HOUSE UPDATE!

Just in case you have been living on another planet and are not aware of the fact that Derron and I are in the process of building our first house(The one we live in now doesn't count, because I HATE it.) here is an update.

Derrell is AWESOME. He is working so hard to build this beautiful home for our little family and we appreciate him and his hard work so much. Georgia is not on my good side right now because they are getting RAIN all the time and it's hard to build in the rain. I however have been praying for a drought and I am sure this is why it is raining so much.

The second floor should be complete and I should have some more pictures on Tuesday when Vickie and Derrell get here. Right now this is what I have. We are so excited about our new home and can't wait for it to be finished.

Olivia's Thanksgiving outfit

She was so cute in her little Turkey outfit.

More Pics

It's been a while..........

I simply have no excuse for not blogging! That's not true. I would rather sit and hold my sweet little Olivia than be on this computer. But, since some of you use this as a source of pictures and a way to keep up with us I suppose I could update it. This will have to be very brief as I have hardly any time right now.

We had some pictures taken and I will post a few of those. We had a great Thanksgiving. The only pictures I took were of Olivia, because she is the only one who got out of her PJ's that day. She had a special outfit to wear. We are looking forward to Christmas and I PROMISE to post lots of those pictures. Here are a few for now.

My Favorite things

As part of the giveaway for LeeLou Blogs I can blog about my favorite things and receive another entry for the swag. So here are some of my favorite things.
I can NOT live with out the following:
*STILA Lip gloss
*Twilight Saga ( I know, but let's face it, no one can)
*my ipod
*my cell phone
*The fisher price baby swing that my daughter lives in
*Shoes (any kind it doesn't matter)
*MY FAMILY
*My Friends
*LeeLou Blogs
There are a few other things too. But, as long as I have my children and my husband I am happy and life is good. The other stuff is just an added bonus.

Check it out http://www.leelouswag.com/

LeeLou Blogs Favorite Things Swag

LeeLou blogs has started their FAVORITE THINGS GIVEAWAY! Check it out at http://www.leelouswag.com/

Olivia's Blessing

We had Olivia blessed at church on Sunday, November 1, 2009. It was very sweet and special. Derron is such a wonderful husband and father. we are so blessed to have Olivia as part of our family. She is such a sweet little angel with a sweet spirit. Vickie and Derrell were able to be here for the blessing and it meant so much to have them here. Olivia is the only one of our children that has not been blessed in GA with all of her family. We did have all of our very dear friends there and it meant so much to us. My dear friend Meredith was kind enough to write out everything Derron said so that I have a record of her blessing. I will treasure this always. Thank you so much Meredith. We are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for all of our beautiful and healthy children.

Halloween 2009

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Halloween

We had such a great Halloween! It was bittersweet for us, because it was our last Halloween in Missouri. Yes, we are excited to be moving home, but Missouri means a lot to us. We have so many close friends here and it is going to be very difficult to leave them. So, we cherish every moment we have with them. Halloween is no exception. We had a great dinner at Mark and Kari's and then it was off to trick or treat with Mark, Kari, and their kids, Ben & Katie, and their kids, Ryan & Kobi, and their kiddos, and Matt & Elaina, and their kids too. Needless to say the adults were out numbered. 16 kids and 10 adults. Ben and Mark both had trailers full of hay that they were pulling with their trucks and we went around the neighborhood and let the kids get as much candy as possible. Ben and Katie had hot chocolate and donuts for everyone when we were done. The kids all looked so cute dressed up. So, to the Keifers, Waites, Stowes, and Poulsens, Thank you for a great Halloween. We are going to miss you all so much. Pictures to follow...

Callie's 6th Birthday

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Callie's 6th birthday

So much has been going on lately. October is usually busy with Halloween, but we also have Callie's birthday. That is almost considered a holiday too. We celebrated for 2 days! Lucky for her Fall Break at school happens on her birthday every year. Luck little girl!! Thursday we went to Tunnel Voyage. They have slides, ball pits, and tunnels all connected and the kids play in it. They also have some small rides. The kids had so much fun. The pizza was disgusting and expensive, but the kids had a great time. After we left there we went to the airport to pick up Papa (Derrell). Callie said this was her best birthday gift. We then ventured to KU to see Derron. Callie chose to have her birthday dinner at Jack Stack BBQ (YUMMY!!). Friday night we had cake and ice cream. Callie chose her cake 6 months ago. No joke. She saw it in a magazine and said, "Ms. Katie has to make this for me! She just has to!" So, of course Katie did. (THANKS A BILLION) Callie got lots of presents and lots of Littlest Pet Shops. She had a very happy 6th birthday.

