Sarah's Cross stitch - Maybe

I say maybe because I still don't know if it will download the picture. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am really pleased with how it is turning out so far. The girl will have a wreath of flowers in her hair. My mom's friend Kathy has all the tools to cut mats and all the materials needed and she has volunteered to do any of my projects. So I am going to have her mat it for me, I just am not sure of what color to use.

I bought horse and whale, dolphin, sea turtle fabric to make Carmen and Scarletts bags. I am going to sew their names in bright contrasting colors on the handles. I hope they turn out. I have until the 19th to get them done. I have until July 5th to finish Sarah's. Then I will start on projects for the trio's 5th birthday.

Gabe has his first softball practice tonight at 7:00. We got his mitt today and he is excited. The triplets, Tanis, Steven and Jakob will be starting drop in t-ball soon. That should provide entertaining blog material. I don't know if Lura's boys are going to join in the fun or not. I think they should!

I was fixing dinner and talking to Kellie this evening and when I went into the dining room to see how the table setting was going, I found the trio had squeezed their Caprison roaring waters all over the table and were fingerpainting in it and blowing it around with the straws. Needless to say I have a very sticky dining room that I will be mopping when they go to bed. What Fun.

I am going to go and spend some quality time with the kiddos before bedtime. Have a wonderful evening all of you. I will be back on later to check all your blogs and hope for some big posts!

I can't post pictures....can anyone? Is it just the dial up thing or is there another reason?

Since Crystal started all the talk of Peeps, here is my favorite Peep story...

Every Easter my sister and I would get Peeps in our Easter Baskets and every year my sister and I would tell our parents that we did not like Peeps. It apparantly fell on deaf ears each time because sure enough the very next year a row of bright yellow, sugary chicks would be peeking out of the tops of our baskets. One year when I was living in Michigan I had to work and couldn't make it home for Easter Sunday. I thought for sure I had escaped - or at least put on hold the Peeps. Later that week I received a card in the mail from home. It was slightly thicker than normal so I hoped my parents had sent me some cash to get something other than ramen noodles, peas and hot dogs. I tore open the envelope and pulled out the card. Upon opening the card a ziploc sandwich bag fell out with a yellow mess in it. Further inspection revealed a Peep that had been flattened by a rolling pin! My dad thought he was so clever that year.

Thursday Blursday....

I am still so tired. I slept decent last night but I cannot shake this cold. It is settling in my chest and I feel lousy. blah. I am just taking it easy today.

Here is the picture of when Caitlin took the header into the cement flagpole. If you look you can see the bruising in her hairline. The cut itself was only about 3/4" long and has all healed except for the top 1/4". It is really shiny from the glue. It has been 2 weeks today and she still has the glue. I am not sure if I am supposed to pull it off or scrub it or leave it, so I am just leaving it. When Jonathan split his head open the glue didn't even last a week, but his was only about 1/2" long gash.

I am almost 1/2 way done with Sarah's cross stitch. I have about 150 stitches left on the boys hat and then I am moving to the girl. I may post a picture of what is done so far because I love how it is looking.

Carmen and Scarlett turn 7 on June 19th. I have got to figure out something for them too. They are such tomboys and are hard to buy for. I usually shop in the boys department. With money tight I was hoping to make them something. Carmen loves horses and Scarlett loves all animals so I thought I would make them overnight bags out of animal fabric. I know they would love it. Victoria - if they would wear dresses you know I would be all over that one fabric! I may end up just buying big water guns or something. Who knows. Any suggestions for 7 year old tom boys?

Sean is out working on his parents porch. He rebuilt it and is finishing up the railings and building stair rails on each side for his mom. He is so handy! His parents house is falling down around them and they have decided that instead of moving they are going to put the money into remodeling. That means Sean is going to spend much of the summer over there. yippee. I should be nice about it...... I guess that means that the kids and I will just hope for lots of playdates!

Well, I promised Sean I would try to squeeze a nap in while he was gone. I hope that you all have a great day. I will probably post again later....I love being able to show pictures - even if it takes 20 minutes to upload them! I can't complain because I can at least do it now! I look at that as a blessing.

