More snow days

After the holiday on Monday, the kids got 2 more days off due to snow and bad weather! We did get out of the house on Tuesday and went to the library. I got to watch part of the inaguration there and the kids got to play with others, but, most important, we got out of the house! Much needed and a nice change of scenery!

Wednesday, I called Jamie to see what they were up to. Since thy had no plans, I had Tim drop Brooklyn at our house for the day. It was a nice thing for Bobby, since he was getting ansy, gave Brookie a change of scenery and Jamie some time with just her and baby Jack. I really think that it was a win win for everyone!

Brookie came over just in time for lunch. Amaryllis went down for a nap and out came the playdough for the big kids! They played so nice together and played with the play dough for almost 2 hours! It was awesome. By that time, Amaryllis had woken up and they played for a bit in the kids room and when Amaryllis took another nap, the 2 older ones played on the computer some! It turned out to be a great snow day after all!

Pajama Day

Monday was Pajama Day at our house! Bobby was out of school for a holiday, which was a good thing cause it would have been a snow day if he wasn't. So it was COLD outside, Bob had to go to work, and the rest of us staying in out jams the whole day! We lazed around, played on the computer and played the Wii some too! I think that Bobby though it was great fun to stay in his jams all day!

Bobby and Amaryllis playing on the computer together!!
What nice siblings!

Wii Fit FUN!

We were lucky enough to "borrow: a Wii Fit from my brother (thanks Douglas) over the holidays. Yesterday, while I was at work, Bob and Bobby got it out for the first time. I had been lazy about doing it, claiming I couldn't find the time. What I really needed was for someone else to do it first and then I would be ready to do it myself in the future. Last night at dinner, Bobby started talking about doing the "Wii board", so after putting Amaryllis to bed, we took it out once again to Set Mommy up" on it!

I learned that Bobby was right on target, Bob is "overweight", and I am normal. After looking at all the Mii's together though, I look rather plump next to Bobby's skinny guy! Bobby showed me a few of the things on it and then I got my turn! I can totally see how this thing could be addicting! It really is fun and it's nice to try and beat yourself too. Some of the "excersises" are more like games, so you want to compete to get a high score or time. The real excersises, well, I'm gonna have to learn how to push myself on those! It is fun and now that I really know how easy it is to get out and start, I have no excuse not to get it out daily to do it for at least 30 minutes. And I have to say that I do feel the effects of it a little!

Bobby doing the "Warrior" pose in the yoga section.

Fun at the Playhouse

We have an indoor play area in Boone called the Playhouse. Last year we got we were able to get a membership to it, and it has been a source of great fun! We would go once a week, Thursdays, and meet up with some of Bobby's friends. Mommy was able to to have some adult chat too, always a nice thing! Well, since Bobby is in school now, he hasn't been able to go, but Amaryllis and I still enjoy going, plus Amaryllis gets to see some kids her own age and make friends too.

Although today wasn't our normal day to go, it sure was a perfect day. When we left to go there this morning at 10am, my car said that it was 2 degree's outside! Definitely not a day to go outside and play, but a great way to get out of the house! It was packed with people when we got there, but Amaryllis didn't care and jumped in to play with anything she could find! The one thing that was so hard to keep her off was the stairs that lead to a little loft area in the dramatic play section! It was a nice time out!

Playing the piano with a friend.

The top steps of the loft that I couldn't keep her off!

Nothing like a sunny day...

to make this school board go CRAZY! Yesterday school was cancelled due to... good question, cause I really am not sure. I know that we live in an area where one part of the county's weather is fine and another part is not, but COME ON!! It has been VERY cold up here in the mountains, but where is it really warm in the North these past few days?? It was cold, and might have been icy in the morning, but the sun was shining.

And today?? Woke up to a phone call stating that school was on a 2 hour delay. Nothing big around here, at least the kids would go to school, right? We have already had 7 snow days and have been able to make up a day that we lost. If the kids get past 10 days, they have to go to school on Saturdays! YIKES! Well, we decided to be lazy and slow moving this morning because we could. When I finally looked outside, it WAS snowing, but not even enough to cover anything. So we get ready and we are off to school. I was going to go in at lunch and have it with Bobby today, give the teachers a "duty free" lunch. Well, I get a call around 11am that I didn't need to come in because the kids were going to lunch then because they may get dismissed early. At 11:30, I get the call that school is being dismissed at 12:45!! And what is the weather like? SUNNY WITH A LITTLE SNOW THAT ISN'T STICKING!! I even checked the local weather guys site and the weather channel to see if something was headed our way, and nothing! We are so lucky that I don't work and am able to get Bobby at the drop of a hat, but I can't imagine those parents that work and have to deal with this! Well, when Amaryllis and I left the house to get Bobby, it looked like glitter coming down from the sky, it was really pretty and really sunny and bright! I had heard that they thought we were gonna get a bad snowstorm, I told that person that I sure hope we would just so we could justify this! Well, at least this day is not counted against them!

