leg warmers to the beach

Donna got Barbie dolls and clothes for Christmas. She has been changing the clothes non-stop the last couple days. Some of them she needs help on, and it is so funny. She walks in to a room where Adam and I are talking, she walks up to ADAM and asks for help. haha he looks at me, then back at Donna and the doll, then back to me waiting for me to bail him out. Which I don't do. hehe It's so cute. However I did bail him out this last time. Donna had the cuties little swim suit with matching mini skirt picked out. It in is orange, yellow, and white. Then she hands me a pair of pink and purple leg warmers to add to it. I stop, look at her and she throws her head back and laughs(yes, her face is toward the cieling) about how funny it is. I said "are you sure she wants leg warmers at the beach?" She says "she wants to keep her legs dry."

"no one ever gives me a chance to learned it"

Today, I was getting ready to wipe the table after lunch. Chloe asked me if she could do it, I hand it over to her. When she was done, she proudly told me she was done. I look at the clean table and brag "I'm so proud of you Chloe! I didn't know you were old enough to do that all by yourself!"(after all, when Alex and Donna are home she doesn't get a chance to do it, and she never wants to during the day) She looks at me and says, "of course you didn't, No one ever gived me a chance to learned it before! You really need to let me learned more things."

I guess she is correct, I don't always let her do that stuff. I guess I will have to start. However I think we have passed the vacuum torch off to Ethan already. He LOVES it. He gets his sisters little Barbie Bissell and away he goes. When it runs out of power, he brings it back and gets the other one. Possible the best Christmas gifts we have ever gotten!!


Today I feel blessed to have gotten so much done, and to have energy to do it. I also feel blessed that I am teaching my kids (just starting sadly) to help me with house work. Ethan just walked up to me and begged "pease bacuum". because I took it away to pull the balloon string out of it.

School early outs

Why do some schools (ours) wait so late to announce they are letting kids out? If you are letting th ekids out at 12:30, why do you wait untill after 12:00 to let parents know??? Why is it half of the county is lettin gout at noon, and th eother half sits waiting to hear so we can jump to get our kids? However, they never let out at the same time as the rest of the schools, so we can't assume the time. We have to sit here and wait...

Sorry for the rant. I just need to be getting work done, but with out my cell phone and the kids watching tv, I have to wait for an email or keep watching the news channel website.

Pop-tart

So, is it bad when your 1-year-old can say pop tart? haha Today Chloe wanted a pap tart for breakfast. Ethan had one also, and when it was gone, he looked at me and said "more pop tart" and nodded his head. How can a mom refuse such a sweet thing??

I also learned something this week. Pop tart brand pop tarts are messier than WalMart brand. They are softer, and the filling is far softer. So you end up with more on your hands and face when you are one. I also learned that if you get the half vanilla and half chocolate ones and give the vanilla side to the one year old, you don't see as much mess, but as soon as they get the chocolate side they turn brown.

Ethan also got to play with helium balloons for the first time this week. He LOVES them! He will sing and cheer, and when he lets go and it floats away, he will fall over looking up so hard. As soon as you hand him the string, he grins and starts to giggle. ahhhh the simple things in life. We have now had these for 4 days and he is just as excited to see them today as he was saturday.


Today I am thankful for the space heater under my desk. It was in the 50's yesterday, but today we have a nasty cold wind whipping through this room. I feel blessed to have a home to stay warm in. I also feel very blessed to have had the nice weather yesterday to enjoy before the cold and storms sweep back in.

good morning!

I went to bed later than I wanted, but crashed hard when I did. I woke up this morning with energy and in a great mood. I even woke up an hour early! I dozed for about 20 minutes, then got up. Donna, and Ethan got up about 15 minutes early (just the way I love!). I had to wake Alex, but Chloe came down on her own shortly after. Alex was a little grumpy, but not to bad and we just had an easy morning. Carla called and told me I wouldn't have her boys today, so we took Donna and Alex to school. I brought Donna's poster (covered in beads that fell off easily)to her class for her, then back to the van. Chloe asked if we could have breakfast at McDonalds. I thought about it, and thought it would be very fun to do.

I used to take Alex and Donna out once a week 5 years ago, but I haven't really done that with Chloe and Ethan. They were sooooo good!!! We ended up just sitting there "fixing" our food, talking and enjoying eachother for over an hour! It was wonderful!!!! I really do have great kids and needed this so badly! I just smileing thinking about our special time together. We never do this stuff anymore because we just don't have the money, but we will never have these early years back again. I only have one more year with Chloe before she starts school. I need to make the most of every day!!

