Eliana, then Christian & Zachary and now me

Thanks to Heather, I have to do another one of these.


*Alone or with people?
I've always been a very private person, preferring my space. Except for my family, I love being alone, but there are times when I like to be around other people. Depends on my mood I guess.


*Summer or Winter?
I can't stand to be too hot, but I can't stand it too cold either. Why couldn't this have been Sprint or Fall? I love the green grass and trees and flowers. But, I like freshly fallen snow until someone drives in it. Oh heck, I'm moving on to the next question!


*Black or White?
Both, just depends on what it is.


*Observe, or get along from the very first moment?
I can get along with just about anyone, but I have some major trust issues. Depending on the body language, I may not be very trusting when we meet.


*Clown, or Drama (Queen/King)?
I would probably be more clown than drama queen. I'm definetly not a drama king.


*A Hummer, or A BMW convertible car?
Neither one of them really impress me. But, since my fream car is a 1964/66 convertable Mustang, I'd have to go with the beamer.


*Loyal or………
loyal (would someone really admit that they weren't loyal?)


**3 people I tag
whoever hasn't done it that would want to.

Our adventures

It has either been raining or extremely hot, to the point where you don't even want to go swimming. Well, today, we got a break, so we ventured outside for a while. Zachary got some new bubbles on Wednesday night for memorizing his memory verse, so he took them out to share with Christian. Eliana woke up from her nap and then I took her out. I sat her in the grass and got some really cute pictures!



We also went over to my friends house who has 2 new foster boys (ages 9 and 11, with her 10 year old son in the middle). All 5 boys (my 2 included) were outside playing, a couple loser kids in the neighborhood came by, made a few very crude gestures and remarks, bringing our boys in. This is not the first time they've come over and been rude and crude and just pains in the you know whats. So, she called the cops. My boys could care less about what was happening, they were very interested in the cop and the fact that he had a tazer (sp?) gun. I got an ear full on the way home.


Have I ever mentioned that I really like Steve's boss. I liked his old boss too, but his new one we knew when Steve worked with him in the Army. So, there's a little history with him. Well, he came to Steve an hour early and told him to go home. Scratch that first sentence...I love his boss!! After he got home, I fed Eliana and then we headed up to Lake of the Ozarks. I LOVE shopping when there's a good sale and today was no exception. Hit carters, spent $50 (and they let me use 2 coupons-not supposed to!!!) and I got 6 outfits. I went to Osh Kosh B'Gosh and even though they were having a sale, I was not impressed with the clothes, so I left there empty handed. We went to a new store (only been there a week), checked it out, left there empty handed and then headed over to The Children's Place. LOVE LOVE LOVE shopping there. There was so many things there I could have bought, but I restrained myself. I did buy 3 or 4 things there and only spent $11. They had all kinds of racks that were 50% off the lowest reduced price. Clothes for $2 and $3...I'm all over that! And to top it off, I used my coupon and THEY GAVE IT BACK TO ME! They said use it as much as I want through September 4th. Ok, don't have to tell me twice! So, great day shopping. Didn't find anything for the boys that I really liked.


Tomorrow we plan on taking them to play putt-putt. Christian LOVES golfing. He actually want to get out on the green and drive the ball. Steve is going to take him at FLW cause he can golf for free. Maybe he's the next Tiger Woods. I'm all for it if he's going to be able to support his momma! LOL


My side is worse today. I've been sleeping with a heating pad on it for the last couple nights, which I really need to turn off before I fall asleep because I don't have to get up at night for Eliana, I sleep all night long. An earthquake can't pull me out of bed. I know, because I've slept through one. If this continues, I may give in before the 4 weeks and go to a doctor. Today I couldn't even function normal, it hurt so bad. We shall see...

For my friend...you know who you are!

This is just a quick post so that I can get you thinking about my friend. I'm not going to mention her name, but she needs some prayers. Although she's going to be going through some changes with her job situation, we're confident that God will place her where she needs to be. But, she really needs prayers for tomorrow. Because tomorrow morning, she's heading to Conway to try and impress a producer. She's trying out for the show "Deal or No Deal". Now, she'll definitely impress them, that's just the way she is. So, tomorrow morning say a prayer for her that she'll have favor, that she'll say the right thing and will leave a lasting impression with them!

