Mindless Monolog

Oh How I have missed you...Oh how I have needed you

2011-04-03T15:08:00.005-05:00

So after all this time my friend, I come back on my knees begging for forgiveness. I plead with you to forgive me for neglecting our relationship. I fear that there has been too much time and that you have forgotten what we meant to each other.
Please tell me this is not true. Tell me that you remember the moments we shared and the times of laughter that were frequent. Tell me you still want me to tell you all that is in me. That you still want to hear the insanity that is my life.

I know that the fault is mine. That it was me that left you. That I walked away. That my life was the one to get so busy that I would forget the importance of what we were to each other. Yes, I realize I got far more from our relationship than you did. But you still were there.

So here I am, asking that you once again allow me to use you as my ear to whisper in, as my shoulder to lean on, as my sounding board of reason, and as my path out of insanity.

Please welcome me back - as I feel without you my sanity may be lost with no chance of being found.

I am back!

Early mornings.....

2009-11-22T06:33:00.003-06:00

I am so very puzzled...yes I know this is pretty normal for me but still. Today was my day to get up with the kids so Husband could sleep in. (Yesterday was my day!)
So what time did I awake? 4:25am. Yep that's what I said. I was awoken before the birds. Before the farmers get up to milk the cows. Earlier then I had to wake up in Boot Camp for Physical training. Earlier than God had intended!!!

Why do my children think this is ok? Silly Pants has pretty much grown out of it. There are days occasionally that he will get up early but it doesn't really bother me, since many days he doesn't wake until 7 or 8. Who woke me this morning??? Mini C! Really child?? I mean he was the one that stayed up till almost 9pm last night. He should have slept till at least 6!! So I had to run and get him, go downstairs and turn on Hi-5. This is his favorite show. I think he would watch this all day long if I let him. No - I do not let him!! Although this morning we watch numerous episodes - yes we have them DVRed! So - today should be interesting. I don't think he will be able to stay awake until noon - when I like him to go down for a nap. Especially since he will be home with Husband. Husband is not that great at keeping him awake at home. He tends to let him fall asleep on the couch. Which really messes up the whole day! Oh well. Whatever happens will happen and I will be the one to make sure it all runs as smoothly as possible. Regardless if I have been awake since before the sun shown down on our home!

I'm Back & hopefully to stay!

2009-11-10T14:34:00.003-06:00

So life is crazy - what's a normal week for me?? Here we go let's see if I can get it all out and not forget anything
Monday's - wake up (usually before 530 thanks to my two blond boys) make Husband his lunch and send him on his way, make breakfast for the boys and myself.
Get Silly Pants to school by 9am. Then drive to church for a 915 bible study/time with other adults that will consist of talking about things other than when they need to go potty or that they got hit with a ball.
After that - either stop by Sam's club for a couple of things we may need (or maybe not need), if BF is off then maybe stop there.
Then off to home to make lunch and open the door so Silly Pants can come have lunch with his brothers. Put Mini C down for nap, Put Monkey down for nap, relax for about 15 minutes with Silly Pants and then to put dishes away. After nap really depends on the day. If it's nice then OUTSIDE they go. With any luck Husband will leave work on time at 4. Get home at around 430 and then dinner time! - Yuck, just realized that I have only written for Monday....

Tuesday's - mornings are the same EXCEPT we have to eat 15 minutes earlier because Monkey has to be at PreK at 845am. On days when two are in school - Target is the goal! When I'm down to one then shopping is so much easier! After doing errands and having fun with Mini C it's off to pick up Monkey and get home in time for Silly Pants to get off the bus - then lunch and naps all over again....

Wednesday's - they can be tricky depending on what the date is. Mornings are like those for Mondays - However is the Wednesday 2nd or 4th of the month then it is off to MOPS right after dropping off Silly. MOPs goes up until I have to race home to be there for Silly. Then it's lunch and nap all over again....

Thursdays - those are much like Tuesdays EXCEPT on these days I know Husband will not be coming home at a normal time - meetings he must attend that go till 4 hold him there and then he must help those who are so helpless!! So he doesn't get home till closer to 530/6 - YUCK!!!

Fridays - very nice and much like Wednesday's except no groups or anything planned - that is the day we will usually plan to get together with a friend or invite someone over... If nothing is planned - it becomes a MOVIE day!!

So the week really doesn't sound to bad but that is a week with no extra things - extra things you ask??? oh yes! There are so many things that get stuffed into the week - here are a few examples....
Doctors appointments
Shots
Emergency Doc appointments for ear infections, colds or any other infection
House inspections
hair cuts
conferences
sports
Dentist
Going to BF's to install, remove, replace, move or destroy something
Playdates
The list is endless - these are just the things I have had to do in the last few weeks...
But let me add - with out counting in all the extras that come up on average for a week with no extras - I put the boys in and out of the truck 31 times. That is in a 5 day span - only counting up until the noon hour...and again - no extra events going on.....

So even with the life I lead and the chaos I live in I am going to try to get back to what I had - a blog about all that is going on in my life, my boys life or just plain irritating me and I feel you should all know about it!

Boat...Boat...BOAT!!!

2009-05-05T13:12:00.010-05:00

So as many of you know - all of you should actually know - husband bought a boat...a fairly large boat. Take a look - see it? Isn't it perdy??

A little history about this purchase - in a fast as lightening speed rendition - Overtime, debt, overtime, sick, overtime, pay debt, overtime, birthdays, overtime, sleep, overtime pay more debt, overtime, consumer debt free, overtime, BONUS, overtime, what to do with bonus, overtime, got cash, overtime, got the boat!

That's it in a nut shell. So what has he decided to name the boat? Ding Ding you guessed it - "Overtime"

So here is the interior of the cuddy - the sink and alcohol stove and the bed/table sitting area. It really is rather cozy and yet spacious! Oh and there's a porta potty as well - not pictured - we debated on if we would use it - but seriously with 3 boys and a BF - it WILL get used. Thankfully we found a nice marina where we will be able to clean out and fill the gas at so no worries!

So since it is our maiden voyage we had to have a bit of the bubbly!! Well BF & I did since Husband was driving and well we don't need him to get a BUI!! LOL =)

This picture here is of Silly Pants - apparently he was cold and needed to use BF's Disney blanket to hide in. See him?? The big black ball??

Here Prits sits with Mini - he LOVED watching the water and all the waves!
She seemed to enjoy it too!

Here Monkey, Prits & Silly Pants are relaxing in the cuddy. No you really can't see Silly as he was curled in a ball under the blanket - sound like a little deja vue?? lol

The only time Husband would share his chair was when Monkey wanted to sit with him. I am fairly certain that if I had asked I could have had a turn - but why do that to the man? Let him have his moment!!

A large part of the time on the boat was spent sitting with the boys "watching" the water. They were utterly fascinated with it. Go figure!

Here was Prits turn with the two big boys. Just sitting there enjoying the waves Husband was making....I am fairly certain she enjoyed watching the water with Mini a bit more!

When she wasn't laying with boys or watching the water with boys - she found a nice spot on the bow to lay and relax and have a moment alone. We picked her up a yoga mat - so she wouldn't fall off the boat...although at one point Husband sped off and I was certain she was going to roll right in the river!

After a while the boys found the bubble blower that Mini got from Nurse Neighbor for his birthday. We recently found out that all three boys think it is really cool. So needless to say once they found it they used that thing until all the bubble were gone!

Look at him - so focused - had he not needed to go to the bathroom when we got to Harriet Island I don't think he would have gotten out of that chair!

Here is Husband - the captain of the boat - basking in the wonder of what all the overtime gave him!

So be prepared for a summer on the river, lake or even a pond if he can get on it!

Oh and if you wonder - "Jen, why are there no pictures of you?" That would be because I am the only one that takes them - and well I don't really like to sit there requesting them be taken of me - mainly because I love those moments where everyone is just being. So know that I had a fantastic time, loved it and look forward to doing it again!

Crazy day at the Childrens Museum...

2009-04-30T09:32:00.008-05:00

Seriously why would anyone actually go with me to a place like the Children's Museum? Well ask SIL because the wonderful woman she is came with! I think there must have been a lack of oxygen that day to her brain. I mean the children's museum is not the most relaxing and quiet place ~~a rodeo would have been more relaxing~~. BF would probably have to ask the doctor for a Rx of something to make it through. It's not even a place of organized chaos - it is just pure and uncontrolled chaos. And yet we all went! Go figure.
Why did we? Because Silly Pants & Monkey had seen that Clifford the Big Red Dog was featured there and wanted to go and see it and play. So we got tickets from Husbands work - don't think I could pay full price for it - just a bit too much - but discounted tickets - I'm in!

Yes I took pictures.....

Our adventure started out with Clifford - surprise surprise! There was this big giant dog dish that Monkey thought was great - it had a conveyor belt to put the dog bones on - he that was the coolest thing. Mini C apparently thought he was the dog food??

here is SIL sitting with Mini at the pretend sand box - it represented Bird Well Island on Clifford - the big boys were unimpressed.

But they did like the music area! Silly on the drums and Monkey on the Xylophone!

After Clifford we headed to the natural area. Silly Pants was a turtle and a raccoon. Monkey really wanted nothing to do with either!

While Monkey and Silly played, SIL showed Mini the aquarium with the live fish and turtles. Does it not make you smile just looking at the two of them together???

After the natural area - we had to take the elevator to the next spot on the list. Mini C practically ~~flew~~ jumped our of SIL's arms to get to the buttons

Our next stop was the water works area -

Silly Pants and SIL started in the bubble making area - she is such a good aunt!

After assisting Silly she took Mini to the toddler water spot. She showed him how the water tubes and balls worked together. Then he seemed to take over and seemed to know just what to do. It was so fun watching him put the ball in one end and purposefully watch the other end for the ball to come out.

Monkeys favorite spot had to be the race way. You take a boat that is provided and put it behind the little door thing. He figured out pretty fast that you had to wait for the water to fill up behind it in order for the boat to go fast and win!! He was so proud when he won.

The last thing that Monkey wanted to do was drive the bus in the little city. Unfortunately a little boy from a school that was there was not willing to share. When he put the hat down Monkey grabbed it. The boy proceeded to tell an adult and the lady tried to get in my face about it. Sorry - Homey Don't Play That! Don't be telling me about my 3 year old when your 6 year old is bullying the kids on the fake flippin bus! Needless to say Monkey got his turn and left happy! Don't be messing with my sweet little man! =) This is the final picture in our adventure. Silly Pants was apparently exhausted from our big day and thought he was rest his body on the ledge while we waited for our elevator to arrive. The day was wonderful - much thanks to SIL who went along and had a smile the whole time! got to love my sister!

Oh and if you are finished reading this and unaware that I had posted one yesterday go ahead and catch up! I will attempt to post a new one each day for a full week. today is day 2! Let the ~~boredom~~ entertainment begin???

Mini turned one! - well obviously over a month ago...oops!

2009-04-29T13:00:00.012-05:00

OK OK you can all spank me if ~~ok I may like it~~ you like...Here we got another round of me trying to get back on track!!

Yes, I am aware that my sweet boys birthday was over a month ago. Does that make me a bad mommy? NO! Because we celebrated - I have just been crazy over here that it hadn't gotten done. SO here - pictures and brief commentary of the wonderful celebration!!

Here is my little buy getting ready for BF, Prits & SIL to get to our house for birthday dinner!

Here is the free birthday cake that Kowalski's provides. Mini & Husband getting ready for the chocolate treat he has been waiting one whole year for. It was rather yummy!

Wanna see how much Mini liked it???

As I was adding the pictures I just didn't feel words were needed to explain his enthusiasm for this chocolate delight. The pictures say it far better than I could ever try!

Oh and here's a short video of the enjoyment...yes short.

Here he is opening the present BF got him. Seriously?? Yep - and he LOVES it. The thing gets pushed around the kitchen and sat upon anytime we are in the kitchen...

Here is Princess smiling after complaing that she doesn't take pictures alone. well to bad!

Here we are - Princess, SIL, Prits and myself.

Heres Mini with SIL and also opening his other favorite present the one from his God mother Princess. The ~~STUPID~~ silly frog is loud and abnoxious. But Mini and his brothers LOVE the thing....ugh...the things I ~~put up with~~do for my children. =)

Yes I know it's sideways - really didn't have the energy to photo edit - but seriously like you don't know what it says!

Mini C enjoying his birthday party cake from Byerly's! Yummmmm more chocolatey goodness!

So all in all he had a fantastic birthday - he turned one....truly don't know how that happened so quickly. No use denying it though - he truly is 1 and he truly is getting bigger.

Until tomorrow.....

ummmmm.......Butter.......

2009-03-13T07:11:00.005-05:00

I have read a few articles recently talking about making butter. At first the thought was like ~~Who the hell makes butter?~~ "What?? Make butter? don't you just make a trip to Target and buy it?"

But after the last article I thought ~~What the hell~~ Why not give it a try? I think this will be a great activity to do with the boys - since we can either use a mixer or their ~~psychotic~~ massive energy to shake a tight container. Hopefully I can help them release some and mellow them out.

So here are the instructions I plan to follow. Let's hope ~~it doesn't end up all over the walls~~ it works! I will post pictures after it is ~~destroyed~~ completed.

Use a handy KitchenAid Mixer or you can make butter in any closed container too. An empty jar, martini shaker whatever. These directions are for the mixer. Start with one quart heavy whipping cream at room temperature, go ahead let it sit on the counter for an hour. It won't spoil and your butter will taste better. Open it up and let it breathe.Pour the cream into the bowl of the mixer and fit the mixer with the whisk. Starting on the slowest speed, turn the mixer on, after it is up to speed you can increase to one of the middle speeds. Now leave it alone.
1. After 10 minutes you should have something approaching soft whipped cream.

2. After 15-20 minutes it will be denser and more yellow. Turn up the speed to high and put a towel over the whole thing. Once the curds start to separate from the whey it gets messy.

3. In about 5 minutes you will see the foam get drier and start to deflate a little. Turn the mixer back to Medium.

4. Keep peeking at it, when it looks like cold lumpy oatmeal, turn it off. It doesn't take long to go from whipped cream to butter. This is the point where I like to add salt, some people do not. I add about a 1/2 teaspoon.. Look Curds!

5. Now you have curds and whey ( buttermilk). The curds will mostly stick to the whisk, but there is quite a bit in the buttermilk too. Pour the whole thing into a square of cheesecloth placed over a strainer and a bowl. Let it rest a minute.

6. Pick up the cheese cloth and squeeze as much of the whey as possible out of your butter. Some people rinse the curds before squeezing. I don't I like a little of the taste and smoothness of the whey to stay in the curds. Rinsing the curds will will allow you to keep your butter longer. We don't have to worry about butter storage around here, it never lasts longer than a week. So give it a good squeeze.

7. You now have a nice fist sized lump of butter

8. and about a pint and a half of buttermilk. We store our butter in canning jars in the refrigerator and on the counter. It can also be frozen. We keep the butter milk in the refrigerator and use it in baking for the week. Anything left at the end of the week goes into the freezer.

Now, why don't we normally make our own butter? Maybe because we can buy it at Target with a lot less energy than it takes to do the work. The effort seems worthless. My guess is that will not be true. I look forward to finding out. Maybe it will taste better - my guess yes. I will at least know that nothing else is added.

Wish me luck!!!!

Work, overtime, money, work, overtime, money, insanity?

