Tricked out

Not only did we go "treating" for two hours, I also walked a hilly two miles this morning with the twins. 


Poor planning on my part. 


Pics to follow soon.

Three Little Pigs - Twinism

Before you watch this video, let me add that I have not read this book to the twins in either several months or even a year.  Addy was still napping, so the twins and I decided to do some coloring while we waited for big sis to wake.  I about died when I witnessed the following.

Cute baby Saturday - Witch Hats

Since Addy's school can't have a Halloween celebration, we could sign up to bring a special treat any day this past week or upcoming week.  So....we made witch hats.

Friday Night Leftovers - wishing for a Halloween celebration

• I have mentioned on a couple occasions how much I dislike Kinsley's dance studio and teacher, and this week definitely dug this attitude even deeper.  One of the other moms dropped her daughter out of the class immediately after class and at least one other mom is going to put in a withdrawal form.  I'm just deciding when.  
• Kinsley is going to hate me, because she loves the idea of dance, but this teacher is not going to work for me.  
• Addy got her dance recital outfit this week.  So fun and cute!
• Last weekend my mom visited and this weekend my brother, sil, and their four kids will be here. 
• I get to meet my newest niece who is a little over a month old.  Baby loving here I come. 
• How many of your tots and kiddos get to wear costumes or celebrate Halloween at school?  
• I'm bummed that Addy can't.  
• Today I finally tried out another open gym with all three as Addy didn't have school today and I am definitely going to take the twins every now and then while Addy is at school.  
• That's all I have this week. 

Stop by our host, Danifred, to see what others are bringing this week, I'm sure they have something worth reading.  

Yeah, what you said

Eligh to daddy:  "I don't want to talk to you, shush your mouth."

Daddy to Addy:  "Addyson, please stop yelling."
Addy to daddy:  "Well, you are yelling at me, so I'm going to yell at you!"

Mommy to Kinsley:  "Are you going to eat?"
Kinsley:  "Nope, I don't want to and I don't care." 

I have no idea where they have picked up this kind of talk, no idea what so ever.  Sigh, we are so guilty. 

Wordless Wednesday - Pumpkin Carving 2011

All three of these crazy kiddos refused to touch the pumpkin "guts."  They didn't want to get messy.

Addy's first conference

Tonight we had what I "thought" was a parent-teacher conference.  Thankfully, I live a two minute drive away, because I had to go get Addyson and bring her with to the "conference." 

Addy and I had to go through six stations.  Each station required Addy to complete some type of task.  I was to write down how she did on these tasks and when we completed them we turned them into the teacher who then gave us a "report card."  Addy was able to complete each station successfully (identify colors, write an "A," create 'mat man,' personal identification (doesn't know her bday or mommy and daddy's first name - I was really hoping to avoid this for another year), choose her name from a stack, and finally some cutting of shapes and identifying numbers 1 - 5. 

Her report card said she is emerging or met all of the areas except cutting.  She can cut, but does not get close enough to the line.  I have three scissors for each of the kids, but I have been too scared to bring them out.  But, looks like I am going to have to give up that fear. 

Other than cutting she needs some work on learning when and when not to speak.  She is quite the story teller and loves to share any and every thing with everyone, but she has never brought home anything but a green paper, so I have not been overly concerned. 

I'm pretty proud of all that she can do already and she has only been going to PreK for two months. 

A run down of her accomplishments (just want this list for comparison purposes):

• Write her entire first name without any prompting
• Spell her name verbally
• Knows all of the primary colors
• Identifies several shapes
• Can count past 20 (just gets stuck on saying 20)
• Can write and identify numbers 1 - 10
• Knows how to spell her friend's first name (helps it is only three letters)
• Knows her last name
• Identifies all of the upper case letters
• Identifies many of the lower case letters
• Rhymes
• Listens and identifies the beginning letters of words

I'm sure there is more, but this is the important stuff.  I will update with how the cutting practice goes soon....

