Thursday, December 15, 2011

December craziness

Does everybody's December turn into a month of craziness?!? School programs, church programs, making gifts, mailing gifts, holiday parties... it seems to go on and on and on! I love Christmas. Can't wait. But I don't always like the lead up... the trying to pick the right present so I don't insult somebody. 'Cause we all know that some folks just WON'T appreciate a homemade gift. {Sigh}.

I think we've lost something. I think we've gotten away from where we should really be right now. Now is the time that families should draw near -- regardless of whether gifts are present. My best childhood memories are the lunches we had together -- as a family. Yes, there were presents. Yes, I was excited. But looking back, I cannot think of ONE gift I got at {extended} family functions that I actually remember. None. What I do remember, though, is crowding into a house that was a bit too small but nobody cared. Younger kids would sit on laps or on the floor. We would sit around, eat, and talk -- sometimes to folks that you hadn't seen since LAST Christmas. I remember a family friend dressing as Santa and surprising us all every Christmas Eve -- surprising being a loose term here... since we all knew he was coming :-) I remember sweating out in Granddaddy's house because he liked the house HOT. I remember waiting your turn for a seat at the table... or the stool by the door because you did NOT eat in the living room (as a kid).

Christmas is about family to me. But the real reason of Christmas is very present in our house right now. Ask my kids why we celebrate. They'll tell you it is because Jesus was born. They know. They KNOW -- and feel it. And I can't imagine a better gift they could give me. Sam's favorite thing in our house is a Little People Nativity. He will, oh-so-gently, pick up baby Jesus and bring him to me. He'll say "Dis is baby GEEzus."

This year, we've cut down on our purchased gifts. The kids will still get way too much. But this year, we're giving less presents in order to have presence. Presence in each other's lives. Baking cookies, making ridiculously hidious ornaments, dancing around the living room to Guns N'Roses {don't ask...} and reading EVERY night as a family. Yep. Less presents on Christmas Day. But I guarantee my kids won't even realize it. They will remember being a FAMILY... even if they have a few less presents. And I am perfectly fine with that!

{I usually don't get very religious on here... but if you agree with some of these ideas, I didn't come up with them! Check out the book Advent Conspiracy -- amazing. Spend less, give more.}

Maybe I'm all emotional this Christmas because we aren't going home. Being a military family is fantastic in so many ways, but it is also hard for many reasons. Deployments suck. Extended training sucks. Being away from your family all the time -- really REALLY stinks. We make our own family. Our "green" family. And I love mine. Couldn't have imagined the past ten years without my green family. But, unlike WAY too many folks, I actually LIKE my real, DNA family. I like to be around them. I love them and miss them. And I can't wait to be closer!

Whoa! This blog went in a WAY different direction than I originally thought... I was just going to say I was busy and hadn't posted... but I guess these things needed to be said :-)

So... sorry I haven't posted, I've been way busy with the December craziness.

Faith was November's Student of the Month in her class. The award ceremony was on... you guessed it... pajama day for her class! Love it :-)

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Josh has earned his Bobcat badge with Cub Scouts.

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And we got our pinewood derby car to get ready for the derby!
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And we've welcomed Archie, our elf, this year. He's a bit crazy, but really fun!

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apparently he wanted a specific book... and couldn't find it!
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Fun times :-)

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Audiobooks

Anybody who knows much about me knows that I have a true love of audiobooks. I love to read... but there is something special about a book being read to you. Maybe I'm channeling my inner 3 year old :-)

I've just finished listening to The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.



I've read it before and really liked it. But listening to it made me love it.

The book is told from the 'voice' of Death, who travels through time carrying souls from Earth to... well, it isn't really addressed. But, though this sounds really depressing, this story is about how Death keeps running into the same girlb and how she changes his idea of human beings. She is the book thief. World War II, Germany.