Boys Tag

Christian's tag


3 Nicknames
bubba c
bean burrito


3 People That Make Me Laugh
Eliana
daddy
Zachary


3 Things I Love
parents
siblings
pets, especially Buttons


3 Things I Hate
veggies, except for carrots
wasps/bees
not being allowed to swim


3 Things I Don't Understand
french
sign language
algebra


3 Things On My Floor
cars
gun
books, used for "car town"


3 Things I'm Doing Right Now
playing a golf game
whining about wanting a snack


3 Things I Can Do
write in cursive
help cook/bake
help with Eliana


3 Ways to Describe My Personality
sensitive
playful
caring


3 Things I Cannot Do
swim unsupervised
cook my own meals without help
algebra


3 Absolute Favorite Foods
fruit, especially pineapples and grapes
pizza
carrots


3 Foods I do NOT like
zucchini
squash
jalepenos


3 Beverages I Drink Regularly
Milk
Water
juice


3 Shows I Watch
none


3 Boys & girls I tag
whoever hasn't done it


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zachary's tag


3 Nicknames
bubba z
booger
cuddle bug


3 People That Make Me Laugh
Eliana
daddy
Christian


3 Things I Love
parents
siblings
pets, especially Buttons


3 Things I Hate
not getting my way
wasps/bees
being told to go to my room


3 Things I Don't Understand
french
sign language
algebra


3 Things On My Floor
cars
gun
books, used for "car town"


3 Things I'm Doing Right Now
sleeping


3 Things I Can Do
count
help cook/bake
recognize some letters


3 Ways to Describe My Personality
sensitive
playful
loveable


3 Things I Cannot Do
swim unsupervised
cook my own meals without help
write my name, yet


3 Absolute Favorite Foods
peanut butter
pizza
chocolate


3 Foods I do NOT like
jalepenos
potatoes
some veggies


3 Beverages I Drink Regularly
Milk
Water
juice


3 Shows I Watch
none


3 Boys & girls I tag
whoever hasn't done it

Eliana's Tag

3 Nicknames-
Elli/Elli-el
Princess
Ladybug


3 People That Make Me Laugh
bubbas
Mommy & Daddy
animals


3 Things I Love
WATER--swimming, bath, any water!
playing "where's Elli?"
mommy's camera


3 Things I Hate
not being allowed to continue doing something when I want to!
being confined/restrained
not getting to eat when I want to


3 Things I Don't Understand
"No, you can't eat the dog hair"
"time to go to bed"--goes along with that confined thing
why i have to get out of the water when it's cold


3 Things On My Floor
toys
bag of clothes
basket


3 Things I'm Doing Right Now
sleeping


3 Things I Can Do
climb stairs
walk along furniture
crawl, get to a standing position and now let go and fall down and go boom if there's isn't someone to catch me


3 Ways to Describe My Personality
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY
sweet
lovable


3 Things I Cannot Do
chew my food
climb out of my crib
use the toilet


3 Absolute Favorite Foods
MOMMY'S MILK (Breast is best!)
zucchini
squash


3 Foods I do NOT like
wasn't crazy about carrots when I first started them, but now I do.


3 Beverages I Drink Regularly
(breast) Milk
Water
diluted juice


3 Shows I Watch
none


3 Boys I tag
Christian
Zachary
Uncle David


3 girls I tag
Lauren
Lindsey
Sara

What a week!

Steve calls me every afternoon before he leaves work to let me know he's on his way home. Once he does, I know I have about 45 mins before he gets there. Well, he called me about 15 mins before he was due to be home. He called to tell me he had been hit and was taking the backroads home. I'm thinking "oh dear God, not again!" There was a truck 2 up from him and something fell out of it, skipped the car in front of him and did this to his windshield.
Whatever it was did not go all the way through, but it almost did. He called the insurance company when he got home and we were informed that the glass guy wouldn't be able to come until Wednesday between 8 and 12. So, he took my van to work Tuesday. They called him during the day to see if they could change it to between 2 and 4. Ok, fine. Then he calls to see if he could come at 5. Nope, we have church, make it between 2 and 4. He showed up at 2:08 yesterday. Steve had to take the day off which was nice having him around but he's wanting to save as much leave as he can so we can take a vacation at Christmas time. The guy was talking about the accident with us and he said "you're lucky to be alive". I'm telling you, luck had nothing to do with it! There is a reason God is sparing my husbands life! Thank God for that!

Eliana is into making lots of faces and lots of different noises. They are so cute. She has us all crackin' up! I got a couple of her faces but they just don't give you the full effect of it. Her ears are doing very well. She doesn't bother them, they're not red and they're not infected. Let's hope it stays that way! She's walking along furniture now and is even letting go and turning around. So not ready for this!

Ok, I can't get any more pics in, so this will have to do.