Today I feel extra blessed to be a mom. I have been feeling stress lately from everything. Last night, I spent some time putting things in perspective. I am so very blessed, I just don't always see them. I started this blog to keep our family up to date with our family a bit more, but also to help me remember my blessings. Along the way I think I have forgotten how important it is to remember all of our blessings! I have a home, and family, a life that many people in other countries would literaly die for... I have nothing to be unhappy about! God is sooooo good!

In the mood....

So I woke up today and instantly started thinking about what to deep clean. Our house needs it sooo badly, but I never "get around" to it. So having that feeling was awsome. I decided what to do, and sat up....then I hear the little feet. ugggh I can't get up before them no matter how early I get up! So, I get to medicate Donna, help Chloe change clothes(she always "needs" help now)Came in here to check my e-mail, then the girls wake Ethan up, so I have to get him up, change him, feed them all... then I will have lost my chance at the clothes I was going to go through... A perfect reminder why my house has so much clutter...

Ok, well I am off to see if there is a small chance at saving some of my work time (like while they eat maybe) and make sure they don't wake daddy and Alex also. Have a great day everyone!!!

Oh, I'm thankful for getting in the mood to clean, and for a very happy boy when he gets woke up all the time!! (unlike daddy and Alex)

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

It is soooo cold! The last time it got this cold was Christmas day 2000. I can't wait for the warm up this weekend. Looks like it may be shot lived, but it is supposed to hit 30 degrees!!!


Ethan actually likes his gloves, not for a long time, but for 10+ minutes at a time. He also LOVES shoes! It is crazy how much he loves them. We take them off of him, and he will hug them and just carry them around with him for a while. His are small now, so I have been letting him wear slippers. (sorry kido, they are pink Dora slippers that if we ever take a pic of him in them he will hate me for it) He loves to lean over and feel Dora's hair when he is wearing them. hehe

I am very thankful for the new coat I got from my parents for Christmas!! It came with matching gloves and hat, I almost cried when Ethan lost of of the gloves yesterday. Thankfully, I found it back today.

Well, I better get some work done. Ethan is in his highchair eating, Reed is quietly playing (gotta be making a mess he is so quiet) and everyone else is at school.

I was thinking yesterday, Chloe will be in pre-k next year, then she is off to school. It will be so strange only having one child at home. I am really looking forward to being able to get some house work done. I know it is still a ways off, but I didn't know I would ever be so excited to have the kids in school. I always thought I would be sad to have them off to school.

**EDIT**
I just went back and read my Jan 2 post. Oh how funny it is that then I was missing Donna so much on her first day back to school, and today I'm looking forward to the day all the kids are in school. It must all have to do with the day. Oh, and I haven't fully found my house back, so now I'm a bit depressed.

I am feeling very blessed by my children today! God has given me so many blessings, I really need to open my eyes to that more and not get so frustrated with the negatives.

Cell Phones

I think Cell phones are the most annoying "can't live without" thing I have. Some days I'm so tired of non-stop calls, then days like today...

I was doing dishes yesterday when Ethan walked in the room. I looked in his arms and he had my cell phone in one hand, and his sister's drink in the other. I quickly grabbed my phone so that he didn't toss it in the water... to late. He had already washed it for me. Such a sweet little helper! I thought it was ok, but about 20 minutes later it started having a mind of it's own. Now it starts to power on, and gets stuck on that screen. Good thing I hadn't gotten a new one yet!! I do however have to get my new one in the next couple weeks, so it could have been far worse timing. I also think it will be good for me to get away from the phone for a while. I just have to get used to not having it on me now. To think, 3 years ago, I had only had it a few weeks and didn't know why Adam thought I needed one.

Interview

My interview is in less than an hour.

God, please make your will known to me and to those in on this process. Help me to speak the truth in love if needed tonight, and not to let my emotions get in the way. Lord give me a clean heart for you. Help me to remember that your will is #1, and that my feelings and pride are not the top priority.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

*I don't have much time, so I will try to come back and add to this later*

We don't have much money this year, and we are also trying to get rid of clutter in our lives. So Adam said he didn't want things for his birthday, but rather experiances. I found an awsome card for him... but it was $6 for a sheet of paper. So, I thought I would blog to the Love of my life as a non-clutter gift.

