The Drama that Surrounds Me!

5x7 Folded Card

2011-05-10T09:52:00.001-07:00

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Ski's Shout Out!

2011-02-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

If you've ever met Ski you know that he is a die hard NASCAR fan and it's killing him to be missing most of the racing season. I, on the other hand, consider this one of very few PERKS of the deployment - no sports the entire time!

But there is however one reason that was worth watching an entire NASCAR race from start to finish (Or if I'm being honest, DVRing it and fast forwarding through the entire thing looking for one special moment!) and that is for a Shout Out that Ski taped to his family which they were told MIGHT be played on air during the Daytona 500. Unfortunately no one's shout out was played but I did get a link. He is so adorable!!! Jacqui has been making fun of him and his little "Go Smoke!"

It's not Good-bye! It's "See you soon!"

2011-02-01T13:32:00.000-08:00

We Love you!

It's that time of year again!!

2010-05-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's spring...which in our house means the busiest time of the year. Jacqui is on two softball teams, Matt is on one and Ski on three teams which means he is absolutely no help in running the kids back and forth from one game or practice to the next. If it wasn't for our crock pot, we wouldn't eat very healthy at all! I guess we'll do vegetables again in the summer!

Like I said, Jacqui is on two teams. HJ MacDonalds softball team at school and Babe Ruth Rec softball team. She's pretty serious about it...just look at her face!

This was an awesome slide although she said it hurt so bad!

Since Chase isn't walking yet I'm pretty fortunate that he'll sit in the stroller during the games and I don't have to chase him all over the place. Next year is going to be a nightmare though. I already need to have 19 different eyes trying to watch Cadence and see Jacqui play.

Cadence is the little mascot and sits in the dugout with all the girls. You can tell how thrilled Jacqui is about this in the picture!

Here she is on the Babe Ruth team.

When my mom and sister came out to see me graduate they were also able to go see the kids play ball. Here is a classic I took at the softball tournament we went to in Rocky Mount!

Matt moved up to majors this year. He is on the Clarks church league team.

Great stop!!!

Nothing gets past him!

Love that smile! He loves playing ball!

As you can see we don't travel lightly!!!

Spending time with Megan and my mom!

2010-05-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

Because of my graduation, my mom and Megan were also able to be down here for Matt's birthday and Mothers Day. We kind of killed three birds with one stone. It was a really nice trip and we got some great pics of all of us at the Atlantic Beach and on Mothers Day!

Megan in the ocean!

She wasn't expecting this...

And here are a few from our Mothers Day together! It's been a long time since I've been able to be with both my mom and my kids on mothers day!!!

My College Graduation

2010-05-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a very long time coming but I finally got my Associate Degree from Craven Community College here in New Bern, NC. Because Ski is the awesome guy that he is, he flew my mom down here so that she could see her daughter walk across the stage and get my degree!

On my way up to get my diploma...

Me and my mom! Her and Ski went in together and got me a mothers ring as a graduation present and they gave it to me the night before so I could have it when I graduated!

It was so hot that day so we got a babysitter for Chase but the rest of the fam was there to see me and support me!

Later that night Ski had a party for me. He even remembered to get me a cake! What a great guy!

Of course Shannon my sister wife was there. Since Anthony is on deployment, this is Ski's second wife!

My graduation is complete! My mother is playing Beer Pong with 3 Marines!!!

Yeah, I don't know...

Not sure how I got roped into it, but I ended up playing too! Me and Matt beat them!!!!

Thanks for everything Ski! You've been so supportive! All those long nights of homework, and days where you had to take care of things cause I had deadlines I had to get things turned in by! I couldn't have done this without you! I love you!

Matt is 12!

2010-05-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

This year for Matt's birthday he decided he wanted to celebrate with his friends. So they all came over after school that Friday and right away they started playing ball!

They are a great group of kids and Matt is lucky to have them as friends!!!

Instead of a regular cake he decided he wanted Dirt Cake! How could I argue with Dirt cake???

And Pizza...it's not a birthday without pizza!!!

He's been saving up his money since his last birthday and decided to combine it with this years birthday money to get a PS3. He was sick of always trying to compete with Ski to play the one we have in the living room. Now he just has to compete with Chase sleeping!!!

Of course it didn't take long before they retired to his bedroom for the rest of the night to play the game! That was the easiest party I've ever had for one of my kids!

Happy Birthday Matt! I love you so much! Hope it was a great birthday!

What a GREAT dad!

2010-04-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

As fathers go, my kids are pretty lucky! They are the light of their daddy's life and although he doesn't like to admit it, he's a softy who lets them get away with EVERYTHING!!! I am lucky that he is so hands on and I just want to show everyone else how lucky I am to have him as the father (and stepfather) of my children!!!

Cherry Point had a Daddy/Daughter dance on base! I have to remember not to tell her about things like this too far in advance. She was sooo excited she asked everyday when her date with her daddy was going to be! Look how cute these too are!

Oh but wait! He got he a special necklace for her to wear when she dressed up and looked like a princess. Look how special he made her feel!

Best dad ever!!!

Look at the princess!

One of the Marines in Ski's shop does tattoo's. When Cadence was 3 weeks old we inked her footprints and he got them tattoo'd on her arm. When Chase was about the same age we did the same thing with his hand prints and here Ski is getting them done right under Caders footprints.

Cadence and Chase.

They know how to make a Hardcore Marine melt like butter.

Guess who's one years old!!!

2010-04-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe but little Chase Maddox is One year old!!! Still not walking yet, or talking, but he's crawling everywhere and you've got to really watch out for him! Look at our little cutie...

We are lucky to have such good friends here in North Carolina and they all came out to celebrate with us!

Ski was the grill master and made sure no one went home hungry! Jacqui was most likely standing there so she could make fun of him!

How cute is this cake!!! I didn't even get to see a picture of it before I ordered it so I was taking a big chance but it turned out so great!!!

Ski is threatening Dave with that knife...it's how we treat our guests around these parts! Notice Dave's tiny piece of cake. This is a big change from the pieces he cut for the kids. They were bigger then their heads. His reasoning was that we didn't want left over cake.

Chase wasn't a big fan of the cake and needed a little nudge in the right direction! The frosting however was a big hit!!!

Although we did have a few issues with the frosting!

The kid officially does not need any more toys! We are all set!!!

The Ski's!!!

There is no prouder mommy and daddy then Ski and I!!!

And in honor of Chase's 1st birthday I put together a little video montage of pictures just like I did for Cadence!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Easter!!!

2010-04-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

A few days before I took Cadence and Chase to get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny Ski took her to the pet store. She fell in LOVE with the rabbits and has been begging to get one. Well when she heard we were going to the Mall to see the Easter Bunny she could hardly contain herself! She was so excited. And I was just as excited to see her little face when they got pictures together. Well, we walked in the mall, she took one look at him and asked

"Who's the guy in the suit?"

Nothing gets past this girl. She was expecting a real rabbit! You can tell by the look on her face that she thinks she's "too cool" for this guy in the suit!

My little Chase and his Easter Basket!

As usual Jacqui was the last to find her basket. And I think I have figured out why this happens. She is too lazy to go look for it. She'll stand in the middle of the room and turn her head from side to side waiting for it to jump out at her...

An Easter Morning picture of all four of my babies!!!

Look at this stud!

Our third annual Easter Morning Cul De Sac Egg hunt!

It was hot so all the parents took a seat and waited for the kids to find all the eggs.

A very rare moment in history for Jacqui and Matt. They sat down together to eat and I about fell over!

It's not a holiday unless the Cul De Sac gets together for a meal!

Shannon did her hair for her and she thought she was so cool!

As usual it was a great Easter with our military family!

Our NC Snow Day - Winter 2010

2010-02-13T13:13:00.000-08:00

This year we had another snow day here in NC! The kids were so excited because #1 No School and #2 they very rarely get to see it! In fact this was Chase's first time!

Our Cul de Sac...

Cadence, Chase and Jacqui

Cadence and her Daddy built a snowman!

Chase wasn't exactly sure what to think of all this snow, but he just went with it! I can't wait to see him next year!!!!

Cadence and MacKenzie took a spill...

Of course there was a snowball fight - and my son is pretty serious about it!!!

Jacqui was pretty serious about it herself! Any reason to throw things at her brother is always good in her book!

Ski has to take every opportunity to do something annoying to the kids! Look at Matt's unsuspecting face!!

The above picture explains why the entire neighborhood is getting Ski back.

Mom and Chase just stood by and watched! I think by next year though, he'll be ready for the fight!

It was a fun day and just my kind of winter...one snow day and then we are done! I get my fill for the year!

Basketball?? Really??

2010-02-09T20:19:00.000-08:00

As soon as volleyball ended Jacqui took up yet another sport. This time:

Basketball.