Here are a few of the things that make Callie so special to us.

*She is very loving and caring
*She is smart

*Super sweet

*Super cute

*Funny

*She loves to sing and dance

*Very artistic

* She loves to cook

*Loves to learn new things

*Did I mention sweet?

*She is a great little and big sister

*She loves Harry Potter, Twilight and Tinkerbell(a few of my favorite things)

*Her family is the most important thing to her

*She loves Heavenly Father and the Church and always stands as a witness

*She is an amazing example of a child of God

We love Callie so very much and we are so blessed to have her as our daughter.

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

A friend of mine (Shelley) started this amazing website with a few of her friends. They have great info about couponing, crafts, healthy living, and lots more all in one convenient place. They also recognize amazing women and their accomplishments. To celebrate the official launch of their website they are having a giveaway so drop on by and check it out! You can click on the link below or the button on my side bar that says, HOW DOES SHE.
http://www.howdoesshe.com

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY CALLIE!!!! We love you so very much!

Olivia's 2 month check up

Olivia had a great check up. She weighs 10 lbs. 7.5 oz and is 21.5 inches long. She was so happy until they gave her the 4 shots. But, she is a trooper. Here are some pics of her in the doctors office.

Callie and her "worries"

Callie's class has a "worry" envelope at school. They use this envelope to put their worries in. Well, Wednesday night the Kindergarten classes had Family Night and Callie showed us her "worry" rabbit with envelope. I asked if I could read her "worries" and she said yes. Callie's #1 "worry" is that...her daddy will get stopped by the cops. Is this not the funniest thing ever? Well, we go in her room and she shows me her journal that she draws pictures in and then rights a sentence telling about the picture. Guess what she drew? A car, Derron standing behind the car, a police car behind Derron complete with red and blue lights. The sentence read: I hope my Daddy doesn't get stopped by the cops. I didn't have the camera, but thank goodness for technology and camera phones!! I took a picture of the entry. Hopefully Derron can calm her "worries" and assure her that the cops won't be stopping him anytime soon.

FREE GIVE AWAY

Free Sample Freak is giving away a FREE photo book from Multiply. Click on the Free Sample Freak button at the right to go to the website!

UPDATE ON HOUSE!!!

Guess What? They started on the house! YAY!!!! Here are a few pics.

Madison's 3rd grade performance

We don't really look forward to the yearly school performances around here because our school uses them as a way to get you to the PTA meetings. However, the kids love them and they always do a really good job. Madison's 3rd grade music program was Thursday night and it was very fun to watch. For the past 6 weeks we have heard nothing but Michael Jackson songs. I am seriously tired of hearing MJ and if I never have to hear it again that is fine with me. I do believe Madison has developed a love of classic MJ songs and a love of classic Jackson 5 songs. They sang ABC, Rockin Robin, Man in the Mirror, and We are the World. They also danced to Thriller and Beat It. This was hilarious. The Thriller video gave Madison nightmares so the fact that she enjoyed dancing to it was quite funny to us. The sweetest thing was hearing 100 3rd graders sing We are the World, because they truly can make a change for a better tomorrow. Anyway...If I can figure out how to load the video from our camcorder onto the computer and post a video I will. If not the few still pictures we got will have to work. Madison had a speaking part in the program and right as it was her turn the little boy in front of her turned and knocked the microphone and stand off the stage. The microphone was no longer working and Madison gasped and threw her hands up in the air with a look of OH NO! What am I going to do ? on her cute little face. However, the music teacher proceeded to let everyone know that Madison didn't need a microphone, because her voice was loud enough without it. Madison did great. And if you know Madison you know that she NEVER does anything half way. She insisted on having her hair done for the program which I of course said yes to. She is our little drama queen and we love her so much and we are so proud of her and her performance. Now to get her to stop singing MJ songs... Sorry the quality of the picture is not that great. It was taken with my cell phone at my friend Rochelle's house. Who by the way can get anyone's hair to hold curl.