Christian is wanting to start school so badly! Zachary is too, but he's not going to do a full blown curriculum. I've got different things to do with him, but when we do history, science and math, he'll probably do it with us. I went through his books yesterday to get an idea of what we're going to be doing and see if there is anything I need to do ahead of time. These are definitely going to be advanced for him. But, he's a smart boy and I don't want him slackin. I've seen how some of the older boys are (some intelligent and some you're like "you don't know that?") and I don't want mine to be the "you don't know that" type. So, next week is our last week of "vacation" and then we're starting school. But things are going to be different this year! I'm excited and can't wait to start.

The boys went and saw the momma and the foal yesterday. First time in a while. The foal was very interested in watching the boys, but always is when the boys are running around in the yard.


I'm still having a lot of pain on my right side. I can't lie on my side without extreme pain. Stretching a certain way is very painful, but for the most part, I can go throughout the day without too many problems. It's when I go to bed at night that I have severe pain. Steve thinks I might have a cracked rib, but I have no idea how that would happen. I told him I'd go to the doc if it's not better in a month. It's been a week an a half, so I have time!

Well, it's off to get ready for the library today. Today is our last library day and then on Monday is the party and the drawings for prizes.

Oh and before I forget, I have a very good friend who is trying out for Deal or No Deal on Saturday night. She gets 30 seconds with the producer. She would be so awesome at this game. Say a prayer for her. With everything that is going on in her life, she needs this! (Love ya girl and you know my prayers go with you!)

Our weekend

Yesterday, we spent the day in Springfield. I bought some some ribbon and clippies. I have enough ribbon to make 4 head bands and and 12 bows. I made it so that the bows clip to the headband or it could clip in her hair. Very versatile! And much cheaper than if I had bought them off line. Maybe not exactly the same quality as a "professional", but I made it for my baby and that's what matters. And, people at church today couldn't tell and were shocked to find out I made them.

Also, my little girl now has her ears pierced and as Christian said "she looks beautiful". She always have, but these just look so cute on her! Before we could get her ears pierced, we had to clean her up. When I say we needed to clean her up, we really needed to have a bath around . But, since we were in the middle of the mall in Claires and there was no bath around, we just had to use a bunch of wipes! I had been waiting for the explosive diaper, it had been a few days. I knew it was coming, I was just hoping that it wouldn't be while we were out. But, she did. She had poop that went all the way up her back. My little girl was naked in Claire's. I apologized to the girl who was piercing her ears (and was nice enough to give us a couple plastic bags for the clean up and when we were leaving, 2 lollipops for the boys). She said that it was ok, Eliana couldn't control when she went and where she was at the time. She cried and stopped breathing (not long), but after about a minute (it really seemed much longer when it was going on) she stopped and has since forgotton all about it. And no, she has not messed with them either.


After getting her ears pierced we went to Pythian Castle. They say it's haunted and that you can see "orbs" in the pics. Steve and I don't believe in ghosts, familiar spirits, yes, but not ghosts. It used to be an orphange, was turned over to the military during WWII and then was vacant for 40 years or so. Went through a couple owners who are the ones who gave us the tour. I much prefer to explore things on my own, but it was nice to get the history of it, especially since it was owned by the army during a war. We got to see where POWs were held, how things were during the orphange time period, etc. Was very neat. Of course, it doesn't compare to the gorgeous castles that I've been to in Europe, but for a stateside one, it was nice. The boys enjoyed being able to explore and even got to go in a tunnel with Daddy. They didn't like it when we had to stop and listen to the lady talk about things. But, for as hot as it was and "bored" as they were, they did excellent! Except, they didn't want to cooperate with me so that I could get some good pictures. The ones that they are in were mostly because I had to either sneak or they walked in by accident not thinking they were going to be in it :)

Hey mom, look what I found in the bathroom at the castle. I had to take a picture for you. This would be a great idea for you!


So, there you have it.

Water Fum

Last night during bathtime, the boys were being extremely silly, so I had to take some pictures. Most people don't get to see this side of them because they tend to be very bashful when other people are around, except for the few people they are extremely comfortable with.


Today the boys and I went out and had water gun fights. I won. The boys actually thought they could beat me. And, I did some of the battle with the baby in my arms!

Tomorrow Steve has to work in the morning and when he gets home we're heading to Springfield. We're going to go to a castle and do some other things. I'll tell you about that at another time, plus their WILL be pictures. (I'm purposely not saying anything cause I want you to see it in the pics).

