its been a while

please excuse my absence. I've been adventuring through life with absolutely no time to sit down long enough to update you. So I apologize to all my faithful followers...

After going to see the midnight premiere of the final Harry Potter, I left early in the morning to chaperone our annual youth group retreat. The retreat was truly beautiful and I was blessed to be able to witness so many young people's hearts being change by God. 

After a weekend conference in Atlanta, we packed up the bus and drove on to the Ocoee River in TN to take some time to process how God revealed Himself over the weekend (and go white-water rafting, of course)

About thirty minutes after getting home, I was in the car on my way to visit one of my dearest friends in Orlando...apparently I subconsciously enjoy being overtly busy. 

Disney World was, of course, incredible. I can now say I'm the only Sylvester child who has been. As fun of a fact as that is, I do indeed feel rather selfish and guilty for going without them. Each time I saw a character in a parade or went on a ride, I was thinking in the back of my mind about which sibling would  have also enjoyed that specific venture.

So after a week and a half of being absent from my household on my grand escapade, I was welcomed home with a shower of little hugs and kisses. As exciting as living on a hotel floor, a cabin in the woods, and a little apartment was, coming home to my crazy, loud family reminded me where I truly belong :)

short, sweet, and simple

I'm about to disappear for a while...be on the look out for me ;)

 but I promise to be back soon with fantastic posts about my incredibly blessed life

now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to dye my hair purple.

because you only live once.

therefore, live to the fullest.

peace,

 #2

boom boom pow

It was a packed holiday weekend. 

I spent Friday kayaking and dancing the night away in Call of Duty boxers (don't ask), Saturday I was in Mobile until the wee hours, Sunday I spent down at the bay, and Monday I relaxed at the beach. 

So needless to say when I got home the last thing in the world I wanted to do was go down to the pier, fight off tourists and bugs so I could sweat through a fireworks show.

But I felt guilty since I had not been home all weekend, so I grudgingly tagged along.

Miss Lady has stayed home with the little ones and Big Papa still had to go find a place among the 2000 other people there where he could park our big red bus, so #2 here was placed on "keep everyone together and find a decent spot to plant the posse."

We found ourselves a nice little place down by the water....an hour before the "boom! oooh! pow! ooooh!" was supposed to begin. Marie and Philly were arguing over whether or not siblings could hold hands while taking pictures. Ja'Paul had up and left to check out the Baldwin Pops band. Louie was bathing in bug spray. Joey-Boy broke a chair. And to top it all off, Janie Bug was tired/hungry/wanted to go home. All this loveliness ensured before Big Papa had even gotten back from parking the van

So before I continue, I have a little confession about myself - When I'm tired and irritated, every single thing begins to bother me. Philly wanted to put his arm around me, Marie deciding to pull out her nintendo, Louie counting down until the fireworks start. Everything begins to bother me. Then I realize everything is bothering me...and that bothers me.

The fireworks started and the camera refused to work. I knew if I didn't grow up and get over myself, I would completely be missing the opportunity to enjoy the 4th of July with my family. So I turned off the camera, took a deep breath, got comfortable the blanket, sucked up my inner complaints and finally after about a minute I was able to happily watch explosions in the sky with a sweaty five year old on my lap.

and my amazing Daddy figured out the 'fireworks' setting on the camera :)

So even though I was utterly exhausted, I had a fantastic time. Janie-Bug told me how happy she was that she came, Philly told me today was the best day ever, and Louie informed us that she would remember that firework show for the rest of her life. 

All in all, I'm so very glad I got to spend the 4th with (most of) the incredible family God has blessed me with.

just another Sacramental day in the Sylvester household

So this morning, Andrew Thomas Sylvester received the beautiful sacrament of Baptism into the Catholic Church at St. Lawrence :)

But it wasn't all adorable fluff...

Before 7am, the usual morning tantrums and insanity of "where's my coffee cup!?!" and "I don't want to wear this dress!!" ensued directly on schedule. No surprise there. When I arose from my bed and headed into the kitchen, I was so very excited to smell the sausage my father was preparing.

But of course...it was reserved for after the Baptism.

Although thankfully no one told me I couldn't break into the cheese and crackers for breakfast 

As Miss Lady was getting dressed in her room I made an interesting discovery: after 10 kids, you don't care whether its perfume or cologne as long as you smell good :P

The next adventure was the fact that Miss Lady refused to allow Andrew to sport his team colors and replaced this epically incredible pacifier with some lame little green one. nice.