Olivia's Phot Shoot

I love pictures.I love having pictures of my kids taken. I love dressing them up. But, I have never had so much fun as I did with Olivia on Wednesday. She is such a trooper. She put up with 4 outfit changes and didn't even cry. She is such a good baby and very photogenic. I am working on the slide show now. Until then here is a sneak peek.

Olivia's 1 month old

I can't believe it has been a month already since our sweet Olivia was born. She is such a good baby and has such a sweet spirit. She is very easy going and doesn't mind being passed between Gavin, Madison, and Callie. All three dote on her and it is so sweet. Each night before they go to bed they give her LOTS of kisses, and Derron and I end up saying,"Okay, that's enough." She loves bath time but hates getting rubbed down with lotion and putting her pajamas on. We are so blessed to have such beautiful healthy children.

Olivia had her one month check up on Thursday. She is very healthy. She weighed 9 lbs. and half an ounce and was 21 inches long. She is the first one of the kids to actually gain so much weight by their first appointment. She is in the 50% for height and weight. This is a first for any of the Spikes kids and we are super excited.

She cooed for the first time yesterday and I swear it was the sweetest little sound. She has to go to Children's Mercy tomorrow for some test. It's nothing serious. Since Callie has reflux in her kidneys Olivia has a 30% chance of having it also, so, Dr. Powell wanted to have a renal ultrasound and a VCUG done to make sure Olivia doesn't have the same thing. Please keep her in your prayers. I will post results when I get them.

Olivia Grace

August 24, 2009 @ 5:00 am Derron and I set off for Centerpoint Medical Center to have Olivia. I was checked in and hooked up to blood pressure and fetal monitors by 5:45 am and the dreaded IV was in by 6:00 am. The nurse came in and checked me around 6:30 am and started the pitocin. Dr. Hall (the best OB Ever) came by around 7:00 am to check on me and break my water. Around 9:15 am the kids along with Nana, Papa, MaMa Jennie, PaPa Callis, and Uncle Damon arrived. Between then and 10:00 am not much happened. I got my epidural around 10:15 am and we just waited. Around 11:45 am Vickie (Nana) came in to see how things were going and to see if it was okay if they left to take the kids to get some lunch. The nurse had just checked me and I was dilated to a 7 so Derron said he didn't see why they couldn't leave just for them not to be gone for too long. Well, as this conversation was taking place I started to feel a whole lot of pain. PAIN? I shouldn't be feeling anything at all since I had the epidural. I mean pressure yes, pain NO! Well, my track record with epidurals is not a good one. I had Derron get the nurse and she came to check on me and in the 5 minutes that Derron and Vickie had been talking I had dilated to an 8. The nurse had anesthesia come up to give me some more meds. They said it should only take 10 minutes for it to kick in. Three minutes later I needed to push. And really no one should question a woman in labor EVER! Derron said,"Are you sure? They just checked you and she said you were going to feel pressure." I said,"DERRON GET THE NURSE NOW! I have to PUSH!" The nurse comes in and says the same thing Derron did. Really? I mean this is my 4th child I know when I have to push and I know what pressure feels like, this was not pressure. So, the nurse checks me and I'm ready to push. Well, they scramble to get the bed broken down and to get the doctor in the room. It's 12:15 pm. Derron told the nurse earlier in the morning that we would have Olivia by 12:30. Three pushes and 16 minutes later Olivia Grace was born. Olivia weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz and was 20 in. long. She is the biggest baby we have had. She actually had little fat rolls on her legs. Once everything was cleaned up and Olivia was cleaned up the kids and the rest of the family came in to meet our newest addition.

It's been almost 3 weeks and Olivia is doing great. She was back up to her birth weight Wednesday when we went in for a weight check and I am sure she is well over 8 lbs. by now. She sleeps really good at night only waking twice to eat. She loves to cuddle and she loves to hold your finger while she takes her bottle. We are so blessed to have 4 healthy children. We love them so much and are so thankful for them. Enjoy the pictures and I will post more pictures of Olivia as the weeks go by.