Have a great day!

Five of my Darlings.....

These Darlings are 5 of my 7 nephews on Sean's side. They are surrounding Sean's grandmother who is battling cancer again as well as macular degeneration. She is a trooper and for those of you who have had the privaledge to meet her, she is a fiesty one too!

From left to right the boys are:

T.J. - he just enlisted in the National Guard.

Michael - he is in the army and will be leaving for Afghanistan very soon.

Cory - He is in the Marines and is training for the Special Forces. He is a gazillionth degree blackbelt and trained in several types of martial arts.

Jacob - He is a sophomore, has held straight A's his entire life, has black eye from wrestling in this picture, and is the sweetest kid you'd ever want to meet.

Ryan - He has had a really rough few years and is finally coming out of it. We are proud of him and can't wait to see what his future holds.

Cory, Jake and Ryan are Angie's boys. They were her pride and joy and display a lot of her characteristics, especially Jacob.

I love these boys and am so proud of them. Just wanted to share them with you!

Another Christmas Picture or 2....

It is after 4:00 in the morning and I can't sleep. I promised Sean I would call the dr. in the morning, yeah right....we'll see if that happens... My stomach has really been bothering me and it is preventing me from sleeping tonight. I even took one of the pain pills prescribed from my abdominal surgery last August and it couldn't even knock me out. So, since I couldn't sleep I thought I would try to post a few more pictures.

The first is of the Christmas tree after Santa came. The second is the kids seeing the tree. I love Gabe's expression. He was speechless! Thank you guys so much! My kids were spoiled to the point of me being embarassed, but I guarantee they will remember this Christmas for a long time! You all helped to give my family the world's best Christmas. My children were clothed for the winter and had super sparkly teeth, warm blankets, board games galore....the list is endless. And we had a super duper camera to record the pictures on! God truly blessed my family this past year. I am so lucky to have friends like you and so happy. I someday hope to repay the kindness.

To update you all on the bankrupcy stuff. We have finished all the legal work. The last of the papers have been filed, the tax returns turned over, the papers signed.... Now we just wait. The good news is that we probably still have several more months. As of last month the papers had not even been filed for foreclosure, so we don't need to be in any rush to pack or look for a new place to live. I am grateful for that, but I am not crazy about the waiting and the unknown. We also learned that they cannot take anything else from us, so we will get to keep our stimulus check. That will go into the bank for rent $. This is such a rough time, I still have tears, but thanks to God, family and friends we are pulling through.

Sean's mom has returned home after almost 5 months. She is doing amazing. She is moving around without the walker, doing some minor house work, getting dressed! I am proud of her for all of her accomplishments. She has been through a horrible time and is doing so well. It amazes me that only a few days after Christmas we were prepared for her death

Christmas shot #1

Here are the kids posing with the stockings that Cheryl embroidered their names on. They were so excited by them - even though Johnny doesn't look like he is! I will treasure these stockings. Usually I wrap lights and garland around the banister, but the kids couldn't wait for me to get it out before they hung the stockings up!

Happy Tuesday!!!!

I made a breakthrough in my computer illiteracy today. I found my Kodak Easyshare pictures!!! Here is Luke and I being goofy. The good news is that I can finally share the Christmas you guys gave us! I may wait until I can take my computer over to Lura's and see if she can help me figure out how to post more than one at a time. hint. hint.

Crystal wanted a big, juicy post so I am going to do my best.

Let's see.... I had therapy this morning and we talked for the first time about some touchy subjects. I am sure those of you who experienced them with me will know the time I am discussing. We could sum it up into this..."The period when Amanda lost weight, dyed her hair, and discovered alcohol." It was fun at the time, but now I look back at it with a lot of guilt and regrets. Dr. K. was amazed that I have never brought it up before. Pregnancy totally took away my taste for alcohol so that was a hidden blessing. Did anyone else experience that 'side effect'?