Things got violent when Joey-Boy (who just so happens to be Andrew's Godfather) walked out of the back wearing this fashionably acceptable tie.

But blows were only thrown at Big Papa after Miss Lady overheard him give his approval of this lovely apparel.

Thankfully, we eventually pulled ourselves together and made it to Mass.

The Baptism was beautiful. 

And to no one's surprise...Dad cried.

Andrew Thomas Sylvester has been welcomed into the Church :)

And my clumsiness graciously waited until after the ceremony to present itself.

Moral of this story...my kids are going to be cooler than Miss Lady's clan. heehee.

a sorta selfish post

If you're selfish and you know it - raise your hand!

(Let me be the first to do so with an abundance of shame)

Yes. I am an incredibly selfish person. I have absolutely no problem admitting that.

Honestly, I'm not so much selfish than I am a control freak. Is that the same thing? I'll leave it up to you to decide ;)

If I'm not happy about the way something is being done then I will somehow make certain my disapproval is known. Even when I try my best to keep my big mouth shut, I accidently will make it quite obvious how I truly feel about organization (or lack there of)

Hopefully you won't be completely appalled when I inform you that one of my most common phrases when I know someone disagrees with me is "well they can shove it up their *meow* and deal with it" but I know full well, sometimes I need to swallow situations instead of spilling my own personal opinions all over the place.

I have gotten a lot better though. And I apologize from the bottom of my heart if you've even been overly exposed to my arrogance. Right now in my life, there are certain things that I am dying to have control over but I know I have absolutely none. Letting go and letting God is extraordinarily difficult when you're stuck with a thick head like me. But this post is my promise to constantly strive to be a better woman...for my friends, for my family, for my God, and for myself. Ciao!

(I simply had to share this one in honor of today)

Happy Fathers Day to the incredible man I am proud to call my dad.

I love you!

Twas the night before Andrew

Twas the night before Andrew

And all through the house

every single Sylvester

was super freaked out

Mother had taken a sip

of some cold Mountain Dew

Then she said with a smile

"Just a week 'til I'm due!"

Then her face transformed

and her smile was choked 

she screamed "Get Todd!

"My water just broke!"

A sudden emotion

Came over the crowd 

"IT'S BABY TIME!"

They all cried aloud.

Mom and Dad were packed

To head out the door 

Grabbed their last things

As the kids cheered some more

With a kiss goodbye 

"Good luck! I love you!"

Andrew decided 

"about time I'm due" 

Once all settled in

to her hospital bed 

The parents got comfy 

for the long hours ahead 

Anxiously waiting 

all night and awake 

I cleaned and I prayed

and baked some cupcakes 

Around 11am 

My phone rang clear

With a picture and note

"He's here! He's here!"

Well all cheered loud

hugging one another

Then jumped in the van

To meet our new brother

Each one took a turn

Holding Andrew

With so many siblings 

He won't know what to do

He's happy and healthy 

And cute as can be

So welcome dear Andrew

To our crazy family :)

Andrew Thomas Sylvester

11:00am June 8th, 2011

8lbs 12.5oz. 21in

cute as can be :)

the ultimate mini-me collection

I have the ultimate fan club/clones. Louy, MARIE!, Janie-Bug (aka: Elizabeth, Marie and Jane) are my rat pack that I intend to dote on for a tidbit of your time...

My sisters are absolutely amazing. Although we are outnumbered in the gender ratio of kids, 4 vs. (almost) 6, we run this crazy circus that people call our home. Any boys directly related to me will most likely read this and scoff, but deep down, they know we're the leaders of the pack. But hey, it should be no surprise - we are deep southern sweethearts with 'we want it our way' attitudes served with a side of ragin cajun. 

but I must admit, that combination creates for disunity among ourselves sometimes. Yeah, my ladies and I don't get along sometimes, but at the end of the day, we're sisters and we all can go to sleep knowing we're the best of friends. 

I completely cherish this time in my life with my sisters. I know that within a few years we won't all be living in the same room. So I put up with the unorganized closet and tortilla chip crumbs in the bathroom (?!?!) because being able to grow closer to my sisters is much more important to me.

I want to be able to look forward to calling them up and planning visits and not one of those girls who dreads seeing them around the holidays. I want them to stand at the altar with me on my wedding day. I want my kids to absolutely love their aunts. And all that is going to be made possible by the relationship I develop with them right now. 

I thank God for my sisters. I am completely confident that we will remain close throughout our lives. We're all so much alike, but so very different at the same time, and I love all of them.