My Random Thoughts

Happy Birthday Rob!

2012-01-19T10:12:00.002-05:00

In honor of Rob's {42nd} Birthday, I am listing 42 reasons I am thankful for him. Lucky you, you get to cheese it up with me :-)

1) He loves me. Unconditionally. And I know it.
2) He gave me four beautiful, wonderful children.
3) He loves his family. All of his family. Whether in the same house or not. He loves them.
4) He provides for his family.
5) He will kick me in the butt {not literally} when I want to sleep in on a Sunday, instead of going to church.
6) He lets me drive everywhere because he knows I get nauseous when he drives - ha!
7) He'll eat popcorn with me, even if he doesn't want any. Just so I don't feel bad making it for just me.
8) He'll watch silly shows with me {Current addiction? Big Shrimpin' and Gator Boys}
9) He'll sit with me {and only complain, vocally, a small amount} when I want to watch Project Runway.
10) He'll get up in the middle of the night and check when I hear a noise downstairs.
11) He bought a dog. I really don't like her, but I think she fits in okay.
12) He taught Raleigh how to use the litterbox. Seriously. Have him tell you the story. Hilarious.
13) He obsesses over buying cars. But doesn't make me go along during his obsession. He'll just show up with a new (to us) car.
14) He comes home and wrestles with the kids.
15) He coaches soccer and baseball, making the whole season easier on me -- and improving his relationship with our kids!
16) He never says "what did you do all day?!?" when he comes home to a messy house and me, snuggled with Sam on the couch.
17) He hardly ever turns his nose up to my cooking. Doesn't mean he likes it all, but he'll at least try it {except for sweet potatoes... that one's just not going to happen}.
18) He likes to camp.
19) He dreams big -- and tells me to check my skepticism at the door.
20) He can sing the themesongs to multiple preschool tv programs.
21) He signed me up for a Fantasy Football league in 2004.
22) He answers my football questions while we watch games -- even if it is the same question I had during the LAST game we watched.
23) He is passionate about the Steelers and UGA.
24) He has a hard time fussing at the kids without laughing.
25) His laughs make me laugh.
26) He lets the girls paint his big toes with polish -- and wears it proudly.
27) He insists I take a break from "helping" the kids with homework when he sees I'm getting frustrated.
28) He supports my discipline decisions with the kids -- even if he disagrees, he supports me in front of the kids.
29) He supports my crafting habit... even when nothing is being produced from it!
30) He values education.
31) He is thoughtful.
32) He is proud -- but "not the kind in the Bible that turns you bad"
33) Speaking of music -- he may make fun of my music choices, but he doesn't make me turn it off.
34) He loves my family.
35) He is a better man today than he was 10 years ago and he will be a better man tomorrow. There's nothing better than someone who can learn and grow from mistakes and experiences.
36) When I don't feel well, he'll take all of the kids to the park so I can have a little while of quiet.
37) He's a sentimental fool :-)
38) He'll help me make a meal plan (for two weeks at a time) then want things not on the plan.
39) He is impulsive and often makes decisions based on his gut.
40) He will sneak up behind me and hug me while I'm cooking. {To be honest, this isn't always appreciated at the time, but I still appreciate that he does it.}
41) He is a fantastic daddy who understands that his girls need one-on-one time with him just as much {if not more} than the boys do.
42) He is my best friend. I'm so lucky to be married to my best friend.

December craziness

2011-12-15T10:25:00.004-05:00

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 :-)

Josh has earned his Bobcat badge with Cub Scouts.

And we got our pinewood derby car to get ready for the derby!

And we've welcomed Archie, our elf, this year. He's a bit crazy, but really fun!

apparently he wanted a specific book... and couldn't find it!

Fun times :-)

Audiobooks

2011-11-30T13:32:00.003-05:00

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.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-26T11:52:00.002-05:00

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!

The kids did crafts while the food cooked.

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

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

Seriously?

2011-11-24T10:34:00.003-05:00

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?!?

-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.

-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.

-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 :-)

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

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

-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 :-)

-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 :-)

-Bub started Tiger Scouts. So stinkin' cute.

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

-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.

-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!

-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!

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

-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).

-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 :-)

Weekend catch-up

2011-07-25T22:53:00.003-04:00

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:

Then we went to a pool party -- wonderful!

Sunday morning was started at church, of course

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

{cleaning up the toys is tomorrow's task...}

We were super excited to see this guy in the backyard! Finally one is turning red!

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!}

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

2011-07-21T23:24:00.002-04:00

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!

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.

Bones was building a bridge... with tomato stakes.

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!

Destruct-O strikes again

2011-07-17T19:07:00.003-04:00

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

2011-07-17T00:59:00.003-04:00

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!

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 :-)

Going on

2011-07-16T12:14:00.002-04:00

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?!?

Catch up... but no pictures :-(

2011-07-12T22:47:00.004-04:00

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's feet

2011-07-09T23:12:00.003-04:00

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!

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

I just loved this outside light

At the Rock House

My girls

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.

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.

Said meltdown...

While at the park, my feet got some much needed time in the swing :-)

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 :-)

Last night's feet

2011-07-09T19:14:00.002-04:00

Last night, my feet and Rob's feet took a walk up the street...

Then my feet kissed Rob's feet :-)

But this was all after my feet found Bubba hiding in a pile of mess on the floor behind the chair...

Hmm... no feet, but thankfuls!

2011-07-07T23:45:00.003-04:00

I don't have any feet pictures today... mainly because my feet didn't take me out of the house today (other than watering the plants and walking the dog). I did make a new friend on one of my short trips outside:

He was really booking around the table trying to get away from me. I wouldn't get too close because I had an image in my head of it jumping onto my lens.

I got every bit of linoleum in our house scrubbed, though. Scrubbed... as in, hands and knees, bucket of bleach water scrubbed :-)

Tomorrow will be another feet not going anywhere kind of day. That's right. I'm vacuuming tomorrow. Oh the life...

Seriously, though, i don't mind days like this. Days that are semi-productive but that don't feel rushed. My kids all played (relatively) nicely together. Yes, there were dolls, blankets and every kind of ball imaginable on the floor by noon, but I'll take that over screaming at each other any day!

On another note... our church started a new sermon series a couple of weeks ago. I'm behind. Last week, we were supposed to start keeping a continuous list of things we are grateful for. Sounds like my Thankfuls will come back! Now that I'm trying to post a picture a day, hopefully I'll stick with it better than last time!

So... tonight's thankfuls
1) We caught up on So You Think You Can Dance. We missed last week's results, yesterday's competition and tonight's results. Makes me want to take a dance class, I tell you!

2) I made cupcakes for something... oh, dinner with friends the other night. Then I made a second batch for our end-of-season baseball party. I also made two different types of icing... strawberry cream cheese that is AWESOME (and i don't know if I can reproduce, since I kind of just did the little of this/little of that thing) and an almond butter cream (my all time favorite). Why is this a thankful? Because I made too much icing... both kinds! So, we have two small Tupperware containers of icing that make everything better! Toast? Sure, have some strawberry cream cheese on there!

3) Bathrooms, kitchen, and dining room all have clean floors and baseboards!

4) The house smells like Clorox. Which, if you grew up in our house, you know is the smell of clean :-)

5) Finished listening to another book. I really am addicted to audio books. My sister started me reading Tracy Chevalier... this was the third book of hers that I've read/heard. This one was Burning Bright. Good book, but like many Chevalier's books, ends a bit abruptly with me wanting to know more. I guess that's a measure of good character development -- wanting to find out more about their lives.

Where my feet went today...

2011-07-06T23:55:00.003-04:00

On the treadmill -- ugh

To our little garden... with our one red tomato

though we have lots and lots of little green ones... they're just not ready yet :-)

Where do your feet go?

2011-07-05T23:09:00.001-04:00

I've decided (in an effort to start blogging again), that I'm going to start a new series on here. Where my feet go. So, I'm going to start with this one...

from this weekend. Johnson's Shut Ins, MO

Maybe this will keep my camera close too ;-)

Thankfuls

2011-03-30T22:48:00.004-04:00

1- Proud of my smart kids. Seriously... had Kindergarten Show Me Night (we are in Missouri, after all) tonight and was so proud I couldn't stop smiling! Bubba is in the top of his class -- and is the youngest in the school! Proud. Proud, I tell you :-)

2- The girls and I have been reading Little House on the Prairie for the past week or so. Tonight, Faith even read some! I love that time with them every night. When we are done with the book, we plan on visiting the Homestead in Mansfield.

3- AI tonight. Each kid gets a vote. Grace: Scotty. Faith: Lauren. Bubba: "I can't remember his name. The boy who talks all cowboyish." Okay... that would be a second vote for Scotty :-) {PS... the kids and I disagree on who the best is this season, but I will vote for theirs for them!}

4- Trying out a new sugar cookie recipe tomorrow. I've got my fingers crossed that it will be like the cookies I made when we lived in NC. I'll let you know!

5- I didn't fall today. As silly as that sounds, after yesterday's fall, I'm happy for a fall-free day! Because... my knees are skinned up pretty bad and I forgot how bad a skinned knee hurts!

Been a while...

2011-03-28T20:12:00.002-04:00

1) I helped in the nursery at church yesterday. Exhausting! There were fourteen two year olds in the room I was in. Exhausting! There's really no rhyme or reason -- there was generally fourteen different things happening at all times. Until two decided they wanted to do the same thing... then there was a fight. Exhausting! So why am I thankful? I am very thankful that that isn't my full time job! I don't know how I would keep my sanity :-) I will continue to volunteer -- once a month!

2) Great weekend. Horrible weather, but that led us to a pizza/movie/hang-out day for the family.

3) So flippin' sore from a new workout...

4) I made the kids all new aprons this weekend. SO fun! And SO easy! And they
are all super excited to have them :-)

5) The local farmers' market is supposed to open in a few weeks. I can't wait! I'm not sure what's growing yet, but home grown is ALWAYS better than store bought!

Thankfuls

2011-03-21T23:15:00.004-04:00

1- The kids went back to school today. Spring Break was exactly what it should have been -- relaxing. No alarm clocks, no schedules, perfect. Made me ready for summer :-) So why am I thankful they went back to school? Because that means summer is that much closer to being here!

2- popcorn with Rob after the kids went to sleep

3- Girl Scout meeting outside this evening. Wonderful weather!

4- Found a cardio workout offered twice a week for FREE onpost! And kids are welcome! Score!!!

5- Faith's reading skills have improved 1000% since the beginning of 1st grade. She reads with confidence now! Yay! {PS Bub's skills are pretty impressive too! He read The Cat in the Hat to me yesterday!}

Friday's Thanks

2011-03-19T12:51:00.003-04:00

1) Everybody agreed that it was a bum out kind of day -- overcast, cold -- perfect for snuggling on the couch!

2) Harry Potter marathon on ABC Family means quality time with Bubba :-)

3) Salad night -- and everybody ate them! It's been hard to remember not to eat meat on Fridays this year...

4) Took the kids to see Chronicles of Narnia: Dawn Treader (or whatever the real name is). It was really good! A bit scary at the end, but nothing overwhelming. Bones slept through most of it - then woke up for the end. He sat over in his seat, eating popcorn -- looked over at me and said "Mama, dat scare me to deaf"

5) My kids are good kids -- but not always super nice to each other. Tonight, though, Josh asked Grace to hold something for him (she didn't know he meant indefinitely) and she was so incredible sweet to him. I can't really describe the conversation, but she was so sweet.

Thankfuls

2011-03-17T22:47:00.005-04:00

1- Two days of sleeping late (past 7am) because of Spring Break makes me very happy :-)

2- Took the kids to Bennett Springs State Park today. Though we didn't tackle the trail we wanted to do (I chickened out since I had them by myself and it was considered a "steep hike" on the map), they were troopers the whole time... well, most of the time. We started with a picnic, then hiked, then toured a fish hatchery then hiked back to the car for a snack. Bubba got mad at me (I can't remember why) and wouldn't sit for the kid's end of trip picture.

