so much to say, and not much time to say it in! 

Our computer crashed and because we are trying to only pay cash for everything, it will be a while before we can get another. But one of Andrew's friends may be able to fix it. We will see.

Noah started first grade and loves it. So far! This is only the second week so I hope he contines to love it. He loves to learn!

The truck is fixable, but that has been another headache! They have already had it almost a month and we got a call Monday that they have not even started on it yet!  But the rental that Andrew has gets great gas mileage and has satelite radio which he loves!

Well, thats about all I have time for today!

It's always something...

So you know how life is just going along, one day seems like the day before and you don't even know what day of the week it is?

Yeah, such as my life has been lately.

But, just to keep us on our toes, school starts in 3 weeks! Where did the summer go? Oh yeah, the days just blended into to each other and all of the sudden, it's gone!

And then Sunday this happened:

Noah had spent the night with my parents and went to church with them. Andrew picked him up on his way home from work and stopped to get a few things from Walmart.  Someone pulled out in front of them. We are blessed that no was hurt. I don't know how much more that truck can take!

blessed

I got woke up early this morning...

I started to complain and whine because my husband needed his clothes for work put in the dryer. I fell asleep last night with them still in the washer.  I spent all day yesterday cleaning  and rearranging our living room to get rid of an old entertainment center that I had seen it's better day. We didn't buy another one, just decided to put the tv on top of the fire place. Andrew had suggested that when we moved in, but I thought it was tacky. But now that it is up there, I like it. Like it a lot! Hate to admit when the hubster was right. Oh well, only took me 9 years!

Any way, I wanted to whine, and complain, but looking next to me and seeing my sweet, what he's 3!!?, middle child laying there...looking so sweet and innocent.  I couldn't.  I got up, put the clothes in the dryer and came back and stared at his beautiful face and reminded myself how blessed I truly am!

The BP incident

So as the mother of 3 young children I know that quiet means some things up!

Noah had spent the night with his grandma, and the little ones were playing together nicely in their room. I figured I could go use the bathroom real quick! I should have know better.

And then it got awfully quiet!

I went to investigate and found this:

And this: 

This was after I put her in the bathtub. I should have a picture before I took her clothes off, but I was a little upset, until I decided, Oh well. That will make a cute blog post!

And here is the responsible party:

It's a good thing he is cute!

Happy 4th 2010

I hope everyone has a blessed 4th of July!

Let's enjoy our freedom and pray that it continues.

RaceTrac FreeFill cups!

I don't know about where you live, but here in the south, it is HOT! It has already been over 100 degrees here!


Win a gift card for a FreeFill cup here:

Getting a little serious...

So...

I'm getting serious here.

I feel so far from where I thought I would be at this time in my life.  I am in my 30's, married, have 3 kids.  And I love that part of life. But, we are all living in the same 2 bedroom townhouse Andrew and I bought when we first got married. We still sometimes live paycheck to paycheck.  We can't buy anything...1 because we refuse to go into debt to buy something we don't really need and can't pay for in cash, and 2 the bankruptcy keeps us from moving right now.

We don't have a HD tv, we don't have a laptop, we don't have the newest and greatest things out there. We don't NEED them, but they sure would be nice.  I have to remind myself all the time why we are in the sorry boat that we are, and never want to be there again!  Bankruptcy sucks, and anyone who thinks it is the easy way out is fooling themselves.  It hurts!

We need a bigger home. With a bigger yard for my kids to run in. I just get sick looking at houses that are bigger that we can afford and have about the same payment we are paying for this house.  And they are bigger and have a bigger yard. And a few of them even have a POOL!  Andrew and I both want a pool, and are probably not going to move until we find a house that we like with one!

We have SO much work to do to get this house ready to sell. I don't think we have a problem selling it. It is very close to a military base and has a great school system. I would live here forever (I love the location), but we have outgrown the house. I think it's great that the kids share a room, but they are different sexes and before long that will come into play. I think they need more privacy (from each other, not the parentals!) and a place to get away from each other!  It is hard to do here!

So, according to our time line we should be able to start looking for a new place next October. About a year and a half. I think I can wait! I have been doing it this long, shouldn't be hard. I just get discouraged sometimes!

I also feel so far from God.  I don't go to church like I should. I am torn between some things that I won't write about right now, but it is hard when you marry into a different denomination. I personally don't like the whole denominations of Christianity. I have questions and my husband does too, so its hard! To me a Christian is a Christian and it shouldn't matter, but...anyway, enough on that!

