What to write about

I wish I had the problem of not knowing what to post about...unfortunatley my life is so crazy busy right now that I have a million things to post about but not the time.
Things like...

- My kids are on spring break this week and that is always an extra adventure!
- I just got back from spending 5 days with my sisters in Michigan (where it snowed...while my home was enjoying 90 degree weather I was FREEZING with barley above freezing weather).
- How much fun I had with my sister Jodi and Joy and my friend Stacy without any of my kids in MI!
- My husband survived with ALL four kids by himself while I was gone...he even did Sarah's hair!
- We are getting ready to leave the country in 5 weeks to move to Southeast Asia!
- My husband found out on Friday (while I was in MI) that he would have hernia surgery on this last Tuesday (remember, we leave in 5 weeks!)
- He had his surgery yesterday and has been blissfuly unaware of much going on around him due to pain pills that I am hoping he has leftovers of so I can take one when he is better! :)
- Our house is for sale (and people generally want to look at times that aren't so opportune but will happen because we REALLY want it to sell!)
- We are packing, sorting, buying plane tickets, saying good-bye's, and going to a million doctor and dentist appointments before we leave!
- Potty training my daughter
- Celebrating Kolby's birthday with a party that he invites literally EVERYONE he sees to. (Thankfully most people know to wait for mom's invitation and not just go off of him!) :)
- How much we love our family right now...especially as our time gets closer to leave and not see them. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law have 2 boys and one on the way...YEA...but we will miss them, so we want to spend as much time as we can with them! :)
- My cousin is getting married on Saturday after a whirlwind engagement (2 weeks!)

Believe it or not, my list of things could go on...but I think you get the idea!
I will have to remember this post in the event that I ever do have a brain block and need something to write about...this could supply me for months! :)

Happy Birthday Stacey!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACEY!

We have known each other for such a long time. We pretty much grew up together. My sister and her were best friends...I was the big sister! Then she married my husband's brother. In the last few years we have become much more than sister-in-law's...we are friends...very special friends. I cannot imagine being aThomas without her!

Here are some things I LOVE about Stacey...

- she is a very giving person (she is constantly doing things for others...it lets others know she loves them and is thinking about them,..so wonderful!)

- she is so much fun to be with (how else would we have come up with the tinationary...find out that everytime you eat jellybeans you drool...or laugh so much in public that we draw attention to ourselves!)

- her family is very important to her (she has 2 wonderful boys...another on the way...and she does such a good job taking care of them. My kids would often rather be with her than with me!)

- she is a good cook (we all know Jon likes her cooking better,right?)

- she is a great listener (we have had many talks...as many as 14 times on the phone in one day...although that was a little extreme...stayed out talking until the middle of the night...we never run out of things to talk about and she is always ready to listen!)

- her relationship with the Lord is obvious (it is neat to look back over the years and see how much the Lord means to her. To listen to her as she talks about what God is teaching her and what she is learning. She is a great encouragement in that way!)

- she is a HUGE encourager (what else can I say?)

My list could honestly go on and on. But overall, I just want to tell you Stacey that I love you. You are a wonderful sister and friend to me. God has blessed me with your friendship and love. I can't really even imagine what it is going to be like without you in my life to have those daily talks, shopping trips, crazy family holdiays, and the special times we share. I will miss you when we leave for overseas in a few weeks...but I will always Love you, I will always be proud of you, and I will always count you as more than just a sister-in-law. ( I have to stop now becuase I am starting to cry...)

Happy Birthday! :)

A cell phone...in the mind of a 7-year-old!

I overheard this one-sided conversation between my oldest son, who was on the cell phone and my next son who was at home:

Andrew: Kaleb, want to hear a secret?
Hold the phone real close to your ear, are you listening?
(at this point I could just imagine him burping really loud...we were at Target)

Then I hear this: HHHHHHHHHHHHH

Andrew: Did you feel that Kaleb?
I will do it again, HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Can you feel it? I am breathing hard! Can you feel my breath?

Who knows what cell phones might do in the future...smells...feel breathing...the sky is the limit...at least in a 7-year-olds mind! :)

I'm Weird?

Stacey tagged me to do this fun...weird thing!

