Abby Makayla Campbell

My dear sweet Abby. I actually had to look up how to spell her middle name because it is so rarely used. I call her abigail or Abigail Josephine (don't ask....I have no idea where it came from but it stuck). This is our intellectual child. She can tell you the month and day of her birthday and her sisters' birthdays when her OLDER sister doesn't even know the day of her own birthday. Things just come easy to Abby. She is adamant that she is going to be a doctor when she grows up, and it wouldn't surprise me. However, the other day she said she was going to have 10 kids and be a mom and then she was disappointed that she couldn't marry her dad because "Mom already married him," and now she just wants to live at home forever. Oh boy!!!

My prediction??? Abby is a mother through and through. She reminds me so much of myself that it is almost scary. She is very emotional and sensitive and over-reacts to everything. This is not going to be to her benefit as a teenager and I worry most about my Abby. She loves so deep and is hurt so easy. That being said, she has an inner strength that comes through at the most interesting times and assures me she will be just fine. For example when we went to soccer the first day and Hayley cried when I left her on her field and yet when I dropped Abby off (the one I thought would cling and cry and beg me to stay and watch) I said " Abby I just have to drop Hayley off and I'll come back" and she said "OK. Bye mom." So.....Abby will be fine. I've also witnessed her playing with her "confident leader-type friends" and she does not let them walk all over her.

Abby is finally beginning to overcome her bedwetting and is very mature and determined about it. After soccer everyone got pop, chips, and a freezie. She told them she didn't want the pop and then whispers "Because it'll make me pee the bed." She hasn't quite broken the lip biting habit, but with Abby, when she wants to stop that she will. She is a very determined little girl and we love that about her.

Abby is gorgeous both inside and out. Here's our Abster.

So we have had a very busy weekend. We started out by attempting to tent which the kids enjoyed and they all fell asleep fine. Steve and I discussed life around the campfire and then headed into the tent, at which time the neighbor's dog started barking and didn't stop ALL NIGHT LONG!!! At one point I rolled over and whispered "what time is it?" Thinking maybe midnight. It was 3:30 in the morning and we hadn't been asleep yet. UGH!

Then in the morning we went to preps. Another wonderful turnout. I got to have 7 kids with me on and off during the morning which was good. Just give em all a bucket and some supplies and trudge around the yard. Then we came home to cut down some trees but it was too hot so after cutting 1 down and having a marshmellow picnic in the yard we took our recycling in.

Got 45$ in recycling money that we used to take Kylie out for her birthday supper. They sang a really loud crazy song to her and the look on her face was HILLARIOUS!! She didn't know what to do or what was going on. It was so sweet. Then we went to Chapters and let them pull all the books off the shelf, and now we're all ready for bed.

Happy father's day tomorrow. I have a dad who's pretty well the best one ever. He's always been supportive of all my crazy ideas and I love him very much. My daughters also have this generation's greatest father. They are so lucky to have him. He's amazing.

Love to you all....here are pics of our crazy busy weekend.

The Campbell 6 :)

Kylie Rachelle Campbell

Whew....I just finished an amzing cardio workout. I had so much fun that I want to do ti again right away. The sweat was dripping down my face and back. It was great. Will have to actually stick to it this time. If I get 4 or 5 different routines maybe I won't get bored. One of the exercises is like football players when they sort of squat and then sprint in place. WOW!! My stomach and bum are going to jsut shake right off I think. Almost throws me off balance all the jigling.

So enough about me....lets talk weather. WHAT"S WITH ALL THE RAIN??!?!!! Stop it already. I need the sun to brighten me up. Everyone is commenting on how BLAH they feel these days with the damp cold weather. I don't think we will EVER get summer. Anyhow, as long as it is mild and NOT WET for convention I will be very happy. Remember weather man..... I have to tent!!!


Well here is the feature child of the week. All about Kylie (Australian for pretty) Rachelle (an aunt with that middle name and mom's closest friend named Rachel)

Kylie - easy to love and more trouble than all 3 other sister combined. She turns the big 3 this month!!!! She told the coach at soccer she was 4 and since she is as big as the 4 year olds, she got to join in!!!

Kylie loves everyone and everything. If you need a hug....kylie is there. If you need ANYTHING she will make sure you have it. The other day we had a busy day and I said "I am just going to lay down on the couch for 10 minutes and then I will get up and get supper." so Kylie ran up to her room and got me her favorite blanket and tucked it up around my shoulders.

Kylie is the one we have always called "simple" much to the dismay of her father and grandparents. However, in one sense it is true. The simplest things will make her smile and giggle and she is very happy with a simple life. Kylie is our "caregiver".