Ok, that's enough venting for today!  Noah is at Pa and Ma's and the little's are napping. I think I will go read a little in my Bible and then get back to organizing/purging of toys! That is what I was doing before lunch!

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As a busy mom, it is hard to fit in a healthy eating plan or hour work out! Who has the time?  But we can make small, manageable changes each day

6 years?!?

How can it be?

I have a 6 year old son, today!

Happy Birthday to my sweet, loving, adventurous, smart and sometimes naughty, but always amazing son, Noah!

I love you so much!

Brotherly Love?

Why do boys fight? Or is it just a brother thing?

My boys fight ALL.THE.TIME!

It drives me crazy. It makes me yell...a lot. And I really hate yelling at them.I don't want to be remembered as the mom that yelled all the time!

In the rare moments they are getting along I try to make a big deal out it.

I try to talk to them and let them know that God gave them a brother, because he knows they will need each other. That they have a build in friend at all times.

It doesn't last long though!

Maybe it is the brotherly love...or something like that!

These days...

These days are hard.


These days are full of things that need to get done...that don't get done!



These days are full of whining, crying, tantrums, pooping, snotty noses, and tears!


These days are full of some sleepless nights, no nap days, and being cranky because of it. And not just me!


But these days are full of kisses I don't deserve, hugs from no where, and I love you Mommy!


And these days, hard as they are, will come and go....


And I will miss them.

Randoms

Ever wanted to get away? I do...right now! I wish I was at the beach, but don't know if it will be in the budget this year...depends how much of a bonus Andrew's gets!

I love Chik-fil-A. Probably a little too much! I ate there at least twice this week....

We have been busy with VBS this week.  So I haven't cooked this week. We haven't really ate out either.(other than Chik-fil-A)  The church fed us.

Glad to have NOTHING to do next week. We will try to organize some. We have too many clothes and too much stuff. Maybe we will have a yard sale.....?

Have a great Memorial Day!

Armed Forces Day

The last few years our local town does a big event for Armed Forces Day.  It is a great family time!

This year we decided to go for downtown for the fireworks over the river.  It was great. We got there about 8pm walked about a half mile, sat down, and ate some sandwiches! 

About 9:15 the fireworks started! The kids loved it! Well, Abbi cried when it first started, but got fine when Andrew picked her up and held her the rest of the time!

We look forward to this each year now!

Our Major League Outing

Noah got 2 tickets to see the Atlanta Braves for having good grades/attendance at school this year.

We sent in the form to go to a Sunday game. We also got a discount on any other tickets we bought. We bought 2 more thinking Jonah could go with us...what were we thinking!  We were surprised to get tickets so quick!  I asked Noah who he would like to take and he said Pa. We got up early last Sunday morning and drove to Atlanta.

It was a great game! The Braves won 13-2 I think was the final score! They have been on a hot steak since!

The best part about the day was how excited Noah was! He loves baseball and this was a treat for him!

T-ball season is over

Noah played in an instructional league this year. This fall he will play real t-ball!

Sadly for us, and more so for him, his season is over! They only played 6 games and one of those got rained out. He LOVES to play ball. We can't wait for fall!

Busy times!

We had a BIG weekend!

I will post about a couple of the things we did soon....

It's the last week of school! I can't believe I will be the parent of a first grader! My baby is growing so fast!

We are going to a cook-out for Noah's class on Friday. We were so blessed that he had a great teacher this year.  They had a great year. She made a DVD with pictures from the past year for all the parents.  It's a tear jerker...but oh, so sweet!

Andrew is on vacation this week and is keeping us busy! We hope to do a few things around the house...we'll see!

Mother's Day

I had an interesting Mother's day. It started out bad. I couldn't wake up. I had been up until 2am making a cake for Jonah.

And then, everything I touched seemed to break, spill, crack, and just not work!

I didn't make it to church like I wanted.

And then we went to eat dinner at my aunt's house. And the day got better...after I forgot something half way there and came back to get it!

Noah made me a lot of cute things at school. He wrote a poem. My favorite part was that I weigh 50lbs! 

He planted me a flower. The poem that was attached to it made me cry!  

Here it is:

This isn't just an empty cup.

There's something you should know.

Inside the cup there is a seek

That, just like me, will grow.

The plant that grows will someday bloom

And remind you of the seed so small.

But without your love and tender care,

The seed won't grow at all.

Thanks for helping me grow!

We spent time with family outside. You couldn't ask for a prettier day! It was nice, almost no humidity and sunny. We had nice shade and enjoyed a bar-b-que lunch. Andrew had to work, but I would rather him be off for Noah's year end program tomorrow. The best part about the day was being with my mom and my Granny! 