I am working on cleaning my room today. It has become a dumping ground for everyone's clothes. We don't have much for closet space in this house, so lots of stuff stays in baskets. I also have piles of outgrown clothes - 4 kids worth! I would love to make a huge dent to surprise Sean. I just can't keep motivated!!!

We had such a good time at Kellie and Brian's last night. The kids just love playing together and always have a ball. I have some really cute pictures that I will have to post now that I know how! Cailtin and Tanis sat in a wagon and shucked an ear of corn together. They are so adorable and still insist they are getting married. Tanis is the only boy that Caitlin doesn't think is gross (besides her dad and brothers!). Luke somehow managed to fall and get a huge goose egg on his forehead. I don't think it would be a complete day together if one of our kids didn't get hurt! We had a lot of fun making smores and the kids fed the 3 pugs lots of watermelon. I hope they didn't make them sick! Brian made excellent hamburgers too. (I hope you are reading this!!!!!!!)

Sunday we had our annual Memorial Day picnic at my parent's house. It is just my grandparents, my mom's sister and her family and Uncle Pat and his step son and family. In that group there were 10 kids 9 and under. It was nice to see everyone - I hadn't seen my cousin Mitch since Aunt Carol's funeral.

Gosh, I really feel like a boring person. I have NOTHING to say today! I will try to post again with something exciting to say.

Have a wonderful afternoon!

Memorial Day To-Do List

I just typed a whole list of things I wanted to get done today and I lost it!!!! AAAARRGHHH!!!!!!

1. Load and run dishwasher - unload when done DONE
2. At least 3 loads of laundry ALMOST DONE
3. Find Medco payment that is in envelope and ready to be mailed that I lost about 3 weeks ago and drop it at drive thru box NOPE
4. Get Dr. K's statements and insurance forms together and mail NYET
5. Fill out new prescription forms and mail NOT EVEN CLOSE
6. Sort through craft crap and put away YES!
7. Make something yummy to take to K and B's - if we are still invited! YES!
8. Visit Sean's parents DONE
9. Glue Sean's shoe UNFORTUNATELY NO
10. Sweep up all the sand in the living room DOING NEXT
11. Get cards together and ready to mail NO WAY JOSE
12. Bag and Tag recyclables HA!
13. Clean potty's upstairs and down UM...ME NO SPEAKY
14. Scrub Kitchen floor and spots on the wood floors DOES LOOKING AT THEM COUNT?
15. Take down Christmas Lights on front porch - I know, we are pathetic!!! But, there has been a bird trying to nest and I felt too bad to take them down. I think she gave up! UH-UH
16. start work in storage room NADDA

I think this is enough~ I will let you know if I did any of this. I feel motivated today.
Wish me luck!!!
I GOT A LITTLE ACCOMPLISHED SO I DON'T FEEL ALL THAT BAD. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME AT KELLIE AND BRIAN'S, ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE IF WE WILL BE WELCOME BACK ANYTIME SOON!!! I THINK THAT THE TIME SPENT NURTURING FRIENDSHIPS AND LETTING THE KIDS PLAY WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN GETTING MY WHOLE LIST DONE.
I HAVE GOT GREAT PICTURES TO POST WHEN I FIGURE OUT HOW TO!
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

This picture is a few months old but I am tired of not being able to add my new ones!!!!

I just wanted to share a shot of my little darlings. I don't know why I cannot access my new pictures from the Kodak easyshare. I guess this means a definate trip to Lura's for some blog tutoring! Caitlin looks a bit wacky in this picture and Luke looks devilish. It is after 1 in the morning and I can't sleep. I am listening to everyone snoring and wishing Sean felt better so that I could wake him up to entertain me! He is a great storyteller. Tomorrow we are skipping church as we have all been under the weather this week. We are going to a picnic at my mom's and hopefully doing some fun yard work in the evening. On Monday Gabe is going to the zoo with my sister and her family and the rest of us may invade Kellie and Brian's house for picnic and play. I am anxious to meet the newest pug and the trio are having serious Tanis withdrawl. Oh, and we also can meet the turtle Tuck, who I think is named after the medicated hemmeroid pads and not the Wonderpet. Kellie and I need to brush up on our netless badminton skills as well. Today I read another book, The Calling of Emily Evans - really good, and I worked on my crossstitch. Other than that I pretty much relaxed and tried to get rid of this virus or whatever I have! Gabe and I took a trip to Kmart at 8:30 tonight to buy a toilet brush and cereal. He was thrilled. I need to try and go to sleep...I hope that you all have a great Memorial Day weekend and do some fun stuff!