This was a little out of her comfort zone as she has never played basketball before. In fact her exact words to me were:

"Mom, you know how you find out who makes a team and you think to yourself 'How did THEY make it?' Well that would be me!"

But she hung in there and did a great job! Here she is through out the season!

She's isn't sure about next year. I heard something about Soccer...another sport she's never played!

2009-11-10T19:28:00.000-08:00

Well it's that time of year again! The Marine Corps Ball! This year we are celebrating the Marine Corps 234th birthday! Our ball was in Greenville NC...about an hour from our house. For the record, this is too far away to go back to get something you may have forgotten...

This is a picture of the cake cutting ceremony. A cake cutting ceremony that Ski and I almost did not get to see. Why you may ask???

By looking at this picture, we both look so put together don't we? Nothing looks out of place!

Turns out, when you get a new Blues blouse you need to take your collar emblems off the old one and put them on your new one. That way when you get to the hotel in Greenville and you realize that you brought THREE plastic tubs full of extra uniform stuff EXCEPT collar emblems, you won't have to go around asking an entire MALS if anyone has any extra!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen...My husband!!!

But it all turned out okay and we found an extra pair! We didn't sit in the hotel all dressed up for nothing!

Guess who mastered the Art of riding their bike???

2009-11-08T19:15:00.000-08:00

As soon as Cadence turned 4 we decided that it was time to take off the training wheels and teach her how to ride her bike like a big girl! Oh she thought this was the best idea in the world!!! She had to sit right next to Ski and help him take them off! 4 year olds are always so helpful and you get the job done much quicker!

She started out on the grass at first to get the hang of it.

Of course there were a few falls along the way - and the occasional crash into the neighbors mailbox...I'm sure those flip flops she had on made her riding experience that much easier!

Pretty soon she had mastered it and Ski couldn't keep up with her! If you look closely here - they are both sticking their tongues out concentrating really hard. That is a Ski trait!!!

Oh yes she is proud of herself!!!

That's a Ski trait too...

Halloween 2009

2009-10-31T20:01:00.000-07:00

Our Halloween was great! We started the season off at Briley's Farm in Greenville a few days before Halloween!

The kids got to feed the animals - and blatantly disregard the PVC pipes that they have for you to use when feeding them.

Cadence loves pony rides!!!!

There was also a free little hay maze for the kids to run through - which Jacqui and Matt were clearly bored with since they could look across and see exactly where they needed to go so it wasn't much of a challenge!!!

"No Animals were harmed in the making of these photo's..."

Look how excited Jacqui is to be there. Cadence is just as thrilled.

It was cold that day so I was cuddling with my little guy!!!

Then we went on a Hay Ride. We were the only ones on said Hay ride which is probably a good thing because Cadence couldn't decide who exactly she wanted to sit with and kept moving around.

Once the Hayride got to it's destination, Cadence was able to run wild and pick her own pumpkin!!

And here is the winner...

The Pine Knolls Shores Aquarium had a Halloween day for the kids. They got to dress up and go around trick or treating for candy while looking at all the fish.

We went with our friends Amy, Sophia and Jamysson.

Poor Chase, his costume didn't fit him and we had to stuff him in there.

Then there was the pumpkin carving. As usual Jacqui and Matt are an essential part of making it happen each year because they are such a big help.

Also, as usual, Cadence can't stand to get her hands messy...

and leaves the pumpkin in the middle of gutting it to go wash her hands...

so Jacqui is left to do it...

and Matt is left to carve it! What a cutie this one is!!!

Here are my little trick or treaters...Jacqui is Daphne from Scooby Doo, Matt is a nerd, Cadence is a fairy, and Chase is a monkey.

Here is a classic family picture for you all to see...

All the kids trick or treating. We had about 20 people walking with us and it is very hard to keep everyone together! Everyone is usually spread out by like 20 houses.

Jacqui and her best friend Lakyn.

All in all it was a great Halloween and everyone had a good time!

Happy 4th Birthday Cadence

2009-10-19T19:31:00.000-07:00

For Cadence's 4th birthday we had a little birthday party for her at the house. One of our very close friends drove up from South Carolina to celebrate with us as a surprise!!!!

Always great to hang out with Darlene!!!! This was her first time seeing Chase.

As always Darlene went wild spoiling us!!! We went to the party supply store and Cadence had all the princess party decorations one girl could ask for!!!

We have great friends to come and celebrate with!!!

Here is the birthday girl and her ribbon letting everyone know it was her special day. You can't tell she loves all the attention can you????

Her favorite part of the whole day - Presents!!!!

She's serious about this gift opening - and she has no time for Jacqui's nonsense!!!

All four year old girls need a big huge princess hat that won't stay on their head for longer then 13 seconds!!!

Little Miss "I love attention" had to cover her eyes while everyone sang to her because she was "embarrassed"...

Chase was even ready to party!!!

One of Darlene's surprises was a new Wii for the family. We were all so surprised and appreciative of her thoughtfulness so much! Friends like her are very few and far in between! We are very lucky to have her!!!

Cadence's goal is to beat her dad...

And just because...

Um yeah, this is what we are working with here at the Ski residence...

Chase's Baptism

2009-10-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month we had Chase baptized. We were fortunate that Bryan was stationed so close to us that he was able to drive down from Virginia and be there for it. My best friend Theresa flew in from Michigan to be here also. Ski's mom, Judy, also drove down from Ohio so she could see her grandson being baptized in the same baptism dress that Ski wore, Bryan wore, Cadence wore and pretty much every cousin in the Haynes family! Ski was not happy that his son was in a "dress."

Notice Cadence... all eyes weren't on the princess!

At least she isn't dramatic!!!

Our family pic!

Chase and his God Parents Theresa and Bryan. They are also Jacqui, Matt and Cadence's god parents!

Judy and her boys!

My four babies!

Now that she has daddies attention again, the smile is back!

After the ceremony we invited some of our closest friends to join us for lunch at Morgan's Tavern and then back at the house for cake and ice cream.

GG brought him - and the rest of the kids - some pumpkins to carve!

Look at this pair!!

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone that came and celebrated with us. Especially to those of you that drove hundreds of miles to get here!!!! We had a great time!!

What we have been up to!

2009-10-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Well it was a great summer but too short as usual. The kids had a great time at their dads. They said it was one of the best summers they have spent with him. They came home two days before school started! Here they are on their first day!

Matt - first day of sixth grade! Hello, SIXTH grade??? I can not believe he is in middle school this year!!!

Jacqui on her first day of Seventh grade!!! She's mad because Matt is in the same school as her again!

Miss Cadence Evelina started dance class. She wasn't a big fan at first but then I bribed her with McDonalds and she started to catch on. Not sure if we are going to make it the full year but we are going to give it our best try. We may go back to gymnastics!!!

Here is the perfect example of our girl now a days.
Riding her bike in rain boots and putting on lip gloss at the same time.

My Chase!!! He's getting so big! And photogenic!!! Here are some cute pictures from the past few months of him!!

Look who's sitting up now!!!

I LOVE those chunky legs!!!

We don't have a thumb sucker this time! Instead, we have a finger sucker! Rock on!!!!

Tell me he doesn't look just like his daddy!!!!

The kids and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and went to the beach at sunset.

Anyone that knows my kids, knows that this picture is a perfect example of their relationship! Matt is trying to dig a hole in the sand and Jacqui is kicking the sand right back in!!!

The only way to describe this is "Perfect"

Chase wasn't a fan of the waves rushing around his feet!!!

For some reason it never occurred to me that they would "accidentally" get wet!!!

Me and my baby!

In Jacqui news - she made the volleyball team at school! 50 kids tried out and 16 made it! My baby was one of them! I'm so proud of her!

Love this picture of Matt keeping Chase occupied!

Oh and Michigan Football season started! I love the new U of M Jersey Ski bought me!!!!

Matt started playing the trumpet this year also! (Well Coronet - it's all we had!) He really likes it!

Jacqui is still playing her flute - the same flute I played, Genie played and Megan played!

I wish I could freeze this moment in time. They were actually getting a long and laughing together instead of fighting!!!

So that is what has been going on with us over the last few months!

Ohio Reunion!

2009-08-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

The theme for this summer seemed to be family reunions. I went to three of them! But it was great to see all the family and meet members I've never met before! Unfortunately for the Haynes family reunion, Judy got really sick that day and wasn't able to attend. We were all disappointed.

The food was amazing - I don't think I've ever had a meal I didn't like that Aunt Katie has made!!!

One of my favorites from the day - I can never get a picture of Ski smiling!

We ended the evening with a huge bonfire!

Even though Judy couldn't make it to the family reunion we were still able to spend lots of time with her. Cadence was trying to do a dance while holding Chase.

What a great dad. This was his first time feeding Chase cereal!