Weekend leftovers

I totally missed Friday night leftovers, and did not even post.  I will never understand how so many of you fellow bloggers are able to blog every day.  This weekend was BUSY, so here's a rundown:

• Thursday I kept Addy home from school for the first time as she had a fever the night before and it continued through the night and the morning.  
• My mom arrived late Thursday night to spend the weekend here. 
• Addy and Kinsley got to bunk up together and they begged to do it again. 
• We went to an indoor playground on Friday.  
• Eligh would not even go in the playground until after he finished eating because he was scared of two older boys who were loud and obnoxious.  
• By the time Eligh finished eating, the two boys left.
• Then, my mom took the kiddos to buy not one, but two toys.Sigh. 
• We then ended the day at an outdoor playground.  
• Saturday the kids made Halloween cookies with Grandma.  
• We then headed to a Pumpkinfest instead of a pumpkin farm, which was perfect.  
• Now my three won't stop asking if they can go on the go-cars.
• We then spent the afternoon on an adventure.  (pictures to come this week)
• It was a non-stop busy, but fun, weekend with very little time to spare.  
• I just turned in my very first late assignment.  New class, new due dates, and I assumed they would be the same.  My mistake. 
• All three of the kiddos are still coughing.  
• Now, I get to spend the week playing catch up.

If you need a birthday idea

Feel free to raise and send me money to fund a much-needed trip to see my most favorite person and shoot, the whole dang family. 

You have a little over a month, ok? 



I would GREATLY appreciate any and all amounts. 



Love,
An overworked stay-at-home mommy needed a vacation

I would rather...

.....wash 50 loads of laundry than clean the bathrooms

.....wash dishes than give baths

.....strip and make the beds than mop floors

.....put scared children in my room than put them back in their beds 28 times throughout the stormy night

.....run away than deal with one more sick person in this house


How about you?  What would you rather do?

Desserts multiple choice part two

These crazy kiddos are offered a dessert of their choice after lunch and dinner.  Each time is always something different and at times unique. 

Who said they did NOT want a dessert after lunch today?

A.  Kinsley
B. Paws
C. Eligh
D. Addyson
E. All of the above

Winner will receive a child of their choice for the day. 

Infertility strikes another

Today is my younger sister's 27th birthday.  The kiddos made a couple birthday videos of them singing to her, which she loved, and I talked to her for a little bit as well.

And then I get the text:  "We can't have kids.  (Insert husband's name) had his appointment today and there is nothing they can do to help him produce any sperm." 

Sigh. 

I was the first and only one to know.  We have this infertility connection that no one in the family understands.  Yes, I have three kids, but I am still infertile.  And now, the last one of my siblings, who waited to get pregnant, cannot.  And to get the final news on her birthday?!  Fucking (yep, I'm using this nasty word) slap in the face.  


She knows they have options, but right now those options are buried deep in the ground, and all they see is pain and heartache.  I wish I could make it all go away or do something to help ease her pain.....

What do you DO with your kiddos?

My kids are doers rather than sitters.  Yep, totally made those words up, but I'm going with them, so deal with it.  Here is a rundown of our day today:

• Eligh and Kinsley get in our bed at 6:55 a.m. (I like 7 am so much better)
• We snuggle with the twins until they get too antsy 
• Head downstairs 
• Addy comes darting out of her room to join us 
• I get the kiddos drinks
• Daddy gets each child their own breakfast request
• I make coffee and give the kiddos their drinks
• Kiddos sit down to eat
• Daddy and I make our breakfast
• Daddy and I sit down while the kiddos finish eating
• 8 am the kiddos want to play in their dry-erase workbooks (best idea ever)
• 9 am daddy volunteers to get the kiddos out of the house so I can pay bills, balance the checkbook, check on school work, start laundry, etc. 
• 10 am I finish all my items on the to-do list, daddy and the kiddos come back, we all load up and go to another playground with bikes in the back
• 10 - 11 am Kids ride bikes and play at the playground, daddy and I play a game of P-I-G
• 11 am we decide to pick up Paws and go to the dog bark
• Addy's best bud from school and her family happen to be at the dog park, as well 
• 11:30 We head home and make lunches
• 12:30 Kiddos head up for naps
• Daddy watches football, mommy works on homework
• 2:30 Eligh wakes up and insists on playing with all his Cars cars
• 2:45 Addy wakes up and wants to play with her puzzle mat and fairies
• 3:00 Kinsley wakes up and we all head outside
• Kids play with neighborhood kids, roller coaster, tractor, bikes, leaves, etc
• 5:15 pm head in for dinner
• 6:15 pm I give each kid their own bath while daddy washes dishes
• 6:45 Daddy and the girls give Paws a bath
• 7:00 head upstairs to read the kiddos stories, tuck in, kisses, hugs, and finally bedtime

These kiddos are non-stop.  How about yours?  Do you feel you are providing constant entertainment, switching from one activity to the next, OR do your kiddos mostly play on their own?