I hope you had a great Mother's Day!

Last Week

Last week was a busy week!

It was my last official week of keeping Brendan. I will miss that little guy!

I went on a field trip to the zoo with Noah's class. It was as much fun as a barrel of monkeys.  Ha Ha!

Andrew had 3, yes 3 softball games last week! And Noah had practice. I think we should camp out at the ball field!

Looking forward to the last few weeks of school. A lot of stuff going on! It should be so much fun!

Minor Leagues

Noah got a ticket to a minor league ball game in town for reading for 30 minutes a week for a month.

He got to have a special night with Daddy and Mommy.  He didn't have to "share" us!

And we got to see fireworks after the game. 

Even though our team lost...memories were made!

I love...

I love my babies.


I love their shoes...and finding them on the floor.

I love that they want to help...and finding where they helped.

I love these sweet faces...

I LOVE my babies!  And I wish they could stay like this FOREVER!

Randoms

Am I the only adult who enjoys the shows on the Disney Channel? I love Sunny with a Chance (where I came up with the title) and the new one, Good Luck Charlie.  Cute shows!


I am probably a little too excited that I won $50 in Gift Certificates to a local seafood restaurant! I love their food! And free never hurts!

I am loving the weather and spending time outdoors. Ready to fire up the grill and cook some meat!

I cleaned out my coat closet! I am so ready to start getting rid of stuff and getting this place ready to sell next year!



Trying to decide between laminate wood flooring or tile in the dining area. What do you think?

Also trying to figure out what type of carpet to get when we get ready to replace this nasty really well used carpet!

See that vacuum cleaner? That is my new best friend. I love her so!

Glad the weekend is here! And we only have 4 more weeks of school! So ready for some freedom from the schedules!

Noah's first practice...and our mishap!

Noah had his first t ball practice last night. He did very well. He is in another instructional league but we switched from Little League to Dixie Youth.

And of course, because I was trying to get everyone ready, make sure they had drinks and snacks, and all the usual mom stuff, something got left behind. Something they had drilled into our brains at the first meeting...

They have to have a GLOVE!

Of course I know that...

But Andrew had been gone all week to do some training, and like I said I was doing all that mom stuff...

Andrew came back, (he's only an hour away) for Noah's practice and he had a softball game last night. He went all the way back home to get Noah's glove.  But then another parent graciously offered Noah their extra glove...

I felt bad that he had went all the way to get the glove. But by the time they needed their gloves and we were offered the extra one, he was already home.

I think we will be getting an extra glove to keep in the car!!

Easter 2010

I am posting some Easter pictures:

My little's! So sweet!

 Playing with Lucy!

 Flowers for the church. This year Easter fell on my Grandpa's birthday. He would have been 86.

 My uncle, showing the boys how to fish!

It is so fun to dress a little girl! I didn't know how to act after having boys, but she is most defiantly a little diva!

 The best picture of the kids. After church they were ready to go play!

 My handsome first born! Loving the freckles!

Sometimes...

I get fed up with life! Right now I have so much I want to say...but can't! It stinks! Just say a prayer for our family and some family situations! I've decided He is the only one that can help in this department! 


In other news:


Last week I took Noah to the doctor. He had a low grade fever and said he didn't feel good. Turns out he had a ear infection in both ears!


So today I took Abbi. She had a fever the last 2 nights and didn't sleep well, which is very unusual for her. Guess what? She has an ear infection in both ears! My children seem to get ear infections a lot!


And I wouldn't be surprised if I have to take Jonah before the end of the week. He has started with a little runny nose...it never ends!


And speaking of Jonah, I love that boy, but good grief! He is my strong willed child!

I had to call poison control for the first time last week. He loves his gummy vitamins and while I went to the bathroom, he decided he needed more than what Mommy had given him and he got a stool and ate about half the bottle. I freaked, but no harm done. They don't have iron so he should be okay according to the male on the other side of the phone. But he can't have his beloved vitamins for 25 days!

And I know this is from way out of left field, but did any one else love the fact that Phil won the Master's again? I always pull for him and I'm so glad he won!

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Wishing you a Happy Easter!

He is not here, for he has risen!

Happy Easter to all!

Here and there

I have been here and there. I have some pictures to upload to the computer...just haven't taken the time to do it.

We have spring break next week and trying to figure out what to do or where to go. Our town gets busy due to a major golf tournament going on...