THE RULES: Each person tagged must state 6 weird things about themselves. Next, those who are tagged are to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 more people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1. I drink Diet Coke almost every morning when I get up...it is my coffee!

2. I didn't like coffee. I have friends who LOVE it. We often went to Starbucks. I would say to the Starbucks employee, " I don't really like coffee, what do you suggest?" Yes, I got many strange looks. I decided I wanted to like coffee (hopefully to fit in better at Starbucks). So then, I asked the employee's, "I am trying to learn to like coffee, what would you suggest?" Yes, even more strange looks.
Now, I am a pro (as long as I am ordering the one thing that is my favorite). I walk in and say, "Iced, Tall, Nonfat, No whip, White Mocha!" It has taken me awhile but I now like coffee...(although, I will probably still take a Diet Coke over it any day!) :)

3. I get nervous after I speak (rather than the normal...before!)

4. If the bed isn't made when I go to bed...I must make it first, before I will get into it.
I like to sleep in it with the sheet up over the blankets, head OUT! My husband likes to sleep with the blankets all jumbled and his head UNDER! Yea, makes for some interesting nights!

5. I love to read, it is my way to keep my sanity sometimes. Here is why that is weird...where I go to read...
- IN the bathroom, door closed, toilet seat DOWN. (They still find me here, but can't get to me!)
- IN the van. not running. sitting in the driveway. ALONE. (I have only done this when my husband is home...and even then it took them quite awhile to find me!) :)
- IN the guest room. door shut. (it is normally shut, so if I can get in there without anyone seeing me I am good for about 5 minutes at least!)

6. I don't mind washing the laundry, folding the laundry (which is good with 6 of us to keep up with!), but when it comes to putting it away?! I would rather clean the bathroom (which we already know it NOT fun with 3 small boys!). I don't know...Weird?

Now, I tag, You, you , and You! Try it, it was alot of fun! :)

Living in the Bathroom

Have you ever felt like you lived in the bathroom...really just spent your entire day in there?

I have come up with one reason for everyone to do that at some point in their life (not because they want to, but they don't have much of a choice) and 2 more reasons moms do!

Reason #1 (for everyone) - When you are sick. You don't have much choice!But it will go away eventually and life will return to whatever kind of normal you live.

Reason #2 (this is a mom one) - When you are pregnant (no I am not, so don't get any ideas). It is amazing how such a little person can push so much on your bladder that you are literally going ALL DAY LONG..and all night too! I think that was one of my favorite things after having a baby (besides the baby itself of course) was that I would once again have control of my bladder (well except when I laugh really hard or sometimes when I sneeze...goodness, am I turning into my mother?)

Reason #3 (also for moms) - POTTY TRAINING! Already I have made it through 3 boys (and can I just say here that cleaning their bathroom has got to be the WORST job in the whole house. I honestly don't think they know they are suppose to hit the water...and the smell that seems to be a permamnat fixture in there...oh the joys of being a mom to three boys!).

So, now it is my daughter's turn. We have been trying for a little while now but she hasn't been too interested. It all changed yesterday when she told me she had to go... we ran into the bathroom..and she went! Then she did it again...and again! IT HAS STARTED! THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF MORE-THAN-7-YEARS-WITH-KIDS-IN-DIAPERS! Okay, maybe I am getting a little bit ahead of myself...obviously she isn't potty trained yet, but at least she is training!

But her excited to go potty means spending much of the morning in the bathroom. In fact, about 2 of the 4 hours she was up this morning was spent in the bathroom. This could be in large part to the fact that she had panties on (princess panties...and yes. it matters!) and I did not want to find little puddles on my furniture, carpet, beds, etc. Therefore, about every 5-10 minutes (this might seem extreme, but she drinks a TON and if I waited even a minute or two over she was already wet!) I asked her (very excitedly) if she needed to go potty...she would jump up and we "ran" to the bathroom to go potty. From there we did everything from singing to playing piggy's with her toes to reading books to playing peek-a-boo to you name it, we did it to get her to stay on the potty long enough to go! Fortunately, each time she was on the potty she went quicker than the time before!

So, as happy as I am that she is going, that she is in panties (she only wet about 3 times this morning which is GREAT!), I am SO thankful to have put her in a pull-up and down for a nap. Now maybe I can go more than 5 minutes without looking at a toilet and singing... :)

Thank you, your welcome...Please?