If it's been as hot where you're at as it has been around here, I hope your weekend is much cooler. And if it hasn't been that hot, count yourself blessed (and I secrelty hope you get to feel this heat soon!) LOL

Homeschooling

I received this article in email and figured I'd share. I get asked a lot of questions on "why", "how", and a host of other points people have brought up to me about our decision to homeschool our 3 children all the way through high school. This lady covers a lot of these and since she puts it perfectly (and it saves me the typing), here it is. We've already seen some of the things that this lady mentions in Christian, mostly at home and he's only going into 1st grade. Steve and I talked about home schooling before we ever had Christian, but once we had him, we knew for sure that's what we wanted to do. I quit working so that I (Steve's part of it too, but he's our bread winner) could raise our children and yes, money was extremely tight, and even more so now, but God always provides for us and we never go without. So, here's the article and if anyone has any questions, you can email me. I love talking homeschool!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(AgapePress) - When people ask me, "How long have you been home schooling?" my usual reply is, "13 years." If I were to be completely accurate, I would probably answer, "Since the birth of my first child." After all, home schooling is more than one on a list of educational options; it's a lifestyle that goes far beyond teaching the three R's -- Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. It is a way of life that is invigorating and rewarding, yet draining and frustrating.

Without a doubt, it involves sacrifice and impacts every area of life, including, but not limited to, the physical, emotional, social, leisure, relational, financial, and domestic aspects.

I like the way Clay and Sally Clarkson put it in their wonderful book, Educating the Wholehearted Child: "Home education is not something you fit into your calendar, or make room for in your schedule. It is a commitment you make to God and to your family that will require perseverance, energy and patience. You cannot buy a home-schooling kit that will make you instantly and easily successful. It is a long-term, learning process, both for you and for your children."

In other words, it requires a prayerful contemplation and deliberate commitment before God.


A Scriptural Basis
Realizing the seriousness of such a decision, you may ask, "So why home educate?" I suppose there are as many reasons as there are home-schooling families. But for Christian parents, the foundational motivation is the belief that this is the best way for us to fulfill the stewardship God has entrusted to us -- raising our children in the training and instruction of the Lord. It allows us to ensure that that training is consistent and continuous (as directed in Deuteronomy 6:4-10), to protect them from character-corrupting influences of "bad company" (1 Corinthians 15:33), and to prevent them from becoming spiritually, emotionally, and socially "yoked to unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14). It allows us to make sure that our children are not under the influence of false teaching but instead, under teaching that fills their minds with God's truth and enables them to learn to use that truth in everyday situations.

These fundamental reasons can be expanded into more areas, such as relationships and academics. The practicality of spending every day in each other's company is a way of knitting our family's hearts together. This can be seen on each relational level within the home.

You may feel, "I could never spend all day with my kids; we would drive each other crazy!" Be encouraged! Jesus taught us that where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also (Matthew 6:21). My testimony is that the investment of the "treasure" of my time and energy into my children causes my affection for them to grow. (OK, I admit to sometimes being wearied by my brood and even being known to say, "My name is not Mom today." But that is not the general rule.) The gift of self that I give my children in turn draws them to me. It is my joy to be their #1 confidante.

When our children give most of their time and energy to others, we lose a part of their affections. There will be a time when those affections and loyalties will expand, but a child's heart best belongs to the family in which God has placed him so that he is most open to the teaching we have to give.

A Qualified Parent
But is familial love enough to qualify parents as teachers? Some people question their qualifications to home educate. They feel the necessity to have a degree or some experience behind them. But the fact is, there is no other teacher who can know my child like I do; no one who can care more about him/her; no one is willing to invest as deeply in his/her success.

These are the important factors involved in determining whether or not parents are capable of teaching their own children. Academic background is secondary. Anyone able to read can direct a child through a scholastic curriculum. It is love and commitment that make the home environment unique. Besides, home schooling provides the opportunity for utilizing the most effective teaching method -- a one-to-one teacher/student ratio.


A Beneficial Endeavor
Individuality is one of the greatest blessings of home learning. Children can progress at their own pace (or at that of Mom and Dad if a little prodding is needed) in each area, and curriculum can be tailored to the interests and learning style of each child.

For example, I have a daughter who calls herself a "balletomane" (take a guess at the definition) whose high school program includes French, classical music appreciation, ballet pedagogy, and ballet physical education (P.E.) credits.

Such individual styling can happen in the lower grades, as well. Does your family love gardening? Horses? Computers? The Civil War? Delve into your subject as deeply as you desire. Read the literature surrounding it. Study its science. Take field trips. Draw it. Write about it. Fall in love with learning. Home schooling allows for it all.

