Life is a Beach!

Well, after a 12 hour van ride, we made it to Hilton Head Island South Carolina. It has been awesome! We have been having a great time hanging out as a family and relaxing and just enjoying one another. Brian had to leave this morning because of school and that wasn't my favorite, but we'll be okay. My mom and dad have been awesome and I've been able to relax and take a bit of a break.

We had our annual pirate night on Monday and the kiddos enjoyed dressing up and playing Pirate putt-putt. E was hilarious! She really liked the putt putt holes with tunnels and was horribly disappointed when we would get to one that didn't have one. At one point, she was so distraught, she just put her head down on a rock and cried.

We've had our National Geographic encounters while here. We've seen lots of jelly fish (yuck), dolphins (cool), sea stars and horse shoe crabs. Yesterday, some guy was trying to catch a stingray with a beach towel (i didn't say he was the most intelligent guy). Apparently we are here during sting ray mating season and I've heard of 3 people being stung by the things this week. What the kids don't know... (they'd never get in the ocean again!)

Here are a few photos to either make you jealous that we are here are you're not or thankful that we are here and you are not!

Yeah, it sounded like a good idea...

Well, the countdown to Hilton Head begins. Well, it began a few days ago, I just got on board and realized we leave in 2 days and I'm still thinking I've got all the time in the world. Why is it that it takes more time to get ready to go on vacation than it does to enjoy vacation?!

Everyone is done with school as of today. Hannah and I dropped off Gerbera daisies and Strawgrass flowers to her teachers. Granted, we picked up all the supplies on the way to the school and were potting plants in the parking lot (oh the things I never thought I'd do). Hannah told me that she is going to miss seeing her teachers the most over the summer (which makes it a bit easier to let her go full day next year- an aside- is it really possible that she's able to be in Kindergarten?). She also said that she's going to miss Nathan (her little friend with Down's Syndrome that she loving looks after during the day). Luckily, Nathan has a brother in Zach's class and a brother E's age and we're scheduled for some play time here pretty soon.

Zach had field day today and I picked up a mini Flash (i love face paint- and arm paint, and leg paint). He tie dyed (one more thing for me to take care of before we leave- thanks!) and played and had a great time at Field Day at the school. He got his report card and got straight E's (which is like straight A's). He was very excited. He also got to meet the incoming 1st graders to his class. As he is in a Montessori environment, there are kids in 1,2 and 3 in his room. He will be in second grade next year and found out that one of his friends from Kindergarten, who is a year younger than him, will be in his class. He was so excited. He told me that the best part is that there are more boys than girls in the upcoming 1st grade class. Right now, the poor estrogen overloaded boy is stuck being the only 2nd grade boy in his class due to a series of random events. Hopefully, he'll pick up one or two more.

My friends from Albania are in town too trying to raise support, so as I've been trying to do all those things you are suppose to do to get ready for vacation, I've been getting the kids ready to be done with school and helping them out as much as I can. If you know of anyone who is interested in supporting overseas ministries, let me know. As there are few they can raise support from in Albania, they are truly in need of help from us. They are wonderfully committed people and I wish we had the money to just give them everything they need!

I suppose I've procrastinated enough and should go finish folding laundry, putting it away, getting it out to pack, making dinner, praying that E doesn't have an ear infection, etc... I know that while we are in Hilton Head, it will all be good, but right now... I could use a drink (of water of course! :) ).

Stop the Crazy Bus, I Wanna Get Off!

whew. It has been a really busy past few days and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight until we leave for Hilton Head. I don't know if that is good or bad. I'm still deciding.

We took Zach and Hannah to the Reds Game on Friday night to see the Indians get destroyed by the Reds. Zach was so excited and Hannah, well, Hannah made it to the Cotton Candy then crashed. She woke up in the 8th inning for the walk and the fireworks. Brian got tickets to the game on Saturday afternoon and after going to Zach's soccer game and a bridal shower, we kicked back with my dad and watched the Indians get destroyed by the Reds again. Brian was beyond frustrated. I won't even go there- the guys understand I suppose.

The kids have been in a funk the past week and just picking at each other and me and we're just tired of each other not being perfect (which creates all sorts of problems). They are crazy right now and I'm trying to keep it together. Yesterday was pretty rough and God just encouraged me with a verse from Isaiah that in essence says "I will sustain you and carry you" which is good because I feel like I weigh a ton and am tired of carrying myself around.