3- I didn't burn down the house tonight. Yes, that is something I am thankful for tonight. I had a corned beef simmering on the stove while we left for soccer practice... but didn't have it low enough, apparently. When I put the beer in (for flavor), it kind of exploded, but I thought it would be fine... um... well, I guess not. I didn't account for the amount of liquid lost when it 'exploded'. So, all of the liquid evaporated out -- and when we walked in, I really thought the kitchen was on fire. It wasn't, thank goodness, but the corned beef was not salvageable... and man oh man does the house stink. But it's still here :-)

4- Beautiful weather -- which is even more important tonight when we must keep our windows open to get the funky burnt smell out of the house!

5- We caught up with American Idol tonight. SO glad that our favorites are still kicking it!

6- I love the library. We went today and got four movies and a couple of CDs to enjoy over the next week. WAY cheaper than renting :-)

7- Soccer practice was great tonight. I think Bubba will be one of the stars of his team this year (and I am not saying that as the proud mama that I am... seriously, he's gotten pretty good)

8- Bones has become quite a tree pee-er. I have to convince him to pee in the toilet. Fortunately (for him), the bathroom was locked tonight at soccer practice. He got to go where he wanted... on the nearest tree!

Monday's Thanks - on Tuesday

2011-03-15T10:03:00.004-04:00

1) We finally caught up on Survivor... well, not really. We caught up until the double Survivor night Wednesday night :-)

2) Went to a (kid friendly) cardio class this morning. Good workout and Sam got to play too!

3) It rained all day. ALL day. Then it turned to snow. HoHum... but that's not what I'm thankful for. I'm thankful that once the kids came home from school, we all hunkered down on the couch, covered in blankets and snuggled. All of us :-)

4) Today is Day 7 with no soda. I don't open the fridge just to see them anymore. Added benefit to not having all that bad stuff going into my body? No more chapped lips! Though I drank a lot of water before, seemed like the soda would still dry me out. Not anymore!

5) I ate an entire head of garlic tonight. What a horror... but oh so yummy! I thought everybody would want some, so I roasted the entire head. Nobody else would touch it! Their loss.

Thanks

2011-03-14T00:13:00.003-04:00

1) All day today (well, since church was over), my girls have been walking around the house singing "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord..." I can't think of much better things to hear!

2) Gorgeous weather today... until it rained late this afternoon.

3) Kids only have two days of school this week. And I am excited about having them home!

4) Rob and I sat down to do our monthly budget (yes, we do it at the mid-month pay instead of the beginning of the month) and this month... we budgeted for me to get a haircut! Woo-hoo! I need it to be cut off!!

5) Popcorn once the kids go to bed -- should probably make me feel guilty, but it doesn't. Not one bit.

Random things from today:

*I got completely sucked into the show Sister Wives today. There was a marathon on TLC leading up to the Season 2 opener tonight. By the end of the evening, we have seen every one of the season 1 episodes. No judgement from me. They seem to be happy (though not something I think i could do) and are raising their kids in a supportive, loving environment.

*Kate~ I started reading Michal today. I'm getting flashbacks to The Red Tent. I guess it's just the fictional story of someone you know only the smallest amount of information. What's even more of a weird connection... I just started reading Facing Your Giants which is all about David (and his many failures and victories). So, I had just had a 'read ahead' of the whole story of David marrying Michal.

*I think the new Mercedes that will brake on its own if you are approaching another fixed point is weird. Like Big Brother is watching weird. No, thank you.

Friday night thanks... a little late :-)

2011-03-12T11:50:00.002-05:00

Is the "a little late" thing starting to become a habit... yikes!

1) It's Friday. Enough said about that one.

2) The kids had only a half day of school. Though it kind of messed with my normal schedule, it was great that they got to play outside for three hours this afternoon!

3) Looks like spring weather is here... hopefully it will last.

4) Rob and I went to a formal tonight. (no pictures... sorry) It was quite a different experience than I've had before (and I've been to my fair share of formals). It was a class dining out... not necessarily a "unit function". Unit functions, though they have their own set of downfalls, have a degree of cohesion. It was a nice night out with Rob, though... regardless of where we went :-)

5) I am officially three (Wed, Thurs, Fri) days soda-free. Not caffeine-free, mind you. I still get my caffeine, but have cut soda out completely. Hard. Oh-so hard. Harder than I thought it would be hard. But I'm going it... so far. Wish me luck!

Thursdays Thankfuls... posted Friday morning

2011-03-11T10:33:00.004-05:00

Sorry, a little late on this one, but we had a pretty busy night last night.

1) Nightly prayers have become so fun. Each kid has to tell me things that they are thankful for... and Sam's are hilarious! "Thank you for dis house and for my bed and my tea..." he could go on and on and ON :-)

2) Survivor night (Wednesday) was postponed until tonight -- except I forgot to set the DVR before we left for the Ash Wednesday service -- but Jane and RJ came over anyway and we had a great dinner together. Nobody was TOO upset that I forgot to record it ;-)

3) I have all of the laundry in the house clean. Granted, it is all sitting, CLEAN, in baskets -- but at least it's clean. Now to fold... but that won't qualify as something I'm thankful for :-)

4) Nice, brisk weather that is perfect (though a little chilly) for walking to school. I love walking home with my kids -- in all honesty, I usually only walk with one of them... the others run with their friends.

5) Oriental Pork wraps for dinner. A family favorite! I love when dinner isn't a fight -- and is still homemade! Yum!

6) Bubba's soccer season officially began with the first practice of the season! Rob is assistant coach and Bub is loving the extra time with dad :-)

7) A library issue that I had has been resolved -- in my favor :-) They said I didn't turn in a movie that I KNOW I turned in. In fact, it was on the shelves... not properly checked in before being reshelved. That's right... I'm not always right, but I knew I was right this time :-)

Thankful returns...

2011-03-09T22:28:00.002-05:00

I'm going to try... I'm going to try to start again. Today is the beginning of the Lenten season, so I am going to make being thankful a bigger part of my daily life.

1- Amazing, let me repeat - amazing, Ash Wednesday service tonight at church. I'm even thankful that the kids didn't have a "children's church" to go to -- even if they drove me bonkers at times during the service. Ashes on three foreheads and three hands -- and communion taken by all. Awesome.

2- Music Wednesday! Bones and I have missed the last couple of weeks for various reasons. But we made it today -- and I love it :-)

3- Thankful that Rob comes home between PT and work. I love having that 20-30 minutes to talk with him in the mornings.

4- {cheesy, yes, but...} I'm so glad American Idol is on ;-) I really do love Steven Tyler's contributions! He seems like such a great dude!

5- I've asked the kids to add thankfuls to the end of their prayers at night... "God, thank you for..." Such great responses are in there. Tonight, I feel very, very blessed -- since all four thanked God for me :-) Sure is nice to be a mama!

Fun foods

2011-02-19T11:37:00.004-05:00

I had a battalion commander one time who was a bit of a stickler for time. He was always 20 minutes early to everything. He expected things to be turned in early, and he saw on-time as late. He would often be heard saying "Better never than late".

I'm not in the army anymore... and have four kids. I am very happy to make it places on time. I try to plan to be places early, but somehow it never quite works out... usually, somebody forgot to go to the bathroom... but that's a whole other story.

What does this have to do with anything? I'm feeling a bit guilty for just getting around to posting some fun things we made for Valentine's Day... but I'm going with the saying "Better late than never" for this one :-)

The first thing I made was for Girl Scouts. Do you follow Bakerella? If you don't, you should! Super fun.

You start by making a cake -- I used a boxed red velvet cake. Bake it like normal and let it cool. Once it cools, tear it up. Literally. Take two forks and crumble it in a big bowl. Once it's crumbled, add in a can of frosting (Bakerella uses a whole can, but I usually only need about 2/3 of a can for it to stick together). I use a 1oz cookie scooper to keep the amounts uniform. Roll each scoop into your hand until they are balls. Looks like this...

But I also have a silicone ice shaper (is that what they are called?) in heart shapes. I got a pack of two at Target for $2.50!

Shape then stick a lollipop stick in! I put mine in the refrigerator (but the freezer will work too depending on how much time you have) and start melting the chocolate.

Once the chocolate is right and the cake sticks are chilled, dip them!

And put them in a styrofoam sheet (so they will stand up to dry).

I made ball ones too!

I'm not sure how Bakerella gets hers so smooth. I've tried this numerous times and have yet to get them exactly round or smooth... I'll keep practicing, though!

I decorated these up a little with some white chocolate. The heart ones looked better than they photographed. The glare from the kitchen light throws off the look, but they really were cute!

I ran out of sticks so I also made some plain ol' cake balls too.

Next, I made some cookies for Bones's music class friends. I've never used royal icing before. I must admit there was a bit of a learning curve. But things that start with this:

and this:

can't be bad, right!

So, simple sugar cookies in the shape of hearts was where I started. I let them cool while I made the royal icing. I didn't have any 'extra' powdered sugar, so I just stuck with two colors -- white and red. Good for Valentine's, right?

Once everything was cool and ready to go, I drew the borders on all of the cookies. Fine. At that point, I thought I would work fast enough to work with six cookies at a time. Mistake. When you move onto the next step (flooding the cookie with icing), you kind of have to work one cookie at a time. Especially if you are going to put another color on top. If you are working one at a time, the top color kind of sinks into the lower, base color. If you are working six at a time, the top color just sits on top of the base -- which would be fine, if that's what I wanted to do. It isn't though, so six of the cookies became my "learning cookies". Here's an example of a learning cookie:

See how the letters sort of sit on top? And the heart... forget about it! Horrible. I thought I could still flood the red into the heart, but it didn't work. So... I had to zigzag the red in. Horrible {said with head down}.

Once I understood, I got better... and the cookies looked better.

I also wrote things on the cookies like "Music Rocks" and "I <3 Music". They turned out cute.

Snow Days

2011-02-06T22:37:00.003-05:00

Sidebar before I start...
Crazy KY neighbor MEGHAN :-)! I saw your comment. Where did you guys move?!? I miss you -- I wish you'd moved here! Do you still have the same email?

Okay... sorry. Had to do that :-)

So the kids have had four snow days this past week. I'm ready for them to go back to school. I love them and I love snow. It's beautiful.

We've had a lot of fun, but I think it's just time that they get back to learning!

We've had a fun time. Sledding. {I don't have any pictures of the girls... they went to get friends and by the time they got back, I had the camera away. That's the price of being the grown up on the sledding hill -- you know "Will you push me now? Please?"}

Bones didn't even wait for a sled to free up -- he just went down on his bottom!

Forts.

Potty Training: Bones is doing great! I can't believe how great he's done, actually. M&M's were the key.

Sledding takes a lot out of you!

With everything good, there are the bad things. Like this...

Though I cleaned up a lot of snow clothes... a lot of times... a whole, whole lot of times... it sure was a fun week. Now back to our schedule! Bring on school!

Two months worth of recap...

2011-01-18T10:02:00.005-05:00

I can't believe it has been almost two months since I've been on here! I must get better... I must!
Excuse?
Our computer is dying a slow death. It will only run in SAFE mode :-( and everything is SO slow! We have a mini laptop that is getting us through, but it isn't as nice as using a 24" screen! We're looking into buying a new one once we file taxes, etc. We're actually really looking at an iMac {gasp}... I've never owned a Mac, so I'm sure it will be something to get used to, but I'm up for the challenge :-)

Anyway... that's why I haven't been too good at keeping up with the blog. I will try to be better. Lots of things have happened since last I wrote.

Christmas {Merry Christmas -- I hope that it was great}

I failed. I failed to send Christmas cards out this year. I'm not really sure why, either. We had the pictures. Oh well... Merry Christmas anyway!

