The Wilkes In 2009

Well, it was one crazy ride in 2009. Did another relocation for my job. I have moved 3x for the company. This should be it b/c it finally got us home. Ed is still working for the government & traveling for his job, but instead of 99% travel, it is now about 15% travel. We are all doing well & are healthy. Out of the 6 of us, 4 got the swine flu this past year. Sarah & I were the only 2 that did not have to go through the ordeal. I also had bunion surgery this year (removal of excess bone/tissue from the foot). Shelby will do it next year over the summer. We also plan on going to San Diego for Spring Break so 2009 was a tough one, but we are looking for some rest & relaxation in 2010. Also enjoying being near family & friends & all the visiting we get to do!

Wilke Girls In 2009

Shelby's White Chocolate Bundt Cake

Shelby is in the Junior Division of Girl Scouts and she made a white chocolate bundt cake this year & she one the blue ribbon!!!!!!!!!!! I think we were all in shock. I knew it tasted really good, but I also knew there were a couple of other cakes that had more design to it. When we took Shelby's cake out of the pan, a small piece actually fell off so we strategically placed that small flaw in the back hoping the judges would not see it. Shelby's group had to make a non-frosted cake. Sam's group had to do either brownies or cupcakes. Both groups had some really cool ideas. Only the 1st place winners go on to compete in a regional competition so Shelby will be doing that in about six weeks. In the meantime, she is also joining 4-H and is submitting a sewing projet. Samantha can't wait to join next year. I am just really excited about all the awesome things they are being exposed to. I was super shy as a kid & did not go out for stuff like this, but like I told Eddie, Shelby has Samantha to be her encouragement & her rock. She is Shelby's ultimate cheerleader!

Sam's Strawberry Cupcakes

Samantha made strawberry heartshaped cupcakes with cream cheese icing this year for the Girl Scout bake off. Sam is still in the Brownie division & there were about twice as many in her group competing as in Shelby's. She did not place this year, but she did an excellent job. The babies could not eat enough of them! Samantha has also still been working hard on her writing. She says she want to be a journalist. She oftens takes her writings to school & reads them in front of the class. She said now other kids are doing the same thing. She said that made her feel good & I told her that is because she inspires people. What a great kid!

The Graduates

Well, Sarah & Sidney are almost 20 months old now. They have moved up at daycare. They are no longer in the baby room. When they turned 18 months old, they graduated to the 18 mo - 3 year old room. They were a little shy at first, but they fit right in now. They are no longer in a high chair & eat at a little kid's table with little kid chairs. Next on the list will be potty training. That will have to wait until at least this summer!

Sleeping Babies

I check on the babies each night to make sure they are covered up and in their bed. Sidney keeps crawling out and getting into Sarah's bed. This is the first time I saw them in this position. Must be remembering the good old days of being in the womb!

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Grandpa Chuck Playing With the Twins @ Their 1st B-Day Party

Sidney Jess 1

My little Sidney is a funny girl. One day she was roaming around trying to find something other than her toys to play with. She found the diaper bag & new what to do. She put that strap on her shoulder & tried crawling around so we found a little purse her & Sarah could play with & Sidney just loves putting that purse on her shoulder. She is so cute playing at her kitchen set with her purse.

Sarah Bess 1

My sweet Sarah is a loving baby & a garbage disposal. She will put anything in her mouth. I found some small white piece of paper in her mouth & then later Eddie found a Made In China sticker in her mouth! She is a curious George too. Her & Sidney love to follow all of us around & see what we are into. They like opening & closing doors and love to play in their room. We have their room fixed up now with their toys so they can play in there instead of in the living room. Of course, they always come to visit us though.

Samantha Marie 7

Samantha has been going to the orthodonist for the past year & we have her straightened out. She had an underbite, but no longer. Her smile was always awesome, but just looks sweeter now. She has enjoyed playing soccer & we love watching. Samantha is also doing well in school. Samantha has been writing and illustrating a book. She would like to be published one day. I told her I wanted the first book & she had to autograph it for me.

Shelby Ruthlyn 9

Shelby changes for classes this year. In social studies, she will learn about the state of OH all year. Boy, got to hurry up & get this kids back to TN! LOL! She has already had a couple of quizzes & did great! She also cheered her first game on Sunday, 09/07. I said it was the first time Eddie watched cheerleaders more than the football players during a game. And although her hair is long here, she just got it cut a couple of weeks ago. Very fashionable. She picked the cut out. We have to style it each morning, but looks great on her. Ed says this is her last year when her age will be in single digits. I just want to cherish this entire year!

Almost One Year Later!