2009-03-11T06:57:00.004-05:00

With all this talk about a struggling economy I am confused - maybe that is because I do not personally know anyone who has had the misfortune to have lost their job and well I have a husband that has more work than he has time to do.

I long for the days that he left at 4pm. It's rather sad when he leaves in the morning and states
"I am going to have a lot more work today because I got off early yesterday."
Hello!!! You worked until 5 - that's an hour late!
I'm afraid to know what is going to happen Tuesday - since he has to get off at 4!
So tonight will be a really late night. most likely leaving work between 730 and 8. As will tomorrow. The poor guy has to get off at 6 on Friday - we are celebrating our 6 year anniversary - another blog though. I am such a horrid wife to request it!

So am I complaining? Kind of. But not enough to want it to change. As difficult as this is with him working so much - the money is really good and has allowed us to become almost completely debt free, to actually have money sitting in savings, to have money going to our Disney trip and to allow him to buy stocks. The hardest part of it all really is the boys and their confusion as to who this man is that walks in the door after dinner and kisses them goodnight. "Mommy who is that strange man?" LOL. I know that they are not getting their daily dose of rough housing with a daddy. So I have been really grateful that I have such a wonderful family! SIL has been coming over regularly and well for a girl - she knows how to play! The boys have so much fun when she is here. Lately on the weekends Brother is in town - and this week he is on spring break - so he has been coming over too - which has been a blast for the boys as well. They don't get to see him as often as they would like when he is in Mankato. So at least they are getting more of that wrestling that they need. Because I certainly am not going to do it - just not part something I can do.

So again all I can do is grin and bare it. Being grateful he has a job, one that pays overtime, one he does well, that he likes (minus his manager) and a family that keeps me occupied. So if anyone wants dinner - COME ON OVER! We love having dinner guests to break up out nights.

So now that I am done ranting about that - I begin my day. A day when I question if our boys will see Husband or not. Probably not. Poor kids. Poor Husband. Poor me. Pity party anyone?

Another way to pass the time...

2009-02-24T12:53:00.005-06:00

*again, a video included - pause the music! =)

So as you must know Husband is working killer overtime. Yea for the money - not so much for my sanity...But really how stable was it to begin with? You be the judge...

With the overtime kicking the whole family into more chaos I am still left with trying to entertain 3 ~~psychotic~~ energetic boys till bedtime alone (which is normally wrestling time with Husband)

I thought I would share a moment of a new favorite activity. We have SIL to thank for this (as well as her brother)

Mind you I am certain that this should be used in ~~Lake Superior~~ a larger body of water...being it is winter and well we do not currently own an indoor pool - this is what we are left with. It doesn't seem to bother the boys in the least that it gets stuck every second or so and that it goes in circles.

This is my life as of now. Crazy boys, weird activities, lauging, smiling, wrestling, art, and well pretty much anything goes in our house...

Singin' & Dancin'

2009-02-22T07:32:00.009-06:00

* there are videos on the blog & well you will want to hear them - so pause the music player =)

With Husband working late for the last couple of months we have had to come up with things to do to ~~keep me from going crazy~~ stay busy and happy. The new favorite thing to do is to open up the couch in their room and make a "stage." This all came about after we got them a new CD Party Like a Preschooler by GO Fish! it is great and helps break up all the other CD's because it isn't as ~~annoying~~ high pitched. It has a fun new twist on some of the old favorites and are fun.

Right now their favorite song on the CD is 5 Little Monkeys. (How appropriate?) The boys know how to do the hand motions for it and well they know all the words - which for the CD is a bit more difficult because the song is pretty crazy! =)

First I would like to give you a peak at Mini C dancing. It looks like he is standing up on his own - he has actually managed to prefect the lean on the cushion in front of him!

I believe that in a given night I listen to 5 Little Monkeys about 13 times. That is being on the low side. Now Silly Pants is able to turn the CD player on and click song #5 (Monkeys) so I expect to be listening to it a lot more...~~Oh no~~ Yea for me!

<~~~~Here's a pic of Silly Pants rocking on his "guitar" to the song. As noisy as instruments are I am pretty sure we will be acquiring some in the near future.

Here are the boys dancing and singing to the song. This is what we do for about ~~2 hours~~ 30 minutes every night.

These boys - including Mini C - are struggling with Husband working so much overtime (but we are thankful that he has a job & gets paid well for overtime!) So if I must ~~endure~~ enjoy endless hours of Partying like a Preschooler than that is what I must do to keep their ~~tiny~~ gigantic spirits up until the end of this.

Here is Silly Pants doing a solo of the song. Seriously it is one of the funniest & best things to watch!

So tomorrow is Monday - a night when Husband leaves between 6:30 - 7:00. As you are eating, relaxing, showering, reading, snacking, having a drink, surfing the web, being mindless - think of me. Know that I am exhausted, being jumped on, deprived of useful sustenance, dirty, reading 47 Beavers , wishing I had a drink and having no mind - but still loving my life and wouldn't trade it for anything. Through the chaos is amazing life and well these 3 boys make me feel alive - even when I feel dead!

An outing to Skate.

2009-02-19T06:30:00.014-06:00

We did it - we got the boys ice skates and took them out. Husband has wanted to do this since Silly Pants was born. I thought that it would be a good idea to wait. (Although looking back we could have started Silly a year ago - but that's neither here nor there)

One Sunday afternoon after church I took Silly to get fitted for skates. Hadn't really planned on buying them...should have told him that. We walked out with a pair for him and a training pair for Monkey - No Mini C doesn't get skates yet. Sorry Husband!

So we took them to a skating rink over by our house to give it a try. I honestly was not to optimistic about it - only because I figured Monkey was too small and Silly Pants does not like "failing" or falling. Boy was I wrong!!!

They both took to it so quickly I was amazed. Ok honestly think about it. Pause and seriously think about it...If you were to picture the first skating experience with Silly Pants wouldn't you think it would go more like - Gets on the ice - falls down - screams - gets up - falls - yells - gets up - falls - crawls off the ice - states I don't want to do this again. Sounds more realistic? Not what happened. Now Monkey - Gets on the ice - falls down - gets up - cries - falls - gets up - tries to hit or push someone - falls again - yells - crawls to the side - starts taking skates off. Totally NOT what happened. I have included both pictures and videos of the wonderful day and how well both boys did on the ice!

Here we start with Monkey - He takes off with Husband onto the ice. He was pretty uncertain of what was going on but was really excited about it. It didn't take him long to figure out he could do it by himself. Even when he would fall down he would get up all by himself and off he would go. His balance was amazing - at one point he decided he wanted to jump. He jumped straight up in the air both feet off the ground and landed without falling. It was really great to see and he was so proud. He was too fast for me or I would have gotten a picture of video!

After he had his turn for a while he decided that he needed a little break and wanted to watch Silly Pants have a turn with Husband on the ice. Although the sitting didn't last long!
Once he realized Silly had also gotten the hang of the ice he wanted to join him - it was not easy getting him off the ice when we had to leave.

The boys had a puck that they would throw back and forth to each other. They each got their turns and they each had to skate to go get it. Like playing fetch - only they were doing it to each other...

Here's Monkey getting the puck -that kid was great!

Then it was Silly Pants' turn to try his feet on the ice. He was very uncertain - even more so than Monkey. But he went into with excitement and a pretty open mind. I could see him clenching Husbands hand but that didn't last long. Soon, just as Monkey did, he let go and wanted to be free to do it alone. He got the idea of sliding his feet really quick. All he kept wanting was a stick to play hockey (they both wanted one!) but we informed them that we wanted them to be more comfortable with skating and then we would get

them each one. That seemed to tame that desire. Now we just have to keep bringing them skating so that they can get their sticks!

Here Silly is trying to show that he can be silly and skate at the same time. He thought he was so cool that he could skate just like Husband. It was so much fun!!

Here is Silly with his turn to get the puck. He kept wanting to throw it to the far goal. A bit too ambitious for the first time!

Silly Pants getting his turn with the puck!

Here the two boys are taking a moment to regroup before they did their final skate at the end. It was just a joy watching them skate and truly have fun. I can't tell you how many times they each fell and how many times the each just got up and started off again. They both figured out how to get up all by themselves. I was truly impressed with that. It is not an easy thing and well for those little guys it was amazing.

One final video clip before I finish up.

Here they both are hands free of Husband

And we finish this entry with the end of the event. Husband having to get a few minutes on the ice by himself. I took this picture was I was bring one of the boys to the truck. He continued to skate until all the boys were in the truck with skates off - then he joined us in the truck. Not sure if he was skating for the fun of it or if he was just trying to get out of the work involved in getting the boys to the truck and skates off...You be the judge...

Little late but still...

2009-02-17T19:47:00.004-06:00

Ok so these are late but well...no excuse except 3 boys and no brain.

Here are pictures of Silly Pants' 5th Birthday I will comment on some and not on others - just wanted to show was a great time it was!

First and foremost I would like to post a few pictures of Mini C and his quite comical behavior - You'll see...

These are just a few instances where anytime someone would hold Little A that Mini C HAD to be held by that person as well. As you can see he is with Auntie Viking in the first one. The Second is him being caught in the act trying to get to Happy Mama from BF.

The 3rd well - he had to be with SIL (so pretty isn't she?) while she was holding Little A.

There is also a picture of BF with the two little ones but out of kindness (and a threat on my life) I have decided to omit that one and only mention it in writing.

So Silly Pants got a lot of really nice things for his birthday but one of the absolute tops was what he got from Happy Mama & Drummer Boy. Both he & Monkey play with it EVERY day. It was a huge hit~!

The other one that really tip the scales was from Uncle & Auntie Viking - he and Monkey play is almost everyday (and it would be continuous if I allowed it) - A VTech game system for little ones - all learning and fun!

Just because I figured I should show a picture of him with his cake here you go! Now yea it's not fancy or anything but I thought we would do something fun and goofy - He loved it and was so excited to decorate all the cars for his party! Thanks Foxy for the car mold! It has gotten much use!

Why not impload??

2009-02-15T15:07:00.003-06:00

So with the crazy weather that we had that last few weeks it got me thinking...
Everyone talks about global warming....with the weather we had about a week or two ago I can understand why they say it - I mean it was freakin warm - get my Chaco's on warm - go sun tanning warm (well maybe not) but yeah I get it...I understand it...yeah I am doing what I can to help...but really WHY? Why not let this world implode on itself? Why not let this all go to hell? I mean it's already on it's way. The vast majority of civilization consumes and throws out so much. people say they recycle but when you are driving on garbage pick up days how many recycle bins do you see? Or even how many are full? I have a few neighbors who have the giant garbage cans (some of them have 2) full each week and no recycle. So again I ask why not just let it all go?

Why do I say this? Why am I so flippant about letting the world go? Well hello!? We have a WAY better place to go than this. Frankly I wouldn't mind starting my eternity now. I would much rather be with my Maker and enjoying life in a perfect place than here. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my life!!! But come on people Heaven??? Duh! If only our Savior would come down from the clouds and wrap us in His arms.

Just a thought....

My little boy is a whole hand

2009-01-22T07:36:00.007-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SILLY PANTS!

Yep that's right Silly Pants is a whole hand today. A whole foot. The price of a meatball sub at Subway. How can that be? How did time fly by so quickly? Obviously a cruel joke God is playing just to toy with me as a mom.

In a month I will be registering him for Kindergarten. He will be starting school. Can that be? My little boy? Wow...

So this morning I heard him awake and went up there to sing Happy Birthday and well to tell him Happy Birthday (the kid has wanted to hear those words for weeks now) and he was so excited to realize that finally HIS day had come.

For all of the boys on their birthdays I let them choose what we will have for each meal. Last year we had ice cream sundaes for breakfast...yep I let him have it for breakfast. This year he has asked for Fruit Smoothies...I personally like that one much better.***Correction Alert!!!! After writting this we went down to have breakfast....Silly then decided he wanted an ice cream sandwich and a cookie. Yep I gave it to them...there went the smoothies...oh well maybe next year? Unlikely! He has not decided what he wants for lunch yet - most likely some sort of sandwich although after this morning I wouldn't be surprised if he asked for a candy bar. For dinner we are having homemade pizzas. He will make his dough and put on his toppings. That is what he wants so that is what we are having.

BF & SIL are coming for his birthday dinner. Prits is unable as she is ill right now - not a good thing - we pray for a speedy recovery as she is leaving with BF for Florida next week.

Silly is so excited for dinner and I think he is even more excited because in 2 sleeps (that's how we count days) he is having his party. This year we are keeping it low key (last years was not and well the ones to come will be crazy as he keeps getting older) But I think he would be excited if I gave him some balloons and only 2 people came over. He is truly easy to please. We are having over a few family and friends and just celebrating the past 5 years of life of this wonderful little boy.

Well I am going to stop now - as I do not feel like getting terribly emotional this early in the morning...I will just say....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SILLY PANTS!

Early Morning Meltdown in the Snow

2009-01-20T06:35:00.003-06:00

No the snow didn't melt...no it was not me who had a meltdown (although that would be the most popular answer)...no none of the boys had a meltdown...well that last one is not entirely accurate. Husband had a meltdown in the snow...err with the snow? Because of the snow? You can decide...

So we went into today knowing that Husband will be working till 7pm. (Ugg!) This morning he wanted to get out the door at 6am to beat traffic and get a full 12 1/2 hours in for the day (Ugg again!) So I sent him on his way with a lunch and snacks, locked the door and went upstairs to give the boys their cups.
A minute later I hear the door and go down (as it was locked) and there was Husband asking me to help push him out of the snow (that he had driven himself into) (no he did not say that, but it was obvious)

Take a step back and think about my Husband. A rather calm, almost passive man that kind of hangs back, doesn't really confrontation and is pretty level headed, more analytical and purposeful than anything. Not that way this morning. I am going to give you a more PG rated version of how it went and the conversation that happened...by conversation I mean a Monologue of my Husband as I did not dare utter a word.

I get into his car and am told to go forward while he pushes. I go no where. He goes to the front and tells me to go in reverse - I do and no where...again...As I was trying to go in reverse I thought it would be a good idea to crank the tires so that if I did move I would not go farther into the snow...apparently that's not what he wanted..
"What the hell are you doing? Why are you cranking the wheels? Keep them straight! NO Straight!"
I get them straight and he gets a shovel.
He shovels out the back tire and I get to go forward again...nothing...
Well not nothing...
This is the beginning of the meltdown.
"F this Fing car, Screw you (to the car not me), F the snow. I am calling in sick." talk about over reacting...
He then goes to the front of the car and we try reverse...again. I get about 2 feet and stop - maybe I should have had the wheels cranked huh? No I did not say that...are you kidding me? Have him go all Jack Nicholson "Shining"on me. I think not.
So then he proceeds to spit on the ground..yep that's what he did. Spat on the ground.
"F this, I HATE Minnesota, I hate the snow. I am quitting my job. I am not Fing dealing with this. Maybe if the Fing drive way was shoveled properly this wouldn't have happened. F this. Fing Car. Piece of Sh." Now to clarify - the entire driveway was shoveled and well he was technically in the yard - had we cleared the snow that's where he would have been.He then starts to shovel some more - while taking breaks to beat the snow as if it were something that could feel the pain and would give in to his insanity.
"Fing snow. I was Fing trying to get to work early, trying to beat the traffic and now I might as well just stay home. Why does this Fing happen to me?? F you snow!"
We try again to go both forward and back...oh and this time he says I SHOULD crank the wheels..haha...a little late now don't you think? Went no where - and fast!
So then he goes and opens the garage door, gets in the Explorer and backs out. He gets out, grabs a blanket and puts it on the hood of the car. Now in my own thoughts I would have thought it be a better idea to go from behind. I mean the truck is fairly large compared to the Sable and well the at least there would be less chance of damage (I mean it's not like he is calm and collected right now...) apparently my thought was not appreciated as he went ahead with his thought - I was terrified the man was going to push me into the neighbors garage when he got in the truck. Nope he gathered enough self control to go slowly and push the Sable out of the snow.

