Sharing Bathrooms

We are VERY blessed to have the home we live in.  We have three and 1/4 baths, that's FOUR toilets, and with 7 people that is a great number of bathrooms to have.

The kids all sleep upstairs and Jim and I are downstairs.  Ever since we moved here the upstairs bathrooms have each been shared by the boys.  Kamrie was only two and so she had her baths in our bathroom.  If you have boys you understand that I could not make my daughter share a bathroom with two brothers.  So, she still shares the master bath with Jim and I.  I just wanted to document a glimpse of what it's like to share a bathroom with and 8 year old girl.

A Great Day

On Saturday January 2, 2010 our daughter Kamrie was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We were so blessed that both sets of grandparents were able to come for this special occasion.

Kamrie asked her big brother Zac if he would perform the baptism.  He of course said he would, and did a great job!

I was amazed at the number of people that came to support Kamrie in this milestone of her life.  We are so blessed with so many friends here in TN!

The Girl is EIGHT!

I thought I should get this posted before the month is up!

Kamrie turned 8 on Thanksgiving. It's hard to believe she was
only 2 when we made the move to TN, it doesn't seem possible
we've been gone that long.

She had a week long celebration that started the Saturday before
with a birthday party at the movies. They have a party room and
everything. So we had cake and presents and then watched A
Christmas Carol in 3D. It was really good, and the girls were just
a little scared.
Next she got more presents from Mom and Dad on her birthday.
She asked for Liv Dolls this year and that is what she got.
We didn't have time, or room in our tummy's for cake, so that
came a few days later!

I look forward to watching her grow and learn, and seeing the
wonderful person I know she will be.

First and Last

Yesterday my kids headed back to school. I am usually full of excitement when my kids go to school. I have never felt sad, even when it was a little one going off to Kindergarten. I think part of it is the freedom for me, but also that I LOVED school!! And for the most part my kids do to.

Well, this year was a little different. As I was taking the annual first day of school pictures, it hit me hard that this would be Zac's last first day of school!! He will be graduating this year and so next fall (well, summer) he will not be a part of the tradition! He is getting closer and closer to leaving us, and it KILLS me!! I will miss him like crazy and have decided to just stop thinking about it.

So here are the photos!!

Kamrie - 2nd GradeScott - 5th Grade
(here that means middle school! And I
fixed his hair before we left!)
Chad - 6th Grade
(took him to the Dr, in that last 5 months he grew
3 inches and put on 30 pounds)Tyler - 10th GradeZac - 12th Grade!!

They wear uniforms to school, I didn't make them
wear matching clothes for the photo!

Five Dollar Bill

My Grandma Stumbaugh (Mom's Mom) always gave us $5 for birthdays and Christmas. Once we were married and had kids she gave them the money. It was always a favorite for my kids, and I am sure their cousins, to open their cards from Great Grandma and Grandpa at Christmas and find a crisp new $5 bill. She told me the teller always thought she was crazy when she came in to get the $5 bills. She had 37 great-grandkids in my family, and then there were the ones from my aunt. Why am I telling you this? My Grandmother passed away, and we have had two Christmases without her. Just the other day, and I can't remember how it came up, Kamrie told me she missed her. She didn't know her really well, but she knew who she was, and loved her.

Then this morning Kamrie came down from her room. She was excited about something, and told me she had been looking in drawer under her bed. This drawer holds some of her baby clothes I am hanging on to for her. So it is a drawer she isn't supposed to be in. Well, this is what she found.


There is no telling how long it had been there, at least two years. But, I have no doubt, that my Grandma is watching us and wanted Kamrie to know she appreciated her thinking about her.

And, she always spelled Kamrie's name wrong.

Love you Grandma!!

Happy Birthday Kamrie

My little girl is Six today!! It amazes me how quickly time can fly by.
I was going to list all the things I love about her, but there are just too many.
She is amazing, and love watching her everyday!!
Happy Birthday Kamrie Jo!!

Just for Fun!

My friend Mandee had this on her blog and I had to try it too. I don't know how accurate it is, I did get different results with different pictures.

Gotta Brag!

My daughter is great!! When we moved here she made fast friends with Christian. He the son of our friends, and was born with spina bifida. She never treated him any differently than any other kids, and that always made me smile.

Last year she was allowed to be in a Pre-K class at school. This is a special ed class, and she was the Typical Peer. This is a child without any disabilities or learning delays, that is in the class. She was also the only girl. She had a great time, loved her teachers, and became friends with the boys.
So this year she is in Kindergarten and three of the boys from last year are in her class. She walks with them when they go for speech or back to the special ed class, and makes sure they are involved.
SO - there is a new program at our school, initiated by the guidance teachers. It is called Shining Stars. Each month teachers can nominate students who exemplify the word of the month to receive this award. September's word was RESPECT. Kamrie came home with this last Thursday. I was impressed and proud of her. Then I talked to her teacher who went on about how much she deserved it, and was a little emotional about it. This peaked my interest and I asked if I could get a copy of the nomination form for her scrap book. I was even more impressed when I got the form. She had been nominated for her "kindness and respect for children with disabilities". When I asked her about it she was very casual, "you know, Joseph, he doesn't walk very well, and sometimes he drops his books. I always help him pick them up and carry them for him." I think this is something the teacher pointed out in class when she got the award. I am so happy to have a child that has such an excepting heart, and desire to help others without being asked.

By the way, you can see in the picture a star for each child that received the award, there are about 30. Our school has over a thousand students.

It's Official!!!

With Kamrie off to Kindergarten this morning, all my kids are in school. It is hard to believe that just 6 short years ago we were awaiting the birth of this sweet little girl, and now she is out in the world. She told me she was little nervous this morning, but once we got into class she was fine. At our school they only go one day the first week. (So she will be home tomorrow) It is a nice way for the kids and the teacher to ease into the class. There were only four kids there today, and two were in her pre-k class last year. For those of you who know about that, I don't know how excited she was about that.



















We have no doubt that before too long, she will be running the class, and letting the teacher know how it should be. Luckily has as seasoned teacher that will be able to handle her.


Kamrie and her teacher Mrs. Garrett