Yes, it really has been a long time since I have posted. Have been busy though. Shelby is now 9 and is in the 4th grade. She is also playing soccer again this year & is on the junior varsity cheerleading squad. Samantha will be 8 in Dec and is in the 2nd grade. She is playing soccer for the first time this year. Sarah and Sidney are now one. They both are still learning to walk. They stand up & take steps, but have not taken off yet. They love to eat and play with all their sisters. We also have news. Sounds like we are moving back to TN. Ed has accepted the position of Project Manager. He will work with a team that will install an encryption software on laptops at Air Force bases in the United States. This will require Eddie to travel Mon - Thurs, but it means he could live where ever he wishes. We have made the decision to move back to TN so I could get help with all these children. There is an opening at our Humboldt plant, which I started at 8 years ago. I should know soon if I will be relocating or if I am not offered the position, I have decided to be a stay at home mom b/c either way we are coming back home!

Christmas 2007

We spent Christmas in East TN visiting Grandpa Chuck & Grandma Bonnie. We had a great time. Me & Ed played Rook against Chuck & Bonnie. They beat us 3 out of 5. We have created a trophy out of a Diet Pepsi liter. Oh just wait until next year. All I can say is if you beat them in one game, you are doing good!

Baby Doll Party

We spent Thanksgiving in KY & had a blast. It was the first time my grandmother was able to see the newborn twins. It was also the first time my aunts, uncles, and cousins were able to see the babies. Of course, the babies got passed around all day long & the aunts were just eating it up. They said they were having a baby doll party. I believe the babies loved it as well. The older kids ran around as usual playing hide & seek.

Trick or Treat

Well, Halloween was a bust for the babies. Their first Halloween consisted of sleeping at home. Ed took Shelby and Samantha around the neighborhood. Shelby was Hannah Montana; Samantha was a pint cheetah; Sarah and Sidney were sunflowers. They were all adorable.

Babies Visit West TN

The babies got to visit West TN for the first time on Friday, Oct. 19, 2007. They traveled well & we had a good time. We have made Oct an annual trip to Grandmama Ruth's. We do a bonfire & face painting. Uncle Mike also got a cake for the occasion. Randal was painted as a cool dude, Lane was painted to appear beat up, and Uncle Mike looked like a magician. Sammie, Shelby, and Samantha just looked like blobs of paint on their face.

Shelby's First Soccer Game

Shelby decided to play soccer this year. Her first game was Saturday, August 25th. There are three positions to play: goalie, defender, attacker (or at least that is what I call the positions). Of course, I am sure everyone knows the goalie position (person protects the goal & tries to stop the ball from going in). The defender is the position before the goalie. These players try to prevent the ball from even getting to the point of where the goalie would have to protect the goal. And then the attackers are in front of the defenders & they try to stop the ball from going on their side & instead they try to steal the ball & move it down the field to score a goal. All girls get to play each position & they rotate out. Shelby seemed to be best as an attacker. She was good at passing the ball to the other attacker. She had two assists. She was able to pass the ball to the girl and on two of those occasions, the girl was able to score. Shelby also scored her own goal. She got the last goal of the game & there was only two seconds remaining! She was so proud of herself. It is the first time she has played a sport and scored a point. Her team won 8 - 3.

Week of Aug 20. Start Daycare & School

The babies started daycare this week and Shelby and Samantha started school. Even though the babies started daycare, I have not started back to work yet. I go back the day after Labor Day, Tues. Sept 04 (thank goodness!). This will give the babies times to adjust & give me some time to just catch my breath. Shelby also lost her fifth tooth and she had her birthday this week. Shelby started the third grade and Samantha the first. Both are enjoying their teachers and friends. Shelby lost her fifth tooth the night of the first day of class, Aug 22. She is still nervous about having her teeth pulled even though none have ever hurt her. She is not big on pain or the thought of pain. Shelby celebrated her eighth birthday on Friday night, Aug 24. I made her birthday cake and she got three High School Musical reading books, a Junie B. Jones reading book, and the High School Musical 2 Soundtrack. We also give both girls a small gift from each of us on each others birthdays. This year was a disposable camera and a photo album. They like taking pictures. Samantha also wanted to give Shelby a special gift. They like playing school so we got both of them school supplies to play teacher in their room. We all had a great time.

Sarah and Sidney are One Month Old

Hard to believe, but the babies are one month old. They will be starting daycare soon. Oh no. And mommy will have to go back to work. The girls sleep about every three hours and drink four ounces of milk. We are hoping within the next three weeks they will begin to sleep a little longer at a time. Ed and I both get up with them at night & are both in the bed within 30 minutes. So far, so good. We both are able to get up in the AM and not need a nap during the day, but we go to bed at 8 at night. The babies are strong and are trying to hold their heads up & are beginning to grip things. Sarah always grips the side of the changing table when I change her diaper & Sidney tends to grab my hair. In the pictures, Sarah is the one with all the hair & Sidney is the one without the hair. They are so sweet.