I offer one more reason, one more benefit, to keep children home -- socialization. Yes, you read that correctly. I alluded to this earlier when I mentioned protecting them from negative influences. I quote again from Educating the Wholehearted Child: "In the home school, the primary models for effective relationships are adults -- father, mother, grandparents, family friends. This kind of age-integrated socialization simply does not take place in [an institutional] school where the models are primarily other ... immature children .... In the home, in contrast, social skills are constantly and consistently modeled, trained, and corrected. Poor social skills are not allowed to become habituated, and good ones are regularly reinforced."

May I boast a little in what the grace of God has allowed in our lives? I have had many years to observe the relational skills of home schoolers, my own as well as countless others. I have heard many people outside home-school circles marvel at the ability of my children and their friends to enjoy and relate to people of all ages: to carry on a meaningful conversation with adults, to understand the needs of little ones and their parents, and to be willing to help meet those needs when possible, to become involved in projects with people outside their own age group and to handle leadership opportunities. That is not to say that every home-schooled child is an extrovert. Their personalities are varied, but overall, they possess the confidence produced by a developmental environment that is loving and non-competitive and where acceptance is based on unconditional love (not clothes, possessions, appearance or athletic ability).

There are plenty of opportunities for our children to be involved in beneficial outside activities. There are church and ministry programs, Scouts, athletic teams, various lessons, educational co-ops, support groups, library and museum programs, and scores more than I have room to mention. Most families participate in at least one of these. In fact, in our culture today, the struggle is sometimes more to stay focused on what we are striving to achieve at home than lack of social opportunity.

So, can you be a home educator? Research the Scriptural principles involved, count the cost to your entire family, weigh the benefits and be in agreement with your spouse. Then if this is God's will for you, I answer, "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you." You will not be alone!

By Tina Miller

A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.

He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a headache, and call in sick.

He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.

He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You make sure you?re cell phone is in your pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash on your buddies that aren't with you.

He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

He does not get to eat today.

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.

He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today

You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

He is told he will be held an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.

He holds his letter close and smells his love?s perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government andremembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.

He hears the gun fire and bombs.

You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He does what he is told.

You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.

He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gun fire.

You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse placebecause of men like him.

If only there were more men like him

Freedom Is Not Free, Someone Pays for it with Blood, Sweat, Tears and Lives.

IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS, PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM !!!

Keely

This little girl is Keely and she's a foster daughter of my best friend. She's been with them for 1 1/2 years (she's now 3 this past March) and to make a really loooooooooooong story short, the process that starts them on the way to going home has started and this little gem DOES NOT need to be going back home. But, according to DFS, the best thing for a child is to be with their natural family, even if they are totally screwed up (and we're talking the E-N-T-I-R-E family is reeeeeeeeeally screwed up). Who cares that this little girl will be taken from everybody who loves her and who she loves. I'm telling you, this system of it's best for the child to be with their natural family is a bunch of B.S. if you ask me. And, if I swore, there would be a whole lot of that right now. This just makes me so mad and nothing anyone says or does can change the fact. And what's really sad, this little girl will end up back in the system before too long. I could go on and on but it's causing my head to hurt. But, I will tell you that she's crazy about my boys and they're just as crazy about her. These are Keely's "boyfwens". So cute!

But it's sad here. We're praying for a miracle and that God will intervene for this sweet soul and she'll be places where it's best for her.

Migraines, games and the right size!

Since I last posted, I suffered a bad migraine (not that any of them are ever good), but this lasted 2 days! The worst part about it is that I still have to function as a mom and a housewife. I have to thank McDonalds for providing my family with such a healthy lunch and screwing up the order. By last night, I was able to make Schenken Flenken for dinner and even went out on the riding lawn mower while Steve did other things in the yard.

Then last night I enjoyed a bubble bath thanks to Calgon and "The Diary of A Young Girl: The Anne Frank Story". Thank God that box was given to me cause I would not be happy about wasting my money on it. The box says that it has "longer lasting bubbles". What a load of hog wash!!! I remember when I was younger and my mom would take bubble baths the tub would be covered with bubbles and you could barely see her! Wonder if those bubbles were from Avon since Joyce across the street was a Avon selling guru.