Please and Thank...words that must be apart of my kids vocabulary on a regular basis! Sometimes I feel like a broken record constantly reminding my kids to say these important 3 words!

After having 3 boys and now having a girl I would have thought I had it figured out on how to get them to say these words. Nope. Not with Sarah.

She does say Thank you...and...Your Welcome. Here is a typical conversation with her regarding these words:

Me: Here is your milk Sarah (oh that is another thing...she does NOT like water or juice or anything but milk. So, we give her a cup of 3/4 water and 1/4 milk! She likes it and reminds us to put the water in if we forget! The doctor said to do it, that way she gets her water and milk! Sounds gross...but she likes it!)
Sarah: Thank you mommy
Me: You're Welcome Sarah
Sarah: You're welcome...you're welcome...you're welcome...mommy, say you're welcome.

So, she definitely has you're welcome down.
She is also great at reminding others to say Thank You!
For example:
She is currently filling my lap with all kinds of things (cards, books, polly pockets, necklaces, etc). With each item she hands me she says, "Say Thank you mommy". I say thank you, she says you're welcome, you're welcome, you're welcome...(and it keeps going from there).

It is good to know that she can be greatful for what she has.
However, getting her to say please...that is another story!
SHE. WILL. NOT. No matter what we do (believe me, we have tried many different things).
She is very good. She is so cute. She has her own mind!

Any suggestions?? ;)

I Would Have...

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck

(written after she found out she was dying from cancer)

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have never insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day becuase my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away the nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more 'I love you's" more "I'm sorry's".

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it...live it and never give it back.

STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you , who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherich the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally.

I have been thinking lately about how quickly life goes by, how important it is to enjoy the little things in life. To take time to stop and "smell the roses".

I don't know that I would ever insist the car windows be rolled up becuase my hair has just been teased (that just isn't my style...). But I do want to have fun and think about the life the Lord has given me and appreicate each little thing, not get so wrapped up on what needs to be done!

He's at it again!

This morning, my oldest son had another attack of organization-have-to's!
(remember the refrigerator?)
This morning (before school) it was the snack cupboard (which is generally a mess because the kids are the ones in there to get snacks...) that got to be to much for him!
He came out to get breakfast, opened the cupboard shook his head and began organizing it!

It is now all nice and neat, everything has a place!
Maybe I should think about hiring him out to others...who cares if things aren't in a place you cannot find...it looks great! :)

Please call me...

I found this on a blog Stacey did and I thought it was interesting!

Hmmm, I wonder how it comes up with your title? Does it fit me? :)

Let me know what you should be called! :)

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Imperial Majesty Tina the Extemporaneous of Hardy St Thomas Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

The liging room and other cute things

All kids have funny things that they say or do...here are a few of my kids favorites...

Kolby: When we put him to bed he wants us to scratch his back...and his tummy...and his legs...and his cheeks...nose...chin...neck...and he won't go to sleep until we do it. Weird! :)
Last year for about 6 months he changed his identity to Elmo! When asked what his name was he would tell you ELMO. When he saw ELMO on TV or at the store he would run to it and say, 'That is Me!" :) Now he has NO memory of ever being Elmo and looks at us like we the weird ones when we mention it! :)

Sarah: She likes to go to the "LIGING ROOM" (living room).
She will NOT drink water...so we give her 3/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of milk...every time! That way she is getting water and milk. Does she know we do this? You betcha...she remnds us to put water in the cup if we forget! Weird! :)

Kaleb: He once had an imaginary family that lived in Dallas. He had names for all of them, would tell me what they had for dinner the night before and even what the weather was like!
This went on for about 5 months. One day he was in trouble from me and said, "Well, my mom in Dallas says...". That was where I drew the line to his imagination...there is just no way I can compete with an imaginary mom! :)

Andrew: My favorite for him still has to be wanting to organize my fridge! WHY?!
Also, one time I went away for a weekend when we was 2. When I came back he had my pillowcase (Jon gave it to him because he missed me)...he still has it today. It no longer goes places with us, but it is always with him in bed or if he gets hurt.

Sometimes I can get so frustrated with my children...but then I think about all the fun crazy things that they say and do and I realize how truly blessed our family is to have each one of them! :)

Who needs Pajama's?