GG and her Great Grandson Chase!

She's always doing some form of laundry - and it usually ends up being mine!!!!

I was soooo tired that day! My plan was to just close my eyes for a second...

How do you explain this???

We are hoping she doesn't get her dancing skills from her father!

It was a great time in Ohio! Saw lots of family, spent time with the GG's and Grandpa, and unfortunately I did lots of homework! By the time we got home, we needed another vacation!

Reogers City Reunion

2009-08-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

This year Ski and I had to decide whether we were going to go to the Wisniewski Family Reunion or to the Festival in August because we couldn't do both. We decided to go to the Family Reunion! We haven't been to a reunion since the very first one.

The Wisniewski Family Tree

Bean Bag Tournament!

This year Pork, Kathy, Larry and Ann were in charge of putting on the show! They did a great job!

He took his job seriously...

The Ski's of North Carolina...

Below are just pictures from through out the day!

At the end of the day we had the Auction.

Before we started Aunt Vick read a really nice letter she had found from Busia.

The next generation of Wisniewski's!

Great job on the Reunion Pork, Kathy, Larry and Ann! It was a success and everyone had so much fun!

My six week vacation in Warren Mi!

2009-08-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

This summer I spent 6 weeks in Warren, Mi with my mom! It was great to spend so much time with her. She was such a big help to me with Chase and Cadence! Plus she cooked dinner every night and I didn't have too!

My dad even drove in from Vegas to see me and the kids also! He stayed at my mom's house and I didn't have to go back and forth trying to see them both. I'm so lucky that they get along so well!

Now that my dad shaved off his mustache he looks so much like my Uncle Jay!

While Aunt Coleen was here we all went to Green Field Village. Here they all are in birth order...again. At my mothers insistence...again!

For the 4th of July, we had a BBQ at Aunt Jackie's new house. Her and Twin worked so hard that week to get the outside looking so nice.

Here we all are eating. It's just not a party if we don't see Megan's crack...

Megan and Twin

Aunt Janet and Aunt Dee Dee!

My mom knows I hate pig tails and braids because that is what she always did to me when I was little. The minute I left her alone with Cadence she found herself with the same fate!

My mom and dad were also able to see Chase get his first taste of cereal! The poor boy was going through so many bottles he needed something else to fill him up!

Not exactly sure what her problem was...

...but feeding Chase made it all better!

Whenever I go home I always try to go see as many people as I can but sometimes I just don't have enough time. I've kept in touch with Mr and Mrs Adair for many years. She was my cheerleading coach from 7th grade until 11th grade and Mr Adair pretty much had his hand into every sport at Fitz!

That night after I went to see Mr and Mrs Adair, I also got a chance to have a "Cheerleader reunion" of sorts! Here is Nancy, Bobbie, Theresa, Kasey and Me.

It was such a great vacation at home! Even though I was there for 6 weeks it seems like it went so fast!!! I hope to be able to do that again soon!

The Craig Family Reunion

2009-08-09T18:24:00.000-07:00

So back in June I went to Michigan for a month and a half. The whole reason that I went was because my Aunt Colleen, Uncle Tom, and my cousins Jolene and Craig came in from Idaho. Back when I was little, my Aunt Colleen would come every other summer by train with Jolene and Craig and stay at my Grandma and Grandpa's. For years, my Uncle Tom stayed in Idaho and most of us didn't really believe the man existed because none of us had met him! Anyway, because they were coming in, we decided to have a family reunion. It's been so long since we've all been together at once. Here are the pictures:

It all began with these two people - Tom and Eleine Craig.

This is actually how "I" remember them...

They had 4 girls and 1 boy. (My poor Grandpa!) Here they are in birth order because my mother was VERY adamant that they stand that way. Everyone made fun of her of course.

Colleen, Bonnie, April, Shavaun, and Shawn

Here they are with their spouses - there was no one there by the name of Ken to stand with my mom...

Here are all the cousins. It's been 15 years since we have all been together like this.

Here are some pictures of all of us cousins from over the years. This was Tam's wedding. (I'm always one to point out the obvious!)

This was all of us in Owosso when my Aunt April and Uncle Bill used to live there. I'm going to say this was the mid 90's sometime! The reason I can tell this is because I have a god awful perm that I let my mother talk me into. We all know better then to take any type of hair advice from my mom and Aunts - I must have been vulnerable at the time.

This was the summer Jolene and I had to wear the exact same outfits everywhere we went. I think this was also the summer all of us kids got kicked out of every place we went for acting like fools. Specifically, the time I tried to politely give Jeremy a french fry at White Castle and he hit my arm, sending it sailing right into the plate of the nice gentleman sitting at the next table. Our moms started screaming "THAT'S IT!!! Get out to the car right now!!!" and we giggled and laughed all the way there! That same day we got kicked out of the thrift store for running through the aisles with the cart chasing each other. My favorite from that summer though was when Jeremy and Craig were acting up at the mall and Aunt April came at them with one of the clothes hangers. I will never forget Jolene's face when she leaned over and said "Aunt April's RUDE!" I should probably never complain about my own kids acting up!

We look sweet and innocent...actually all I ever hear about is how Tam was so great and that it was me and Jeremy that caused all the trouble!!!

This was before Bobbie, Genie, Megan, Leah and Corey!

And here is the fourth generation of Craigs! Just as the long line of family members that came before them, they too make fun of their mothers every single chance they get!

They played outside the entire time.

Jacqui, Matt, Cadence and Chase!

Here is the most recent picture of Leah, Jacqui, and Kyla. I have one of them at several stages of their little lives starting when they were all about 2-3 years old.

Leah, Jacqui and Kyla - around 8-9 years old.

Leah, Jacqui and Kyla - 2/3 years old. Tam swore up and down that this wasn't Jacqui!!!

Here are more pictures of the reunion.

Uncle Bill (No one warned him what he was marrying into and he reminds my Uncle Shawn every chance he gets!), Uncle Shawn and Bobby. It was at Bobby and Tina's wedding that Tam snuck me so many orange juice and vodka's that the bride ended up holding my hair while I threw up in her toilet. Such special wedding night memories! We also have video's of me dancing and the more drunk I got, the more I shook my butt! But, then again who can forget my debut at their wedding when I sang the B-52's song "Love Shack" at the top of my lungs? "TIN ROOF - RUSTED!" Did I mention I was 16? I blame you Tam...I still can't drink Vodka to this day!

Uncle Tom (he DOES exist) Aunt Shavaun - we all call her Aunt Dee Dee and I don't even know why, Aunt Anita and Uncle Todd. In every picture you'll see Aunt Dee Dee making this face because she hates pictures - she's saying "Oh get that camera out of here!"

Tam, Tina and Aunt April. Aunt April is the more wild out spoken of all of my Aunts and my mom. You can rely on her as someone to call if you roll your explorer three times while your mom is on vacation. (Even though she really thinks your about to tell her your pregnant! - right Genie!) She's also the one who will tell you straight out if you look stupid. I think she's the one that came up with the phrase "I'll beat your ass!" that we are all so famous for saying to each other! Best of all though, she's the one that always makes me my favorite foods when I come home! Taco salad, Sweet and sour weenies and BBQ meatballs!

A great picture of my mom, playing with a one year old all the while a pack of cigarettes hangs out of her pocket. Yes, we represent the Warren / Hazel Park area!!! Let's just say my mom is the easiest person to make fun of and she's always got the story wrong. It doesn't matter what the story is - she is going to mess it up! When I was in the Marine Corps and got promoted to Lance Corporal, she'd call my barracks and ALWAYS asked for Lance Colonel Mader. Next thing you know I'd hear "Mader, your mom is on the phone!!!" They all knew...

"Mean" Uncle Shawn and Chase

And by "Mean" Uncle Shawn I mean the below picture - he used to chain us up in milk cartons. This particular picture is Jeremy inside there. He also used to handcuff Tam to the staircase and freeze her barbies heads and pull our pig tails and tie us up with rope (although we would run past him with a rope and scream "You can't get us!!!") I make him out to sound like a monster but he wasn't! We all loved him and constantly did stuff to get him to do these things! He is a genius when it comes to cars, or electrical work, or pretty much any type of renovation that needs to be done and whenever any of us need help with anything he's always there. His daughter Leah will never know the torture we went through - and it's a shame really!!!!!!

Jenny from the block was there - she's started out as Genie's friend but now she's been adopted into the family as one of our own!

This is a classic "I'll beat your ass" look that Tam gives often! Isn't CJ adorable. I think he needs a little brother or sister!

Me, Matt and Jeremy. When Jeremy and I were little we were inseparable. They said we looked so much alike that we could be bookends - and with that we got the nickname "The Bookends". When Matt came along, the resemblance between me Matt and Jeremy was amazing. He's like the third bookend.