I now refer to her as The Specialist. It won't be long and we will have been to every single specialist possible!!! I wonder....did it all being with the infected belly button a few weeks after birth? Anyhow, first we went to the Pediatric Ophthalmology surgeon (kids eye surgeon) for her droppy eye. We started at the Stollery when she was a year old. We went every 4 months or so to have her eyes tested. That doc moved away and we went to a new one who immediately said (and we should have gone to him in the first place) "come back when she is 4.5 and we will fix her eyelid. Then he commented on mine and said it should be re-done. Wonder if they haev a 2 for 1 deal!!!

Next we were off to the audiologist to test her hearing. The verdict - mild hearing loss more prominent in the left ear. Both ear drums 'dull' or not as responsive as they should be. Now.....was this due to a cold? or is this why her speech seems odd and delayed? So now we are referred to a pediatric ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist for more testing. I would assume they are the ones who would put tubes in if she has fluid behind her ears.

We are also waiting for a speech assessment and that should be any time now. Oh Kylie....you are a mess. But a lovable one. Now.....quit fighting with you sisters!!! You know you always win!

Steve - a midweek ode to VIPs

This is Steve. My hubby. The most kind and gentle man you will ever meet. The perfect spouse and father. He has been letting me dress him lately. I've been having so much fun. We're going with an urban country style. He looks very very yummy in his big boy pants (aka. not baggy). In 2011 or 2012 we are going to go on a holiday together to St. Lucia. A place called Calabash cove resort and Spa. We are going to ride the zip-line through the rainforest and ride horesback on the beach...you can even swim with the horses. I am sooooooo excited. Now if I can find a job to pay for this trip it'd be great. Yes we are going to try and go without the little people. I'm not sure if I will survive that part of it, but hey....we're both turning 30 (totally over the hill as far as I'm concerned) and it is our 10 year anniversary, all in the same space of 4 months, so I need to do something special to avoid a mid-life crisis. Steve thinks I'm nuts, but 30????!!!! Common....that's OLD!!

BUSY LIFE

So life has been so busy that I have not even had time to apply for a job. This weekend's treat: a wedding and a funeral. So we will go to the funeral, run to the other side of town to drop our children off, run to another side of town for a wedding, run back to get our little people.... AHHHH!!!! The stress of it all.

I NEED A HOLIDAY!!!!!!! Alas, the bank has said no - you will stay home this year so you can put your 6 year old in piano and your 4 year old in preschool. I tried to talk the old man into NOT putting Abby in preschool this year, but he says what 1 gets they all get, so I guess in the face of fairness, I will put her in preschool. Bring on the fundraising and volunteering. YUCK!

I have been neglecting my post because my weight it NOT comming off. I am so extremely frustrated. I can gorge myself or starve myself and there is no movement on the scales. I am hoping after the medical issues with the ol colon are resolved, the weight will come off easier. I have an ultrasound on Monday. Wonder what the consensus will be.

Check out what I got at the dollar store the other day. How cute it this??? For 2$!!!!

This week is dedication to Chelsea. She is learning so much and I just hate how fast she is growing up. Makes me sad. I love each and every stage but that first year is so special, and my last baby will only be there for 4 more months. Things she has learned this month:

- to move her feet one in front of the other when you hold onto her hands

- to wave (her first 'baby sign'! Working on 'more' and 'eat' now)

- to get up on her knees

- to roll from back to front (okay this is long overdue but Abby didn't roll until 8 months either and was walking at 11 months, so no worries there)

She still has a major anxiety attack when anyone holds her. This is getting really really old, but is secretly okay because I just want to snuggle and soak up as much as I can. Soon she will be running away from me. She is fat and bald and so beautiful. She still refuses most baby foods so it eating baby cereal and table foods. Last night she tried feeding herself and sitting in her high chair for the first time. Yes....these little milestones are just as exciting the 4th time as they were the 1st. Here are some pictures of this week's featured child.

Next week's child : Kylie Rachelle

Oh....we are also still accepting donations for the "Help Steve and Jen raise farm girls" fund. We are about $355,000 short. :)

Love you all,

Jen and Steve and Hayley and Abby and Kylie and Chelsea and Charlie....I would add Buckley but he would just chew up the computer. If he chews 1 more thing, like he did the girl's blow up waterslide, he is going to suffer from lead bulletitis. Yes Steve....I know where your gun and bullets are. I may not know how to use it, but there is a fluffy piece of target practice in the front yard.