Now I know there are things I am missing in there...He said so many things that really cracked me up (after the fact) but I don't think I got them all.

Moral of the story??? Even the most level headed person can go Crazy and meltdown....Poor Husband had a bad start. I pray the rest of the day goes better for him.

Side note...they always said that you marry a man like your dad....not true...I married one more similar to my mother....go figure....

What a way to start the day.....

Art project with a purpose...

2009-01-14T12:26:00.010-06:00

So we are planning a BIG family trip to Disney World in Florida. The trip is tentatively planned for Dec 09 or Jan 10. That gives us 1 year to fully prepare and save. That will be no problem. Everything we need is set to save and well - we ARE going - barring any act of God or such. The boys and I made a Countdown to Disney Calendar. So each day they go to the calendar and mark off that day. Yea, I know...over 300 days left...but they love having that visual reminder and well they are just so darn excited.

With me being the craft junky that I am had a thought...let's make a Disney Fund Jar for each of the boys. The thought was then solidified when I spoke to BF and she mentioned that she was thinking of giving Silly Pants cash for his birthday with the thought it could go toward his on Disney stash of cash. Great minds think alike!!

Yesterday we went ahead and made their jars. They had such a great time making them and well are looking forward to collecting money in them. When one finds a penny or a nickle or even one of the fake coins we have around here is finds it's way into a jar.

We started the project with Kerr Jars...the kind you would just use to can fruit or jelly. Then I grabbed our enormous container of cut up pieces of paper and the Mod Podge.* I gave them each a sponge, paper, Mod podge and a jar and told them to go at it. That's what they did...

Here Monkey is Mod Podging, sticking pieces of paper & being his task-oriented self.

SillyPants is being extra careful to do a good job but stay clean!

While all this was going on Mini C was sitting in his chair, snacking, laughing and trying to eat whatever pieces of paper got close enough to him to grab! He really enjoyed watching his big brothers do this project.

Here is a picture of Silly Pants all done with his project and thinking to himself, "How do I get it full really fast??" Each respective jar has their name on it with Disney Fund. And here is Monkey with his completed jar. Sorry about the picture - he was having a rather weird moment and well...smiling wasn't happening the way it normally did...Got to love him!

Needless to say I made Mini C's jar - well that's not totally correct I did have him "help" me - but that ended when he continually tried to eat the paper...he really doesn't need that much more fiber...

Mini C with his jar, he actually wouldn't let it go once I gave it to him. He was quite funny about it - so he ended up holding it till he finally pushed it to the ground...thankfully they are strong jars!

Silly Pants & Monkey showing off their jars. They were so much fun to watch while they made them. So meticulous & precise. They turned out wonderful and now it's time to find a good spot to put them.

So now when the boys find money it will be a battle to divide it evenly - or just well enough so that everyone gets something that will make the jar jingle. If you would like to help them in the efforts to make their jars jingle feel free - we are out of change!

*a wonderful compound that can be used on just about anything - to make anything - and in turns makes it nearly water proof - allows it to last a lifetime and well just a whole lot of fun to play with and try to think of things to use it with. The boys really love it and I LOVE trying to figure out things to make with it...I wonder if I can buy stock in it....

AM wakers...

2009-01-13T06:41:00.002-06:00

Our boys are early risers...However Silly Pants was NEVER as bad as Monkey is at this point. He has been continually getting up BEFORE 5am. The reason??? Who the heck knows...it doesn't matter if the kid goes to bed at 7 or 11 he still gets up at the crack of dawn...well before the crack even thinks of getting up.
I just can't figure it out. We had thought about an alarm clock and setting it - but then realized that if someone were to actually sleep past the sun rising then they would be awaken by the alarm. So we are getting the GoodNite Light. It is supposed to change from glowing as the moon to glowing as the sun when it is time to get up. So the boys would have a visual que on when they could exit their room and make noise.

Hopefully it ships quickly as I (and Husband) are lacking large amounts of sleep and well I would rather not feel cranky or short fused so often. It is not a feeling I enjoy and well as a household no one deserves to feel tired all the time or like Mommy is having a "bad day." Especially when it can be avoided by getting an extra hour of sleep.
You may suggest "why not slip a little Benadryle (totally the wrong spelling...by heck what do you expect from a woman that is lacking sleep??) in their water at night?" Well actually they have had it before and well...it did NOTHING...if anything it made them more antsy....Go figure...They are my boys after all. Short of giving them a bottle of Gin to down, this Lite is what I am laying my hopes, and with any luck dreams that I may have once again, on.

Baby signing...

2009-01-10T12:00:00.004-06:00

When my boys are big enough to eat food (which I swear is form birth) I teach them how to sign. Mini C has been doing really well at catching on to this.
We started with More, Please, Thank you, water, milk & eat...I think those are the basics...

Yesterday I was in the kitchen getting some things done with Mini C on the floor playing. He sounded as though he was going to be getting upset so I looked at him and asked him if he wanted something to eat (signing "eat") and gave him an arrowroot cookie.
It felt like less than a minute and he was making noises to let me know he had finished (I didn't really believe it as it was so soon...sure enough he had eaten it) so I acknowledge it and he signs for "more". I hand him a sweet potato nibble. He literally takes it from me squishes it with his hands drops it and signs "more." So I hand him another and he looks away. He then looks at me cautiously, as if to make sure I wasn't going to hand him another one of those, and then signs "more" again.
I than hand him another arrowroot cookie and he was happy as can be.

Now normally he loves the sweet potato nibbles...apparently that was just not what he wanted and well he did what he could to express that to me with being able to use words...I found it was very effective...

Moral of this story? Even a baby can say "hell no" to something. It just may not sound the same...

Blonde moment #1....

2009-01-09T16:10:00.004-06:00

So if you know me .... there will be more... but BF stated that maybe I should blog about this one...that got me thinking...I will blog about all of them then...why not? Who cares? I don't. Do you? If you do, well then oh well. It doesn't matter. So here we go...

I was talking to BF on my cell phone...Sprint to Sprint gotta love it! So the house phone rings 3 separate calls so finally I decide to answer it. I deal with the retard that kept calling and then needed to finish a thought I had to BF.
Problem then was...where did I put my stupid cell phone?? Yea, in the matter of 2 minutes that I had it put it down and dealt with the phone call I managed to misplace it. Go figure...oh and that's NOT the blonde moment I am taking time to type...

I decide fine - I am irritated I can't find it so I will call it from the house phone...I mean that is the fastest and most effective way to find it right? Yep!

So I hear it ringing and pick it up...wondering to myself...wait for it....wait for it....

I think to myself ......"Who the heck is calling my cell phone??"

Yep...That's right....I called it and I wondered who is calling me...all at the same time....

Nothing else I can say about that....

Bowling...

2009-01-07T09:12:00.005-06:00

So while Husband had time off for the holidays we had decided to take the boys bowling. They just opened a new Brunswick XL in Lakeville. Well we figured it was down past Hom Furniture. We were wrong...it is about 3 miles from our house! What a nice surprise.

So when we got there they told me it would be 1 1/2 to 2 hour wait (they open at 11 and we were there at 1130). Boy were we ticked...so the boys went with Husband to look at the arcade and see what else they had to offer. While they did that I went back to talk to someone...I mean we only wanted to bowl one game and really only needed to have the boys bowl.

Well I got up there and another lady informed me that if I only wanted to bowl for an hour that we could get a lane right away. WONDERFUL!!

So here they are enjoying bowling..

Here's Silly Pants using the wonderful ramp they provide - he got a spare!

Here's Monkey using the ramp - the kid got a strike! Seriously!!*

Here the two big boys are waiting as patiently as they can for their turns

Mini C did really well, he really liked all the lights...and well the food I fed him too...Monkey loved the whole thing. He already wants to go back again.

I didn't get a shot of Silly alone...he just wasn't havin' it.

*I will try to post a picture of the final score card today....

Illness has plagued our house...

2009-01-07T09:10:00.006-06:00

So this week has been less than wonderful. It started with Mini C vomiting all over me and then having pretty nasty diapers. Although through out this he was in great spirits and happy. So talked to Dr. N just to make sure I was doing what I needed to to keep him hydrated. So we ended the night with Mini C vomiting on me again.

Tuesday brought on the illness to both Monkey & myself. You ask - you? sick? Yep. I blame it on the fact that I have been lacking sleep and well my immune system was to firing 100%. But did it stop me from cleaning up Monkey, changing Mini or keeping Silly happy? Nope! Why not? Because I am the MOM. Need I say more? I think not...

So that night Husband came home early (oh have to give props to Brother who ran Pedialyte over to me on Monday when I realized Mini C wasn't doing so hot - THANKS!) to give me a bit of a relief and some Gatorade - as I was starting to get dehydrated as well as Monkey.

Here is Husband trying to steer clear of the impending illness he will so succumb to. Can we say Killer???

Here he is helping with Mini C - as I was not doing so hot at this point

So we get through the night - when I say get through I mean we were up most of it taking care of Monkey and now Silly who had succumbed to the illness. Yuck is all I can say. Well it could be worse. By that point all I had was a pretty strong head ache and a back ache. No more queasy stomach at least. Needless to say while I was taking care of the sick kids - Husband himself was taken over by the evil bug that reigned over our home.

Anybody who is married, dating or has a male relative they have lived with KNOWS that men are the worst to be sick. I would rather all three of my boys sick then Husband. Just the day before I was pretty bad and taking care of the three boys. Now Husband is ill (not nearly as bad as I - no I won't tell you why or why not...you don't want that much info) and he could barely hold his head up....So much for the strong, tough man right?

Wednesday starts with me finishing up my recoup and Monkey and Silly actually doing a bit better. Not totally but there is improvement.

Here Husband is with Mini C. Obviously sleeping. On the floor. Both of them sick.

As I think all is getting better - Thursday morning starts with Monkey & Mini C looking pale again. We just watch them and thankfully nothing really came of it. Husband stayed home as to not bring this nasty bug to work and to get some food in him as well.

So the moral of me telling you this? Besides having to document the first ever FULL house illness take over?

That if you are married, getting married or ever want to be married...know that your husband will be your worst patient....

Polar Bear Plunge

2009-01-04T08:03:00.004-06:00

So I am taking the Plunge!!! The Polar Bear Plunge!!!
This is something I had wanted to do for many years but hadn't been able to. So this year I am comitting to this. I am going to jump February 28th. I am going to jump into Lac Lavon in Burnsville.
My goal is to raise $1500.00 by that date. I will be working on attaining this goal full force. Any help will be hugely appreciated!

Does anyone want to join me? I would love to have others jump with me!
I think that this is a great cause and well - surprise surprise I think it would be fun as well!

Do I need to make an incentive of my own?? Well...to all those who chose to jump with me - The evening of the 28th I will prepare a yummy home cooked meal. It could be a celebratory dinner for the wonderful thing we did by particiapting and rasing money for the Special Olympics!

I challenge all who are not pregnant or ill (physically or mentally) to join me - those who are pregnant or ill are welcome to come on down and watch the event. If you convince your spouses to participate then you too would get dinner (and dessert!)

Please think about all I have said!

2008..what a wonderful year...

2009-01-01T07:07:00.019-06:00

Wow - I know that many people look forward to the new year - mainly because they are happy to see the previous year leave. I am not one of those people. 2008 was a wonderful year...it gave me so much more then I deserve (I will clarify....God gave me more than I deserve)

I think I am going to reflect on all that I gained in the past year, the memories that were made and the many joys I felt.

January - my little boy turned 4. What a crazy thing to think about. I couldn't believe he actually turned 4. It hardly seemed possible to me at the time. How could that boy - the one I carried for 38 weeks have turned 4. I watched him grow and learn - he was half way through his first year of preschool. He had a bowling party. He wanted it so badly. Boy was it chaotic...would I do it again..Yep in an instant. Here's a picture of him waiting for his turn to bowl...it was such a great time - watching him interact with his friends...My little boy turned 4....

March - what a month!! So where do I begin on that?? Well let's start with the celebration of my 5 year anniversary to Husband. 5 wonderful years...how blessed am I to have found such a wonderful man...one who is not with out faults but with so few the are hardly remembered. A man who is an amazing husband and father to our 3 boys. When I look at pictures of our wedding day, all the memories come flooding back as real as he is standing next to me now. To think it has already been 5 years...I don't know what my life would be right now had I not met him...I hardly believe it would be as wonderful and joy filled as it is. These past 5 years have flown by with wonderful memories and so many more blessings. I can only hope that the next 5 will be as wonderful.

For our anniversary we went out to dinner at Tucci Bennuch - the same restaurant we spent out first date at. It was a really good time. In the end we were surprised by wonderful generosity from one of our favorite restaurants - the manager,Kelli, took care of the bill. She said she loved our story, we had shared our story with the waiter, Steve, who was very attentive and friendly and apparently he had shared ti with her. So our night was made even that much sweeter by the kindness of two strangers.

Less than a week after celebrating our anniversary - another very big event happened. The birth of Mini C. What a crazy time. He, much like Monkey, decided to stay in a couple of extra days - maybe just to stay warm and toasty and hoping I didn't notice?? His birth with the topic of much discussion. SIL was pleading with him to stay in or get out before her birthday so that the two of them would not have to forever share the day. He obliged her. He came the day after. (Your welcome SIL) We actually went into labor at around 2am on the 23rd. As we were leaving to go to the hospital (If I remember correctly - and I am sure SIL will let me know - I believe SIL & Brother came and sat at the house while the two older boys slept - please SIL let me know if I got that right) ANYWAY as were were getting ready to leave Husband twists his ankle - so bad he is limping and really no use to help me walk. We walk into the hospital ER entrance (as it is late) and they offer HIM a wheelchair...Even though it probably was needed he said no - my wife is in labor and continued walking...What a GIVER. So we get up to labor & delivery and I am there for about an hour and they sent me HOME - Hello!?!?!? I know I was in labor. Whatever...So we go home send home the the "sitters." We go to bed and well wake up at 5:30am because well that's the time our two oldest like to get up. Now this day is Easter. Yes technically he was born on Easter - but to clarify - this will not happen again for 205 years. We get ready for the day and head over to BF's house. All the while I am having contractions a steady 2 minutes apart and well they are not fun. So we get there and everyone is sitting down for a wonderful brunch she prepared. They at the table and me on the comfy chair trying to stay comfortable. Prits is next to me - not doing so well herself (she doesn't handle others in pain very well) she is timing my contractions and giving BF the results. They are just under 2 minutes now, with the pain increasing. So again we decide to call the doctor and see about going back - I mean this is getting a bit much! So Dr. Evil calls back and is telling me I should just hang in there and wait because she doesn't believe I am in labor. Can you guess who takes the phone?? Yep - BF. Now if anyone knows BF they know she don't take S^%t from anyone - especially when it comes to her kids. Dr. Evil tells her that she doesn't believe I am in labor because I sound fine on the phone. Oh My!! The woman only met me once and that was 5 years ago....So she goes on to tell Bf that I can go in but she really doesn't think it necessary and maybe I should just wait. Bf goes off on the woman. It was quite funny - so much so that Brother got out of his room to find out what was going on. So finally we decide that since husband is "broken" the he will bring me and the boys home and BF will follow and then she will take me to the hospital and take care of things until they finally keep me there so we know Mini C will be arriving. So we go, I walk, we talk, I eat ice, and finally they say ok I can stay. So then it was time to find a place for the two older boys. Foxy Mama to the rescue...even though it's Easter she drives down to take care of Silly Pants and Monkey while we welcome Mini C. She then brought them up soon after so they could meet their new brother.Thank you Foxy! Oh - and I must add that Prits decided to be there for the delivery - and watched the whole thing! Surprised me! But I think that it was a good experience for her - she got to see Mini C take his first breath. How cool is that?