Amazing story. I highly recommend it.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Thanksgiving

Told you I'd try harder :-)

We had wonderful Thanksgiving meal together on Thursday. For the first time ever, it was just us. And, though we thought that it would be a kind-of sad day, it was really great. Of course, we missed our families. Of course, we'd rather they have been here. Don't get me wrong. It was nice though.

We had a very traditional meal. Everybody got to pick something to add to the menu... then helped prepare that part. We always have a great time doing this -- and have done it since the first Thanksgiving the girls could smash corn flakes :-)

Our menu:
Rob: Brown sugar glazed Ham
Melissa: Rosemary Turkey
Grace: Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Faith: Cranberry Sauce (she helped open the can - ha) and deviled eggs
Josh: Pumpkin Pie
Sam: Rolls

Perfect!

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The kids did crafts while the food cooked.

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Then played on the Wii while I cleaned up. It was a really fun day!

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We hope your Thanksgiving was just as great! Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

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Thursday, November 24, 2011

Seriously?

I have seriously forgotten about my blog for too long. I'm going to try really REALLY hard to remember and write more. I always love when I do it, I just sometimes get caught up on other things (ahem... Facebook or Pinterest).

A real effort. I'm going to give it a real effort.

So, what's gone on since July? LOTS! Here are LOTS of pictures :-)

August High (and low) lights:
-Bones turned 3! Where has the time gone?!?

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-Mom, Dad and Kate came out for a week long visit. It was fantastic. I always love when they come and always wish they could stay longer.

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-Our Bubba had a seizure. Out of the blue. He was fine one day, woke up not quite right, seized. He was flown to St Louis Children's Hospital, where we stayed for four days. It was one of the most horrifying experiences of my life. Seriously. However, I cannot speak enough of the staff and care at Children's Hospital. I am amazed over the level of care and compassion we received. Every doctor called him by his name. The nurses knew which games he liked best and the names of every stuffed animal he had. Amazing.

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-Mom and Dad came BACK out to take care of the three other kids while Rob and I stayed at the hospital with Bubs. Not how I meant when I wanted them to stay longer, but it was wonderful knowing that, with one phone call, they were back on the road -- for another 16 hour trek out!

-I was so happy that Nana and Uncle Andy also came out to help while Josh was in the hospital. They took the three others away from the hospital that first full day we were there. The kids had a blast going to Grant's Farm :-)

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-Kids started school. I officially have a 4th grader, a 2nd grader, and a 1st grader!

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-Bubba turned 6! Seriously, where has the time gone?!?

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-Soccer! Faith and Josh were both on the same team this year.

September:
-Bones started preschool. Unfortunately, I pulled him out after only the one month. I was finding myself getting frustrated with the drive and not really being able to get much done during that "break". Since I pulled him out, though, don't feel sorry for him. He goes to hourly care through the CDC twice a week and has a blast :-)

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-We had to buy a new computer. The other one finally died. I didn't realize that computers were only good for 2-3 years. Seems like a waste! But I really like the new one :-)

-We went on a family trip to Elephant Rocks State Park. Incredible -- and one more thing marked off of our Missouri bucket list :-)

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-Bub started Tiger Scouts. So stinkin' cute.

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-My Gracie turned 9! It's getting ridiculous... seriously. Where did the time go?!?

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-We went to see a magician/juggler in Rolla. For free. Can you say -- we love the ASYMCA!?!

-more soccer. lots more soccer.

October:
-Another mark off of the Bucket List... HaHaTonka State Park. Fantastic. Beautiful. Interesting.

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-Gracie competed in Stampede in the Park -- a one mile fun run through the Waynesville City Park. First, she had to qualify to go... which she did with a 10:39 mile time. THEN she came in 34th (out of 100)! We were SO flippin' proud of her! I didn't know she could run. Not that she was the fastest, but she did her best and we couldn't be prouder!

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-Three nights/four days camping as a family at Lake of the Ozarks State Park. We hiked, we fished, we roasted hotdogs and s'mores. SO fun. Can't wait to go again!

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-Pumpkin picking at the pumpkin patch :-) Pumpkin chunkin', hay ride, duck races.