And what did it really look like outside?? Here you go...

Can you see why school was cancelled now?

A new life begins!

My friend Jamie had her baby boy yesterday!! We got to go and visit and he is just so cute! Jamie and Tim were tired, since he decided to enter the world at 5am!! Big sister Brooklyn was very excited that her baby brother was out of her Mommy's belly! Amaryllis wasn't sure what to make of him, especially when he started to cry, and Bobby was thrilled to hold him, for about 3 seconds! He is gonna be in big trouble with the 3 older kids he is now stuck with!!

Jack Xavier Billman
January 13, 2009
7lbs 1oz, 19 inches

All the kids together!
What a motley crew!!

The baby bouquet that I made for Jack.

Happy New Year 2009

Oh what a new year it has been!! We got the chance to go down to Florida as a family again this year! It was wonderful to all go down and get off the mtn together!

We stayed in Jacksonville with Grandmom and Grandpop first and got to ring in the New Year with them. It was very nice. Aunt Linda and Uncle Cliff came over for dinner one of the nights. The kids and us got to open our presents from them. The kids LOVED it!! Amaryllis really enjoyed the dog, Vinnie, and I'm sure Vinnie enjoyed her too, especially anytime that she was eating! HA!! The kids also loved the stairs, Amaryllis listened really well though and wouldn't go past the second step. Bobby always makes himself right at home and knows where all the toys and such are, and had a great time with the kitchen stuff.

Bob loved the picture his Mom gave him!

Bobby thought that he was Grandmom's present

Watching the fireworks that Grandpop and Daddy were setting off
on New Year's Eve

We then went to Orlando and stayed with Beca and Pappy. We went shopping at Downtown Disney (one of Mommy's favorite things to do!) We went over to Anthony and Jessica's house on Sat. It was fun to watch all the kids play together. Ali and Bobby seemed to get along GREAT and Nic was in that mix too. Amaryllis took a special liking to her BIG cousin Nic, she just loved him and kept giving him hugs and following him everywhere! After leaving their house we went to see a UCF Basketball game. Douglas, Lily and Allen came with us (Amaryllis stayed at hom with Beca) and we had a fun time and got to see the new stadium. UCF won, a little extra added bonus.

Amaryllis playing with Aunt Jess and Uncle A's phones

Nic and Ali opening presents

Uncle Bob playing with Luciano

Amaryllis loving on Nic!

The kids playing Ali's new game

All five cousins:
Luciano, Ali, Amaryllis, Bobby and Nic

Bob and I at the UCF Basketball game

Bobby and Knitro

Sunday was the day to do "Christmas" at Beca and Pappy's. The day started by getting the kids pictures done! I sure did get a workout trying to get Amaryllis to sit or look a certain way and smile, but the older kids did a really great job! And we did get some really nice pictures. Missy, Mike and Luke came over for dinner too. It was fun to watch Amaryllis and Luke playing, they are quite funny together! Lara, Brian and Max came over a later and Bobby and Max had a chance to play together too!

Luke giving Amaryllis kisses

Bobby tackling the babies

Bobby read Aunt Missy and Uncle Mike a book

Max and Bobby

Monday we went to Port St. Lucie to visit with Nonni and Nonno. It was a great time seeing them. Nonni made a wonderful lunch and the kids got to run around outside for a bit in the GORGEOUS weather!! It is so awesome that the kids get to visit with their Great Grandparents and that they love them so very much!!

Bobby read some books to Nonni

Th kids had fun playing in the driveway!

Tuesday we headed back to Jacksonville and Wednesday we headed back to NC. Bobby got to miss 3 days of school because of the timing of the trip and we made it back to town just in time for, yes you guessed it... a SNOW DAY!! And then a 2 hour delay on Friday. So today was his first full day of school since before the break! It's nice to be getting back into the swing of things here at home. Although it looks like Amaryllis and I will be heading back to Florida at the end of the month, more to come about that later!