Tornado:

Luckily, we weren't at our house for this one. Only 1/4 mi away from us, houses were flattened. Thank God {literally, I thank God} that no one was seriously hurt. Since it was holiday leave for most of the military community, only 10 of the 25 families who lost their houses (completely) were here... and not all of them were in their houses at the time. Such a blessing. I even read a Chaplain's article that said it just shows us all to remember to believe in everyday miracles.

New Year's 2011:

We were in a hotel... because our street didn't have power, water or gas due to the tornado. Not our ideal way to spend New Year's, but we were together and it doesn't get much better than that!

Home again, home again, jiggety jig:

I love visiting family. I love watching my kids snuggle up close to their extended family like they've lived with them their whole lives. Everybody who knows me, knows that I love the Army life. I love the excitement of new moves and meeting new friends. But there's something that I miss. I miss being around my family. Sometimes I feel like I'm missing out on 'knowing' them. And I'm not talking about my sisters or parents. I talk with them. I'm talking about the cousins that I only (now) see once a year, if I'm lucky. But, I am thankful for today's technology. If it weren't for Facebook, I don't think I'd know what some of my family look like! And that's just sad.

So, having said I love visiting family, I must say, I like being home. I like having my space, with my rules and my stuff. I would just like my house to be nearer to home. {And that statement only makes sense if moving is a part of your yearly routine!}

Routine:

Kids are back in school. Check.

Two snow days already since being back from Christmas break. Check.

Christmas play - that was missed because of another snow day before Christmas. Check

Third grade music program. Check.

Promotion parties. Birthday parties. Music class. Dance class. All of these things go into my routine. Most days I love it. Most days...

I can't wait to see what happens today!

Here are lots and lots of pictures! Enjoy!

Can we say... girls fighting over their Grand-daddy's lap?!?

We know and love that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus's birth. We love spending the holiday with family. We are also happy to get to celebrate in this little princess's birthday celebration too! Happy 2nd, Holly-Bolly!

This picture has been altered to protect the manliness of the guilty... in about 10 years :-) Of COURSE boys can dress in their sister's princess dresses!

This branch of pine was brought into mom's house by my boys... who felt the need to SMELL pine!

Nothing better than a walk in the woods at Mamaw's house!

Christmas Eve craziness!

We kind of got 'stuck' in NC for an extra day thanks to a whole bunch of whiteness! There's no place I'd rather be stuck :-)

Mmmm... vanilla {and various other flavors, but who cares about any of the other flavors?!?} tooties filled stockings. It's like Santa knew they were my favorite :-)

After leaving NC, we made our way to GA for some more family time! Sam was in heaven with big girls who liked to play with him!

No other words required... I love you too Bubba {even with dirty chocolate milk mouth}!

Faithers also loved being around big girls who loved playing... and curling hair :-)

Gracie just loved being there! She loves all of her cousins... and wants to go back for a week this summer. Umm... yeah... probably not going to happen! I don't think I'm ready for that!

I think Bones is teething (molars)... he's chewing everything. He fell asleep chewing Mr Potato Head's arm!

Nov 28: Thankful

2010-11-28T12:08:00.000-05:00

Today, I am thankful for Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi. It has made the morning a little better :-)

Nov 27: Thankful

2010-11-27T12:49:00.001-05:00

Today I am thankful for laying in bed until 10... I didn't get to sleep until 10, but I didn't have to get up :-) Good start to a lazy day!

Thankfuls are back...

2010-11-26T21:20:00.003-05:00

Every day in November, I have posted something I am thankful for as my Facebook status. We all have 'those' days where you really have to think about what we are thankful. I liked having to sit and think of something on 'those' days. Puts things back into the correct perspective. It is so easy to focus on the things that we perceive as wrong in our lives.

So... I am going to continue. Just not on Facebook. I am going to try to come back to doing daily thankfuls on here. Hopefully the Facebook experiment has put me in the habit and I will continue... hopefully :-)

Today, I am thankful that, though it is always hard to say goodbye when family comes to visit, we already know when we are going to see them again. It makes goodbye a little easier when you have a {rough} date of next time.

That's confusing, but I hope you know what I'm talking about.

Girl-ism...

2010-11-24T23:25:00.004-05:00

Talking with God...

A couple of nights ago, I went in to tell the girls goodnight and say prayers. Faith started saying hers in a horrible, monster voice. She just laughed and laughed. I told her that I wouldn't want to talk to God that way and told her {again} that praying was her time to talk with God and that she should take it seriously. To which, she said:

F: So, God wouldn't think that is funny?

me: No, I don't think so. I think we are supposed to talk with God as truly and honestly as we can and that there are times to joke, but when we say our nightly prayers we should be serious. I don't think he wants us to joke around like that.

{silence, then...}

G (in a very somber voice from across the room): Do you mean God doesn't like knock-knock jokes?

Apparently, G has been using her prayers as her time to try out new knock-knock jokes. I made sure to say that I think that God has a great sense of humor and would love her jokes, but that there is a time to be serious.

Dora

2010-11-16T22:25:00.003-05:00

I'm a fan of Dora. Really, I am. There's something pretty cool about your child(ren) learning something from any source that they can't learn from a parent (in this case, any sort of Spanish). Rob and I both took French in high school and college. The kids all know how to count, say hello, basic words, etc. (well, G knows more because of the Spanish classes in KY, but that's not relevant here...)

It's all great... until... you are sitting in Pizza Hut and a family of Hispanic descent sits down near you. They are all speaking English. However, the Dora-acquired knowledge chooses that moment to ooze out of your children.

"Hola"

"Uno, dos, tres"

ME: HUSH and turn around!

Them: "But they know what we're saying."

Me: Palm slap to (my) forehead.

Bones's Itsy Bitsy Spider

2010-11-09T15:57:00.001-05:00

Cute Faithism

2010-11-03T14:59:00.004-04:00

I just want to write this down so I don't forget.

Sunday, Faith was out running errands with Rob. We all met for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant.

After lunch, we were parting ways again. I was sitting in the car, with the three kids going with me. Faithers jumped up on my running board... and told me she loves me more than ice cream cake.

SO sweet.

{If you don't watch Phineas and Ferb, this will make NO sense, but you can watch THIS to start to understand.}

Goodwill Find...

2010-10-18T12:17:00.004-04:00

We went to an Ugly Sweater and Bad Beer party on Saturday which meant... a trip to Goodwill was in order! We found some hideous sweaters, but I also came across a sewing machine cover. I've been wanting one, so I went over. $15. Okay, that's a few dollars cheaper than you can buy one at Walmart. So, I opened it up, to see the condition of the inside. There was a sewing machine inside! The sewing machine AND the case were $15! And this is a solid machine... not a piece of plastic on it!

I checked out, buying only the ugly sweaters. But that sewing machine was on my mind. I even dreamed about it Saturday night. When I woke on Sunday, I asked Rob if he minded if I got it. I didn't even know if it would run. He laughed, and kind of rolled his eyes a little, but didn't mind.

Look what has a new home {ha}...

Got it home, plugged it in... and it works! Well, the motor runs and the needle goes up and down. I can't figure out how to thread it, so I'm not positive it sews, but I'm researching it. I found a users' manual on the internet, but have issue paying $20 for the manual on a machine I bought for $15! It may just become a cool piece of decor :-)

{the pictures aren't that great... I took them last night, using our dining room light}

Field Trip Pictures

2010-10-14T14:35:00.010-04:00

Each of my {school-age} kids have gone on a field trip within the last week. They've all asked to take a camera. Having what I consider a *nice* camera, I cringed.

Ummm..... well.... we'll see.

So the night before Grace's field trip, Rob and I remembered that we used to have a not-so-*nice* camera. Our first digital camera. It's a bit of a clunker but takes decent pictures. Problem solved.

Here are pictures taken by our kids on their field trips: {side note... I'm using blogger's picture loader this time. The pictures aren't THAT great and it would take me a while to load and resize them into photobucket.}

Bubba's Kindergarten class went to a pumpkin patch. A parent/volunteer agreed to hold his camera while he played. You can definitely tell which pictures were taken by her and which were taken by him :-)

*On the bus ride home

Bub's pumpkins

*Bub came home with two tiny, little pumpkins. Notice the size of his seat-mate's on the bus -- yeah, that giant orange thing on the left side of the picture. Yeah, that's the other kid's! What would make my Bubba pick such little pumpkins? Because his mama {aka ME} told him that he had to carry his own pumpkins on the walk from school to home. Hey... don't judge! I already carry his backpack!

F's 1st Grade class took a trip to a dairy farm. Most of her pictures were taken on the bus. I guess she misses riding the bus... If anybody needs a picture of an emergency exit or windows or even the backs of bus seats, let me know. We have plenty.

*There were lots of pictures of feet and legs...

*she even took one of her OWN legs!

G's 3rd grade class went to the zoo. She took the funniest video EVER, but it would take too long to upload here. Any suggestions on alternate video locations?!?

*This is a picture of a picture. Why? Because she said she couldn't get a good one of the birds in the cage, so she took this one.

*that would be a donkey

*that would be G's gorilla impression. Kind of gives me flashbacks to The Blair Witch Project...

Soccer Pics from today

2010-10-10T00:22:00.002-04:00

The Bumblebees played the Cobras today. Game ended in a 2-2 tie. Unfortunately, Bubba let in one of the Cobras' goals. He saved three more, though! AND he scored one of ours! Sounds like a good day to me!

OOPS...

Got it!

New (to me) music

2010-10-09T12:05:00.004-04:00

I think I live in a music bubble. I always listen to the same things... branching out only by what the radio plays new. I was on Facebook the other day {surprise, surprise} and saw a post by an old friend about the Avett Brothers. They are from NC, which makes me pre-disposed to want to like them. I was so wonderfully surprised. I LOVE them! Every song I've listened to has been incredible. Kind of a folksy sound that I love.

Water Paint

2010-10-08T21:56:00.002-04:00

The weather here has been gorgeous... a bit warmer than I wish, but the cold is coming and I'll be missing the warmth. So for now, we are eating up the sun! Enjoying afternoons outside -- kids playing in the street with their friends.

These pictures were taken while the big three were at school. I am ashamed to say that this is Bones's first experience with water paints. And he LOVED it - and I have some great art to add to our back door! We will definitely be doing this again!

Things I am thankful for now that the weather is turning cooler...

2010-10-05T14:29:00.002-04:00

1- We don't pay an electric bill. That means I can turn on and off the heat anytime I want. And in MidMissouri, I can go from heat in the morning to air in the afternoon and turn the heat back on at night. Yeah, it's like that here.

2- Flannel sheets on my bed.

3- Remote starter on the car -- it can be warm when we get in it :-)

4- Beautiful sunny days that aren't so hot as to make me have sweaty shirts by the time I walk to school to get the kids!

5- Open windows

6- The {outside} trash can doesn't stink so much when it's cool. Maybe that means the raccoons/skunks will leave it alone.

Bones-ism, well, kind-of

2010-10-04T19:11:00.002-04:00

Bones colored on the wall. Again. And of course, he found one of the few non-washable crayons in the house to do it. They are very rare in our house. I think there are only about two left in the house and those have been stored in G's school stuff. Well, he found it.

Anyway... out came the Magic Erasers. I have such a love-hate relationship with those little puffs of white magic. I love that they can get the crayon off the wall and they polish baseboards oh so well BUT I *hate*, *hate* how they feel in my hand. Imagine -- fingers on chalkboard. They make my skin crawl. SO... I always wear a rubber glove {black gloves with cool zebra stripes on the ends -- which will be significant in a minute} when I use them.

Before I clean the walls, I always make the kid responsible for the mess try to clean it up. So, Bones had already tried to wipe the crayon away with a rag. In I walk, rubber gloved armed with a Magic Eraser. Bones disappears.

I'm full into the wall scrub when I notice he's back. With the package's other eraser... and an oven mitt {black silicone, to be exact} on his hand. He was so cute, I immediately started cracking up. He said:

Glub. Like you. Me clean.