I've also started feeling overwhelmed by this whole getting ready for the baby thing. My friend Sarah is throwing a shower for me and I've been registering for stuff that we've given away or is just so old it is embarrassing to go out in public with. There is just so much stuff to choose from. It is overwhelming. The advantage of having done this 3 times before I know what we will actually use and what will not get any use other than a space collector. I found a stroller online for less than half of what it normally retails for and we bought that and it came today. The kids helped (if you can call it that) me put it together and then made a rocket out of the box.

I think the biggest challenge is the room situation. Brian's mom and stepdad and sister are coming down this weekend to help us strip wallpaper and patch walls and try to get a good start on what will be the girls' room, but I just don't see how this is all going to work. It stresses me out and then I just decide I'll worry about it later and eat some sorbet.

Well, I'm going to watch the end of American Idol. I'm a sucker, I know.

Just another day in the life of a Kershner

Sorry, I haven't posted pics of Zach's modern artwork of the lawn, nor have I posted anything new. I've been pondering the meaning of life... no, I just haven't had much to say. It has actually been quite nice not to have any crazy nor funny things to post. Sometimes quiet is just good.

Today, however, was one of those days that seemed to make me wish I could have spread it throughout the week last week. It started when I was summoned to make to PTO budget for next year as the governing money people were handing out money tonight and needed it like, yesterday. I am a letter person- not a number person. So, being me, I of course did it and tried to not forget something important.

Then the phones just stopped working. No dial tone, no nothing. After walking up and down the stairs like a million times and taking phone cords in and out of filters and jacks and phones and calling my husband- who is by the way suppose to know HOW TO FIX ANYTHING, had to leave to get Hannah. I am a task oriented type person and this just wasn't cool. So, after getting Hannah and realizing that because I had to use the morning to do the budget for PTO (which I am not even doing next year) and to try to fix the phone we had no food in the house because I couldn't go to the store; I took both girls to the store. I've not taken 2 kids to the store for a REALLY LONG TIME. I remember why now.

I'm not going to go into the details, but having 2 kids and being pregnant, not having to bag my own groceries would have been nice. By the time I took away the candy bars and the junk they tried to get into the bag home, I was ready for a drink.

Getting home, I had to unload the van, get lunch and still fix the blasted phone. By the time that was done, I got to pack the girls back into the van and drive back to the school to go get Zach. I hate the van some days.

Kids are good, Brian and I are here, life isn' t that bad. Hopefully nothing too exciting to report later!

Breaking Child Labor Laws?

As Brian and I were getting ready to do some work outside today, Zach announced to us that he was ready and wanted to cut the grass. He's only 7. I'm sure we're either going to have children's services called on us or else no one will ever let their kid come to our house again- because we let him. One of us stood/sat and watched as he powered his way through it. God bless him, he did it. Granted, the first attempt was full of places that needed to be 'helped'- but Z wouldn't let us help- HE FIXED IT HIMSELF. So, I just sat and watched. Once I find the cord for the computer, I'll download pics of Zach owning the lawnmower.

RIP Petey Fast Fish

Okay, so Zach has had this betta fish for like a year and a half or so. It's been a good fish- biting the heads off of other fish, swimming in his little aquarium, doing the fish things fish are suppose to do. About 2 weeks ago, Petey stopped eating and wasn't quite as Red as he had once been. We knew the end was in sight. For literally the past 10 days this fish has been lying on the bottom of the aquarium willing itself to live. It refused to die. It was starting to get to the point where I thought the blasted thing wasn't going to die- ever. It was doomed to just lie on the bottom of the tank.
A friend of mine told me to put the thing out of its misery, but I started to think about having the conversation with the kids about euthanasia. I decided we're not ready for that yet. And, I cannot lie and just do it. I've been stuck with this 98% dead fish in my kitchen for the past few days.
Well, last night, Petey finally bit it- I mean he died. He was lying in his favorite spot in the aquarium and looked as peaceful as a fish should (???).
So now since Brian has school tonight, I get to fish the thing out of the corner of the aquarium and then bury it in the yard- because fish deserve the same dignity as any other pet.
Zach is doing well and informed me today that he would like a gekko. I told him to start saving.

Big Ahh-Ahh Poop

I made a quick jaunt to the zoo today to buy some cheap tulips ($5 for like 40 tulips) to replenish my poor ravaged flowers today and we stopped by a few animals. I need to say I don't understand Hannah. Hannah for those of you who don't know is DEATHLY fearful of ants. This is the same girl that is willing to jump off anything, hug any strange dog and will probably lead us to have a farm before it's all said and done full of homeless animals. Anyway, Hannah wanted to see the snakes of all things- and the more venomous the better.