Here we are when we are little. Lets focus for a second on the plaid pants my mother dressed me in. There are countless outfits like this that fill our family albums...

Aunt Anita and Chase. When Uncle Shawn married her, apparently I welcomed her into the family by grilling her with questions such as "Do you have AIDS?" There are many moments like this in my childhood where my mother just swelled with pride over my actions!

Megan's boyfriend Twin. His name is really Ishmael, and he doesn't have a twin.

Here they all are sitting around talking. It's one of my favorite things about going home. We all sit around like this and talk, tell the same stories over and over, make fun of each other (usually my mom!) and eventually we laugh so hard that one of them pee's their pants. They even take bets on who is going to do it first. Every Wednesday since my Grandmother passed away in 1997 we have had what is called "Girls night" at one of our houses. My mom, my Aunts and my cousins all get together and play games, talk, laugh etc. They rotate who is going to bring the treat. They celebrate everyone's birthdays and have girls night Christmas every Christmas. We've always been very close and girls night is a way to stay that way!

That night after the reunion the majority of us cousins all went out to the bar. It was definitely a lot different then our days going to Major Magics together! Don't ask why my head is doing that. I have no idea!

My cousin Genie - her alias is Cinnamon...she's always fun to have at the bar!

We should have seen this coming...

No pole is safe when she is around!

I don't even know what to say here...

It's a family thing I guess!!!

We were all so surprised that Jeremy came along with us! Usually years go by before we see him because he's always with his friends or his band. Plus he danced!!!! It was so good to see him again and hang out with him! Especially since we were inseparable when we were little!

Theresa came out with us too! One awesome thing about her is that she realizes how close we all are and bought us all a shot to do to celebrate being together again! It was such a great night! I love this picture because there is a similar one of the three of us the summer before our senior year before any of us had any worries! Now here we are 15 years later! It's amazing how close Jo and I are even though she lived in Idaho and I only saw her for two weeks every other summer. Me her and Jeremy called each other "The buds!" and told Craig he'd never be part of "The buds" Such lovely children we were!

Jolene and I had a rough start though - this was the first time we met each other. She bit me on the neck...

We got over it though as you can see! We were 16 here!

My little cousin Craig isn't so little anymore either! Last time I saw him he was only 14. Now he's like 6'4" and was the ladies man that night! I couldn't get over the fact that he could drink. Then he reminded me "I'm 28 years old!" Yeah, I guess he's qualified to have a beer or two!

His women hanging all over him!

Jolene wanted to hear NOTHING about her little brother and women!!!

And then there is Tam. She's definitely not the huggy person she is in this picture. Too many Chocolate Cake shots for her! However, what she and I really want to know is how I got so much taller then her here! (Tam, it could be because I'm standing on a shell!)

And one last picture of our night out - my sister Megan, her boyfriend Twin and Theresa. Look how happy Megan looks with Twin! He's a great guy for her - although before I got there she scared him into thinking I was really mean and would start yelling at him the minute I walked in the door. No wonder he seemed to stay away from me for a few days! What she should have warned him about was her and I yelling at each other! Oh it's always good to be home!!!!

And there you have it, the people who helped make me who I am today! When I think of my family, I don't just think of my mom and dad and sister. I think of all of these people. My mom and dad and aunts and uncles and grandparents - they helped raise every single one of us cousins. We've laughed together and cried together and made fun of each other when someone had a tantrum. We've picked each other up when one of us we're down (Or when one of us DROPS the other on our knee leaving a scar - TAM!!!) and we've celebrated just about every accomplishment each of us has ever had. And it all started from two people - Tom (King) and Eleine Craig.

This is a picture of my Aunts and Uncles just 7 months before my Grandpa passed away. They had a long happy life together but what they left behind is just as amazing!

Matt's Birthday

2009-06-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

I know - it's been two months since I've updated this blog but it's been a little busy and stressful around here! Still, I couldn't let Matt's 11th birthday go by unnoticed!!!

So as usual - with each birthday, I can't believe that he is another year older. This time 11. It's just that his birthday (May 9th) is on Mother's Day weekend every year and that is special to me because of everything I (and Cody) went through with him. It is truly a miracle that my boy, born 3 months early and weighing 2 lbs 10 oz, is even standing here today.

Now that he is in 5th grade, this will be the last year that I will bring cupcakes to his class for him to share. I have done it for both Jacqui and Matt from Kindergarten on up. The past few years the theme of his birthday cupcakes have been baseball. Here he is wearing passing out cupcakes to his class wearing the birthday shirt that Mrs Mirise got for her students to wear on their special day. She's such a great teacher!

Chocolate cupcakes, white frosting, red stitching...

On his actual birthday he had a baseball game. So again, I made him cupcakes to share with his team. Chocolate cupcakes, white frosting, red stitching...

They all sang happy birthday to him while his coach held him high above everyone!

After the game, Robbie spent the night and he opened his presents. Don't worry - he got more then sunflower seeds. I just figured I would get him some that he could hide before Ski got to them!

He's also decided that he's going to make it a tradition to go to Hooters for his birthday dinner. So Matt, our family and 20 of our closest friends took up half the restaurant.

King ended up at the kids table...he thought he could keep them under control. Can't you just see the authority in his face. They all look scared don't they!

Amber ended up at the other kid table...

Jacqui always loves when Matt is the center of attention. Can you tell?

Again the cake we took to Hooters was a chocolate cake, white frosting, red stitching. Can you sense a theme here. But that is what my boy wanted so that is what he got. I had a few issues with this particular red icing.

Of course I made sure to let them know that it was his birthday so they brought him up and sang Happy Birthday to him while he did this hula hoop.

Then he got to pose with the Hooters Girls. I'm sure your all shouting "Mother of the Year!"

Well Rachel shares this particular award with me because she threw her son at them to pose for a picture too. Miss Cadence had to get her big old head in there because no one can pose better then she can and she'll be the first one to tell you. That, and she let me know that one day she will be a Hooters Girl too. You can imagine the pride that I felt that day...

Happy Birthday Matt! I love you buddy!

Our Early Fathers Day

2009-06-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant, we went to the exchange at Camp Lejune and as I walked past the photo center they had the cutest military baby portraits displayed. So for Fathers Day I decided to take the kids there and get them done. These were actually taken in April when Chase was 3 weeks old but if we waited for actual Fathers Day, he probably would have fit into Ski's Cammies by then!!!

Cadence wasn't the easiest model to say the least. She didn't want to take a picture in her dads Cammies, she didn't want to hold the flag, she didn't want to do pretty much anything that I asked - BEGGED - her to do. Which is why it is such a miracle that these pictures turned out as beautiful as they did! Well actually, if we are being honest, I had to bribe her with pizza and Chuck E Cheese.

Here she is with the pizza I promised her... do I know how to deliver or what?

Chase Maddox

2009-04-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

Well we've been home for almost two weeks and it's been great having Chase with us finally! I'll tell you, life hasn't slowed down since he's been born, in fact I would say it's gotten even more crazier. We are right in the middle of baseball season and that is busy enough without a newborn baby! But he fits right in and just tags along with us where ever we may go!

Now that is a sturdy table...

Cadence is so happy to be a big sister. She does "Big Sister Jobs" such as throwing diapers away and giving him his pacifier! Her helpfulness only lasts so long, she's already told us that she is "Mad at doing big sister jobs!!!"

There's nothing like cuddling with a new born baby!

Look at that sweet little face!!!

Cadence is still the apple of his eye, but I'll tell you Ski is so proud of his son! He's great at showering them both with attention!

The Big Campout

2009-04-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

While Ski was still on Paternity leave, he and Cadence decided to camp out in the backyard. Oh she was sooo excited! And what a big help she was putting up the tent!

She is full of poses!!!

They picked one of the coldest nights to do this camp out! It was like 45 degree's that evening but she was not letting that hinder her from sleeping outside! I told her to put on her warm footy pajamas but I was told that there is no pajamas in camping!!!

Every camp out needs a water bottle and a flash light!

Oh and a straw hat. You don't go camping without a straw hat!!!

They sang songs and played guitar...

They read Ballerina stories and Ski told her a ghost story (which scared her so much she is still talking about to this day!)

She was out within a half hour of getting in the tent and Ski was left cold and bored...for about 30 seconds until he himself fell asleep too!

What a great dad! These are the times she is going to remember for the rest of her life!

It's that time of year again!

2009-04-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Well we are back at the fields again! We are neck deep in ball this year. Ski is managing Jacqui's girls softball team, Matt is on the Cal Ripkin church league, and Ski is on two leagues. Plus we just had a newborn baby and Cadence is a job all on her own! Let's just say we are spread a little thin and usually have something EVERY SINGLE night of the week until June!

Here are some pictures from their first games! Jacqui's sponsor is Little Caesars Pizza!