:-)

Couple of -isms and Thankfuls

2010-10-03T23:18:00.005-04:00

Faith-ism

If you have a Nintendo DS, you will know what pictochat is. For those not in the know... it is a way for players to talk with each other, wirelessly, between gaming systems. They have to be relatively close... it isn't a large network, just a fun way to type back and forth. Imagine IM'ing via Nintendo.

Anyway, my oldest three pictochat all the time. Since Faithers and Bubba aren't the best spellers in the world, most of the time, the pictochat screen is filled with doodle drawings from one to another.

Flash to today, in the car on the way to Springfield --

Faithers and G were in the back, being unusually quiet. I couldn't figure it out until Faith says:

Mom, it is so fun to pictochat with paper.

Yep, they were passing notes back and forth in a notebook. But she doesn't call it writing notes... no, it is pictochatting on paper.
==============================================================================

Rob-ism

Rob and I were discussing the naming of our children the other day. We agree that we named them well and that their names match their personalities.

For whatever reason, we started talking about what we didn't name them. I have always really liked the name Seamus. Love it. Good, strong name. Rob would never consider it. Finally, I asked him why. He said because our last name wasn't O'Fairel!

Ha!
==============================================================================

Thankfuls

1- I have a husband that thinks a lot of me. He compliments me and makes sure the kids hear it. So, tonight, I put Bubba in bed and he called out -- "Goodnight, pretty mommy". What a sweet bunch of boys I have!

2- Target has started selling their brand of diapers in "Club Sized" boxes. I guess that just means a lot more diapers. Since the nearest Target is an hour drive and they seem to be the ONLY diapers that don't break Bones's butt out -- I bought TWO of their "Club Sized" boxes!

3- Rob is safely in Vegas. I am always nervous when he travels -- but at least this travel is in THIS country :-)

4- Bones pooked on the potty tonight. WooHoo!

5- With Rob's help, I am caught up on laundry. Granted there are two piles to fold and put away, but one of them is sheets and that's too easy! It's always nice to have a jump on Monday!

What are you thankful for today?!?

Random Sunday night thoughts

2010-09-26T23:13:00.004-04:00

I watch a lot of Discovery channel... well, I should say... when I watch TV, it is usually one of three channels: Discovery Channel, Animal Planet or Food Network (I do love Cupcake Wars).

Problem is... when I watch these channels, I feel like I can do anything. Currently, here are some of the things on my list to do:

1- Cook cupcakes everyday so my house always smells like -- well -- cupcakes.

2- Climb to the summit of Everest. {See THIS}

3- Go camping in a rain forest, for a month WITHOUT getting lost.

4- Get an online degree {there are a LOT of online education commercials on these channels}

5- Own every Shark product ever made.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, that was just something random. Now for the 'real' stuff :-)

We went to the St Louis Zoo today.

It was very fun to go back and see how things have changed since we were there last (3 Jul 05). Lots of changes. Rob was disappointed in some things, but overall everything was great!

It's so fulfilling to see the kids' excitement -- and knowledge of certain animals. Though today, the focus was on poop. Yep, I said it. Poop.

Every time we went to a new area, I'd ask the kids what they saw.

"Elephants" or "Monkeys" or "Lemurs" is what I would hear... but one of them would always chime in with ".. and poop" {or in Bones's case "... and pook"}.

Don't know what it was about, but they were fascinated. By the end of the day, every time somebody would say "poop" somebody else would say "well, everything poops". Funny kids I have!

Glitches...Why are there always glitches?

2010-09-18T12:18:00.002-04:00

So, as you can see, I used the advice given and found a new background. Problem is... i can't adjust the width of the posts to accommodate my huge pictures. SO... I will be sizing down the pictures in the future. Where's the glitch?

I can't get PhotoBucket to size down the pictures already on here. Well, that's not exactly true. If I go to photobucket, they are sized down. Since they are linked to the blog, it should automatically happen. And it does... sometimes.

Oh well, from here on, I think I've got it figured out. Just know that if you want to see those huge pictures, they will be overlapping the column on the right. Maybe if I put the column on the left... hmmm

I'm going to try that now.

Soccer pictures are coming. Bubba has his next game at 1300hrs today -- that's right... 1300hrs. Ugh... I only like soccer season when games are over by noon. Yikes... did I just put that in writing?!? It's true though. We can't really *do* anything when the games don't start until after noon. Oh well...

Blog Template

2010-09-12T11:22:00.002-04:00

So, I was trying to change my template and lost it... so I'm back to the basic. I'll figure it out, but it may take a while (mainly until the kids are back in school this week).

Why was I trying to change it? Because I can't stand when there isn't a date stamp on the blog entries. My old one just had a timestamp, but no date. Finally got past the point that I could stand it anymore.

I really want a cool background, but need something I can modify the template (to accommodate my big pictures :-)) Anybody have any good *free* template sites they would recommend?

Blog Catchup...

2010-09-09T20:57:00.003-04:00

Lots of stuff going on... here are some highlights :-)

Gasp... has it been this long since I've blogged?!? Josh's birthday... I can't believe he is FIVE! Since he is ALL about cars now, we got him some motorcycles that race. This was taken just before the red one busted into my knuckles! Ouch!

The world's longest game of Hopscotch -- or a good effort at reaching it! This stretched from our house, up the street past about five other houses. Quite a game! And quite a bunch of kids!

Rob got promoted! WooHoo!

This is me, changing his rank out. Josh was happy to have the old CPT rank :-)

My sweet husband had flowers for me -- in Engineer colors, no less!

And we took our first trip to St Louis. It was a bust. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that the day we picked to go would also be football season opener games for Mizzou (downtown STL) and Washington Univ (Forest Park, aka the zoo) AND a Cardinals baseball game. Traffic was INSANE. We were late to our Arch reservation, had to pay for parking (though we had a free parking pass for making reservations online), and got our patience tested. By the time we made it over to Forest Park (still not knowing about the Washington game), we were redirected AWAY from the zoo. All we wanted to do was go up in the Arch and go to the Zoo. We didn't get to do the zoo. Next time. Next time... we will do a bit more research into that one.

If you've never gone up into the Arch, this is the 'pod' you have to ride. Horribly small. Horribly creaky. Horribly cramped. Horribly small (did I mention that?).

And apparently, I wasn't the only one feeling a bit claustrophobic. Check out the terror in that face!

Since we weren't able to do everything we wanted to do, we felt like we'd let the kids down a little. That is, until we drove by and saw this baby lit up...

Ahh... fresh and hot. A yummy ending to a not so great {but quite a learning experience} trip to St Louis!

Parenting Techniques

2010-08-23T09:45:00.003-04:00

Let me start with two disclaimers. First, I do not think I am the perfect parent. I make more mistakes in one day, as a parent, than other people do in a week. In general, I don't think there are 'good' parents versus 'bad' parents. Second, this turned into a rambling rant... sorry!

I am not the poster child of motherhood. But I kiss each of my children to bed each night, after saying (or listening to) prayers with them and before telling them I love them. I thank God daily that I have been blessed to be their mama.

However, I am fiercely protective. Sometimes overly critical. I am not one of those uber-patient parents... I have surprising LITTLE patience. I have been known to raise my voice. I use guilt when they have done something they know they shouldn't. And I have extreme expectations of them.

I got that. I own it. I make mistakes. Hopefully, though, I learn from (at least most of) them.

That being said, sometimes I get fascinated by other people's parenting. I'm not at all saying that I am RIGHT and they are WRONG. Just different ways of accomplishing what we are all trying to accomplish. Raise good, strong, independent people. There are times, though... well, let's just say, I'd like to be the kind of person to walk up to another and say "WHAT were you thinking?!?"

Example? Okay :-)

We went to the water park again yesterday. Awesome time. This time Rob went (though he was nursing a severely 'tweaked' back). Fun time. BUT... we were standing in the shallower area with the boys while the girls were playing just to our left in some deeper water (though still not more than 3-1/2 ft). All of a sudden, the lifeguard jumps in just beside the girls. {Talk about scaring this mama to death!} There was a little guy -- smaller than Bones -- underwater. Couldn't swim. No flotation device being worn. No parent in sight. Takes a few minutes to locate mom... who was too busy TEXTING in her chair by the side of the pool. Really? WHAT were you thinking?!?

Now, I know that I don't know everything. Maybe there were circumstances. Who knows? Maybe she was a 'plant' to test the skills of the lifeguards. Maybe she was getting a text from her husband who's in Afghanistan and is telling her he's safely home from a convoy. I don't know. I just know that the thought of sitting on the side of the pool paying no attention while my toddler (no older than 2), who can't swim, is in water over his head makes me nauseous.

Maybe I'm overly cautious -- no, I take that back. I KNOW that I am overly cautious with my children. I wouldn't let G & F go in the deeper area without a parent. In my mind, I'm keeping them safe. They are both weak swimmers, at best. Maybe my cautious-ness (is that a word?) is why they are not better swimmers.

I have thought of that little guy all night. I don't want to be a judgemental person. I try not to 'judge a book by its cover', but all I can think about is -- if this little guy is getting that little attention at the POOL, what's he getting at HOME? So... Bones is getting attention enough for two today. He has been sitting in my lap this whole blog post, watching SpongeBob, still in his PJs. And I don't think he could get much happier. Well, unless I gave him a cookie. But it's only 0915hrs... and this mean ol' mama doesn't allow cookies until at least 10!

very thankful Sunday

2010-08-15T23:06:00.007-04:00

1- We went to church this morning. Always a great start to a new week. Probably my least favorite part of moving {yes, even less than saying 'see you later' to two years worth of friends and packing everything we own} is finding a new church. Unfortunately, Rob and I have some pretty specific things we like... and don't like... in a church. If you've ever had THAT church -- you know the one that feels like HOME -- and have had to move away from it, you know that it is devastating. Every church from here on will be measured against that church. Herein lies the problem. Nowhere will ever be there. But you can't let that beat you. You have to keep looking and find a church which feels, maybe not like home, but like somewhere you can find a niche... make your own home away from home. So, anyway... church this morning was good. And it was the second time we visited the same church. It may not end up being the one we stick with, but at least we haven't let the search defeat us. We got up. We dressed. We got in the car. We went. We were in the pews. We worshipped. It was nice.

2- The kids and I joined Jane and Little Miss Ava at the SplashZone this afternoon for some good ol' fun in the sun... and water... and sand. This place was AWESOME! Not only is there a zero entry pool, complete with turn-the-lever-water-shooters, but there was also a lazy river and a whirlpool! {There were two 'big' waterslides too, but none of the kids were tall enough to ride, so we didn't go there.} Now, what could make this even better? A huge sand box... with water works in there too! So, when the kids needed a break, they would wander over to the sandy area and cover themselves with wet sand. All while they were making rivers and dams. Awesome. {I don't have any pictures from today -- I just couldn't see having to keep a camera dry and sand free in such a place. It was much more fun to actually get to PLAY with my kiddos!}

(since I don't have pictures, here are two of my cuties... in water... does that count?)

3- I watched the season finale of Hot Shot with Rob tonight. Not something I ever wanted to watch, but he hardly ever asks to watch something specific, and he liked this show so we ended up watching the season. After a while, I ended up actually liking it too! And the guy I liked from the beginning won. Yay! {He reminded me of this hottie... yum!}

4- We have a kids' table that our kids love. Over the time we've had it (it was a hand-me-down), it has been splattered with paint and covered with crayon. It is loved. However, it has started to look... well, not so great. While the kids and I were at the SplashZone today, Rob stayed home. He took the table apart and started the sanding process. The table is getting a facelift! I think we're going to make the top a chalkboard -- even though we all know I really, really dislike chalk. But the kids like it.

5- I love my husband. Does it hit you sometimes? Tonight I was sitting here, uploading some pictures from yesterday and it just hit me. I sure do love him. And guess what? He loves me too :-) I'm about the luckiest lady I know!