Something that makes me smile....

When I was in High School, we went through the McDonald's drive thru to grab some dinner. While we were waiting in line my dad asked us if anyone had some chapstick as he had really bad chapped lips. I happened to have some so I handed it up, he put it one and gave it back. When we got to the window he paid and got the food. Dad noticed the girl was having a really hard time keeping a straight face and wondered what her problem was. When he turned to hand us the food we all lost it! Apparantly the chapstick I had given him was a tinted cherry. He not only put it on his lips, but around his mouth. The end result was my father looking like a clown! When he looked in the mirror he was really upset, for a few minutes, and then saw the humor too. This was something that was remembered for years (and still is!) and laughed at every time. Usually the person laughing hardest was my dad!

Have a great weekend!

A thought...

I was thinking today of the promise I made with my sister in law, Angie, in December 05. I was in the hospital recovering from abdominal surgery and she came to see me and we talked for over 2 hours. We made a pact that night that 2006 was going to be our year of forgiveness and no grudges. We planned to keep each other accountable and really hold to this. Unfortunately Angie didn't live to keep that pact, she died from a severe brain hemmorage about 1 1/2 weeks later. So each year since I begin in the mindset of forgiveness and no grudges. It is not the easiest promise to hold to, but it is important to me to try my hardest. Lately I have been slipping. The forgiveness end of it I am okay with, it's the grudges that get me! Life is too short, and as I have witnessed too many times, it can be ended in an instant. I have really been working these past few weeks on repairing some relationships in my life. My sister in law Chrissy tops that list. I am making a real effort to build a relationship with her and finding that I enjoy and have missed seeing her. I am trying to not leave things unsaid and to make ammeds where I need to. There is a lot of conflict in Sean's family and because we choose to remain neutral and not take sides, we end up in the middle. I don't want to be there and neither does Sean. I am just going to keep loving them all, praying for them too and being open to them that we don't want to be placed in uncomfortable positions. I am working on my relationship with my mom and my sister as well. I desire to be closer to them and to feel like I belong instead of the feeling like an outsider. I tend to think others need to change instead of looking at myself first. I want to live life to the fullest and not have "if only's". I want my children to look to me as an example of how to live instead of how not too. In therapy last week we discussed again my deep fear of death. She asked me to describe how I thought others would remember me - how I want them to remember me. (It sounds morbid, but it ties into what we were talking about). I gave a description and then realized that it was more of who I wanted to be and not who I am.
I think along with the whole forgiveness aspect of things is also the need to be and know that I am forgiven for things I have done. I can fairly easily forgive, but I have a hard time accepting it. I know there are some of you that I have hurt by my actions and words, or inactions as the case may be. For that I am truly sorry.
I don't want this to be a fishing for compliments sounding post, or even a fishing for forgiveness one. This has been laying heavily on my heart and I wanted to write about it.