My daughter continues to amaze us!
Last night I had a meeting at church. My husband stayed home to put the kids to bed and stuff and seal Christmas Cards/Pictures ( I had already signed all 430 of them!).
I walked in the front door and see Sarah's bedding all on the floor in front of the washer and my first questions was did she get sick?
My husband starts laughing and tells me this story...

He put the kids to bed...they all went to sleep pretty fast...even Sarah (who is known to talk for up to 2 hours before going to sleep...not cry, just talk and play on her bed!)...OR SO HE THOUGHT! About an hour or so after they were all "asleep" he heard something crinkling. He looked around but couldn't figure out what it was. He heard it again a few minutes later. He got up, looked down the hall and there stood Sarah...a handul of wet wipes (okay like half the container acutally)...COMPLETLEY NAKED! She had undressed herself, diaper and all and somehow gotten her bed all wet (do I need to expound on that at all?), decided to get into the wetwipes to clean it up. So, the cards went on hold while he got Sarah dressed...the bed dried off and changed...the wet wipes put away...and a little girl who was WIDE awake...back in bed!

Wow! I don't think our boys ever did that one...there are surprises at every corner! :)
At least she was trying to clean it up...

Does a Cat have 9 lives?

This morning before I left to take the kids to school I started the van to get it warmed up (after all it is a FREEZING 40 something outside...maybe even 30 something...FREEZING). The first time I went out I heard what I thought were kids yelling, and figured mine were probably in the house doing it...nothing too new, right?

The second time I came out with my daughter (whom I woke up, grabbed her milk cup and put her in the van with her eyes barely open and a warm blanket...because did I mention it is COLD here?!) I heard the sound again. This time it sounded more like a cat. I looked around...there it was...headed for my front door that was WIDE open! I ran at the cat yelling at the boys inside the house to shut the door and not let the cat in! I made it to the door before the cat and I thought it would run away...it didn't. It just stood there meowing at me!

I told the kids get in the van, but don't let the cat in the house or the van...
"Why mom? It could be cold..." JUST DON"T!!!

#1 and #3 got in the van (oh, i had to carry #3 to the van because he couldn't find his shoes and it was too cold to walk on our FREEZING cement!) #2 didn't come out...I ran in to ask him what he was doing and we was literally CRAMMING the rest of his waffle in his mouth (I know, it should have been gone already but we were running late and the remainder of breakfast was suppose to be eaten in the car). I told him to hurry and get out the door, he started freaking out because the cat would smell his food and get him! (By this time the cat had wandered away from our front door...not very far, but at least we could open the door!). I calmly told him the cat will leave him alone, but that he will be LATE for school if he doesn't GET. IN. THE. VAN!

Finally, we are all in...I make sure the cat is not behind me when I back up and off we go. Last we saw of the cat it was on its way to our neighbors yard!

Okay, fast forward 15 minutes...home from school...

A truck pulls up on in front of our house as I am turning on our street...hmmm, what for I wonder?
I watch him get out and go over to the side of our busy road...and see him pick up a tail! I think, Yuck. Then, as I get the kids out of the van I seen him Pick this tail up and it is attached to that CAT!!!!

I tell my two younger kids what happened...that the cat got run over.
Kolby says to me with a big smile, " So, now we don't have to worry about him coming in our house, do we?" I say, "Right Kolby...right."

Once we got inside he came to me and said, "That cat doesn't really have 9 lives does it mom? It won't come back to life, right? It can only die once, right mom?"

"Yes, Kolby, you are safe from the cat."

13 Adventures before lunch time

Thirteen Things about my adventures just TODAY!1. My two oldest boys are BOTH home sick from school2. That means I have 4 kids at home.3. # 3 kid feels GREAT4. #4 kid is on an anitbiotic for an ear infection so a little cranky but not too bad5. #1kid had a fever yesterday so can't go to school today6. and #2 kid...you sure wouldn't know he spent the whole night over the toilet! 7. Needless to say no one is really sick anymore...just too sick to go to school... and they are BORED! 8. #2 kid has had on my roller blades (a million sizes to big for him)...in the house...and ran into the time out chair and fell flat on his bottom...with a smile! 9. I found them outside in the sandbox...with the hose...ON...building tunnels! (After serious discussion...I was trying not to laugh...I found out it was #1's idea but #2 did the foot work!)10. When #1 kid has been lying on the floor watching TV #3 thinks it is fun to run and jump on him becuase today he has the advantage...so why not?!11. Then there is yelling...screaming...12. Whoever said it is girls that scream? Mine Scream and it drives me crazy!13. I think I need a sick day tomorrow...or at least nap time today... Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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SURPRISE!!!

