Happy Birthday Ella

Today is Ella's 7th birthday. Wishing her a great day! We have already spent the morning shopping at Monogram Express and Justice. Had lunch on the way home from McDonald's. We spent about 3 hours at the pool where she played with friends and her new pool float. And, tonight the four of us are going to Gatti Town to eat and have some fun!!!! Will try and post pictures later. I said TRY. Haven't been blogging too much lately.

Catching UP

My crazy tiger fans!

Austin and Ella first week of school...best picture I have!

Since the start of school...we have all been busy, busy, busy. Austin and Ella are doing great at school. And, I am TOO! On August 24, I started an online degree program for Radiologic Sciences. One week after starting, I had to have my appendix removed. Yeah! But, lucky for me, all I could do for a while was rest and school work. Austin and Ella kept me entertained and busy with all of their activities, etc. Last Saturday..believe it or not, Austin woke up complaining of his stomach hurting...which in turn was APPENDICITIS and by 8:30 last saturday night he was in SURGERY to have his appendix removed. I almost didn't even take him to the doctor because, "what are the chances of that?" I slightly suspected it, but, kept thinking I was overreacting. Thanks to the LSU game and that their were TVs in the emergency room we were in, and in the holding room before surgery, he didn't worry too much about the surgery. He was really into the game. Unfortunately, though, when he got back to the room, 1 minute before the game was over, he saw that LSU was beaten by Florida. That was one sore and sad little boy. He has done great after surgery. Went back to school yesterday. We are hoping for an uneventful next few weeks, as the last few have been quite busy.

Happy Birthday Ella

All 14 of us on our trip to Disney

Ella with her mouse ears on

We celebrated Ella's birthday a little early with a trip to Disney World. We had a lot of fun, but it was a very BUSY 7 days. Ella's actual birthday is today and we are going to celebrate with cake and ice cream and a lunch out with Tee-tah, Pop-pop, and Uncle Jack.

Happy Birthday Austin!!!

8 years ago...Austin in the hospital (after his week stay in NICU)

Happy Birthday Austin!!!

Wanted to say a very special happy birthday to my big 8 year old. Hard to believe that just 8 short years ago, he was born. It was a very proud moment. He has been a joy to parent, and always knows how to put a smile on my face. I am so thankful and blessed to have such a sweet and handsome young boy. (who still loves me and lets me love him) Happy Birthday..Hope you have a great day!

Zoo trip at the Jackson ZOO

Friday we took the kids to the Jackson Zoo. We have lived here for over a year and had never been with them. The weather was wonderful. It was only about 70 degrees and perfect. We arrived at the zoo around 2:30 and found it to be very busy, but we stayed and saw all we could. (Jackson zoo is not that big). We ended our trip with a train ride and were out of there by 5. Quick, fun, and easy...my kind of day!

Bourne Photography Hour

This past week was spring break for us. We had fun doing nothing. (for the most part) One morning we woke up and I decided to try and get some pictures of Austin and Ella since I have not had any professional pictures done in FOREVER. And, no, I am not a professional, but I did have fun pretending. This is what we captured. And, I will say that I have a new camera, and don't know how to get the flash off. Or didn't take the time to figure it out and Austin and Ella are no good with a flash. I must have taken 100 pictures and about 80 of those were with eyes closed. But, I was pleased with the final results...and it was FREE!

Who let the Dawgs Out??

austin's team...Diamond Dawgs

austin with rob after the game

after the game..

right before leaving for our first game in canton....our spirits dwindled a bit after this game!

Austin's baseball team had a slow start with a tournament in Canton ending in a 3 game loss. That was 2 weekends ago, when the temperature was hovering around a low 40 degrees. It was our first games with the team, and we were all a little discouraged..but really who could perform well, when it was that cold??? This past weekend the Diamond Dawgs played again in a tournament here in Brandon. There were only 3 teams in their age group, but after 4 games, (2 losses, 2 wins) the Diamond Dawgs ended up winning the Championship game! The parents were excited, the kids were excited..it was a great day. Esp. coming off of the losing streak of 5 losses, before our first two very important WINS. We were at the ball field that day from 8 am until the last game ended at 5 pm. It was a long day, but well worth the money! I am including a few pictures from our day!

Pictures from Rob's Big Birthday Celebration..ha!

"extra extra read all about it, we've got the best dad, no doubt about it...."

Rob celebrated his birthday in style with a homecooked meal of roast beef sandwiches(made from a real roast) and cesear salad(straight from the bag) , complete with a chocolate chip cake, cool whip, and strawberries. (the cake I made)!! We sang happy birthday to him, he opened his gifts, ate a piece of cake, and it was out the door for baseball practice. Whew! Okay..so the presents were wrapped in newspaper, which Austin and Ella, were like , "what??", but they were wrapped and that is better than being left in a walmart sack...right Rob???

Ella Lost a Tooth! (well, it was pulled!)

I am a little late in posting this..but a week ago today Ella lost her first tooth. It had been dangling for over a week, and eventually it was either be pulled by me or by the dentist. After a traumatic few minutes the tooth was out, and Ella was all smiles.....She realized it didn't hurt NEAR AS BAD as she had anticipated. The tooth fairy came that night. What a proud day! I am only hoping and praying that the one that is loose next to it, is not near as a traumatic event.

Happy Birthday Rob!

Today is Rob's Birthday. Ella, Austin, and I just want to wish him a very Happy Birthday.
CAKE MADE (check)
SUPPER PREPARED (check)
PRESENTS BOUGHT (check)
PRESENTS WRAPPED (not quite)
Better get going...

Cracking Me Up!

Ella enjoying her pecans!!!

Cracking away!

