamorada

On a whim, we decided to go down to the Keys during Christmas break. Our original intentions were to drive down to Key West, see some sights and then drive back to a more northern Key for a hotel room to Shorten the drive home. As far south as we are, it's still a good 5 hour drive without traffic. With, now that's a different story. We got about 30 miles from Key West, along with a bajillion of our closest friends when we decided to flip a U-turn and go check into our hotel and just have fun there. We had dinner at a nice restaurant, watched the ;restaurant staff feed some enormous fish, enjoyed a small Sunset Celebration and capped the evening off with a family hot tub soak. It was very nice and even relaxing.

Me and Hubby

At our hotel. Hammocks are on my list of top ten enjoyable things. Even with four kids climbing all over me, it was still great.

One of the reasons that hammocks are so great. The view!

Father/Daughter sweetness.

Father/Son antics!

Brotherly love.

The locals say that it's dead around there in September and October, so well will try for another Key West trip then. Any one want to join us?

9 Months

I took Lexi in for her nine month check up this week. She was officially nine months on December 22, but we got her in for her appointment on January fifth. (Happy birthday to Chris!) Anyway, here are her stats:
Weight- 16.13 pounds (20%)
Height- 27 inches (25%)
Head- 17 and a half inches (70%)
Yes, you read it right. Does her head really look 50% bigger than the rest of her? I guess we aren't "Melinheads" for nothing! When I had Matthew in for one of his well baby visits, the AF Tech that did his measurements asked me who had the big head in the family! Of course I blamed Jess! Who says that? (Out loud, I mean!)
As a nine month old, she has many tricks she has mastered and is attempting. The biggest, she is a walker. She walks over crawling now. She took her first steps around 8 and a half months. She started clapping while we were in the keys (December 29), dances (bounces) to music, waves and even says her version of Hi. She has found my Tupperware cupboard, it's the only one that isn't locked, and she loves it. I am constantly kicking plastic things around the kitchen. She loves all of the food that she has tried. I think that peaches and bread are her favorite, but who knows really, she devours everything I give her. She is sleeping pretty well. I put her to bed about 8:00 and she sleeps until 6 a.m.. She will occasionally wake up because she lost her pacifier and can't find it. Yesterday was her first time being set free at the playground, and she loved it. Summer took her down the toddler slide, and she loved it. She also loved the swings. Her favorite toys are socks, a baby doll, keys, the remote control and phones. Yesterday I found her standing up on a box of diapers that was on the floor. I guess there's more monkey business in my future!

Biding our time at Dr. Wicina's office.

Sugar Detox...

It's a must!

Resourceful, much?

Talk about improvising! I think that bodes well for her future!