It only took 4 years but she's finally down and ready without having to be yelled at first!!!

So proud of my girl who went from starting in the outfield all those years ago, to finally finding her way to third base! She's also learning to pitch and rumor has it she's doing pretty good!

All Ski wanted to do this year was help coach. That turned into him managing the whole team. He's a great leader though and the team won their first game 11-6! Nice dip in your mouth Honey!

Giving Jacqui a few pointers!

Matt has a really good team also! Not sure how both of them ended up wearing orange this year though.

The one thing that this boy is completely serious about is baseball and is always completely focused! He encourages his teammates and always has his head in the game.

First batter up!

For Christmas he got his own catchers gear and it worked out great because when he got to the team they asked who wanted to catch! He's also at third just like his sister and he's going to be pitching as well sometime.

My boy is a big target and is awesome at stopping the ball!

We're Home!!!

2009-04-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

It's been an exhausting week both mentally and physically but we made it through and Chase is finally home with us! I would like to Thank everyone so much for all of your support and your kind words of encouragement. We really appreciate it and I'm sorry if I wasn't able to respond as much as I wanted to over email but I was checking it on my phone because the hospital didn't have free WiFi.

Here we are on our way out of the hospital! It was so great to dress him in something other then the infant gowns they put on him there.

We are a little crowded now with two car seats again!

This is the day I brought Matt home - it's been a long time since I've had two car seats at once!

Baby Chase Update: He'll be home soon!!!

2009-04-14T18:01:00.000-07:00

Well, Chase is a week old today and there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel! The spot on his lungs is gone and he's been eating great ever since we started feeding him every 4 hours. He's been eating 55 - 60cc at a time. It was like a different baby over night! Here is a picture of him and his big sister together yesterday. I have yet to get a picture of the four of them together. The hospital isn't the best place for a photo shoot! So far there has only been one time where Cadence has been jealous. She didn't want her dad to hold him at the hospital today because she wanted him to hold HER. The fact that she had no nap didn't help matters at all. She could care less if I hold him though. Daddy's girl, what can I say!

I've also included a video of "Miss Thing" doing the Cadence Show to her favorite song "Had a Bad Day!" This girl loves to put on a show I'll tell you! Just watch all of those facial expressions!

Happy Easter Everyone!

2009-04-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

As you all know, life is a bit hectic for us these past few weeks but it is Easter and we wanted to make that as normal as possible for the kids. So last night between feedings we sat down in the middle of the kitchen floor and dyed eggs. We are finding out that a dozen eggs doesn't go very far the more kids we have! The three of them got to do 4 each and let me tell you all the complaining I heard - especially when I reminded them that Chase would be here next year and that would be one less egg each. Oh the unfairness of it all!

Here are the eggs that Jacqui and Matt were the most proud of - that and the fact that they could also dye their hands in the process too!

This morning everyone was able to sleep in a little and I tell you it felt really good. Every Easter it seems for some reason Jacqui wakes up on the wrong side of the bed and she's a real Peach - so I call her my little Easter Peach. This morning was no exception!!!!

Here are a few Easters of the past with my little Easter Peach! This was 2007...

And this was 2006...

Cadence was so excited to find out that the Easter Bunny hid the eggs that they colored and also put candy in her basket that she needed to find!

Jacqui had to get her big old head in there and got Matt's basket for him after he found it. Even though she already knew where it was, she knows better then to tell him before he finds it because of the guilt trip that would follow after!

Cadence needed a little direction but eventually found hers also!

Even Chase got a basket full of baby stuff! The bunny didn't forget him just because he is in the hospital!

Another Easter tradition that just kind of happened is that Jacqui's basket is always hid so well that she is the last to find hers. Again, tradition lives on.

I have nothing to say about this...

We didn't want to leave the kids all day and we also didn't want to miss feeding Chase so we decided to do the noon feeding at the hospital and then pick up the kids, eat lunch / dinner at the Golden Corral (Jacqui's favorite restaurant) and then spend the afternoon at the park.

After the park, we all went up to the hospital for Chases evening feeding so the kids could see him. Cadence also wanted to bring him his Easter Basket so he could see it. This morning when Ski fed him, he did GREAT! He ate the full 45cc in a half hour! This evening he just wasn't feeling it. He was very sleepy and didn't seem hungry at all which has been one of our concerns. Obviously we aren't doctors but it just seemed like he was being fed too much, too soon between feedings and so he didn't want to eat it because he just wasn't hungry. This always feels like one step forward and then two steps back.

So we talked to the doctor today and he explained that one of the antibiotics he is on will hurt his kidneys if he gets too dehydrated which is why they push for him to eat so much. This makes sense but no one ever told us that before and the lack of communication is a little frustrating sometimes - especially since there are like 7 doctors that are rotating on call and each are making different decisions. But the doc agree'd with us and decided that we would offer Chase a 60 cc bottle at midnight and let him eat what he wants. Then we will wait four hours to feed him again and let him get hungry. They will offer another 60 cc bottle and again let him eat what he wants and just see how he does kind of on his own. They have a policy that they will not let a baby eat longer then 4 hours and that is fine. He feels that over night will not be enough time to dehydrate him if he does not do well with this new plan. So we will see tomorrow how he does on his own! Here are a few pictures of our time with him tonight!

I love this picture. Ski and I are in this together as a team - in sickness, and in health.

I hope everyone had as good an Easter as we did. It wasn't the day of tradition we usually have but we made it special none the less because our family was together.

So here's the deal...

2009-04-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

When Chase was born, we noticed that he was breathing really heavy and wasn't eating like he should. I mentioned it to the nurse and she took him down to be assessed. They did some blood work and it showed a higher white blood cell count then they liked, and it also showed his oxygen wasn't as high as they would have liked to see. So they did a chest Xray and it showed a small spot that they were concerned about and said it could be pneumonia. They started him on antibiotics and said they would repeat the chest X-ray the next day.

Well the next day the X-ray showed that the spot was still there - no bigger, no smaller. We were under the impression that they weren't really worried about it and their next major concern was his eating. It seems that he is a very sleepy baby and when he gets a bottle he only eats like 10cc before falling asleep. He also doesn't know how to suck, swallow, and breath at the same time so he panics and starts breathing really heavy. So we had to start force feeding him basically. In the mean time, he also became jaundice and needed to go under the lights.

I was released from the hospital without him because we really have no idea when they are going to let him go. We thought he would be going home tomorrow (Easter Sunday) but learned that the doctors decided it would be better to put him on the full course of antibiotics for 7 days to make sure that he did not have pneumonia. More of a precautionary thing. His breathing has gotten a lot better now that he is learning to eat but he still can't stay awake for his feedings. He starts off really good and then just falls asleep and he's done. They have a feeding tube in his nose also. They want a minimum of 45cc at each feeding. Whatever he doesn't drink on his own gets fed through the tube. That is pretty much where we are today. Ski and I have been running back and forth to the hospital 2-3 times a day for feedings and we are exhausted.

We are also trying to get kids to baseball, and all the other things we have going on in our normal life as well as making Easter happen this year for Cadence. It's been a little stressful but Ski and I have each other and we are a great team so we are making it happen. We also have a great support group of friends here that have been helping us out a lot with the other kids. Shannon, Anthony, Ken and Amber - We really appreciate it!!!

As I was being wheeled down to the car in the wheelchair last night after I was discharged I was sad as I realized that I left the hospital without BOTH of my boys when they were born. But just as Matt fought and made it, Chase will too and we will all be back together again soon. Below are some pictures I took of him today at his feedings.

Here he is under the bili lights. His blood work showed he is doing better and doesn't need to be under the lights anymore!

Ski is a pro at feeding him now. The nurses taught us a few tricks to get him to eat and he got him to eat 42cc today at his afternoon feeding. I was so impressed at how good he was at it!

Not to mention what a natural he is at getting him to burp!

Look at that little face. Breaks my heart to see him with that tube down his nose!

Mommy and her baby boy!

Okay it's 1:30am - I'll try to update nightly after we find out what is new. Right now I'm going to bed because I'm exhausted and I have a major headache. The Easter bunny is coming tonight too so I have to make sure everything is ready for him!!!! Hope everyone has a great Easter!

Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-11T21:56:00.001-07:00

So Chase is in the hospital, but we still wanted to make Easter special for the kids. Our neighbor Ken had the idea that we should all get together and have a big Easter egg hunt in our cul de sac for all the kids! So we got around 100 eggs, hid them around the houses and set the kids free this morning.

After the eggs were hidden, we put the kids in the middle of the street and told them to go find eggs...

Cades was having issues with her shoes as you can see and off they went!

The big kids were told to let the little kids find the easy ones, I'm not so sure that is exactly what happened. Especially when Jacqui counted hers and of course she had the most!