Adam, you are so perfect for me. When we met, it would have taken an act of congress to make me laugh when I was upset. Now you do that on a regular all the time. Just being near you makes me feel better. Thinking of you right now, brings a smile to my face. You know just what I need to cheer me up.(just think of all those years you kept Chocolate hidden to toss at me...)

I know that I have been awful to live with for the past 6 years, thanks so much for sticking with me while I got past the pregnancy and post-pardom depression!! There were some very low days, and I remember you coming home and looking at me and turning around and taking things under control. Like last night, I had great plan, then the migraine hit and I was a mess. You had a hard day, but you took care of the kids, you even took Donna to dance! (I still want to know if you hide behind your phone, or chat with all the other moms haha)I now feel joy again and as I look back, I can't believe how hard it must have been for you to not only see me as a different person, but to live with those mood swings every few minutes.

Only you could make me laugh at things I still think are stupid, but I still laugh. Only you could bring me that patience with other types of humor. (Of course I just walk away or grit my teeth when it is someone else) You bring out a passion in me that I had hidden away. I want to be a better person for our family and for you.

I'm sorry hon, but you are going to have to think of something new to toss at me now. The chocolate worked wonders. lol Whenever I have told anyone about it, it sounds so bad, like feeding a caged animal. I guess at times it was a bit like that, only I wasn't in a cage. lol Stinking hormones!

I love the way the kids long for you to come home. They get very excited to know it is almost time for daddy to come home. We were walking through the store today, and Ethan sow something that reminded him of you. He hit my arm and said "dad!" and pointed to a box of cereal. I have no idea why, but it reminded him of dad, then he went on to ask about dad and where is dad. Today he was throwing a fit and didn't want to put clothes on, I told him dad would like those clothes, and he sat down and let me dress him. It takes a special man to form a bond like that.(I still don't think it is fair, I got the sleepless nights, and you get the love and hugs)

Ugggh I have so much to say, but I have to go make lunch. I'll be back...

Jingle Bells

I LOVE to hear how kids hear the songs we all sing without thinking about the words. To find out the words that they hear. So, today we are driving along singing Jingle Bells, which has become very popular in our van. Chleo and I were the only ones singing(well, Ethan was singing, but he wasn't singing words). I asked Chloe to "take it" or sing alone, so this is what She belts out:

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle along the way. Ho what fun, to ride in a one rope open sleigh."

So sweet, and she sang it with everything she had.

I'm getting contacts today!!!

I figured out today that it has been 5 years now... It is time for an eye appointment. I miss my contacts also. My husband called me today to tell me he made an appointment for me before my glasses totaly fall apart. I can't wait!!! I would like to get a pair of back-up glasses also, but that can wait a couple months. I'm scared to admit how old these glasses are...

Back to normal today

The kids went back to school today. Donna didn't seem very happy about it at all. She told me it wasn't fair, but then got ready without any more complaint. Ethan slept in, and is still asleep at 8am. Reed is looking around, not sure what to play with first and yawning, Chloe is under my desk, resting with my space heater(her favorite place to be!).

I have already folded 2 loads of laundry, and have a pile left, along with more to wash. My day is going to be spent finding the house back. When I finish this, I will feed everyone breakfast (the older 2 eat at school), then back to laundry.

I miss Donna already! Alex always hid out in his room reading and playing on his PC, but Donna was always hanging out with me. I didn't get much done, but it sure was nice! I'm sure I will be glad to have them back as soon as I find the house back though.

Have a great day everyone!

I feel very blessed that my kids had a good happy Christmas and that they remember the true reason for the season!

Welcome 2008

Last night we wathed the ball drop in NYC. (The girls can't read time yet, well Donna can, but she didn't think to try) so we sent them to bed after NY hit the new year. So we watch the ball drop, and the kids start dancing around yelling happy new year while Adam and I sit on the couch just enjoying them. After a while we tell the girls to go in and go potty so they can get to bed, and Donna looks at me like I slapped her. I asked her waht was wrong and she said "you told us we could say that one thing, and we haven't gotten to yet!" Earlier in the evening I was explaining the the girls what New Years was all about, and how say good-bye 2007 and hello 2008. That is what we had to say. hehe So I told her she could say it right then. So at 11:21 we said "Good-bye 2007, Heloo 2008!" and the girls ran up the stairs.

Now it is 8am, and I am the only person in the house awake. Why am I up? I got around 5 hours of sleep, I should be asleep like the rest of the family... nope, I'm wide awake! Oh, Ethan is waking up, he can hang out with me at least.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!!!