A Place for All

Well, I've done it now. I've gone and bought a couch. Wait, I have six of us to seat. I bought two. Wait, our guests have to stand or bring in chairs from the dining room. Ok, ok, I bought three. Yes, three. Before you think I've lost my mind for the 400th time, remember that not only are we a big family for this day and age, but we also have a bigger than usual room to furnish. So, with that in mind, and comfort calling, I bought three 3-seater sofas for our addition. Loveseat just won't cut at this point and the price difference was 30 bucks. I get my "u-shaped sectional" but at half or less the price. I'm happy, Shawn's grunting, and the kids are thrilled. We'll see who is happy in the long run, as it will make football watching that much more fun! Not too mention they're stylish, comfortable, and easy clean leather. Before you say anything, they are a bit darker than the picture shows, the bottom is more accurate (I messed with it) because the flash/lighting in there wasn't great. They are a wheat/camel color, still coastal but not rattan or white slipcovered! Yikes! They are definitely not cream! Come see us so you can check them out for yourself...

No pillows like that for me, sorry. I didn't buy those!

We delivered Twopy and Sean Patrick to the airport before our big furniture shopping extravaganza with Nanny. The kids were a bit wound up from the airport. Unfortunately, I realized I didn't get to take any pictures of my SP, who has more ideas on what adults should NOT say, than any toddler I know. He even beats Sarah on his list of No nos. Yes, noggin. No, head. Yes, bread. No, Shawn. Yes, trains. No, night night. Yes, plane. No, talk to Aunt Caryn. He adored Izzy's carousel and Uncle Shawn moved up a notch when SP got to go on his first back-o-de-truck ride to the city park. She thought he was funny and loved the way he talked. He is interested in all things moving, cats, clocks, carousels. Or maybe it's stuff with a "C"?! He is still a curly-headed wonder, especially in Florida humidity. I ruffled his hair when given the chance and turned around, "No hair, no hair." He's adorable, you can visit Twopy's blog (On my list of links--dempsey blog) to see how adorable he is. We had a great time but wish they could have stayed longer. Next time we're going sand-dollar hunting on low tide. Maybe I will have gotten him to not run away from me by that time.... Hmmmm...

Happy boy goes shopping with the girls, Momma, Izzy, and Nanny. This is a clean face but it was proceeded directly before by a Nutrigrain-smeared face, and directly after by a pepperoni-pizza face. (He ate almost a whole kids pepperoni pizza at lunch, Izzy ate squat.)

Annie the Musical

Sarah, Katy, and Isabelle ready to go off on their big girls night out with Momma! This was as dressed up as Sarah would get. Meaning not at all. My anti-dress queen wanted to make sure everyone knew where she was from but Momma was one step ahead, it was very cold and that Tshirt was going to be covered by a jacket anyway! I made plans for all of us to see Annie at the Phillips Center in Gainesville and lucky Shawn stayed home with William for a boys night in. I did not tell the girls where they were going only that it was "a date with Momma and her big girls". We had dinner at Carrabba's with Anne and Madison, which was great as usual. The girls floored the waiter by chanting "squid, squid, squid, we want squid, squid, squid!" He said he has never seen a group of kids ALL wanting squid so much! After a somewhat rushed dinner, as they were SUPER busy and service was quite slow, we took off for the show. We met Andrew (my oldest brother) and made it to our seats just in time to get situated and the show began. It was a wonderful show, the singing and acting were both excellent, and the star was a 10 year old girl from Orlando who had an incredible voice and great chemistry with Daddy Warbucks. The girls were enthralled, Sarah never sat back in her seat, she was on the edge the entire two and a half hours of the show. Katy kept asking me, "How does she sing like that?" Isabelle, though pretty tired, was very entertained, especially by the antics of the orphans and Ms. Hannigan. She fell asleep, out cold, on the floor in front of her seat, about 30 minutes before the show ended. Uncle Andy had to carry her to the car. She was pooped. It was a great evening for us all, and worth every minute of getting home at midnight. Especially considering William woke up (highly unusual) at 1:45 saying, Momma, Momma, Momma! Leapin' lizards, interrupted sleep, again. Oh, the sun will come out, tomorrow...