They look like they had a fun time - some of them even got money eggs! I'm glad Ken had this idea and we were able to do something special for them all!!!

I'd like to introduce...

2009-04-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

Chase Maddox Wisniewski

Born April 7th, 2009
at 1:17pm

9lbs 3oz 21 in long

After 40 weeks and 4 days, our son was finally born! The doc decided since he was being stubborn, he would induce me. Let me just say it was the easiest labor I have ever had! We went in at 0630am. They started the petocin at 8:30am. At 12:00pm they gave me an epidural so Ski decided since I was sleeping he would go get some lunch, and at around 1:00pm when the nurse checked me I was ready to go. However, there was one problem...

Neither the doctor, nor Ski, was around so we frantically called them both while I layed there trying not to have the baby without them. Easier said then done! The doc walked in at 1:11pm, Ski walked in around 1:13pm and they told him to put the gloves on because he was going to deliver his son!!! You should have seen the look on his face. Next thing you know the head was out and Ski moved in real fast to catch his son as the rest of him came out! It was an amazing experience for both of us (especially since Ski almost missed it entirely!) and something we will never forget.

The smile on my face tells me I must have just gotten in the bed because it didn't last long!

Neither did my labor so there weren't many pictures! Here is Chase right after he was born.

The look of a mom who was just so happy to hold her son, not be pregnant anymore, and never have to go through labor again! It was all worth it though because he is perfect!

And has a great set of lungs...that is, when he's not sleeping!

Have you ever seen a more proud dad? He was still amazed that he was the one that delivered him!

Cadence drove Jacqui crazy all day asking when she would get to meet her new little brother. She was the first out of all of us to feed him!

She is used to being the big sister by now!!!!

Matt was with our neighbor all week because we were in the hospital and they said he could hang out with them in Maysville at the track riding dirt bikes. He was in his own little heaven. It was almost three days before he finally met his brother. I love this picture of all three of my boys! They are making fun of me because I always have to take pictures!!!

He's so happy he finally has a brother - he already has 3 sisters and a stepsister! It's about time we evened things out for him a bit with a boy!

Pregnancy Update - again

2009-04-04T21:54:00.001-07:00

Well my due date has come and gone and I'm still pregnant. Baby #4 should NOT be this stubborn!!! Anyway, here is my 39 week pregnancy picture (the day Bryan graduated) I seriously thought I was going to have him that day with all the walking we did! From behind you can't even tell I'm pregnant so you can imagine the looks I've been getting when I turn to the side and people get a glimpse of the massive belly sticking out! I heard more then a few comments from people walking by and a couple strangers even asked to rub my belly. How awkward that is!

Here are a few more images - I will say this again, it's as uncomfortable as it looks (as well as HEAVY!!!!!) Ski will be so happy when it's over and won't have to hear me complain anymore!!!

Our new table!

2009-04-02T21:26:00.000-07:00

When we first moved to our house, Ski was all excited because he had a work bench in the garage. He had big plans to build us a kitchen table that all of us could sit around comfortably - especially now that our family is getting bigger! Well for the last year and a half he has been in the "planning" stage as he likes to call it - which means he really had no clue what he needed to do. Well since his dad Pork is a carpenter and builds houses for a living we decided that when he and Kathy came down for Bryan's boot camp graduation, they could build our table together! In one afternoon it went from "planning stage" to a beautiful table!!

Are you noticing a theme with this project - Pork seems to be doing an awful lot of the work...

This was the first time it was being turned over to be inspected!

The three of them staining and varnishing it.

They even signed the bottom: Pork - Foreman, Ski - the designer, and Bryan - the muscle! They do good work together!

The finished product finally in the kitchen! I won't even have to worry about Jacqui and Matt sitting so close and fighting anymore. In fact we've decided that the boys will sit on one side and the girls will sit on the other. I suppose we'll have to stop them from kicking each other though.

Thanks Pork (and Bryan) We would have never gotten this done without you!!!! We love the table - it's beautiful! Now we just need to get chairs that don't look so ghetto! One "planning stage" at a time I guess!!!

Three months of counting down to this day!!!!

2009-04-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

December 29th 2008: these were the exact footsteps that Bryan stood on when he came aboard MCRD Parris Island for the first time. The picture below looks slightly different then the scene that unfolded that night when he flew off the bus as a civilian about to endure 3 of the hardest months of his life! But he did it and 13 weeks later we are all very proud to call him a Marine!

Three months later, he finally graduated - unfortunately they had to do it in the all-weather building instead of on the parade deck because there were supposed to be storms, not to mention the sand fleas were horrible that day. But it was still a nice ceremony and something to be proud of!

Celest Lynne wearing her daddys cover!

Ski was a very proud big brother - welcoming his brother into the corps. This was a priceless moment to see them both in their uniforms shaking hands.

Here they were 12 years earlier when Ski was only a Pvt who had just graduated from boot camp! It's come full circle!

The three Marines (hey - once a Marine always a Marine!)

A very proud father!

And also a very proud mother!

Kathy and Pork with the boys!

We stayed at Darlene and Clydes house while we were in Beaufort. Can I just say again how lucky we are to know them! She is one of the sweetest most wonderful woman you will ever meet! Thanks D for everything! The food and hospitality and company were amazing!

We've been trying to get a "creative" pregnancy pic of the two of us for a while now - we LOVE this one!

We do serious pretty good too!

We also took this opportunity to take a nice family picture.

Look how adorable the kids are! Although I almost lost my mind in the process of trying to get this "nice" picture because Matthew wouldn't cooperate.

Celest Lynne and Noel standing on the footprints her daddy stood on when he got to the island all those months ago!

D and Clyde - she is responsible for the feast you see below!

You'll never go hungry at Darlene's and if you do, it's your own fault!!!!

Noel made sure Bryan knew how proud we all were of him! What a great wife!

Below are just some random pictures of his "congratulations" party!!!

Now we all back to reality. Bryan has a few more days of leave before he has to check in at MCT. We are all just hanging out and relaxing waiting for the baby to get here! Again Bryan I can't tell you how proud we all are that you achieved such a great accomplishment! I never had any doubts that you wouldn't make it! Enjoy your time with Noel and Celest! Pretty soon you will have them with you again permanently! Good luck and Semper Fi!

We are in Beaufort!!!!!!

2009-03-26T15:45:00.000-07:00

Remember last December when I posted about my brother in law Bryan enlisting into the Marine Corps??? Well it's been a long three months - a lot longer for Bryan then for us - but we are finally here in Beaufort South Carolina to see him graduate from boot camp!!!! The other exciting thing - yet stressful at the same time - is that I'm due in a week so we are all on pins and needles hoping that I don't go into labor! (Especially on the way there and the way back) So far so good...

Cadence has been talking about her "tousin E-lest" (cousin Celest) for months and was so excited to see her. She is so good with babies as you can see!

This morning we were all up bright and early so we could get to Parris Island to see the motivation run. And by bright and early I mean 5am. We actually got Cadence into a dress for her Uncle Bryan!!!

I love this picture of her and Dzja Dzja - unfortunately Kathy (Ski's stepmom) is in the hotel room VERY VERY sick with either a flu or a food poisoning! She wasn't able to come out for family day today but is hoping to make it for the graduation tomorrow!

Here comes the motivated 1st Battalion running by!

Bryan is the one right behind the road guard. We were all so shocked at how much weight he lost over the last three months!!! He looks GREAT!!!

Worlds cutest neice waiting to see her daddy!!!

1st Battalion Charlie Company marching through the doors!

Bryans platoon waiting anxiously to be dismissed to liberty for the day!

The look on Bryan's face says it all! I had to run to keep up with Noel in order to get a picture of her and Bryan reuniting.

He was so excited to see his baby girl! I can atest to how hard it is to leave your babies for any period of time! When you get to see them again the feeling is undescribable!!!

Pork was very proud of his son! Bryan worked really hard for this!

This was an awesome moment to when the Wisniewski brothers shook hands - from one Marine to another!!

What a cute family picture! Bryan looks like he's 18 years old again!!!!

She was so excited to help her little cousin and push her in the stroller!

He took us to see his barracks - right outside his door is the pit!

Bryan with two of his Drill Instructors

His rack in the squad bay!

The squad Bay!

I wonder how many times he laid in this very rack wishing he could see his little girl!!!

Jacqui and Matt taking it all in!

Here in my little "Young Marine" carrying Uncle Bryan's Seabag.

It was a great day today and we are all so excited and proud of Bryan. Now we are just relaxing at Darlene's house after our long day. Especially me - I was getting worried that I was going to walk myself into labor. So it's time to kick back and put my feet up for the night with a bunch of water!!! I'll post more tomorrow after he graduates - and keep you up to date on any labor and delivery issues I may find myself in!

Pregnancy Update

2009-03-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

Just a little pregnancy update - nothing is happening!