May - signified a change in weather (the year was a bit behind and well the weather didn't really start getting nice till May) We kicked off the summer with great food, family and fun at BF's house. Here's just a few pictures of the fun from that month....

The boys enjoying grandma's wonderful private outside!

Prits with the two big ones...Brother with Husband looking for their Frisbee! (not the 1st or only time)

May was also when Mini C was baptised. He wore the same gown that his brothers had worn - the one made from my wedding dress...and to my surprise there has been no fading or staining on it. After the baptism when Wise Man walked with Mini C down the center of the church he referred to him as Mini Coop...and well it was perfect - hence Mini C. After the service we invited everyone back to Bf's house for some food and relaxing. It was such a beautiful day so we were able to be outside and enjoy the weather.

Another event this month was the close of Silly Pants' first year in Preschool. It was a great year. He grew so much and came home with new things everyday. He loved it and loved making new friends. This is a picture of him after his finally preschool program.

It was so much fun and well it was kind of sad to realize that he was done with his first year of preschool and soon I would be thinking about Kindergarten...

August - This is the month of our annual camping trip. This year we invited Foxy Mama and her family to join us. What a great time.

Here the kids are fishing...forgot the bait - so caught nothing - still a great time!!!

September - Was the start of Silly Pants' second and final year of preschool. He started somewhere new as his original school closed. Now he is at CDLC and it is AMAZING. His teacher is wonderful and he is always excited to go.

October - We started our family birthday season. Starting with Husband and his 31st birthday. And well a week after that was my 27th birthday - hold on a sec...let me dwell on that a minute...27? Really? Now you may be thinking what does she have to complain about...well I am NOT complaining. I don't mind my age - actually I enjoy it. However it just seems like the wrong number, now i don't say that hoping my age was 20 or something. I just don't know how 27 is supposed to feel. I just see it as a number and well - the number stumps me...now whether or not you understood that brief run off doesn't really matter...because well...I get it...and well I do hope you understand...

So after my birthday we had to put a halt on the birthday festivities. Husband's grandfather past on the 26th. He was very close to him and well it was his grandpa. It was sad to have to say goodbye.

Then 2 days later we celebrated Prits' birthday! She turned 15 - wow....it hardly seems possible. In high school and getting to be a little less of a pain! Then it was Halloween. Not my favorite holiday...not really a holiday to me...don't care for it much at all. However the boys know what it is and well were terribly excited. As much as I don't care for it - it was wonderful watching the boys and their excitement and the fun they had. The things I do for my boys...

November - Well we start this month with Monkey's 3rd birthday. Yep 3. Another birthday I was not ready for. He has gotten so big and well he is a very strong willed little guy. He knows what he wants, likes and doesn't like and well everyone around will know too if they don't already. He has grown so much and gained so much knowledge in the last year. I love that little guy so much.

Next - you guessed it - Brother's 20th birthday! Wow. It hardly seems like he ever grew up. I remember when he was little trying to crawl through my door to sneak inside...now he is becoming a man and engaged and going to college with a future in law enforcement. Wow...

December - Well we just ended this month - but it too was wonderful - Celebrated BF's 29th birthday and had a great time. (as usual)

Then it was of course our day together to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Nothing like a day with my family!

Yesterday didn't go as planned. We normally spend it with Foxy Mama and her family. However our boys were not feeling well and found out neither was her little princess. So we ended up staying home. Bf decided to come over for a little while to cheer up our house. We all played with the boys until they went to bed (early cause they were not 100%) so then we stayed up and played games and ate and just had fun. She and Prits left around 10 and well I fell asleep on the couch with Husband - he woke me 15 minutes before midnight and well we kissed and went to bed.....

On to 2009 with high hopes, and the light of the Lord guiding our path.

What a wonderful time....

2008-12-28T08:10:00.008-06:00

Yea, another Christmas gone. So quickly it came and went. It was almost a blur. Thankfully I took pictures to keep the memories alive. I have always enjoyed Christmas time. I love the snow, the family time and just celebrating the TRUE meaning of the day.

So the day started early from Monkey - I heard him at 4am in the living room by the tree. I got up quickly and directed him back to his bed to sleep for a while longer. He actually went back to bed. So then at 530 I hear both boys playing and talking. Well Husband and I had bought them a train set and it was set up under the tree as a surprise so we wanted to get up and show it to them. As we are going into the living room Monkey says "Daddy can you start the train?" Go figure he had seen it at 4 that morning. Thankfully Silly Pants didn't know what he was talking about.

Here Husband is showing the boys how it works...here comes the train!!!!

The two of them were absolutely giddy about that train - both saying "look, look it's Polar Express!!!" Which was a good thing as we didn't want to actually buy the Polar Express train but were hoping that they would feel this one was the same.

Here's Mini C watching the train come around - and LOVING it & here he is opening one of his presents

After the joy of the train set in it was time to open presents. What a wonderful thing to watch. first they opened things from Santa. They got fun things, practical thing and goofy things. They each even got a movie - which they were thrilled about. Then on to what Husband and I had gotten them - First they opened their new pajama's...I love that they get excited about such little things. After that was "THE BIG ONE." Silly Pants has been asking for a scooter for the better part of this year. So yes, we did indeed get them each one (I never thought I would have twins...and as of now I don't, however, with two boys fairly close in age - if one has it the other has to have it...so of course we bought two of just about everything this year) Silly Pants went crazy! So much so that both Husband and I got a HUGE hug and a wonderfully sweet thank you.

After the excitement of it all we sat down and watched A Christmas Story until it was a little more into the morning and we could go to BF's.

We got there and started our traditional breakfast of egg bake, fruit and some other things. We also had champagne with orange juice...although we all agreed next time we had better get a higher quality one...then we all opted for Sparkling Apple juice and orange juice.

We had such a wonderful day...we opened presents after breakfast. The boys were so excited about all they got. The remote control vehicles were such a great thing...they LOVE running them around the house. We had left the boat at BF's but Monkey is insisting we bring it home so that it can go in the bath...I will be sure to take pictures and post them...it will be hilarious!!

I am in love with my knives...you ask me....Knives??? Yes I got knives.. They are freakin' awesome!! I am so excited I got them...I continually try to figure out what I can make so that I can use them...Truly wonderful!! Thanks BF!!

Husband got a new Gopher hat (thank you soooo much BF...seriously the one he had looked like it would fit Silly Pants better) and Gopher Shirt and pajama pants...Husband being the goof he is - refuses to wear them since they are new and they belong under the tree....Seriously??? - Yep!

Mini C got a Little people boat for the bathtub...I was unsure as to how he would respond..but when he is in there he grabs hold and doesn't let go...SIL, Brother & Prits got the boys a bathtub soap set thing from Crayola...oh my! They color themselves, the walls and Mini C!

Who cares though...it's soap and they are getting clean!!

Below are some pictures of the day and the good time had by all!!!

Here's Brother riding Monkey's scooter w/ Silly Pants around the dining room & kitchen

Here's Brother with Monkey - helping him learn how to ride his scooter...if you look Monkey has his left leg up - he REFUSED to put it down...so he spent the whole time like that...LOL

Here are Brother, BF, Monkey, SIL & Mini C lounging on the couch...

Husband spent a lot of time "relaxing" on his lounge with the boys... 1st w/ Silly Pants & then with Monkey...Look closely - Monkey is totally asleep...That will happen when you get up before the sun, take no nap and run crazy for hours!!

It was Brother's & Silly Pants turn for a nap...Brother napped on one side & Silly soon fell asleep on the other

Finally here is SIL - relaxing at the table with BF, Prits & me...

I hope your Christmas was as wonderful as mine - and I wish you a very happy new Year!!!

See you in 2009!!

Our first real time playing in the snow...

2008-12-19T06:49:00.005-06:00

Public Service Announcement-

So if you have been paying attention - I am a little behind on my blogging - so I will remind again, I am posting all that I should have in the past few weeks. So make sure you are scrolling down to see all that is new...

Knowing I am a bit behind - this blog actually happened a couple of weeks ago - so yes we have been going out side - it's not that we have been cooped up so far this season...

So if you had read my blog about winter you would know that we really enjoy going out at night. The first night it was a good temp with little to no wind we were out there!

Got the two big boys bundled up and shoved them outside while Husband got ready and I got Mini C ready. Mini C wasn't liking the extra layers that were required but as soon as we got outside he was mesmerized byt he falling snow.

As husband was clearing the deck off Monkey was playing with the snow on the slife and well...you guessed it - eating it! What is it about kids and eating snow? Unfortunately I just don't remember what the wonder is about that. But hey as long as it's not yellow snow all is well!

While Monkey was doing his thing Silly Pants decided that he was going to make a snow angel.

Although when he was done he needed a hand getting up so that he wouldn't break it.

Here husband& I are with Mini C

We didn't last to terribley long outside that night. He was tired and wanted to be able to roll around. So soon after I took him in so he could go to bed.

Here are the two big boys sledding down the hill in our back yard. It was so cute watching the two of them. Silly Pants would help Monkey bring his sled up and then they would either go down alone or Silly would hold the sled so Monkey could get on and they would go down together. I was so fun so fun to watch. It was so hard getting them in when it was time.

Although like any other time - you mention Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows and they pretty much go running!!!

So this was our first real night of fun in the snow!

Making Cookies....oh my!

2008-12-18T10:10:00.006-06:00

It's what time??? COOKIE TIME!! I don't know if I have ever been so entertained when making cookies...well maybe last year making them with BF & Auntie Viking but this is different...you understand.

So we decided to make Sugar cookies to start...I put my mixer on the table in the kitchen so that it was at their level and they could really help make them - start to finish. It was such a great time.

With this batch Silly Pants wore my apron (don't worry it was yellow) and he was in charge of turning on the mixer and helping add ingredients. Monkey was in charge of measuring ingredients and putting them in the mixer as well. (Mini C was sleeping through this process)

We got the dough made and let it rest in the fridge for 2 hours. Then it was Monkey's turn with my apron...

I got them each a ball of dough and they went to work. Silly Pants rolled and rolled and seemed to really like the different sizes I have for circles.

Monkey really enjoyed just eating the dough...he did make cookies though...and Silly also ate the dough!

Then it was frosting time - Monkey was not so happy about frosting pictures - he kept taking the bowl and hiding...imagine what he was doing???

Silly Pants on the other hand didn't feel the need to hide...he just stuck his fingers in and had at it!

The ones on the left at Silly Pants' (Like the colors Auntie Viking?? that was all HIM) The ones on the right at Monkey's can you see his quick job - mainly done so he could go ahead and eat them!

On to the next cookie - which actually happened the next day - Gingerbread Men! (Or women...well not in our house at least...or unfortunately...I am all alone...)

So we did not get the pictures taken of the actually preparation of them but these are the fun ones of it! Here Monkey is standing with a measuring spoon filled with the gingerbread dough...It didn't surprise me much that he liked it but it shocked the heck out of me that Silly Pants did. If you know him - he is not much for spice, or anything with a new flavor but hey he loved this!

So during this cookie preparation Mini C was awake and wanting to be involved...so Silly Pants got him involved - involved in eating the dough! I thought he might not like it - boy was I wrong. That boy wouldn't let his brother out of him sight...by his brother I mean which ever one was holding the mixer blade!

Again, we had to let the dough rest - this time over night. So the next morning we made the cookies after breakfast. That was by far the most fun they had had!!! Here is Silly Pants eating the head off one of his!

On the left is Silly Pants' finished Men. If you look closely you can see the jar of sprinkles he thought the guy on the right needed...Can we say dentist???

The ones on the right at Monkey's - he liked the jumbo confetti sprinkles and the color green (that may have been because I limited him, as he was eating every sprinkle I would give him) (When I say every - I truly mean EVERY)

So this was our first ever full on baking experience with the boys. They had a lot of fun and so did I. I know that they probably ate more of the dough than went in the oven, more sprinkles made it to their tongues then did onto the gingerbread men & that the frosting was more often snuck into their mouths instead of on the cookies...but who cares?? It was fun, creative and they were allowed to be little boys!

They are only this small for a little while and why not let them have fun!

Decorating the Chirstmas Tree!

2008-12-18T09:48:00.011-06:00

We went the went the weekend after Thanksgiving and got ourselves a tree...This is the first year we managed to do this task so soon...we are usually way behind - GO US!!

We went to pick it out and of course the boys only lasted 10 minutes outside - so we left Husband out side to pick one out while we found candy canes inside. (In case any one does not know, Husband was a boy scout and he would sell trees every year...well that translates into him trying to find the PERFECT tree - no matter how long it may take) Finally he found one that would be suitable for him...although I am certain he would liked to have spent $15 more to get the Fraser fir..but seriously $50 for a tree...not on my watch!

We get it home and put up. We MUST wait until the next day to decorate because it needs to settle. Does he know who he is married to? I mean seriously? Wait? I don't remember a year growing up that we did that but maybe an hour...but OK I will go along with it.
Finally Monday night we are allowed to decorate the tree. We got the bins out from under the crawl space - which took almost an hour by itself with the boys trying to "help" get the bins...LOL I was on the couch laughing the whole time!

Anyway to we all go upstairs and I pull the stuff out. Last year I started each boy with a container that has only their personal ornaments in it. That's what we had them start with...Monkey spend through his bin in record time

(Mind you there are only 9 in there but still)

Silly Pants...well...not so fast...I think he got 2 on and then decided he needed a break form what apparently was a very labor intensive task. (Who would have thought?)

While Silly Pants was sitting on the couch being a potato (LOL) Monkey was helping me and Husband get the tree all prettied up. As we were going through this task Mini C was right there...trying to eat all the ornaments.

He found that he was most intrigued with the snow flakes that were on the bottom...although I can't imagine they tasted that great.

So this is our tree...if you really take a good look at it you can see where the boys did the decorating...it is very "full" and well decorated on the bottom portion of it. Husband wanted to fix it when they went to sleep that night but I refused. They decorated it and to change it would be so mean. They were so proud when they finally finished it!

So now we have a beautiful tree decorated by our boys. Truly I believe this is our FIRST tree as a family. Reason being the boys are both so involved and are so proud of it - that it was a family thing not just a Husband and me thing. =)

Let's help out BF...