First Day of School!

2010-08-13T14:30:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was the kids' first day back to school -- and Bubba's first day in 'real' school. I can't believe that I have a 3rd grader, a 1st grader, and a Kindergartener {plus my little Bones at home}! Here are some of the pictures from the first day... before school. I took my camera to get some afterschool pictures, but with a heat index of 105, I didn't remember to take any. When I got home, there was a sweat line {TMI?} from where I had the camera slung across my chest to the back. Gross. Very, very hot and very, very gross.

Anyway, here are the pictures!

Cheese for mama!

Ready to GO! look how big their backpacks all look!

Big G

Kicker

Bubba

Is this the look of excitement or what?!? Very proud 3rd grader right there!

Proud 1st Grader - who was happy to already know somebody in her class that moved here from Fort Knox too!

A little bit of a nervous Kindergartener (see his nervous hands?) -- until he saw other boys. Then, he was all "see you mom" :-p

Bones didn't understand why HIS picture wasn't being taken... so I snapped one of him next to Bubba.

It's only about 1/4 of a mile from our house to the school (via a trail through the woods), but it was hot. Did I mention that already (remember that sweat line?!?)? I made Bones walk on the way back -- at least, he walked the downhill portions. By the end, he was throwing his water bottle down and kicking it because he didn't want to carry it anymore. This was taken after one of those episodes. He wasn't really happy anymore.

We've been here for two weeks...

2010-07-29T11:32:00.002-04:00

And the MPs have already been called to the house. Oops.

Lesson learned? We need a new phone. The numbers on our old one apparently stick... as in, double dial. Probably not too much of a problem for most people, but when you are making calls to Eastern NC -- with its 919 area code -- and the 1 sticks... that would make 9-1-1, folks.

Mom called home last night and had a misdial, so she hung up. But not before the 9-1-1 call was placed.

In ride the MPs. "Sir, we had a 9-1-1 hangup from this number. Is everything okay?"

Um... yeah. We didn't even know any of it happened! So, this weekend, we will be buying a new home phone. Hopefully one that doesn't stick.

I'm sure we'll have to explain to the neighbors...

Bones-ism

2010-07-26T13:59:00.002-04:00

He's old enough to have -isms, I guess. This one is kind of gross, but I thought I'd share anyway.

Bones calls poop "pook" and he'll tell you he "pooked".

So, I was sitting on the couch today and I started smelling something. So, I turned to Bones and asked "Did you pook?"

He turned to me, very seriously pointing his finger at his brother and said, "No. Bubba pook."

He's already blaming somebody else for his funky butt! Isn't he too young for that?!?

{again, sorry for the little picture. Still working the photobucket thing...}

Back to Thankfuls

2010-07-25T23:40:00.004-04:00

Now that we are settling back into our 'normal' routine, my goal is to get back to my nightly thanks. So, here are tonight's!

1- We have only two boxes left in the house. Now, that doesn't mean that everything is in its final location, but things are out and visible so they can get into that final destination soon. Yeah, yeah... it's been two weeks.

2- We had a portion of our household goods be placed into 'overflow' status. The kicker... when they delivered the bulk of our stuff, they had no clue when they would be delivering the overflow. Well, now they do. Tuesday. So we will have all of our stuff, finally.

3- Today was a lazy Sunday. And I got to nap. I love to nap on Sunday afternoon.

4- Today is our anniversary. And we have been together. Out of all of our anniversaries, this is only our third to physically be in the same location!

5- Mom and Dad are coming to see us! YAY for family visits!

Now, just because I'm trying to be realistic here... I have a couple of UGHs to post too. Sorry.

UGH: The dishwasher in the new house is quite a bit smaller than the one in the old house. I can't put my bigger pans in it, so I am hand washing most of my cooking dishes. Ugh...

Double Dishwasher UGH: Because the new dishwasher is small, I am having to wash two loads a day! Holy crickets, batman!

PRO: I *have* a dishwasher to wash the majority of my dirty dishes. AND the dishwasher is not a roll out, hook to the sink, kind of dishwasher.

UGH: The new house doesn't have any kind of curtain hardware. Every window has mini-blinds, but no pre-done curtain hangings. SO... we are having to buy all new curtain rods. We brought the old curtain rods, but there's nothing in the wall to hang them on! Ugh...

Okay... those are my ughs. I can't get photobucket to load my pictures right now, so I can't post big pictures, but here are some smaller ones from Waynesville's Old Settler's Day. I will, hopefully, be posting again tomorrow!

*seems all of my pictures of the kids in the water are from the back. That would be because I wasn't getting in that cold water! So, kid backsides it is!

Bones wouldn't get too far from either me or Rob. Since I had the camera, he stuck right to Rob at the water.

That's a good looking bunch right there, if I do say so myself!

Things I learn while fixing my coffee

2010-07-20T10:09:00.003-04:00

Today, I learned:

*1*trust your gut
*2*don't judge a book by it's cover
*3*don't be too quick to *fix* something that you aren't positive is broken

That's a lot to learn just from one cup of coffee! Here's how it happened:

I poured my coffee, half&half and SF sweetener into my cup but, for some reason, didn't stir it. I put up the sweetener and half&half but left the room for a minute. When I came back, I couldn't remember if I had sweetened my coffee. I knew that I had put the sweetener back, but couldn't remember if it was when I put the can of coffee itself up. *Lesson #1* Surely I wouldn't have put the sweetener up without using it. I should have trusted that I used it. However... I didn't trust that. So, I added more sweetener. *Lesson #2* The coffee looked dark to me, and I figured that if I didn't add sweetener, I must not have added the half&half either. Instead of STIRRING the coffee to be sure (you know how heavier creams kind of settle), I just added more.

So what did I end up with? Super sweetened half&half with a little bit of coffee.

*Lesson #3*

Lesson #3 can be applied to SO many aspects of my life. Sometimes I find myself jumping in to "help" the kids {and Rob, if I'm being perfectly honest} when, really, they are doing just fine. Maybe they do something differently than I would, but that doesn't mean it is wrong. I need to breathe and watch. Maybe I'll learn a new and better way of doing something!

So, that is what I'm taking from my super sweet, almost undrinkable coffee on the morning. And to make sure the lesson is truly learned? I'm drinking every syrupy drop :-p

My funny, funny children

2010-07-18T01:13:00.003-04:00

So... we have internet access again, as of yesterday afternoon. I have lots of catch-up posts to do, but couldn't wait to post some of the funny kid-isms from the last week or so.

#1) F's favorite song is "Rain is a Good Thing" by Luke Bryan. But she doesn't quite get the lyrics right...

Real lyrics:
Rain makes corn,
corn makes whiskey;
whiskey makes my baby
feel a little frisky.

F's version
Rain makes corn,
corn makes biscuits
biscuits makes my baby
feel a little brisket.

So... this song will forever be the biscuit song to us.

#2) F also told her daddy today that she remembered when Bones was a baby and we had to stop the car so I could milk him. Pretty sure she remembers me NURSING him... not MILKING him!

#3) Bubba and G were watching something on tv that they probably shouldn't have been watching today. They were watching 10 Most Amazing Pregnancies {I can't find the link...} and one couple was a transgendered couple -- both women -- where the 'man' found out s/he was pregnant. G flipped out. What?!? A man is having a baby? So I tried to explain that she was biologically female but felt herself to be male. Don't think she 'got' it, but it was nothing compared to Bubba's explanation:

She's only a girl on the bottom. See, it's a boy on the top. His hair is short and his voice sounds *like this* {said in his best deep voice}. I almost fell out laughing.

#4) Bones has a new trick. We didn't know he knew this... but he will let you know when he wants you to "COME HERE"! I'm having trouble with video, but hopefully it will work...

Whew... I'm living in a tornado

2010-06-27T11:52:00.006-04:00

So after two weeks traveling, visiting and having fun on vacation, we came back to KY for only four days before loading everybody BACK into the car -- this time on a 'business' trip to MO.

The kids were in AWE when we crossed into St Louis.

We only stayed for two and half days. The purpose of the trip was to see our next house. We always like to have that look about a week or two out from our official move, if it's possible to go. It helps us shift through our stuff and decide what we really need and what needs to be passed along (like the boxes and boxes and boxes of little girl clothes that we kept because we didn't know Sam's gender before he was born).

After an initial frustration and a little bit of a let down, we were pleasantly surprised at the monstrosity of a house that awaits our family. It was initially two 3-bedroom duplexes. Well, they've torn down the adjoining walls and made it into a four bedroom with a bonus {giant} room. Definitely the biggest house we've ever had on-post. We're all a bit more excited now that we've see it in person. PLUS... we ate dinner with friends on Friday night and breakfast with more friends Saturday morning. I love moving somewhere and already having some friends there!

So... the house... Here it is!!

*The front from the sidewalk/street level. You can see on the right side where the other door was when it was a duplex. I don't like the steps/platform there, but everybody on the street has it, so we've got some ideas to make it look better.

*The front from one carport. Since it was a duplex, there is another carport on the other side, which Rob is thrilled with!

*A view from just inside the door -- towards the staircase and family room.

*View of the stairs from up top. Kind of odd... and we'll definitely have to work out a system with Sam, but it's what we got. The wall to the left is what is left of the third bedroom in each duplex. It is now the giant bonus... and you can get to it from either side of the stairs. I guess it could be used as a fifth bedroom, but I don't think we will. It will probably be the kids' {and our} game room... complete with Wii and XBox :-)

*This is a view of the bonus. You can tell where they knocked out the adjoining wall here, but that's okay!

*Itty-Bitty kitchen, which will cause issues, but it will work... because we will make it work!

*There are two of these storage rooms -- they are identical and we have oh so many ideas for what to do in there!

*Remember, this was a duplex. So... what do you do with the second kitchen? You make it into a mudroom. This is also the room with the washer/dryer hook ups. Kind of a bit of wasted space, but it'll work!

*And the excitement of the day?!? Trees. There are trees in the backyard. And what comes with trees? Shade, that's what! SO excited!!

*And here's the back... from the other side as taken before (obviously). On the far left you can see one corner of Rob's carport and the corner of a storage shed. There are two of these outside storage buildings too!

So that's it. That's our house... well, technically the Army's house that we will be renting for the next two years.

Now to get us out of here and into there... the tornado of things to do is picking up speed. Rob found our fish a new home, which caused lots of drama at our house this morning. He has taken the big three to Louisville to drop the fish off with their new owner while Bones and I recoup from a rough night/morning.

There are SO many things still to do before the packers come on Wednesday!!

Vacation

2010-06-08T20:53:00.004-04:00

What is it about vacation that makes me want to disconnect all email and TV connections and just curl up with a book? I really don't want to do anything. I get the kids outside early at my mom's house -- a nice shady backyard with plenty of room to run and hit ball after ball off of a tee and yell and go crazy. I get a book -- or an audio book plugged into my ears -- and I could sit there all day. Just letting the kids have a free for all. It has been great - and I still have a bit longer!

Bubba has had a blast. He is destined for a career in the major leagues, if his t-ball skills are any indication. {PS... Bub loves Phineas and Ferb. He just got this "Perry the Platypus" tshirt and didn't want to wear it for fear that he would get it dirty. He just wanted to look at it. We had to reassure him that he could wear it -- that it could be washed. Such a funny kid!}

These two have a love-hate relationship, to say the least. I can, honestly, not tell whether they like to play with each other or not. They have moments of laughter and peace. Then one or the other (usually Bones, if I'm being completely honest) will reach over and steal the other's toy... and run with it.

It doesn't matter how many outfits we pack each kid, we always end up buying a new one while here. For Bones, it is usually because he pees through the outfit he's wearing and we have, almost always, forgotten to replace the LAST outfit we needed in the diaper bag. So, a new outfit is purchased. Kohl's was having such a great sale on kids stuff, that Bones also scored a couple of pair of shoes, too!