Cute baby Saturday - This is how WE play in the leaves

Friday Night Leftovers - How to avoid intimacy

• My family has been poisoned with the flu; every one of us.  It started with me and ended with Kinsley.  
• Cody had to grow a pair and tell his work that he would not be coming in to work Wednesday.  Over a month ago, Cody asked for the day off so I could chaperone Addy's field trip.  It was approved, thus I signed up.  
• Well, he reminded them on Tuesday (they did not work on Monday) and they said he would have to bring the twins with him to work (to teach 10 soldiers).  Hysterical, right? 
• I arranged for them to go to hourly care (a place they have never been), but they were able to go.  But, when I woke up with K on the floor in our room from the storm the night before she looked like all kinds of horrible.  Red cheeks, pale lips, kept passing in and out of sleep, yeah not good.  Cody came home, went back to work and stood his ground.  Finally!
• Kinsley was back to her normal, out of control self by noon that day and has been her self since.  
• Last night when I went to do my nightly check on the kiddos sleeping, Eligh woke up and had to go potty.  Since he was still pretty much sleeping I carried him and nearly dropped him because he was burning up.  I took his temp 101.5.  Huh?!  Where did that come from?
• I made an appointment for the twins to go in to be seen as Kinsley has had this airy cough for weeks and it seemed to be increasing in frequency and now Eligh with this random fever that I checked every four hours through the night and each time it was back.  
• Addy got to hang out with her friend while I went to the twins' appointment, which I am so grateful to have met someone here who my kids play well with and that I get along with as well.  
• Final verdict:  Twins have a virus (isn't this always the answer), but Kins was given an inhaler.  We have been down this road of an inhaler last year, and she is not a fan of it what so ever.  
• Eligh's fever came back with a vengeance this evening (103.7 - the highest) and I will be setting the alarm to check on him all through the night. 
• Back to the title of this post:  If you do NOT want to be intimate with your spouse/loved one, make sure every single person in your family gets sick for two whole weeks, on the two/three days no one is sick or recovering, make sure it storms so you have at least one child sleeping in your room from fear, and you will have accomplished this ultimate goal.  

Go check out our lovely host, Danifred, I'm sure there are bloggers posting more positive leftovers than this.  There simply has to be.

Pumpkin Farm

Ok, so here are the real pictures of the pumpkin farm field trip.  This will be the only field trip they get to take, so I'm thrilled that I was able to tag along.  All but one parent attended the field trip, so there wasn't any real chaperoning (score).  Our family won't go to this particular farm, as it was small and not what we are used to as far as a fun-filled experience.  But, Addy had a good time and that is all that matters.  Moving on...

Mommy and Addy before the big field trip

 Daddy's turn

Notice who is leading the class

Addy and the only other girl in the class - best buds

I had to change Addy into her boots and put her hair in pigtails once she saw her buddy

Gulp - on the bus!  Mommy got to follow along in the van

Bowling

 Getting some air

On the hay ride

Searching for the smallest pumpkin she could find

Success

First Field Trip for Addy

Talking Tuesday #3

Addy:  "I wish everyone could sit on a cloud."

Kinsley:  "I have booty fingers."  

Eligh and Kinsley:  "Pawseeee, Pawseeee"  (say this one out loud, I know I should NOT laugh and it is totally inappropriate, but this is how they try and get Paws' attention)

Kind of a perfect moment Monday in an odd way

I took Addy for a play date instead of a nap today while daddy stayed home to let the twins nap. 


Text:  Eligh has the sickness now.  

Oh no!  What did he do?

Text:  Vomit in bed...All over bed...Cleaning now and going to clean room in a sec

Oh no. 

Text: Kins seems fine as of now.  YAY!

I'm sorry I'll head home.  