Prune juice and laxatives

The prune juice and the laxatives are in the process of waging a full out war in the depths of my colon, but alas we don't have a winner yet. Will it be Brutus blockage or Prunella laxaday? We're cheering for Prunella, but hoping she waits for the end of the day as I have 7 little peanuts here today, and then soccer tonight. There is no toilet at the soccer field. This could prove to be an interesting experience.





We had Abby's birthday party yesterday with her friend Ashley, and it went surprisingly well. The hostess was amazing and kept all 10 kids entertained and fed etc... Glad we did it at let's play and not one of our houses. I got to come home to a clean house.

We get to have the workers for supper on Sunday! A nice treat since we did already have them for our 3 nights. They are hoping Steve's contact will join us in the event he had any additional questions. Hard to believe we only have 3 meetings left. Then it's preps and convention. Already the summer is going too fast!!!!!!

Well I don't know much else. Will update on Monday with my weight results. Lets hope Brutus has been evicted and I've lost 10 pounds!!!!

Later.....

Happy Mom's day and all that

The yummy coffee treat I made for Steve and I

Natalie and Chelsea playing together

Cute grin

This doesn't look like broken bones waiting to happen at all!!!!

My breakfast in bed

me!!!!

I have the world's greatest mother, sorry to say, but I'm sure your mother is wonderful too! Heehee. My daughter made a portrait of me at school and the teacher framed it. I am wearing a dress, which is nice since some days I never get out of my pajamas, so it's good she's portrays me as dressed. However, I have an exceptionally long neck. It was so cute I had to hang it on my wall and can't wait for the next 3 portraits to come in the next 5 years. She also made me breakfast in bed. I got a little tart cup full of chocolate chips, a yogurt, and a chocolate chip cookie. I also decided I drink way too much vanilla roiboos tea, as she had it made perfectly. Boiled the jug, put in the tea bag with some stevia and milk and then poured the water on top. ahhhh.....

So we've been having a blast with this budget thing, although we seem to spend an awful lot on food!! I managed to stay under budget even adding in a booster seat for Abby that wasn't totally planned on. I was so proud. This food now has to last us the next 2 weeks. Think we can do it????? I supposed it will work if I put a lock on the fridge so I can supervise breakfast time AND sleep in.

So here is the weigh in:

Current weight: 168.4! A loss of 2 pounds. Pretty sure I blew it tonight with the papa Murphies pizza and 2 starbucks coffees, but we'll see next week.

Goal: 155.

Weight left to lose by June 30th: 13.4 pounds.

Anyone out there competing with me? It'd sure help.


Well my darlings, I am off to bed as tomorrow is an EXTREMELY busy day. Have to run pick up convention dresses for Chelsea and Kylie before they are all sold out, playgroup, dr. appointments, and a date with my sweet friend Charlene (She has 4 boys so we validate each other on why we wouldn't want the opposite sex!). Tuesday and Thursday nights: Soccer. Wednesday: Abby's birthday and meeting at our place.

Somewhere in there I have to apply for a job. Anyone looking for a transcriptionist? Got 90% on the practicum and 97% on my pre-employment exam. Yae me!!

Love you all. Take care.

Jen and her lovebugs.

Country living

Ahhhh....the smell of rain, the brisk morning air, the big yellow bus bumbling down the road. I LOVE living in the country. Where the neighborhood dogs come to wait with the kids for the bus and the horses come up to the fence. Where I can sit in my backyard around a fire and talk with my husband without the neighbores hearing. Where I can let the kids play outside in the front or back yard and not worry about them. Ahhhh.....I envy my sister with her upcoming brand new house and all, but I will never by choice leave my place in the country. I will suffer with the ants and sand and endless renovations and yard work.....for the love of the land. I am so thankful for my home and my family and all the privilages I have.

An update on the guy from Steve's work who comes to meeting with him.....he came again so that's wonderful. Too bad we only have 4 meetings left, but he knows about convention, perhaps he will come. His comment to Steve after this week...."You're kids are perfect!" HAhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha and I am STILL laughing. I told him he would have to come over some evening for a dose of the truth!! Every time he has been there, all 4 have fallen asleep.

I am trying 2 new things this month, so you are welcome to follow my progress if you are at all interested.

1. I have written out a budget. I am DETERMINED to have money left over at the end of the month. So far, on day 3, we have stuck to it. HA!
2. I am going to lose 10-15 pounds by convention. So because there is no room in the budget for weight watchers, I am going to broadcast my weight and that will be plenty of motivation to lose. I have 2 months to succceed.