G loves being the biggest. When we get to NC, she's got two more 'littles' under her! And she eats it up. She has become such a wonderful and willing helper -- not that we don't still have issues with her throwing 2 year old fits on occasion, but they have gotten fewer and farther between. Not knowing how we are going to get everybody somewhere, she is the first to grab a little hand and take off walking. And, though this is sometimes met with a frustration nearing a rage from her siblings, her cousins don't seem to mind in the slightest. And she eats that up, too. I think back on when I was a little cousin. I ate up any attention I got from an older cousin. I don't know if I have ever thought about this dynamic from their perspective, but I hope that I gave at least one older cousin the feeling of being a hero that G's little cousins give her.

Another thing we do when we are on vacation is sleep. Though we also live and function (for a little while longer) within the eastern time zone, we are accustomed to the western most edge. My parents are on the eastern most edge. It really does make a difference. At home, I struggle to get my kids interested in going to bed before 9:00, because it is still light outside. But here -- oh, here, it gets dark about 8:30. So... the yawns start coming around 8. I won't lie and say we actually get into bed that early, but things start to slow down. Kids get clean, cuddling starts... early on vacation. And I will take all the extra cuddle time I can get!

I bought a cheap ol' $20 pool from Target the other day. You would have thought I had bought ponies for all of the kids. So excited. We have started each day in the water... well, the kids in the water. I sit, not too far away, with a cup of coffee, a book and my camera. Though not the camera that I have inside right now... so those pictures will be coming when I bring that camera in from the car. The only way I could keep Bones in the pool on the first day (it was a tad bit cold) was to put a ball in for him to throw around. By the end of today, every ball in the backyard was in there! And a butterfly had stopped to rest. I wish we had a big, shady backyard, but the Army hasn't given us one of those in about 3 years! Maybe next month...{she types with fingers crossed and a sigh of hope...}

You would think that our children never saw any wildlife, either. This little lizard was on the tree outside of my mom's kitchen window and the kids went crazy! F started telling us all about lizards... how some can lose their tail if it helps them get away from something trying to get them... how those lizards will grow a new tail... this is something I didn't know she knew. I was actually going to tell them today, when we saw the lizard, but she beat me to it! No matter how many times I ask the standard "What did you learn in school today" questions, you really have to sit, talk and experience life with your kids to really comprehend what they know. Because they know more that I thought... and I love it.

So... we're here for a little bit longer. My baby sister is getting married on Saturday and we are super excited about it. More pictures will be coming... but not on any kind of schedule. I'm on vacation. And I'm going to soak it up -- because on the other end of this vacation is a fast and furious three weeks before we pack up house and move to our next family/Army adventure.

But for now...I'm settling in for some serious reading time... for some serious snuggling with my babies time... for some serious family time... for some serious no-TV days. I sure do love vacation.

Engineer Ball

2010-05-29T16:11:00.002-04:00

Thursday was the Engineer Ball for the 19th Engineer Battalion. Though it was called the "Welcome Home Ball" - I, personally, take issue with this title. There is an entire company within the battalion that is still deployed. I missed a lot of those ladies Thursday night. I wish some of the Deuce ladies would have attended. We would have really rocked it out!

But... even without some of my 'battle buddies' in attendance, I had a good time. We had a good table, the speaker knew to speak briefly, the music was loud and fun.

Fun times. This was my last real, official function with the battalion. I will certainly miss *ahem* most of these ladies :-)

Isn't this the dynamic duo {plus their wives}?!?

This was at the beginning of the night -- when I still liked him :-) Just kidding... I like him. Most of the time.

The ladies danced. I mean danced... threw hands up in the air, smacking each other on the butt... danced. Fun times with my Seahorse Sisters!

And I was a SuperStar!

I <3 my Seahorse SISTERS! {though, again, I would be remiss if I didn't add that we were missing Jennifer L, Gloria M, Mekala T and others...}

Is this a great looking group or WHAT?!?

And here's me and Rob towards the end of the night. I was SO ready to go... he was SO intoxicated... my feet hurt... he was feeling good. This is when I didn't like him so much.

A new American Soldier

2010-05-24T23:42:00.004-04:00

For as long as we've lived in our neighborhood, Bubba has seen boys outside wearing kid sized ACUs. He wanted a pair when we saw them at the PX... he wanted a pair when we saw them at Clothing Sales... he's wanted a pair of ACUs. His own ACUs so he could look like Daddy.

Well, I didn't get him a pair. I don't think I was necessarily against them... just didn't get them for him.

Last night, Bubba suckered... ahem... I mean, convinced his daddy to get him a pair. His own ACUs. And in his words -- "Now I'm a Soldier too."

He even asked me rules.

"Can I put my hands in my pockets?"
"When do I take my hat off?"
"What are all these pockets for?"
"Mama, show me how to salute."

I guess having a Soldier for a daddy and a {former} Soldier for a mama has rubbed off a little on him. Lord help me. I can be married to a Soldier, but I don't know if I could be a Soldier's mama! But there sure are a whole lot worse things that he could aspire to become.

*excuse the mess on the mirror... Bones likes to lick his reflection.

*is that intensity or what?!?

*We'll have to work on keeping those feet together when he salutes :-)

And here are some other pictures of my babies...

*he thinks he's SO cool

*Telling about her day at school

*waiting patiently

Fun Day today

2010-05-24T14:12:00.008-04:00

Today is the day that Bones went from saying "Wuh Woo" to "Wub Woo" -- soon it will turn into a full blown "Love you". He's got such a great vocabulary, but sometimes I'm the only one who can understand him. These words count, but it is nice when they develop into words that others can understand too!

I am certainly not ready for him to grow up, but I love these little steps.

Pictures, Pictures and More Pictures

2010-05-20T09:23:00.002-04:00

Ha Ha!

What a handsome face!

F's freckles are coming in!

Pretty G

Bubba's Soccer Pics -- Team Fire

Fun at F's T-ball Game -- Little Tigers

-isms

2010-05-15T11:41:00.002-04:00

I've been saving these -- they happened last week when we were in GA. I texted them to myself so I would remember. So, of course, I forgot :-)

F-ism --

F: Mom, what's a womequin?
me: a what?!?
F: A womequin.
me: I don't know what that is.
F: I guess it is a mannequin that's a girl.

Haley-ism {while playing Wii with JP} --

H: It's me versus you.
JP: What does versus mean?
H: Versus means 'me verse you' and you 'verse' me.

Testing

2010-05-10T22:00:00.002-04:00

I'm still testing the new photo uploading technique... here's a new one :-)

This was a trip to the park last month. I'm pretty sure this was the week we were waiting for Rob. We needed somewhere to go and get those wiggles out!

Georgia Visit

2010-05-10T11:24:00.008-04:00

Bones stayed attached to Britt most of the time

Bubba -- on the move. I'm sure he was chasing JP -- his favorite person in the world right now.

Bones liked trying to play T-ball too!

F got a birthday present that was almost as big as she is!

Bones and PawPaw out for a stroll

If we didn't know where F had gone, this was the best bet!

The big girls liked hanging out with Bones -- which was a nice little break for me!

More fun...

Bones and Rob

Thanks Andy and Lindy for letting us fill your house with a whole BUNCH of kids!

Birds

2010-05-06T11:38:00.004-04:00

We have some beautiful visitors every day here. Bones always comes running, with his fingers pinching away from his mouth (the sign for bird), yelling "Bud. Mama. Bud." Unfortunately, I am not a bird watcher. Let me clarify, I love to *watch* birds, but don't know what any of the names are. There are a few names I know. I know a Robin and a Cardinal, but beyond that -- well, I'm clueless.

We used to have an Audubon Bird Book, but it got destroyed at the hands of two handsome gentlemen that I love. I would love looking birds up to figure out what they were. Maybe we'll have to get another one.

Anyway, here are some of the pictures of our visitors -- our "Buds".

We call this one the "Brown Headed Black Bird". I know, we are SO creative :-)

I'm assuming this is a pigeon of sorts?

We have a lot of these little guys.

I like these guys. They look a little bit mean, though.

Anybody know what they are?

Ears

2010-05-05T13:40:00.004-04:00

For F's birthday, she wanted her ears pierced. Here is the journey...

She's a bit nervous

Getting marked

The face says it all

Trying hard not to cry

*So I'm testing out a new method of uploading pictures. Takes a bit more time, but they are bigger. Okay, so they are a LOT bigger... I'll keep working on getting it right :-)

Nightly thankfuls

2010-05-03T21:56:00.002-04:00

1- As we began our camera upgrade experience, we got out our old 35mm Canon. I forgot how fun it is. I am definitely an instant gratification/digital camera kind of girl, but it has been great zooming and focusing again. Now... to see if the pictures match the fun -- well, we're going to have to wait until they're developed to see!

2- Raleigh is watching the Discovery Channel program we're watching. Like, really watching! He's tracking the wolves as they run across the TV screen. Hilarious!

3- We went for two walks around the neighborhood today. There is a construction project going on in our neighborhood and there will be trees cut down. I was glad to see the same look of disgust {at the thought of these hundred year old trees being cut down for a parking lot} on at least half of my kids' faces tonight. I don't mind raising tree-huggers. Not one bit.

4- Rob was off work today. After I got the big three on the bus, with Bones still asleep, I got back in bed. I woke up at 0930, with Rob and Bones relaxing in the living room. I got to sleep in!!

5- Bubba's new favorite word: Serious. He says it for everything. "Mom, today we had a different teacher. I'm serious." "Mom, do I have to eat this brussel sprout? Serious?" "I *was* listening to that book. Serious." Makes me snicker inside every time :-)

Girly stuff... beware

2010-05-03T11:44:00.008-04:00

**warning... this post deals with 'girly/womanly" stuff. It may contain TMI, though I will be keeping it pretty low detailed :-)

Okay... so here's my story.

Yesterday, I was grumpy. I am fortunate that when I am pre-time of the month, I don't suffer with a week of PMS. I get grumpy for one day -- and that's it. Not too grumpy either, but grumpy enough that I tend to try to separate myself from everybody so I don't fuss unnecessarily. {I tend to do loads and loads of laundry on this day -- just to have a reason to go downstairs a lot.}

Anyway, that's not really my story. Since having so many babies, I have gone from moderate cramps to oh-my-goodness-I'm-doubled-over-in-pain cramps.

They're bad. They remind me of uterine contractions you get AFTER having a baby, especially during those first few days of breast feeding when the contractions tend to be more intense (and somehow your uterus is directly wired to your milk let-down). I never sleep well the day of starting. The lack of sleep doesn't help the grumpiness, either...

So, I never sleep well... until last night. I slept like a flippin' baby! What was different?

{Here's more information than you may want to know...}

Rob and I spoon to sleep.

But he doesn't just spoon up behind. He does what we call "The Lock-In". Imagine his arm across me, wrapped around and his hand then locked under me. It's like an old-school lap belt in cars.

Well, this combination of warmth behind and around my tummy was like a sleeping pill. Amazing. I have my own human heating pad.

Now... why did it take me this long to figure this out? Well, I started thinking this morning. In our {nearly} eight years of marriage, between pregnancies, breast feeding {sans-period} time and deployments, I think I have probably had less than 10 periods while Rob has been here. Pretty sad!

But now I know the trick to sleeping with cramps!

Me-ism

2010-04-28T22:10:00.004-04:00

Since I busted out Rob on his need for Hannah Montana tonight, I figured I'd add one for me.

The girls each brought home a letter yesterday from school. It was a form letter, but it started out a little strange for me.

{In my defense, the letters were still in their folders, so I only saw the top.}

I read it like this:

"Holla {what up b!tches}... and happy spring."

Holla? The {What up b!tches} was what my brain inserted after Holla.

No... I read it wrong. It was from the Spanish department.

It said:

Hola and Happy Spring.

I guess I should tell myself to read carefully... not just tell G to read carefully.