My view from the window! (Ella obviously in her own little world)

I know I haven't posted in forever, but I have just been busy, what can I say? But, I had to share this.. I thought it was funny!

Ella has gained a new found love of our backyard. For a while, it seemed she had no interest in being outside esp. by herself, but lately has been playing around out back quite a bit.

Tuesday, I was sitting at my computer, and noticed the stillness of the house...which typically is unusual. I got up and walked to the den. I could hear Austin upstairs playing his playstation. So check, one down, one to go. Remembered that Ella had decided to go out back, so I walked back to my bedroom and looked out the window to check on her. I found her sitting in the middle of the dirt, in her OWN LITTLE WORLD, with a bag of pecans (some that Rob's mom and dad had brought to us a while back), with a pecan cracker, eating pecans! I snapped a picture of her from the bedroom window, and just watched her for a few minutes.. She seemed to be enjoying this moment so well, that I hated to disturb her. I let her crack away at the pecans for a few minutes more and then, I had to go out back and get a picture of her. She was enjoying herself immensely! And, it really was "cracking" me up! Best part.. she had her afternoon snack, and I didn't even have to fix it!

What's Up?

Ella..right after she realized she was now 5 1/2....

Ella and Madison.. after getting into the makeup

Dance party at Amber's...in pic: Amber, Audrey, Ella, Madison, and Christi..let it be known that was not me!

It has been forever it seems since I have posted on my blog. I look at it and others often, but just haven't had the chance to sit down and do anything..so today I am. Not much has been going on at the Bourne house. We are back into full swing with school. Ella is trying to learn her numbers and write them up to 100, which has seemed to be a challenge for her. (No surprise, though, she doesn't have genetics on her side--at least, not from her parents--when it comes to Math). Not a subject Rob or I enjoy. Austin is doing well. Baseball will start soon...so our weekends will soon be filled with tournaments and practices. But, it gives us all something to do, so we seem to enjoy it. The past two weekends, we have had the opportunity to visit with Amber, Grant, Madison and Audrey. Ella has been in hog heaven playing with girls.. Most days, you can find her out back with Austin playing Army. Monday, on their day off, she came in crying, because Austin was going to make her carry a gun, or she couldn't play with him. She said that would be too heavy to carry...so they compromised, and he allowed her to carry a stick gun. Which believe me he didn't like, but tolerated! Anyways...Ella and I went to Mandeville one weekend, with my dear friend, Christi. Then, last weekend The Pittman family came here so Amber and I could go out and celebrate Christi's b/d. And, this weekend, we are going back to Mandeville for Madison's b/d. One other exciting thing that has happened..is on Jan 19, ELLA TURNED 5 1/2. She is so anxious to "catch up" with Madison, which she never will..Madison will always be older..But, she asked me Monday night, when she would be 5 1/2..something she has asked alot lately..and I realized that indeed, she was on that day 5 1/2. She was so excited. Pumping her fists..like "WOO_HOO" she had finally made it. This week she seems taller..she can now wear different things, that on Sunday were too big, but now she fits in, etc. So all in all it has been a good week.

One side note... I got a call from school yesterday about Austin. His teacher said he felt his heart racing and dizzy, nervous, etc. and he had a low grade temp. This has occured a couple of other times over the last couple of weeks..so I took him to see the pediatrician. His heart rate had slowed down, of course, by the time he saw him, but he ran a few other tests.. one of which is a tsh (thyroid blood test), because some of his symptoms were consistent with a thyroid problem. We are waiting on those results..hopefully today. So, if you have a chance to say a prayer for him, please do. I am hopeful that everything will be okay. But, it does cause some concern.

Happy New Year...!!! (a little late)

abbey,emily, amber....

abbey and rob

reagan, austin, barry...playing playstation!!

austin and ella about to see what santa brought!

leaving cookies for santa...almost bedtime..they look tired, don't they?


Hope everyone is having a great start to the new year.. can't believe it is 2009. My how time flies...I remember all the hype before the year 2000. We are all doing fine.. just trying to get back into the swing of things..school started back Monday. We are all trying to remember how to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, and still be nice people. Luckily, when 8 pm rolls around, though, there aren't too many complaints about getting to bed. I have many many more pictures to post.. but just not the time for it right now. Will post again soon. Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas from the Bourne's

My Family..these were forced smiles..as they were about to all go shopping with me!!!YIPPEE!!

This is how we do yard work...work really hard to make a pile then see who can mess it up the fastest.

Running and jumping in the leaves...

I am sure the next couple of days will be a little bit hurried and crazy..so I wanted to go ahead and say Merry Christmas, to all of my friends and family. The Bourne house is quite a bustle right now. Ella and Austin are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa. They have their moments, but for the most part have been really good. Ella and I have been a bit under the weather with a cough and cold..so we have been trying to rest. Yesterday Austin and Ella didn't even get out of their pajamas, and stayed in bed all day watching HOME VIDEOS. They love watching them. The shopping is done, so I am hoping tomorrow we can sit back and enjoy the day. Christmas day we will open gifts and then go to Columbia for a few days to spend time with family.

I am posting a few pictures of the last few days or so.. We got a new camera so I am trying to figure it out.

I wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Snow Day Play

Austin and Ella finally got home about 11 today to play in the snow.. It was WET AND COLD! Obviously! But, that didn't stop them from getting out for a while and playing in it. Ella had gone out at school too, and even had to change her clothes because she was running in it and fell and got all wet. She was all smiles, though! It was still snowing heavily when I picked them up, and for about 2 hours after we got home. They were so excited.. I was too! We attempted to build a snowman, but it didn't really work out too well. It was so wet. Hope you enjoy the pictures.