A few weeks ago a friend of mine asked if I would like to go to a new place opening called Dinner My Way. It is one of those places where they have eveything set out for you to make a main dish. All the ingredients are there, you mix it all together, put it in a bag, and take it home to freeze it until you are ready to eat it! She had a coupon to go try it for free and so I thought, why not...it would be fun! It was for this last Thursday when my mom was also in town so I asked if she wanted to go...it would be a fun "girls night out"! :)

On Wednesday my friend called with the idea that since we already have our husbands watching our kids, maybe we should go out after for ice cream or Starbuck's or something to celebrate my birthday. I thought it sounded like fun, so long as my mom wanted to.

Okay, Thursday (OCT 19) arrived. My parents were on their way here from about 4 hours away...my mom had been really sick the whole week and I wasn't sure she would really want to go to a place we would be making food. It is one thing to have my kids throw up somewhere public...but the thought of my mom doing it was too much for me to imagine! :)
She was adament that she would be just fine and she could go...I thought how great of her to want to spend time with me and my friend! :)
So at 6:30 off we went.

The place was really fun...we made a main course in literally 10 minutes.
Which left us alot of time to go out for my birthday (which was really on Sat, the 21st). My friend (Connie) is currently on weight watchers (and doing AMAZINGLY WELL I might add), so I figured we would go somewhere like Starbucks or something where she could still get something. So, when she mentioned The Cheesecake Factory I was somewhat surprised. She assured me there was a low fat something or other that she could eat (which, why would you go there if you aren't going to have something totally fattening...hence, why she is doing good on her diet, and I, well...you get the idea). I thought...okay, that is fun, lets go.

My mom and I drove seperate from Connie..she got there a minute before us and I saw her go in. I thought...hmmm, she probably has to go to the bathroom (I mean what else could it be!). She came back out to meet us as we were walking in. We got up to the hostess where she asked us to hold on.
Here is how the conversation went from there...(Are you ready for this???)

Hostess: "Do you know where they are sitting?"
Connie: (With uncertainty in her voice) "WHO?
Hostess: "You are here for the surprise party, right???
Connie: "Oh...(turns to look at me)...SURPRISE?!

Yes, until this moment...I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS A SURPRISE FOR ME!
They almost pulled it off! I think that hostess felt bad...especially when Connie had gone in there (nor for the bathroom like I thought) to tell them I was there and could they just seat us with the rest of the group when we came in.

Anyway...we went out onto the patio where my sister-in-law had planned a surprise party for my birthday with all of my dear friends! There were a dozen red roses (my favorite), a scrap book with pages from each of them (which some of you still need to get done by the way...), diet coke (which is more important that the cheesecake), and CHEESECAKE! It was wonderful to see all my friends and know how much they love me and were willing to get together. We laughed so much (you wouldn't belive some of the things we talked about! Let me put it this way...some bodily fluids/functions, etc were mentioned...it is good we were on the patio away from everyone else!!).

Thank you to each of you who came and made my birthday so special...to my sisters who wish they could have been here, and to Stacey for arrainging the whole thing for me. That was so sweet and something I will never forget and always be thankful for. Especailly as this was my last birthday for a VERY LONG TIME in the states around family and friends. Turning 28 really wasn't such a bad thing...it was really fun, thanks to all of you!

Here are some pictures that were taken during that "SURPRISE". :)

Okay... I cannot get the pictures to post, i will try it on a seperate post!

Update: Tried to post the pictures...still can't get it to work. So just imagine all of us having so much fun...laughing, eating cheesecake (well all but one of us who had strawberries...that actually I will possibly order next time because they came with DARK chocolate to dip them in!), and laughing some more! It really was a great time (have I mentioned that before...?)