After I got out of the bath, I got to enjoy some ice-cream while Steve enjoyed some Oreo pie that we won at a dessert auction at church on Sunday night. I tried it but wasn't overly fond of it. And then we stayed up talking until midnight. I had to fill him on my phone conversations and some other stuff and since I was pretty much out of it Sunday night, I had to do it last night or I would have forgotten everything! As I laid down to go to sleep, my right side shot pain through my body. I have no idea what I did, but it feels like I've been kicked by a horse. Now, since I haven't been around any horses lately, I know that's not the case. So, my pain remains a mystery. Throughout the day today, when bending or stretching a certain way, my right side reminds me that it doesn't want to move like that and I have to stop. And since I'm very stubborn, I keep on going. I bet I'll pay for it tonight when I stop moving around.

Today, the boys and I had a picnic on the living room floor. It's hotter than h-e-double hockey sticks (as Steve's grandmother would say) and they've been wanting to do a picnic. So, I asked them if that was okay and they loved the idea.

After Eliana woke up from her nap (which she did while I was cleaning the boys' bathroom...and was in her crib standing and talking/singing), the boys wanted her to play in their room. I told them to wait 'cause she just woke up and was probably going to want to eat. While I was feeding her, the boys brought out their bean bag chair and when she was done, Christian put her in it and started pulling her around. At first I told them to stop (I was afraid they were going to dump her out), but when I saw how much fun she was having, I let them continue and of course, grabbed the camera. Then, they both picked up the chair and started swinging it. Christian wanted me to sing "Rock a bye baby", but since I've never really liked that song, I made up my own. Sorry, it's not copyright protected, so I won't be putting the words out here. LOL



I do want to share one interesting fact with you. Yesterday I had to lay down and I made the boys come in my room with me and I put on a movie. Well, Eliana woke up from her nap about an hour into the movie and the boys decided they didn't want to watch any more. That's nothing new. Well, as I was turning everything off, Oprah was on T.V. and she said something about women and bras. I admit this peaked my curiosity when I normally don't watch that garbage. She said that 85% of ALL women are wearing the wrong size bra! Well, I ended up recording the show cause I won't keep it on while the boys are awake. When I tried watching it later, the DVD was all scratched up, so I didn't get to watch everything. But there was one lady who was wearing a 36B and when she got fitted to the right size, she was a 34DD. B to DD...HUGE difference!!! So, make sure your girls are in the right size so they don't start taking a vacation...at your knees!

Not ready...

I'm so not ready for this. My daughter crawled to her diaper bag, stood up, and pushed it along the floor while she was standing behind it! Here's a picture to prove it. What you can't see, the fact that she was smiling and/or laughing the whole time. And FINALLY, Steve has agreed with me, she's growing up WAY to fast.

Changes

As you can see, I finally completed the overhaul on my blog. It was in desperate need and I love the new look! It only took all afternoon, but that's ok, it was worth it. I also managed to gut out my room. My poor room normally has everything just thrown in it. Everything got put in its rightful place and I vacuumed our room, Eliana's room and the boys' room. Of course, I had to stop when I got to the boys' room. They needed a little extra help getting it clean. But, that's done too. Now, we need to go get the pool cover out of the pool. With all the heavy rains we had this week, the weight of all that rain caused the pool cover to fall in. So, once we get that out, we'll probably take a dip. Or, they may all go swimming while I sit on the riding lawn mower and cut the grass!

Technically, in 9 mins we're supposed to be in Conway for Rachel and Mark's reception. She's our church secretary who got married last month. The didn't have a wedding, but wanted to have a reception with all their friends and family. We were planning on going, but since we haven't had dinner, I didn't get my shower until 6pm and I'm worn out, I'm just not really up for going out and socializing. I'm sure she'll understand. She'll have plenty of friends (and family) there to visit with. I'll see her tomorrow.

Last night we went to the fair. The boys went on their first "big boy" rides. The first one is of Steve and the boys on the tornado. It spun around and went up and down and then each individual "pod" could be turned around by the disk in the center. The boys loved the ride! Zachary liked it so much he went on twice! Christian and I went on the sizzler. This ride was FAST but fun!!! Not for weak stomachs! This ride spins around in circles and makes it look like you're going to hit something. Christian laughed so much on the ride and the force of it had him practically in my lap. They had the opportunity to go on the cars and motorcycles that go around in circles, but they weren't interested.


Eliana pulled herself up in her crib for the first time yesterday. She loves her new independence of crawling and pulling herself up on all my furniture! Me, I'm not liking it so much. And something really cute that all 3 of them do. The boys will kind of scream at her and then she'll scream back, then they'll do it, then she'll do it...etc, etc. They were doing this at lunch (we were done but still sitting at the table) and Steve and I were cracking up. He went and got the video camera and caught some of it on tape. We've decided that she's definitely louder than her brothers. Inside voice, what's that?
And here is the pic of the day from yesterday...he's crazy about his little sister! Thank God for big brothers!!!