The Party

Sarah thought Willie looked so good with his chocolate cake face that she decided to join him, with a little splat into her cake.

Exciting present, I know, but when you're one... Everyone loves a good tennis ball and Willie thought it rocked.

His only real toy of the day, a popup box from Izzy. He loved it, and actually manipulates it quite well!

Getting all four to pose is enough to give me cardiac arrest or an apoplectic fit or both. So here it is, the best one of, say, twenty? Sarah, SMILE! Katy, look at the camera, Izzy, stop sucking your thumb, and the endless, William, William! William! Hey! William. ARGGGGGGGGH! Next time I'm leaving it up to the professionals.

The Birthday Dinner

Katy asked to say grace, she looked so pious that I decided to take a picture. It's a rare moment. It was a beautiful prayer, giving thanks for William having a birthday, good food, chocolate cake, and let Momma live for an even longer time because Katy doesn't want me to die, and also Daddy. Yup, here's a sweet prayer coming from her lips, and she adds on, and don't let Mommy die for an even longer time. Well, at least I'm in good graces! Here's to a long life...

William loved the birthday cake, was somewhat interested in the candle, adored the clapping, and really dug the cake!

No, really, he dug the cake. With both hands.

Really, he loved the cake. All over. Everything. Up his nose. Down his shirt. Flung it on me. He had a blast! At least he had the good sense to close his eyes while he was "shmearing" it all over the place! Gotta love a boy who appreciated chocolate!

Tired Pookies

After dropping Laura and Leify at the Gainesville Airport, we ran errands, ate lunch, and grocery shopped. We were all tired on the way home.

Birthday boy is pooped!

Happy 1st Birthday, William!

Once the birthday boy woke up, it wasn't long before the girls had him in full birthday regalia! He loved the hat, surprisingly enough!

The whole crew gathered round the birthday boy, notice Katy's hair, still not ready for school after 20 "Move its" from Momma and Dadda. At least she's happy... :)

Isabelle absolutely adores her cousin,Leif, and her adoration isn't entirely unreciprocated. He followed her around like a puppy. From her expression I'm sure you can tell that Leif is all that is important right this minute! We had the pleasure of Laura (my youngest sister) and little Leify staying with us overnight before they returned to Maryland. We were sad to see them go and Izzy cried for Leify on the way home.

Izzy wasn't the only one who liked Leif. Willie thought he was pretty cool, too. William also really admired Leif's walking style, which is, well, FAST!

Sarah's Sleepover

Izzy and Katy have their own little sleepover in the pink room. Getting them to stop whining about the TV going into the other room is not going well.

Katy looks happy here, but really she is, you guessed it, whining again. Well, we wanted, whine whine, to watch a movie in here, whine whine, and we don't have a TV and now, whine whine, we can't ever watch a movie again. My response, "Keep up the nonsense and that just might come true!"

As pictured from the left: Emily, Sarah, and Savannah do some serious nail painting. The fumes are coming under the door, I can smell it out here! They're having a blast in there, giggling nonstop. Sarah is moving into our old master bedroom so she has a private bath as well. It's the perfect sleepover hangout. Next week I have the dubious task of painting the room--aqua. The old curtains will have to go, I'm afraid. Totally not cool, mom. How 'bout some psychadelic shag? We'll see, dear, we'll see. Happily, and curiously, she wants our bed, which I am thrilled to give her. So Shawn and I get a new one! Woo hoo! No more Sam's Club mattress for us! I think we'll upgrade to a king. I'll keep you posted... I'm off to bed, if I can get to sleep with the sillies downstairs! :)

A Rug At Last!

I know it seems odd to pine for a rug but when you have wood floors, lots of sand, and neverending sweeping, it just happens. This rug is 9x12 and is a silver sage blue color. It wasn't that expensive but for what we will do to it it will be great. It's from TJ Maxx. The girls have been doing somersaults since we got it!