A Better Day

Today was a better day. I took time for myself, which I needed to do. Sean took the triplets to preschool and I dropped Gabe off at his school, got a diet coke and went shopping in Sandusky. I went to Kohl's and found a summer sweater on clearance for $7.00 for myself and three things for Caitlin on clearance. Then I went to Old Navy and got Sean some t-shirts for work, a beautiful blouse for Caitlin, flip-flops for the kids and a neat shirt for me. I had to get back to get the kiddos so I didn't get to Target, but that was okay. When I got home I tried on the sweater which fit everywhere but the chest! I looked like I was trying to smuggle watermelons. What happened?????? Caitlin's Kohl's clothes didn't fit her either. The Old Navy top was a 4/5 and fit perfectly. The Kohl's stuff was a 6 and it didn't fit! Her pants she was wearing to school were 5's...I think it was the brand. Jumpin' Beans or something. So, after lunch the trio and I went to get gas at the full service station (where a toothless man who was apparantly eating something pink that got smeared all over his mouth and chin washed my windshield and pumped my gas),and went back to Sandusky and returned the Kohl's stuff and then to WalMart to get some groceries. I made chicken salad croissants and lots of fresh fruit and toasted coconut marshmallows with chocolate dip. It was yummy! The neighbor kids came over to play and Gabe just took off to go to Carmen and Scarlett's art show. I gave the trio their baths and dried their hair (they all insist on using the hair dryer now!) and we are getting ready for bed. I am going to relax and cross stitch and do laundry and dishes when they go to bed.

I hope that you all have a great night!

Guilt

I don't want to be a mom today. I am fed up with it all right now. I love my kids, I love being a mom 99% of the time. Today is one of those 1% days. Luke, Caitlin and Jonathan have done nothing but ignore, disobey and disrespect today. I asked Caitlin to take two toys into the middle room and put them away and she stared at me and then said she didn't want to. I asked her 2 more times to do it and she walked away. She was sent to her room for that. Luke threw an absolute fit about getting ear drops, refused to pick up anything and ignored what I said. Johnny was the same. Last night Gabe was up at least once an hour, no exageration, screaming. So when I would finally get Jonathan or Luke (both of whom did not sleep well) calmed down and almost asleep, Gabe would get them riled up again. I haven't had decent sleep for weeks, I am feeling like I am failing at this mom thing, and I am angry at my kids. I feel so much guilt for the anger and that makes me feel even worse. This afternoon I had to go to the bank - just through the drive through. It should have been so easy, you'd think. They threw fits getting into the van, Luke refused to get into his seat and buckle up, Jonathan wouldn't sit, Caitlin didn't like where she was sitting, they yelled the whole way there....... I am so ready to give up right now. What am I doing wrong???? Right now they are all in their rooms. I gave myself a time out because I knew at least I would listen. They are playing without arguing right now, thank God for small blessings! Gabe comes home in a half hour. If today goes like every other schoolday, he will come home and be automatically mad at me for something. I swear if I breathe too loud he gets mad at me. I don't know what to do to make things better. I was at the store and saw Father's Day cards this morning and that made me start crying. I don't think I have gone long without tears today. Tonight is Pool Girl's night out and I don't get to go because of the kids and I can't ever find a babysitter. That makes me feel angry too. Then that makes me guilty. I am stuck in this never ending cycle. I could really use a night out! At least tomorrow is therapy and it looks as if I will have plenty to talk about! :) Maybe I will just print out this post and take it in.

Thanks for listening - actually reading. I hope that you all have a good day.

Stuff

I was reading through Kellie's old blog entries and came across her book lists again. I have decided to add mine to the bottom of my blog. I am going for the 50 plus books this year. I am taking the time when I put the kids to bed to read for enjoyment. It is so relaxing, depending on the book! I also figure that the more my kids see me read, the more they will enjoy doing it. Gabe is really into the Star Wars series he discovered at the library. Sean and I have also decided to try and learn/use a new word each day (or week). Sometimes I think that we tend to invent new ways to use an old word. Last week it was narcoleptic. Not sure if that is an actual form of the word or not, but we used it. "I am feeling quite narcoleptic today." or "Are you feeling okay? You look a bit narcoleptic today." We may sound like idiots, but we amuse ourselves. This week the word is tort. The legal kind, not the eating kind!
It has been a long weekend. Johnny woke up sick this am. He has run a fever all day and can't keep motrin or tylenol down. Yesterday I went to a bridal shower for my friend Sarah. We have known each other since we were 8 months old and I am 3 days older than she is. Her wedding is July 5th and my goal is to lose weight before then. Ugh. It was a nice shower, about 20 people and it was more of a reunion of old teachers and such. Our parents are all teachers so they share a lot of the same friends. Sarah is working at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. She is in her last year of her fellowship in the research lab. She is a Pediatric Neuro-oncologist. Which basically means she is a doctor that is specializing in children's brain tumors. She is heading up the latest round of research with stem cells (taken from tumors). I love Sarah, but I felt pretty self concious of myself. She is so down to earth and would never make me feel bad about myself, but I think I made myself feel that way.
Anyways....after that I went to get the kids who were out at the farm and ran into an old friend Ty. It was so nice to see him. He is working for my brother in law, which for those of you who know him you would never guess that he would be doing that. He was quite tattooed and covered in cattle delousing powder, but I hugged him anyways. I figured who can't use a good delousing once in awhile. And, I must say I have not been itchy since....not that I was itchy before.....
I know this has been such an exciting post and I am sure that none of you want it to end, but it is 10:30 and I still have to do laundry before I head to bed.