We won't be going out of town, so it may just be lots of trips to the park!

The weather has been beautiful. I have not! I got mad at Noah today. He was taking forever to get ready so I picked up the phone, acted like I dialed and talked to the "police" on the other end. I told them to come get my child because he won't listen to me. He didn't like that at all. Then, of course I felt guilty. But he got ready for school in a hurry!

On another note, has anyone noticed how dark the colors are for spring fashion? Or maybe I'm shopping at the wrong stores...?

Well, nap time appears to be over, after only 45 minutes! I need more time than that to unwind form the morning!

Randomness

I'm so glad spring is here!

I am very excited about Jonah being potty trained! Yes!

I am very proud of Noah and his perfect report card!

I am so thankful for my husband and his willingness to work hard to provide for his family!

I am so loving the sunshine! And the warmer temps!

I am overwhelmed by the amount of cleaning/de-cluttering I NEED to do. Where to start??

I LOVE Abbi's smile, so sweet and always laughing. Makes this Momma's heart happy!

Loves that I can wear Capri's again, and flip flops very soon. After my toes get painted!

Who doesn't love freebies!

So, I don't know about you, but who has time or money to go to the movies?  Taking our Party of Five to the movies can get quite expensive! Visit my review blog to find out more!

Sun!

Well...I guess we have caught a stomach bug or something here! The boys act fine, just will throw up every other day! I don't know what is going with them, but I will say, I am SICK of cleaning up puke and poop!

On to nicer things:

We have had some warm weather this week and I took the kids out in the back yard and took pictures while they played. Of course, since this day, it has RAINED and we have been stuck in the house!

Sunday Session 3-7-10

I searched for verses on Praise and I found some I really like:

1 Chronicles 16:9
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.


1 Chronicles 16:25
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.


1 Chronicles 23:30
They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening


Nehemiah 5:13
I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!" At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.


Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.


Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Proverbs 31:27-29
Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.


James 5:13
[ The Prayer of Faith ] Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

Hey

Hey! I am still here!

I went to the doctor on Wednesday and found out I had tonsillitis and a sinus infection.  She gave me an antibiotic and a steroid and today I fell much better!

Although last night Noah started with what seems to be a stomach bug that has been ravaging our area! I pray that no one else gets it!

My mom kept Jonah last night, because Noah was supposed to go to a birthday party for a classmate this morning. Obviously, we didn't go! Poor thing, he didn't understand why he couldn't go! He feels fine, just can't seem to keep anything down!

So while Abbi is napping and Noah is playing the Wii and watching his favorite show, Phineas and Ferb, I am going to work on our budget, our menu plan, and grocery list!

Have a great weekend!

My new toy

Meet my new friend. So far I love him. I am still learning how to use him, but we are getting along great. I saved up money from babysitting and bought him. It was like love at first sight. On my side anyway! I really want a DSLR camera, but with my record, (I've had a quite a few cameras broken while in my possession!) I figured I should start on the with this and see how I do with it! 

Maybe in year or two I can get a DSLR......

Sunday Session 2-28-10

Psalm 141

A psalm of David.

 ¹ O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me.
       Hear my voice when I call to you. ² May my prayer be set before you like incense;
       may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
 ³ Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
       keep watch over the door of my lips.
 ⁴ Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,
       to take part in wicked deeds
       with men who are evildoers;
       let me not eat of their delicacies.
 ⁵ Let a righteous man ^[a] strike me—it is a kindness;
       let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head.
       My head will not refuse it.
       Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers;
 ⁶ their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,
       and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
 ⁷ They will say, "As one plows and breaks up the earth,
       so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.^[b] "
 ⁸ But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD;
       in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
 ⁹ Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
       from the traps set by evildoers.
 ¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
       while I pass by in safety.

I'm here, but not here

I am here, but don't feel like I am here! I got hit with a cold that is kicking my behind!

All 3 of my children have been to the doctor and gotten antibiotics for ear infections in the last 3 weeks. I thought I had avoided it, but last night I started with some coughing and my throat hurting, and this morning woke up with  hardly a voice! Not great when I have a 2 year old and 2 ones year olds! But maybe it will a calm day...

Speaking of calm, Jonah has chilled a little bit in the 2 year old attitude department. And I mean a little! I got a new book, Have a New Kid by Friday, by Dr. Kevin Leman. I ordered it from MOPS and so far the tips in it are helping. It is really about the parents changing their ways of doing stuff, but I have learned a lot form it. So far, as long as I am consistent, it is helping! So maybe it should be called, be a new parent by Friday, but that would make people not want to read it!