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-still more soccer

-Halloween. Much better experience this year. Nobody got 'lost' and we all stuck together. AND we got to go trick or treating with friends!

November:
-Rob and Josh went on a CubScout campout. They had a blast but I felt very weird only having three children for two days!

-Family Feast at the kids' school. Rob got to come this year so we all were there together :-)

-Grace participated in the school's 4th grade play (like she had a choice...) They did Annie Jr. Grace was an orphan, a citizen and a servant (Mrs Greer).

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-I became a Pinterest addict... is there a 12 step program for that?!?

-Thanksgiving!! I am so thankful for a wonderful life, filled with wonder family and friends. I cannot ask for more! More pictures coming :-)

Monday, July 25, 2011

Weekend catch-up

I've found a pattern in my blogging... I hardly ever write over the weekend. I take my camera with me, I think about things I will write, but I don't sit down and write it. Why? Because it's the weekend, silly! I want to spend those nights snuggling with my family!

This weekend, we really didn't do much. Saturday morning, I gave Bones a much needed haircut:

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Then we went to a pool party -- wonderful!

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Sunday morning was started at church, of course

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Then we did a whole lot of nothing yesterday afternoon. It was wonderful! There was another Harry Potter marathon on ABC Family. The boys and I laid upstairs and watched. They were both fast asleep by about 1930hrs. I put them in their beds and they slept ALL NIGHT! I was shocked! I just knew that they were going to be wide awake by about midnight, but I guess they were two tired boys.

This morning, I didn't feel well -- again (I had a horrible headache...again), so I didn't do much. By about 1400hrs, I started feeling better, thankfully. I got caught up on folding the laundry that we did yesterday
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{cleaning up the toys is tomorrow's task...}

We were super excited to see this guy in the backyard! Finally one is turning red!
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Last, but certainly, not least... I think today is Rob and my anniversary. I know that it is horrible to say "I think" but we really aren't sure. I guess I should find the marriage certificate. We just take the last week of July as our anniversary week :-) Either way, I am so glad to say that I am married to my best friend and am excited for all of the adventures that our marriage will continue to bring to us! I love you Rob!

Tonight I am thankful for:
1) Nine great years with a wonderful man... with many more adventures to come!
2) Great kids that will help each other when I don't feel well
3) Blackout curtains
4) G watched Surprise Homecomings today and couldn't stop crying. When I asked her why she was crying, she said "because I know how that feels" -- then we were both crying!
5) No more kids' laundry to wash for two days! {it's a small victory, but a victory I will take!}

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Whew... it's been a rough few days

Well... I've been sick. And it all stemmed from a stinkin' tooth. That's right -- I was down and out for three and a half days due to a tooth. I felt it crack a few weeks ago, but it didn't hurt {and I'm a huge dentist-ophobe} so I waited it out. Early last week, part of the tooth came out... just broke right off. Still didn't hurt. Until Sunday. I have never been so uncomfortable in all of my life.

{okay, we all know that's not true. I've had four kids. I've felt my share of pain. But that pain is rewarded in the end with a beautiful, miracle of a baby that thinks you are the greatest thing on earth. This pain was only going to end in the dentist's chair.}

I called Monday morning... they couldn't get me in at a time I could actually go. I called Tuesday morning... they couldn't get me in until just after noon on Wednesday. Sign me up! That's saying something... if I'm wanting to go to the dentist. I had, by the time I got to the dentist on Wednesday, slept with ice packs on my face for three nights (getting up in the middle of the night to get new cold ones) and more motrin/tylenol in my system than I think you are supposed to have in a year.

Monday and Tuesday I didn't get out of bed. I barely exaggerate... I went from the bed to the shower (my favorite place to try to feel better) to the couch to the bed. I didn't eat. I didn't fix a meal {G was a champ with the PB&Js!}. I was useless. So, I don't have a picture of those days.