UPDATE #2: Check out Stacey's blog...she has pictures! :)

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about FALL BREAK 1. It is nice to let the kids sleep in past 6:30 (and for the first time ever they really are! Before they started school they were always up by 6, now they think it is great to sleep in!) 2. We get to spend extra time reading. 3. Bedtimes don't matter quite so much! 4. Special plans with familyand friends during the days. 5. It is only ONE WEEK LONG (YEA!)!! 6. Playing outside in our 80 degree weather 7. More time to be together and subsequently more time to argue (my kids...not me) 8. Not having to leave the house at 7:15 every morning (often having to wake my daughter up to go)... 9. ...or wake up the little ones from naps to pick them up at 2! 10. Makes me remember what it was like to have 4 kids at home every day all day long... 11. I LOVE having my kids at home (that is why I am a stay at home mom), but it is amazing how much more I can get done with just 2 of them! 12. My oldest two are here to help entertain my younger two! 13. All the laughter and silliness that comes with 4 kids home all day! Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

A Four Word Meme

I was tagged by Stacey to do another meme (what does meme mean exactly anyway...?)

She gave me four words and I am suppose to write about the first thing that comes to mind.
Here goes...

Pizza - I used to like it before I got pregnant with my first son and was always ready to eat it. During all 4 of my pregnancies I very much DISLIKED it. Now, pizza is okay sometimes, but I could easily go for something else! My husband and kids really hate that my like for it never came back!

Friendship - Wow, I think of alot of my friendships I have had over the years since I was in Kindergarten (I know a long time ago, but I remember them!) with different people. Some not so good, most of them wonderful! Each of them have taught me something. I am so thankful that the Lord created friendship and for the wonderful friends he has given me. I have friends to laugh with, cry with, be silly with, share my kid woes with, even go to the movies or out to coffee with...thank you to all my dear friends!

Daisy - My wedding...I had red roses and daises. I carried 3 red roses in my bouquet (my husband and I have a special message...123 means I love you).
My girls carried 1 yellow rose with daisies in their hair and my sister (maid of honor) carried yellow roses and daisies! Ahhhhhh...... :)

Grace - Of course I first think of the Amazing Grace that God shows us.
But I also think of my Great Grandma Grace. She lived with us for awhile when I was growing up. She was born in 1906 and at one point played the piano for Dwight L Moody and his revivals! She died on my 16th birthday. :(

Well, there we go. If you would like to participate in this meme, please feel free to do so! It was fun! :)

Andrew & Kaleb questionare

Answers given by Andrew, age 6 1/2

1. Something I do well: Riding bikes, art

2. Something I'd like to improve on: swimming

3. My favorite food: macaroni & cheese and hotdogs...together

4. Three words that best describe me: I like soccer, happy, helper

5. My happiest moment: playing army on bikes with big kids...it was lots of fun

6. The most important thing in my life now: friends (especially Isaac)

7. Then to the moms - Is there anything that surprised you?
I was surprised at #2, swimming...I thought he hated swimming! Last summer when we had him and his brother in swimming lessons the first week they cried (screamed is more like it) EVERY day! So, that was good to hear! :)

Answers given by Kaleb, age 5

1. Something I do well: riding bikes, basketball (I don't think he has ever played basketball!)

2. Something I'd like to improve on: drawing, my numbers at school

3. My favorite food: man, there are so many...here are some...
chicken, rice, and that is all. (I thought there would be alot more!)

4. Three words that best describe me: funny (as he laughs), happy, goofy (do we see a pattern here?)

5. My happiest moment: GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!!!

6. The most important thing in my life now: my teacher is important, Mrs. Even!

7. Then to the moms - Is there anything that surprised you?
#3 did...he loves all foods and he eats it all like crazy...chicken and rice? I thought it was lettuce and carrots! :) Also, he has had kind of a rough start at school this year, so it was good to hear him say #7!

This was fun to hear them come up with their answers...Andrew thought this was great and wanted more questions, Kaleb couldn't believe the questions kept coming and wanted to know when we would be DONE!

I don't know who else to tag, but check out my my sister-in-law and nephew
Stacey and Josh at Just Me and My Guys.

Where are your eyes?

Don't all moms have eyes in the back of their head?
I remember looking for my mom's when I was little...I mean staring at the back of her head trying to figure out where those eyes were that always knew what I was doing when she wasn't looking!
Now I know where those eyes are...they are mommy eyes...