Grandma Gill's 95th Birthday Celebration

This is the face Izzy gave me when I told her I was going to Gainesville--ALONE-- for a Gill cousins dinner at Dragonfly. This face was followed directly by tears. She made a full recovery when Daddy promised to take her and her big sisters and little brother out for pizza, followed by the Market for some pink Bubble Gum Tape. Katy's face is a reaction to the prospect of pizza AND Mommy leaving (no dishwashers to empty for her!).

GG was looking wonderful on her 95th birthday. It was a real reunion as 21 adults and 10 children gathered to celebrate the occasion. Aunt Helen presented an amazing Gill family geneology that dated back to 1086! 35 Generation of Gills. This particular gathering was loud and laughter-filled as usual. It was a very special day for GG with all her loved ones in one place!

Uncle Arthur and Jon Jon share some snuggle time on the couch.

Aunt Helen takes William for a spin around the room and what do you know? The boy starts walking for her! As you can see, he was most excited! That night, when we got home, we put him to bed because he was exhausted and ate virtually nothing (a real rarity). Twenty minutes later we hear, Momma! Momma! So I bring him downstairs and he is so excited! I place him on the new rug in the family room (picture later) and he scoots off, playing with Izzy and Katy. After a few minutes, I pick him up and stand him, and off he goes! Walking foot after foot, and talking like crazy, it was great! His birthday is Tuesday and I guess he just wanted to make sure he got that in before the 12 month mark! What a wonderful little guy! The girls were clapping and encouraging him. Boy, does he love his girls!

Birthday Greetings! (Again!)

Just want to wish my cold-weather brother-in-law Adam Dempsey, head of the renowned Dempsey family of DC, a very happy birthday! Hope you had a great day!

Birthday Greetings!

Just like to wish my littlest brother a very happy 37th birthday! Happy Birthday Jonnie Boy!

This is the little closet off to the right when you come up the stairs, it was a last minute impulse but we are thrilled we did it!

The workers enjoying the result! Mom and Shawn admire our handiwork! Mom has helped us paint doors, walls, trim, clean floors, wash windows (if you've ever cleaned new windows it ain't easy), clean floors, make beds, clean floors, did I mention she cleans floors? Really, if you've ever lived on a giant anthill like we do, you know what I mean! The sand, the sand, the sand. Anyway, thanks a million, as always, dear Momma! She does love to admire progress in whatever stage it's in!

Space for all of us!

This is Will's new boudoir. All 50 sq. ft of it. For him, it is perfect. That's a lamp from Momma, perfect too! :)

The new "powder room", aka master bath. A mirror will be going above the backsplash and under the light fixture to the top of the cabinets filling in that whole space. That's coming next week.

The master shower has double showerheads, of course. Slate tiles, body jets (hidden behind curtain), handheld shower (I wanted this for cleaning purposes!) and crazy nozzle with whatever settings. It's grand and plenty of room for me and whichever kid(s) is(are) in there.

The bedroom from the bathroom door. It overlooks Osprey Cove, which we have named the house. We want to get a cool sign made with an osprey to that effect but haven't started that yet. And, of course, the osprey with fish weathervane is turning right now as we have had a most heavenly southerly wind all day. Ask mom about trying to sweep with gale force winds blowing through! Being up twenty feet really lets you feel the power of the wind!

GLORY GLORY, WE ARE IN!!

William would like you to have some toast!

Izzy loves headphones, the only trouble being they aren't connected to anything! She sings the theme from Mulan, "WHOOOO, is that girl I see, staring straight, back at me, when will my reflection SHOWWWW, who I am, inSIIIIIDE!" It's hilarious. Really, I get teary every time from laughing so much.

Well, we're done. That's it. There ain't no more. Shawn and I are spending our first night in our new master bedroom. This is the view from the door as you come up the stairs. Those are double gliding doors out to the balcony, where we plan to drink wine and toast tonight if we don't pass out from sheer exhaustion first!

The old bed needs new pillows badly but the white sure is great in the room! We want a king size, but for now this will do!