2008-12-18T07:41:00.006-06:00

OK so BF is a HUGE MercyMe fan...when I say fan that really doesn't accurately describe it...to put it better - she has flown to Florida to see them (after she had been there a month earlier on vacation) She has taken a road trip to Iowa to see them (seriously Iowa???), gone to Rochester and well it goes on and on....So being a MercyMe "groupie" she would also like to be officially labeled a S.L.O.B....what is a SLOB?? "Spectacular League of Bloggers" and well to become one you need people to go from your blog to MercyMe's blog. So I am BEGGING all of you to do this - After you get your entertainment fix from my Blog please go to My Mayhem's. After doing that PLEASE then go to MercyMe's blog from her list. If we all do this for her then she may have a shot of SLOB of the month for December.

I would like to entice you to do this - first - on MercyMe's blog Bart has posted his eight Christmas trees - there are pictures and notes and such...also - on their blog they have what they call Cover Tune Grab Bag which is HILARIOUS!! They sing big name songs and do it with a great bit of humor!

Second - since you will be doing me a personal favor I will give each and everyone of you a dessert of you choice (obviously with in reason - and on a personal -or at least your family size - level) Talk about incentives!!! How will I know if you are doing as I have pleaded with you...? She has a traffic feed - that will give me a good idea as you who is willing to help this charity.
Yes I said Charity - which means you could count this as your good deed for the month! Wow and you get a treat!! That is a nice trade - don't you think?

Thank you for reading this public service announcement...

Be prepared...

2008-12-18T06:55:00.002-06:00

Ok yes I know I have been slacking in my blog this month...I apologize (I recieved a few concerns that I was interupting entertainment) So I want to prepare you that between today and tomorrow I will be trying to update all that I hadn't posted. So when you come here to be entertained - please make sure you scroll down as there will likely be multiple new postings in one day. =)
So be ready to read - and comment!!!

Rejection...

2008-12-03T13:43:00.004-06:00

This morning was a typical Wednesday morning, we got up and they watched Disney for an hour while I got things moving. BF came over before work (not typical - but not that unheard of either) and sat with us as we ate breakfast and got ready to bring Silly Pants to preschool.
Both boys were terribly excited about the snow - I think that when they see it - it causes their little brains to go into over drive...

So they eat breakfast, we say goodbye to BF and off we go to preschool...

We are driving down McAndrews and Silly Pants is talking about what he thinks he is going to be doing at school today and how he loved having BF there at our house this morning. Then he says it -

"Mom?" SP
"Yes?" Me
"I think you should go to work." SP
"My work is taking care of you and your brothers and making sure you are safe and happy." Me
"But I think you should go to work, so that Grandma & Daddy can stay home instead." SP

How do you respond to being rejected by your almost 5 year old? Seriously - apparently I am taken advantage of by my sweet boy and that maybe I just bore him....Got to love him!

Not sure what to say now...just thought I would post it...if only to give you all humor...

The last 5 days...

2008-12-01T07:11:00.016-06:00

So obviously this past weekend was Thanksgiving - and boy do I have a whole lot to be thankful for (But that is another blog...)

We started the holiday weekend on Wednesday after picking up Silly Pants from Preschool and bringing home the class Guinea Pig, Rosie. The reason I chose this weekend to take her was that Husband and I decided that there will be no pets for the time being in our home. So as a treat we would take Rosie for the long weekend so the boys could have that "experience". They loved it!

Here is Rosie--->

Here is Mini C enjoying her - he wouldn't leave the poor caged animal be!

The boys got such a kick out of her - but I was plenty happy to return her today Having her for the long weekend was a great way to remind us why we don't want a pet right now!

So Wednesday night I wanted to make sure all was set up. We went over to Nurse Neighbors and got some tables and chairs. I wanted it set up on Wednesday - however husband was a bit head strong on waiting. We did it Thursday morning - Mini C helped... Then we got started on the day! Here they all are Thursday morning - can you see their excitement about helping me???

Husband - really not too excited about my prepping...Monkey just wanting food...Silly Pants excited knowing BF is coming!

Mini C excited about the new food...Prits wondering what the heck she was doing up so early...

Of course BF was the first to arrive - While she was helping get the house in order Silly Pants was drawing a picture of her - He even drew her brain...do you think it is drawn to scale? One will never know...

The following is a Pictorial of the day - there will be comments on some and not on others - doesn't mean I don't like or love them - but I mean how much can be said about a person stuffing their face with food?? I think that is pretty self explanatory!

Food time!

Mini C loving all the new foods! Auntie Viking, CK & Mini C (in case you didn't know)

Monkey picked out the turkey drum stick!

Mini C having his first bite of pumpkin pie! - Silly Pants & Grandpa w/a semi...

After we ate - we relaxed (well not BF, Brother or SIL - they had to leave - one to clean a house and the others to go to SIL's house) Then when everyone got back we played games - So much fun....everyone got to see Husband's competitive side come out! I hope he didn't hurt anyone!

Auntie Viking snoozing...picture captured by CK! Don't blame me!

Some pictures of game time - it was a lot of fun! I hope we can do it again...Does SIL EVER take a bad picture?? I mean she's got a goofy visor on!

Prits, CK, Monkey & Silly Pants playing with the race set (CK was pretty obsessed with it!)

Ok - Sunday night was rough. Silly Pants was looking pretty bad & Monkey did what he calls "spill" (aka threw up). So while Monkey was sleeping on the floor upstairs and Silly Pants was sleeping - we were playing with Mini. Husband was eating an orange and want to give Mini C some of it. So I cut it up so he could. This is a little video of how it went...please listen closely - Husband is holding in laughter the ENTIRE time!

Hope your Thanksgiving was as great as mine!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2008-11-27T05:51:00.002-06:00

So I went to be last night at 9:30 with hopes to get a decent nights sleep...apparently my children did not get that memo. Mini C got up at 1:30. Got him back to sleep. Then Monkey got up at 5:30. No luck getting him back to sleep. So I am pretty tired still. Will that stop me from making the food, laughing, smiling, having a good time?? Nope - not a chance. This is my holiday - actually I am pretty sure it's my favorite holiday. Yes, it is probably because I am in charge of almost* everything & all the credit (or all the blame) goes to me.

I have been doing Thanksgiving at our home for what will be 6 years today. It has always been Husband & I & which ever boy(s) were born (This year is Mini C's first!!!), BF, Brother & Prits - with the addition of SIL last year. Every year we have been blessed to be able to invite those that have no place (they want) to spend this wonderful holiday. This year I am most excited about our guests** - Uncle & Auntie Viking, CK & Funny Boy. Got a call yesterday as I was preping - as much as I could - from DD. The one year I forgot to verbally check to see if he was going to make it - he calls and says he is going to be in town at noon and wants to know what time we are eating. We now have a head count of 13 at the table (Mini C makes 14 but he is in the high chair) am I worried I will have enough food? Yeah right!!! Please - I could feed at least 5 more!

So as I am up so flippin early - I will go take a shower - get dressed - put on my make up - have a bite to eat and get crackin on the day. Because if I don't do it, who will? So I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving - be grateful fo rthose around you, the food you get to eat & that we we assurance in knowing that our Lord & Savior died so that we may live! Blessings to you!

*BF is bringing the mashed potatoes & yams (along with wine!) Auntie Viking is bringing Chocolate pie & glorified rice.
**I am so glad that they could join us this year!! They are by far my favorite of the people that have joined us for this holiday. Although I don't know if I would label them guests - I would hope that they were beyond that title!! Love you guys!

How big??

2008-11-22T08:16:00.003-06:00

So yesterday I got Silly Pants' preschool pictures back. I don't know quite how to describe how I felt. I don't think he looks like he is in preschool - heck I don't even think he looks like my little boy. He looks like a little man - as though he has grown over night and is no longer the little boy that needs mommy to help him with everything.

I look at this picture and realize that this is his last year of preschool - he will be going to the BIG school next year. For the record that scares the heck out of me - I am trying to figure out which school we will put him in...this is a decision that has been weighing heavily on me. I want him to have the best start he can - we had wanted to do private schooling but as we already have 3 boys and most likely will have one more it is not feasible - so I am looking into the schools around here. Thankfully from everything I am reading Burnsville schools are very good and have a high record of achievement...but some how that does not easy my mind. But that is a decision Husband and I will have to make before March.

Regardless of what we decide - he will in fact only get bigger & more independent. As much as that terrifies me - I know that if we do our job the best we can and he becomes a self sufficient little guy that's a good thing....but why is it happening so fast....

Winter...

2008-11-20T11:52:00.006-06:00

I truly am looking forward to winter. I love the snow, the cold, (not so much the wind chill - just that wonderful cold), taking the boys ice skating (although I am told we are building our own rink), going sledding, building snow forts, having snow ball fights, quality family time by the moon light and this year Silly Pants will be trying skiing.

The last two years we have had the most fun after dinner when its dark, the moon is up, the sky is clear and the moonlight is hitting the snow beautifully - almost as if it is daytime, we can see everything and the glow off the snow is so breath taking! We go out all bundled up and dig, shovel, push, form, mound, throw, toss, sculpt, create, bury, roll & have a wonderful time!

We will build snow men - most likely the whole family this year! I will have to remind the boys to keep their hats, mittens, scarves & coats on. Husband will have to save one - if not both - from a face first in the snow, some how it won't bother them - they will just brush off the snow and eat it. There will be snow angels to make and pictures to take. We (husband & I) will stay out until our bottoms start feeling numb and then have to convince the boys that it is time to go in and that we will be back out another night. The thing that will get them moving the fastest is hot chocolate - with a LOT of marshmallows. We will go in - trudging snow with us - peeling off the snow boots, mittens, hats, scarves, jackets, & snow pants - have to catch a sneaky sock that managed to stay in a boot - and grab our hot chocolate. (Mommy always remembers to put on the kettle with hot water before we go out - then it is ready when we return) The boys will take a handful of marshmallows - only a few will make it to the cup. They will huddle around it as if it were their own personal fire to warm by. Depending on how long they convince us to stay out we may throw a board game on the table (my guess this years game of choice will be Sequence for Kids) That will be our night - and with all hopes we will have many nights like that this year....

This to me is the best season - it allows for memories that can never be had in any other season. Yes, to some the weather is too cold, the snow is a nuisance & the days are too short. For me the cold allows for bundling & cuddling, the snow gives way to an endless imagination, with so many creative thoughts & although the days are short, the moon and it's light is given a beautiful canvas in which to paint amazing pictures.

To me this is probably the number one reason I love Minnesota. This year I plan on taking an obscene amount of pictures - if only to capture that one that will define the season for us this year...

Monkey's birthday...

2008-11-17T19:02:00.015-06:00

So yes, I am a bit late on this...but life is crazy with 3 boys and a husband!! ( I guess that would be 4 boys then right???)

Monkey is 3...really? How can that be?? I remember when he was born - I remember how little he was (well little compared to now) - I remember how much Silly Pants adored him.

We had his birthday dinner on his birthday - like always. We had my crispy chicken and mashed potatoes...yummy!!

Then we had a small birthday party on the Saturday following his birthday. Now unfortunately I did not get the pictures I would have loved to - I was busy running around and well just simply didn't remember. But here are a few - the ones I really like...

BF & Monkey getting ready to cut the cake!

Monkey stuffing his face with frosting!! ---->

Monkey strategically placing frosting prints on the door

CK eating cake! Ummm....good!!

Foxy & Princess eating cake - hey look at that smile on Foxy's face...what's she looking at?!---->

So here we see Brother, SIL & Auntie Viking. This is one of the rare times we will get a picture of Brother smiling!! Take a good look!!

So unfortunately I didn't get as many as I would have liked but I got a few. Either way Monkey turned 3 - will be going to preschool next year and he has gone a full week with no accidents!! What does this all mean??? well he is getting big and growing up (some would comment and say it means I think I need another baby...to easy your mind...no not yet!)

Escape Artist!

2008-11-12T16:30:00.005-06:00

So as you all know I have three boys. Silly Pants & Monkey give me a run for my money on a good day. They are what Foxy calls "Active Alert" I find that to be gentle but heck I will take it! With Mini C he is rather relaxed, mellow and goes with the flow. Always smiling and laughing and loving the people he knows. So I was thinking " Oh a boy who is going to be laid back and just kick back where I put him." Maybe not!

Yesterday I needed to get a few things done the all three boys just kept getting in the way so I figured I would put them in their room and put the gate up to "lock" them in. Well there is a base board going up the stairs so I had to place the gate a bit higher up so it would hit the wall... There was a gap on the bottom, nothing big enought to actually get under but more than I would have liked.

So I am getting things done and look up into their room. I see Mini C's hand - but it's in a funny position - one that I can't figure out - I mean with him in the room I should nto be able to see his hand that way....

Here you go - take a look - see what the little stinker did -

And here he is after - so proud of what he did - he got his mommy back!! All I could do is laugh and smile and realize that now that I have three moving boys!

As you can see the little guy was pretty smart...so much so that he did it twice!! What a smart boy...must get it from his mommy!

All I can think and say is that I am going to have to start keeping a better eye on him.

Bath time~~~

2008-11-10T20:20:00.019-06:00

So we have been without a bath since around February - now that does not mean that our boys are that horribly dirty (well they could be but it wouldn't be from lack of water) They have been showering daily with either Husband or Myself....let me just say - not so great!! But we did what we had to in order to have clean, happy boys.

Last week I finally finished hooking up the plumbing part of the tub (I had been putting it off because I was scared that I would mess up the copper part of it) Being that the tub and faucet works I obviously didn't - GO ME!!!

The minute I got the water flowing last week the boys were pulling their clothes off asking to jump it. Needless to say I have the cleanest kids ever!!

Tonight after dinner it was bath time - wash hair, play, splash, be kids!! Happy Mama & Drummer Boy had gotten Monkey a pretend shaving kit for his birthday (which I will blog about tomorrow...one at a time people I only have so much time on my hands!!) So here is a blurb of how it went!

Here Silly Pants is using a bath crayon to make music - got to love it!

Monkey shaving and apparently shaving Silly Pants' back!

As you can see the boys fully enjoyed the bath and the shaving kit Monkey got for his birthday !

Got Tat??

2008-11-05T20:22:00.009-06:00

Well I do! My birthday present - one that I will NEVER be able to forget! I went tonight with BF and we both got one. What do you think? I love it - I am so happy about it.

So you want to know how it went? It was funny...although I don't know if the true humor will come through via typing...but what the heck!
So BF and I met at Arch Angel at 6pm. This is also where Brother got his tattoo on the back of his neck a few years back.*** So we go in to look again and verify that we know what we want - I mean it is forever!! BF is looking at this one - let me describe....it literally looks like a stick cross - nothing but two little lines...why did she like this one??? Because it would be fast and she figured it wouldn't hurt much....can we say Wimp??? I didn't hear it !

So I finally convince her to pick another one - one with a little personality but nothing crazy - Viper says he can do it but will alter it to be a bit more perfect - Wonderful!

She gets in the chair and looked so hilarious! I could see how nervous and afraid she was - especially after he got the needle ready...he started, she jumped, he told her not to do it again or her tattoo would be rather funny looking...she got used to it and made it through. A wonderful tattoo may I say....I will ....well if you looked at the link...we have the same one....some will make fun of it, but ultimately I love that cross and I got it to symbolize my faith in Christ and if she has the same one then so be it ! We both wanted to have a visible symbol and just so happens that we liked the same one - yes I will admit she got it first but who cares!