Then Elizabeth wanted to see the gorillas aka big ahh-ahh's. So as we are watching them, there is one that is hiding and there are some that are playing. The funniest was that she saw the tailbone of one of them and started yelling Big Ahh-Ahh poo!
They aren't really doing anything spectacular, but for whatever reason, from the time we left (2:00) until she went to bed 9:30 (she was a bit stubborn) all she would talk about was the big Ahh-Ahh's. Bigg Ahh-Ahh's hiding. Big Ahh-Ahh's poo NON-STOP.
At one point we were getting ready for a bath and she said Bigg Ahh-Ahh poo I poo too. She then took off her diaper, sat on her potty and pushed so that her face was all red. Nothing came, but God bless her- she tried.

Breakfast discussion

The kids were up early this morning (as usual for a Saturday). Zach had made toast for everyone before I got down, but at least waited for me to help with the butter and jelly. We had some blackberry jam which Zach was trying to explain to Hannah tastes good. Somehow we got on the subject of blueberries to which Hannah replied, "Blueberries are my favorite. I like them even more than hummus and salami."

It just struck me kind of funny. Other than that I am off to Baltimore tomorrow for a certification for work. I'll be back on Tuesday night.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips...

I love my tulips. It verges on not healthy. It is my favorite part of spring to see the tulips that I have planted along the side of the house in full bloom. Each year after the zoo finishes their zoo bloom, I buy a bag of bulbs and plant more. I cannot get enough. It makes me happy every time I pull into my driveway.

The kids and I have been weeding and watering around them and getting the garden ready and planted and it has been wonderful. I love it. Everything but the pollen, but that's soon to end...

So, back to my tulips. As I was lying on the couch after dinner, my mom got a curious look on her face and said "uh, miss, aren't those your tulips that just went by your house?" I jumped up to the window to see a little boy about 5 holding 10 of my precious tulips in assorted disarray and about another 6 in various forms of carnage near the yard and driveway.

I did what anyone would have done, I went after him- barefoot and pregnant. I caught up with him and learned that his sister had wanted to put the flowers in her hair. She had taken off to let her brother deal with the consequences (typical older sibling). I found their older sister and eventually got to their house. The little girls mom was embarrassed as I told her what had happened. As angry as I was about my flowers being ruined, I couldn't help but soften a bit to think that this little girl couldn't help herself. When she finally appeared at the end of the driveway, I told her I wasn't angry with her, just disappointed. I pointed out that not only had she taken flowers that hadn't belonged to her, but she RIPPED OUT THE BULBS and those flowers couldn't grow back. She felt bad and apologized. I told her if she had asked, I would have cut flowers for her to take, she didn't have to steal. I then gave her mom the flowers and left.

The sad thing is that up until the moment the words left my mouth, I'm not sure what I would have done if she had asked if she could have one of my flowers. Yes. I am that selfish.

I'm blaming it all on the earthquake

I just need a second to vent and then I'll feel better. It's just been one of those days. My dad says that if an earthquake in Cincinnati wakes you up, it's a strange day If I weren't pregnant, I'd have had a beer by now, heck, I just might go ahead anyway....

First off, at 5:40ish this morning I was awakened from a dead sleep to my bed moving, the windows shaking and this strange sound outside. I thought I was completely going insane. I asked B if he felt it and he said yeah. It made me feel better. What did not though, was Zach being awakened by it and Hannah being awakened by it and starting the day off at predawn hours. That just isn't right.

So anyways....

Tuesday, I was taking Elizabeth to the Y for a gymnastics class and THOUGHT I was out of the school zone. I got a ticket because I was literally 10-15 feet away from where it ended. Mind you, there are NO SIGNS telling you where it ends. Luckily, I wasn't even going the regular speed limit, but it's just the principle of the thing... So then yesterday, I was at an intersection and there was a bus that was trying to turn so I had to back up so it could make the turn. I checked the mirrors and all I could see was a truck slowing down so I put the van in reverse and my foot off the brake and a second later BAM I hit a very SMALL vehicle that was pulled up too close to me so I couldn't see it out the mirrors. Luckily the guy was really nice about it and no harm no foul. Today, as I was taking Zach home from school (remember- Hannah is still sick) our tire blew up as someone cut me off in my lane and I nicked a curb to avoid the accident. So, Brian, my knight in shining armor, came and put on the spare (could you picture me doing that? I'd have needed the beer for sure). I then had to take it to Sam's where if it had been one of the other 3 new tires I put on 4 months ago would have been replaced for free/very cheap, and pay to have the rouge thing replaced. It's just not been a good car week. I give up.