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

Baby Mullen (coming out soon --June 2007)

First views of our baby.

Hard to see...I know (much easier when you can see the miracle moving around and BOY does this baby jump and tumble around!). In this picture, the baby has her/his hand above the head (you can see the little fingers if you look closely). You can see the eye and mouth-- a profile of the face. The body is curled (she/he is only 1 1/2 inches long and in the curled up fetal position) so you can't see the legs from this angle -- but they are there...trust me.

This is another profile shot of the baby -- curled up in a little ball --- right before she/he flashed dad with her/his cute little butt!

In this shot you can see the leg and arm bones above the baby's head and body --- she/he is in full curl in this one!

Official Preschool Pictures are in.....

2006 Christopher James at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church KidCare

View #2 of CJ

2006 Kyle Patrick at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church KidCare
(Kyle only had one pose)

Kyle's Thanksgiving Finger Food Feast and Sing

Kyle "performed" this year --- singing three songs with all the hand motions along with his classmates. He also improvised for Daddy's videocamera and stuck his tongue out :-). After the singing, Kyle joined Daddy and Grandma for a thanksgiving feast.

Here is Kyle (red and white striped shirt if you can't find him)getting ready to go on stage (look at the far right of the picture).

Here is Kyle caught looking at the camera right before he is supposed to sing. "I am going to stop what I'm doing and just say thanks....just say thanks ....just say thanks ...I am going to stop what I'm doing and just say thank you God".

The "Bump" and a Water Fight

Went to the doctor today to hear the baby's heartbeat and to officially start all the prenatal appointments. Doctor just barely caught "pumpkin seed" --- 170 beats a minute :-). No word on what that means other than pumpkin is in there. I do get to have my first sonogram on Tuesday next week. :-) --- too early to determine if it is a boy or a girl but at least we can see our little miracle.

Here I am at 8 1/2 or 10 1/2 weeks depending on how you chart it --- a visible bump :-)

The boys had their first water fight in the tub today. Threw a washcloth back and forth at each other. They had a blast. Amazing that these are the same boys who SCREAM when they have water on their heads to have their hair washed....

National Finalist for the Rynearson Award (NHS/NJHS Advisor of the Year)

In case you didn't know, John and I spent the weekend in Orlando, Florida for the National convention of the NHS and NJHS. We were there mainly because I was awarded for my work as an advisor of NJHS. I am second in the nation for the 2006 year...not bad if you consider that there are over 30,000 advisors in the nation. :-)

Here I am receiving my award (shaking hands with the president of the National Association of Secondary School Principals who sponsor NJHS and NHS).

Here I am close up with the award.