My turn - I get in the chair and no I didn't jump, I sat there - be it that is was a very different feeling and well if I found a tattoo I liked I would go through it again but if I may describe the feeling....it was what I would imagine acupuncture would feel like... I will admit part way through he did have to tell me to stop looking at BF because when I would move my upper body my leg would move slightly...so there I was facing Viper...

I got into my truck at 7pm after completing my tattoo and until tomorrow at 7pm I am fasting, I am fasting for Christ and as a symbol of my faith. So only water for the next 24 hours. I don't think that it will be much of a problem as I am fully aware of the extra insulation I carry on a daily basis.

Oh just to add - Both Silly Pants and Monkey were up when I got home and well they were both quite intrigued with the tattoo - Monkey kept asking my where my stamp was!

***Editorial correction - It was SIL who has corrected me on where we found out about Arch Angel she has stated that e following - "my mom, my aunt, my cousin, my other cousin, me, you, your mother" I would like to thank SIL for that correction!

If I get to decide...

2008-10-30T06:48:00.003-05:00

If I get to decide - you will either be cremated or if not you will NOT have an open casket. After witnessing my first wake - and what will be my first funeral today - I don't understand why anyone would want a wake or an open casket.

I do not want my last memory of you as - what I thought looked like - a waxed version of a person. Your soul will be with our heavenly Father - what is left is - as a friend said - a shell. Yes, I know this sounds heartless and cruel (let it be known I would never say this to ANYONE going through the loss of a loved one - it is just how I feel)

As we were at the wake, it seemed to me that all that happened was that people came and went, had what was casual conversation while there was a casket in the room. Why can't we just remember the person and give our condolences to the loved ones of the person that passed at the funeral? Why must we stand in a room and stare at what is left behind when we go to be with our Maker?

Let it be known that I am in agreement with BF (& from what I hear Brother as well) that I want to be cremated. I don't know if there is anythign in the bible about cremation (I will check with the Wise Man on it just to be certain) but I would think being that this is not our perfect body and it is only temporary that there would be no reason we could not be cremated.

That is that....

Drained....

2008-10-28T12:55:00.004-05:00

So the last 5 days have been emotionally, physically & mentally draining... Husbands grandfather was admitted into the hospital on Saturday morning and told he only had a week to live. So we decided that we would go to the hospital on Sunday, since we had a birthday party that we were going to and we had already planned on seeing him then anyway.
So we get home from the party Saturday night and there is a message from his brother and from his mom, he grandfather will most likely not make it through the night. We call Nurse Neighbor and she comes over so stay at the house while Silly Pants and Monkey sleep. We took Mini C with us - we just didn't know how long we were going to be gone for and didn't want him to wake up with out me.
We book it to the hospital - when we get there his eyes are closed and they say he hasn't been a wake in a while. Husband gets next to him and he just opens his eyes - it was so wonderful. Then he cracked a joke - "I'm not done yet huh?" It was so wonderful that Husband was able to have that last moment with him - he was that last one his grandfather set eyes upon.

We stayed at the hospital till 12:30am Sunday morning...needless to say we were both exhausted when the boys woke up that morning. We decided that to maintain normalcy in the house we would bring the boys to Sunday school and then go to the hospital after that when we dropped the boys at BF's house. Well I got a call from church saying Monkey had a big accident and was embarrassed (which is odd because he had never had one that big) So I decide to just get both boys and go back to BF's - When I get back Husband calls the hospital to let them know we are coming now - He had died at 10:30am - 15 minutes before he called. So we left right away to get to the hospital. This whole thing is new to me - and being they never liked me much anyway it made it even weirder - I was there but I know they didn't want me there, but I was there for Husband and Husband only - I don't know what to say, do or whatever. It is all new and slightly confusing. I know it is sad when someone dies - however shouldn't it be a happy time too? If the person gets to a nice old age (and was able to see their great-grandchildren) shouldn't there be some sort of happiness for them, knowing that they are going to be with our maker? I know that we are sad and selfishly wanting them to be with us - but wouldn't a better reaction be "Bastard got there first!" =)
I am not usually a very black & white person but I feel like to ME this is a black & white issue. As long as the people I care about live a nice long life - when they die, Yes I will be sad and miss them but at the same time I am going to be so overjoyed that I know they are with Our Lord and Savior, living in their perfect body and enjoy the heavenly eternal life. So I have been pretty much just staying quiet, I know that my own thoughts are not that of others and I would never intentionally say or do anything that would cause more saddness right now then there already is.
So even though I was not close with him, because Husband is so upset (rightfully so) I am finding myself drained and unable to maintain a clear thought either through this time.
What's next?
The wake & funeral - they are this week, thankfully I was able to nail down someone to watch the boys for both - a big thank you to BF & Happy Mama! At least I know that Silly Pants and Monkey will be happy and having fun. Mini C with of course be with us - but at least that will give me something to focus on - since no one in that family talks to me....
So for now I will just stay quiet and reserved (Yes me!) and help Husband get through this rough time....
There are a few other things to post on relating to this, but that will be another time....

Crawling....

2008-10-23T09:50:00.004-05:00

So today Mini C actually crawled forward...he didn't scoot, do the worm, he didn't just roll around and fall forward...he crawled - be it slowly but he did it...

So what next? A more watchful eye on that little guy - because once he truly realizes his potential I see him racing for his brothers at lightening speeds with no regard for location. Which in it self terrifies me...there are no more runs to the bathroom, down stairs to switch laundry, none of it - because you know the minute I do anything that is not within his eyesight he is going to book it - being that we have stairs...not a good thing...

Yes you may think "Why not put up a gate?" Yes very nice idea - however at the present moment the banisters on each side of the stairs do not match and the sizes are significantly different - so much so that a gate won't stay on. So I am left with keeping him with in arms reach when we are near stairs...which means....ALL the time bring that we have 3 sets of stairs...

Putting the new list of things I need to worry about aside - which is quite extensive and another blog of itself - this is wonderful, he has hit a new milestone and made a huge acomplishment. He is growing and it is such a blessing to be able to watch...but again I would like to say that it is all happening far to fast for my liking...I think a slower pace would be nice. So until next time....

Task oriented little one huh????

2008-10-16T20:13:00.020-05:00

OK so my blond Monkey is a task oriented little guy - you give him a specific task and he will do it till it's done. Example - last Saturday we were at the corn maze at Minnesota Harvest and well in the maze all the corn is still on the stalks and dried out. So Husband took the husk off an ear and gave it to him - the boy walked the entire time (I think he had to switch to a new one at one point) picking the individual corn kernals off the cob - by the time we found our way out and were on the tractor back to the actual orchard he had just finished his second. He was in such a focus - I think I could have offered chocolate and he wouldn't have heard me!

So anyway - we were outside and Silly Pants & Monkey saw the leaves on the ground and said they wanted to rake a pile like Clifford the Big Red Dog - so they could jump in them....Well I got the two rakes we had out and gave each of them one....Below is a photo journal of how it all went...

As you can see from the above - Monkey did the raking - now for HIS reward!

Heading for the pile he worked so hard to create!

throwing the leaves & Rolling around in them...

Watching him was so delightful...apparently to Silly Pants too...because guess who came over and saw all the fun Monkey was having...(he hadn't participated previously because he didn't want to rake)

Silly Pants now gets his hands dirty and helps rebuild the pile so they both can play!

Now they both are enjoying the fruit of their labor. To the left - notice Silly Pants is mid air in the photo!! Well Monkey - he has already landed!! The two of them were having so much fun - I love seeing the way they interact -

This picture pretty much wrapped up the day - the two of them flying high with their energy, their love of being outside, their love of Jesus (Silly Pants yelled on more than one occasion for Jesus to blow on the trees so they could have more leaves!), their love of each other & their love of life!

So as Mini C & I gazed on with smiles and cheers - I know that I need to cherish these moments - let them get dirty, scrape a knee, get grass stains & wrestle because there will be a day - not for many years - that they will no longer play as they do now with each other...yes with hopes they will still play with one another - but it will be in a different manner - more mature, more structured - so we enjoy these days - the weather that is here and the ability to get out and be together! If only I could put a brick on their little heads to slow down the process...

Monkey will be 3 in only a matter of weeks - Silly Pants will be 5 in January - well Mini C is already 7 months....it all flies by.....

My favorite time....

2008-10-15T13:31:00.021-05:00

Autumn....it truly is the best time of the year...I love the leaves falling, the change of color, the options for clothing! This is the time of year I think my body temperature is truly as equal as it will get. Anyone that knows me - knows that I am a living, breathing, walking furnace (well that's what Husband calls me) I wear my chaco's until the first snow fall - and the only reason I stop then is because I can't expect my boys to wear shoes if I don't....the things I give up as a mom! =) It's like the world is saying get ready for the cold - but be sure to enjoy me for just a few more weeks...The only down fall to autumn is that it is dark so early - by the time Husband gets home from work the sun is down - so that is probably the only that I can count as a con for this tiem of year....but hey - it means that we have to be more creative in our activities we want to do as a family during the week!!

Overall I love this time...I mean how can you look out side and see the beautiful trees - the colors!! and not just know that God exisits?? I mean the sheer beauty of it all....mind boggling how someone could believe that it is all chance....and not God's glorious canvas spread out for our viewing....I will forever wonder.....

The crispness in the air - sheer comfort for me! So today (as like the last many days) we took a walk before lunch - burn off energy (which mind you has never actually happened...I am holding out hope!) get a little excersize, breath the fresh air, have a little fun & today we decided to collect cool looking leaves! (not my photo - I forgot to take one so I am using someon elses!)

So we go down Judial to this little pond (although I don't know if any fish inhabit it - kind of gross looking to me....) and there are lots of tree's scattered around. It's a fun place for the boys to run around, play tag, hide & seek and roll around. I forgot my camera the last few times we went but I remembered it today and well - looking at the pictures just brings a smile to my face...they are so silly and goofy! So below are a few of the photos from our walk =) Enjoy....I know that I did =)

Mini C enjoying the weather! Monkey relaxing! Silly pants being....silly!!

The boys rolling around in the leaves....

Silly Pants is much faster at rolling than Monkey!
Silly Pants caught up to him!

Silly Pants taking a break from the rolling...

Monkey prouding showing off his leaf! -->

The Boys after we got home, having a snack and warming up...it was a bit crisp at noon....

Punkins???

2008-10-14T20:11:00.011-05:00

On Saturday we went to the apple orchard and got apples and pumpkins (forgot my camera so didn't want to blog about it - but going back and won't forget the camera!!!)

So tonight we decided to carve the boys two little pumpkins (saving the huge one for later)

To start Monkey calls them Punkins - he sounds so darn cute! So we have started saying it like that....I know...but it's hard not to!

Monkey hording his "Punkin" Silly Pants getting ready!

So we get their pumpkins ready to go I carve off the tops and we start scooping...errr...when I say we I mean Husband and I - Silly Pants wouldn't touch the inside (even with major bribes!!) Monkey only wanted to take the seeds out of the pile Husband dug out (he knew I was going to roast them to eat!!) (ummmm......)

Honestly I think Mini C was more involved in the prepping of the pumpkins then his brothers -

What do you think?? Tasty??

We get them all scooped out and we draw out different eyes, noses, & mouths so that they can pick what they want us to carve....I think that honestly took about 20 minutes...there is apparently a lot of thought that goes into deciding what your pumpkin will look like...Who would'a thunk??
Monkey "helping me carve his pumpkin!

We get to carving and get them all done up the way they want them - thankfully it was easy and actually quite fun!! Besides the fact that Silly Pants wanted nothing to do with the inside of the pumpkin - he is quite proud of what he picked and how it looks!

Monkey showing off his completed pumpkin!

Silly Pants' finished face!

Mini C had to show off his excitement about it all too!!

So as you can see we had a great night - lots of fun - carved pumpkins and wonderful family time....so until next time!!

Gerber...not that Grrreat!

2008-10-14T13:58:00.004-05:00

Alright - a rant - a frustration - an angering situation - what should I call it?

So BF is watching the boys on Friday night - while I was waiting for Husband to finish what he was doing I was talking to her and feeding Mini C some Gerber Graduates puff things. So she asks if I knew where they are made? Good question right? I mean with all the scares from China and the tainted this and the contaminated that seriously when will it stop? (or when will we stop excepting things from this horrid place) (another issue for another time)
So I call the number on the container to ask - Amanda a very nice lady answered - I asked her where the the Gerber FOOD items grown and packaged? She tells me that ALL of the Gerber food is grown here - with exception to banana's which are grown in Costa Rica (I think I can live with that) and they are all processed in the good 'ol US of A. GREAT!! Thank you Amanda for the info I am so happy to hear that! Good bye!

So I hang up and tell BF the good news....but wait - she asks - "where are the containers made?" Excellent question - why didn't I think to ask that??? Because I was so happy about the food being USA!!
So I call back and get Amanda again (What are the chances!!) Amanda where are the containers - specifically the plastic ones made? Puts me on hold....music...pause....music...Jennifer?? yes?
I am sorry to tell you right now it says that that is proprietary information - can i get your info and call you back Monday when the appropriate people get in and can give me an answer - the computer is just saying it's proprietary. Ok! I can do that thanks...she takes my info and off with me night....

Monday comes....get a call....is this Jennifer?? yes....Jennifer this is Amanda from Gerber I am just calling you back about your question...Yes?? I am very sorry to tell you but they are telling me that it is proprietary information and will not release it. Seriously Amanda? They won't release it? Yes Jennifer I am sorry. Thank you Amanda for looking into it for me - I am sorry to say that I will no longer be using ANY of the Gerber products. I'm sorry to hear that Jennifer but I can understand...thank you thank you Goodbye.........

Are you FREAKING kidding me?? So I am sorry but if they are not releasing the info doesn't that seem a little fishy? A little weird??? Is that pretty much saying "WE PRODUCE THEM IN CHINA!!!"??? So as of now - I will no longer be buying any of their products.....sucky because we liked using the Graduate things....so I will look for another brand...and you bet I will be calling those companies to find out the same info.......

Until then - I will continue to MAKE all of Mini C's baby food (just as I did with Silly Pants & Monkey) and I will just stick to Cheerios's and Kix for the little finger snacks...for now........

One year older....

2008-10-13T06:46:00.003-05:00

So today is my birthday - yep - I am 27 today. Seems kind of weird...I don't feel 27 - heck I don't even know what I feel...but 27 doesn't feel right. Now I don't have an issue with my age - I embrace it - I mean it's not like I have any control and well frankly if I wouldn't have gotten older I wouldn't have met Husband and I wouldn't have given birth to 3 beautiful boys. So really turning 27 is a blessing of sorts.

What's the plan for today? Well same stuff as normal - why wouldn't it be? Silly Pants has preschool - Monkey, Mini C & I have to go to ..... you guessed it Target...to get food. After that on to a moms group at church. Pretty boring I know - but it is life and life doesn't stop because I get another year older...

I think may favorite thing about my birthday is dinner!! Going to BF's to have my manicotti drooling.....!! She makes the best manicotti drooling....! This is the meal I have had since I was 12 - we only have it on my birthday - a puddle has now formed.....So after nap I will pack the boys up and of to BF's house we will go. That will be the highlight of my day - though that may seem sad and pathetic...it is NOT!!

So on with the day - the one that started with a happy birthday from my Husband (and well a 12am text from Princess wishing me a happy birthday) until next time....

Date Night....

