Little Letters...

Last night, I was going to start a "date night" where I took each boy out for ice cream and homework. Arden was supposed to be first, and the only "rule" was that they had to help clean up and eat supper.

About 15 minutes before supper, Arden asked me for a snack, and I told him to wait. A few moments later, I hear a bag, and turn to see him sneaking crackers into his pockets, cramming them full.

I told Arden he had just lost ice cream, and he was devastated.

This morning, after the boys left for school, I found this...

He really is a little sweet heart. I'm glad he knows what he did, and that he apologized.

Fairy Princesses and little girls

After 4 boys, it is so wonderful (in most ways) to have a little girl.

Today I finally finished the fairy in Evie's room. I love getting to have some pink and purple in the room, and love even more that there are fairies in our house!

Piles of Laundry

I'm always amused at people who complain about their pile of laundry that they need to do, only to find out, it is a load, or maybe two that needs folded.

I swear I am constantly in the middle of at least 4 loads... here is what I am working on today... between caring for Evie, meetings, carpool, and the rest of the household duties.

Last day fun in the Waves...

Today was our last day. The kids rode rides all morning, and we spent a few hours in the wave pool!

Surfing fun...

The boys loved the surfing area, I think I took 400 photos of them today!

Mini Vacation!

We took a mini family vacation this week, and have had a blast!

If you haven't checked them out, Wilderness in the Smokies is a great place to go! They run specials that make it really affordable, and with it being the off season, we had the park to ourselves (well not totally, but there were very few people).

The waterpark has a great little grill (where surprisingly, there were options for our dairy-free kid), 4 water slides, a wave pool, a surf station, and two other "playset" areas for kiddos! It is always fun to go!

It's February!

That means it is Valentines time!

I decided to totally embarrass Rory this year... and Arden.

I have to admit, I got a few ideas from social networking sites, and google. I am not good with corny cards and such...

Here are the Gittings' 2014 Valentines for the boys... (Evie's will come next week)

Thumbs up to Logan...

This is a post for a local boy fighting brain cancer. You can find more info here about Logan Maney and his struggle and support!

Baby Sea Monkeys!

Apparently our sea-monkeys are mating!

We have 3 babies, and the males and females are "stuck" together!

Snow Day, Again.

Well, the road crews weren't able to get things cleaned up today in time for schools, so we have yet another snow day.

Rory was willing to go out with me this morning in the bitter cold for a few photos. I love this kid.

Surprise Snow Day!

We got up this morning with a surprise of snow! It wasn't in our forecast, and wasn't much. The schools weren't called until after the parents and buses had already arrived at school. It was quite an icy mess to be honest... The kids enjoyed it, even though it was just enough to play in.

The end of a LONG day...

I am finally at the end of a VERY long day.

I learned a few things this week that may help all of you readers...

#1. If you haven't had a ticket in 10+ years, when you are pulled over, ask the cop to reduce it.
#2. If you are in NC, you CANNOT go to the local DMV to get a copy of your driving record. You must either have 3 weeks to wait, or drive the 4.5 hours to Raleigh to pick it up from the headquarters.

Last summer I went to visit my grandmother in WV. While going through Abingdon, VA, I was pulled over. I was speeding, not awfully, but was speeding. I had no idea it was ok to ask the officer for a warning! I thought it had to be offered, but apparently not. So, a few months ago, with four children in tow, I went to court to plead my case, and the judge agreed that upon completion of an 8-hour driving class before tomorrow, and the presentation (by tomorrow) of a certified copy of my DMV record after the class was taken (to prove that I had no citations in between), to release the ticket and not make it "stick" or go on my record, he even waived the fine.

The class wasn't as easy to get into as I had thought, and wasn't offered in my county. With the holidays, there were a few less classes offered... so needless to say, it was a last minute thing. I was able to take my driving class on Saturday (which my ticket was less that HALF of the violation of the other students), and found out I couldn't get my driving record locally. I spent 9 hours driving today, starting at 5am.

I made it back to Asheville by 3 to pick my kids and carpool up from school.

Supper has been cooked and consumed; now I can finally relax. I think I may head to bed after a nice cool drink. I'm completely wiped out.

I'll admit it...

I am not a southern belle...

I have never cooked a pineapple upside-down cake. Even worse... I don't like them. At all.

But, my mommy was here, and she made one for my boys (cute hubbie included), and it was a hit... at least I think it was... don't you?

She's Here!

Grandma (Mama Ann) came to visit today!!! Whoo hoo. We went to a nice dinner, and the kids got some pencils and Evie got a new shirt! Arden made his first pineapple upside-down cake! We even made it with vegan cake, so Rory will get some too!

The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire...

Ok, not the roof, or really much of anything except the Christmas Tree...

Tonight was the annual Christmas Tree Burn at the Gittings house. Rory started the fire, in typical scout fashion... but it was too cold outside to enjoy for long.

The Kitchen Window...

What does your kitchen windowsill contain? Mine is what I would consider eclectic... It hosts a wooden rhinoceros (which in turn holds my wedding rings), a wooden carving of a pregnant woman embracing her mate, a random rock, a bird's nest, kaleidoscope,  an incense burner from New Mexico, and Rory's "New Mexico Jar"(the jar holds soil, rocks, cactus skeleton, and some random nature stuff from his trip to NM).

This window in particular, is never clean. Rain hits it on the outside, and of course the sink splashes on it regularly.

This is the one window, that overlooks my kids' play area. I love that I can stand and cook while watching them play in our back yard.

Not too much going on today...

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically my non-stop days. I run from here to there, carpool, sports, etc.

Today, my craziness also included Rory's performance at school. He was a Blacksmith during the colonial times. Here is a photo of my little man, in the costume he put together himself, along with the set he and his friends built at school. I'm quite proud of him!

Firsts, and Lasts...

So, with each child, they make their milestones, their firsts... first breath, first step, first day of school, first bike ride, etc...

Well, after 4 children, I am on my last set of firsts. While I am thrilled we are done having children, and love the size of our family, I am filled with biter-sweetness as I witness each of these last firsts passing.

Today was Evie's first day of pre-school. She turns three during the session, so she enrolled and started today... I may actually be in denial that she is growing up this fast... wasn't she born yesterday? Well, last week?

Nightly Routines

Everyone has routines. One of ours is that each night, I have to braid my son's hair. If we don't, his hair is a mess each morning. So here we are, after his shower...

While Daddy is away...

The oldest gets to be my date in the evenings.

Tonight, as a reward for helping me fold laundry, we watched a scary-ish movie and enjoyed peanuts together, without all the siblings bothering us (since they were in bed).