Rob-ism

2010-04-28T22:05:00.002-04:00

I think we've decided it's time to upgrade our camera. Rob and I were researching some 'technical' aspects of what we want (focal point, etc) tonight. After about 10 minutes of reading sentences like this:

The technical description of focal lengths is rooted in the mathematics of optics - it’s the distance between the focal plane and the rear nodal point of the lens, given infinity focus.

Rob said: Melissa, I'd rather be watching Hannah Montana than doing this right now.

Enough said. We're not researching anymore tonight.

G-ism

2010-04-26T14:57:00.008-04:00

I love being a mama. I know I've said it before, but I really do. I love not knowing what the next thing that is going to come out of my children's mouths will be. So... G had some doozies this weekend. Here are a couple:

Last Friday night, families waiting for their Soldiers to return gathered at Gatti's Pizza to socialize. The last week of "They're coming", "They're delayed", "They're coming", "They're delayed", etc... was rough on us all.

So, we were sitting, eating, chatting, etc. A friend of mine came over and was asking if we were excited (duh?) that Rob was coming home. G said... mom's excited because she can lay on daddy!

WHAT?!? Huh? I just looked at her. Looked back at my friend.

My friend started snickering. Again, I looked at G. She came back with, "what? You do lay on him when he won't move over on the couch."

Clarify, G, clarify.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next... yesterday, Bones had gas. Pretty rough, smelly gas. My poor, lactose-intolerant baby boy.

G came into the living room from her room (followed by Bones) with her nose pinched. She said:

"Mom, he sliced a piece of cheese"

Silence.

me: What?

G: You know, that's what some people say when you toot: Slice a piece of cheese.

Silence. Then absolute hysterics from me and Rob.

Cut the cheese, baby. The saying is CUT the cheese.

Oh. Isn't it the same?

Welcome Home Rob!

2010-04-24T21:41:00.007-04:00

The year is over. Rob is back home and I couldn't be happier. I am excited for the couple of years of 'stable' army life that we have in store for us. I'm ready.

Here are some pictures from today's Welcome Home Ceremony!

*Friends and Families of the 15th Engineer Company

*Before the Soldiers get to the field house, it is kind of a kids' free-for-all. Here's me and mine in a rare moment of stillness.
(picture taken by my friend JoBeth)

*Rob - walked in first to bring the company in. He was about 15 feet in front of us. I was so excited, showing all the kids -- "Look, there's daddy!" I, of course, had tears in my eyes. What relief to actually see him. Safe and sound. And only 15 feet away. I wasn't the only one emotional either... here's what I saw when I looked over at Faithers.

*I asked what she was crying about and she told me they were happy tears. She was just trying to hold it all in.

*The company, formed, ready to listen to the CG. Well, let's be honest... they were ready for him to shut his mouth and release them to their families. I was pretty impressed that he spoke for less than a minute. He knew he wasn't the highlight of the day today!

*I got him first -- Bones slung in one arm :-)

*Then the other kids caught up!

*Bubba fell in love with his daddy again today. He's so happy, but a little hesitant to talk about Rob being home. I think that he thinks he's going back soon. I was talking with him tonight about how daddy doesn't have to go back, at least for a little while. He looked at me and asked if he was going to live with us now. We are counting on Fort Leonard Wood and some good family time!

(picture taken by my friend JoBeth)

And we are back together... finally.
(picture taken by my friend JoBeth)

Thanks for all of the prayers that have been sent up for our family. I know that God has kept Rob safe through this year and has been a constant companion for me -- in order to help me keep my sanity.

I have a new obsession

2010-04-22T12:45:00.003-04:00

First, let me be honest... I love fried foods. The crispier the better.

I'm sure you've all had Crispy Onion Rings -- the things on top of most Southern Green Bean Casseroles. Well, I don't know if they are new or not, but our commissary now carries Crispy Jalapenos.

Phenomenal. I could eat the entire bag in one sitting. Luckily, they aren't too bad for the low carb diet...

You should try them!

From the mouths of babes...

2010-04-21T19:47:00.003-04:00

We were outside this evening, for a little walk. There are dandelions all over the place. The kids were picking them up, making wishes and blowing. Bones and I were in front of the other three, but I overheard Bubba say:

"I wished that Daddy would come home"

So... I picked up a dandelion and made the same wish.

Video of F TBall

2010-04-17T23:10:00.003-04:00

Super funny - watch until the end :-)

I should have been more specific when saying "run home"!

F's first T-ball game

2010-04-17T22:24:00.003-04:00

Ugh

2010-04-17T22:09:00.003-04:00

Hello. My name is Melissa and I am an audiobook addict.

Our library has an incredible selection of audiobooks. So, I decided to take better advantage of it. There are all sorts of 'classics' on audiobook. You know, those books that we were all supposed to read in high school or college -- but somehow I didn't.

I decided to get Robinson Crusoe. I have listened to about 2-1/2 hours so far.

I have learned something. About myself. I don't like classic novels. There's a reason I never finished these books. I don't like them.

Anybody have a suggestion on a good 'classic'? I've also tried Wuthering Heights. Lasted about 25 minutes on that one. Ugh!

Thankfuls

2010-04-13T22:20:00.003-04:00

1- Daisy Scouts then T-ball practice but no class for me tonight. That sure made it a much easier Tuesday night. We actually ate at home tonight -- not in the car!

2- Glee came back on tonight. I really do love that show. And tonight's episode -- with Idina Menzel -- WOW. I hope Rob will watch it with me when he gets home.

3- I wore a dress today. I love spring and summer and the feel of a long, jersey dress with flip flops -- nothing better!

4- Rob has safely made it one step closer to home. He's actually in a place where I can text him! I love technology :-)

5- Finally remembered (while sitting at the computer) to look up directions for putting music onto my phone. Now I can use it like an iPod alternative!

Oh... and I am *in love* with this song -- and you should hear the kids belt it out! Amazing voice on that one!

Saturday's Thanks

2010-04-10T23:41:00.004-04:00

1- First soccer game of the season and Bubba was the star (pictures will follow - tomorrow - I left my camera in the car)! After ten goals, I stopped counting. I told the youth sports director they should age him up... but she didn't listen.

2- Bought diapers, wipes and dog food today -- knowing that the next time I will need to buy them, Rob will be home to go with me.

3- Sam's Club. It just makes me happy. I love going in and seeing a jumbo can of something I couldn't imagine needing. I think the large-ness of everything makes me feel like a little girl. Plus, where else can you buy mayonnaise by the gallon... just kidding... I didn't need that :-)

4- A night of s'mores around the fire pit with some friends. I smell like smoke and will have to shower before getting in the bed, but it was sure nice to be out there. Now I just need to find dry wood. Maybe I'll buy some of those insta-logs!

5- Wonderful weather. It started out a bit chilly, but sure did warm up well.

6- Did lunges and other leg/butt exercises around our circle tonight. I know I will be hurting in the morning, but it felt great!

Bubba-ism

2010-04-09T13:44:00.002-04:00

Picture it... Fort Knox... our house:

Me (to Bones): Go get a diaper so we can change your butt and go to bed.

{Bones takes off to his room and returns with two diapers}

Me: Take this one back please {handing him one diaper}. You only need one diaper. You only have one butt.

Bubba: He does have two butts.

Me: What?!?

Bubba: Yes, it has a crack in it. That makes two.

Yes, I am guilty

2010-04-07T22:37:00.003-04:00

Swiped from this blog where I lurk... but I do know her just never really comment :-)

Name ten things you are guilty of...

1- I am guilty of pressing snooze at least four times before I finally get up.

2- I am guilty of listening to my kids' music even when they aren't in the car (Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, etc).

3- I am guilty of trying to 'go green' but giving up on cloth diapering for Bones because I wasn't very proficient at it.

4- I am guilty of encouraging pizza night once every two weeks, not because the kids love it, but because it means a night that I don't have to cook.

5- I am guilty of putting tasks off that I struggle with because I don't like to fail.

6- I am guilty of sneaking candy (sugar free, of course) when I know it isn't a good time to eat it (before dinner, etc).

7- I am guilty of impulse purchases on iTunes when I hear a song I like on a TV show.

8- I am guilty of not always reading the complete instructions on things. I look for help when I can't go any further.

9- I am guilty of doing things that I tell my kids not to do. For example, I tell them not to eat the marshmallows out of the Lucky Charms, but to eat it all together -- but I would pick the marshmallows out and save them for last every time I ate a bowl!

10- I am guilty of wearing flip flops year round. Unless there is snow on the ground, I'm wearing them!

What are YOU guilty of?

Oh so Thankful

2010-04-07T21:36:00.003-04:00

Six years ago, my life changed for the better - again. I became the mama of *two* girls. Having been a mama to one, I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong.

How great is God? Great. Very, very, awesomely great.

I explained to F that when I had her, I imagined I was the Grinch at the end of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. My heart grew double its size. I didn't have to love G less to love F. And I *could* love another soul as much as I loved my first born. Wonderful. Overwhelming. I still don't understand how it is possible.

Just for those of you thinking of having more -- it keeps on growing. There are times when I feel like my heart will explode from loving my husband and kids so much. The tightness I feel when I think of Rob coming home by the end of the month and having a predictable schedule for the next couple of years; when G brings home a note from her teacher that says she's reading two grade levels above her peers; when F will hug and cry with a friend whose daddy is leaving for a few months (for school) because she understands and is compassionate; when Bubba takes Bones by the hand and calls him his 'buddy' because he understands how it feels to be the little brother; and when Bones gives me three kisses at night and tries to mimic me when we say nightly prayers -- that tightness lets me know everyday how blessed I am. There are definitely times when I have to remember to feel that blessing -- and not to countdown the minutes until bedtime. I no longer think that makes me a bad mom. That is part of being a mom. And I couldn't imagine life in any other way.

G, listening to my story to F about being the Grinch, asked how my heart could still fit in my body it is was now four times bigger than when I started. I'm not sure Big G, I'm not sure.

There is nothing better than being a mama. Thank you Faith for giving me faith.

One More...

2010-04-04T22:36:00.007-04:00

Okay... last post of the day (I think).

What happens when your four year old gets his hands on your camera? Some pretty ridiculously cute pictures. I fussed... because he wasn't supposed to get it, but then I laughed and laughed when I looked at what he took. And I showed him what he took -- and I let him know that he did a great job -- but to not get my camera without asking :-)

Friendship. Family. Nature. Home. Shadows. The best of things.

*I think he saw me taking pictures of some flowers blooming in our yard. So, he took this:

*G wanted a picture of her hand because it was covered with fingernail polish and glitter :-)

*Bub didn't take this one, his partner in crime from across the street did... note the Cinderella glove over the lens :-)

*home

*buddies

*stinkin' cute shadows

*being artistic?

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T21:55:00.004-04:00

Today was great. I love Easter. I love the feeling of renewal that I feel today, of all days. A day where I feel that things are the way they are supposed to be -- even if they aren't the way that I thought they would be. The bad things that I have done in my life are in the past. Today is fresh. I know I am forgiven -- and not because of anything that I have done or that I deserve it, because I don't. But I am thankful that I am.

Anyway... here's how our day went.

Bones was up early and the big three weren't far behind-- so we had a 'big' homemade breakfast. There really isn't much better than making a big ol' batch of homemade buttermilk biscuits and seeing them devoured by my kids. I guess it would be better if I could eat them, too, but they are not really low carb friendly :-)

Here are some pictures of the kids with their Easter morning loot --

*look at Bubba's eyes -- he was amazed that he got chocolate!

*movies were the theme for the Easter Bunny this year.

*Bones got a movie too (Curious George 2), but I just loved this picture of him checking out his jellybeans. Doesn't it just say "Hmmm... what are these things?!?"

Needless to say, we've watched two movies today and done a whole lot of nothing else. The cool thing about Coraline is that it came with 3D glasses and one side/version was in 3D! Pretty cool.