I do have a picture of my feet getting over their deathly fear of the dentist, but it's on my phone and I can't get the silly thing to put its pictures on the computer :-(

But I digress... so I got to the dentist, with the full intention of getting this tooth out of my head. The dentist explained my options... pulpotomy with an eventual root canal $481... extraction $34. Hmmm... let me think. Take that sucker OUT! {I must admit, I was lucky that this was the very last molar on my left, upper side. If it had been my front tooth, I would have taken a different option...}.

So once I signed all the crazy info sheets you have to sign to get a tooth pulled -- you know the ones that give you even more fear of the dentist... like broken jaws, etc, he numbed me up and pulled it! I was still pretty miserable yesterday and until about noon-ish today. But now, I feel like a new woman! I didn't realize the pressure that I'd been feeling in my head was due to this tooth! I thought I had a tension headache, then I thought I had the beginning of a sinus infection, then an ear infection... then a migraine. Well, I did have the migraine, but I think it was triggered from this stupid tooth! I'm so glad that it's out and that I'm back to semi-normal.

Today, I even went outside!

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It has been 100+ with heat index for the past week (today was one of the highest, with the temp at 100 and the heat index at 110). So I put the sprinklers on for the kids and off they went. And I sat on my bottom, talking to my mama on the phone :-)

So, not pictures of feet, but here are some from today -- you can definitely tell that Bones was the only one who stayed near me. He loves the water, but doesn't like the sprinkler.

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Bones was building a bridge... with tomato stakes.
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Not really sure why I have no pictures of the girls... guess they were running too fast for me!

Things I'm thankful for tonight:
1) I am VERY thankful for no more toothache!
2) Toyota Venza commercials. They are hilarious!
3) Disney's summer movie series. There really is something wonderful about snuggling on the couch with your boys -- and looking over to see Rob snuggled with the girls -- and watching Wall-E.
4) My parents are coming to see me -- um, I mean -- us!
5) Rob won't go to bed without me. That's not saying he won't go to sleep without me. Right now, he's "watching" some show about Berring Sea monsters... with his eyes closed because he won't go upstairs without me :-) I sure do love that man!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Destruct-O strikes again

So... the pictures are on hiatus until I get another SD card (which will probably be no later than tomorrow). My little 2(almost 3)year old destruct-o has destroyed mine. How in the world did he do that? Pretty sure he bit it. It broke right into two pieces :-(

Sigh...

{{UPDATE: He didn't bite it... he tried to put it in the computer, but didn't get the right angle to get it in the slot. So, then he tried to get it out by pulling straight down. Broke right into two. Oh well.}}

Saturday

My feet stayed home today... however, that doesn't mean I didn't see anything good :-)

Here's a look at our tomatoes. There are probably 35-40 on the plants now, with more blooms everyday! We thought they were cherry tomatoes -- because that's what the little sign in the pots said -- but it's looking more and more like patio tomatoes are coming. We are going to be up to our eyeballs in tomatoes!

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Now to the real entertainment of the day. Apparently, my mama gave me the recipe for hummingbird crack. I have never, in my entire life, seen so many hummingbirds at one feeder. Ever. We have the feeder suctioned to one of our kitchen windows, so we can really watch and see the funny interaction of these guys! At one point, I counted 15 or 16 hummingbirds in a holding pattern -- just waiting for their turn at the crack! I made 2-1/2cups of the 'nectar' at noon. Had to refill before dinner! Kid you not, hummingbird crack! They were everywhere. Almost creepy... when I went outside to take the pictures, I felt like I was in a swarm! But they were certainly fun to watch. Enjoy :-)

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Saturday, July 16, 2011

Going on

So I haven't kept up with everyday, but I have been thinking about blogging much more often than usual. I will take that as a step in the right direction of getting back into the swing of things.

I've been lots of places... even bringing the camera along... only to remember that I took the SD card out to download pictures. UGH! Do you KNOW how frustrating that is?!? VERY, VERY frustrating.

THURSDAY: I do have a picture on my phone of my feet... at the midnight showing of Harry Potter (taken around 2345 -- that would be 11:45pm for my non-military friends). That's right. I left Rob and 5 kids (JP is here visiting -- yay!) to go to the movies. Awesome!