2008-10-11T19:30:00.006-05:00

So finally Husband and I got a date night....we haven't had an actual one since Christmas - when i was pg with Mini C. I have to say it was wonderful - long time coming. It is nice to be able to sit and enjoy a relaxing dinner and talk about things other than - I have to pee, I dropped my crayon, he's sitting to close to me, I'm hungry, I want pop, or any other thing those little boys come up with..

So the night started with BF & Prits coming over to watch all 3 boys...yes all 3 (seriously shocked we got them over here to do it!) Thankfully Mini C ate a little earlier than normal and fell asleep, so he was a no maintenance boy all night. So we left Silly Pants and Monkey to make BF go crazy - because when she is around they NEVER stop...they both get so darn excited and have to have her attention the whole time...any way that could be it's own blog.

So we went to Wildfire (we got birthday gift cards from them so we thought we would try it) (Oh did I mention this was a birthday date night?? His was Oct 5th and mine is coming up)

I was smart and made reservations...good thing I did the wait would have been 45 minutes. So we were seated right away - WONDERFUL!!

So we sit and the waitress brings us some bread and our water. We are looking at the menu and discussing what we want to drink and it hits me......I forgot my ID!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously? I mean my night to relax and have a drink with my Husband and I forget it?? Can we say brainless?? So I am sitting there frustrated wondering what I am going to do - I don't know if they are really strict and ask everyone (I mean I know I don't look 21!! Come on now....don't try to lie) So when the waitress gets back Brian asks her a question about beer - here's my chance....I say "this is so great this is our first night out in 6 months, my mom is with our three boys and well this is a long time coming" Smart huh??? I just layed that foundation for her...I'm a mom of 3 boys (I know I don't look 21) and well need I say more?

Brian orders his beer and I go ahead and order my Mai Tai....and voila!

She didn't ask and brought us our drinks...Now yes, it could just be she wouldn't have asked either way but at least I layed that foundation....So not 15 minutes later a married couple comes in and is stilling at a table near us, she is obviously not under 21 and neither is he...but they both got carded! Yea!

So anyway one with the date night story. Husband decided - Surf & Turf..(YUCK!!) Fillet Mignon & lobster tail - The fillet was amazing...didn't try the tail ( I mean it was still in the flippin tail!!!) and a HUGE baked potato. I have the Mushroom crusted pork chops with mashed baby reds. Can we say YUMMY!! The mushroom part was delicious - you could taste the baby bellas & shitake's in there...so yummy.....So we ate slowly with no rush or sense of urgency to leave.

Dinner is over and we are thinking...we're done let's finish our drinks and head out...nope can't do it she brings us the dessert tray and well....they had this amazing apple raspberry skillet pie thing with ice cream and homemade caramel sauce (seriously if you ever go have that!!!) So we order it and sit back....

As we are talking I see who looks to be Drummer Boy with his dad walking our way. So it is - I guess it could be expected being he and Happy Mama live less than a mile away. They are there with his family who is up from Iowa having a dinner - how nice....so Happy Mama comes over and we are able to talk for a few minutes before they leave...what a nice surprise...

So dessert comes....oh my....even better than we thought...we just kept eating it...I know we were both stuffed from our amazing dinner but seriously who in their right mind would let a delicious derssert such as that go to waste??? Certainly not either of us!!! So we finished it... Now being that I have not had anything with any major amount of alcohol in it - I was nursing my Mai Tai pretty slowly. So we were able to sit there talking and relaxing for another good while until I finished it....and you bet....I did finish that! And it was gooooood...

So we had a wonderful dinner and when we got home the boys were relaxing with BF and a movie - we put them to bed - then we went to bed......it was a really wonderful night and I am hoping we can do that again in a few months!

Ugg...

2008-10-08T06:49:00.006-05:00

Why? Why can't make beautiful boys sleep in? They had been doing so well sleeping till almost 7am (yea I know to most standards that is not sleeping in - but if you had been used to a 5:30am wake up well then...) Today they came out of their room bright eyed and happy at 6am....toooooo earrrlyyyy!!! Add on to that the fact that Mini C is teething and not sleeping well (which in turn means I am not sleeping well) I feel like I am on autopilot. Going through my day with out actually participating in it.....

mmmmm...coffeee....

I would love to down a bunch of coffee or a caffeinated beverage however two things stand in my way...
One - I am still nursing and well I would not do that to my little man

Two - Caffeine does absolutely nothind for me. I can drink it and no effects...sucky huh??

So I am left with taking a shower to wake up at least part of me - eating some breakfast to get some energy - and getting on with my day....if you had read my lastest blog you would know that includes dropping Silly Pants off at preschool, & going to Target for food (and diapers!!) (Can't forget those today!!)

Why do we blog???

2008-10-07T14:45:00.010-05:00

I found myself asking this question today while talking to Foxy today. She has finally started a blog - which I thought would be a great idea...I mean she does everything - and man I think her blogs could be quite hilarious!!

So on to answer the question.....

I blog for a few reasons - to rant (obviously!), to just get those random thoughts out of my head, & to just post things that may be going on around here. I did not start my blog to write down every days activities and events....That would be rather boring...

Example being

Monday - Drive Silly Pants to preschool, take Monkey & Mini C to target to get food
Tuesday - Do art project with boys, do laundry, clean up house

Wednesday - Drive Silly Pants to preschool, take Monkey & Mini C run errands

Thursday - Go to play area, zoo or other place to burn off energy (which never happens!)

Friday - Drive Silly Pants to preschool, take Monkey & Mini C to target to get food

I mean seriously who wants to read that?????Half the time I don't even want to do that same schedule!! (Can we say spontaneity??) not a very good option in our house hold on a week day. unless we spontaniously go to BF's - but thats not very spontanious either - we do it quite a bit=) love it

So as you can see on my previous blogs, I rant, rave, and pretty much show you all how crazy I am on a day to day basis....but isn't that real? Isn't that what's fun to read?? Isn't that just plain better?? It's me - unfiltered, unhinged & just me! take it or leave it, for better or worse....

now it's your turn - why do you blog?

P.S.

With that question I urge Foxy to step out of her comfort zone...start typing....start with something simple...let it all out!!! be true to you and don't hold it in - I want to know all that is going on!!! Rant, Rave, go insane!!! I will still Love you in the morning!

Brains anyone????

2008-10-06T19:31:00.002-05:00

So I am a mom, I am a mom of 3 boys under 5, I am a mom who is most of the time fairly intelligent but seriously where is my brain!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Where did it go? Did I push so hard when delivering my boys that it actually left my body? Did they accidentally remove part of it when I had my appendectomy? Did it disintegrate while getting my hair done? Where did it go?

I used to be able to finish all my thoughts with out stopping to remember where I was going (Or where I had been) I was able to remember EVERYTHING (I can still remember a whole lot but not nearly the same) I was able to problem solve, walk, eat a sandwich & check my calendar. When did those days change??

I WILL TELL YOU - When I became a mom.
Now don't get me wrong - I LOVE being a mom, I love my boys, I love my life. But seriously was the loss of my brain the cost? Is that a fair exchange? Was that a fair swap? Who decided such a thing? I am not saying I wouldn't do it again - because I would. But how can one function and maintain these three boys with out a properly functioning brain? I just don't see how it is possible.

My most in depth conversations consist of the following topics -
Do you have to go stinky?
Get off your brothers head
No, You can't go outside with no pants on
Do you have to go stinky?
No jut because Curious George climbed the building - doesn't mean you can
Cake is not something you can have for breakfast (or lunch - or dinner) (Unless it's your bday!)
No you cannot cut your own apple
Where do you go stinky?
No don't poke Mini C - he is sleeping!
No the sky is not falling - and no the aliens did not drop a panel.
You have to ask Grandma for that
Come on - let's go stinky!
That's just a few

So if there is a day you call me, if I seem eager to talk (even though exhaustion is spewing from my side of the phone) please talk or at least say something that does not resemble the above mentioned topics - so that I may regain a fraction of what I have lost. Because I fear once I lose it all - I may not be able to regain it.........and what a sad sad day that will be......
So if I cannot remember to say it later.....Good bye - I have loved you all.......until a time when I may feel the joys of a good conversation......

In Laws...does it ever end???

2008-10-02T15:06:00.005-05:00

Ok so now it starts...birthday season...holiday season...IN LAW season....now if you are reading this and don't exactly know me personally I will give you an over view as to the in law situation...
Meant the in laws (mainly mother) - she thought my sister was my daughter, she told me Husband couldn't put anything together, told husband that he shouldn't be marrying me, gave me a Lane Bryant gift card for my birthday, the list is truly endless (I mean I didn't even touch on my husbands sister....)...anyway

So Saturday night is when we are doing Husbands birthday dinner...BF, Prits, us & his parents will be there (Brother is at school & SIL has to work) In the past just thinking about his parents (mainly his mother) coming to our home makes my stomach turn and I start to feel sick (example anyone?? when I was 8 months pg with Silly Pants they came over for Christmas and I started having false contractions while she was here pounding down on Husband) So at least I am not PG right? (no comments from you BF) But I have gotten better in recent months - I have kept a phone conversation with her on more than one occasion and even went over there too....if you know me you know this is a feat for me...so why is it I am back to feeling horrible that they are coming??

Maybe it's because when they do come - they push aside our true family (by true I mean the ones that are there for us day in and day out, the ones that love us even though we are flawed, & who we can count on for anything) Maybe it's because it's all phony...I have married their son - yes it is true - but even though we have now been married for 5 years (holy crap 5??) I am still not looked apon as a member of that family. I am an outsider that has abducted their son, taken him from the Lord(hello people??? not to brag but he went back to church after he met me!) - the one they treated like crap, that they don't see as wonderful, the one they don't deserve to call theirs. Maybe it's because when we get a card for the both of us they ALWAYS write - Mom and Dad & Her and Him (you get the idea) .....who does that??? but then again we didn't get married in their catholic church so maybe they truly believe that we are not married...and which would then mean our children are bastards??? how does that sound??

Either way they will come, I will put on a smile, feed them, talk to them but know this - I will be so glad when they leave and it is back to our family once again.....

But the story doesn't end there - oh nope it doesn't....
So when we bought our house - I decided to be the preparer of Thanksgiving dinner!!! (ok BF wasn't thrilled at first but came around) So every year we invite them and nope they don't show up, they say that they are spending it with their family and they would rather we spend it with THEM not them spending it with US...ok???what the hell?? So that holiday goes wonderfully with just BF, Prits, Brother & SIL - the ones that matter....
Next is Christmas - so as most of you know..Christmas Eve is BF's birthday (no I won't post her age....oh but tempting...) so that day is HERs - only hers..we don't not do anything Christmas related on that day....you can not pay me any amount of money to do so. Just as husbands day is coming up and mine as well those are our days - as is December 24th is hers. So then Jesus' birthday is spent by us getting up, spending time with the boys and then heading over to Bf's house for a day of food, fun and family...it is always a good time and we are usually there for about 12 hours...I know!! kind of weird but it's the one day that it just doesn't seem that long...well at least not for us..you would have to ask BF how she feels about that one...
Ok so having said all that - I ALWAYS plan a special day when we can invite Husbands side of the family (when I say side I mean it..aunts, uncles, cousins all of them!) This has happened every year since we have been married and besides the first year, every year after his mother has directed the family to not come - because they feel again....that we should spend it with them not them with us??? seriously what the hell??? So again this year I will plan a party - and this year I will plan it even earlier with hopes that we get on peoples schedules in time and we can throw a good time for those people....

So the moral of the enormously long post...I will am going to have to grin bare it for the next few months to show that I am a good Christan woman, wife, & mother and that even though they are evil people filled with anger and bitterness - I am a good, happy, excited by my life woman that will not let their negative attitudes bring me or mine down! We are here for the Lord and by golly I will figure out a way to show that - even when I want to go in a hole and drink a bottle of merlot! So here's to the season!!!!!

Exercise ???

2008-09-27T19:58:00.002-05:00

Tonight I find myself wondering...being that I have 3 young boys & I stay home with them - why? Oh why?? - do I still need to do a scheduled exercise routine to try to lose (or maintain for that matter!!!) weight??? I mean I chase, run, walk, crawl, tumble, carry & drag 3 young boys around ALL the time - so with that why is it so difficult to maintain or lose the weight?

you may ask - what are you eating?? That's a great question!!! Over all I am a pretty nutritious eater - I love whole grains, wheat, fresh fruit & veggies, milk - I prefer those foods over all - not saying of course that I don't love many of the other foods out there.
Anyway back on track...
My normal day of food includes the following....
Breakfast - either a bowl of cereal (honey bunches of oats, Cheerios, not a treat cereal), eggs & toast or pancakes.
Snack - carrots w/ dip, snow peas w/ dip (a new fave!) or a hand full of gold fish.
Lunch - usually a sandwich (PB&J) that's what the boys prefer, or organic mac & cheese (that's a usual meal - we do other things but those are the boys favs) w/ pretzels, milk
Snack - varies I may have a fruit leather with the boys or I may have nothing..I also will admit I once and a while indulge in a dark chocolate Milano....ummmm.......milano......
Dinner - usually a typical family dinner, a protein, veggie, bread or pasta (sometimes both...) milk.
Sometimes but not always by any means Husband & I may have a sweet after the boys go down - but that is maybe 2x a week.

Ok so that's an average day for food....

So I joined LA Fitness - Health Partners gives me back $20 a month as long as I go 12x a month. That is pretty easy to do right? No, not always. I have a regular routine where I go Mon, Wed, Fri. I leave after all the boys are down and work out for anywhere from 25 minutes - 1 hour + a little time in the sauna...very nice....
The trouble I am finding is that lately (more than before) I am so exhausted I don't have the energy to start the truck let alone go to the club. Yes, I would love it more if I could go during the day - but that is just no an option for me...Yes, it would be great to have someone near by that would hold me accountable - in the sense where we both go together and keep the motivation going - but that just isn't possible.

So that leaves me going - not always getting all that I should out of it - being exhausted, staying at a weight I am not happy with & wondering again how this is all possible when I am constantly on the move with my wonderful boys????

Is there no justice?????

To Tatoo or Not Tatoo that is the question....

2008-09-24T09:36:00.004-05:00

Ok so I am planning on getting a tattoo in October - Bf, Brother & myself are all going to go get one. This is something I have contemplated in my own head for a very long time. Should I or shouldn't I? Do I really want one or don't I? and the ultimate question - "Does it go against all that God as told us in the bible? Will this be only another sin that I will have committed against Him?" I ponder this over and over again. Then I put it on the back burner and just stand back.

I told Foxy about my desire to get a tattoo yesterday...needless to say she was not to thrilled with the idea. Now she quoted scripture and gave me many reasons NOT to get one. Not that she will think less of me if I did but she feels that it goes against His Word. I let her go on about how she feels, and I do respect her opinion and thoughts regarding this..as I already stated I was having my own argument going on about it. But I still want one and need to understand in more depth to what God says about such a thing.

So this morning, again this issue is weighing on me to make a truly final decision that is honoring God before myself. What do I do?? I call the Wise Man. I am greeted with a warm "Hi Jen" and I begin unloading my thoughts unto him. He listens and then replies with (I will do my best at quoting)"My thoughts are this - God specifically talks about tattooing in the old Testament. However when Christ came and gave a new beginning God redefined the rules in which we were to follow. Tattooing was not mentioned. It was not acknowledged in the New Testament. He says our body is a temple to Him and if we are going to do something such as a tattoo then let it be to glorify Him. God knows your heart. So if you are getting a tattoo to glorify Him and you are at peace with that decision then I feel you should do it. It is your choice, just make sure it's not a dragon or a sorcerer across your back - that would not be glorifying to God - I have seen many youth in our own church that have gotten very tasteful tattoo's that glorify God in a a wonderful way =)" I thanked him for being there to talk to, discuss such a trivial thing with and that I was so glad that he was there.
So after that I am at peace with my choice - I will be getting a tattoo in October. I will be fasting the day before in honor of God. The tattoo will be on my body to represent Christ, my faith in Him & that He is my Lord and Savior.