A "Gash-tly" Evening...

So we were over at my mom's
The triplet's and me
Playin' with the dog
Just actin silly

We started to walk
back up to the drive
when all of a sudden
Caitlin took a dive

Into the post
that holds Grandma's flag
what I saw next
made me really gag

The blood was pouring
out of her head
her shoes, pants and hair
were all turning red

I ran to the kitchen
got a wet towel
put it on her head
my how she howled

called up the doc
he said "Go to the ER"
I picked Caitlin up
tossed her in the car

Got to the hospital
waited half an hour
Caitlin was real messy
she needed a shower

We saw several people
"What happened?" they said
Can't you all see
she's got a gash on her head!

Finally the dr.
came into the room
put some numbing cream on
said we'll be back soon

Almost two hours later
he reappeared
did they think I beat her?
was what I feared

Now she's glued up
and doing real fine
I'm very proud
of that girl of mine

She was a trooper
got a popsicle and teddy bear
We have to wait another day
to wash the blood from her hair

She's in bed sleeping
Out like a light
I must say that
she gave me quite a fright.

The end

Who's that sexy woman????

What a horrible song!!!!

Thanks Crystal. I have never heard the song, don't know the tune - but that didn't stop me from making one up and getting that horrible kitty litter jingle stuck in my head all day!!! Sean just looked at me like I was nuts when I sang it to him in the car. Oh well, I guess it could be worse. At least it got me from thinking of the sassafrass tea song on Zoey 101.

I'm not really mad, Crys. :)

Today I decided to take Luke, Caitlin and Jonathan with me to Sandusky to buy the boys shoes and then stop at Pat Catan's. I made it clear in the car, or so I thought I had, that we were only buying the BOYS shoes. We went to Kohl's where when Luke got out of the car he said " Mom, why'd you make us wear jackets? It's warm. Why do they call it cold's?" He thought we were going someplace cold, not KOHL'S. Silly goose. Things went relatively well until Caitlin spied the princess shoes - then the screaming started. I found the boys shoes on the clearance rack and after using the remaining balance on my gift card I just had to pay $1.95 for two pairs of shoes originally $30.00 each! woo-hoo! I had to pretty much drag Cailtin up to the register who was sobbing at this point because she didn't get shoes. The clerk was very nice about it. Even when Caitlin informed her that "only the boys got shoes and she is a girl so she should get shoes everytime we go to a store!" I just apologized. On the way out Luke jumped into a wheelchair and Johnny raced to push him around. I explained that those are only for people who are hurt (easiest for them to understand) and Luke proceeded to bang his leg on the security thingy and then say to me "I need a wheelchair mom, did you see me get hurt?" He seemed really surprised when I didn't go for it. Because I didn't feel we had enough fun I went on to Pat Catan's. I needed to get a cross stitch kit to do for my friend Sara's wedding gift and I promised each of the kids a craft if they tried to be good. Caitlin found a foamies kit to make a cinderella crown and wand so she got that. I moved to take the boys to the boy themed ones and Jonathan immediately started SCREAMING "I want a GIRL craft!!!!!! I don't want to do a boy one, I want a girl craft!!!" I told him that he was a little boy and didn't need to make a princess craft. Boy oh Boy! He just continued to carry on. I found fire trucks and a pirate for the boys to make and got to the checkout where Luke had filled his arms with candy. I overheard a lady comment on not wanting his dental bill....I'm like, Lady - he just picked it up, I am not giving it to him! Geesh. I put it back, paid and got the heck out of there! Then I had to go back to town, take Caitlin and Johnny to my mom's, pick up Gabe and take him and Luke to the doctor's. They flushed poor Luke's ear to finally get the lodged tube out. He wasn't happy but I know has got to feel a lot better.
Well, speaking of Luke, he just wandered in crying. I need to go put him back to bed. Have a great night!