Well, as of last Monday nothing was happening. Which is a good thing - at least until this Saturday after we get back from Parris Island SC and then bring it on!!!!! Here are a few of the latest pictures of the belly. I currently exceed the limit of most of my clothes at this point.

Making Mac N Cheese and Hot Dogs - only the finest foods for my family!!!!!!

In Jacqui news - here is her new haircut! She looks so cute and very grown up!!!! Plus, her bangs are finely growing back!!!!

Here's a father / daughter moment if I ever saw one!!!! These two are like two peas in a pod!!!!

I've been promising Matt that I was going to get outside with him and take some pictures of his skateboarding! This is one of his new passions! He needs a new skateboard though because in order for him to go straight, he has to position it to the left and as he rolls it will straighten itself out. I keep telling him his birthday is coming up... Here is Matt - since it's been a while since I've been able to point my camera at him and take some pictures!!!

Oh and look at this...it's so hard to be 3!

Just a little update on what the kids are up to!

2009-02-28T12:32:00.000-08:00

Haven't really had a chance to update on the kids lately but they are doing good! Just the other night Jacqui was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society! They had a very nice ceremony at her school where each child being inducted was acknowledged and got a certificate. Then they talked a little bit about what it took to be part of the National Junior Honor Society like scholarship, leadership, service, and citizenship for example. The very next day I got a call from little miss National Honor Society's teacher saying that she wouldn't stop talking or messing around and wasn't doing as she was told in class. So much for citizenship!!!!! Here are some pictures from the ceremony!

Matt is also doing well in school for the first time in a long time. We finally figured out what the problem was - he is dyslexic and now that we know, the help he gets has made a world of difference. His grades are A's and B's!!! That doesn't mean he's anymore organized though. Here he is after he fell asleep doing homework that he had a week and a half to do but didn't bother until the night before! Not sure why I've only taken one picture of Matt in the last month - it seems he's never around when I have the camera out! He and I have a plan to go to the skate park soon so I can get a few shots of him skate boarding - his new favorite hobby!

Cadence also has big news of her own!!! This coming Tuesday, she starts preschool 2 days a week and has suckered me into registering her for a gymnastics class one day a week. (As if I don't have enough on my plate to begin with, especially with a new baby coming!!!!) The below pictures are her first trip to open gymnastics where she fell in love with the place and has cried and cried to go back ever since.

Here is a little video I took of Cadence at the gym! She was so proud of herself! She was nervous but she kept saying "I can do this! I can do this! I can do this!" When did she become so grown up!!!!

And the tables turn on my biggest critic!!!

2009-02-18T12:30:00.000-08:00

As fathers and husbands go - Ski is one of the best around. I couldn't ask for a more loving and caring man! He helps out around the house, he does all the yard work and takes out the trash. He cleans my car even though I'm the one that drives it. Being the most frugal man you will ever meet in your life, he still tries to get me whatever I want. He compliments me daily and calls just to say I love you! He treats my older children as if they are his own and there is not a father around that loves his little girl more then he does. (The list could go on and on but really, his ego doesn't need a bigger boost than that - trust me!)

But let the records show - when it comes to being sympathetic towards pregnancy, he leaves a lot to be desired.

Before he married me, he really hadn't had much experience with pregnant women. I mean, he went from living with his dad and Kathy in a town of approx 3000 people, to living with a bunch of Marines in the Barracks. Not too many opportunities to rub elbows with many pregnant women! However, after getting to know him and his personality, I realize that there is nothing that could have prepared my husband for the wonderful 4o weeks of pregnancy. He's more of a "You wanted to be pregnant so you shouldn't complain" type of person. I'm more of, well, the complete opposite! Especially when I can't breath or sleep or roll over or move because you better believe when this man is sick, we all hear him complain about it. Over and over again!! But, don't be too hard on him. Even though he may roll his eyes and make stupid comments sometimes, he still does everything he can to help me so I don't over do it!

That being said, I'm sure you can all imagine the huge smile on my face when he and I went to a baby class today and he got to wear the empathy belly. A 35 lb, lead filled belly that simulates some of the symptoms I go through on a daily basis. The weighted belly, the feeling of being off balance, the compressed breathing. It was a big fat "I told you so" wrapped up in a cute little simulated belly that, unfortunately, still had bigger boobs then I do at 8 months pregnant!

Below are some of the most priceless pictures I've ever taken...

I just wish he could feel what it was like to feel feet in your ribs and painful contractions but hey, I'll take what I can get.

Our First North Carolina Snow day!!!!

2009-01-20T12:25:00.000-08:00

Last night we knew that there was going to be at least a two hour delay at the schools because of the weather and a possible school closing. Jacqui and Matt were mad that they still had to go to bed at a reasonable time. I at least let them watch TV in bed and I can tell you they were both asleep within a half hour so I wasn't the MEANEST mom in the world - they were tired!!! Cader and Ski decided they wanted to camp out in the living room because Ski had the day off today!

Below is their camp out. They lit my candle on the table for a campfire and told scary "monster" stories (my favorite book!) and even had out a flashlight because you can't go camping without a flashlight.

About 6:30am we got a call that the schools were officially closed today so I turned off my alarm clock and went right back to sleep! It isn't everyday that I get to sleep in! Unfortunately, my husband had better plans and was up at 8:30am ready to go. I wish I had HALF his energy in the morning!!!

Around noon this is what it looked like around here and everyone started to get excited!

Jacqui couldn't decide if she wanted to go outside but once she saw the entire Cul-De-Sac out there playing she had to get involved.

We even let Cadence skip her MUCH NEEDED nap to go play in the snow. Oh she was so excited!

However, she wasn't too crazy about her hands getting cold and cried to her Daddy who is her hero and he made it all better!

Jacqui and Chelsea pretending to throw a snowball at me!

She knew better then to throw it at me and redirected it at the last minute!

Here is everyone playing and wrestling and having a great time in the snow. It's been so long since we've seen snow and we had to dig DEEP for warm coats and clothes!!!

Matt tried to get Chelsea with a snowball but my poor son always ends up getting over powered!

Now we are all inside in warm clothes, drinking hot chocolate, and making Magic Cookie Bars.

My 28 week and 5 day celebration!

2009-01-15T12:49:00.000-08:00

Well I've made it to my own little milestone! I'm 28 weeks and 5 days pregnant. That is the day in my pregnancy when I had Matt and he turned out just fine. So far, there have been no problems with this pregnancy but in the back of my head, both this time and with Cadence, I felt that sigh of relief when we hit that mark! I can't wait to see what a little boy of mine will look like at full term! Matthew, my preemie, looked like a cute little old man who I instantly fell in love with. In the mean time, here is a recent picture of my ever expanding belly. I carry my babies very low and it's so uncomfortable to walk, sleep, sit, ...MOVE. But it's all worth it! It'll especially be worth it when Ski and I go to a Daddy's baby bootcamp class next month and he gets to wear a weighted pregnant belly in order to see what it's like for me to carry around all this extra baggage. Don't you worry - you'll all get to see it also because you know I won't forget my camera that day!

Happy New Year!!!! 2009

2009-01-01T19:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!! It's already 2009!

For New Years Eve we went to our friends Shannon and Anthony's house (this is them below - Anthony looks like he is the drunk one but you'd be surprised how tipsy Shannon is here!!!)

The Beaty's also made it out for the night too - they even called to ASK if they could take Matt to their house where they had a babysitter and he could hang out with their son!!! Who am I to argue with someone who wants to give us a kid free evening and a free babysitter!! Jacqui also went to a friends house so it was just me Ski and Cadence!!!

Jeff and Rachel Beaty - we were so surprised that he wasn't' wearing camouflage overalls and Rachel had gotten him dressed up into a vest!

Becky, Alaina, and Tim - they are PCSing this weekend so it was kind of also a good-bye party in a way too. Tim will be a recruiter for the next three years.

And finally the Ski's (minus a couple kids) He thinks it's hilarious to rest his beer on my huge belly. Notice I was all about matching my clothes last night. That orange goes lovely with that blue doesn't it!!!! I don't care, I was warm and comfortable. That is all that matters when you are almost into your third trimester (which I start Saturday!!!!! I'm going into the final stretch!!)

Abby and Cadence had a great time rocking out and playing dress up!

Cadence wants to be just like her dad with the guitar.

Jeff and Ski eating! It's not a New Years party without tons of food!

Because the Beaty's live like 6 hours (okay 40 minutes) away, they rented a limo so that they wouldn't have to drive. Before they left the guys took a spin in it and then the girls did...

Cadence and Abby went with us and all Cadence kept saying was "This is SOOOO AWESOME!" She thought it was the best ride in the world!!!

Leave it to my husband to not only try to steal the cup from the limo but also to put it in his Kuzi to keep it chilled...