I will post a picture once I have gotten it......

Realizing....

2008-09-22T13:16:00.004-05:00

Ok you all did it (or at least most of you) growing up you thought your parents (usually a mom) were weird and a little crazy for getting all emotional about you growing up. In my case it was severe - especially when I hit high school and then my last year - can we say the Mississippi? I don't know if the tears ever stopped that year for BF. Hell I don't know if that would have ever stopped had I not had a little rebellion but that's another blog...maybe?? Any hoo...

Silly Pants had preschool today - and yes he had preschool last year and this will be his last. But as I was driving to bring him to class he was talking about school and his friends, teachers and all the things he was going to be doing. Then I realized that he really is a little boy - not a toddler or a little tike or whatever word you be used to describe a child not yet capable of having his own "life" but he is a little boy - soon to be kindergartner. Is that possible? How can that be? Wasn't I just pregnant with him? Didn't he just have his little tiny foot in my ribs? He's not even eating solid foods is he? Didn't he just get potty trained? He can't be my little silly pants - he's can't be. So as I drop him off and go home with Monkey and Mini C - which again is a whole other blog - I get side tracked with all I am trying to get done while he is in school.

Soon the time comes to pick him up. So I'm in line, it's his turn, he jumps in the truck and just starts talking about what he did. "Teacher" wasn't there today but the other teacher was nice, Oh hey mom - I made SMOOTHIES today! They had banana's & strawberries & milk and I got to make them! Then we ate them. They were SOOOO good. Can we make some at home? We had science today too, but I can't tell you what we did - it's a secret now." So after listening to him talk about all of the wonderful things he did - I realize I have become my mother (well at least in that way now) thinking about him starting preschool, realizing I have to enroll him and knowing that now he is at a point where he needs me just a little bit less...makes me cry, tears of happiness, sadness, gratefulness, so many emotions....

What's in a name....

2008-09-19T15:42:00.006-05:00

Ok at the beginning of our lives our parents give us a name...maybe it's a good one, maybe a not so good one...either way it's ours. So looking past that first name we are given, many of us have other names we are called.

I went from being Jennifer at birth to TB, Mouth from the South, Brown Penny Jenny, Mouth - and those are just from when I was little & ones I can remember. Just in those names you can see what my personality was (and probably still is) like.

After that the next one I remember is one I will have my whole life - Sissy. My brother was the first to call me that (or maybe my parents used it and he took it - either way) I think this one holds the most sentiment from growing up. That was a name that was not used in anger, it was always in love (or maybe just like) but it was from my brother to me. Eventually BF would call me it more and then Prits same along and she would use it as well. But there is something there whenever Brother says it, it's almost like a silly way of him saying I love you or just showing he cares...because he doesn't always call me this now - He does use my really name too but when he says Sissy I think I would probably do just about anything for him.

We move on to the next one - Wife (never in a negative way but in a loving & respectful way) & sweetheart. the second of these two still give me butterflies when I hear it. They just remind me of so many good things. Wife is one I take great pride in, I am his wife, I married him and I will be with him as long as we both live. We are in this life together and all that is wrapped up in - Wife.

After that one comes - Mommy, Mama, Mom- these ones always put smiles on my face - especially Mommy. When I hear any of my boys say it - it reminds me of the unconditional love I have for them and the wonder they bring into my life. If I had to hear one name for the rest of my life it would be this one.

Now we come back to one I have had for a while....Sissy. It has gotten a new sweet spot in my heart recently due to the addition of SIL. She has adopted this name for me. And I think it makes me love her more than before. It shows her love for our family and for me ( I guess??) That she is in it for the long hall - and well seems to be ready for the ride! I am glad for this and it brings a smile to my face. =)

now as you can imagine there are names that maybe are a bit unorthodox and slightly inappropriate...but they have there place. I will list them all at once and briefly touch on them to give a quick understanding....Skank, slut, hoe, tramp, B$&*% and whore. Now these names may seem harsh and inappropriate but let me tell you they are not! (when used the right way) We use these as a way to give emphasis to something that we find serious but yet funny - they tend to be used in a sarcastic manner in which is found funny and comical, not offensive and mean. To use any of these names in a mean way would be horrifying and unacceptable. These are in fun!

So as you can see we have many names (these just being mine) and I urge you to think about the many names you have and the meaning behind them......

Idiot Test.....

2008-09-17T16:26:00.002-05:00

Ok I stumbled across the Idiot Test Seriously a fun thing to do and not the easiest!! Oh and it will be really hard if your color blind.....
Please go and try it & let me know how you do....
it is not as easy as it seems......

Laughter...

2008-09-16T21:43:00.004-05:00

I always thought that my boys' laughter was the most contagious...Yet tonight I feel I was proven wrong. Today we finally got it - HIGH SPEED! Woo Hoo! So after BF introduced me to MercyMe's Cover Tune Grab Bag I knew I had to show Husband. Tonight after the boys went down, we went to the computer to enjoy the wonderfulness that is high speed internet.
To start things off I had him watch Thriller - I don't know the last time I heard a grown man laugh with such delight. Just watching him I couldn't stop laughing - I was literally getting a stomach ache from it! He was barely breathing and turning red. It was like watching Silly Pants laugh only bigger, louder, and some how even more wonderful. Is that because Husband is going to be 31 in a few weeks and still gets such joy out of simple things? I don't know but I wish I would have had a web cam or a camera at least - it would have been worth freezing in time....
Thank you BF for that wonderful moment in time where I could see my Husband be a little boy - laughing with his whole body!

Speech....

2008-09-12T19:56:00.002-05:00

Ok if you ask anyone that knows me - speech is nothing I have a problem with. By speech I mean the art of talking - not that of speaking in front of people. (that I have no talent in)
So inherently, my boys (at least the two that can use actual words - and heck the one that can't) have the gift of gab. So you may find it odd that I found it necessary to have Silly Pants and Monkey evaluated for speech problems. Yes, I the big talker - thought that my boys had a problem with speech.
I will start by telling you why I thought this - please hold your comments till the end...
Both of my boys have a problem pronouncing the "L" sound.
Silly Pants has a bit of a stammer with the first word of come sentences & he does this "and this, and this" thing as well
Monkey has what I think is a lisp

So me being the thoughtful, loving, protective (apparently overly), and cautious mom that I am scheduled them both (yes both) to be evaluated at Children's Clinic in Minnetonka. So there we went on Tuesday - me and my 3 boys, with Mini C attached in his carrier to me...
Silly Pants was first, I (with the two other boys) went with into the room to make him feel comfortable and so she could ask me a few questions. I told her that same as I stated above. So off I went with Monkey and Mini C to the waiting room, where there were toys.
Now kind of off on a different direction (I find that this is worth adding - if only for a mental picture that could be rather amusing) While in the waiting area Monkey had to go to the bathroom. So I (with Mini C still attached) took him to the ladies room and helped him go what I found out was the big #2. So he finishes and I do all I can to get him clean and fully dressed again - while Mini C is still on. So we go back to play. 15 minutes later I smell something....you know where I am going with this right??? I check Monkey and sure enough he had pooped again - I'm pretty sure he knew he wasn't finished before but wanted to play with the cool toys that were there - and being the stubborn, task oriented boy (Like BF)(not that I think she would EVER do this) he is dealt with the poop. So then I take him back to the bathroom. There is no baby table in the handicap stall (like most restrooms have) so I have to do this on the floor. Now by this point Mini C is sleeping and I don't dare take him off me - that would be horrid! So I get on my knees in the stall and help Monkey remove his pants and underwear as best as I can without getting him (or me!) all nasty. Of course this was not a small one...this was a big one...so here I am trying to get him clean and still have Mini C attached. I finally get him clean and fully dressed again (In clean clothes!) As we are exiting here comes Silly Pants wanting to know what we were doing. Sure enough Monkey tells him and the speech lady!

So the lady sits down with me while the boys play and tells me that Silly Pants is pretty much just fine. It is very common for boys not to fully develop the "L" sound until almost 6. And the stammer and the other thing are only there because he is.....wait for it....trying to get so many thoughts out at once and needs to slow down....yea I know.. Where did he get that from!
So now that we know Silly Pants is right on track it is Monkey's turn. This one is a bit funnier...

So with him all three of us go in a room and instead of the lady going through different speech and word practices she is showing Monkey pictures. This is a small example of how it went -
Lady "What is this a picture of?"
Monkey "House"
Lady (wanting to be able to see him say it)"What is this a picture of again?"
Monkey " A House I told you!"
Lady"What is the boy doing?"
Monkey "Swimming in Grandma's pool"
Lady "Can you just tell me what he is doing?" (see she needs to see him say it
Monkey "Ugg! I already said it swimming in GRANDMA's pool!"
(Oh and I will add the lady found it all quiet funny)
Lady "What is this a picture of"
Monkey "A birdie in the birdhouse I made for grandma"
Lady "What kind of animal is this?"
Monkey "A BIRDIE in the birdhouse! I already told you!"
Lady "What is the boy playing with?"
Monkey "It's a basketball"
Lady " Can you say just ball?
Monkey " No it's a BASKETBALL"
This goes on like this for 36 different pictures - those are the ones I remember now...but as you can see...it was interesting...
So after Monkey finishes his turn the lady looks at me and actually chuckles...I mean come on now! She then says "Monkey he just fine - the lisp I feel he has isn't really a lisp, it's more of a way he pronounces and he will grow out of it. And as I stated already the "L" sound is normal. If I were to submit this to insurance, the school district - just about anyone, they would laugh. He could have had over 40 more mistakes and still been fine."
So all in all - I have done this to my boys. I and I alone. My talking to fast and running 300 miles a minute have done this. No one to blame but me. How sad is that? I as their mother have caused this? Now you ask - what am I going to do to fix it? Well everything I can - I am going to try to slow down when I talk to them, stop and get down to their eye level every time (or at least a lot more) Let them talk until they are done and wait at least 5 seconds before commenting on it. Anything and everything I can do I am going to do. I do not want this to be a problem for them, (as it has been for me every so often)
Can you imagine - most men - especially my husband, brother and big uncle you have to drag and pull a full sentence out of on most days - and here we will have my boys - talking nonstop as their mother does...how the hell are they going to find wives if the women can never get a word in???
I have to stop this madness now!! God be with me in over coming my biggest personality trait! If not for me - for my boys!!!!

Do I deserve them??

2008-09-12T13:27:00.003-05:00

Ok today I had a few reflecting moments while playing with my boys. While I look at them playing and giggling I ask myself "How (or Why) in the world would God trust me with such valuable possessions?" Yes, I am their mother, I gave birth each of them, I fed them and with my Husband we are raising them to love the Lord. However, I also know that they are only on loan to me. That they belong to God and they are His, not mine. So I just wonder what did I do to deserve such beautiful boys to love and raise? Is there something I did? Or maybe my Husband did that deemed us worthy of such a task as to watch over these children?
Now wouldn't they be safer staying with God in his kingdom? Why send them to this earth where there is pain, heartache, violence and hatred? Is it because he knows that I will love them with all my heart? That I would endure endless pain to keep them safe and happy? That we will raise them knowing they are His and that they are cherished by Him? That we will always guide them toward the path God has laid?
As I sat there feeding Mini C and watching Silly Pants and Monkey play these thoughts raced through my mind...but then I realized - I can sit here all day and wonder with amazement at these gifts of God but instead I will praise the Lord each and every day and smile and say thank you because I don't know of a better gift I could have been given.

Just another thought....
If you were to ask BF about this her response would mostly likely be something to the affect "They are gifts to her from Him" (for doing so well with me!) Which I don't know that I would disagree with completely...
But Which ever they are meant - and I believe that all 3 of them are gifts to this world - and will do something amazing here - I am grateful that they are mine and that they can bring sunshine and happiness into all of our lives!

Headache....

2008-09-11T20:33:00.003-05:00

Have you ever had to go through the day with a headache that just wouldn't go away? That was me today. You may ask - "Did you take something for it?" Thanks for asking I hadn't thought of that - Well of course I took something, but being I am breastfeeding Mini C I am limited to just extra strength Tylenol (which does nothing for me) and Ibuprofen (which unless I take at least 800 mg it does nothing....thank you boot camp for that one!) So aside from taking something stronger and giving my little guy a buzz - I am left with a lingering headache.
Let's go on to the natural methods of helping rid yourself of a headache...
Laying down - tried that, I got almost a whole 2 minutes when I had to jump up to catch someone going face first down the stairs and separate a fight among the capes...
Cold pack on the forehead - this one I actually rather enjoy - cold...nice... oh wait then I have Silly Pants or Monkey showing me every bump, scrape, bruise or owie that they had gotten in the last 2 years that now needs a pack or they might have to go to the doctor....
Dim Lights - ok this one I like too...but when the lights (or room) get low then the monsters come out (oh you didn't know there were monsters? that will be another blog...)
Quiet time- lol lol, you have to be kidding me??? Quiet? What the hell is that? Even on a good day (which my boys have more of those than bad) the noise level compares to an average sporting event.
Last on my list - but certainly not least...Wine! - oh but wait....back to the fact I don't want to give Mini C a buzz or disrupt his learning, brain growth or anything else that may or may not effect him in a negative manner (yea I know I am a selfless mom - I know...)
So what am I left with you ask??
Taking another Ibuprofen, having a glass of water, taking a shower and going to bed before 10pm - and being that this one has lingered the entire day...I won't even be up for any evening activities...which unlike some - I do look forward to......
So I say Good night...well at least the Night part is correct.....

Lest we forget...

2008-09-10T21:11:00.000-05:00

You know what I have found bothers me today....it has become more and more clear to me that now that I am a mom fewer people ask for my help, advice or knowledge. Now what I am contimplating is this - is it because I am a mom of 3 wonderful boys? Is it because I don't work outside the home and bring home US currency? Is it because I have to wait until after 8pm to have a glass of wine? Is it because I am going to be 27 and either I am too old for some or just still to young for others?
Because not so long ago (at least as far as I can remember) people would come to me with questions and things to figure out and the would actually take what I say to heart or apply it. No I am not saying it happened everytime - I am not quite that conceeded - but I definately knew what it did...now I can't remember the last time...wait a sec my Husband has and still does...have to give me credit! But other than that...I mean give me a break....
yes I have 3 boys, and I spend my days doing art projects and going to the park - but I mean....my mind is not completely gone.... (dispite what my blog may say......)

The fam...

2008-09-10T21:02:00.000-05:00

Ok to start off I will give a quick guide to my family and how they will be referred (mainly so that we can keep a bit of privacy and their identities unknown to people that don't need to know...) Those who need to know...will know.....
Husband, Silly Pants, Monkey, Mini C, BF, Brother, Prits, &SIL

This list compiles the most important people in my life - in no particular order....

An so it begins....

2008-09-10T15:30:00.001-05:00

Today I start this blog...I find that there are so many things to say - yet nothing comes to me...