Tendencies

2010-04-04T21:44:00.006-04:00

I have tendencies. OCD-ish tendencies. I hoped that nobody else would pick them up... then today I saw this:

I guess Bubba did get some things from me. This is how I would have to have my jellybean bowl too (without the green... everybody knows I don't eat green candy -- luckily, everybody else in the house will so I don't have to toss/waste them).

**PS -- I should have done the Easter post first. That will be next :-)

Easter Egg Hunt

2010-04-04T09:37:00.003-04:00

I've neglected posting lately... Spring Break was fun and crazy and almost over. Here are pictures from the Easter Egg hunt on post. This was just over a week ago now... yes, I am behind at the pictures!

I'll probably be playing catch up today -- lots of pictures coming :-)

Bones passed up all of the eggs -- he didn't quite get that he was supposed to pick them up. He did see that his Bub went running -- so he did too! You can see Bones in the red jacket and just to his left is Bubba picking up eggs.

Bones, checking out his loot

Bubba and his egg-y loot (there was a 5 egg maximum per kid -- there were SO many kids!)

Girls with their eggs

Family with Easter Bunny -- Bones really didn't like him.

The Zoo

2010-03-31T14:36:00.003-04:00

Yesterday mom and dad went with us to the Louisville Zoo. It was GREAT! Here are some pictures from our fun day.

*Me and mine (look --> I'm actually in the picture!)

*Lunch at the Island Pavilion

*Bones and Dan-dee

*Bub and MaMaw getting a close up view in the aviary

*Komodo crew

G-ism

2010-03-29T23:19:00.003-04:00

Mom and Dad are here in Kentucky with me during most of the kids' Spring Break. It has been wonderful to have help -- and adult conversation!

Well, one of the things that my kids have done almost every night is -- put lotion on our feet and give foot massages. G is the resident foot masseuse, but F wanted to do something too... So she gave facials.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

Tonight rolls around and G asked if she could give me a foot-cial. Like a facial... but with your foot. Clever.

Promotion

2010-03-25T07:55:00.003-04:00

Sure was nice to see my hubby's name on the PROMOTION list this morning :-)

WooHoo!!

Congratulations, Rob -- I love you!

Wednesday's Thanks

2010-03-24T23:17:00.006-04:00

1- The weather has really become wonderful. We spent most of the afternoon outside. Wonderful.

2- Today was the kids' early day from school. That can either be good or bad. Today it was good :-)

3- Early dinner. I love not having to rush the kids through the night-time routine after dinner.

4- Got Sam a new potty seat today. He isn't ready for it, but I don't want him to be afraid of it when he is ready!

5- Finished Faith's DaisyHead Maisy costume today. Also did one for her best buddy down the street. They will be Daisy Head Twinkies on Friday :-)

PS -- something's up with my internet tonight. I had cute pictures... oh well.

Thankfuls

2010-03-22T22:39:00.003-04:00

1- Big Bang Theory tonight was HILARIOUS

2- Got a Bridal Shower invitation for Katelyn tonight. So excited -- though I can't go. But I'm super excited that her wedding is getting close!

3- Less than a month to go... and Rob will be home!

4- Tomorrow I'm having a pedicure. That's right... I'm going to get my nails did. {slight eye twitch for the poor grammar, but I just think you *have* to say it like that}

5- Bought New Moon on Saturday. I am such a Twi-mom. Don't judge!

Nightly Cry

2010-03-21T23:05:00.003-04:00

What can make a mama cry? Finding a work sheet from last week in G's notebook tonight. All about St Patrick's Day... The sheet?

If a Leprechaun granted me three wishes, I would wish for....

G's #1 answer?

My Daddy.

Soon, baby girl, soon.

Granddaddy Harris

2010-03-20T19:43:00.006-04:00

Granddaddy Harris died this afternoon. Daddy and Aunt Melody were with him. These are the times that I really wish I wasn't a part of the Army (yes, I know I am not technically the one *in* the army, but the Army life is my life).

I wish that I lived 30 minutes from home.

I wish more than anything to be able to hug Daddy right NOW.

But I can't. So, in an attempt to stay positive, here are the things I am thankful for on this sad day:

1- I had 31 years of knowing Charles Harris as my granddaddy.

2- (completely selfish) I am glad that I haven't seen Granddaddy's decline in health. Though he wasn't as 'hip' as usual the last time I saw him, he was happy because the whole family was with him at Christmas.

3- Grandaddy is no longer in any pain and is watching over us with Grandma! I think he's just been waiting -- ready to reunite with her for the past (almost) 2 years.

4- Though I can't have Daddy with me right now, he and mom are coming out to visit in a week. Spring Break for mom is the same as for my kids, so they're coming out :-)

5- My girls (at least) will remember one of their great-grandfathers. I'm not sure about Josh, but here's hoping. I never knew any of mine. Have fond memories of two great grandmothers, but none of my great grandfathers.

**Note: This is one of the only pictures I have of Granddaddy. This was June 2009. We were all sitting under his pecan trees -- eating homemade ice cream :-)

Night Sounds

2010-03-18T20:49:00.007-04:00

When the kids and I lived in NC in 2006/07 (during deployment #1), I went shopping with Analee and found a soothing sound machine that played ocean sounds. I put mine in a drawer somewhere and kind of forgot about it. Analee, however, used it in rKt's room since his birth. So, when I had Bones, I thought I'd bring it out for bedtime. It really did drown out the noise of the house and let him sleep better. I took it everywhere... when we traveled to NC last year, I took it. I always knew where it was.

Let me backtrack... we got them on clearance... for like $1. I really didn't expect it to last, but Analee had had such luck with hers. Hers only needed its batteries changed sparingly. So, when I started really relying on mine, I was disappointed that mine needed new batteries every two weeks. But I always had extras for the reason that I couldn't imagine having to get him to sleep without it.

Fast forward... our broke (about two months ago). Well, I thought that the batteries had gone bad, but when I opened her up, she had been corroded through the guts :-(

I was so desperate the night it broke that I set up my ipod speakers in Bones's room with nature sounds going. It worked, but anybody who knows me, knows that I need my ipod to go to sleep. So, I bought a new, fancier one. This one:

This one has six different sounds. It is wonderful. I would recommend it to anybody needing some white/relaxation noise.

I started Bones out with the ocean sounds, like the old one. Awesome. Close your eyes and you can almost feel the breeze coming off of the water. We've used all of the sounds now and I am shocked at the one that we love the most.

The Heartbeat! Because his room is next to mine, I hear the sounds too. And the first time I put it on, I kind of had a "Tell Tell Heart" moment in the middle of the night until I remembered what it was. Now, when I hear it, I can fall asleep SO fast! It really is comforting to hear another heartbeat. I guess it is why I like to sleep with my head on Rob's chest.

Pictures for Picture Day

2010-03-18T11:51:00.004-04:00

My pretties -- ready for pictures

My G:

My F:

My Bub:

Bones (yeah, I know he wasn't going to take pictures, but he wanted some pictures taken too):

Thanks

2010-03-17T22:15:00.003-04:00

1- The bathroom is fixed! At least one of them -- the new work order is in for the other one, but it is still functional. We can't use mine until tomorrow (they had to re-tile after redoing the fixtures), but I know it works!

2- Got everything to make Faith's costume for next Friday's Favorite Dr Seuss Character Day! I'm as excited as she is. Hopefully the "simple A-line dress" is really simple.

3- The weather is starting to get better. Though it didn't get quite warm enough for me to want to be outside all day today (high was 57degrees), tomorrow is looking better (expected high of 64degrees).

4- Kids' pictures tomorrow at school. They got new outfits and went to bed SO excited :-)

5- I was angry today. Angry. Doesn't happen much. But today, angry. Then my boys had a Kissing Mama contest. All went away :-) By the way -- I was not angry at my kids. I have some pent up anger with the army right now... so they really didn't know I was angry. We play this game that I pretend that I'm falling down and need kisses to come back to good health (imagine Tinkerbell needing Peter to clap to keep her alive in Hook). Josh just said I could use some kisses -- and whatever Josh does, Sam does! And I benefited from that today :-)

6- I know I'm a clutter bug (but I am getting better), but I am SO thankful that I am not a hoarder. Anybody else watch those shows? Scary... and sad... and makes me want to clean out my basement RIGHT NOW!

Thankfuls

2010-03-16T22:01:00.003-04:00

1- Busy Tuesday is done -- girl scouts, t-ball, FRG (since 1600hrs).. whew... I'm beat!

2- The maintenance guys are coming tomorrow to fix my bathroom! YAY... we'll be back to a two bathroom family soon :-)

3- Report cards came in today for the girls. The girls did awesome! Faith is already at grade level expectations (3rd quarter) and Grace is already exceeding grade level in some areas!

4- Rob's location now has internet service!! I had to get a new webcam for the new computer (the ones that I had were not compatible with Windows 7). I may get to see him before next month!

5- We are just over a month away from Rob's redeployment. I'm definitely ready!

6- We are official -- there are orders for Fort Leonard Wood in Rob's hands! With a report date of 15 July. WHAT?!? AAAAAHHHHHHH.... yikes... maybe this isn't a thankful... :-)

Thankfuls

2010-03-15T23:06:00.002-04:00

1- Feeling back to normal -- looks like the sickness is gone from here!

2- Got G some new shoes this afternoon. I took the big three to the store on Friday -- and G neglected to wear socks. So... she didn't get shoes. She was such a great helper that I made sure she got her shoes too.

3- Speaking of G's shoes... she liked the $55 shoes (of course), but I didn't. So... we compromised and she still got some she liked that I liked too! They weren't much less money, though. When did kids' shoes get expensive? Oh well, I am putting my faith in "you get what you pay for".

4- Got the big three each a new outfit -- school pictures are Thursday. Our kids take pictures twice a year. Once in the fall (where I make them wear their school pride t-shirts) and then once in the spring (where they get to dress up). They are all so excited!

5- Today is the 15th of the month. All of our bills are paid (current). It sure is nice to be financially stable. I can remember struggling -- not that there are times we don't seem to struggle now, but usually it is because we want something big. Hopefully we can keep up the trend of savings!

Sickness strikes again

2010-03-15T14:10:00.005-04:00

Oh My Gosh. I thought that I was going to die this weekend. So sick.

It started out innocently enough. Girls' night at my house. Two glasses of wine. All of a sudden, I'm not feeling so great. I think... hmmm... I may need to eat something. So, I eat a little bit. Doesn't help. Gets worse, if anything.

Violent. That's all I can say to describe it. Violent and Fast.

This has happened to me before. Rob and I call it the Schlotzsky's Syndrome. When Rob and I were (what? dating? did we date?) dating, we went to Schlotzsky's Deli and ate before going out drinking and dancing. After only 2-3 drinks (well under my tolerance level of sickness), I got violently sick... all over my poor husband's shoe... in a club. Yep, got thrown out. Sickness continued... in the alley nearby. There were moments that I remember and moments that are complete blanks. It lasted over 36 hours. Just like this time.

Miserable. My normal tricks (cool showers, Tylenol, water, etc) didn't work. I couldn't keep medicine down long enough for it to work. This time, fever was involved. High fever. Like, 103 fever. I was starting to get worried... well, in my brief moments of waking lucidness. little did I know, my phone was dead. So the girls that had been over, to witness the beginning of my horrid sick self, had been trying to check on me. Last night, Jessica came over to check on me. I had started to feel a bit better, thankfully.

Grace was a champ. And she will be rewarded for it. Yes, she will.

I got up this morning, got the kids on the bus and then went back to bed. I have basically slept since midnight Sunday morning. Miserable. Sam, luckily, slept until 9am then played in his room until 10! What a great bunch of kids I have.

So, I think I'm on the mend. I have eaten a piece of toast today and feel pretty good. Lots of liquids. Things are staying where they are supposed to now.

PS -- turns out two other families in my neighborhood had the same thing this weekend! I hope nobody else gets sick!