Weight today: 170.4
Goal: 155

Well here it is 8:00, Hayley is at school hopefully since it started 5 minutes ago, Abby is playing with a frisbee???, Kylie and Chelsea are still sleeping, and I need to get dressed for playgroup.

Until next week....
*HUGS*
Jen

Happy birthday Hayley and Abby!!!!

So my big girl turned 6 on March 30th!!! Hard to believe!!! In 2 months she will be in Grade 1. YIKES!! full time school now. This week, her artwork was chosen to represent the Kindergartens from our school for the county! I have no idea where she gets the artistis talent from. Must be her aunty. We're very proud of her. We went horseback riding for her birthday. They played games like red light/green light, what time is it mister wolf etc...on horseback. They had so much fun, and now I'm told that she'd much rather take horseback riding lessons than piano lessons. Can't say I blame her. Sure wish we could afford a few horses. Here are some videos of our bubble fun. Shoot. Can't get the videos to work. Will try later. Here's a few pics of the birthday.

Then today Abby turns 4!!!! She is starting preschool this year and I am so excited for her. I am hoping she breaks out of her shell. She's so shy in a group setting. We are having her party at 'lets play', a big indoor playground. She was ripped off that we have to wait a few weeks. Oh well....that's my Abby. Hormonal already:)

I better get off here and lock up the dogs. PLaygroup is in half and hour.

Hugs and Kisses

Jen

Time to say goodbye

How horrible it was to watch gramma break down in sobs before she walked in to see grandpa in his casket. How does a person possibly say goodbye to someone they've shared 61 years of their life with? My heart aches for her and the lonely days she has ahead.

Grandpa looked spectacular by the way. He looked so peaceful. Hayley said "Why were his hands a funny color?" but I didn't notice! I could just picture him taking it all in and rolling his eyes:) A Tingley trait that was most definately passed down through the generations. Not to me of course. I am a gentle Johnson/Krapu. (See....there's my dad rolling his eyes. HA!)

My Hayley is having a hard time with granpda being gone and it just blows me away because I didn't think she'd have a good grasp of the concept of death. Poor child. My Abby was crying all the way home until I figured out that she didn't think her picture got put in the coffin. I reassured her it did, and it would be buried with grandpa. She said "So he can see it when he isn't dead anymore?" So she doesn't quite understand but that's ok. We have lots of pictures to show her when she grows up.

On the bright side of life, Steve brought a guy to meeting last week who said he had been reading the bible, and was "sick and tired of the churches that were all singing and dancing, and he just wanted to learn about the bible!" so today he says to Steve "Hey have a good weekend. Can I keep coming on Sunday afternoons!" So that is exciting for Steve. Our workers are having a prosperous year! Too bad we only have a month left of meetings. Maybe he'll come to convention. He's a nice guy. Our age. Not married.

Well the shower is calling me and the bed is looking inviting so I am signing off. I will need my rest for the busy and emotional day tomorrow. Pray for grandma, Dad, Al, and Jan (and their spouses) to have strength for the day.

Love,
me

ps. Thank you for the comments.

Positive thoughts from the Valley

I feel a bit like I am going through a 'valley experience'. Perhaps the good part of that is there is no where to go but up!! I can look around and dwell on the things that I don't have that everyone else in life seems to have, or I can focus on what I DO have that few other do.
1. Hope
2. Praying parents....the reason I am where I am and have what I have.
3. A husband who loves his family more than anything and works very hard to support us. Who still has the time and energy to give his kids airplane rides, or push them on the swing, or build them bunk beds even when he is tired from work. Who can have a spiritual conversation with you. Who doesn't laugh at you when you start a 'dream house' folder and get all excited about the house you will likely never have anyhow. Who lets you stay home to raise the kids. There is no husband like mine ANYWHERE out there.
4. Four of the most gorgeous daughters ever created.
5. A roof over my head, food on the table, and clothing (we're all grateful I have this one!!).


I hope no one actually reads this blog because it's been a bit of a downer lately and I promise I'm not normally like this. I just need to vent. I am so very very very very tired. I am up at 4 every morning to get Chelsea a bottle, which may seem fine since I can go back to bed, but I only went to bed at 1 in the morning since I have to type all evening, and am up again at 6:30 on Hayley's school days to get her ready and off, and by then the others are up so I'm up for the day. That makes 5.5 hours of interrupted sleep a night. I cannot function like this much longer. I find things are bothering me that absolutely SHOULD NOT be bothering me, and my little feelers hurt way too easily.

That being said.....I am going to bed. I wish for all 'mountain top experiences' and perhaps one day I will be able to join you.

*kiss*