Text:  Your fine play....I got these guys.  

I feel bad. 

Text:  I just wanted you to know was all.  You're fine now play. 


Say what?!  I didn't have to rush home and handle the throw up and sick kiddos?  It has a couple days past a year since Cody came home from Iraq and I still amazed at how much WE do equally. 

Totally random question

As some of you remember, I had my first dental work experience not too long ago. 

Well.....ever since having the two partial fillings completed, the one on my right side will send shocks through it with certain items.  I was told this could happen.  This weekend, though, it has gotten worse.  I took a drink of water Saturday morning and you would have thought I was having a stroke on the right side of my body. 

Until I can call the dentist and get in, I have started using straws to drink to prevent liquid of any temperature touching this tooth as well as chewing on the left side only.  I asked Cody if he chewed on both sides when eating and he informed me that he has always used one side only.  Say what?!

Do you only use one side of your mouth when chewing?  Are you like me who rotates turns chewing on either side of your mouth?  Seriously, next time you are eating pay attention and share. 

Confidence boost

Kinsley:  "Mommy, you're hot."

Mommy:  "Huh?"

Kinsley:  "You have a hot booty."

Mommy:  Mouth hanging open






*P.S. Round three of the flu has hit.  Newest victim:  Addy

Friday Night Leftovers - Thirteen

• Thirteen long years ago, Cody and I officially started dating.  I was a month shy of 16 and he 17.  It happened after a three hour long conversation about who the hell knows what.  
• Hubby was sick with the crud I had earlier this week.  
• I had to take Eligh to basketball vs. daddy.  Three to five year old tots attempting to dribble is hysterical.  One of the drills involved the tots dribbling the ball up and down the court.  Eligh cannot dribble nor could many.  I don't understand the logic of the drills, but we tried.  
• Kinsley thinks every day is dance class day and she gets very upset when I have to tell her no.  
• Addy and I took Paws in to be groomed and he looked like a completely different dog.  Addy didn't believe it was Paws for a good 15 minutes.  
• We have new neighbors in our little culdesac, yet we are still the only ones who are ever outside with our kiddos.  And, we are the only ones who have Halloween decorations up. They are lame if you ask me.  
• We have watched the Lion King about 13 times this week.  
• Weekend plans involve playing catch up on house work, laundry, and a couple assignments.  Exciting, huh?

Stop by our fabulous host, Danifred, to see what others are bringing to the table.  

Make it work - no, not a Tim Gunn post

I've been collecting my thoughts about a couple recent conversations I have had with some other moms concerning the issue of working vs. staying home.  Since I have been on both sides of the fence, I don't really have a strong opinion nor do I feel one is better than the other.  

The one comment that routinely pops up when I explain I'm a stay at home mom is, "Oh, I wish I could stay home, but I HAVE to work." 



Our decision for me to stay home was not something we just sporadically decided.  It was a HUGE decision and took lots of analyzing and weighing the pros and cons to come to the final decision.  I have been at home now for a year and 9 months, but who is counting?  Our income dropped tremendously, and to many would be laughable (seriously).  To put it into perspective we technically could qualify for WIC.  With that said, we make it work.  We I budget and plan.  Our kids are still spoiled rotten and do not go without.  Yes, I could go back to work, take Addy out of her free pre-k program, put all three in daycare, pay out the arse, and bring home some extra money.  Money that we don't necessarily NEED, but simply WANT. 




What I have learned most about these current topics of conversations is simple:  What works for one, doesn't work for another.  At the end of the day, we are all just trying to make our lives work. 

Wordless Wednesday - She's a dreamer

Or just cute.

Eligh's message

I finally allowed myself to go upstairs to give the kiddos hugs only at bed time (I wouldn't even go near them for the past two days), "Mommy, please don't get me sick." 


Please let this horrible sickness that consumed me officially leave me and the rest of the family alone. 



Seriously, I have too much to do. 

Excuse my absence

I had a lovely, fantastical weekend.  Hubby let me stay in bed for as long as I pleased, waited on me, took care of the kids, and the cleaning. 








Yeah right!  I spent the weekend curled up and dying.  I vomited for 14 hours straight, slept like shit, could barely walk from lack of strength. I hope to be back to regular strength tomorrow, though.