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

I hope that you all had a very nice mothers day. We had a busy day, but enjoyed spending time with family. Sean's mom made it to church for the first time since last fall - she even stood up to sing! That was a huge accomplishment for her and we were so proud of her. His family goes to the Alliance Church and we are Methodist, so the services were really different. I just kind of felt out of place, but I do at our church too. We stayed for an hour before the triplets got too rowdy. After church we went to my sister's for lunch. My grandma decided Mother's Day dinner was the perfect time to share their funeral plans. NO - they are not sick, nor is there any reason besides age that should make her talk this way!!! Thankfully my grandpa stayed true to form and cracked some jokes. Our evening was spent at Rhonda and Jeff's to have dinner with Sean's family. Several people showed up, though not the famous feuding sister's. Thankfully there was surprisingly no drama and we had a nice time. At least until Jonathan ate the hors devour (????) I made for Sean. I stuck potato chip wings in the sides of a cheese cube and made a face on it with marsmallow cream. I didn't think it looked too bad, but I probably wouldn't have eaten it. Jonathan did, walked around the table to Sean, and then threw up all over! I caught a lot of it in Sean's sister's coffee cup still full of coffee. She opted not to finish it. We decided after that it was time for us to leave! When we got home we put the kids to bed and then Sean and I cuddled on the couch. I was a nice day with the exception of a little vomit!
Luke just walked in and sat on my lap. I think it is time to take him back to bed.
Have a good night!

Uncle Bryan had a farm E-I-E-I-O

Today we took the kids and Carmen and Scarlett to my brother in laws farm. We had the best time! They only live a few miles down the road, but we never go to see the animals. Today we did just that. We started with the chickens. They were not that exciting, but entertained the kids. Then we went to the main barn and saw the cows! There was a 5 day old calf named All-star that the kids got to pet, hug, pester.... They were so funny to watch. We played with the cows for a bit and then went to see the goats. There were 5 babies, I guess they were more toddlers. They had blue eyes - I think it's the breed- and the sweetest faces. One of them kept sucking on my fingers and bleating (?) at me. The 3 oldest climbed the fence into the pen and picked up the little goats. They were so funny. We watched them nurse, that was an experience in itself. They butt the udders with their little heads so hard and then they were fighting over the teats. The best part was that we got to milk a goat. It has no kids, so I don't know why it has milk, I should have asked. It was too cool! My nephew, Matt, was a pro. I got a teeny stream to come out and the kids got nothing to happen. Then they fed the milk to the kittens whose mother was killed. After the goats we went to the pig sty and all but Caitlin climbed in. They chased the pigs all over. It was a hoot to watch. I took lots of pictures, but I can't figure out how to post them. Maybe I will go to Lura's and try to get her help (hint*hint) Then the kids hung out and played football in the yard, swung from the rope in the tree, picked flowers....it was the best morning!
I hope you all have a great weekend. Happy Mother's Day my friends!!!

Do the extra double chins give it away that we took it ourselves?!

I am being gutsy and posting an unflattering picture....this is for you Lura. I still don't see how this is going to help my self confidence.

It is 9:30 pm and I still can't get Luke to sleep. It is like he is afraid to be alone right now. I laid on his floor for an hour and still nothing. He just won't go to bed!!!!!!!! I need that alone time.