This is completely unrelated to New Years but I thought it was too cute not to share...

Just a little while ago this is how we found the dog. Cadence was trying to change Natties diaper (like a big sister!!!!) and put powder on her...

She thought she was in so much trouble and started crying. Daddy ran to the rescue. You know there would be no yelling if Daddy has anything to do with it.

Seriously though how could you yell at such a sweet heart broken little face like this???

More Marines in the Wisniewski family!!!

2008-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last year sometime (I think it was May) Ski's brother Bryan called and announced that he wanted to join the Marine Corps. Shocking as it was, we had no doubts what so ever that he could do it! However, since May it's been a long road for him and he has worked harder then anyone I know to make his dream happen. On Dec 19th he was finally able to swear in and these are some of the pictures his wife Noel took.

Yesterday Dec 29th, Bryan left his wife Noel and his baby Celest and headed off to Parris Island, SC for bootcamp. Like the protective big brother he is, Ski can't believe his brother is going through what we went through all those years ago but it's a right of passage that we've all had to endure and I can't wait to hear the stories he has to tell when he's finally done. Matthew has already been talking trash to him about out ranking him. He's a PVT in the Young Marines and Bryan is a Recruit.

I know there is not a brother more proud then Ski is!!!! Here are the two of them almost 12 years ago when Ski graduated from bootcamp. I can't wait to get a picture of the two Wisniewski brothers standing side by side wearing their uniforms!!!!

Looks like Bryan will be graduating about a week from my due date. I know that neither me nor Ski are willing to miss the graduation so it looks like I could have the baby down in SC if he decides to come early!!! I'm just a little nervous about the 7 hour drive there and the 7 hour drive home!!!!

Good Luck Bryan!!! It's going to be a hard 13 weeks but I know you can do it!!!!

Let the fun begin!

2008-12-26T20:12:00.001-08:00

Now that all the gifts have been unwrapped and everyone has eaten more then a weeks worth of food in one setting, it's time to play with all the gifts - and let me sleep in until noon - Thank you so much Ski, I needed it!!!! Cadence was so excited to set up her tent today.

As you can see - she had a few visitors!!!

I found Ski in our room learning to play his new guitar. This year on my Christmas list I asked him to write me a love letter. Well, as always my husband did not disappoint. I started crying about the first paragraph and cried through out all three pages that he wrote. It was the sweetest thing I've ever read! It wasn't just the pregnant hormones either! Well next year he says his goal is to learn to play the guitar and to write me a song! I can't wait to hear it. He likes to pretend he isn't a romantic at heart but I will let you all know, in his own little way he is very romantic.

As for Jacqui and Matt - I have hardly seen them all day to even take a picture of them with their new stuff. They have been out running around the neighborhood.

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

2008-12-25T19:38:00.000-08:00

Not only is it Christmas but it is also Jacqui's twelfth birthday. Lets not go into how old that makes me feel. Next year she is going to be a teenager. Oh but don't think that it hasn't already started. She and I were shopping for clothes the other day and in the middle of the store I had to stop and call my mom to apologize to her for all the times I drove her crazy trying on clothes! I'll show Jacqui something I think she might like and she just gives me "the look" like I have no clue what fashion is. I can tell you that I'm being paid back in full. My mom of course just laughed.

Really hard.

I didn't find it quite so funny! Damn that mothers curse!!

Look how grown up and beautiful she looks!

Every year - and I mean EVERY year - I even out all the kids gifts between the kids and then I remember "Oh - Jacqui's birthday" and I have to readjust the budget.

She mostly just wants clothes now a days. And shoes. Lord knows her foot grows faster then I can keep up with. Her MawMaw in Texas sent her some shoes for Christmas and they were size 8.5 - they barely fit. I think she's probably got about a month or two before she outgrows them!!!! So much for sharing shoes - I'm only a 6.5! Next she's going to be taller then me too!

Can't remember what exactly she got - but as you can see she is a little excited. I think it was an ITunes gift certificate for the new IPOD she got for Christmas. Either that or money to buy the new phone she wants to upgrade to.

So here we are - another year, another birthday. This time TWELVE. Doesn't seem possible. Could someone please tell me how this...

turned into this...

A look inside the Ski Christmas!

2008-12-25T19:01:00.000-08:00

On Christmas Eve I asked Matt "Are you excited about Christmas buddy??"

He replied "No - I'm really not thinking about it all that much."

Well that night the kids went to bed at 9pm. Matt woke up at 11:30pm, and midnight. At 2:30am he woke up again so I told him to go turn on his TV and watch it till he fell asleep. At 4:30am he woke me up again. In between that, Cadence woke us up to go potty and ended up getting in bed with us which is always real comfortable especially now that my belly is HUGE. At 7 am Matt woke us up again. No - he wasn't excited at all!!!! By that time I couldn't sleep anymore but Ski wanted another hour. So I got up and poured Matt a glass of milk, me a glass of water and I went into his room to share some cookies and milk with him before everyone woke up. Would you believe it, he was finally asleep again! So there I sat - the only one awake. Finally at 8am everyone woke up to this...

Santa had even finished all his cookies and milk, fed his reindeer and wrote Cadence a letter back! He also left a bone for each of the dogs on the table and some circus tickets for all of us to go to the circus in February.

If you remember from the previous posts, all Cadence wanted Santa to bring her was Scooby Doo toys. Here is the look on her face when she got them!!!!

The rest are pretty self explanatory. They are just a look inside of our Christmas morning!!!!

I can honestly say none of us need anything for quite a while. Thank you to everyone who sent us gifts and we hope everyone had a GREAT Christmas!

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T17:20:00.000-08:00

We had a pretty quiet but nice Christmas Eve. Ski and Caders tracked Santa on the internet so she could see where he was and when he would be on his way to our house. Jacqui and Matt play along too even though they are "too old" for that kind of thing!!!

I was busy making pumpkin pies and Jacqui's birthday cake and also cookies to leave for Santa. This year all he got was the pre-made chocolate chip cookie dough kind that I could cut and bake.

Tradition at our house is that we all open one present that night before we go to bed. I don't know who was more excited to get a gift - Ski or the kids. He has had his big old head under the tree for weeks trying to shake his presents and guess what they were.

Jacqui and Matt knew they were getting the same thing so they devised a plan to sit back to back and open them at the same time.

Cadence got a Scooby Doo Christmas movie and couldn't wait to go in Matt's room to watch it!!!

After opening their hand held Guitar Hero games, this was how I saw them for the rest of the evening.

Eating some dough from the chocolate chip cookie wrapper!!!

I let Cadence fill the plate with cookies for Santa - she decided he needed three of them.

Matt poured him some milk too.

Then we all ate a few cookies our self!!!!

I LOVE this picture. I don't know who makes who happier!!!!

How could Santa resist a feast like this! Even the reindeer got carrots. One for each of them!!!! Caders also wrote him a letter to remind him to bring her some Scooby Doo toys!!!!!

It was an AWESOME Christmas Eve - one of the best I've ever had!!!!

The holiday season!

2008-12-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

This year I was so excited for Christmas! Cadence is at the age where she finally understands and gets excited about Santa and also, we were going to be home with all three kids this year. Usually the kids go with their dads because they don't get very much time with him beside the summer. Our holiday season was filled with parties and friends and more parties and more friends.

This was Ski's squadron Christmas party. She couldn't wait to see Santa and tell him that she wanted Scooby Doo presents. The whole time she waited in line to see him she just stared!!! Over the course of the last month we've had to have Santa call a few times to let Cadence know that he could see her when she wasn't eating her dinner or when she didn't want to go to bed. She'd always get so upset if she thought Santa was going to be mad at her!!!

Abby, Cadence and Hannah - the daughters of workcenter 690's SNCO's.

Now that Matt is officially a Pvt in the Young Marines he's done some pretty cool things. Back in November during veterans day he went to Washington DC to visit all the monuments and to go to the Marine Corps Museum. For Christmas they were in the annual Havelock Christmas Parade.

Here is Cadence sitting on the curb waiting for the parade to start. She wanted to get a good seat so that she could get lots of candy!!! The sun was in her eyes!!! Of course you can't keep that thumb out of her mouth either.

Once the parade started she was up on her feet racing to get candy. We didn't bring anything to put it in so she used my camera case. It was a little awkward but it worked!!!
The Marine Corps band marching by! Cadence yelled "The Marines!!!! Just like my daddy!!!" She was so excited.

Here come the Cherry Point Young Marines!

Matt is in the back - the one who's bearing needs a little work STILL!!!

The kids wanted to do something special for our families who are far away from us in other states. So when school got out for Christmas break we took a day and made a bunch of crafts to send to them!!!

They all worked so hard and did a great job!

We had a great holiday season and look forward to Christmas day being just as great!!!!