John, Laura, Kyle, Christopher (CJ) and Alyssa Mullen

Watch Us Grow!

Look Below for New Entries...this will always stay at the top!

Our Family Vacation to Walt Disney World

Countdown to a week of FUN!

For our Tenth Anniversary...

John and I are going back to Las Vegas. We are staying in the same hotel that we stayed in to begin our honeymoon 10 years ago!

Muffins with Mom 2008

I took off work to go to Muffins with Mom at CJ's preschool. He loved having mom's attention on a weekday in the morning! I got a crown, a little handmade placemat and a profile of CJ. We had muffins, fruit and orange juice and CJ served Mommy breakfast. Alyssa helped too --- she even ate a whole muffin herself and tried an orange slice. CJ "sang" a mommy song with his class so to speak. He really just wanted to be in my lap not in front of the classroom singing. We were a little sad when it was time for Mommy to go but I promised to be there when school was over so that made it better.



Momma's little cutie pie

Alyssa's model shoot for one

We had Alyssa take her one year pictures at the mall this weekend. I told her it was her model shoot. So....the little model threw blocks at the photographer....oh well....

Looking innocent and cute for her close up.

She wanted to take the tops off of all the presents and succeeded in getting the smallest one off.

Alyssa with all the sizes of presents.

Then we had a costume change, and in her casual look, she "played" in the park.

Another Tuesday closer to summer

Today at preschool, CJ got to wear a costume when he brought in pennies for the penny drive. He chose the Batman cape last night so I laid out a batman t shirt and pants for him to wear. Then, when he woke up, he decided he wanted to also be Scooby Doo....so this was the result: (and he was PERFECTLY happy with his choice).

Kyle was being a helpful, sweet older brother today and took Alyssa around the house for a walk. She was happy to drag him all over up and down and back and forth. He liked having the job!

I found my old Holly Hobby bonnet from when I was a little girl. Alyssa wore it for a whole three minutes before she yanked it off her head. Isn't she cute?

Playing with Brother and breaking in the NEW shoes!

Alyssa got brand new walking shoes from Stride Rite --- white leather with pink flowers and pink shoelaces. She got to break them in today.

She played peek a boo with brother.

And Peek a Boo with the camera.

She gives her new shoes a high five!

KidCare Recognition Sunday at Church

The kids from CJ's preschool sang today at the services at church --- two songs with handmotions. CJ was relunctant to get on stage in front of the congregation by himself so Kyle went up for moral support.

They had more fun being silly together than anyone else on stage....and they both managed to sing the two songs while they were at it.

Alyssa is getting into things faster now....Here she is opening my jewelry box while I was changing out of my church clothes. (little stinker).

Wow --- its been busy over here

I wish I could say that having three children and working is a piece of cake but....um......NOT! I barely have time to breathe any more much less update. Maybe this summer, I'll have more time to update daily --- keep everyone aware of all our happenings but right now with school and three angels.......it just isn't working! On the plus side --- I've lost all my baby weight but four pounds and those four should be gone soon. :-)I figured though it was REALLY sad that I had only put up Kyle's birthday, not CJ's and Alyssa's is coming up in 20 days so.....Mom had to find a minute to put up something!

Let's start with the smallest and head up from there.

Alyssa --- Has three teeth peeking through her gums and a fourth one trying. Those front teeth take forever though so she's been working on them for awhile. She has finally figured out mobility --- crawling all over in a unique way (like Baby New Year from the Claymation movie Year without a Santa Claus). She is figuring out how to pull herself up to standing from a sitting or crawling position, but once on two legs, she cruises along coffee tables and couches. Alyssa babbles incessantly --- when she is mad, she shrieks or says, "mum-mum-mum". When she is happy, she squeals in much the same timbre as her angry shriek but the facial expression lets you know the intended tone. :-)

CJ --- performed at the Spring Sing and is set to perform in front of the congregation at church this coming Sunday. Of course, he spent a lot of the performance twirling the little girl's hair in front of him and hiding behind other schoolmates but Mom got some pictures anyway and Dad got video. Hopefully he will sing and do all the hand motions on Sunday. We will see.
--- CJ's fourth birthday was a lot of fun. We went to a Jumpland with bounce houses and structures to climb and slide down. He and Kyle had enjoyed themselves immensely. Alyssa wasn't so sure about the bouncing but she sat in the middle with her stoic stare and evaluated her brothers and the surroundings. Back at home, we had a Scooby Doo party and CJ told everyone that he LOVED every present. Whenever he opened one, he would smile big and say, "Just what I always wanted!" Even the books from Mom! He can be a sweetheart.
--- CJ went to a friend's birthday party but didn't know what to make of the pony rides. He told me that he was afraid that the horse would pee on him and that is why he didn't ride it. Interesting....

Kyle --- lost his first tooth and waited patiently for the tooth fairy who left him a note and a shiny new Sacagewa (sp?) gold dollar coin. He asked if it was worth more than fifty cents --- I guess we haven't really taught him the value of money yet...Ooops! Anyway, he wanted to spend it right away but when we got to the store, he thought that it would be better if Dad spent his money and Kyle could then save the dollar coin. Brilliant negotiating --- future business man in the making!
----Kyle tested and earned his green belt in karate, so he has gone through white, yellow, orange and now is working on blue. He has to spar and grapple more now, and the combinations for punches and kicks are more challenging so he has to focus more. He is holding his own though.
--- Kyle is doing well in school, reading at a first grade level and getting all 4's (highest score meaning that he works consistently at an independent level) in math, reading, writing, science and social studies.

Laura --- fractured her wrist at school (again) and spent six weeks in a splint while it healed. Forever the klutz! Anyway, I've been named Department Head of English at Schimelpfenig along with being Team Leader for 8th grade. It will make me busier, but to be honest, I've been doing the work anyway for some time now.

John --- will be starting his international mapping soon. He has his official passport and will be going to different countries to map their roads. Unfortunately, that means he will be gone for longer periods of time, but I'm hoping that he will be forced to map France or Switzerland or Germany :-) I'll just have to tag along to help of course! Anyway, he will be gone in August to Mexico which isn't as international as the trips will get, but it does require a passport now.