Gee- I really feel as if I have nothing to say. I have been gone how long and I have nothing right now. I think I am just too tired to think. I just wanted to live up to my post promise! Have a great night everyone. I think that I am going to lay down with Luke and go to bed!

Happy Friday!

I am so glad it is the weekend again. This has been a long week, really for no particular reason.
Tomorrow I am taking the kids and my 2 nieces, Carmen and Scarlett, out my brother in laws farm. They have pigs, goats, chickens, cows and a baby calf born 3 days ago! It should be fun and I will hopefully get some good pictures.
Caitlin and I went garage saleing this morning. I found the boys a fireman's hat (free) and a spiderman mask (like your power ranger one, Vic - 10 cents!) The boys were thrilled. I think it was weirdo day out though. I had to rummage through a table of kids clothes to help some lady find her cigarettes while she talked about her incarcerated husband with the drug problems and her 3 back surgeries. The best deals of the day turned out to be what my mom got Cailtin at Kohl's. They are the cutest outfits. I just didn't have good luck garaging it.
I am hoping that it warms up so I can take the kids to the reservoir this afternoon. They are itching to go and play there. The last time we went we were writing our name in the wet sand by the lake and skipping stones when I looked up to see Johnny standing, shoes and all in 5 inches of water. I am not sure what part of "Don't you dare go in the water!" he didn't understand.
Two of my nephews, Zach and T.J. just signed on with the National Guard. I think it will be good for them. My nephew Mike will be going to Afganistan (sp?) sometime in the next year - he is in the Army.
I have a really cute picture of some of them from Christmas that I would post if I could figure out how to find the file!!!! I am not the most computer savy - that's for sure!
All of you dieters have really motivated me. I figured last night I think I have gained between 15 and 20 lbs. since last December. I am a stress eater, unfortunately not a stress exerciser! Sean and I are really going to start working at it. I have a wedding to go to on July 5th that is an evening affair (7:30 pm I have never been to one that late!) and I want to look nice. I'd settle for presentable!
Are any of you following American Idol this year? I am rooting for David Cook. I think he is almost as hot as Alan Alda.
I need to go switch laundry. I will post later tonight - maybe with pictures!

I am genius!!!! and humble

You go Amanda!!!! I figured out the problem and now have a normal post! Now if I can just figure out where my pictures go I will be golden. I am sitting on the floor of my bedroom on a pile too small clothes for the trio to go into the garage sale box and listening to the kids sing "f-r-e-e that spells free, credit report dot com baby" and watching and hearing Luke yell "Lura, are you in here" to the DVD slot on the computer. So far she hasn't answered and unfortunately that hasn't discouraged him any.
I don't even know where to start with all my news....maybe I will just pick up from here and fill you in on interesting past tidbits as they come to me. I think that sounds best. I can't wait to go back and read your blogs over the past few months!
Today Sean and I spent the morning at his sister's house where we went to visit his mom. After a scary several months she is doing amazing. She went out of the house to Kmart for the first time in over 6 months yesterday. Her leg is still gross, and the foot is black from dormant gangrene (I know, gross) but she is doing great and WALKING!!!! God answered those prayers and then some. Then I took the triplets and their cousin Sami back for an hour this afternoon. They had a ball.
We received another packet of paper in the mail from the lawyer's office today. I think it may be the last of it. Let's hope!
Sean and I have had a clutzy winter, but spring is really starting to look better for us! We are brace and sling free and enjoying everyminute of it.
The kids love going to the library, we try and get there twice a week at least. I handled it just fine when Caitlin held up the "Heather has two mommies" book and announced that this was the book she needed. They are reading so many words now and we are working very hard on this. Gabe is still in his rebellious stage and I have not yet learned how to do anything right. I know the morning is coming where he is going to wake up and like me! He is an awesome kid, I just wish I knew what to do for him.
Sean and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in March. for a two month courtshhip, whirlwind wedding and unplanned baby, we have done well. I don't think many people had faith our marriage would last 10 weeks let alone 10 years! I love that guy!
I will try and do a more interesting post in a while....I just wanted to say HI!

Typical...I'm back and I can only post in comments.