I didn't realize my kids believed me until a few weeks ago when this happened...

I was sitting on the floor writting some thank you notes and #1 kid was on the couch behind me. All of a sudden I felt this blowing sensation on the back of my head!
I couldn't figure out what it was...I kind of shook my head and didn't think about it. Until, it happened again a few minutes later. I realized Andrew was BLOWING on the BACK OF MY HEAD! I asked him to stop, and he did...for a few seconds and then he would start up again.
Finally I asked him what he was doing and he told me he was looking for the eyes in the back of my head...just where were they he wanted to know...

And when this happened...

I was fixing dinner the last week and there was an open pack of powdered donuts on the counter. I had just finished telling #2 kid he could not have any more grapes before supper...but I guess he didn't think that would apply to donuts. So, while my back was turned he grabbed one and ran off to eat it.
My dad happend to be here visiting and saw him do it...let me know and I called him back into the kitchen.
I made him spit it out, rinse his mouth out, no donuts the next morning...the whole consequence thing.
A few minutes later he came back into the kitchen and said, "Wow mom, you really do have eyes in the back of your head, don't you?".

They ask me if they will ever have eyes in the back of their heads...and I tell them no, only mommies have them...and sometimes grandmas and aunts.
Hey, if it keeps them on their toes and prevents them from doing something they probably shouldn't because I might "see" them, it works for me!! :)

Fish, Mice, and other Yucky Things

I am not a bug person...never have been, don't really ever see myself becoming one...even with 3 boys!
I have a history in my family of being afraid of bugs...especially the big ones that are really ugly, generally live in the sewer, and CRUNCH when stepped on! Instead of killing them, I get one of those red plastic cups and put it over it for my husband to take care of when he gets home!
I know, silly, but hey...I HATE the CRUNCH! I have even gone as far as taping the red cups to the floor in case the roach was strong enough to move the cup!!

Okay, that said, now we all know my HATE of roaches.
Well, we have discovered some new types of things in our house...all to do with animals...all in places I never would have expected them! They also are interesting stories...

We returned home the end of June from a 5 month trip. Right after we left our home in February a couple came and stayed in our house for 1 week. We were happy to let them use our house and let it get some use while we were away. Well, use our house they did...including the oven.
The night we came home my sister-in-law and her family came over to welcome us home and brought dinner. We turned the oven on to cook some delicious looking enchilada's. Upon opening the oven we discovered this...

Upon closer inspection with our eyes and noses, we discovered it was FISH!!!! 5 months before, when the couple stayed at our house, they had cooked fish and forgot it in our oven! Needless to say the whole pan went in the trash...outside (oh, and we went out to eat)!! :) YUCK!

Next animal... Our dryer has not been drying clothes very quickly lately (meaning it was taking like 90 minutes to dry one small load...since I need to do a minimum of 1 load if not 2 a day and can only do it at night from 9pm to 9am, this was a problem! Oh, I can do it at that time because we are on some plan that makes it cheaper that way.) Anyway, last week my husband decided to take the dryer apart to see if he could fix it...being an airplane mechanic I had the utmost confidence he could take care of the problem. As he was taking it apart he came to a point where he had to stop. He made me come look at it (as if I would know the problem!). I didn't see a shorted wire or anything mechanical, instead I saw something with a tail and whiskers! Once again, upon further inspection we discovered this...

You got it...A MOUSE!! It somehow crawled up the back almost to the top and basically got fried! A MOUSE!! IN MY HOUSE!! (Now I sound like one of those beginner books my 1st grader is reading...) YUCK!

Okay, so we have a majorly decayed fish, a fried mouse, crunchy roaches...I think God is preparing me for the mission field! Just give me a whole case of red SOLO cups and some Duct tape and I think I might survive...

First Haircut

Sarah got her first hair cut today.
Really, it was just a trim and to even it up.
It is amazing how much older my little girl looks!
Here are some pics...

Before: aren't those always the prettiest pictures?

She was so good during it...she just sat there! (Could it be the goldfish and milk I bribed her with...?)

"I am going to look beautiful!"

"The pain you must go through to look good..."

The finished product...what a cutie pie...so grown up!