Monday, August 11, 2008

A Busy Summer!




Grandpa Sattler and the Bullard kids..thanks Dan, love the pic!

Wow, where has the time gone? It seems like just last week that I posted the last blog, but I am quickly reminded it has been much longer from the date! Alot has happened, the kids went to Oklahoma with Travis for vacation, and then we met up with them and spent another week with my family. To say we had an absolute blast would be an understatement! I am going to try to send pictures to the family within the next couples days. Since our return it has been nothing but constant running around. While in Oklahoma Gary checked the kids eyes and found some issues with Cade, so we have been to a specialist a few times since then. Nothing major but just a lazy eye. Who knew! I always thought a lazy eye was one that crossed..boy was I wrong. Poor kid has hardly any vision out of his left eye, so we had to get glasses and he has to go through some treatment to correct it. Hopefully we will have success. The biggest issue is making the glasses last! Those who know Cade well, will understand. We had them for four days and already made a trip to the vision clinic for an adjustment. However, it isn't all his fault. 2 weeks ago he broke his arm and is in a full arm cast, so that makes it difficult to take them off and on. I am really surprised it took the kid this long to break a bone, but when he did he made it count! He broke the radius completely in half. He was standing in a chair (which I had told him to get out of less than 2 min. before) and flipped over with all his body weight on the arm. Like a horrible mom I tried to make sure he was really hurt before I took him, no obvious deformities, etc. Four hours later I gave in, took him to the ER and felt horrible ever since. I made that poor boy wait, straightened his arm, made him move his fingers...you know he whole works. He was a trooper! Dan asked him if he learned anything, and he said "don't worry mom has already taken care of that"...guess he was tired of the lectures. Unfortunately he did this 3 days before football tryouts, which he was really looking forward to. Instead he watched Brandt and he gets to sit in the stands this year, even worse no swimming for him! I think he is able to see this isn't a fun thing happening. Hopefully we can go to a half arm cast in about 4-5 weeks, which will make things a little better (unless you consider the fact he now has a built in club to use). Other news, Camdyn will be starting ballet, tap and gymnastics in a couple weeks. She can't wait. Brandt has football, and all Cale wants to do is take pictures of everyone in their sports! My little photographer...he is so funny. Baby Reagan turned 1 yr old on July 27 so we had a fun time with that. She also started walking...which makes our household even more interesting:) I started a new work schedule which should work much better around the kids schedule and my school. I am excited about that. Dan continues to work ALOT and does his photography on the side, several weddings and such throughout this summer. Overall, everything is good. School starts on Aug 18th and I am not sure what I will do with myself. All of the kids will be going to Astatula, I am sure it will take a few weeks getting adjusted, but something tells me I will be just fine! It is amazing how fast they grow up!!! That is the short version update on our household, I hope to post more often...we shall see.

All the kids on the farm


Camdyn, Cale, Cade & Brandt at CC Lake in Perry

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Surf's Up


The kids and their surf instructor

Last year we started the tradition of a celebration day if all the kids received straight A's and all happy faces throughout the school year. Last year we went to the Kennedy Space Center and then watched the shuttle launch. This year the kids decided they wanted to go surfing! Wow..what a wonderful day we had. We never knew we had natural born surfers...but as you can see in the pictures, they really can surf! We had contacted a surf instructor in Cocoa Beach, who was also an author of several books on surfing. He met us at the beach, spent the day teaching the kids (and us) how to surf and then autographed a book for each of the kids. I don't know who had more fun? We were estatic watching the kids have a blast! It was definately a memorable day! Here are just a few of the pictures..the rest I will send out on a shutterfly slideshow.

Brandt did an awesome job!
Cade surfing...he was a natural!

Cale riding his very 1st wave!
Camdyn determined..she can do anything her brother do!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Busch Gardens

Here are a few picture from the most recent Busch Gardens day. They have a new part called Jungala and the kids absolutely loved it. It has alot of water areas and rope climbing, along animal exibits. Brandt and Cade were also able to ride their first "real" rollercoaster (other than the small one at Sea World). It took some effort. I had to pack their Heely's and then put a TON of napkins in their shoes, but they made it. Poor kids...they are so short they are going to be 17yrs old before they can ride the good rides! Cale and Camdyn had to sit back and watch, but they handled it well. Overall, it was a great day, and the heat was tolerable. I think we have another day planned next week when Skylar and Angela visit us from Oklahoma...gotta love those Florida fun-passes!!!

Feeding the birds

Cale, Camdyn and Cade having power stuggles over who will control the ride..I honestly thought fists were going to start flying!

Kids anxiously awaiting the roller coaster....

Getting soaked when the roller coaster passes by!

Dan and the kids

What a fine example :)

Saturday, May 31, 2008

A Day at the Park with the Girls

While the boys were in school we decide to take the girls to the park for some pictures. We had a few studio portrait pictures taken of Camdyn for her birthday, but I wanted Dan to take his pictures, because I really like how his pictures show more of their personality. I figured a month after her actual birthday, we better get them done. The girls had a great time, Camdyn thought she was "hot stuff"...she was a busy bee doing her own thing while Dan just followed her and snapped his pictures. Reagan was exploring her surroundings, and was alot of fun to watch. It was a great day...having so many kids, we don't always get that one-on-one time and we were able to spend some good quality time with each of the girls. Here are a few of the pictures.

Happy Girls!


Peek-A-Boo....I see you!


Reagan exploring the bridge

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Belize and Mexico Trip

After a year of alot of changes, Dan and I took a week to get away and celebrate surviving all the challenges of the past year. We traveled to Caye Caulker, Belize for 5 days, then to Bacalar, Mexico for 2 days. We had a blast and it was absolutely beautiful! We will definately go back!

Dan and Crystal

Our favorite picture..the hammock at the end of the dock where we stayed

Dan drinking his morning coffee served by Gunther, the chef.

Crystal on the sailboat on our way to snorkel.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Easter 2008

Dan being a photographer, we decided to purchase REAL chicks and a bunny for Easter pictures this year not only for our kids, but for his other photography shoots as well....what an experience! The poor animals...between the baby grabbing bunny ears and the kids not leaving the chicks alone, we had a heck of a time getting them to focus on pictures. Next year we may re-think our photo props!



The "crew"...Brandt, Cade, Cale, Camdyn and Reagan

Brandt

Cade

Cale

Camdyn

Reagan