We are alive!

Surprise!! You do not need to blink twice...I have finally updated this blog page!

Reports started early in the week of 2-4 feet of snow on Friday into Saturday! I had my doubts, but did the only thing a person does here when the weather experts predicts that much snow...I made the run to Walmart and then to Costco.

Thursday was beautiful, sunny and in the low 40's. Kids argued that it felt warmer. Friday the schools all around let the kids out 3 1/2 hours early. Try counting backwards to figure out when to meet them at the bus stop. Why not just 3 hours! I like the whole numbers instead.

As predicted, snow started lightly at about 11am Friday and continued until Saturday afternoon. We are snowed in, literally, with no snow plow in sight. But the kids are having a blast sledding in our sloppy driveway. We don't have to worry because no one is going anywhere unless you own a pair of snow shoes. On Friday, I dropped Morgyn off to spend the night at a friends house about 10 minutes away, well, it's turning into an extended sleepover. Not sure when we will get her back home to us. And church is canceled too.

We are happy to report that we have water, heat, and food!

Winter has officially come to MD!

...bracing for the storm of the decade here in Maryland. This might be a blessing in disguise. You should see it here, it's like Y2K all over again. People are in emergency mode stocking up on all the essentials. Milk is especially hard to find. We ended up going to 3 different stores in search of it and finally ended up at a CVS Pharmacy. Got the last 2 gallons. We noticed on the way home that the snow plows are ready to go at a moments notice. The snow is projected to hit at midnight. The blessing I'm talking about is that I might actually get my Christmas cards finished and out to all of you!

Back with snow update: The weather forecast was right! Amazing. We have snow! Starting Friday night at about 11:30 and still going strong today...it is now after lunch. And I have pictures to prove it...the forecast calls for snow until tonight. Enjoying the winter wonderland and looking forward to a white Christmas!

Family Updates from Jeff and Missy

 

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Back to school photos! 

Jadyn is in 6th grade, recent Student Gov. 6th grade President elect, piano player, and sports enthusiast, who could’ve guessed!

Morgyn is in 8th grade, soccer player. babysitter, loves to text and listen to music, all sorts!  Can’t wait to drive in a few years!  Yikes!

Brittyn is in preschool, loves to play with friends, can do a front-flip on the tramp, the best 4 year old ever!

Torbyn is in 1st grade, loves to trade and play pokemon, sing, and loves keeping tabs on his virtual friends in webkinz land!

Misc. happenings from May

As of May I am officially employed!! It's the perfect gig!! I am the nanny for a family who just had their 5th little one! Mostly I take care of #'s 3 and 4. Two very busy little boys!! The two older kids are in school til June 16th. (3rd grader and 1st grader) It's great cause I don't have to find daycare for Brittyn. After a few weeks of adjustments, Brittyn is happy with the situation as well. We were getting a little bored at home and the extra cash helps out as well!!

Jadyn had the entire HS Auditorium audience captured at the Elementary talent show. I can say it!! He was in my book the best act of the night!!! He played piano and sang 100 Years, Five for Fighting. Go Jadyn!! He already has plans for next years Middle School talent show!! 6th grade here he comes!!

Mother's Day was the best one yet!! Jeff always spoils me but especially on this day!! Breakfast in bed, cleaning the house, taking care of the kids, the beautiful lily to wear to church!! Thanks Mom and Dad Eakins for raising such a great boy!!

Memorial Day fun!! We were so excited for the arrival of Aunt Jenna and Uncle Tanner May 19th!! We visited Gettysburg and found out next time to allow a lot more time than just a couple of hours! Watch out for ticks Aunt Jenna! She was the only one who had 3 climb on her during our gettysburg adventure!! We got them before they drew blood! At the end of the tour we found the tallest swing set ever. Jadyn had never seen one so big so we stopped to stretch before the drive back home(1 hour) and I pushed Jadyn for his best swing thrill! He wanted me to stop but I told him he had to experience going high on this swing. In the end, I think he liked it. It was fun hanging/bonding with Jenna and Tanner!! Morgyn was happy to have Jenna around for fashion consulting. The girls did a little "up-scale" thrift shopping at a cute store called, Lucy's. We also experienced swimming in the rain on memorial day Monday and the eating Jeff's best grilled hamburgers!! Jenna picks out the best watermelon ever and Brittyn still loves to eat corn on the cob and no meat. Torbyn drew pictures for aunt and uncle and showed them his skills at reading, the Wii, pokeman, and soccer. We were a little bummed that Jeff was only a week out from surgery which meant that we toned down the "playtime" and mostly stayed close to home!! Can't wait to see family again!!!

Appendectemy?

May 16th proved very fun and eventful. After a morning of soccer game fun Jeff and the older kids went to a fireside type meeting called, "faith and football" held in the Baltimore area. Lavell Edwards and the head coach of the Philidelphia Eagles, Andy Reed, (I hope that's his name)shared experiences and testimony. Jeff started complaining of unsettled stomach pain towards the end of the fireside, which he thought would pass. So, he took the kids to Wendy's for a burger and frosty. By the time he got home that night, he was in severe pain. When I got home and found him curled up on the fetal position on the bed I knew the pain wasn't going to pass. After a quick google of appendicitis and pawning the kids off to wonderful ward members we headed to the ER. By 11pm we were checking in at the ER, 1am drinking the bariun solution for the c-scan, 3am confirmed appendicitis, and 5am preping for surgery. Just like that!! Done by 6:10 Sunday morning and into pediatrics for recovery. Some might find that fitting!! I had great fun messing with him as he was coming off the anestesia. He doesn't remember anything!! Our little secret! All went really well! The surgeon caught it before it burst!!

News Flash from Maryland!!

Reports are in! The whereabouts of family Eakins have been confirmed!! They are alive and well after numerous trips to and from various locations in Frederick Co. MD. Last seen attending a soccer game for Torbyn last Saturday which ended in victory as Torbyn triumphuntly proclaimed, "This is the BEST DAY of my life!!" According to close family sources, "he lives and dies for soccer and will be saddend at the end of the season!" Lucky for the Eakins family swimming is now underway at the neigborhood swimming pool where Morgyn, Jadyn and to the surprise of some, Torbyn are undergoing extensive training of proper swimming technique. Competition seasons begins June 13. Stay tuned for further updates!!

3.14 = Pi

We were invited to a 3.14 (March 14) Pi party last week! Everyone brought their best pie!! Morgyn seems to have the "pie making gene" of the family (thanks aunt jenna and grandma eakins). She went right to work and with a little coaching from aunt jenna on the recipe, created 2 very delicious oreo ice-cream pies to take to the party. Her pies were a BIG hit!



Our neighbors came up with this tradition a few years ago, now we pass it on to you!! We have no problems copying others ideas around here. And now Morgyn knows there is more than one pie/pi in her world!