Muchadoaboutnothing

Eliana is now 7 months. I can't believe in just 5 months my baby is going to be 1 and right after that is Christmas. Time is going by so fast. I took a bunch of pictures on her 7 month "b-day" and I wanted to do something a little different. So, here it is.

Also, right before I put her down for a nap yesterday, she was sitting on the floor playing with our puppy (although he doesn't look like a little puppy, he's only 1 1/2 yrs.) These pictures couldn't have turned out better, even if I posed them myself!


We're planning on taking the kids to the fair, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow. Not sure exactly when. We need to do something tomorrow as a family because Steve has to work next Saturday. We went driving the other night to a couple Department of Conservation areas and we saw 3 deer and 2 fawns. They were little and oh so cute! All 3 of my guys are eagerly waiting for hunting season. His goal this year...fill my freezers with deer meat. My car also got "attacked" by a couple very protective dogs. At least the dog was smart enough to back away and realize that my car would win!

Also, some city guys came out and chopped down some trees for us, not by request either. Apparently some of the trees were getting so bad they were burning the power lines. Never heard that before, but I'm no expert either. So, the guy who was doing the cutting asked if there was anything else I wanted taken out (or left) since he was already going to be in there. So, I showed him everything I wanted done and when I found a maple with a next in it, I wanted that left alone. What a big difference it has made! While in there, he found tons of poison oak and ivy (great thing too since Steve is allergic to them). The poor guy who was loading the trees into the mulcher is highly allergic to them and was a mess when he left my yard. I felt really bad for him. Here's the before pictures...

and the after...


And I'll leave you with that...things to do today!

So cute!

After I got Eliana ready for bed tonight, she wanted to crawl around on her bed, so I set her in with the stuffed animals (I'm going to have to take a picture of this tomorrow). She grabbed her bear that I made for her at build-a-bear and she took the tiara off. I put it on her head and she did not try and take it off. Now, anything else that goes on her head tries to come off. So, I figured, she really knows she's a princess and is adjusting to her role quite nicely. And she's such an adorable princess! She was hard to get to sit still, but I did manage to get her!




Also, I made this for Steve:


And this...




And now, I'm done for the night...

I've been workin' on the railroad...

Actually, I feel more like I've been standing on one and been hit by a train! I'm sooooo tired and it's not because Eliana is up at all hours of the night. Once I figured out what it took for her to sleep at night, she's been sleeping great. I may have to get up with her at around 5 or so and then she's up before 7. She's my morning child and I DON'T LIKE IT!!! I guess I better start getting to bed earlier, but night time is my time SANS CHILDREN and I rather enjoy that time. And, I'm still losing weight, so my thyroid isn't acting up again. (Brief history...after Christian was born, I had post-partum hypothyroidism...was extreeeeeeeeeemely tired and gaining weight, while still nursing and barely eating....not the case this time!!!)

I've been working on stuff for my blog to make some major changes. I hope to have them posted soon. The problem is, I work on things for my blog and then I start making other things. I LOVE my picture program.

My children are great. I really need to find a dentist around here. One of Christian's front teeth is dead and I don't know how that plays into the getting permanent teeth factor and all that jazz. Hopefully I'm worried for nothing. Zachary is going to cause me to take stock in a soap company. Can we say att-i-tude? Oh, and he's a door slammer...yep, he's me through and through. I can see that boy losing his door, again, just like me. And I turned out just fine. Eliana is very curious and into everything or should I say, everything goes into her (mouth). So not like the boys. The boys were and still are (and ask the millions of questions to prove it) very curious...a sign of intelligence?!? But, they did not put everything into their mouths like she does. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING!!! I'm constantly watching her to make sure that she doesn't find something she shouldn't.

We went to a birthday party on Saturday. One of the girls that I've had the privilege of getting to know in Kids Church and in Missionettes turned 12. She had a party (Japanese theme) and invited us. I told her parents she invited us just because of the baby, she laughed, but we know it's true. I don't know how many people say to me: "where's my girl?", "how's my baby?" etc...Now, don't get me wrong, there's a few people who I don't mind that from, but come one...teenagers??? What part in the conception, pregnancy and birth of Eliana did they play??? None! Now, if they want to have some claim, if that's what you want to call it, they can say "where's my favorite baby?", "how's my favorite baby?". That'll work. I know people can't help falling in love with her, but....