Madison's Baptism

Madison was baptized August 22, 2009. It was a beautiful day and a very special occasion. She has so many people who love her. We are so proud of her for choosing to be baptized. She looked so beautiful dressed in white. Instead of a reception after the baptism we let Madison choose where we would have lunch and she chose Olive Garden (No surprise there). We enjoyed having family here for this special time in Madi's life. Nana, Papa, MaMa Jennie, PaPa Callis, and Uncle Damon were all here and we had such a good time with them. We took lots of pictures and the kids were real troopers about it for the first 10 minutes. After that they were cranky and ready to be done. We also had some professional pictures taken of Madison in her dress and I will upload those and post them later.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Yes, I know this is very late. The kids have been in school for a whole month now. But, we have had a very busy month and lots of things have happened. So far the kids are having a great year. Callie loves Kindergarten and says that the work is too easy. We keep telling her to give it some time and things will get harder as the year progresses. Madison LOVES her teacher. This is a very big deal. She had the most horrible teacher last year and it took forever to get her teacher changed. So, the fact that she loves her teacher and the teacher actually likes kids and loves to teach and helps the kids when they need help is a big deal. Gavin is loving every minute of 6th grade. He has 8 teachers in all and I think this is good for him. Sitting in the same class with the same teacher all day gets boring for him and this means he gets in trouble. So having 8 classes is going well for him. He started band this year and every afternoon for 30 min. he has to practice his trumpet. It sounds like animals dying, but he likes it. I will try my hardest to keep you all updated on the kids school year. For now, enjoy the pictures.

I honestly have the best intentions....

I do have the best intentions to update this blog. I am so far behind. I still haven't posted pics from the first day of school or Madison's baptism and I apologize whole hearted for that. However, our computer did crash and it has taken some serious work to get it backup and going and for Derron to find all of the pictures again. And to add to the fact that I am so behind I now need to post pictures of our beautiful little girl OLIVIA GRACE. She is so perfect and sweet. I promise to put tons of pictures of her on here, but for now this will have to do.

COMPUTER CRASHED!

*SCREAMING* What the computer crashed?? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So as we were about to leave for Madison's baptism Derron informs me of this horrible event! NOOOOOOOO!!!! ALL MY PICTURES and MUSIC!!! Well, the computer is back up and Derron just has to restore EVERYTHING!!! So, until that happens I CAN NOT post pictures from the 1st day of school. And, since I will be having a baby tomorrow and neither of us will be herr to deal with this it will just have to WAIT! So sorry. I had all intentions of posting pics from the 1st day of school and Madison's baptism before the arrival of Olivia, but it's not going to happen. I will eventually post said pics and hopefully get caught up. Until then I do I have one picture of my beautiful Madison at her baptism.

Madison's Birthday and the many things we did to celebrate!

Madison's 8th birthday got off to a great start! She wanted to spend the morning with me and only me. Which was great, because we haven't had a lot of Mommy/Madison time. So, we went to get pedicures and manicures. Madison LOVED the pedicure. She said it was the best thing ever and that we should do get one every week. I agree, but Derron does not. We then came home to get the rest of our crew to head out to do some shopping. We started at JC Penny to exchange some clothes and then headed to the mall. Madison wanted her Daddy to take her to her favorite store Claire's to purchase a few special birthday items. We also had pretzels and lemonade. Gavin wanted to do something fun for Madison for her birthday, so, he paid for them to do this trampoline thing at the mall that she wanted to do. We have a tradition in our family where each child gets to choose where they want to eat for their birthdays and Madison without fail ALWAYS chooses Olive Garden. So, after a long day we headed to Olive Garden for her Birthday Dinner.

But wait! The celebration doesn't stop there. Monday night we went to Red Robin with some friends to eat dinner. Kids eat for FREE on Monday nights. My wonderful friend Katie Stowe made Madison the cutest Littlest Pet Shop birthday cake. We had a great dinner and really yummy cake. When we got home the last of Madison's birthday gifts had FINALLY arrived. Her HOT PINK Razor Motor Skooter!! She had been waiting so patiently for her final gift to get here.

We are so blessed to have Madison as our daughter. We love her so very much.

Callie's BIG news

Callie has some REALLY BIG NEWS!!! She can ride her bike WITHOUT her training wheels!! It only took Derron working with her for 45 minutes on Saturday night. Today after lunch she wanted to go out and ride her bike. Gavin asked if she needed any help and she said,"NO! I can do it on my own." And she did. For three hours she rode her bike without her training wheels and needed no help at all. She is growing up so fast.