FRIDAY: We went back to Johnson Shut Ins for a day in the river. Awesome, again. Super bummed that I forgot the camera. Though, sometimes it is nice not to have it. Then I'm not always worried about it getting wet and I'm able to completely enjoy where I am. I actually got all the way in the river! I got Bones and Bubba to come out with me and float (with their lifevests). Fun, fun! Those are the times, though, that I wish there were people taking pictures everywhere. Like those camera people at Disney who know where to be and just scan your card so you can get your pictures when you're done for the day... yeah, I like those guys :-)

TODAY: Who knows where my feet will go. They are about to go outside and give my little Bones a haircut. Fresh mohawk, here we come :-)

Where are YOUR feet taking you today?!?

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Catch up... but no pictures :-(

Sunday, my feet really only went to church. I took my camera... but forgot my SD card, so couldn't take any.

Monday, my feet stayed home all day... quite a boring day for pictures. I made watermelon rind pickles (jury's still out on whether they are good or not -- but they are definitely NOT Grandma Harris's pickles!) and pizza dough.

Today, we also stayed home all day. I guess that's just what happens when it is 98 degrees with a heat index of 110 degrees. You just stay put. I was mean today, though... and made my kids have a TV free day! I am amazed at how upset they get. It just makes me want to have more TV free days. I was also very quickly impressed at their imaginations. Today, there were aliens, robots, T-rexs and all sorts of things in my house! And I loved it!

Tonight, I am thankful for:
1) yummy salad for dinner. Ever had one of those wedge salads? You know, iceburg lettuce, bacon bits, blue cheese crumbles, boiled egg and red onion with ranch dressing? Delicious -- even made at home :-)
2) Slowly, but surely, the playroom is getting cleaned out -- bags filled with goodies for Goodwill are ready to go (just don't tell the kids, deal?)
3) Audiobooks that I can listen to over and over again while I clean (Harry Potter series, Twilight series, etc). It really is nice to be read to while you're doing something you don't really want to do!
4) A neighborhood where kids come out at 8pm because that's the only time it is cool enough to play outside.
5) Rob doing his hydrology homework... it means I get to do math! And I really, really like math :-)

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Saturday's feet

My feet went all over today! And boy are they tired :-)

My girls and I joined two neighbors (plus their girls) in going to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder home and museum today. Mine are the feet in the brown sandals at about 6 o'clock!

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All of the girls (ranging from 7-10yr old) have read at least two books (okay... my girls have only read two of the seven books. The other girls -- all 10 yrs old -- have read all seven), so we thought it was a great girls' trip since we are so close to Mansfield, Missouri. Quite a crooked trip, complete with car sickness, but worth it!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from today:

At the farmhouse
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I just loved this outside light
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At the Rock House
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My girls
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After the fun of a girls' day out, we didn't stop! After dinner, I walked with my favorite 8 year old (and the rest of the family, but their feet aren't in the picture) to a park about a mile from home.

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Most of us ran... including this guy! He was great (until on the way back... about 1/4 mile from the house, he had meltdown and wanted to be picked up, but that's okay. He was great.

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Said meltdown...
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While at the park, my feet got some much needed time in the swing :-)
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Tonight I am thankful for:
1) Rob, who doesn't think twice when I tell him I want to leave at 8am on a Saturday with the girls and leave him (with the boys) -- just because.
2) Finding some yummy marinades on sale at the commissary. Gives Rob's favorite (insert sarcasm here...) chicken quite a variety. He may even like it now :-) Sometimes...
3) Wonderful neighbors (who may think I'm weird for taking a picture of their feet, but go along with it anyway)
4) A night with nice weather and not too many bugs at the park!
5) Harry Potter weekend on ABC Family... and only five more days until I {once again} stay up WAY too late to watch a midnight showing of the new and final Harry Potter movie :-) I know... I'm a dork :-)