K, off the rant and back to the party...the boys used chopsticks for the first time. Christian stabbed and Zachary used to hands, but hey, what do you expect from a 6yr old and a 3 yr old who are used to forks? Here's the pics from that...


And one of Eliana from her first time in the pool...


Well, it's library day. Only 3 more library days left of the summer reading program (the 3rd being the party) and then it's just a couple weeks before school starts, for the public school system. I can't wait. I love it when they're in school!!! Sorry, Jen, I know you're dreading it.

Tag, I'm it..

I've been tagged...thanks Tif.

5 things in my fridge:
1. Milk
2. cheese
3. carrots
4. juice
5. tea

5 things in my closet:
1. her clothes
2. his clothes
3. safe
4. gun (in a case and locked)
5. shoes

5 things in my purse: (I'm not using a purse right now since I have a diaper bag
1. wallet
2. cell phone
3. diapers
4. change of clothes
5. wipes

5 things in my car:
1. car seats/booster seats
2. Toys
3. stroller
4. cds
5. hand sanitizing stuff

5 people I tag:
1. Steve
2. Sara
3. Jen
4. Meghan
5. David

Sara, Sara, Sara **EDITED**

First I need to tell you about someone. Her name is Sara and she is a gem! She has got to be the sweetest person on the planet. Anyone would be lucky to know her but I'm blessed because I call her friend. I love her and I MISS her and even though she is where God wants her to be right now, I still wish she was here!


But, she did come home to spend her weeks vacation here, so she planned days with her friends and today was my day. One thing that makes this woman so sweet and awesome to be with, is that she's single but loves kids and my boys are crazy about her! I have found that it can be difficult to be friends with people who don't have kids, especially since I have 3, but not Sara. She had a good time, with all 4 of us. What did we do today...

we went to the lake! The boys went swimming and had a good time. Eliana loved the sand and of course, the water, but that didn't surprise me since she LOOOOOOOOOVES bath time and our pool.


We got home and after awhile, Eliana was crawling. :-( My baby is growing up too fast! This has been a pretty big week for her! Also, she fell asleep in her highchair at dinner tonight. So cute. That's oatmeal cereal and sweet potato all over her face. I let her play in it since I was planning on throwing all 3 of them in the bath tub. She was sleeping and as soon as she heard the water start, she woke up and tried to get out of my hands and jump into the tub. For a baby who woke up early, had 2 very short naps and then that little episode in the highchair, she was very happy. This is the way she is all the time!


And since the last post was a quick update, I didn't tell you about our accidents. Yes, I typed that correctly, there was not 1, but 2 accidents! First one was in the morning. It involved Christian and Steve. We let the boys shoot off some fireworks before we went to our friends for the BBQ. Steve was holding the punk, looking in the bag of fireworks and Christian bent over and the punk got him on the inside of his nose, extremely close to his eye. And then, when we were over at our friends house, I was sitting on the couch, in the middle of Steve and Sheila, Zachary was in front of me and threw his head into my left cheek bone. Steve and Sheila could feel and hear it. Let me tell ya, I'd rather go through labor than go through that again! I had a headache the rest of the night, which isn't anything new since I've been getting headaches pretty consistantly, about everyday.

There was more things I wanted to mention, but I forget now and since it's later than I planned on being up (thanks to this stupid blog), I'm going to bed.

Friends, Fireworks and Ma-ma

A super quick update...

Vacation Bible School is over. When I have more time to go through the hundreds (literally) of pictures from VBS, I'll post a couple. Until then, I'm glad it's over. It was fun and it was worth the well over 100 hours I put in on decorating. It looked great, the kids loved it and that's who it was for!

For the 4th, we spent with our good friends and their kids. We went over there for a BBQ and then went to Fort Leonard Wood for the Army Show and fireworks, the biggest (and best) in the area. The Army show SUCKED!!!!! Glad it was free cause I would've wanted my money back. But the fireworks were awesome and more than made up for the fact that we were there early, waiting. The music that accompanied the fireworks wasn't as good as last year, but I'll still go back next year to see what they can do!
**

And, my daughter mastered how to get my attention; just call "ma-ma" and she'll come! Now, all three of my babies first word was "ma-ma". Steve was hoping that his little girl would be different, but as I like to tell him, I'm her favorite. LOL

**the blonde girl in the pic is their neighbor

Now, since the UPS man just delivered 3 huge boxes, I need to go check them out! Thanks TLB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're the best!


**P.S. For those who were stationed with us in the Netherlands, I ran into Wahlers, who is stationed here as a Drill Sergeant.